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With Virgin Galactic planning its first sub-orbital test flights later this year, space tourism is close to becoming a reality even if you are not mega-rich. But which space company to choose to take you to the final frontier? Richard Hollingham, looks at the options.
It's the ultimate experience – an event that will change your life. And whether you're a billionaire, millionaire or just incredibly wealthy, the space tourism industry has something to offer. So far, only seven space tourists have flown in space but, all being well, over the next couple of years that's going to change. Big time. And, if you've got the money, you could be part of it.
I'm not going to pretend the experience will be cheap but whether you want a quick sub-orbital thrill, a week staring out of the window of the International Space Station (ISS) or a daring mission to the far side of the Moon, it's going to be considerably cheaper than it was for Nasa.
Neither is it without its risks. Even today, there is nothing routine about spaceflight. Some of these companies are relying on tried and tested Russian spacecraft but the others are stretching new technology to its limits. Just hope you're not on board when those limits are discovered.
But, if you've saved your money and signed the waiver form, here's what you can expect from a selection of the major players in this fledgling market.
Mission: Space is Virgin Territory
The experience: After a few days of training alongside your five fellow crewmembers, you don your spacesuit and take your seat in the VSS Enterprise rocket plane. Slung beneath the wings of the WhiteKnight Two twin-hulled aircraft, your rocket is carried 50,000 ft (15,000m) into the clear skies over the Mojave Desert. With everything checked out, WhiteKnight releases Enterprise, the pilot hits the start button and you're thrust back into your seat as the rocket powers into space.
After the engines have cut off, it'll be completely silent (apart from the exclamations from your fellow passengers) and you'll have around five to six minutes of weightlessness when you're free to float around the cabin and peer out of the large windows to the Earth below. Then it's back to your seat, as gravity takes over and the spacecraft descends– at some speed – to land back on the runway.
What they say: "It has been specifically designed to give as many people as possible, an affordable, fantastic experience," Virgin Galactic commercial director, Stephen Attenborough, tells me. "It's the astronaut experience, so it's the rocket ride to space, it's having a big cabin that you can float around in zero gravity, it's got big windows, so you've got fantastic views of Earth, it's all run by Virgin so you'll have a fantastic experience and you'll come back an astronaut!"
Cost: $200,000
Wow factor: 8/10
Warped factor: 6/10
Verdict: It's likely to happen in the near future and is certainly going to be a thrill-ride. But it might leave would-be astronauts wanting more.
Mission: A life changing experience
The experience: SXC are working with XCOR Aerospace, the developers of the Lynx suborbital space plane. Equipped with four rocket engines, the plane is designed to take off and land on a runway. What's neat about these engines is that they can be ignited and shut down at any time during flight. However, the Lynx has yet to fly.
As a passenger on board, you will be strapped into the cockpit at the front alongside the pilot. After take off, the plane will climb rapidly at three times the speed of sound to 58km (36 miles) above the Earth. At that point, the pilot will shut off the engines and let the plane coast upwards for another 40km (25 miles) as you start to descend in an arc back towards the Earth. You'll experience around 4Gs of force as the plane re-enters the atmosphere, before it glides back for a horizontal landing.
What they say: "I'd offer you a pinnacle life event," says XCOR chief operating officer, Andrew Nelson when I ask him what they're selling. "I'd offer you excitement, I'd offer you adventure, I'd offer you some wonderful experiences…but really at the heart and soul of it we'd offer you the opportunity to explore who you are and what you're made of." And, he adds, in a gentle dig at his competitors: "you're not at the back of the bus with windows, you're right up front…if you get on an airplane and you'd rather turn to the left than the right, then you're probably a good customer for us."
Cost: $95,000
Wow factor: 7/10
Warped factor: 8/10
Verdict: Virgin on steroids but you don't get to float around the cabin. The plane hasn't flown yet.
Mission: Delivering spaceflight experiences.
The experience: Space Adventures is the only company with a track record in space tourism. So far they've flown eight missions and seven astronauts (one person flew twice) to the ISS. Clients fly as passengers in Soyuz spacecraft alongside fully trained cosmonauts. Soyuz is the world's most reliable – and now only –manned spacecraft.
Before being allowed to fly, you'll have to pass tough medical exams and undergo months of training for Soyuz and the ISS. You may also have to learn Russian. Assuming you pass the tests, you'll blast off – alongside two professional cosmonauts – from the historic Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
After a couple of days in orbit, your capsule will dock with the ISS and you'll get to spend more than a week on board. Participants have used this opportunity to try experiments or work on education projects. Every astronaut who's flown on the ISS has recommended spending as much time as possible looking out of the window at the Earth. Although you'll be treated well by the professional astronauts and cosmonauts, Nasa has been quite disapproving of these flights in the past and this may cause you problems. When your time in orbit is at an end, you'll return in the Soyuz capsule for a bumpy landing somewhere in Kazakhstan.
Space Adventures also offers parabolic "weightless" experiences in specially converted aircraft and is planning suborbital flights, as well as an ambitious mission beyond Earth orbit to circle around the Moon.
What they say: "You're 250 miles above the Earth, going around the Earth every 90 minutes, an absolutely spectacular experience," and with that, Tom Shelly, president of Space Adventures, really doesn't have to add anything.
Cost: $50 million
Wow factor: 9/10
Warped factor: 7/10
Verdict: How much?!? You'll have to commit to months of training. The only company that's actually done it.
Mission: Engage, Explore, Inspire
The experience: extraordinary name, extraordinary plans. Excalibur Almaz Limited is a private company based on the Isle of Man – a small island off the west coast of Britain. Here, it has some serious ex-Russian space hardware including two space stations (similar to the Russian modules of the ISS) and four ex-Soviet military reusable space capsules.
This is no ordinary space tourism company, Excalibur Almaz plans to launch the first private space station and, by fitting its habitation modules with engines, to support expeditions around the Moon and even beyond. Each module is six times the size of Nasa's Orion capsule, which will make them the biggest manned spacecraft ever launched.
What they say: "We're in the business of private expeditions into outer space," explains company chairman, Art Duler, who says he wants to make Britain a "spacefaring society".
"The great discoveries of the 21st Century haven't been made yet, they will be made in space – there's no doubt about that."
The ultimate mission is to travel beyond Earth's orbit to a Lagrange point – the positions in space where gravitational forces balance out – and then loop back around the Moon. "It'll take about six to eight months, it's a real exploration of discovery to specific places that have great scientific interest. This is a bespoke charter mission to beyond the Moon…one for the history books I think."
Funded by the astronauts who take part, or anyone who wants to sponsor them, this isn't going to be cheap.
Cost: $100 million a seat (three available)
Wow factor: 10/10
Warped factor: 10/10
Verdict: This is hugely ambitious but, if it happens, it'll put the world's space agencies to shame.
Which one would you take? Let us know over at our Facebook page or message us on Twitter.


