text:
In the wake of recent high-profile sexual abuse cases, people are struggling to make sense of these situations and reconcile the allegations with their previously-held views of particular people, institutions, and the nature of child sexual abuse. Many adult victims of child sexual abuse are coming forward to share their stories, and people are asking questions about sexual violence. Many others are experiencing some degree of disbelief, anger, confusion, and grief; this type of trauma mirrors the feelings many sexual assault survivors experience - more evidence of the wide-ranging impact and harm caused by sexual abuse.
The National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC) and the Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers (ATSA) work closely together and share similar missions – to prevent all forms of sexual violence. NSVRC understands the impact on victims and their families; and the roles that organizations and communities can play in prevention; and ATSA understands the factors that may lead to the perpetration of sex offenses and the most effective methods of treatment and management for offenders. Both of these perspectives are critical in fully understanding sexual violence and its prevention. Recently, both organizations have fielded calls from media and others seeking insight into the complex dynamics of these alleged crimes. Some questions being asked include:
How could this happen?
Sexual violence thrives in silence, and it's much more common than people think. Professionals on both ends -- who work with victims and people who sexually abuse -- are not surprised by many of the stories and dynamics in recent reports. They hear similar stories every day. What stands out in some of the recent high-profile cases is that there may have been witnesses to some of these alleged crimes; the seemingly large number of adults who may have known about them; and the way these particular stories have captured the public's attention.
If this intense spotlight causes us to prioritize the well-being of our children; strengthen the services available to victims and their families; seriously examine the priorities and practices of our institutions; create thoughtful and effective laws to promote public safety; and commit to being engaged and responsible bystanders, then perhaps something good may develop as a result.
Why are so many survivors coming forward now?
As horrific as the stories are coming out of Penn State, Syracuse, the Citadel, churches, etc., it seems that the public, media, and some esteemed institutions may finally be "getting it." Now, it seems society is ready to examine the dynamics of child sexual abuse and make it an open topic of conversation. Maybe some survivors feel that it is now safe to come forward, because people are listening? Perhaps they are just now realizing that what happened to them as a child was sexual violence? Perhaps they want to do their part to make sure that other children do not have to endure similar abuse? Whatever the reason, we applaud their courage and thank them for coming forward.
What should I do if someone discloses to me that they were a victim of sexual abuse?
If someone you know discloses sexual abuse, believe them, listen attentively, affirm the fact that they are talking about it, and remind them that they were not at fault. Avoid asking questions that may be perceived as blaming or judgmental such as, "Why didn't you tell anyone at the time?" Instead, offer supportive statements such as, "That must have been awful for you," or "I'm so sorry you were betrayed in that way." Offer to help by asking, "Is there anything I can do to support you?" Oftentimes, sexual assault is committed by someone who is known and trusted. In these incidents, it can be very confusing. Feelings of betrayal may cause survivors to doubt others or themselves, but talking about it is part of the healing process. If someone wants to talk to an experienced advocate, help them locate their local rape crisis center or other community resources.
How could someone so well-respected do this?
Many Americans have deeply-ingrained, yet inaccurate, ideas about people who sexually abuse children. Perhaps it's because of stories, media coverage or TV shows about children being abducted by strangers? Or perhaps the truth -- that most people who sexually abuse children are people that we interact with every day -- is just too overwhelming to grasp? When individuals sexually offend they are often perceived as "monsters" and are defined by their offenses. However when we look at an offender's entire life, we realize that often they are not "monsters;" like everyone else, individuals who sexually abuse have multiple roles in society and have many aspects to their life and personality. Many of us have been focused on protecting children from stranger dangers that are relatively rare while ignoring the potential for abuse in situations that are much more common.
Does treatment work for sexual abusers?
Treatment of individuals who have sexually abused others is an essential component of a comprehensive system to prevent sexual abuse. The goal of sex offender treatment is to increase an individual's accountability for their criminal behavior, assist people to develop the skills that will reduce the chance that they will sexually reoffend and increase community safety. Like other kinds of interventions, not every individual responds to treatment in the same way and some will benefit more than others. Any reduction in the rate of sexual abuse must be considered meaningful as it represents the protection of children and adults from victimization.
It is important to remember that many people who commit sexual violence are not apprehended and therefore are not provided the option of treatment. To demonize or ostracize people who are at risk of sexually offending often drives them deeper into silence and shame and prevents them from reaching out for help that could prevent a sexual offense.
What can I do?
We encourage people to continue asking questions, learn the truth about sexual abuse, and talk through feelings and concerns. Become familiar with local resources and experts. Find out about statewide prevention programs and where you can report suspicions of child sexual abuse. You do not have to personally witness something in order to report a concern. Pay attention to the children in your life, and who they are spending time with. Look for sudden or unexplained changes in their behavior. We do not need to become overly paranoid or suspicious of every interaction, but we can become more knowledgeable about potential red flags. Many adults who sexually abuse children seem to prefer the company of children over other adults, and they may create opportunities where they're inappropriately alone with children. When in doubt, speak up, ask questions and report any suspicions. There are many resources available for helping people build skills to become more effective, empowered, active bystanders. Moving forward, decide what you can do by familiarizing yourself with available options. Model these behaviors in your own life, and support and encourage others to do the same.
What can institutions do?
Now is the time for institutions, organizations and workplaces to look at their own policies and culture. Do employees/students/volunteers know what to do if they suspect someone is being harmed? Is there a "whistle-blower policy" to protect those who report possible wrongdoing? Are there regular trainings on preventing sexual harassment and other forms of sexual violence? Is there a general climate of respect and openness? Are there any pictures, calendars, cards, etc., displayed in the workplace that could be perceived as being disrespectful or exploitative? Are there physical spaces that are not easily observable where a crime could occur undetected? This is a crucial time for organizations to assess current practices and update expectations and priorities to prevent sexual violence and other harmful acts.
Sexual abuse thrives in silence. It's time to talk about it.
Karen Baker is the Director of the National Sexual Violence Resource Center in Enola, PA.
Maia Christopher is the Executive Director of the Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers in Beaverton, OR.


text:
Just for a little fun today, I sent out a Tweet on @adobegroups:
The response were great!
We got both design and developer-focused replies:
Some Twitter-related ones:
Some social ones:
A fashion-focused response:
Plus several others not included here. But of them all, these two were my favorites, they really exemplify what the community spirit is all about — camaraderie (by way of an in-joke from this year's Adobe MAX) and helping each other to succeed!
How do YOU know you're part of the Adobe community? Feel free to add more ways in the comments.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
I use the Weber 6423 12-Inch T-Brush on my grills and I love the product. However, after a period of time, the grime and build-up in and among the brush bristles renders it almost useless and it literally will start dripping grease. For the last few times this has happened I have simply tossed it and purchased a new one.
Does anyone have any proven methods as to cleaning a wire brush? I'd love to stop having to repurchase a brush just because of the build-up.


text:
Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 12/12/2012 (1711 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
FOR years, the woman Phoenix Sinclair called "Nana Mom" waited for a public inquiry to shine light on what happened to the five-year-old killed by her mother and her mother's boyfriend in 2005.
On Wednesday, the spotlight turned on her, Kim Edwards, when her credibility and past involvement with child welfare were called into question.
"Kim Edwards isn't on trial," her lawyer, Jeff Gindin, told inquiry commissioner Ted Hughes. Gindin was objecting to a motion that Edwards' sealed Winnipeg Child and Family Services file from 1988, when she was a 17-year-old mom, be presented at the inquiry. He also objected to having her social assistance records subpoenaed to determine where she was living when she said she cared for Phoenix.
The request by Kris Saxberg, the lawyer representing several child-welfare agencies, was made after Edwards contradicted evidence given last week by her ex-husband, Rohan Stephenson.
He told the inquiry he and Edwards broke up in December 2002 and she moved out of their Selkirk Avenue home, leaving him to care for their children and Phoenix. He said he and Edwards lied to CFS about living together so Phoenix wouldn't be taken from the home and placed with strangers.
Edwards testified Wednesday they didn't break up until a year later, and Stephenson moved out, not her. She said she collected welfare for herself and her two children and lived at the Selkirk address. She said Stephenson, who was working as a full-time health-care aide at TenTen Sinclair Housing in Winnipeg, lived in McMunn, Man., an hour east of the city, and often stayed with them on Selkirk. Together they applied to CFS to become a recognized place of safety for Phoenix on July 31, 2003.
"The issue is who was living where and whether the place of safety applicants were telling the truth," Saxberg told Hughes. "It goes to (Edwards') credibility and further than that... it's going to tell us who was looking after Phoenix when she was residing at the home when she was under the care of CFS."
Hughes said he won't allow further delays of the inquiry unless it's of "critical importance." He reserved his decision on Edwards' files until this morning.
Edwards testified Wednesday that she looked after Phoenix regularly, starting when the girl was just a few months old in September 2000. Weekend visits soon turned into weeklong stays when Phoenix's mother, Samantha Kematch, became pregnant again. Edwards said Phoenix's father, Steve Sinclair, told her Kematch was "hormonal."
By the time Phoenix's sister Echo was born, Edwards said, Phoenix had become a part of her family.
When Kematch left Sinclair and her kids in June 2001 and Echo died in July 2001 from a respiratory infection, Sinclair was in "despair," Edwards said.
"Outside influences" were encouraging Sinclair to drown his sorrows by drinking. Edwards said Sinclair didn't leave Phoenix with her to avoid responsibility and go drinking, but because he thought Phoenix would thrive in the family atmosphere of her home.
"He said 'I like what you got here'... My family was great."
She described Phoenix as "awesome," and Sinclair's role as a father as "awesome" when he was with her.
Just one CFS social worker visited their home, Edwards said.
She denounced the child-welfare system for not doing enough for the little girl when she was alive and the province for not providing information to her sooner when Phoenix's 2005 murder was discovered in 2006. Kematch and her boyfriend, Karl McKay, were convicted of first-degree murder and are serving life sentences for killing Phoenix.
Edwards said accountability from the child-welfare system is the only thing she wants from the inquiry.
"If (Phoenix) can't have it, then accountability for the next child," she said. "If a worker goes out, they've got to make sure that they can see the child or they can be held responsible criminally (if harm comes to a child)."
Edwards' testimony is expected to continue today.


