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Select Accomplishments
Innovations from HMT-West support NOAA's Rapid Response to the Howard Hanson Dam flood risk.
In response to a request from the US Army Corps of Engineers (US-ACE), who were concerned about the safety of the Howard Hansen Dam on the Green River near Seattle, WA, HMT contributed to a NOAA rapid response. Building on what was learned in California, HMT deployed a number of Atmospheric River Observatories and related monitoring sites for water vapor and snow level, which supported the Seattle Weather Forecast Office and positively affected the US-ACE operations of the dam. For more information see: Howard Hanson Dam Rapid Response and NOAA's New Mobile Atmospheric River Observatory.
Development of "demonstration" performance measures for snow level and extreme precipitation predictions.
Two new demonstration performance measures have been developed, based on the HMT-west experience. They were motivated by a recognition that these are two of the top variables that drive stream flow forecasts in mountainous terrain, and are considered important by NOAA Stakeholders. They are in the process of being "base-lined" over multiple seasons and broader areas, and are applicable not only to the HMT-West domain, but also to the rest of the nation.
- For more information on a performance metric for extreme precipitation forecasts, see the article: Ralph, F. M., E. Sukovich, D. Reynolds, M. Dettinger, S. Weagle, W. Clark, and P. J. Neiman, 2010: Assessment of Extreme Quantitative Precipitation Forecasts and Development of Regional Extreme Event Thresholds Using Data from HMT-2006 and COOP Observers. J. Hydrometeor., (In press), doi:10.1175/2010JHM1232.1.
- For more information on the snow level performance metric, see: White, A. B., D. J. Gottas, A. F. Henkel, P. J. Neiman, F. M. Ralph, and S. I. Gutman, 2010: Developing a Performance Measure for Snow-Level Forecasts. J. Hydrometeor., 11, 739-753, doi:10.1175/2009JHM1181.1.
- Note that the snow level algorithm, upon which the snow level performance measure is built, received the 2003 NOAA Bronze Medal Award, the 2003 CIRES Outstanding Research Performance Award, and was awarded a U.S. Patent #6,615,140
Atmospheric river real-time monitoring and prediction tool invented and demonstrated.
This past year, a prototype Coastal Atmospheric River Monitoring and Early Warning System (aka "the flux tool") underwent demonstration trials. This decision support tool brings together detailed observations and mesoscale model data for comparison with science-based thresholds that objectively identify AR conditions and extreme AR conditions capable of producing flooding. This tool provides enhanced situational awareness and forecast guidance for extreme precipitation events along the US West Coast. For more information see: Coastal Atmospheric River (AR) Monitoring and Early Warning System and Neiman et al. 2009.
- The flux tool received the NOAA Administrator's Bronze Medal Award in 2009
Forecast aid developed by HPC focused on horizontal water vapor flux.
NOAA NCEP HPC developed a suite of forecast decision aids known as standardized anomalies (often referred to as "flux anomaly tools"). These tools provide statistical insight into the potential severity of a weather system. Within the context of HMT, the moisture flux tools have proven particularly useful to forecasters and scientists who are looking at storms moving off of the Pacific and making landfall on the West Coast. For more information see: Using Standardized Anomalies in Operational Forecasting.
Interactive, near real-time QPF verification tools developed through collaboration with DTC.
A collaboration between HMT and the Developmental Testbed Center (DTC) has created a suite of interactive QPF verification tools. These tools permit a user to evaluate the performance of HMT and operational forecast products, both during the season in near real-time and retrospectively. This new capability is helping HMT partners to quantify the performance of new forecast tools, such as the high-resolution WRF ensemble models. For more information see: DTC/HMT Verification Overview.
Key HMT-West findings are being implemented in California through a major partnership with the State's Department of Water Resources (DWR).
Through a 5-year MOU between NOAA and DWR, several key innovations from HMT are being implemented long-term. These include new observations, modeling and display methods and development of a decision support tool for extreme precipitation and other hydrologic forcing. The initial water vapor, soil moisture and snow level observations are now operating, while modeling methods, including ensemble and high resolution techniques suited to cool-season orographic precipitation are being tested and the scientific foundations for the decision support tool have been laid around the atmospheric river phenomenon. .
Field experiments document gaps in current capabilities and explore new radar methods ranging from better use of existing radar data to polarimetric algorithms for QPE and gap-filling radar technologies.
- Field experiments have documented a shallow rainfall process, referred to as "non bright-band" (NBB) rain, that can produce significant rainfall at altitudes below current NEXRAD scan coverage in many locations in the western U.S. Significant errors in NEXRAD-based QPE result from the radar's overshooting these regions, but even when the radars sample NBB rain, the drop-size distributions are so different than the standard NEXRAD algorithms that QPE estimates are biased very low.
- Distinct examples of these problems were crucial in motivating a San Francisco TV station to install their own radar to help fill the gap in NEXRAD coverage over the flood-prone Napa and Sonoma river basins. This "KPIX" radar has been a test of the concept of integrating private sector, gap-filling radars, into NWS forecast operations in the Monterey Weather Forecast Office.
- A more general problem also associated with vertical coverage of NEXRAD, has been identified. It is associated with beam broadening and the increasing altitude of the lowest beam with increasing range from the radar. A technique has been developed to correct for the "vertical profile of reflectivity," and has been implemented in NSSL's Q2 system, which is now being used in QPE nationally.
- Finally, state-of-the art methods are being tested using NOAA/PSD's X-Pol scanning polarimetric radar, which has documented the capabilities and limitations of X-band and polarimetric radar for improved QPE in complex terrain.
Reforecast method implemented at NCEP is used by HPC for QPF, and next generation version is under development.
A next-generation reforecast data set is currently in preparation using a supercomputer at the Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley Lab. A reforecast is a retrospective forecast of the weather. In the first-generation reforecast created at ESRL, a 15-member ensemble forecast out to 15 days lead was generated with a reduced-resolution version of the NCEP global model for every day from 1979 to present. When the same forecast model is run in real time, systematic errors of the model can be diagnosed and corrected using the past forecasts and their relationship to the observed weather. This has proven very useful for improving quantitative precipitation forecasts. A real-time web page of statistically adjusted precipitation forecasts from the first-generation reforecast is available at http://www.esrl.noaa.gov/psd/forecasts/reforecast/narr/, and a description of the reforecasts is available in Hamill et al. (2006). The next-generation reforecast will be computed during late 2010 and early 2011, using a version of the NCEP global model that will be operational in 2011. The model will have four times greater resolution than the first-generation reforecast model, and much more data will be saved and made available, making it more useful to hydrologists and other users.
- Reference: Hamill, T. M., J. S. Whitaker, and S. L. Mullen, 2006: Reforecasts, an important dataset for improving weather predictions. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 87,33-46, doi:10.1175/BAMS-87-1-33.
Peer reviewed publications document HMT's scientific and technical innovations.
HMT has led to a wide range of innovations ranging from better scientific understanding to new tools, all inspired by hydrometeorological applications. A core value of HMT is to ensure that these advances pass the time-proven test of peer review for scientific and technical merit, which strengthens the credibility of NOAA's hydrometeorological services. HMT, and its precursors - CALJET and PACJET, have produced 50 peer-reviewed scientific journal publications. See: An Analysis of the HMT Bibliography, which is a convenient documentation of HMT's contributions to the field.


text:
19Th C. Swedish Panel 6-Door Sideboard
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A neoclassical antique from the early 19th century inspired our practical, commodious reproduction. Its simple, pared-down lines recall those of Swedish design.
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subset: commoncrawl


text:
We're in the midst of earnings season, stuck in the shadow of a market that seems content to simply spin its wheels. At the same time, we're standing against the backdrop of Einhorn's theory that technology stocks are in a bubble, plagued by ongoing tensions in Ukraine.
And with a dozen or so other distractions bouncing around in investors' heads right now, it would be easy to forget to remain on the hunt for bargain stocks.
So, consider this your gentle reminder … as always, remain on the hunt for bargain stocks.
And if you don't have time to shop around, here are five of the market's top stocks to buy. They may have been beaten down lately, but seem ready to pop back up as investors remember they still have bigger-picture value.


text:
Heightening Montréal's visibility abroad
In a context of ever-growing competitiveness among the world's great urban centres, Montréal's image abroad is especially important. In 2017, Montréal will again be celebrating some important events with the world: the 375th anniversary of the founding of Montréal, the 150th anniversary of Confederation, and the 50th anniversary of Man and His World.
To boost its image, particularly in the run-up to 2017, Montréal must clearly be able to count on top-quality tourist attractions and facilities, including major sports events, but also on its "front-line" ambassadors: city companies that operate internationally, and major networks of partners well established in many different countries that can help the city better advertise itself abroad.
- Make the city more competitive as a business and tourist destination
- Constantly improve tourist attractions and facilities
- Attract major sports and cultural events
- Maximize the contribution of partners with operations abroad, as a way of integrating Montréal into international strategic networks
- Promote the city's export companies
- Support Montréal's institutions of higher learning and research in their efforts to gain international stature
Prepare Montréal to celebrate 2017
- Complete Horizon 2017, the development plan for Jean Drapeau Park
Promote the tourist experience throughout the island
- Market Montréal's various tourist destinations
- Renew tourist signage
- Simplify access to tourist sites
- Publicize public art and heritage features
Propose strategic positioning for hosting and holding international-calibre sports events in Montréal
Launch a properly positioned, attractive business portal
Participate in missions, events and fairs, and host foreign delegations
- Ensure Montréal's presence abroad via certain clusters (Bourget, Farnborough, BIO, etc.) and the Montréal consortium (MIPIM)
- Promote Montréal more as a university city and city of knowledge
Make use of Montreal's ambassadors and partners to promote the city and strengthen its presence in strategic networks
Assist in completing the Port of Montréal passenger-terminal project
- Number of tourists, overnight stays, and tourist dollars spent
- Number of sports events and related economic benefits
- Number of cruise companies
- Number of conventions


text:
Tom Petty
Tom Petty Responds to 'The Sam Smith Thing'
While some copyright and royalty issues seem to drag on forever, the one between Sam Smith and Tom Petty went away without a hitch.
Red Hot Chili Peppers, Tom Petty, Foster the People + More to Headline 2013 Firefly Festival
The Firefly Music Festival is quickly turning into one of the premiere summer music destinations. Organizers have revealed the lineup for the second annual event, which includes heavy hitters like the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, Foster the People and more.