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Earlier we told you about the LGBT community's apparent outrage over Highland Park billionaire Robert Rowling's contributions totaling $2 million to the Karl Rove co-founded American Crossroads, which is working to help elect several anti-gay candidates this election cycle. Well, the reaction has been swift from four Gold's Gym franchises in the San Francisco area, which announced today that they're severing ties with the brand over the contributions. Via The Huffington Post, here's a statement from Don Dickerson, director of operations for Gold's Gym Bay Area:
We were as surprised by [CEO] Mr. [Robert] Rowling's action as anyone but because our company believes in and lives up to the ideals of equality for all we are going to take the following actions:
1: Our contractual obligation with Gold's Gym expires on September 15th, 2012 and on or prior to that date (our legal counsel is reviewing our options) we will leave the Gold's Gym brand. It is a major initiative to create a new brand and leave Gold's Gym which has been our identity for over 20 years but we will begin that process today.
2: For every dollar we pay Gold's Gym in franchise fees we will donate an equal or greater amount to LGBT charities. While we donate much more than this to charities and community groups that support the LGBT community we want to make a commitment to match or exceed this amount until our relationship with Gold's Gym can be severed.
3: Our management and staff will continue to support LGBT causes in every way possible and we will use our business as a platform to fight for change and equality for everyone. We have always taken great pride in being a leader in the LGBT community and we will continue to.
Also, Gold's Gym International released a statement to The Huff Po saying Rowling's contributions were totally independent from the company. Rowling serves as CEO of the ownership group for Gold's Gym, TRT Holdings, which also, as we noted before, owns Omni Hotels. Below is an excerpt from the Gold's Gym International statement, which you can read in its entirety here:
Gold's Gym did not make a donation to American Crossroads (or any other political organization) and in no way supports anti-gay causes. Quite the contrary, the Gold's Gym family has been strong supporters of the LGBT community over the years. This includes supporting PRIDE events, sponsoring LGBT media outlets and donating to various LGBT charities in the communities we serve.
Clearly these folks recognize that their customer base is heavily LGBT, and they're worried about the response to Rowling's donations. Stay tuned. On Tuesday, we'll see if we can talk to some representatives from Gold's Gym locations in North Texas. Who ever said boycotts, or at least the threat of them, doesn't work? Are you listening, Mr. Rowling?