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ROSEVILLE, Mich. - Stephanie Staniszewski put her boys into the back of her Jeep Grand Cherokee to drive them to school. She briefly went back into the house to get something and left the Jeep running.
That's when a carjacker jumped into the driver's seat. Staniszewski ran out of the house and tried to stop him.
"I heard a scream and then I looked out the window. She was hurt. I think she either broke her leg or sprained it or something," said neighbor David Delmotte.
She was run over by the carjacker.
"He put it in gear. Struck her with the car. She went down and he ran her over to get away," said Roseville Police Chief James Berlin.
Staniszewski's 8-year-old son Chester and 6-year-old son Daniel were in the Jeep. The man bailed out on the same street, leaving the vehicle in gear. Just before the vehicle struck a pole, the boys jumped out. One of the boys told his grandmother why the carjacking ended on the same street it began.
"That guy said when he turned around and saw the kids in the car he said, 'Oh boy, am I in trouble.' And that's when he jumped out," said Staniszewski's mother, Andrea Nowak.
Read more: Roseville mom in critical condition after trying to save her kids during a carjacking
The man did not even put the car in park, putting the boys in more danger. Their father, Chester, had left minutes before the carjacking. However, he returned for his cell phone. He found his injured wife and frantic sons who had run back to help her.
"They're pretty traumatized. They want their mom because they had to leave her at the hospital," said Nowak.
Though she made a mistake when she left the boys in the vehicle, her family is not surprised Stephanie would risk her life to protect them.
"She's a fighter. Just like her dad. She never gives up," said her father, Daniel Nowak.
--Stephanie Staniszewski
Copyright 2012 by ClickOnDetroit.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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I have a question how to have two JOINs using the same table.The previous sentence probably doesn't make sense, so let me try to explain using an example. Let say, I have two tables
CREATE TABLE users (
userid INTEGER AUTO_INCREMENT,
name VARCHAR(36),
PRIMARY KEY (userid)
CREATE TABLE transactions (
transactionid INTEGER AUTO_INCREMENT,
buyerid INTEGER,
sellerid INTEGER,
price INTEGER,
PRIMARY KEY (transactionid)
Now, when I want buyer information for all transactions where the price was greater than 10, I could retrieve this using the following statement
users.name AS buyer
transactions INNER JOIN users
ON transactions.buyerid = users.userid
transactions.price > 10
But what statement should I use when I also want to retrieve the sellers name with the same query?
select buyer.name as buyer,
seller.name as seller
from users as buyer
join transactions
on buyer.userid = transactions.buyerid
join users as seller
on transaction.sellerid = seller.userid
where transactions.price > 10
i prefer to write the tables in the FROM clause in a logical sequence
SELECT buyer.name AS buyer
, seller.name AS seller
FROM transactions
JOIN users AS buyer
ON buyer.userid = transactions.buyerid
JOIN users AS seller
ON seller.userid = transactions.sellerid
WHERE transactions.price > 10
i always try to start the FROM clause with the "driving" table, i.e. the one mentioned in the WHERE clause which has the main restriction, the one which the other tables are joined to
great, your responses make it all clear. I missed the point that I should give the table that is being joined an alias, so that I can join it twice
I actually would like to ask a second question and that is about the efficiency of JOIN statements.
Let say, the transaction table has many records. And I would like to get the buyer and seller name for a specific transaction (eg transaction 123456). As I have been explained, I can do this in one query:
buyers.name AS buyer,
sellers.name AS seller
INNER JOIN users AS buyers
ON transactions.buyerid = buyers.userid
INNER JOIN users AS sellers
ON transactions.sellerid = sellers.userid
transactions.transactionid = 123456
Now, I would "visualize" this query as a large table being constructed (with buyer and seller names for all transactions) to which the WHERE clause is being applied.
If the database would indeed process the query like that, it would be very inefficient. In that case it would be better to obtain the buyerid and sellerid, and get the names in separate query.
Does anyone know if one should take these kind of considerations into account? Or can you expect the database to optimize the query?
yes, i do
have you ever done an EXPLAIN? which database system is this?
You take these considerations into account? Or you know the answer?
No I have never done an EXPLAIN... I am not running a large database, it is more an academic interest. Hence, the stylized example.
I am using MySQL.
i know the answer
the reason i asked which database you're using is because we have a mysql forum (for mysql, eh) and a databases forum (for everything else), and you didn't post in the mysql forum and you also didn't say which database you're using
in your query, put the word EXPLAIN in front of the word SELECT, run it, and show us the results
Ok, so I have created the following php script to populate the tables with some random data
$seed = 100;
// Fill users table with 1000 users
for ($i = 0; $i < 1000; $i++) {
$name = rand(0, 100000);
$sql = "INSERT INTO users (name) VALUES ('$name')";
mysql_query($sql, $con);
// Fill transactions table with 200k transactions
for ($i = 0; $i < 200000; $i++) {
$buyerid = rand(0, 999);
while (($sellerid = rand(0, 999)) == $buyerid);
$price = rand(1, 100);
$sql = "INSERT INTO transactions (buyerid, sellerid, price) ";
$sql .= "VALUES ($buyerid, $sellerid, $price)";
mysql_query($sql, $con);
Now executing the SELECT statement with two JOINs returns buyer=72396 (corresponding to userid=148) and seller=88733 (corresponding to userid=184) pretty instantaneously.
And EXPLAIN gives an output as per screenshot.
Based on the speed of returning the result I would think MySQL is optimizing.
And, then I would assume any other respectable database system would do the same.
yep, they do
ok great, then we can keep it general, and I might be posting in the right forum after all
Any insights in what EXPLAIN can tell me?
it can tell you when certain operations are inefficient, e.g. table scans where the "key" column is empty
but it doesn't tell me that the WHERE clause is executed before the JOINs (as seems to be the case)?
yes, the WHERE clause is applied in step 1 to the transaction table (using its PRIMARY key)
the "rows" column indicates that 1 row has been retrieved (instead of all of them)
after that, the other tables are joined


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An Otley business leader has joined the town's MP in condemning "nonsensical" rates that are hampering the local economy.
The case of Wharfebank Business Centre was cited in Parliament last week as an example of how forcing companies to pay full rates on empty properties can hold back growth.
Greg Mulholland (Lib Dem, Leeds North West) said current rules were "anti-growth" and drained resources, leaving companies like Wharfebank unable to renovate or modify their buildings to attract more tenants.
Now Ronnie Duncan, chairman of Wharfebank's owners William Ackroyd (Holdings) Ltd, is calling on the Government to overhaul empty business property rates – or scrap them altogether.
He said: "The Government must look again at the current rules.
"To charge full rates on property that's unlettable in the current economic climate is not just unfair, it damages the very core of our business, which is to regenerate our historic mill buildings to provide modernised – and sustainable – office space.
"The drain of empty rate taxation not only hampers growth but threatens essential maintenance. If empty rates can't be abolished, then at least extend the exemption period.
"In the current economic climate, three months to re-let an office is just too short. No sooner have you spent money on renovating or adapting than you are hit with the cost of full rates on a property from which you may not have any income for the best part of the year."
Mr Mulholland, pictured right, is calling for a Parliamentary debate on the issue. He said: "The current rules can, in some situations, be unfair and counterproductive, at a time when we need to be encouraging business to drive economic growth.
"Wharfebank, which offers wonder-ful business space in the former Otley Mills, is forced to pay full rates on its properties, even when it has no tenants and is actively seeking them.
"The rules need to be more flexible with exemptions to stop penalising responsible businesses, and these should include the renovation and maintenance of heritage premises, like Otley Mills, which are so much more costly."


text:
YARNBOMB Great Malvern is looking for helpers to make decorations for this year's carnival procession.
The group will be livening up the the carnival route with knitted and crocheted bunting and miniature hats, as well as creating a hat for the Edward Elgar statue on Belle Vue island in the centre of Malvern
Information and patterns for the hats and decorations are now available at the Iapetus gallery on Belle Vue Terrace, or they can be found on Yarnbomb Great Malvern's Facebook page.
This year's Malvern Carnival and Hat Festival is on Saturday, July 12, with the parade starting by the Abbey
Gateway. It will make its way down Church Street and Avenue Road to Barnards Green.
The parade of decorated vehicles and floats will be followed by a walking parade, in which all schools, youth groups, bands, societies or organisations are invited to take part.
Joanna Davies-Mourby of Yarnbomb Great Malvern said: "We will be decorating the route on Friday , July 11, meeting by the Abbey Gateway at 10.30am. If people would like to make items but can't join us then, the items can be dropped off at Iapetus until Monday, July 7.
For any further information people can contact Yarnbomb Great Malvern via Facebook page, email@example.com or 01684 891422.