text:
fiberPhoto Vocabulary Words -
Chemistry and Darkroom Terms
Photo Vocabulary Words - Camera and Film Terms
Photo Vocabulary Words - Composition and Film Terms
Computer Vocabulary Words, Pt 1: Hardware and Main Screen Terms
Computer Vocabulary Words, Pt 2: Text and Miscellaneous Terms
Computer Vocabulary Words, Pt 3: Software and Manipulation Terms
Be sure to review any links and/or extended definitions. I used to take class time going over each word. But more often than not, I am providing you me extended explanation in writing on the vocabulary page in place of my rambling in front of you...so read the whole definition...although you only have to type out what is in brackets.
Photography Words, Pt. 1: Chemistry and Darkroom Terms
Darkroom - light-tight room
Safelight - an enclosed darkroom lamp to which the photo paper in use is NOT sensitive [How Safe is a Safe Light?]
Photosensitive - material which is chemically or physically changed by the action of light [See pictures being printed under the yellow safelight.]
Exposure - the length of time that light of a given intensity is allowed to act on a sensitive emulsion [Exposure is relevant in both the darkroom and the camera. In the darkroom, how long you expose your paper will determine how dark the print is. So, if you want a print to be lighter, you would decrease the time. In the camera, exposure can make the difference between objects appearing blurry or sharp. Basic cameras are designed to give you a basic exposure automatically. Advanced cameras let you take over the exposure. Today, even cell phones allow you to adjust the exposure with simple exposure compensation controls to make your pictures darker or brighter when you take the pictures. Some digital cameras even let you adjust the exposure of the image on the computer LONG after the picture was taken.]
Enlarger - optical projector forming an image of a negative on larger sheet of sensitive paper
Lamphouse - part of enlarger which contains the light source
Negative holder - device designed to hold the negative in proper position in the enlarger
Easel - device used to keep sensitive paper flat while enlarging
Contact proofer - frame designed to hold the negative in contact with paper for making contact prints
Contact - print print made by placing negative in contact with sensitive paper while exposure is made
Enlargement - print made from a smaller negative through a projection process
Gray scale - scale having a graduated series of tones from white to black
Emulsion - light sensitive coating on film or paper
Resin - coating plastic coating applied to both sides of paper
Glossy - shiny
Matte - not shiny
Latitude - amount by which a negative (or sensor in the case of digital) may be over or under exposed without much loss of image quality. Another way to look at this is the flexibility to get a good picture even if the subject is over or under exposed. Film usually has a latitude of 2 stops. Digital has a much smaller range of acceptable exposure...IOW, digital has LESS latitude than film...especially for overexposed pictures. With film, it is better to overexpose slightly. With digital, it is better to underexpose than it is to overexpose to make sure that white areas do not blow out completely.
Over developed - the result of permitting film or paper to remain in the developer too long
Under developed - the result of not permitting film or paper to remain in developer long enough. A common mistake is to assume that a print received too little light...when in fact...it may have just not been in the develop long enough enough. You can usually spot the difference in that an underdeveloped print will be unevenly developed...and generally lack contrast. You may see swirls in the dark areas.
Reticulation - cracking or distorting of the emulsion during processing
Stain - discolored areas on film or paper
Graininess - a mottled effect in the negative
Burning - in adding light to certain parts of the image by extra exposure while the rest of the image is protected from the enlarger light
Dodging - shading a portion of the negative during printing to reduce exposure
Toning - changing the color of a black and white photographic print
Variable contrast - system of paper and filters allowing changes in contrast
Highlights - parts of the pictures having the greater amount of light
Developer - chemical solution used to convert the latent (invisible) image on film into a visible one
Stop - bath an acid rinse
Fixer - chemical solution used to remove unexposed silver salts from developed negatives and prints
Wetting - agent chemical solution which reduces surface tension of water
Agitation - movement of material or solution to obtain the continual change of solution at the surface of the material being processed
Fog - dark, hazy deposit on all or part of the film or paper [IOW, emulsion that has been exposed to light, radiation or heat turning the silver prematurely.]
Thin - transparent, as in the film due to underexposure
Dense - very dark, as in the film due to overexposure
Photography Words, Pt. 2: Camera and Film Terms
Camera- photographic instrument for taking pictures
Simple camera - camera with few or no adjustments
Lens - disc (s) of optical glass used to form an image of a subject on a sensitive material [The enlarger uses a lens just like a camera. Lens come in many different types. Think of a pair of glasses to see better or differently. Just like you can wear a different pair of glasses, you can use different lenses to see a scene different. Some are single focal lengths such as a 50mm lens. Others lenses will vary from Wide Angle to Telephoto. (see definitions below for each type of lens)]
Resolving power - the ability of a lens to separate closely spaced details in an object
Focal length - distance from the optical center of a lens to the film plane [In layman's terms, this is how long your lens is. But, you can't just measure the outside of the lens because manufactures can do some pretty funny stuff with the optics to modify the effective FL. Generally, a 50mm lens for a 35mm camera is equal to your eye. Many digital cameras will state two different focal length ranges. One is the actual measurement of the lens, the other is in 35mm terms...the standard by which all lenses are compared. Lens come in MANY focal lengths, and most also come in variable focal lengths called a Zoom Lens.
Normal - type of lens that makes the image in a photograph appear in a perspective similar to that of the original scene
Macro - type of lens used for close-ups
Telephoto - type of lens that makes a subject appear larger on the film than does a normal lens at the same camera-to-subject distance
Wide-angle - type of lens that includes more subject area than a normal
Zoom - type of lens in which the focal length can be adjusted over a wide range [This is the most ideal type of lens to have, but, the convenience of a zoom does come with a price...quality. Cheap zoom lens will distort colors and have low image quality. In order for a manufacture to bend the light back into shape after passing through all of the pieced of glass found in a lens, it has to employ some pretty expensive design strategies and special fluoride coatings and very expensive glass to correct the light aberrations. So, don't get to excited with that all in one 18mm-300mm zoom lens. Just because you can carry almost every possible focal length possible in one lens, you will pay a price. Here is a page that talks more about this. ]
Shutter - mechanical device which regulates the time light is allowed to act on photographic film [In the darkroom, this is like the timer that regulates how long the light will be allowed to act on the photo paper. In the camera, the shutter is controlled by the camera and is called the "Shutter Speed". This can be either electronically (inexpensive camera) or mechanically with an actual curtain or shutter blades opening and closing.]
Aperture - opening of a lens, its size controlled by means of a diaphragm
Iris - lens control used to vary its aperture
Depth of field - points nearest and farthest from the camera that are exceptionally sharp
Exposure meter - device which measures the quantity of light reflected from or onto a subject [Just about all cameras have an exposure meter built into the camera...even a cell phone. The exposure meter is what is going to determine if a scene is rendered light or dark. Many modern cameras have very fancy Scene Modes which are simply Exposure Scene Biases that affect how a camera will render any given scene. Despite these advances, it is frequently necessary to adjust the exposure with an exposure compensation setting of +1 or 2 or -1 or 2 or more.]
F/number - the designation for a relative aperture of a lens
Bellows - folding portion in some cameras which connects the lens to the camera body
Focal plane - position in the camera where the film is
Ground glass - a screen at the back or top of a camera on which the image is focused
Lens hood - shade to keep stray light from the lens surface [These are sometimes built into the lens, or they are removable. Lens hoods do more then protect the lens from light...as they also help protect from running into things and from fingers from touching the lens.]
Lens paper - fine, soft tissue paper used for cleaning lenses [Never clean your lens with your shirt. Clothes, even if freshly out of the laundry, have particles, like Talc, that will scratch a lens. Special lintless tissues should be used to clean your lens. I will help clean any lens here in this class. But, if you are on your own, one thing you can do is blow any loose particles off, then exhale heavily to put a little moisture on the lens. The use the the softest thing you can find to wipe off the moisture.]
Cassette - metal or plastic film spool container [This is what contains your film that gets loaded into the cameras.]
Tripod - three-legged supporting stand used to hold the camera
Cable Release - flexible encased wire used to trip the shutter
ISO - camera rating indicating relative sensitivity to light. The LOWER the number, the LESS sensitive to light. The HIGHER the number...the more sensitive to light. [Familiar numbers will include 50, 80, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200. Until recently, the best ISO digital cameras could achieve was 800 with out excessive noise or grain. Recently, camera manufactures have pressed the ISO capabilities of camera now capable of shooting VERY effectively at 6400 ISO...and even higher (such as 25,000) although with pretty excessive noise. What does this mean? The ability to shoot pictures in complete darkness, handheld, with good results. In the days of film, even 400 was not very good. Toward the end of the film era, film manufactures started making significant improvements in film. But just at that time, digital started to emerge. Today, film is pretty good.]
Latent image - image recorded by light remaining invisible until developed
Load - insert film into camera or tank
Negative - photographic image in which the amount of silver present is more or less proportional to the quantity of light reflected from the original subject [IOW, a negative is the opposite of the scene you photograph. Today, with digital cameras, negatives have been replaced with a sensor. The cameras are essentially the same, except there is a fancy senor sitting exactly where the film use to sit. The sensor is technically a positive...which means the image is recorded as correct to the actual light in the scene.]
Focus - to adjust the distance between the lens and the film for maximum image sharpness
Infinity - distance which light appears to reach the lens in parallel rays
Flash - a brief, intense burst of light
Photography Words, Pt. 3: Composition and Miscellaneous Terms
Background - part of a scene that appears behind the principal subject
Foreground - part of the scene nearest the camera
Contrast - difference between tones in a scene
Camera - angle point of view in which the subject is photographed
Crop - to eliminate unwanted portion to improve the composition of the photograph [There are MANY times to crop. You should CROP the best you can in the camera. You can then crop in the darkroom or computer. Then, once an images has printed, it can be cropped by cutting the picture down to size. This is known as the three (3) Cs of composition. Crop, Crop, Crop!]
Parallax - difference in the fields of view of two lenses aimed parallel to each other
Perspective - relative size and alignment of objects
Time exposure - a comparatively long exposure made in terms of seconds or minutes, used primarily in night photography
High Key - print having a majority of its tones light gray or white
Low Key - print having a majority of its tones dark gray to black
Front lighting - light shining on the subject from the direction of the camera
Candid - unposed picture
Composition - arrangement of the subject matter in a photograph
Double exposure - two exposures on the same negative or image
Filter - a piece of colored glass or plastic
Filter factor - the number of times exposure must be increased to compensate for light absorbed by a filter
Panchromatic - sensitive to all colors
Panning - moving the camera so that the image of a moving object remains in the same relative position in viewfinder as the picture is taken. [We will actually do this as a class assignment in class. But you can try this long before then...as it is an easy to do trick that can help improve an otherwise static, boring picture...especially one with a busy background. All you have to do is have a slow shutter. Sometimes you can force a slow shutter by intentionally keeping the ISO down low and/or turning off the flash. Then, when you get ready to take the picture...start tracking the subject. While moving the camera with the subject...press the shutter release. You may not get it at first...but keep trying and you will get some neat results.]
Distortion - incorrect rendering of subject shape
Flat - lacking in contrast
Opaque - not capable of transmitting light
Refraction - bending of a ray of light in its passage between optical media of different densities
Over exposure - the result of too much light being permitted to act on a sensitive material
Under exposure - the result of insufficient light being allowed to pass through a lens to produce all the tones of an image
Halation - fog or halo around brilliantly lighted objects. A similar affect is called Chromatic Aberration. These effects are caused when you shoot a subject that is strongly back lit. All lenses can have this problem...but cheap lenses (or cameras with built in lenses) can increase the affect Halation and Chromatic Aberration. Read more about lenses.
Art work - retouching, lettering, and drawing which may be added to a photograph to improve it
Dry mounting - mounting photographs by means of adhesive tissue, pressure, and/or heat. [We use this method here in this class to prepare your prints for display. The propose of dry mounting is to assist in displaying your photo by keeping the print flat...especially in Southeast Texas where a print will warp from the humidity. Even an 8x10 picture in a frame will warp if it is not mounted. The pictures all along the top of the wall in the class here have been mounted. Mounting of pictures is important in class for displaying at the end of year contest.]
Graduate - container for liquids marked off to measure various volumes
Fahrenheit - American temperature scale
Film - a thin, transparent base coated with a light sensitive emulsion
Slide - photographic transparency
Print - positive image on opaque material
Halftone - a printed image in which shades of gray are represented with a regularly spaced array of different sizes of black dots. [This is the technique used by newspapers to print photo realistic pictures. The opposite of a halftone is called "continuous tone" and is similar to what you get from a picture printed in the darkroom or a real photo printer at the commercial stores (note...this is NOT what you get from an inkjet)].
Computer Vocabulary Words, Pt 1: Hardware and Main Screen Terms
Start menu the menu on the far left in the Start bar
menu bar the horizontal area across the top of the screen of a specific application containing menu titles. The Start Bar is a Windows XP specific menu bar that is used to monitor open applications. [Menus in the menu bar can be accessed through shortcuts involving the Alt key and the mnemonic letter that appears underlined in the menu title. NOTE: Microsft has redefined the LOOK of the menu bar and is now calling it a Ribbon ]
menu a list of commands that appears when you point to and press the menu title in the menu bar []
desk accessories mini applications that are available regardless of the application being used currently [This includes programs like Calculator, Character Map, Paint, etc.]
Printers and Faxes a start menu item that lets you configure your system to print on any printer for which there's a printing resource on the current startup disk
Control panel a desk accessory that is used to select computer features such as volume
Scrapbook a desk accessory in which is saved frequently used pictures and text
Clipboard the holding place for what you last cut or copied
desktop the computer's working environment; the menu bar and background area of the screen
Finder an application that's always available on the desktop; it is used to manage documents and applications and to get information to and from disks
Read Me documents documents that are included on application and system software disks that provide late-breaking information about the product
folder a holder of documents, applications, or folders on the desktop [See nesting below to sort your folders inside of other folders.]
document whatever you create with applications; information you enter, modify, view, or save
volume a general term referring to a storage device; a source of or a destination for information
file any named, ordered collection of information stored on disk
dialog box a box that contains a message requesting more information or a warning. An example is like when you "Save" a document for the first time...or Print a document. The box that pops up is a dialog box. To get out of a dialog box, hit escape.
window the area that displays information on the desktop
active a screen item which has been selected and is ready to be worked upon
title bar the horizontal bar at the top of a window that shows the name of the window's contents and that allows the window to be moved
close box the small white box on the far left in the title bar of an active window; clicking it closes the window
size box a box in the bottom-right corner of most active windows that allows the window to be resized
zoom box the small box/button icon in the middle of the three window control icons on the right side of the title bar. The button has multiple functions depending on current window state: Restore Down or Maximize. [It's the one in the middle. Maximize takes the screen to full size, Restore Down takes the window to the previous defined size.]
icon an image that graphically represents an object, concept or message
trash an icon on the desktop that is used to discard documents, folders, and applications
wristwatch the pointer's icon shown when the computer is performing an action that requires user wait time
central processing unit the brain of the computer that actually does the computations
hardware the physical parts of the computer system
scanner a device that converts images into computer-readable form. [This was one of the original ways to get a picture into a computer. Usually a flat bed...but can also be business card sized. A scanner can also be the side of a negative. We have a few scanners in here. _____ machines work on the same principal. Does anybody know what OCR is?]
disk drive the mechanism that holds the disk, retrieves information from it, and saves information on it
hard disk a disk drive with a permanently encased disk [Your computer has a 40gb hard drive. The L drive student store allows YOU to store 50mb...but the drive is a much larger drive. For example...the CGS1 Photography Server is 160gb...of which you get 700mb of shared space. Some MP3 players use a drive as well...versus a flash drive which is solid state memory.]
memory integrated circuits (chips) that store information electronically. [There are many type of Memory: Flash Memory, RAM, Memory Card, Memory Stick (Sony Branded Memory Card), ROM. Each have their very specific uses. The hard drive stores all of your information...even when it is off. When the computer starts up, information is loaded into the RAM which is NANO Second Fast.]
megabyte a unit of measurement equal to 1024 kilobytes
nesting placing folders inside other folders [Your P drive should be organized with NESTED folders. One main folder for your Class Documents...and one main folder for your Pictures. Then, with in those folders, you will have SUB folders organizing your documents into logical named folders. See link below.]
Computer Vocabulary Words, Pt 2: Text and Miscellaneous Terms
graphics information presented in the form of pictures or images
reverse a term used to describe an image in which dark and light elements have been interchanged
camera-ready ready for offset reproduction with no modification
EPSF a file format used to transfer complete high-quality images to a suitable page layout or drawing program and for preparing images for later typesetting
bitmap an image formed by a matrix of visible or invisible dots
text information presented in the form of readable characters
font a collection of letters, numbers, punctuation marks, and other typographical symbols with a consistent appearance
style a stylistic variation of a font, such a italic, underline, shadow, or outline
slant the effect by which objects are made to lean either to left or right
proportionally spaced said of fonts whose characters occupy different amounts of horizontal space, depending on their size
serif a little hook, line, or blob added as decoration onto the basic form of a character [An interesting look at Serif vs. Sans Serif in a product logo: http://www.mcwade.com/DesignTalk/ This should bring up a discussion about the logo change for pepsi]
sans serif said of a font that has no serifs
special character member of a font not necessarily available from the keyboard
baseline the non-printing line on which the bases of capital and lower case letters rest
ascender the part of a lower case character which extends above the x-height
descender the part of a lower case character which extends below the baseline
point a typesetting measure to 1/72 of an inch
pica a typesetting measure equal to 1/6 of an inch
dpi dots per inch
resolution a degree of fineness of image reproduction measured in dots per inch
leading the amount of space from one line of type to the next; usually measured in points
kerning the process of removing the space between characters so they are more closely spaced
pixel picture elements that are the square dots which make up the image on the screen
alignment the arrangement of type and other graphics to lie along one vertical or horizontal line
grid a matrix of visible lines and invisible intermediate lines which can be used for arranging or aligning objects
crash a noun and verb which mean that you system has suddenly stopped working, or is working wrong; you normally have to restart
template an image which can be imported around which can be created text and graphic images
telecommunications transferring information between computers over communication lines
desktop publishing a system that provides you with the ability to produce publication-quality documents
bulletin board a computer dedicated to maintaining a list of messages and making them available over the internet
Paper Weight a reference to the overall heft or density of 1 piece of paper by referring to the weight of 4-5 reams of that paper (500 sheets/ream)
save to store information on a disk
crop marks lines printed with an image to show the dimensions to which finished pages should be trimmed
fill the color or tint applied to the interior of a character form
disk a magnetic medium on which the computer stores information
Computer Vocabulary Words, Pt 3: Software and Manipulation Terms
landscape view a page format in which the long edge is horizontal
portrait view a page format in which the long side is vertical
copy to duplicate something from a document and place the duplicate on the clipboard
cut to remove something by selecting it, choosing the appropriate edit command, and sending it to the clipboard
paste to put a copy of the content of the clipboard at the insertion point
lock to prevent documents from being edited, discarded, or renamed, or to prevent entire disks from being altered
marquee a means of selecting one or more objects by dragging a rectangle to enclose them
mouse the small device rolled around on a flat surface next to the computer
pointer what moves on the screen when you move the mouse
click to position the pointer on something, then press and quickly release the mouse button
double-click to position the pointer where you want an action to take place, and then press and release the mouse button twice in quick succession without moving the mouse
Shift-click technique that lets you extend or shorten a selection by holding down the shift key while you select or deselect something related to the current selection
drag to position the pointer on something, press and hold the mouse button, move the mouse and release the mouse button
handle a movable point on an object used to alter its shape or proportions
flip a manipulation of an image in which it appears to be rotated about a horizontal line
scale to adjust the proportions of an object
scroll to move a document or directory in its window to see a different part
scroll arrow an arrow on either end of a scroll bar
insertion point the spot in a document where something will be added
control key a key used to give an alternate interpretation to another key typed, i.e. Ctrl + S will execute the Save Command.
Backspace (PC) or Delete (Mac) a key that moves the insertion point backward, removing the previously typed character, or that removes the current selection. This key is in the main text section, right corner...and on a Windows PC keyboard is usually labeled as "Backspace". On a Mac, the key is labeled as "Delete".
Delete (PC) or Del (Mac) a key that moves the insertion point forward, removing the character to the right of the insertion point, or that removes the current selection, aka forward destructive. The key is located above the arrow keys. On a PC, it is usually labeled as "Delete" and on a Mac it is usually "Del".
enter key a key that confirms or terminates an entry or sometimes a command...aka "Return Key" on a older Mac/Apple Keyboard.
software programs or instructions for the computer to carry out
startup disk a disk that contains the system files the computer needs to get itself started
public domain said of products you have the right to copy, use, give away and sell, without having to pay any money for the right
application program a tool to manipulate information
backup a copy of a disk or of a file
initialize to prepare a blank disk to receive information by organizing its surface into tracks and sectors
destination a disk or folder that receives a copied or translated file
default an assumed or standard setting for something which can vary
path name all the folders a file is in starting from the largest (most distant) to the smallest
local area network a group of computers linked physically by a network of cables
fiber optic a glass or plastic fiber designed to guide light along its length [by confining as much light as possible in a propagating form, a much great amount of data can be carried much further than copper. http://www.arcelect.com/fibercable.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optical_fiber ]
1. 2-stage Shutter Release: A 2-stage shutter release is the industry standard among current electronic cameras. In order to activate the Autofocus mechanism and the light meter, slightly press the shutter release. [Holding the release halfway maintains the focusing point and the exposure parameters (AE Lock), and allows for re-composition of the picture, if so desired. To take the picture, simply push down on shutter release all the way.]
2. A-D Converter: The A-D Converter converts the analog signal that is emitted from the image sensor into a digital signal.
3. Aperture: The lens opening, which permits light to expose the CCD on a digital camera or film (in a traditional camera). The aperture size is either fixed or adjustable, and is calibrated in F-Stop numbers; the larger the number, the smaller the lens opening.
4. Autofocus TTL (through-the-lens): Allows the camera to automatically focus through the lens, rather than by moving the lens back and forth manually. Write out the definition for TTL also [#46 below].
5. Bit: A bit, which stands for binary digit, is the smallest unit of digital information. Eight bits equals one byte. Digital images are often described by the number of bits used to represent each pixel. i.e. a 1-bit image is monochrome; an 8-bit image supports 256 colors or grayscales; while 24 or 32-bit supports true color.
6. CCD: Charge-coupled device. The image sensor that separates the spectrum of color into red, green and blue for digital processing by the camera. [In digital cameras both Area and Linear CCDs are used. A CCD captures only black-and-white images. The image is passed through red, green and blue filters in order to capture color. Area CCD: A square or rectangular CCD that can capture an entire image at once, which is essential for dynamic subjects and flash photography. Linear CCD: a.k.a. scanner-type CCD, these sensors are long and thin, and capture an image by recording a vast number of individual "exposures" while scanning across the picture frame. These are best suited for still subjects and continuous illumination.]
[Image of Sensors: Left...Full Size equal to a 35mm negative. Middle...APS...about 50% of the size of a 35mm...common to most inexpensive consumer digital cameras. Right...P&S Compact Digital Camera. Very small. Can be very high resolution...but still a very small form factor subject to a lot of noise artifacts...although many improvement are being made in the lesser expensive cameras.]
7. Center-Weighted: A method of determining the correct exposure for a photograph which gives more importance to the light meter reading at the center of the frame than to the peripheral areas. This method is often criticized for being too limiting to the photographer. The PowerShot utilizes a multi-point focal system that frees you from having to keep your subject centered at all times.
8. Compact Flash Card: A digital image storing mechanism that is increasing in popularity and thus functionality. Flash memory is a safe, highly reliable form of storage that doesn't need power to hold the images after they are saved. It won't erase the images unless the user chooses to do so.
9. Compression: The compression of digital files in a format that requires less storage space. Compression techniques are distinguished from each other by whether they remove detail and color from the image. Lossless techniques compress image data without removing detail; lossy techniques compress images by removing some detail. JPEG is a lossy compression technique and the standard file format. [Digital cameras usually store their images in JPEG format, which provides the best results with continuous-tone images, such as photographs, when the size of the file is an important factor. Some cameras offer additional file formats such as TIFF and a Proprietary RAW Format.]
10. Diaphragm: The adjustable aperture of the lens. It restricts the amount of light allowed into the camera. This term can also be applied to shutter types, i.e. iris diaphragm shutter, which is a set of interposing leaves, which open and close at a variable rate to produce a between-the-lens shutter.
11. Digital Zoom: Unlike an optical zoom, the digital zoom takes the central portion of the high-resolution sensor's image to achieve the effect of a zoom. This means that the existing data is not enhanced or added to, merely displayed at a lower resolution, thereby giving an illusion of an enlarged image. All PowerShot cameras utilize the superior optical zoom, which actually augments the data collected by the sensor, rather than merely creating the illusion that the image has been enlarged.
12. Export: The act of sending a file out through a specialized mini-application or plug-in so as to print or compress it. The term is also used to describe the action of saving the data to a specialized file format, i.e. JPEG, or GIF89a.
13. Exposure: Exposure explains how light acts on a photographic material. The lens opening controls light intensity, while the duration is controlled by the shutter speed. A camera with autoexposure can automatically control the exposure. The same principle works with digital cameras where film is replaced by the CCD.
14. F-stop: The number assigned to a particular lens aperture (or opening) size.
15. Film: A piece of plastic with a light sensitive mixture spread on it.
16. Film processing: The process where chemicals remove the unexposed silver on the film, then fix or stop the developing process and stop the negative's sensitivity to light. Now with PowerShot digital cameras, you are freed from the expense of film buying and processing.
17. Film speed: The film's sensitivity to light. For example, an ISO 100 film requires twice as much light as an ISO 200 film.
18. Flash: An electronic device that produces a burst of light the consumer can use to produce more exposure on the film.
19. Focal length: The distance from the rear model plane of a lens to the focus when the lens is focused at the infinity position.
20. Focus: To adjust the distance between the lens and an image to make the image as sharp as possible.
21. GUI: Pronounced "Gooey." Stands for Graphic User Interface. Refers a program interface that takes advantage of the computer's graphics capabilities to make the program, itself, easier to use. PowerShot software utilizes a GUI that is very effective because of its familiarity to popular browsers.
22. Jaggies: a.k.a. pixelization. Term for the stair-stepped appearance of a curved or angled line in digital imaging. [The smaller the pixels and the greater their number, the less apparent the "jaggies".]
23. JPEG: Joint Photographic Experts Group, *.jpg. A file format utilizing compression…the way an image is saved to a digital camera's memory. JPEG is a lossy compression technique, capable of reducing digital images files to about 5% of their normal size. [This is one of the reasons you can get as many images into your digital camera as you can. The results in decompression of the files can cause "blockiness," the "jaggies," or "pixelization" in certain digital images. The greater the compression level the more pixelization or "blockiness" that will occur. The greater the pixel count, the less pixelization that may occur.]
24. Kilobyte: 1,024 bytes, written KB, used to refer to size of files, which relates to the amount of information in a file.
25. LCD: Liquid crystal display. The flat screen on many digital cameras that preview photographs that have already been taken. LCDs utilize two sheets of polarizing material with a liquid crystal solution between them. An electric current passed through the liquid causes the crystals to align so that light cannot pass through them. Each crystal, therefore, is like a shutter, either allowing light to pass through or blocking the light.
26. Lens: One or more pieces of glass, specially shaped, arranged to bring together rays of light so they can be recorded.
27. Lossy: Data compression techniques that reduce some detail of a digital image are described as being "lossy." Most digital photo and video compression techniques utilize lossy compression. [In general, a camera's onboard computer tosses 20% of the data before it is ever written to the camera's memory card.]
28. Megabyte: 1024 Kilobytes, written MB, used to refer to the size of files or media such as hard drives. Refers to the amount of information in a file or how much information can be contained on a hard drive or disk.
29. Megapixel: 1,000,000 pixels. [Write out definition for Pixel (#36 below]
30. Memory: The camera's storage medium. Flash memory is a safe, highly reliable form of storage that doesn't need power to hold the images after they are saved. It won't erase the images unless the user chooses to do so.
31. Negative: A reverse image in which shadows and dark areas of the photograph appear light, and in which light areas appear dark.
32. Non-lossy: a.k.a. lossless. Term that refers to data compression techniques that do not remove image data details in order to achieve compression. This method is generally less effective than lossy methods in terms of resulting file size, but retains the entire original image. [See also lossy.]
33. Optical Zoom: An optical zoom is made to bring you closer to your subject, without you having to move. Zooms are constructed to allow a continuously variable focal length, without disturbing focus. To achieve this, the optical zoom uses a combination of lenses that magnify the image prior to being registered at high resolution by the sensor. While the digital zoom only changes the presentation of existing data, with the optical zoom the data collected by the sensor is actually augmented.
34. Over-exposure: Expression used to indicate that the light sensitive material has been excessively exposed. This can be the result of light that is either too bright, or has been allowed to act for too long. In digital imaging, over-exposure is also referred to as blooming.
35. Parallax: The difference between the image seen by a viewing system and that recorded by the sensor/film. As subjects move closer to the lens, the variance increases. Only through the lens (TTL) viewing systems avoid parallax error.
36. Pixel: Short for picture element, Pixels are the tiny dots of information that make up a digital image. [The more pixels there are on the camera's image sensor (CCD or CMOS), the higher the image resolution will be. The higher the resolution, the clearer an enlarged print can be and the more it can be cropped.]
37. Pixelization: The step-like appearance of a curved or angled line in digital imaging. The smaller the pixels, and the greater their number, the less apparent the "pixelization" of the image. Also known as the "jaggies."
38. Range finder camera: A camera that uses a system of prisms and mirrors to bring an image into focus, even though the viewfinder (unlike an SLR) is separate from the lens. Also sometimes known as a lens-shutter or "point and shoot" camera.
39. Red-eye: Red-eye is the term used to describe the effect that can occur in photographs where the pupils of the eyes can take on a red color. The red color appears when the pupil of the eye is dilated, usually in a low light environment when the light of the flash strikes the retina at the back of the eye, reflecting the light through the wide-open pupil. [Also see Red-eye Reduction]
40. Red-eye Reduction: A system that causes the pupils of a subject to shrink by shining a light prior to the taking of the flash picture. This prevents the red-eye effect. [RER systems are INEFFECTIVE at best. Therefore, it is HIGHLY recommended that you turn this OFF on your cameras to improve capture time.]
41. Reflex: A reflex camera is one that utilizes a mirror system to reflect the light, and therefore the image, coming through the lens, to a visible screen. The image seen in the camera's viewfinder then is the same image entering the lens. This system provides the most accurate framing and focusing. Most reflex cameras reveal a high percentage of the image that will be photographed, upwards of 80%. Some reflex cameras are able to show 100% of the image frame into the viewfinder. The reflex system avoids the parallax problem that plagues most direct view cameras. See also SLR.
42. Resolution: Refers to the number of pixels, both horizontally and vertically, used to either capture an image or display it. The higher the resolution the finer the image detail that can be seen.
43. Shutter: A mechanism in the camera that controls how much light reaches the film.
44. Shutter speed: The length of time the shutter remains open when the shutter release is activated, expressed in fractions of seconds.
45. SLR, or single-lens-reflex: A user looking through the viewfinder on this type of camera actually looks through the picture-taking lens, thanks to a series of mirrors and prisms within the camera. This is a very improved type of viewfinder, because what you see is what is in the actual picture frame.
46. TTL (through-the-lens): Refers to a metering system that utilizes a light-sensitive mechanism within the camera body to measure exposure from image light passing through the lens. [TTL viewfinders reveal exactly what the lens sees, avoiding parallax problems. See also Autofocus TTL.]
47. Under-exposure: The result of too little exposure in the camera. In digital imaging, under-exposure can sometimes be corrected by the use of image editing software.
48. Viewfinder: System used for composing and sometimes focusing the subject. There are several types: direct vision, optical, ground glass screen or reflex.
49. Wide-angle lens: A camera lens with a short focal length, such as 24mm or 28mm.
50. Zoom lens: A lens whose focal length can be continuously adjusted.
1. action lines - lines drawn on a storyboard to indicate continued action
2. aspect ratio - the ratio of width to height. as on a TV screen; in most instances the current ratio is 3 to 4 (three units high, four units wide): this is an important ratio to remember when planning a storyboard or title
3. available light - daylight or ordinary indoor light that is not enhanced by additional lighting
4. backlight - illumination from behind a subject
5. bust shot - a medium close-up shot of a person from the chest upward
6. character – electronically generated type or titles on a screen generation
7. close up any detail that fills the frame
8. continuity sequence of details from shot to shot, including light level and placement of objects cut to two scenes are abruptly butted together (without dissolve or fade) [See clip from "This Christmas"]
9. dissolve - a transition that mixes from one shot to another; more pleasing than an abrupt transition dolly the camera and tripod move straight in or straight out from the subject
10. fade out - transition from video scene to black or color
11. fade in - transition from black or color to a video scene
12. key light - the principal light source illuminating a subject
13. lux - a measurement of illumination, the metric equivalent of a foot-candle
14. medium shot - for example, it photographing a person, this would be from the waist up
15. microphone - equipment that transmits the sound to videotape
16. monitor - part of a video system with higher resolution than the standard television set