subset: commoncrawl


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You'd think comprehensive immigration reform legislation would be a done deal. President Barack Obama has promised to overhaul immigration policy since his 2008 campaign, and leading Republicans have been keen to do the same in the wake of the last presidential election. Two weeks ago, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the AFL-CIO, representing the interests of Corporate America and organized labor, respectively, endorsed a series of reform proposals, including a substantial increase in work visas and labor-friendly prevailing wage requirements. A bipartisan group of eight senators has been working toward a deal, and a bipartisan group of eight House members is also in on the act. So what's the holdup?
The basic problem is beautifully illustrated by two little controversies, one sparked by liberals and the other by conservatives. On the left, there is a widely held belief that U.S. immigration laws are far too stringent, and that we're not doing enough to help low-income immigrants become citizens. On the right, there is an equally common conviction that U.S. immigration laws should not, as a general rule, have the effect of expanding the number of people who depend on means-tested government benefits to maintain a decent standard of living.m
In a recent New York Times op-ed piece, Rahm Emanuel, the blustery mayor of Chicago and Obama's former chief of staff, and Luis V. Gutierrez, an Illinois congressman who represents a large share of Chicago's Latino population, argue that, in order to apply for citizenship, Citizenship and Immigration Services is charging immigrants too steep a price – $680, including a fee for fingerprinting. Emanuel and Gutierrez observe that as the fee has increased over the past decade the number of lawful permanent residents who apply for citizenship has declined. They neglect the possibility that other factors could be at play.
As Princeton University sociologist Douglas Massey and former Mexican Foreign Minister Jorge G. Castaneda have observed, an average of 29,000 Mexican-born immigrants become citizens each year in the decade before 1996, a number that has surged to 125,000 per year since then. Even if there has been a dip in naturalizations in recent years, the number is still higher than it had been in the years before 1996, when the fees were lower. The chief driver of this post-1996 increase in naturalization rates, according to Massey and Castaneda, is that as Mexican-born immigrants perceived that the political environment was growing more hostile to non-citizens, they chose to react defensively. Specifically, Congress passed legislation in 1996 limiting access to a number of federal benefits to citizens, a signal that immigrants who had been quite content to remain non-citizens ought to naturalize if they wanted to be full members of the American community.
Perhaps a changing political climate has reassured immigrants that they needn't naturalize to enjoy the benefits of living in the United States. The Obama administration is committed, for example, to extending subsidized health insurance coverage to lawful permanent residents under the Affordable Care Act. And lawful permanent residents who have resided in the United States for five years or more are already eligible for Medicaid, a program that is set to expand dramatically in the years to come. The post-1996 wave of "defensive naturalization" has created a large and growing political constituency that is keen to defend the interests of foreign-born non-citizens, which is in part why the political momentum behind comprehensive immigration reform has been growing.
Another way of looking at the decline in naturalization rates is that families are weighing the costs and benefits of citizenship and deciding that it's not worth the trouble. That is, if the $680 fee that Emanuel and Gutierrez write about is too steep a price to pay for naturalization, naturalization is not actually worth $680 to them, possibly because lawful permanent residents have access to many if not most of the federal, state and local benefits, including subsidized health insurance coverage, that are available to citizens. Citizenship confers the right to participate in the U.S. political process, and of course this right is very important to some. But it's not quite as important to others. Rather than cut the $680 fee, Emanuel and Gutierrez could achieve their stated goal of increasing the naturalization rate by calling for trimming benefits for non-citizens. But doing so would anger the immigrant voters who were part of the post-1996 "defensive naturalization" wave, and so it is a non-starter for Democrats.
Conservatives are less concerned about courting a backlash from immigrant voters and more concerned about dependency. As Byron York recently reported, in August 2012 a group of four Republican senators – Jeff Sessions of Alabama, Orrin Hatch of Utah, Charles Grassley of Iowa, and Pat Roberts of Kansas – wrote a letter to the Department of Homeland Security expressing their dismay about the criteria used to evaluate applicants for legal permanent residence in the U.S. While American consular officers are allowed to consider whether immigration applicants are likely to be eligible for Supplemental Security Income or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, they are not allowed to consider whether the applicant in question might make use of Medicaid, food stamps and various other means-tested benefits. This is despite the fact that, as York explains, federal law explicitly states that any immigration applicant who "is likely at any time to become a public charge is inadmissible." Granted, the definition of who is and is not a "public charge" will vary. But among conservatives, at least, including the large number who believe there is a place for a limited safety net, the idea that we ought to admit immigrants who are likely to prove economically self-reliant over those who are not makes intuitive sense.
While it might seem extremely difficult to reconcile the views of Emanuel and Gutierrez, who want to make it as easy as possible for immigrants earning very low incomes to become citizens, and Sessions and his allies, who want to make it much harder for aspiring immigrants who are likely to earn very low incomes to settle in the U.S. in the first place, there is one idea that might appeal to both sides of the debate.
In his highly underrated 2010 book, From Immigrants to Americans, Jacob Vigdor, a Duke University economist, proposes an "assimilation bond." To make his proposal concrete, Vigdor sets the price of the bond at $10,000, but the number could be much lower or higher. The idea is that immigrants would pay a fee of $10,000 to enter the country, yet they would receive substantial reimbursement for meeting various assimilation milestones. Completing an accredited English-language course, for example, would yield a refund of $2,000. Immigrants who speak fluent English on arrival would receive a commensurate discount. Naturalization would also yield a rebate of $2,000. And every year, immigrants who paid the fee would receive a credit against federal income taxes of up to $500 until only $500 is left. Immigrants who work steadily, learn English and naturalize will have paid back almost all of the bond after 11 years.
Vigdor's proposal elegantly addresses a number of conservative concerns, as it creates a powerful incentive for immigrants to work steadily at jobs that generate at least some income tax liability. It also raises the stakes for immigrants, who will have to make a significant up-front financial commitment to living and working in the U.S. Emanuel and Gutierrez would presumably object to the fact that an expensive assimilation bond would prove a barrier to many low-income immigrants. With this in mind, Vigdor suggests that churches and foundations could sponsor immigrants who lack the necessary funds, and the same could be true of relatives and perhaps even friends and employers. Suffice it to say, an American who has to spend $10,000 to sponsor an immigrant will be far more discerning than one who has to do little more than fill out paperwork and wait. More important, from the perspective of immigration advocates, the Vigdor proposal rids the immigration system of enormous amounts of red tape. Left and right can duke it out over whether the price of the assimilation bond should be set at $10,000 or $20,000 or $5,000. But the basic idea has tremendous potential.


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"The Middle Earth Paradigm" from Season 1 of The Big Bang Theory aired Monday 9/26. In the episode, the gang attends a costume party in Penny's apartment. Penny dresses as a cat, Sheldon dresses as the doppler effect, Leonard is Frodo from Lord of the Rings, Howard is Robin Hood but gets mistaken for Peter Pan and Raj is Thor, the Norse god of thunder. Each costume is interesting for each character (Raj, the quietest of the group, is the god of thunder).
This is one of my top favorite episodes of the show. The Peter Pan thing is so perfect and so hilarious for Howard! Its hard to not laugh aloud. He's always wearing those darn dickies on his neck…and living with his mom- the Peter Pan confusion simply gives the guys more to tease him about!! So hilarious (and SO Peter Pan…not Robin Hood)! The "casting" for the costumes for each of the Big Bang friends is spot on- Leonard IS Frodo, and the more you think about it, the more you know its the perfect costume for him- Sheldon is over the top as always, and Raj's thunder god is great, and fun! Leonard's Frodo is a close second to Howard's Peter Pan/Robin Hood but for the humor alone I have to stick with my vote: Wallowitz.
The Big Bang Theory is now on 5 Night a Week! Check your local listings: www.bigbangweeknights.com.
"I have been hired by Warner Bros. WBWord division to promote The Big Bang Theory Season 4 on DVD."0


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Feb 21, 2013 at 10:59 am
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - Minnesota lawmakers are falling into partisan camps as
they deliberate over a bill seeking new requirements on the number of nurses
working shifts in hospitals.
A Democratic-led House committee voted Thursday to move the nurse staffing bill
ahead on a 9-6 party-line vote.
The vote came after charged testimony from unionized nurses who say standards
are needed to ensure patient safety and hospital industry professionals who cast
it as government intrusion in medical decision-making.
The plan would establish a system of record keeping for hospitals and potential
punishments for those that fall short of the standards. Staffing levels would
have to be posted in waiting areas for staff, patients and the public. Annual
reports from hospitals would include details on the hours-per-patient that
nurses work.
Temp: 55°F (13°C)
Dewpoint: 55
Wind: 4 N
Weather: light rain