text:
Shopify business resources
Everything you need to start selling online today
Start your free 14-day trial today!
Resources Menu
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There has never been a better time to start your own online business than now. The internet is booming, and many have found that the dream of owning an online store is not so farfetched. Of course, if you look around the World Wide Web you will find that there are a lot of ecommerce software providers who claim to be the best in the business. This can make it difficult to choose the right ecommerce software for your business needs, however unique your situation might be. We have provided top-notch ecommerce software to many satisfied customers for over five years Ecommerce software is an important part of having a successful online store. Using the right software could mean the different between success and failure in running your ecommerce business. EBay ecommerce software can help you integrate your items into eBay to expand your customer base.
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If you are a novice to the world of online businesses and ecommerce, you may not know where to start. We can help you jump into the bustling world of ecommerce by giving you everything you need get started and manage your website. Our ecommerce software is not only dependable but it is also easy to use, regardless of your level of technical expertise. Secondly, our ecommerce software makes it possible to accept PayPal and credit card payments.
Shopify has a theme store and a choice of professional ecommerce templates for you to choose from. We offer hosting and everything you need to run your store directly from our user-friendly content management system. Your secure shopping cart is what allows you to accept customer payments with no hassles. We also offer marketing and SEO services to increase traffic to your website in addition to providing mobile commerce features to reach your customers while you're on the go.
Using tools to create your ecommerce business
To better serve our customers, we have taken one step further by offering our selection of tools that allow you to integrate your site to some of the most popular services around. Our eBay to store Importer is eBay ecommerce software that is convenient and simple to use. With eBay ecommerce software, you can automatically import your eBay products to your store. Not only does it support active, scheduled, and unsold products, but eBay ecommerce software also handles product variations, images, and categories. Do you want to integrate with a popular service other than eBay? Amazon integration makes it accessible to do so. The RetailTower app, found in our App Store, is just one avenue you can use to easily integrate your site with Amazon and other major shopping services.
We discussed the extensive set of features offered by ecommerce software, such as design tools, hosting, and SEO. We also touched on how easy it is to integrate with eBay. Amazon integration is another feature available with us. Are you concerned about cost? You may think that all of these features would cost a lot, but everything we offer is reasonably priced. Our plans have been structured to fit budgets of all sizes. You can start your own ecommerce site for under $50. You have the option of upgrading as needed when your business starts to grow. Are you still unsure of whether or not Shopify is the right ecommerce solution for you? You can try us free for 14 days to decide if you would like to continue with our services! After your free 14 day trial ends, you can go to Shopify for all of your online business and ecommerce needs. Take the ecommerce plunge today with our free trial offer.


text:
An urgent hunt for an 84-year-old woman who went missing in Pershore was called off after she was found safe and well back at her home on Merseyside.
Police issued an appeal urgently for the public's help in tracing the elderly lady who disappeared while attending a graduation ceremony with her family at Pershore College. At 4pm on Wednesday she went outside into the college's grounds and had not been seen since.
Her family and police were extremely concerned about her welfare, not least because she has a serious heart condition.
But Edna Davies was later discovered in West Kirby after making her own way home.


text:
A TOWN centre surgery could increase its capacity by up to 1,500 patients after it moves to larger buildings as part of the new Kimmerfields development.
The Whalebridge surgery, based out of Swindon Health Centre on Carfax Street, currently deals with around 10,000 patients, and shares space with the Carfax surgery.
Dr Richard Carter, of the Whalebridge surgery, said they have a new GP scheduled to join the team and would be keen to expand their operations when they move into a new walk-in centre.
The news comes after the closure of the Marlborough Road surgery left 2,000 patients looking for a GP.
"We know some surgeries are under pressure and in some cases have already been shut," said Dr Carter. "At the moment we have a surgery that looks after about 10,000 patients, but with a new doctor joining us and changes in service delivery, we would be hopeful of adding between 1,000 and 1,500 patients."
After a meeting with Muse, the developers of the new centre, talks are underway about using the building.
"They are rather hopeful that we will have agreed where we want the rooms and some of the finer details by April," added Dr Carter.
"Everyone will be moved into the building by next December. I have got some reservations about how ambitious they are with their timescale, but Swindon Council have agreed it with the developers.
"There are only a few changes as to how we are going to reconfigure the existing building. It all comes down to cost. If they allow the surgery to get bigger it could be that either our surgery or Carfax could take the new rooms if preferred. "They are looking at going up to three storeys and we currently sit on the first floor. The people that commission the services might ask everyone to stay in the building.
"What they plan to do is have the two surgeries, Whalebridge and Carfax, continue work in the centre for another year. After that some units might leave and others might stay.
"We have said that we are keen to expand. There could even be the possibility of both surgeries working in collaboration."
A spokesman for Forward Swindon said: "The new Kimmerfields central business district scheme always had the new NHS walk-in facility as part of the plan. This will be built adjacent to the new apartment block and car park, on the south side of Fleming Way, near Whalebridge junction. "This is part of the outline planning permission for the project. "Negotiations are underway regarding the exact specification of the new facility but it will be designed and built in conjunction with NHS guidelines and will be about 25,000 sq ft.
"The new walk-in centre should be completed by the end of 2015 with a view to opening in 2016."
Marilyn Hughes, managing director of Carfax Health Enterprise, said: "We are looking forward to the opportunity to work out of a fully modernised building. "We have already grown by around 1,000 patients a year, and we anticipate that to continue with the growth in the town. We currently have 38,000 people using our walk in centre and 10,500 registered patients. It would be easier to cope if we had a little more space as we are bursting at the seams. "We are still taking on patients so if people wish to register they will be able to do so."


text:
Dear Utica Community Schools Parents,
All of us continue to be impacted by Friday's events and our thoughts and prayers remain with the families in Newtown, Connecticut. As we prepare for school tomorrow, please know that we are committed to maintaining a safe learning environment. I feel it is important to share with you our existing security measures:
- Nationally recommended security measures were put in place at all of our schools several years ago. Working with local law enforcement officials and our in-house security team, we have developed and implemented a unified security and emergency management plan district-wide that is continually reviewed and revised.
- All outside visitors are required to check in at the office.
- All classrooms are equipped with telephones.
- With the exception of front entrances, all exterior doors and windows at the schools are kept locked during the day. As part of this routine, entrances and windows are checked throughout the day and evening.
- The UCS security team works with the staff at every school to conduct two security drills each school year. All buildings have completed one drill this fall. Reviews of these drills are used to revised and refine our security practices.
- UCS maintains a strong working relationship with all local law enforcement. We communicate with police officials regularly and coordinate our efforts with them to keep our students and community safe.
Additionally, we have met with our in-house security specialists – career police officers – and consulted with local law enforcement this past weekend to enhance these measures. Therefore, the following procedures will also be in place this week:
- Main entrances (front doors) at our elementary and junior high schools will be locked throughout the day. At the high schools security cameras and staff members will monitor the front entrances.
- Anyone requesting to go beyond the office must show photo identification and have a confirmed purpose.
Our local police will increase their presence in school parking lots and adjacent areas.
UCS staff will maintain a sense of routine for the children. A sense of routine and stability is extremely important to help children feel safe. For the most part, the regular school day and school activities will continue as planned.
If you feel your child may need additional support, please contact his or her teacher or principal.
Utica Community Schools has a long history of coming together in support of all of our children. We appreciate your patience and commitment. Working together, I know we will continue to promote a safe learning environment for the 29,000 students in our schools.


text:
any interest?
Printable View
any interest?
i'll give ya 250 cash immediatly for it!!! any interest?
thats a major lowball. i can get more for it at a shop. Please make offers reasonable
I got that same board it's the best board I haev ever had worth every penny. Good luck selling it.
well if you get desperate, the offer's on the tabe
yea they're awesome. And if you have a higher offer lmk. Thanks
$400 cash in hand. let me know. we got swells on the way.
i just pm'd you
Go to kcoast.. thesame firewire is on sale there for four hundred. same dimensions. I would appreciate it, since its mine.