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When I wrote in May that we could soon see a MotoGP race with no U.S. riders, I was thinking "soon" meant 2015, after Colin Edwards' retirement and if Nicky Hayden's severely damaged wrist led to a forced early retirement. Little did I know that "soon" would turn out to be August 17.
Edwards told Superbikeplanet.com that he will be only riding selected races for the rest of the season and won't be at the Czech Republic round. Italian web sites have reported that Alex de Angelis, who filled in last year at the U.S. Red Bull Grand Prix at Laguna Seca for the injured Ben Spies and finished a respectable 11th, will replace Edwards at several remaining rounds. Edwards has only scored eight points this season, while his young teammate, Aleix Espargaró, has 77 points and is in sixth place in the standings. Meanwhile, Hayden will miss the Indianapolis and Brno races while he tries to recover from yet another operation on the bones in his right wrist.
The last time there was a MotoGP or 500cc motorcycle grand prix without a U.S. rider was in 1995, when Kevin Schwantz retired early in the season. Scott Russell came over from World Superbikes to take Schwantz's place with Suzuki, but there was a gap.
Compare the current dismal state of U.S. roadracing to the stretch from 1983 through 1985, when U.S. riders won 35 of the 36 grands prix, or 1992, when six of the top 10 riders were from the United States.
It just so happens that 1992 was Colin Edwards' first season as a professional racer. So how long does it take to go from world dominance to total MotoGP absence? The space of one long career.