text:
Study of Mental Fatigue in Polio Survivors
The recruitment status of this study is unknown. The completion date has passed and the status has not been verified in more than two years.
Verified March 2007 by Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences.
Recruitment status was: Recruiting
Recruitment status was: Recruiting
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
Information provided by:
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
First received: June 14, 2007
Last updated: June 15, 2007
Last verified: March 2007
- Full Text View
- Tabular View
- No Study Results Posted
- Disclaimer
- How to Read a Study Record
Post-Poliomyelitis Syndrome (PPS) is the term describing the new problems affecting polio survivors many years after recovery from paralytic polio. Among the symptoms, fatigue is one of the most frequent and debilitating. In addition to physical incapacitation, the fatigue of PPS also affects mental function. The term "brain fatigue" is usually used by patients to express problems on the areas of attention, concentration, memory and clear thinking. Unfortunately, little is known about cognitive fatigue of PPS patients. This study is meant to examine if mental impairment is present in PPS patients and, if so, how it interferes on the self-function of patients. Patients will undergo an interview, clinical and neurological evaluation, and a battery of screening laboratory tests to make sure they are eligible for the study. Patients who qualify will undergo neuropsychometric tests in order to assay performance in the main areas of cognitive functioning. Through this organized approach we expect to be able to determine if mental fatigue is a significant problem affecting polio survivors, what areas are most affected, and how it may interfere with daily living.
|Post-Poliomyelitis Syndrome
|Study Type:
|Study Design:
|Allocation: Random Sample
Time Perspective: Cross-Sectional
Time Perspective: Prospective
Resource links provided by NLM:
MedlinePlus related topics: Fatigue Polio and Post-Polio SyndromeU.S. FDA Resources
Further study details as provided by Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences:
|Ages Eligible for Study:
|18 Years and older (Adult, Senior)
|Sexes Eligible for Study:
|Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
Inclusion Criteria:
- 18 years of age or older
- Be a survivor of poliomyelitis
- Willing to attend two clinic visits for completion of screening procedures and required tests
Exclusion Criteria:
- Suffer from medical conditions that can interfere with cognitive function, including stroke, traumatic brain injury, dementia (progressive memory loss), severe depression, psychosis or other psychiatric disorders, etc.
Contacts and Locations
Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study. To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the Contacts provided below. For general information, see Learn About Clinical Studies.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00487487
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00487487
|Contact: Sandra Maxwell, RN
|United States, Maryland
|Postpolio Syndrome Outpatient Research Office
|Rockville, Maryland, United States, 20852
|Contact: Sandra Maxwell, RN 301-984-0400 email@example.com
|Sub-Investigator: Olavo M Vasconcelos, MD
Sponsors and Collaborators
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
More Information
Keywords provided by Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences:
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on September 21, 2017
|ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
|NCT00487487 History of Changes
|Other Study ID Numbers:
|Study First Received:
|June 14, 2007
|Last Updated:
|June 15, 2007
Keywords provided by Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences:
Candidates for this study are survivors of paralytic poliomyelitis
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
Postpoliomyelitis Syndrome
Enterovirus Infections
Picornaviridae Infections
RNA Virus Infections
Virus Diseases
Central Nervous System Infections
Central Nervous System Diseases
Nervous System Diseases
Spinal Cord Diseases
Neuromuscular Diseases
Muscular Disorders, Atrophic
Muscular Diseases
Musculoskeletal Diseases
Neurodegenerative Diseases
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on September 21, 2017


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Open House
Saturday, October 20, 2012
Where and When
Time: 11:00am - 1:00pm
Location: Tyler Hall - Newtown Campus
Contact: firstname.lastname@example.com
Event Information
Explore all that Bucks has to offer. Hosted in the historic Tyler Mansion at the Newtown Campus. Representatives from academic and administrative departments will answer questions and inform you about new andexciting programs, Financial Aid, and more,all in the setting of historic Tyler Hall.To register for this event click here.


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New Public Safety Video Cameras Help Keep Campus Safe
Officer Marc Geborkoff sports one of Public Safety's new digital video cameras on his uniform's lapel.
September 12, 2013—
As students return to Michigan Technological University for the new school year, the Department of Public Safety and Police Services (DPSPS) is rolling out new technological tools—all with campus safety in mind.
This year, officers have access to a set of small, wearable, digital video cameras. The cameras allow them to record their interactions with the public if they feel it appropriate, providing a new layer of transparency, safety and security for both officers and the community.
"We have two separate camera options for our officers," said Dan Bennett, director and chief of DPSPS. "There are 16 cameras altogether—some to be worn on uniform lapels and some built into pairs of sunglasses."
Video recording is not new to law enforcement. Police officers have been using video recorders in patrol vehicles for more than a decade.
"This technology allows us to do exactly what we did with radio technology years ago," Bennett said. "Radios used to be confined to the patrol vehicle, but they became portable and wearable. Now, our video cameras are following the same path."
The cameras have an eight-gigabyte storage capacity and can easily be turned on and off to record whenever an officer chooses. Then, videos can be uploaded to department computers and, if necessary, transferred to discs and stored as evidence. At $30–40 per camera, the entire batch cost DPSPS less than $650.
The new cameras are not intended to be covert; in fact, officers want members of the public to be aware that their actions may be recorded. The devices will only be used when an officer feels there may be a need to record an incident, such as during an arrest, a traffic stop or an investigation. General interactions with the public will not be recorded, Bennett said.
"There's no question in my mind that the cameras protect officers and protect the public," said Bennett. "We had a trial run with one or two cameras last spring. Officer Marc Geborkoff came up with the idea and wore the trial camera for several months as a pilot program. The potential for positive community relations and accuracy in reporting was almost immediately recognized. We decided to move the program to the next level."
Bennett says having the cameras available for officers at large public events like football games or the Winter Carnival All-Nighter will help officers feel more confident in their decisions.
With incidents captured on video, there will never be a question about why an officer made a certain decision. Plus, if an officer turns the camera on, both parties' actions are being recorded.
"It creates new levels of accountability that will benefit everyone," Bennett said. "Change usually comes slowly to law enforcement, but these changes have been a long time coming. To say our new technology is worth its weight in gold would be an understatement."
Michigan Technological University (www.mtu.edu) is a leading public research university developing new technologies and preparing students to create the future for a prosperous and sustainable world. Michigan Tech offers more than 120 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in engineering; forest resources; computing; technology; business; economics; natural, physical and environmental sciences; arts; humanities; and social sciences.