text:
By Andrew Betts of FT Labs
Google has announced a major change to its Chrome browser this week. While it represents a divergence in a key part of Chrome previously shared with Apple's Safari browser, the move should enable Google ultimately to up its pace of innovation.
So for those who might think that a 'rendering engine' is a piece of farm machinery, we offer the following overview of this development, which represents a substantial fork in the road in the development of the web. Read more


text:
Note: This item is more than six years old. Please take the publication date into consideration for any date references.
Print – Plain Text – Permalink
News Release
Media Contact: TPWD News, email@example.com, 512-389-8030
Dec. 6, 2010
Holiday Gift Ideas for the Outdoor Lovers on Your List
AUSTIN— If you find yourself fresh out of holiday gift ideas for your camping-enthusiast cousins or that friend who would rather spend his or her spare time fishing on the lake and exploring state parks, TPWD suggests you shop the outdoors.
Not many friends or family would want to be without a full year of unlimited visits to the beautiful and diverse state parks of Texas. Buying a loved one a Texas State Parks Pass gift card will allow them and as many guests they can fit in their car free entry to more than 90 state parks across the state for 12 months. The gift cards can be purchased in any amount and work the same as cash in state parks. That means they can be used for entrance fees, facility use, store merchandise, and much more. To order, or for more information please visit: http://tpwd.texas.gov/parkpass/.
You can show your love of state parks with a commemorative Texas State Parks Christmas ornament, new for 2010. These attractive brass ornaments feature a variety of park, outdoor recreation and native wildlife icons, and have become a collectible favorite for many. Past year ornaments are also available, and prices vary. Contact the state park customer service center at (512) 389-8900 to order or find out more.
How about purchasing the 2009 or 2010 collector's edition of hunting and fishing stamps for that special art lover on your list, and helping support TPWD conservation efforts? The collections sell for $21.65 and include six different stamps designed by noted wildlife artists. Each stamp's artwork may be purchased either as an unframed stamp and print, or as a framed unit through Collector's Covey.
Or, let your eco-minded relatives showcase their love for the outdoors by buying them one of TPWD's customized license plates picturing white-tailed deer, largemouth bass, horned lizards or wildflowers. Each plate costs just $30, and $22 goes directly to help fund conservation efforts in Texas. The conservation license plates have generated more than $4 million in sales for Texas land and water conservation initiatives since their inception.
What self-respecting conservationist could turn down a subscription to Texas Parks & Wildlife Magazine, the state's premier outdoors publication for more than 50 years? Check out special offers online, including two gift subscriptions for $20 or 12 issues for only $1 each. Teachers receive a special $9.95 annual subscription rate to foster outreach to the state's increasingly urbanized school populations.
Eight colorful Great Texas Wildlife Trail maps can be purchased for half the previous cost, now at only $2 each from the Texas Extension Agrilife Bookstore. The maps will guide you to almost 900 distinct birding and wildlife viewing sites throughout Texas. Each map includes driving loops, and each site is designated with a unique highway sign and site number corresponding to the map. The maps also have information about the wildlife likely to be found at each site. For more information, visit TPWD's Great Texas Wildlife Trails website. The ninth and final map in this series, the Far West Texas Wildlife Trail map, will debut this holiday season.
Pick up the "Saltwater Fishes of Texas" poster, or one of Sea Center Texas' posters featuring a redfish or spotted sea trout for the saltwater angler on your list. Freshwater fishing advocates may prefer the "Freshwater Fishes of Texas" poster. All posters sell for under $20.
Other featured products on the "Shop the Outdoors" Web page this year include a colorful wheel featuring the 16 hummingbird species documented in Texas and a variety of documentaries and videos. One of the videos displays a collection of TPWD's most picturesque destinations statewide.
Why not buy something special for yourself after crossing everyone else off your holiday list? Once you're done shopping for everyone else, treat yourself with a chance to hunt and fish for free—forever! It only costs $5 to enter the Lifetime Super Combo License Drawing, and you can enter as many times as you like. The Super Combo License, normally purchased for $1,800, gives you the right to hunt and fish in Texas without ever having to buy another state license or stamp. The entire percentage of hunting and fishing license fees go to TPWD's on-the-ground conservation efforts to help make Texas one of the best places in the country to hunt and fish. If you enter by Dec. 27, you'll have 2 chances to win—once in the Dec. 30 drawing and another in the June 30 drawing. For complete rules and information, visit tpwd.texas.gov/lifetime.
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(5.4.16 i)


text:
Here's the market reaction to the shutdown of (some of) the US government:
- Benchmark US 10-year Treasury yields rose 0.05 percentage points immediately
- The dollar index fell 0.4 per cent immediately
- US equities dropped 0.6 per cent in the build-up yesterday, but the fall was still less than the 0.73 per cent fall in developed world equities.
- The e-mini S&P 500 futures contract is up 0.4 per cent since the shutdown took effect at midnight in Washington
All of which suggests that investors really aren't that bothered. Here is conventional wisdom on why: Read more


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I am writing a free (public domain --- no license) PHP script encodersimilar to CodeLock. It's called FreeLock.I was wondering how many of you would be interested in something like this,and if so, what features would you like to see supported?
Here is an example of an encrypted script :
<?php $use_zlib='y'; $script_name="test2.php"; if(!file_exists('freelock.php')) {
echo "freelock not found - exiting"; exit; }
include_once('freelock.php'); freelock_run($s1); ?>
I am looking for input to make this really useful...If SourceForge approves my project, it will be on there soon.
Thanks in advance for your input!
I would really like to have this, all i need is uncrackable php code encryption/decryption. The Zend encoder and all others seem unaffordable at the moment.
Very cool project. Would definitely be interested in this!
Current encryption services are way out of my reach as well.
Love to hear more about your project.
The project was approved by sourceforge, so it will be up there in a day or two.Just go to sourceforge and search for "FreeLock"
Current features :-Limit script to ONE IP address OR one hostname-Include files are supported-Two different encryption/scrambling modes-Crude interface-Support for compressed scripts (using ZLib - available on most systems)-Since it is open source, you can create your own encrypt/decrypt functions
If there are more features, please let me firstname.lastname@example.com
Nothing is uncrackable, but you can make it very difficult.In the legal sense (if you are distributing commercial software) it would prove that the user had to have intent to modify/re-distribute your script (the cannot plead ignorance)
But since each program encrypted by freelock can use a different scheme, it will make it that much harder to figure out.
Looking forward to seeing it.
How/what exactly does this script do?
It makes your scripts safe from editing, and optionally can limit the use of thescript to ONE host/IP address.
It does this by encrypting/scrambling the script, then (optionally) compressing it, then encoding it to base64
this script
echo "This is an unprotected script.";
Looks like this after you run freelock on it :
<?php $use_zlib='y'; if(!file_exists('freelock.php')) { echo "freelock not found -
exiting"; exit; }
a"; include_once('freelock.php'); freelock_run($s1); ?>
All you need to distribute with your script is freelock.php (which is also encoded)
Does that help?
This is a great idea. Keep up the good work!
Cant wait to use it!
Ok, it's up on sourceforge now.Just go to http://freelock.sourceforge.net
im tried to download it, but it dosent work.
Zip file is missing 6 bytes of data....
From every mirror i try
My current work goes out unprotected, so open source GPL taken for granted without the paper work, however your project will help in delivering an as-is work.
I accidentally uploaded the file in ASCII mode, so it corrupted the ZIP.It is now fixed.I apologize for the inconvenience!
allright cool.
Works now.
i don't like the idea... kinda against the whole OSS philosophy isn't it?
use other people's freely given time and effort (and money) [apache, php, mysql, etc, etc] to write a script and then set up a system where you control who can use it or not....
I wonder where we would all be if apache/php/mysql used that same thinking....
secondly, if someone buys a php script package from you, why not let them tailor it to their needs?
Not that I think you are a bad person er something. just think its kinda hypocritical to make an open-source [its on sourceforge right] program that is built to make other programs (or scripts, etc) closed-source...
I thought about that when I was writing it. But since even people like mewho enjoy free or open source software need to make money, and would like to do so with PHP without getting ripped off, I thought this might be useful.
Besides, there are already commercial versions of this, so I figured might as wellhave an open source one that can fill in for it (and if people actually contribute,it will be much better than the aforementioned commercial/closed source options)
All in all, there are some cases where it really is necessary to maintain a closedsource policy. For those times, there's FreeLock.
Wow, I talk a lot
I know it's still pretty crude, but I have 3 jobs so I don't have TOO much free time.
Let me know what you think about it!
I'll be waiting for a later version that is possibly more secure and then I may start using it
That will be coming sooner than you think!I am making improvements constantly, and will soon be ready for production use.


text:
Unisex Diabetic Slip Resistant Socks For Sale
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Silvert's guide to diabetic clothing covers our complete line of apparel specially designed for the symptoms and complications diabetes can cause. Diabetic feet require adjustable VELCRO® brand slippers to reduce pressure points. Frequently, diabetic foot solutions are resolved with wider widths and deeper toe boxes.Footwear and outerwear that is breathable and adjustable highlights our diabetes catalog.