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Tonight Show host Jay Leno tried to get President Obama to talk about the Republican presidential candidates today, but Obama wouldn't go there -- though he did liken them to contestants on television's Survivor.
"I'm going to wait until everybody is voted off the island," Obama said of the Republicans.
"Once they narrow it down to one or two, I'll start paying attention," he said, according to clips of the interview released by NBC.
Obama discussed the toxic political environment in Washington, telling Leno, "I think the things that folks across the country are most fed up with -- whether you are a Democrat, Republican, independent -- is putting party ahead of country or putting the next election ahead of the next generation."
When Leno asked Obama how many Republicans opposed the planned withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq, the president replied, "It's shocking that they opposed something I proposed."
The Tonight Show interview of Obama will air in its entirety at 11:3o p.m. ET.
Obama also discussed the fall and death of former Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi, according to the excerpts.
"Well, this is somebody who, for 40 years, has terrorized his country and supported terrorism," Obama said. "And he had an opportunity during the Arab Spring to finally let loose of his grip on power and to peacefully transition into democracy. We gave him ample opportunity, and he wouldn't do it."
As for Gadhafi's killing, Obama said, "Obviously, you never like to see anybody come to the kind of end that he did, but I think it obviously sends a strong message around the world to dictators that people long to be free, and they need to respect the human rights and the universal aspirations of people."
After the taping, Obama is headed to San Francisco for a Democratic campaign fundraiser.
The president sat for three segments with Leno, we are told.
It was Obama's second appearance as president on the pioneer late night talk show.
Obama has also sat down with Leno's competitor -- and nemesis -- David Letterman; don't be shocked to see a second presidential appearance on Letterman down the line.
David's journalism career spans three decades, including coverage of five presidential elections, the Oklahoma City bombing, the 2000 Florida presidential recount and the 9/11 terrorist attacks. He has covered the White House for USA TODAY since 2005. His interests include history, politics, books, movies and college football -- not necessarily in that order. More about David
Follow the Oval on Twitter: @The Oval, @djusatoday.
Also contributing to the Oval: Richard Wolf @richardjwolf; Aamer Madhani @AamerISmad