text:
Products and Solutions
Training Programs
PHP Training
Services and Support
Try and Buy
CompanyDownload Now
VirtualBox is a general-purpose open-source virtualization product from Oracle that's targeted at server, desktop and embedded use. Using VirtualBox, you can create and run virtual machines and pre-configured virtual appliances for a variety of useful purposes like consolidating hardware, standardizing a development/production stack, creating a development sandbox, and more.
The Zend Server VirtualBox appliance is a simple way to get a complete enterprise-caliber PHP stack up and running nearly instantly. It provides a pre-configured Zend Server – running on Oracle Linux – that's immediately ready for PHP application deployment.
1. Install Oracle VM VirtualBox
2. Download and unzip ZS8.0-OL6.4-XE11.2-MySQL5.6.zip, the Zend Server VirtualBox appliance
3. Open VirtualBox, and choose File > Import Appliance
4. In the Appliance Import Wizard, choose ZS8.0-OL6.4-XE11.2-MySQL5.6.ova (from the unzipped appliance download .zip file), select "Import" at the Appliance Import Settings screen, and agree to the Zend Software License Agreement to start the import process
5. Start up the virtual machine. The initial startup may take several minutes as components are downloaded and installed. Note that as this is a 64-bit virtual machine, hardware virtualization may be required on your host system. It typically can be enabled through a setting in system BIOS.
6. Login in as guest (guest password is guest1234)
7. Open a browser window inside the VM. It will navigate to http://localhost:10081/ZendServer (the Zend Server administration console)
8. The first time Zend Server runs after installation, the Launch Zend Server wizard is opened with the License Agreement dialog displayed.
9. Read and accept the terms in the agreement, and click Next. The Launch Type dialog is displayed.
10. Select the launch type that best suits your working environment. Your selection determines the default system settings that Zend Server launches with. Since this VM is primarily meant for your development purpose, you can choose the "Development" Launch Options.
11. Click Next.
Configure the passwords for accessing the Zend Server UI. Passwords must be between 4 - 20 characters long and can be changed at a later stage from within the product.
12. Click Next.
The Library Packages dialog is displayed with a list of the library packages deployed on Zend Server.
13. Click Next.
The Summary dialog is displayed
14. Review the details, and click Launch.
Zend Server launches with the Guide Page displayed.
After the Zend Server Launch, you will be automatically using a Zend Server Enterprise edition trial license. This license gives you full access to all Zend Server features for a period of seven days. Once this initial trial period ends, you can either request a trial extension license for an additional 21 days, purchase a commercial Zend Server license, or begin using the Zend Server Free edition. At the end of the extended trial period, you can either purchase a commercial license, or begin using the Zend Server Free edition.
Note: Your 7 days initial trial period begins from the day you launch this VM for the very first time.
15. Steps to configure Oracle Database XE and MySQL:
During these steps you would need to provide the root user password when prompted (root password is zend1234)
Oracle Database XE Configuration:
a) Open the terminal window by selecting Applications > System Tools > Terminal Menu in the VM
b) Obtain the root permissions by typing the command:
Hit enter and if prompted provide the root password.
c) Follow the instructions starting at step 5 from
MySQL Configuration:
a) Open the terminal window by selecting Applications > System Tools > Terminal Menu in the VM
b) Obtain the root permissions by typing the command: su
Hit enter and if prompted provide the root password.
c) Execute the command
Note: The MySQL's root user password is not already set in the VM. Executing this command also allows you to set the MySQL root user password.
d) Hit enter and provide your inputs for the set of questions prompted in the terminal window to complete the configuration of MySQL database.
You're now ready to start using Zend Server! Get started using Zend Server »
Additional Information
This VM is designed to install Zend Server 8.0 with PHP 5.5 from a pre-configured local repository. Therefore, although the installation of additional Zend Server packages can still be achieved by following the instructions from http://files.zend.com/help/Zend-Server/zend-server.htm#rpm_additional_packages.htm but actions like upgrades to newer Zend Server versions may not work.
If you need to install Zend Server from our standard public repository server, you would first need to uninstall the Zend Server from the VM. To uninstall, follow the instructions from http://files.zend.com/help/Zend-Server/zend-server.htm#rpm_uninstalling_zend_server.htm.
And then perform a fresh install of Zend Server that uses our standard public repository, by following the instructions from http://files.zend.com/help/Zend-Server/zend-server.htm#rpm_installing_zend_server.htm


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Fairfax County History Commission to Hold Community Meetings
Fairfax County Office of Public Affairs
12000 Government Center Parkway, Suite 551
Fairfax, VA 22035-0065
Contact: Merni Fitzgerald, Director of Public Affairs
703-324-3187, TTY 711, Fax 703-324-2010
Media Pager: 703-324-NEWS (6397)
Feb. 19, 2008
Fairfax County History Commission to Hold Community Meetings
The Fairfax County History Commission in conjunction with the Fairfax County Department of Planning and Zoning will hold three community meetings on the proposed countywide Heritage Resources Comprehensive Plan Amendment. The meetings, which will follow the same agenda, will take place:
- Tuesday, March 11, at 7:30 p.m. at Stone Mansion, 3900 Stoneybrooke Drive, Alexandria.
- Wednesday, March 26, at 7:30 p.m. at Frying Pan Park Visitor Center, 2739 West Ox Road, Herndon.
- Saturday, March 29, at 10 a.m. at Green Spring Gardens Park, 4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria.
At these meetings, representatives from the History Commission and the Department of Planning and Zoning will provide information, answer questions and solicit public comment on the proposed plan amendment. A major component of the proposed amendment is an update to the Fairfax County Inventory of Historic Sites figures in the Comprehensive Plan. These figures were last revised in 1994.
The doors will open half an hour before each meeting. Display maps with photographs will be on exhibit.
For more information on the proposed plan amendment, contact the Department of Planning and Zoning at 703-324-1380, TTY 711. For more information on the Inventory of Historic Sites, visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dpz/historic/ihs/.


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Rettangolo Collection by Sonneman Lighting
Wow your guests with the Rettangolo Collection by Sonneman! This collection offers two truly unique fixtures and conversation pieces to add to your home. The Lungo and Corto wall sconces are lined in polished or satin nickel finish and showcase an off-white shade that diffuses light. Your search is over for a statement piece with great utility.