text:
HOUSTON - Early voting will soon begin to fill the seat left open when a deceased state senator won re-election.
Mario Gallegos represented state Senate District 6. He died on Oct. 16, but it was too late to remove his name from the November general election ballot. He won re-election over Republican R.W. Bray.
Gallegos said he wanted Carol Alvarado, who has served as a Houston City Council member and a Texas state representative, to fill his seat.
The following people are running for the seat:
- Rodolfo "Rudy" Reyes, Independent
- Dorothy Olmos, Republican
- R.W. Bray, Republican
- Carol Alvarado, Democrat
- Joaquin Martinez, Democrat
- Sylvia R. Garcia, Democrat
- Susan Delgado, Democrat
- Maria Selva, Green Party
Early voting in-person begins on Thursday and lasts 12 days. There will be seven early-voting locations.
- Harris County Administration Building, 1001 Preston, first floor
- Holy Name Catholic Church, 1912 Marion
- Ripley House, 4410 Navigation
- HCCS Southeast College Learning Hub, 6815 Rustic, Building D
- Galena Park Library, 1500 Keene
- Hardy Senior Center, 11901 West Hardy
- Baytown Community Center, 2407 Market
Early voting times are:
- Jan. 9 – 11: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Jan. 14, 15: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Jan. 16 – 19: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Jan. 20: 1 to 6 p.m.
- Jan. 21, 22: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Eligible voters may also cast their ballot by mail.
"I strongly encourage voters who are physically disabled and cannot stand in line, or gravely ill to vote by mail. Voters 65 and over and voters that cannot get to the polls can also vote using a mail in ballot. The complete list of those eligible to vote by mail can be found at HarrisVotes.com," Harris County Clerk Stan Stanart said.
The special election will be held on Jan. 26.
Copyright 2013 by Click2Houston.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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Scottsdale residents can keep their summer shorts, flip flops and bikinis out for another three months. With the launch of the new fall marketing campaign, the Scottsdale Convention & Visitors Bureau is encouraging visitors to do the same.
The bureau's "Break the Rules" campaign, which runs from Aug. 16 through Oct. 15, plays on Scottsdale's unique fall offerings and promotes an extended summer to visitors who may be feeling the chill of autumn at home. Six rules – that are meant to be broken on a Scottsdale vacation – are featured on ScottsdaleRules.com with a list of packages and coupons, as well as events during the fall season.
This promotion is the first of six seasonal marketing campaigns planned this year to push messaging around key time periods in order to strengthen destination awareness and exposure in Scottsdale's primary feeder markets of Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco and Canada.
"Our seasonal campaigns will supplement our 'Richly Sonoran' brand campaign, giving us the opportunity to hook visitors with more specific and timely messages," said Caroline Stoeckel, vice president of marketing at the bureau. "The fall campaign also will help us drive visitation around a need period for our tourism industry."
The "Break the Rules" campaign is being promoted through email marketing, pay-per-click advertising, paid and organic social media promotion, and direct mail to Scottsdale's U.S. feeder markets.
The Rules:
You Can Wear White After Labor Day: When it's sunny and 80 degrees in the fall, the standard laws of fashion just don't apply – so don't put away that white bikini just yet.
Celebrate Happy Hour, Any Hour: It's always 5 o'clock when you're on vacation!
Play in The Mud: We desert dwellers aren't afraid of a little dirt – especially when it's in the form of a purifying mud mask.
Push the Speed Limit: No trip to the Wild West is complete without some serious adventure.
Sleep 'til Noon: Let's be honest; all that shopping, spa and nightlife can wear out even the most expert vacationers. So go ahead, turn off that alarm clock. We won't judge.
It's OK to Play More than 18 Holes: In case you didn't know, Scottsdale is kind of a big deal in the golf world. And, hey, with more than 1,700 holes on 200+ area golf courses, we've earned our bragging rights.


text:
Public Health Law Research: Making the Case for Laws That Improve Health(PHLR) is a national program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation seeking studies that investigate specific mechanisms through which a new legal intervention or an existing law or enforcement strategy impacts physical or mental health. The program is particularly interested in proposals that use sophisticated research design and analysis of existing datasets that can provide insight on the effects of laws and legal practices over time and across jurisdictions. View more details and apply online. [1]
Links:[1] http://www.rwjf.org/en/grants/calls-for-proposals/2013/public-health-law-research--making-the-case-for-laws-that-improv.html?cid=XEM_A7185


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A NEW £455,000 cultural hub has been opened as part of the newly-titled Burnley Arts Centre.
The Moira Preston Building was officially launched next to Burnley Youth Theatre, in Queen's Park Road.
The building is named after the late Moira Preston, a volunteer at the theatre for 36 years, who helped secure funding for the ground-breaking theatre in 2005.
Dozens of people attended the opening ceremony, which saw the ribbon cut by the theatre's youngest participant, Rose Hardacre, who is two.
Mandy Precious, the theatre's artistic director, said it was a day of celebration in memory of Moira, who first became involved in the youth theatre when her son Anthony attended workshops in the 1970s.
Ms Precious said: "Always willing to help wherever she was needed, Moira was integral to gaining the funding for the 2005 theatre building which allowed Burnley Youth Theatre to become the first purpose-built youth theatre in the UK.
"When it became apparent that a second building would be needed, Moira was approached about it being named for her, as a symbol of the youth theatre's gratitude.
"She was humble about this – saying many other people had worked just as hard as her. Unfortunately she became ill and died before the building was finished, so the event is a very poignant one for Moira.
"And a chance for us to share our stories about her and the amazing impact she had on us."
The opening of the Arts Council-backed building will see both it and Burnley Youth Theatre come under the umbrella name of Burnley Arts Centre, which aims to boost the cultural profile of the town.
Ms Precious added: "Moira dedicated her life to the youth theatre.
She was so unassuming, and quietly got on and did whatever was necessary to make the place a success.
"I know we are building on the shoulders of giants."
Mrs Preston, of Red Lees Road, Burnley, died last July after a battle with cancer, aged 75.


text:
RUGBY league superstar Gareth Ellis has urged his Hull club-mates who turn out for York City Knights this year to relish their time at Huntington Stadium – just like he did.
Great Britain and England back-rower Ellis, who returned to Blighty this off-season after a successful stint in Australia's NRL in which he proved himself one the world's best forwards, is the marquee signing – and new captain – for Hull, the Knights' new "partner" Super League club.
Rugby league fans have mixed views on such partnerships, but Ellis – who began his professional career in the old York Wasps academy in 1998 – is optimistic it will be good for both the Knights and the fringe first-teamers at the KC Stadium who will play for York on dual-registration forms.
"York were my first club when I was 17. I had a year in York's academy in 1998 and I loved it," said Ellis, who played as a child for Selby Warriors before going through Castleford Lock Lane ARLC's juniors.
"It was the next step to more professional surroundings. It was good for me. When I was there it was the old Alliance (reserve grade), it was open age, and you went up against men, so it was a challenge. It was my first year playing in the summer as well. It was good.
"Brian Kellett was the academy coach and there were a few good lads in that team, such as Lee Paterson, who was with Widnes for a time and is now at Whitehaven."
The Super League reserve grade academy system, much changed since the Alliance days, has changed again this year, to under-19s from U20s and, crucially, with open-age players no longer allowed.
It means Hull players aged 20-plus who are not picked for the Airlie Birds' first team will not play matches other than for York.
"I think it can be good for the game," said Ellis.
"It's good for them to get regular games and experience at Championship level.
"It's good for York City Knights as well as they get some good players. They've also got the responsibility to help nurture these players.
"It's good for these lads to play at that level and it will be good for Championship players.
"They'll be thinking, 'These lads are supposed to be the next superstars,' so it will be a challenge to put down markers themselves."
As for the quality in the Hull-York dual-reg ranks, in the likes of props Chris Green and Josh Bowden, and fliers Jamie Shaul, Ben Crooks and Tom Lineham, Ellis – who was at Huntington Stadium for the pre-season friendly between the clubs – said: "When I arrived at Hull I knew a lot of the older players but not much about the younger lads, but they're good players.
"Josh Bowden, Chris Green and Jamie Shaul played really well at York. It will be exciting for fans of York to watch some aspiring Super League players."
Asked if the players themselves would want to play for York, he said: "They all probably expected to play for Hull against Leeds (in the Super League opener) given how well they've been training.
"But they will get an opportunity through the year, whether it's sooner or later. Hopefully playing at York will keep them at a level where they can slot in at Super League if and when they're called upon.
"I would hope they go to York and give their all. They will have to do that to play themselves into the Hull team. It's an opportunity to put their claim forward for a Super League place. They won't get picked if they're not playing well."


text:
Eleven makes multiplication easy.
The impossible becomes possible when you move into the third dimension.
A quick look at an ancient problem.
A mathematical "paradox" explains why more roads don't necessarily mean fewer traffic jams.
Why there are only three regular polygons you can tile a wall with.
What does packing balls in higher dimensions have to do with getting your message across?
What is dark matter and how can the LHC find it?


text:
[Intro: Pharrell and Pusha T]
I go by the name
(I'm yo' pusha)
Of Pharrell, from the Neptunes
And I just wanna let y'all know
(I'm yo' pusha)
The world, is about to feel something (I'm yo pusha)
That they've never felt before
[Verse 1: Pusha T]
From ghetto to ghetto, to backyard to yard
I sell it whipped un-whipped, it's soft or hard
I'm the neighborhood pusha
Call me Subwoofer, cause I pump base like that, Jack
On or off the track, I'm heavy cous
Ball 'til you fall, cause you could duck to the Feddy Govs
Sorry my love, what I'm seeing through these eyes
Benz convoys with the wagon on the side
Only big boys keep deuces on the ride
Gucci Chuck Taylor with the dragon on the side
Man, I make a buck, why scram
I'm trying to show y'all who the fuck I am
The jewels is flirting, be damned if I'm hurting
Legend in two games like I'm Pee Wee Kirkland
Platinum on the block with consistent hits
While Pharrell keep talking this music shit
[Bridge: Pharrell]
[Verse 2: Malice]
Patty cake, patty cake, I'm the baker's man
I bake them cakes as fast as I can
And you can tell by how my bread stack up
Then disguise it as rap so the feds back up
Watch it, like my whip, like my chick, topless
Doing a buck-six with me in the cockpit
Grindin' cousin, I got wholes for a dozen
Even eleven-5, if I see ya keep it comin'
And my weight, that's just as heavy as my name
So much dough, I can't swear I won't change
Excuse me if my wealth got me full of myself
Cocky, something that I just can't help
'Specially when them 20's is spinning like windmills
And the ice 32 below minus the wind chill
Filthy, the word that best defines me
I'm just grinding man, y'all never mind me
[Bridge: Pharrell]
[Hook: Clipse and Pharrell]
Grindin', you know what I keep in the lining
Niggas better stay in line
When you see a nigga like me shinin'
Grindin', when you know what I keep in a lining (Whooof...)
Niggas better stay in line, when (Whooof...)
You see a nigga like me shinin'
[Verse 3: Malice]
My grind's 'bout family, never been about fame
From days I wasn't able, there was always 'caine
Four and a half will get you in the game
Anything less is just a goddamn shame
Guess the weight, my watch got blue chips in the face
Glock with two tips, whoever gets in the way
Not to mention the hideaway that rests by the lake
Consider my raw demeanor the icing on the cake
I'm grindin'
[Verse 4: Pusha T]
I move 'caine like a cripple
Balance weight through the hood, kids call me Mr. Sniffles
Other hand on my nickel
Plated whistle, one eye closed I'll hit you
As if I was Slick Rick my aim is still an issue
Lose your soul in, whichever palm I'm holdin'
One'll leave you frozen, the other, noddin' and dozin'
I'm grindin' Jack
[Bridge: Pharrell]
[Hook: Clipse and Pharrell]
Grindin', you know what I keep in the lining
Niggas better stay in line
When you see a nigga like me shinin'
Grindin', when you know what I keep in a lining (Whooof...)
Niggas better stay in line, when (Whooof...)
You see a nigga like me shinin'
[Produced by The Neptunes]
Not their first commercial single like most people believe. That honor goes to "The Funeral". Grindin' is their biggest single in their career thus far and has not 1 but 2 (needless) remixes on their debut album.
During an annotation session with genius, Pusha explained how the "Grindin'" instrumental was almost given to Jay Z:
Pharrell makes the beat and calls me and says if I don't get to the studio in ten minutes he's gonna give Jay Z the beat. And he knows that is one person that I don't ever want to have a Pharrell beat before I hear the beat.
It's just the cardinal rule: "Don't do that, Pharrell." That causes knock-down, drag-out arguments.
Since "Grindin'" I've always rhymed over beats that are sort of left of center.