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The other half of Angra's original line-up is in this band together with bassist Luis's brother Hugo. When I first heard of him I was immediately very skeptical about Hugo as much as the new Angra members. Hugo's playing focuses more on being "emotional" rather than technical but I find he can walk on both sides of the street with equal aplomb.
The two years or so since Angra split suggests Shaman's members' skills have rusted; the magic gone. However such is not the case. Matos's voice still enchants but now with a raspier tinge. He is still the versatile vocalist as before, able to hit low notes and high notes with little respite in between. Listen to Fairy Tale to see what I mean. Ricardo's drumming is just as powerful, though now more "primal" than previous Angra albums. Bassist Luis Mariutti still pounds his listeners with his intense bass lines that gives a good groovy edge to the music. Overall I found the rythm refreshingly new to me and I loved it immediately.
As expected, the production by Sascha Paeth and Miro are extremely well done. I for one do not think medling classical and world music into metal/rock is a walk in the park but these guys did it perfectly.
Shaman mines a new vein in metal, "mystic" metal they call it. I don't know the name for it but it is magic. The atmosphere they create cannot be described; you have to hear it for yourself. This album is throughly unique and melodic. I swear, the first time I heard "Here I Am" my mouth was practically dropping to the floor. Never had I heard such beautiful piano playing and I doubt I will again. The choruses are the catchy climaxes of each song. As they say valleys are there to make the mountains seem higher, but in this album even the "valleys" were enchanting, making that analogy seem redundant.
Ritual is often compared to Rebirth but I cannot say which album is better. I love both and I think each have their own good points. One thing I have to mention about Ritual though, it is not as accessible as Rebirth and you have to let it slowly grow on you. If you want a new experience then try Ritual. If you would rather stick to something you are familiar with that has been perfected, then get Rebirth. If you don't want to go wrong, get BOTH. Trust me, you won't regret it.