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PHOTO GALLERY: UCLA defeats Mississippi State in Game 1 of College World Series
OMAHA, Neb. -- One more to go.
After a 3-1 win over Mississippi State to open the College World Series final, the UCLA baseball team can earn its first-ever national championship with 27 more outs.You wouldn't know it by the celebration. The Bruins jogged toward the mound after the final groundout and exchanged a few handshakes and high fives.
"It's one game," coach John Savage said. "I told the team there's not much to get excited about. We can enjoy this one for about half an hour, 45 minutes."
Added closer David Berg, now alone in holding the NCAA single-season saves record: "All that matters is the next one. Gotta live in the present.
Can't worry about the past. If we win a national title, I'll enjoy that."
UCLA (48-17) played to its strengths Monday at TD Ameritrade Park by riding Adam Plutko's solid start and a superlative defense.
The right-handed starter, now 7-0 in career postseason games, allowed just four hits and struck out two. A flyball pitcher by trade, he used the cavernous stadium to his advantage and retired nine batters to start the game. He twice struck out Hunter Renfroe, the San Diego Padres' first-round pick.
Plutko, selected in the 11 th round by the Cleveland Indians, did his job admirably in what likely was his last collegiate start -- a performance blemished only by a bases-loaded walk and a balk,
What stood out was the Bruins' fast offensive start. For the first time in the College World Series, UCLA scored a run in the first inning.
Kevin Kramer struck out swinging, but advanced to first when the pitch bounced in front of the plate and skidded past the catcher. UCLA quickly took advantage as right fielder Eric Filia -- batting .467 in the postseason at the beginning of the day -- drove a stand-up double to left field.
With runners on second and third, shortstop Pat Valaika singled into the gap in shallow center to give UCLA a 1-0 lead.
"I really wish that kid hadn't swung at that pitch," Mississippi State John Cohen said. "I mean, I'm not saying it to be a smart aleck, but that kid doesn't swing at a pitch that lands in front of the plate,
"I think the ballgame could be different. I do."
And as they do so often, the Bruins jumped all over the Bulldogs (51-19) on a crucial error. Brian Carroll reached first plate on a bunt when the throw flew slightly too high, a mistake that also advanced Brenton Allen to third.
Two at-bats later, Filia again came through, singling into right field to give his team a 3-0 lead.
It was more than enough. UCLA's defense continued to make plays, including a leaping, fifth-inning catch by Filia that robbed catcher Nick Ammirati of an extra-base hit.
Berg entered in the eighth inning and became the first pitcher in NCAA history to make at least 50 appearances in multiple seasons.
Five outs later, he reached his loftier record: his 24 th save, passing Austin Peay's Tyler Rogers (2013) and USC's Jack Krawczyk (1998) for a spot alone in the record books.


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Boeing Will Fly Again
It's a frightening thought: a fire breaks out on an airplane. Luckily, when that occurred on Boeing's (BA) new Dreamliner 787 Monday the plane was on the ground and the passengers had already disembarked.
It's very easy to get worked up over these issues because the act of flying generates an almost irrational level of fear in some people. You're trapped in a tube traveling at 500 miles per hour, miles above the ground, so there is no illusion of control. The fact that this mode of transportation is far safer than any other does nothing to assuage these fears and people tend to overreact when they're afraid....397 more words left in this article. To read them, just click below and try Real Money FREE for 14 days.
There's no substitute for a trading floor to get great ideas, so Jim Cramer created a better one at Real Money and blogs there exclusively. We then added legendary hedge fund manager, Doug Kass, with his exclusive Daily Diary and best investing ideas. Staffed with more than 4 dozen investing pros, money managers, journalists and analysts, Real Money Pro gives you a flood of opinions, analysis and actionable trading advice found nowhere else, and allows you to interact directly with each expert.
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Don't miss out on a lower price on this hotel
Get an overview of this hotelCambria hotel overlooking Moonstone Beach
Popular property highlights
Near Hearst Castle
Across the street from the beach, Pelican Inn & Suites is 7 miles from Hearst Castle, 14 miles from the Northern Elephant Seal Rookery, and 23 miles from Morro Bay. San Luis Obispo Airport is 39 miles away.
Buffet breakfast
The inn offers a complimentary daily buffet breakfast. An outdoor pool and spa tub are on site.
Complimentary Wi-Fi
Pelican Inn & Suites has 48 non-smoking guestrooms and suites, all with fireplaces, complimentary wireless Internet access, free local calls, compact refrigerators, bathrobes, and complimentary newspapers.
Guest Highlights
- Good, quiet location
- Beach
- Breakfast
- Helpful staff
- Clean guestrooms
Pelican Inn & Suites
Hotel Amenities
Hotel Amenities
Pelican Inn & Suites' lobby features antique-style decor, a fireplace, and upholstered chairs and couches. Providing concierge services, the front desk is open around the clock, and a computer is available for complimentary guest use. Each morning, the inn provides a complimentary cooked buffet breakfast. For recreation, guests enjoy an outdoor splash pool and spa tub. Complimentary wireless Internet access is available throughout the 2-story inn. Onsite parking is free. This is a smoke-free property.
- 24-hour front desk
- Number of floors - 2
- Coffee/tea in common areas
- Free newspapers in lobby
- Free breakfast
- Concierge services
- Conference space
- Fireplace in lobby
- Express check-out
- Gift shops or newsstand
- Meeting rooms
- Total number of rooms - 48
- Luggage storage
- Safe-deposit box at front desk
- 24-hour business center
- Free self parking
- Smoke-free property
- Number of buildings/towers - 3
- Spa tub
- Outdoor pool
- Television in common areas
- Free WiFi
Family Friendly Amenities
- Family Hotel
- Outdoor pool
- Free Wi-Fi
- Refrigerator
- Microwave
Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
Available in some public areas: Free WiFi
Free self parking
Room Amenities
- Bathrobes
- Shower/tub combination
- Coffee/tea maker
- Free newspaper
- Free toiletries
- Fireplace
- Free local calls
- Hair dryer
- Daily housekeeping
- Hypo-allergenic bedding available
- Iron/ironing board
- Cable TV service
- Microwave
- Premium bedding
- Premium TV channels
- Private bathroom
- Refrigerator
- Phone
- Rollaway/extra beds (surcharge)
- Cribs/infant beds (surcharge)
- Free WiFi
Where to Eat
The inn provides a complimentary cooked buffet breakfast each morning.
Nearby Things to Do
Guests enjoy a heated outdoor pool and spa tub.
The recreational activities listed below are available either on site or nearby; fees may apply.
- Golfing nearby
- Surfing/boogie boarding nearby
- Kayaking nearby
- Sailing nearby
- Bicycle rentals nearby
- Hiking/biking trails nearby
If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please note them at check-out when you book your room.
- Accessible bathroom
- In-room accessibility
- Roll-in shower
Hotel Policies
Check-in time starts at 3 PM
Check-out time is 11 AM
Payment types
Children and extra beds
- Children are welcome.
- Kids stay free! Up to 3 children 17 years old and younger stay free when using existing bedding.
- Rollaway/extra beds are available for USD 10.00 per night.
- Cribs (infant beds) are available for USD 10.00 per night.
- Pets not allowed (service animals welcome)
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy.
Optional extras
- Crib (infant bed) fee: USD 10.00 per night
- Rollaway bed fee: USD 10.00 per night
Hotel Name
- Pelican Cambria
- Pelican Inn
- Pelican Inn Cambria
- Pelican Hotel Cambria
- Pelican Inn And Suites
We should mention
Up to 3 children 17 years old and younger stay free when occupying the parent or guardian's room, using existing bedding.