text:
Question for the Money Doctors
Question submitted on Apr 15, 2010.
QuestionI'm one of those college students who got a credit card, and charged way more than I could afford and now can't pay it back. I have $4300.00 on a credit card and work 2 jobs. I'm barely making ends meet, still live with my parents and have been making minimum payments since last summer. Should give up paying some bills on time to contribute more to the credit card? Should I consolidate and get a small loan? If I could go back in time, I would have cut this credit card in 20 tiny pieces, but I'm stuck. Please advise.
Desperate College Student
Dear Desperate,
If you're deeply in debt and struggling to stay afloat, a credit counselor can help you figure your finances and create a spending plan. Counselors can set up a formal debt-management plan, with lower interest rates and more favorable terms, and get you out of debt within five years. They don't handle bankruptcies, but they can recommend that you see an attorney.
Stick with reputable, nonprofit agencies that follow best-practice standards, employ trained and certified counselors, and are members of the Association of Independent Consumer Credit Counseling Agencies (www.aiccca.org) or the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (www.nfcc.org).
Usually, a credit counselor will give you basic advice free. Setting up a plan should cost $50 to $75 initially and $25 to $50 per month thereafter.
If a counselor you're considering charges higher fees, or won't disclose them, go elsewhere. Be sure to check out any agency with the local Better Business Bureau and the state Attorney General's Office to see if there are any unresolved complaints.
One of the programs you can use to get out of credit card debt is Consumer Credit Counseling Services ("CCCS"). They are a non-profit organization that is paid for by creditors. The debtor pays a minor fee to use the program.
CCCS will very likely be able to negotiate reduced interest rates on your credit cards. Some credit cards companies will charge no interest when you are in this program. CCCS will sit with you to help you set a payment schedule that you will be comfortable with. You will cut up all (perhaps you keep one or get a debit card) of your credit cards so that some day you can be debt free. Their website is: http://www.cccsstl.org/
Having said that, using a credit repair service like CCCS can have a greater negative effect on your credit score than going through bankruptcy. But that will eventually be behind you too. I do not recommend bankruptcy for you unless there is no other way.
There is an excellent course I recommend to clients (usually for their kids) to help them get out of debt and get a sound financial footing. It is Dave Ramsey Financial Peace University. The program is given at churches across the country. It is a 14 week course that meets for two hours in the evening every week. There is also homework (reading) which takes about one hour per week. If you are married, I recommend that both spouses attend. It costs about $100 for the materials (one set per couple). Here is a link to the website. http://www.daveramsey.com/fpu/home
For additional information visit http://www.360financialliteracy.org/


text:
Bryan Houston and Fitness Expert and Life Coach Kelly Hitchcock talk about some very practical steps you can take to break bad habits or control negative responses.
Bryan Houston has spent the last 40 years as a Televsion News and Sports Anchor/ Reporter, Radio Sports Talk Show Host, and now podcast host for Rattle and Hum Sports. As an award winning sportscaster, he has covered the Dallas Cowboys since the Staubach years of the late 70's, the Texas Rangers all the way back to the late 70's when they were in old Arlington Stadium years when players like Toby Harrah, Buddy Bell and Al Oliver starred for the home team. While working in Baton Rouge, he covered the LSU Tigers. In Tyler-Longview-Lufkin, he was followed the SFA Lumberjacks and Ladyjacks, covered the Cotton Bowl, and key SWC football and basketball games, and in Chattanooga, TN, he reported on the SEC, concentrating on Tennessee, Auburn, Alabama, Vanderbilt, Georgia, and the Sugar Bowl. He reported on Final Four Teams like Georgia Tech and the Tennessee Lady Vols, and been to numerous NCAA Basketball Tournament events, covering the Chattanooga Mocs. He's covered three BCS Championship games involving SEC champions( LSU twice, Alabama once). He also covered the '96 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. As a TV news anchor, he was in Waco for the fire at the Branch Davidian Compound. He's also traveled to Washington,D.C. to cover the State of the Union Address. During all of that time, he has also been involved in extensive coverage of high school sports in Texas, Louisiana, Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama. He continues to do high school football play-by-play in East TX. Over the years he has also hosted numerous telecasts for the Children's Miracle Network and the Muscular Dystrophy Association.


text:
Topic: Lifestyle Change for Those Surrounding Cholangiocarcinoma
Has anyone done a lifestyle change due to someone close to you having this? I have to admit I like my daily glass of wine (or 2). I don't smoke, am not overweight....but I still feel that I am going to get this because my dad has it.


text:
ROLLERS, Landscape
painting by artist Bruce Docker
7 in X 5 in (17.8 cm X 12.7 cm)
Acrylic on Wood Panel
This painting is available directly from the artist.
More Paintings by Bruce Docker
More art in Today's New Paintings
Keyword Tags
acrylic acrylic on wood panel american art bruce bruce docker contemporary day docker landscape missouri original painting panel price roller rollers landscape sale small wood
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Images may not be reproduced without the permission of the artist.