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Excel 2013: Find duplicate data using conditional formatting
Find duplicate data using conditional formatting in MS Excel 2013Excel 2013 is all about managing walls of numbers. However, while keeping a tack of large volumes of data, sometimes you don't realize and copy and paste some items twice. Or at times, already there can be multiple entries of a number or item in an Excel. And often, due to this, the size of your Excel can get notoriously huge. The question is- how do you find duplicate and repeated entries in an Excel. Because finding and deleting this data manually can be really time consuming and complicated. Therefore, adapting conditional formatting techniques can prove handy. The best part about using conditional formatting is that it can highlight the duplicate data to enable you to delete it easily. Know how to find duplicate data through conditional formatting in Excel 2013
- Open the Excel sheet in which you want to delete the repeated entries.
- In order to find the duplicate data, highlight the list that you would like to search.
- Now highlight the list in which you would like to search the duplicate entries.
- After highlight the list, go to the Excel ribbon and select 'Conditional Formatting'.
- Choose 'Highlight Cell Rules' and then click on 'Duplicate Values'.
- From 'Duplicate Values', choose the format of your choice. For example, select 'Red Border'. Once you have adjusted your settings, click on 'OK'.
- As you click 'OK', duplicate entries will be highlighted. Delete or keep the data according to your needs.


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Malaysian Doctor moves to Texas, gets married and embarks on a journey of exploring the world around her.
Fly away Stanley, be freeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!! (Do you know where this line comes from? If you don't know, I am pretty sure, one day in the future, you surely will... ;)
How cute!
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Law firms have paid greater attention to the need to improve gender diversity in recent years, but one of the first legal chairwomen in Australia says progress is still too slow.
Just 21.8 per cent of all partners across 37 surveyed firms are women. The proportion is lower still among equity, or profit-sharing partner ranks. Slightly more, or 24.2 per cent of the 95 new partners appointed in the last six months, are women.
The 10 big firms with more than 100 partners have 22.8 per cent of partner roles filled by women. The best of those are King & Wood Mallesons (25.9 per cent), Gadens (25.3 per cent) and Ashurst (22 per cent).
The worst of that group are Herbert Smith Freehills (19.1 per cent), Clayton Utz (19 per cent), Allens (18 per cent) and HWL Ebsworth (17.5 per cent).
Obstacles to promotion
Many firms have announced targets aimed at promoting more women. Minter's is to promote women to 50 per cent of new partner roles; this year three of eight new partners were women. But Ms Brown said there are still obstacles to overcome.
"There are a lot of things in terms of the way we run our business that may militate against, or bias against, women being able to progress," she said. This included unconscious bias.
She says decision-makers should think: " If I have someone who is working flexible hours in this team, how can I get them involved in this transaction, what role can they fill? I shouldn't make an automatic assumption they don't want to be involved or they can't be involved because they have responsibilities with their kids."
Having clear role models is often important. "We have one practice group which is all male partners. The women in that group don't have a role model in terms of a female partner who might work differently to a male partner. All they see is the way the males work," Ms Brown said. "And some of them will say, 'I can't work like that and have a young family. I don't see how the two are compatible'."
Top graduates are women
KWM global managing partner
KWM's board adopted a target of 30 per cent female partners by 2015, and is up to 26 per cent. "If you have, coming into your organisation, 50 per cent-plus [who are] female and you are not doing everything you can to promote the best people, regardless of gender, then you are simply diluting your talent base in the long term," he said.
The firm has already spoken about unconscious bias and trained about 100 people on the topic, a process which has had its challenges.
According to Mr Fuller, some in the diversity committee were not convinced the firm had a problem to begin with. "But when you go through the testing it is a little confronting."
Herbert Smith Freehills' Australian managing partner
The Australian Financial Review


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Immigration Law
Immigration Law Questions? Ask an Immigration Lawyer.
Im a permanent resident in the USA since 2007 however in 2011 i overstayed in Canada for 8 months because i wanted to spend time with my boyfriend. Before that i finished high school and started college. After i came back to USA i got a job plus i opened up a business. Right now im paying taxes and i live in USA. I would like to get my citizenship as soon as possible however im not sure if just because i overstayed for 8 months in Canada ill be approved. Whats my chances of getting a citizenship?
Response: Unfortunately, your application for naturalization may be denied because your stay in Canada for more six months is presumed to break your continuous residence in the United States making you ineligible for naturalization. As you know, in order to naturalize you must meet continuous residence and physical residence requirements amount other things. You are required to continuously reside in the U.S. for five years before your naturalization. You must also have physically resided in the U.S. for half the time you are required to have continuous residence in U.S. This means that you must be physically present in the U.S. for 30 months. However, you can overcome the presumption of break in continuous residence if you can show any one of the following:
(1) (1)That you did not terminate your employment in the United States or obtain employment while in Canada; or
(2) That your immediate family remained in the United States while you were visiting Canada; or
(3) That you retained full access to your apartment in the United States, that you did not abandon your apartment in the U.S.
For more information, click on the links below:
Let me know if you need further clarification.
sorry about that i just thought that im going to receive some more info of what to do in order to get a citizensip for me cus i already know that im not eligable. Can i somehow erase the bad review?
sorry about that i just thought that im going to receive some more info of what to do in order to get a citizensip for me cus i already know that im not eligable. Can i somehow erase the bad review? Response: Thank you very much for getting back to me and for your consideration. Please rate this response positively. It would cancel the first bad review. Thanks again. Also, I want to add that you are not automatically disqualified from applying for naturalization. You should still apply and see whether you would get challenged on the "overstay." The six months break in residence is a rebuttable presumption unlike the one year or more break in residence. This means that you would be given a chance to show that you did not abandon your residence in the U.S. If you are application is still denied, you can reapply for naturalization after four years and one day of your return and continuous residence in the U.S. So, all is not lost. The two links I provided you previously are very useful. You should review them very carefully before deciding not to apply. Here are the links once more for your convenience.
Let me know if you need additional information.


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Riding in a limo can make you feel like a member of society's elite, like throwing away your toothbrush after a single use. Be king for a day with this Groupon.
$369 for a Six-Hour Limo Winery Tour for Up to Eight with Complimentary Soft Drinks ($750 Value)
Before the six-hour self-guided wine tour, customers can create their own itinerary, plan one with Executive Charters, or make use of a prewritten itinerary and call to confirm it with Executive Charters. The company then sends a limo driver to shuttle clients to each destination. There is no limit on the number of destinations a group can visit during the six-hour session, but the tour must stay in one region, so customers should schedule their itineraries accordingly. Pickup is valid in Napa, Marin, and Sonoma Counties; an additional fee is required for pickup in San Francisco or San Jose.
Executive Charters
The fleet at Executive Charters could haul a small army to the prom, consisting as it does of GPS-equipped sedans, limos, stretch limos, charter buses, and party buses. Steering these luxurious rides, drivers pick up passengers for airport transfers, wine tours, and city tours of San Francisco, Los Angeles, and wine country. Unlike people who travel by being shot out of a cannon, passengers on these tours can control where they end up, which they do by creating their own itineraries; they can also enlist the help of Executive Charters' tour guides, who are members of the San Francisco Tour Guide Guild.


text: "If I could give 10 STARS, I would. These guys are THE BEST. I was traveling with my family on the highway from our family vacation in Sarasota when the car started to overheat. It was 5:30 in the morning, still dark out and we are 1,200 miles from home. Ironically, just at this moment I hear a radio commercial for Park Auto Service. I called them immediately expecting to leave a message and be waiting for them at the shop when they opened. Whoa was I surprised when Mike the owner answered the phone and arranged for a tow truck to pick up our SUV. Now this is the part that just blows my mind; While waiting in the rest stop near The Sunshine Skyway Mike's business partner Chris showed up to bring us to the shop, so my wife, and 2 children wouldn't have to cram into a tow truck. WOW! Chris opened up the shop early for us, made coffee, set up the Xbox for the kids in his waiting room until Mike, and his mechanics came in. My truck arrived almost simultaneously as the mechanics, and they got right to work. In 10 minutes they had my truck fixed and ready to head home. Turns out it had a leaking heater hose. Mike, Chris and team. Thank you so much for all that you did. Keep up the GREAT work. John..."