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The originating document has been archived. We cannot confirm the completeness, accuracy and currency of the content.
Proguanil Side Effects
Applies to proguanil: oral tablet
As well as its needed effects, proguanil may cause unwanted side effects that require medical attention.
Severity: Moderate
If any of the following side effects occur while taking proguanil, check with your doctor or nurse as soon as possible:Rare
- Skin rash or itching
- Abdominal or stomach pain
- bloody urine
- lower back pain
- pain or burning while urinating
- vomiting
Severity: Minor
Some proguanil side effects may not need any medical attention. As your body gets used to the medicine these side effects may disappear. Your health care professional may be able to help you prevent or reduce these side effects, but do check with them if any of the following side effects continue, or if you are concerned about them:More common
- Diarrhea
- headache
- loss of appetite
- mouth sores or ulcers
- nausea
- vomiting
- Temporary hair loss
It is possible that some side effects of proguanil may not have been reported. These can be reported to the FDA here. Always consult a healthcare professional for medical advice.
More about proguanil
Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided is accurate, up-to-date and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. In addition, the drug information contained herein may be time sensitive and should not be utilized as a reference resource beyond the date hereof. This material does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients, or recommend therapy. This information is a reference resource designed as supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill , knowledge, and judgement of healthcare practitioners in patient care. The absence of a warning for a given drug or combination thereof in no way should be construed to indicate safety, effectiveness, or appropriateness for any given patient. Drugs.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of materials provided. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the substances you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist.


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THE SQL Server Blog Spot on the Web
The primary focus we've had for Extended Events in SQL Server codenamed "Denali" is to offer a better user experience by providing options for working with the system beyond DDL. One of those options is the availability of a managed code object model. In this post I'll describe the object model and it's usage as well as provide sample code that shows how various objects are used.
In the graphic below you can see that there are two "sides" of the object model:
Metadata: Describes the set of events, actions, targets, etc. that are available on the system. All access to the metadata objects has to go through the Package object.
Runtime: Describes the event sessions that are configured and various aspects of their runtime state. All access to the runtime objects has to go through the Session object.
The top level object is named XEStore; you get to the XEStore by connecting to the program that uses Extended Events. At the current time the object model supports the SQL Server database engine, <teaser> but in the future there will likely be others.</teaser> <bummer>(Sorry, I can't discuss when or what at this point.)</bummer> The object model is based on the SFC Framework which isn't particularly important for most of the XE objects, but the XEStore is a type of SfcConnection so I thought it worth mentioning. Since we're specifically after the XEStore in SQL Server, I'm using a SqlStoreConnection, which inherits SfcConnection, and I need to pass in a normal SqlConnection to get to my server.
private static XEStore ConnectToXEStore()
Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Sdk.Sfc.SqlStoreConnection server;
SqlConnectionStringBuilder conBuild = new SqlConnectionStringBuilder();
conBuild.DataSource = "(local)";
conBuild.InitialCatalog = "master";
conBuild.IntegratedSecurity = true;
// Create the actual SqlStoreConnection...
server = new Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Sdk.Sfc.SqlStoreConnection (new SqlConnection(conBuild.ConnectionString.ToString()));
// ...and then create the XEStore to return to the calling function.
return new XEStore(server);
In this case I'm using the SqlConnectonStringBuilder for clarity, but you can see how I could have just passed a connection string directly into the SqlStoreConnection constructor. The connection to the XEStore is the part that changes if I connect to a different program that uses Extended Events. Everything else will be identical.
In the interest of keeping this post short and helping you avoid a boat-load of Copy/Paste activities, I've just put all the sample code into a .cs file with comments throughout to help explain the various objects and tie them back to the Extended Event DMVs and Catalog that you're already familiar with. I tested this code on the current, public CTP, so things should be working, but let me know if you run into any problems.
- Mike
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CTP3 is finally here and the crowd goes wild! Since I'm sure everyone has been anticipating the CTP3
Check out What's new for Extended Events in SQL Server Codenamed "Denali" CTP3 for an overview of all
Is Microsoft.SqlServer.XEvent.Linq.dll redistributable? Does it come with a feature pack..? If so which one..?