text:
Dell Inspiron One 2320: Stuck in the Middle With Youby Dustin Sklavos on 11/17/2011 12:30 AM EST
35 Comments
Back to Article
shmmy - Thursday, November 17, 2011 - linkI sell these style computers at a major big box retailer and I just don't get it.
This article is like a car review where you take a economy car and put it around a race track then complain that its too slow. (all be it an expensive economy car but still an economy car)
Yes this spacific machine is a beast of an AIO, the store I work at has nothing like this almost all of them are sub 1k. The area I work in has an average income of 80-90k a year so its not that people are cheap. 90% of the people who buy these types of computers will never even open a real game.
Maybe in a year or two when the power levels go down on all the new hardware these things will be better but now its a fun toy with a touch screen.
A realistic test that can be done for this machine is to see how fast it gets to Facebook and porn because thats all that these types of computers are used for. :) Reply
Dustin Sklavos - Thursday, November 17, 2011 - linkI used to work retail, and more people play games than you think. Also, sometimes someone doesn't play games, then sees something they like and they want to play it too. And then their computer sucks for it. I have also seen this happen.
Our testbed is standardized for a reason but beyond that, this computer is ill balanced and the hardware runs way, WAY too hot. I do have a less expensive Toshiba all-in-one I'm putting through its paces right now, but frankly I still have issues with touchscreen all-in-ones in general as I've mentioned. The technology is very much still in its teething stage. Reply
orgy08 - Thursday, November 17, 2011 - linkI tend to agree with you. My wife loves using all in one PCs and her ageing HP Touch-smart isn't holding up to well with the last World of Warcraft expansion. I'll probably end up building a slim/mini desktop instead of getting another All in one with low end graphics. Go ahead and sell to your target audience, but leave the option open to at least customize the PC online with faster components. Reply
brybir - Thursday, November 17, 2011 - linkI agree with you.
Statements like "What we really need for 1080p AIO systems is at least GT 555M or (preferably) GTX 560M level hardware; we've seen such chips in 14" and 15" notebooks; would it really be that hard to stuff something faster into a significantly larger AIO system?"
Sure, throw in a 560M and we can all pay an extra $50 or $100 dollars for the computer, or throw in a beefier processor for an extra $50, then why not add an IPS display for another $100....
You can see where this is going with this. The person you talked with at HP also explained that same concept....they have a target market and a price range for that target market in order to be competitive. This device is NOT designed for the high end of the market or for those that want to play games and stuff.
The author states in a post below that he knows that some people will buy this later and want to play games, or that the computer is not "balanced" because the specs are not all at least mid-level gaming PC specs, but that misses the point of market segmentation and making tradeoffs to reach a price point. The only value I find in those type of comments are when you can say "check out item A and B, both same type of device at the same or very similar price, but item B has much better overall specifications and capabilities" etc. Just making statements that the system is not balanced or that it does not cater to all possible uses is just not useful in a review like this. Reply
JarredWalton - Thursday, November 17, 2011 - linkHere's the fundamental problem with an all-in-one: you can't really upgrade most components. If you decide you don't like the display, want a faster GPU or CPU, or want more storage (e.g. SSD + HDD), in most cases your only recourse is to buy a new system. A laptop is portable and thus stuffing in higher end GPUs isn't always desirable; for an AIO, you really should get something a little more forward looking than a bare minimum GPU offering.
If the GT 525M is enough, then you probably don't need the discrete GPU at all. Dell offers that as well, but have you looked at the pricing? It's a bit ridiculous for what you're getting, and it's time to go back to the drawing board. As we point out, the HP has a significantly better display, a better stand, a faster CPU, a better GPU, and it runs cooler; under load it even uses less power than this. For $150 more, the $1400 HP TouchSmart would be a far better buy.
If Dell wants to make a cheap AIO, then make a cheap AIO; if they want something that can scale up to $1400, they need more than just an upgraded budget AIO to satisfy. That's one of the issues I have had with notebooks where the base model starts at $500. Right then you know it has cheap build quality and a crappy display, and if you upgrade to a high-end $1500 configuration you'll still have the lousy build quality. The cooling on the Inspiron 2320 shows that it's not capable of handling higher spec GPUs, and yet it can handle the i7-2600S. Doesn't that strike you as unbalanced?
Given the size of an AIO relative to a notebook, it should be trivial to give the GPU its own dedicated cooling solution. Then instead of $300 to add 2GB RAM, double the HDD to 2TB, and adding the GT 525M, we could get a meaningful upgrade. Given the 2GB RAM upgrade is practically free, and even the HDD upgrade only costs $50 (and that's with hugely inflated HDD pricing right now), you're pretty much spending $250 for the GT 525M. And yet you're complaining that we suggest a faster GPU would be wise. Really, Dell should have tweaked the design and just shoved in a desktop GTX 550 Ti (or similar hardware). Instead, the aesthetic appearance (which I don't particularly care for to begin with) takes priority and we end up with a rather noisy under load system that runs too hot and underperforms. Reply
JWade - Thursday, November 17, 2011 - linkMy wife has the AMD version of this, hers is very much upgradeable, better processor can be installed (she currently has a quad core AMD, had a base of a dual core), the video can be upgraded, it takes mxm type, just like alot of laptops do, ram can be upgrades as well as the hard drive. were these options available from Dell? well the processor upgrade was, but the rest no, but they still can be done. Reply
JarredWalton - Thursday, November 17, 2011 - linkTechnically, yes, you can upgrade the CPU and you can swap out the HDD, but upgrading the GPU is a craps shoot at best. Upgrading MXM modules is not something to be done lightly. It looks like, based on the current GPU offerings, the Inspiron One 2320 is capable of supporting 35W TDP GPUs. Assuming the BIOS supports the GPU you want to put in (which isn't guaranteed), if you tried to put in a 75W TDP MXM GPU in place of the current GPU, you'd almost certainly overheat at best, and cause the system to fry itself at worst. Reply
brybir - Thursday, November 17, 2011 - linkBut again, your comments fall back into my original statements. You can't upgrade the computer as easily, but not everyone wants or needs a computer that can be easily upgraded, if at all. They buy computers like the Dell in this article for other reasons...otherwise, if upgrading was a big priority, they would not have bought this Dell in the first place...
I don't disagree with you on your points regarding GT525M vs. Intel graphics, cheap scaling etc of components, but again you come back to the system not being balanced, as if the GPU must match the capabilities of the CPU that it is paired with so that it can handle a wider range of usage scenarios. Dell engineered this thing with certain ideas of who it was being marketed to at a certain price point, and what would consumers of this device at this price point like to do with the computer. They base their decisions off this information. Sometimes they are right, sometimes they are wrong. But the idea that a system MUST be balanced among its various components at all times regardless of the targeted use profile seems to go against the entire idea of how PCs, and most consumer items, are designed and marketed.
Finally, your last paragraph strikes me as somewhat....assumptive. You don't know whether it is actually trivial for Dell to re-engineer an entire product line or what the true costs of doing such are. There are hundreds of variables to consider when engaging in mass manufacturing that go well beyond "it should be easy" or "look...it would have been so easy to just do that" when it is never, ever, that simple. Further, you do not know what Dell pays for parts (or maybe you do, but I doubt it) what their internal goals were when developing this product line were, what margins they were shooting for etc.
But I think you somewhat validate my point when you talk about the HP competitor. You stated that for $150 I can get more CPU power, a better GPU, a better display, a better stand, it runs both cooler and uses less power. If I were buying one of these, I would probably spend the extra $150 and buy the HP, and that is an entirely relevant criticism. But, what if I don't have the extra $150 to spend...do I just go without, or do I decide I would rather have at least what the Dell offers in my price range? Or what if I bought it because the only thing I wanted to do was type Word documents and stream Netflix. Is paying $150 extra to accomplish those tasks worth it? I get no benefit from the CPU or GPU upgrade in that case, so then the question is whether the display/power/heat issue worth $150 extra dollars, to which the answer will be different for everyone.
My last point is that some of these articles have gotten a little bit preachy and seem to always compare things against "what could or should have been". I mean, the author actually states "What we really need for 1080p AIO systems is at least GT 555M or (preferably) GTX 560M level hardware". All I can say is that the AUTHOR thinks that we all need this, that we should all pay for it, and that no AIO should ever not have at least this level of capability." These sort of statements just strike me as nearly philosphical in nature. As noted above, it assumes we all need that hardware, which is not true, and then you provided a number of statements attempting to justify it by talking about all the hardware changes that COULD have been made and the redesign and reengineering to allow that to happen with a small cost increase. But that goes into the issue above about assumptions.
Anyways, I do enjoy the articles generally, but sometimes I think you guys get a little to thick into the "everyone needs this" and then making huge assumptive jumps justifying why or how that could be achieved. That gets a bit tiring to read when it is article after article. Reply
Death666Angel - Thursday, November 17, 2011 - linkYour complaints would make sense, if we were talking about a company that offers only one configuration. But Dells business model is the configurability of all their products. It wouldn't hurt Joe "non gamer" Average if they at least offered better graphics, right? Reply
JarredWalton - Thursday, November 17, 2011 - linkBrybir, you're missing the point. For $600, the Inspiron 2320 makes a lot of sense -- though at that point I'm not sure the Celeron CPU would be fast enough. The reviewed configuration costs twice as much, but it's still a $600 chassis with a few performance upgrades, and the GPU upgrade is questionable at best. Perhaps a better way of stating it is that Dell should either go with the IGP (which they do on lower end configs) or put in a "real" GPU; the GT 525M is barely adequate for 1366x768 gaming, and if you're not gaming there's not a whole hell of a lot of need for the dGPU. Netflix streaming works fine without the GT 525M, and Word runs fine on an old Core 2 Duo with GMA 4500 graphics.
My point about the overall design is that if you're going to make a system that is supposed to meet the needs of $600 AIO and $1500 AIO buyers, you need to consider BOTH markets and what they want. Apple takes good care of their $1200+ AIO customers in delivering a lot of performance and generally meaningful upgrades, and this Dell system doesn't at least match Apple. The base model $1200 iMac has a slightly smaller LCD, but it has better build quality, a much higher quality LCD, a faster GPU, a faster CPU, and more connectivity.
Looking at the $1250 model (reviewed here), the Inspiron One falls short of the 21.5" iMac in every meaningful area. Drop to the $950 model and all you can really say is that it's cheaper, and at $600, it's a budget AIO and you get exactly what you pay for. None of the builds currently available are worth recommending in my opinion, or in Dustin's, and that's what we do here: we show benchmark results, we discuss the bigger picture, and we come to a conclusion on whether a product is worth buying or not. The Inspiron One isn't undesirable because of the GT 525M; it's a poor design because the low end model is underwhelming and the expensive model is even more so. Reply
JarredWalton - Thursday, November 17, 2011 - linkJust to help avoid confusion, I've added a bit to the offending paragraph. Here's the updated version, so if you still have complaints with this wording please let me know what you disagree with and why:
"When I spoke to HP's representative about the meager graphics hardware in the TouchSmart, she suggested that it was really meant to be more of a family computer and thus didn't need particularly aggressive graphics hardware. That may be the case, but it undermines the necessity of a dedicated GPU to begin with. If the integrated HD 2000/3000 graphics are inadequate, you probably plan on doing at least some gaming, so you'll want more. The fact is that these mobile graphics chips were designed for notebooks with 768p screens, and at that resolution they're fine. On an all-in-one, though, they're much harder to justify and really speak to a fundamental problem with the all-in-one ecosystem: we need an in-between point for graphics hardware. What we really need for "upscale" 1080p AIO systems is at least GT 555M or (preferably) GTX 560M level hardware; we've seen such chips in 14" and 15" notebooks; would it really be that hard to stuff something faster into a significantly larger AIO system? The GT 525M upgrade from the base model Inspiron One 2320 ends up costing over $200, and for that price it just doesn't add enough performance." Reply
tzhu07 - Thursday, November 17, 2011 - linkThis looks like the retarded younger brother of the iMac. Steve Jobs is fundamentally correct when he said that Dell makes boring beige boxes. Dell hasn't really done anything to prove him wrong.
And God damnit those fucking stickers (lower right corner) keep appearing on Windows based machines. Stop, just stop already. I can't roll my eyes far back enough at this practice. Reply
JarredWalton - Thursday, November 17, 2011 - linkNOTE: Sigmatu, personal attacks on people is not something we like to see in our comments, and they have been deleted. tzhu07 has expressed an opinion that this looks like a crappy knock-off of the iMac, and that's certainly a valid opinion. Complaining about the stickers on systems is also valid. Your attacks suggesting he... whatever... are uncalled for. Any more of that and I'll pull out the banhammer. Reply
sigmatau - Friday, November 18, 2011 - linkI guess when I was told to "stfu" when I was talking about my horrible 3gs in another one of your articles, that was ok because I was talking the truth about Apple? gotcha. Reply
JarredWalton - Friday, November 18, 2011 - linkI don't read through every comment on every thread, but your attacks were personal and I saw them. If someone makes unwarranted attacks on you, feel free to drop me an email. If it's in the forums, though, don't talk to me -- talk to one of the forum moderators. The bottom line is your comments here were out of line and I saw them. Instead of pointing the finger at a vague "other post", accept that your posts were inflammatory and personal attacks that contributed nothing, and move on with better posts. It's what helps separate the AT readership from, say, the DT readership (though there's obviously overlap); we like to hold our comments to a higher standard. :-) Reply
sigmatau - Friday, November 18, 2011 - linkFine, next time I will just say how fucking stupid Macs are and go on a diatribe about that since that seems to be fine by you. Fuck Macs! I guess that's the higher standard you are looking for?
In all honesty, both of our comments should have been deleted. By you posting about this instead of a personal message, then you should not be surprised by a response.
Anyways, I got it. I will not call people names, but apparently I can throw up all the profanity about products and that is fine. Sounds fairly hypocritical to me but whatever man. Reply
Dustin Sklavos - Friday, November 18, 2011 - linkOr you could just behave yourself in the first place.
That is also an option. Reply
sigmatau - Friday, November 18, 2011 - linkFuck Macs. Reply
sigmatau - Friday, November 18, 2011 - linkMacs are fucking grossly overpriced.
I am expressing my opinion and "that's certainly a valid opinion". Reply
niva - Thursday, November 17, 2011 - linkRight on about the stickers, they're so hard to remove... I wish companies would stop doing that. Their main logo is obtrusive enough.
Same about bloatware sold with the machines. I want a clean windows install on it.
Agreed with the sentiment that this is a VERY cheap iMac. Hate Apple but props must be given in terms of design. Dell failed in execution of this AIO. Reply
tipoo - Thursday, November 17, 2011 - link"more than adequate for even the most basic use."
Doesn't really make sense. Reply
JarredWalton - Thursday, November 17, 2011 - linkNo, not really; I've corrected the sentence. Reply
Roland00Address - Thursday, November 17, 2011 - linki7 2630qm Recommended Customer Price $378
i5 2400s Recommended Customer Price $184 - $195
That is a difference of a $150 dollars, or in other words a lot of profit. Reply
cknobman - Thursday, November 17, 2011 - linkDell has always made overpriced under-powered machines usually accompanied with godawful ugly designs. Reply
melgross - Thursday, November 17, 2011 - linkAt least they're consistent. Reply
melgross - Thursday, November 17, 2011 - linkYou really are intelligent. Great response! I suppose you are a Dell customer for life. Reply
terraformer - Thursday, November 17, 2011 - linkMy father has been through 3 of these very machines, and each one has suffered extreme heat issues that fried the HD. Dell has been accommodating, but read any user reviews around the 'net and see a majority of owners experiencing the same problems. Dell rushed this out the door without addressing the clear cooling problem that these systems have. I still see ads for these all over the place.
So I talked my father into buying my one-year old 27" iMac, and walked him through the differences in terms of UI. He is thrilled with it now, loves how fast it starts, how it can largely run itself (e.g., updates).
And I bought a new iMac, spec'd it out pretty highly and, dear kind Sir above, it plays games beautifully and flawlessly. This avid FPS gamer (since Quake days) finds this machine plenty good enough for gaming. And I can run BF3 at ultra settings - turning off AA and a few other things - at native resolution at just above 30 fps. And that is fine with me. Reply
dirtboy12 - Thursday, November 17, 2011 - linkWe bought many of these (around 300) for a school district and have seen at least 1/3 of them have their hard drives just die. One poor teacher has been through 4 hard drives on the same machine, but Dell keeps thinking that the solution is to put another one in. What was that quote about insanity? Reply
dave_the_nerd - Thursday, November 17, 2011 - linkInsanity is the mother of invention? Reply
OwnedKThxBye - Saturday, November 19, 2011 - linkEvery time I read a review of a consumer/non-enthusiast laptop or all-in-one it seems like such a high value is placed on the screen quality. I sometimes wonder if people understand that these devices are used predominately by people who for the most part don't know what the word resolution means, let alone the differences between a TN and IPS panel. These machines are not aimed at the tech savvy power users, but the kind of people who tell me "everything on this screen looks too small. Is there a way I can make it larger?". A better quality screen with larger resolution isn't going to help them check Facebook and emails any better. In some cases high resolution can even seem like a disadvantage for those with bad eye sight. These kind of people are not going to choose to spend even $40 more on a better quality screen, however they might choose to spend the $40 if it made the screen larger. Customers have never told me they wish they could upgrade the screen on their all-in-one or laptop to a better quality one.
This is a Dell Inspiron all-in-one that me and you are not going to go out and buy for numerous reasons. I'm reading this review on a 30" HP and have a 24" on either side of it. I will pay the extra for a better quality screen every time, but I know the kind of customers that make up the target audience for this device will not. If the customer chooses to love it and buy it or hate it and not buy it, either way not much if any of their decision will be based on the screen quality.
Love the review Dustin Reply
mbmack - Monday, November 21, 2011 - linkI have enjoyed reading all of the posted comments regarding the Dell Inspiron 2320 and the HP All-In-One models. Clearly you guys know your computers! I am a stay-at-home mom of 4 kids and I am looking to purchase an all-in-one touchscreen computer. I think I have narrowed my choices down to either the Dell Inspiron One 2320 or the HP TouchSmart 610x, but am not quite certaint. I am a general everyday multi-purpose - email, web browsing, photo storage/editing, word processing, video watching - user who does not do any "real" gaming. My young boys like to play basic games though, and will no doubt venture into more hardcore games as they get older. I would like a system which has a strong & fast processor, has plenty of memory for data & photo storage, can handle semi-advanced gaming, and will live a good long life. I want to cover my needs fully, but without going overboard. I am also sensitive to energy efficiency & want a system with a good built-in fan to keep it from over heating, which I understand can be a problem with some AIO models. I am not a very tech-saavy consumer, so I would really appreciate any advice & guidance on the must-have system requirements to fit my bill. If there is a machine you particularly like or dislike, please let me know.
Also, can anyone tell me the notable difference/advantage between an Intel Core processor & an AMD Athlon processor? Which is a better choice?
Thank you so much for your guidance! Reply
mbmack - Monday, November 21, 2011 - linkI meant I am not certain.... not certaint! Reply
heyyu - Thursday, January 26, 2012 - linkI've had my 2320 for a few days now. I love everything about it, except for the screen quality. My wife's description of the problem is that it seems like it has a film of plastic over it, causing the screen to be quite dim. I just got back from Best Buy, hoping I got a lemon, but unfortunately, the floor model there had the exact same problems. Stupid TN panel.
If you are still wanting to take the plunge, I'd suggest trying the Dell Outlet. I got a fully loaded one for around $700. Too bad the screen stinks. Reply
jpa813 - Wednesday, March 14, 2012 - linkis it possible to change the service tag in the bios. i changed the motherboard over the weekend and the service tag number doesnt match the one on the back of my machine. Reply
andy6134 - Wednesday, July 04, 2012 - linkPlease help.. URGENT !! No GRAPHIC CARD ? Reply