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The main object of applying distemper to the plastered surfaces is to create a smooth surface. The distempers are available in the market under different trade names. They are cheaper than paints and varnishes and they a present a neat appearance. They are available in a variety of colours.
Properties of distempers: Following are the properties of distempers:
(1) On drying, the film of distemper shrinks. Hence it leads to cracking and flaking, if the surface to receive distemper is weak.
(2) The coatings of distemper are usually thick and they are more brittle than other types of water paints.
(3) The film developed by distemper is porous in character and it allows water vapour to pass through it. Hence it permits new walls to dry out without damaging the distemper film.
(4) They are generally light I colour and they provide a good reflective coating.
(5) They are less durable than oil paints.
(6) They are treated as water paints and they are easy to apply.
(7) They can be applied on brickwork, cement plastered surface, lime plastered surface, insulating boards, etc.
(8) They exhibit poor workability.
(9) They prove to be unsatisfactory n damp locations such as kitchen, bathroom, etc.
Ingredients of a distemper: A distemper is composed of base, carrier, colouring pigments and size. For base, the whiting or chalk is used and for carrier, the water is used. Thus it is more or less a paint in which whiting or chalk is used as base instead of whit lead and the water is used as carrier instead of linseed oil.
The distempers are available I powder form or paste form. They are to be mixed with hot water before use. The oil-bound distempers are a variety of an oil paint in which the drying oil is so treated that it mixes with water. The emulsifying agent which is commonly used is glue or casein. As the water dries, the oil makes a hard surface which is washable.
It should be remembered that most of the manufacturers of ready made distempers supply completely directions for use of their products. These directions are to be strictly followed to achieve good results.
Process of distempering: The application of distemper is carried out in the following way:
(1) Preparation of surface: The surface to receive the distemper is thoroughly rubbed and cl
The fresh lime is slaked at site of work and mixed thoroughly with sufficient quantity of water in a tub. It is then screened through a clean cloth. The clan gum dissolved in hot water is then added at the rate of 20 N per m3 of lime. The rice may be used in place of gum.
The surface to be whitewashed should be cleaned before the work is started. For whitewashing walls which are whitewashed before, the old loose whitewash is to be first removed and repairing to the plaster is carried out, if necessary.
The lime is toxic for germs. It reflects light and thus it increases the brightness of the surface. The whitewashing therefore is extensively used for interior wall surfaces and ceilings of houses.
The pr0ocess of whitewashing is sometimes used for exterior wall surfaces also. A satisfactory work gives an opaque smooth surface with uniform white colour and does not readily come off on the hand, when rubbed.
This is prepared by adding the colouring pigment to the screened whitewash. It should be seen that the colouring pigment is not affected by the presence of lime. Ordinarily, the yellow earth is popular of colourwahsing. Generally, the walls are colourwashed and ceilings are whitewashed. The mixture is to be kept constantly stirred during use.
The colourwash is applied in the same fashion as the whitewash. A satisfactory work does not give out powder when the finished surface is rubbed with the fingers.
The process of colourwashing imparts cleanliness and pleasant appearance of the surfaces which are treated.
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About the Book
This book is the result of my photographic wanderings in Santorini Island. I chose Kaldera as the main theme, due to its unique beauty every hour of the day, in contrast to the rest of the island that remains calm within an "impersonal" island atmosphere. With persistence and patience I have visited Kaldera during different seasons and I tried to capture with my camera everything that impressed me most, to record its beauty, and to share it with you.
About the Creator
Hi! I am a retired dentist by profession and an amateur photographer by passion, living and working in Athens, Greece. I have been concerning myself with photography since many years, especially with B+W photography and coloured slides. In the course of time, this activity had been limited in terms of my professional priorities (dental photography). My great interest on the art of photography returned with the coming of digital photography through digital cameras and the application of new techniques of picture processing through computer.
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A Justice Site
Mirror Sites:
CSUDH - Habermas - UWP
California State University, Dominguez Hills
University of Wisconsin, Parkside
Soka University Japan - Transcend Art and Peace
Created: August 1, 2002
Latest Update: August 7, 2002
Site Teaching Module Wri 01:
Understanding Plagiarism in the Real World
Teaching Essay Copyright: Jeanne Curran and Susan R. Takata and Individaul Authors, August 2002.
"Fair use" encouraged.
This teaching module is based on Understanding Plagiarism in the Real World.
- Preparatory readings for module.
Notes on and analysis of readings. Discussion questions.
- Do you believe that individual competitiveness and jealousy play a part in accusations of plagiarism and cheating in school?
- These cases of plagiarism, particularly ones that involve famous writers, rarely inspire unanimity of opinion as to whether the similarity involves plagiarism or forgiveable error. What does that suggest about validity claims that are made by both the party accused of plagiarism and the accusor?
Experiential activities related to module.
- Try an experiment. Choose an example from the story of two passages that are remarkably similar. Include the footnote, if there is one. Then ask a small group of students you know to decide whether the passages involve plagiarism. Do the same with a few teachers you know. Share the results with us. This would be a good project for a small group.
- Form a small group to rewrite one of the passages that has been identified by the story as plagiarism. How difficult was it to do? What does that suggest about Doris Goodwin's comment:" Goodwin made it clear that she was uncomfortable mentioning the researcher's role. Still, she said, sounding exasperated, it's all "so crazy ... the fact that that check wasn't made. You know, I mean, it would have been so simple to either paraphrase these things a little better or put them in quotes. I mean, it's not like I wouldn't have wanted to do that."
"So simple," she added. "It would have taken, you know, an hour."
Scroll almost half way down the file.
Self-test questions related to module.
True or False? And explain briefly why it's true or false. (25 words or less)
- Most problems of plagiarism are problems of student cheating. (What percentage of writing is done outside of school and publication?)
- Writers who plagiarize are not permitted to publish in the future. (What happened in Goodwin's case?)
- The public usually considers mitigating circumstances when a famous author is accused of plagiarism. (What does the L.A. Times article suggest has been the public's response to Goodwin's dilemma?)
Conceptual linking we had in mind as we prepared the module.
- Discretionary time and feeling overwhelmed.
- agency and structural context
- Answerability, responsiblity.


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TSP Spices - Our Spices - Organic
These are such a great find!!! Buy them for your friends, family, and of course yourself- you definitely won't be disappointed. TSP Spices are organic, delicious, and beautifully packaged. I love them!!
I eat Cinnamon Toast Crunch almost every day. It is the best breakfast cereal I have ever tasted. Basically it is but crunchy squares with cinnamon sugar surronding it. It is delicous.
It's soap that looks like a cupcake. How yummy!
This bar is not as good as the Naga bar, but it is still extremely tasty. I am not even a huge fan of spicy food, but the heat slowly builds as you eat more and more of the bar. The mix off flavors is excellent.


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Hello people.
for anyone who doesn't know what an award is on here it is something you get when you do any of the following:
- make 25, 50, 100, 250, 500, 1,000 or 1,500 edit
- create two new pages
- invite a friend to the wikia and place the nmae of the invited or let them post they were invited by you
- clean up spam and correct erorrs
- and create a beautiful userpage
and to sing up for these awards just go to the talk page of the awards page and leave a message and your username by leaving your sig, done by leaving 3, 4, or 5 of these ~
so go here Click here! to post and good luck to you all!


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"One Grade to rule them all, One Grade to find them,
One Grade to bring them all and in the darkness bind them
In the Land of Prep where the coach bags thrive."
Seniors, juniors, sophomores, and freshmen all have one thing in common: they think they are the best grade out of all. You see freshmen walking around like they are the big shots of the school and even though they have only been here for about 5 months, they hold on to that mentality.
The freshman this year are a whole different kind of breed as opposed to the freshmen from previous years. As mentioned earlier they walk around like they are the big shots of the school and they are not afraid to use their mouths when necessary. They walk around, giving nasty looks to everyone (but the seniors); it doesn't mean anything when it comes from a freshman. It's so much different for seniors though. What kind of freshman, sophomore, or junior would do that to a senior and get away with it? The lucky kind.
Likewise, the sophomores, just out of their freshman year and no longer the "froshies," seem to have acquired a baseless sense of power and have started to pick on some of the little freshmen. It's almost as if they want revenge for the intimidation they received from sophomores last year. What's more, they've also actually started to man up to the seniors and juniors a bit...the audacity!
One year older, the juniors are finally considered upperclassmen and they definitely don't let anyone forget it. Being upperclassmen, they relish the fact that they can take senior classes and actually talk and befriend some of the seniors. Sometimes the juniors and seniors get along so well you can't tell who the senior is and who the junior is, unless they are wearing senior shirts. Also, as the seniors are preoccupied with college applications (constantly running around the school looking for stamps and envelopes), the juniors seem to take advantage of their de facto status as the rulers of Prep. "I think juniors and seniors rule the school because we get more frees than freshmen and sophomores, have more things to do, and we can choose our own classes in just about any subject." - Sean Thompson '09.
Now, the seniors are in a whole different class of their own. Although seniors have college on their mind, they still don't forget that they are the seniors and that everyone has to "bow down" to them. They walk the halls in all of their so called "glory" and it's as if the Red Sea has been parted again, because well, everybody moves out of their way. "Seniors rule the school because we get gangster shirts and because we have eight zillion frees." - Andre "Chad" Godat '08.
The seniors and juniors pretty much have a few months and a little over a year left in this school (respectively) and want to ride out their power. That's understandable, but they should at least try and show some of the underclassmen some sympathy before they leave or else they're just feeding into the vicious cycle of grade hierarchy.
So who does rule the school you ask? Nobody really. Every grade is equal, although some grades are more equal than others.
Nevertheless, most upperclassmen and underclassmen do get along and fortunately, not everyone at Prep is eager to assert their power and status in school. If all of the grades could realize that they are not "the big cheese" of this school, all the drama and all the trivial fights and tensions between grades could disappear. And so, the next time you think that you are better than an upper- or underclassmen, think again because you were either once in their shoes, or soon will be. After all, the seniors will be freshmen again next year.


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A quarter of an hour afterwards he and his men were safely under the cannon of Pampeluna.
Arnold of Berlanda first traversed the pass of the Pyrenees, and came to Pampeluna.
The driver was a Pampeluna man and well-known to the sentries.
He died at Olite on the 8th of September 1425 and was buried at Pampeluna.
Thanks to him, the bulk of the soldiers were able to retire by the Pampeluna road; but it could scarcely be called an army.
There was a midnight train, he knew, from Pampeluna to Saragossa.
"I had better get back to Pampeluna," he said to his father.
Juanita was as safe perhaps in Pampeluna as anywhere in Northern Spain.
I cherish a hope of getting through the lines to-night to Pampeluna.
Its other neighbour, Pampeluna, remains to this day clerical and mysterious.


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plastic wrapnoun [ U ]uk /ˌplæs.tɪk ˈræp/ us /ˌplæs.tɪk ˈræp/ US UK cling film
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
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(Definition of "plastic wrap" from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)
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lend a helping hand
to help someone


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Joseph O'Donnell, 85, of Galt died Aug. 8. He was born Aug. 17, 1928, in Philadelphia.
Mr. O'Donnel was an railroad employee. He was a member of St. Christopher's Church. He enjoyed hanging out at the senior center.
He is survived by his son, Raymond; daughter, Donna; and three grandchildren.
A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 9 a.m. Thursday at St. Christopher Church with Father Silva officiating. Co-mmittal will follow at the Galt Cemetery.
Visitation will be held from 2 to 6 p.m. Wednesday at Ben Salas Funeral Home with recitation of the Rosary to follow at 6 p.m.
Ben Salas Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.


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Electronic Cigarettes: What Everyone Wants to Know
Electronic cigarettes have been an absolute revolution in the past few years. As they've become commonly available, people are realizing that they have no tar, no ash, no smell. Plus, you can smoke anywhere. However, we've been wisely conditioned to distrust anything that seems too good to be true. Are the benefits of electronic cigarettes real? What's the catch? We find out today.
Do electronic cigarettes really work?
Yes. However, they are not exactly the same as smoking! E-cigs deliver nicotine in a mist or vapor. So while you still get the nicotine fix, there is a myriad of other chemicals in cigarettes that your body has become accustomed to. There will still be a slight adjustment period when switching to e-cigs ... but you can easily pull yourself through it with the positive thoughts of how much money you'll save, and your decreased cancer risk.
Are electronic cigarettes safe?
Nobody can truthfully say that electronic cigarettes are safe yet. The FDA isn't concerned enough to halt sales within the US, although it isn't allowing imported e-cigs into the country. Nicotine gum and lozenges also have the potential to increase your risk of developing cancer, but on nowhere near the same level as actually smoking. Use the electronic cigarettes in a stepping-stone manner, to help you gently quit, and there is no question that they are a fantastic tool ... and far safer than simply continuing to smoke because the negative effects of quitting are too overwhelming.
Do electronic cigarettes stain your teeth?
No! Most inhaler cartridges are 99% water. It is the tar in cigarettes that stains your teeth; this is one drawback of smoking that you'll be kicking to the curb forever.
Do electronic cigarettes hurt your lungs?
In 'puff to puff' terms, e-cigs do not hurt your lungs. In health terms, it hasn't yet been proven that e-cigs do not 'harm' your lungs. In a German scientific study, Dr. Mayer said, "Apart from nicotine, the 'electrical cigarette' is toxicologically harmless."
Can I make my own electronic cigarette liquid?
Yes - this is another great benefit of electronic cigarette use. However, you need to be sure that any materials you use are safe to inhale the vapors from - buy from a registered e-cigarette dealer to assure yourself of this.
Do electronic cigarettes really help you quit smoking?
They may. There are several factors that feed into whether an electronic cigarette can ultimately help you quit, like your level of addiction to the tar and other chemicals that come from tobacco combustion etc.
Do electronic cigarettes encourage kids to smoke?
Reputable e-cig vendors will not supply to minors. It is true that e-cigs have a range of flavors available...but so do nicotine lozenges, vodka drinks and condoms.
Electronic cigarettes are quite new, and there have been few studies on either their health or psychological effects. However, you'll find very few dissatisfied users ... most say that they are now spending less on their 'smoking' than ever, can comfortably smoke inside even with kids in the house, and are well on their way to complete quitting!
To learn more about subjects like Electronic Cigarette please visit the web site at: http://www.e-cig.com
For more information and informative related articles and links about this subject matter and content, please visit Majon's Health Products | Health Vitamins | Dieting directory: http://www.majon.com/directory/health-products-health-vitamins-dieting.
About the Author
+Chris Robertson is a published author of Majon International. All Rights Reserved. Copyright 2014 (Mon Oct 04 2010) Majon International. Majon International is one of the worlds MOST popular internet marketing and internet advertising companies on the web. Visit their main business resource internet marketing web site at: http://www.majon.com


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Senator Lamar Alexander convinced the Senate to pass his bill to help reduce premature births in the state.
Alexander says 12 percent of Tennessee babies are born prematurely. His bill expands research, education, and intervention activities to reduce infant deaths and disabilities.
Senator Alexander thanked his colleagues for focusing on a cause that will help thousands here in Tennessee.
"We have made great progress since we first put the spotlight on premature birth, but it remains a leading killer of newborns and a major cause of lasting disabilities," he said.
The House must still approve the bill.


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Our Enlarged Spleen (Splenomegaly) Main Article provides a comprehensive look at the who, what, when and how of Enlarged Spleen (Splenomegaly)
Medical Definition of Enlarged spleen
Enlarged spleen: Splenomegaly, or an enlargement of the spleen. This condition can occur with different medical conditions ranging from blood disorders to infections and certain forms of cancer.
Last Editorial Review: 6/14/2012
Back to MedTerms online medical dictionary A-Z List
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By Barbara De Lollis, USA TODAY
WASHINGTON As the federal government considers forcing airlines to shrink schedules to ease chronic delays, the carriers' August on-time performance continued to erode, a report out Wednesday shows.
Airlines flew just 71.7% of flights on time, making it the second-worst August in the 13 years that the government has tracked the figures. The only worse August performance was in 2000, which was near the peak of the pre-9/11 travel boom, the Bureau of Transportation Statistics report shows.
The report marks the 12th-consecutive month in which on-time performance deteriorated from a year earlier. It also caps a summer that rivals 2000 for the lowest percentage of on-time flights.
Airport delays: Real-time updates across the USA
President Bush last week ordered top industry regulators to seek ways to reduce flight delays. Transportation Secretary Mary Peters said the problem stems in part from airlines scheduling too many flights at peak times at key airports such as New York John F. Kennedy.
For the first eight months of 2007, the new report says, airlines landed 72.6% of flights on time, the worst record for the January-August period in 13 years.
Discounter Southwest Airlines (LUV) had the best on-time performance of the biggest airlines for both August and for the first eight months of the year. Arizona-based US Airways (LCC) i n August improved its on-time performance, but still trailed most competitors. It had 69.4% of flights landing on time or within 15 minutes of scheduled arrival. In a memo to employees, airline President Scott Kirby acknowledged their "continuous improvement," but said it "still isn't up to the standards that we know we can achieve."
Just one of the largest 32 airports — Houston Bush Intercontinental — reported having an on-time performance of more than 80% in August, vs. five that exceeded the mark in August 2006. Like last year, JFK, home of JetBlue, (JBLU) and New York LaGuardia ranked at or near the bottom of the list of large airports for on-time performance.
Other findings for August:
•Complaints. Fliers filed 1,359 complaints about service, more than double the 657 in August 2006. US Airways received 4.4 complaints per 100,000 fliers — more than double its rate a year ago but down slightly from July.
•Taxi-out waits. In August, 159 flights sat on a runway or taxiway for at least three hours. The longest wait was nearly six hours. An Aug. 17 ExpressJet flight left the gate at 2:17 p.m. in Portland, Maine, and took of for Newark at 8:07 p.m.
•Mishandled bags. The report shows that the rate of mishandled bags improved slightly to 7.6 bags per 1,000 fliers, vs. 8.1 bags the prior August. US Airways improved its bag handling, yet its performance still was the worst of the major airlines.
Conversation guidelines: USA TODAY welcomes your thoughts, stories and information related to this article. Please stay on topic and be respectful of others. Keep the conversation appropriate for interested readers across the map.