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We must create a sustainable platform for growth through science and innovation. Improving the performance of our innovative core is essential, and we are taking decisive steps to do that. In 2010 we centralized our global R&D team under the leadership of Dr. Mikael Dolsten. On February 1, 2011 we announced an acceleration of our R&D strategy, which sharpens our research focus on the areas that give us the best promise of scientific and commercial success. At the center of this strategy, we will sustain or increase our investments in neuroscience; cardiovascular, metabolic and endocrine diseases; oncology; inflammation and immunology; and vaccines. These areas will be augmented by the advantaged technologies delivered by Rinat and CovX, two biotechnology organizations acquired by Pfizer within the past five years. We are also establishing teams dedicated to treatments for pain and sensory disorders, and the advancement of follow-on biologics, also referred to as biosimilars, that are differentiated based on quality, manufacturing platforms and the value offered to patients. This represents a new growth opportunity for Pfizer.
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We are organized around customer-focused business units, which makes us a more adept and responsive organization. The leaders in each business unit know the health care environments they operate in, country by country, understand payers' concerns, and have critical insights about the needs of health care providers and patients. Using this knowledge, and through close collaboration with the research units, these leaders are responsible for making the right decisions on how to best allocate a major portion of our resources, and have accountability for late-stage product development and for making smart investment choices. By ensuring that a deep understanding of customers informs our research, we have become an industry leader in emerging markets and remain competitively positioned in the mature European Union and U.S. markets.
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