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I have some mad love for Head Chefs. Kid-sized, kid-friendly cooking utensils that are also functional. We have tried a few other brands that are kid-friendly and while they are most definitely kid-sized, they don't perform well. This is super frustrating. So we keep going back to Head Chefs (over the summer we shared about them), who recently expanded their product line to include a line of Cooking Adventures Cookbooks- The Peace of Pizza, Mac and Cheese Fit for a King, and Santa's Favorite Cookie. My children LOVE to help in the kitchen, whenever possible, and I really enjoy having their help- but I also want my kids safe in the kitchen- so I like having kid-sized tools around to facilitate some culinary success.
Each of the Cooking Adventures Cookbooks tells a story including the Head Chefs "characters" and includes adventure, stories, and some fun and delicious recipes! Having some of the Head Chefs utensils to go along with these just makes for lots more fun. Plus, when else is it perfectly acceptable to grab a tushy whenever you want? Remember, all of the Head Chef's utensils have a little tushy on the handle!! These products are just so well made and the cookbooks are no exception- nicely bound, durable pages, large enough size for easy viewing.
Product: Headchefs Adventure Cookbooks – Mac and Cheese Fit for a King
Personality: There's trouble in Paradise when King Macadamiahulahula, "King Mac" for short, refuses to eat anything but Macaroni and Cheese. Surfs up for the Headchefs as they are called in to bring balance back to the kingdom and to King Mac's diet before he pops out of tightening grass skirt.
Product: Headchefs Adventure Cookbooks – The Peace of Pizza
Personality: People everywhere take pride in their pizza. But when the battle over who's pizza is best turns into a "Food Fight" of epic proportions, the Headchefs are called into action to prevent a worldwide Pizza War! The gang jumps in and saves the day just before it's too late!
Lastly, and probably MY personal favorite, is Headchefs Adventure Cookbooks – Santa's Favorite Cookie
Personality: It's Christmas Eve and Little Timmy is to ill to make Santa his cookies. To raise Timmy's spirits, the Headchefs go on a mission to the North Pole to discover Santa's Favorite Cookies and deliver them back to Timmy before it's too late. (Does anyone know why so many holiday stories include a boy named Timmy?)
One reader will win a set of all THREE of the Head Chefs Cooking Adventures Cookbooks!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
I received samples of these books to facilitate my review. Opinions are my own.0


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Following the release of the December 2011 genetic evaluations, bulls from New Generation Genetics ranked the highest for PPR, NM$, Production, Type, Udder Composite and Health Traits.
54BS438 R N R Payoff BROOKINGS was once again the top bull for both NM$ and PPR Index. Brookings added more daughters and strengthened his production proof which is now +357m +36f +.10% +26p +.06% +4.8 Productive Life, +0.8 DPR 187 PPR and +518 NM$. Brookings is also near the top of the type list at +1.0 Type and +1.48 Udder Composite. Brookings has been found to have a shorter gestation, similar to that of a Holstein, and the calving ease is superior for this reason.
54BS374 Sun-Made VIGOR ET *TM added nearly 1,000 daughters worldwide in his second crop, making him the most complete bull in recent memory. Vigor daughters are being contracted for sons globally and Vigor daughters are herd favorites. Vigor's proof is NM$ +458 +569m +7f +24p +0.5 DPR 163 PPR +0.9 Type and +1.34 Udder Composite and a breed leading +6.8 Productive Life.
54BS447 Olson Mel Zeus MOJO ET *TM doubled his number of daughters from his first crop, and the numbers continue to improve. Mojo ranks #5 for PPR and added his first European daughters to his production proof, which is +1080m +38f +30p +2.7 Productive Life, 171 PPR and $376 NM$. He increased his type with more daughters scored with a proof of +0.5 Type and +0.96 Udder Composite.
54BS438 Cozy Nook Beamer TORCH continued to improve his proof and now ranks #2 for PPR Index. Torch is continually rising in the industry and has 58 milking daughters in his proof and is +398m +44f +.12% +34p +.09% +3.6 Productive Life breed leading +1.5 DPR +0.71 Udder Composite 178 PPR and +458 NM$.
54BS436 Sunnyisle TOTAL ET *TM continues to display superior Type and show-winning quality; following this genetic evaluation TOTAL is now positive for milk. He has 37 daughters in his proof and will continue to add more in the future. His proof is +0.5 Type +0.58 Udder Composite and is +109m . Total is very popular for making showring-ready daughters.
54BS433 Bo Joy Premium GALAXY Twin *TM rose to the top of the milk production list as more daughters continue to freshen. His proof is +1376m +14f +28p and 72 PPR. Galaxy is available in Preferred Sex Semen. Preferred Sex Semen is also available from the following bulls: Old Mill C SOLUTION ET *TM, Olsons Mel Zeus MOJO ET, Bo Joy Agenda GOLDWYN, Twinkle-Hill Dynasty ALLOY and Pit-Crew Wonder TANBARK.
New Generation Genetics offers the most comprehensive Brown Swiss Sires portfolio in the U.S. For further information call 920-568-0554, email email@example.com or visit www.brownswiss.com.


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Oh Hey Wedgeee.... you get some nice wedges while drifting down the beach at twenty knots? I hope you did. If you "knew where to go" anywhere on WB then that's what you'd get- no one said it wasn't decent sized surf.
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Oh Hey Wedgeee.... you get some nice wedges while drifting down the beach at twenty knots? I hope you did. If you "knew where to go" anywhere on WB then that's what you'd get- no one said it wasn't decent sized surf.
beagleballs... haha i'll just laugh at your post.. yes i live in wb... and yes it was drifty there today... yet i caught head high NO DRIFT bombs at an undisclosed spot near wb, like i said MOST of the people on the se forum are kooks!! get some should be fun in the morn...
It is nice to see that some of the surfers are willing to offer assistance to those willing to ask the questions. It should occur more frequently than it actually does.
Another method to learn more about your break is to log the conditions that are taking place while you were surfing. There are actually websites that do this for you. You enter the location, date and the time that you were surfing, and it will graph the swell direction, period and size as well as wind speed and direction for the specific timeframe that you entered, first hand knowledge of how the actual conditions compared to the forecast. You will begin to notice a pattern develop, swell direction that produces a nice ground swell, the maximum amount of swell period that your area can hold due to drag on a shallow bottom and so on..............
Keep asking questions but be sure to develop your own knowledge as well through working at it and studying the variables constantly, it will become an obsession to some...
what does drugs have to do with any of this? and instead of asking random, and sometimes stupid questions on the internet try asking the nicer guys you surf with while at the beach. or just pay attention. or go down to your local surfshop. before the web thats how groms learned. i understand the desire to have all the info but it takes time and patience (as well as it should!) to just begin to understand all the variables that are required to have decent surf around here.
its like 10 mins either way from cb or wb... wow i shouldn't be saying this haha...nuggies in the morn!
Wedgie- how undisclosed is this spot? Is it super duper secret? So secret that you need a boat to get out there? Or to paddle for five minutes? Super duper uber secret spot brah! Now what I would like to do is run down that whole undisclosed area looking for other sandbars- it can get as crowded as WB some days, especially in that protected area that I have no idea what you're talking about.
hey inzatube that sound's pretty cool- what's that website? I really want to know, plus we could check out how hard wedge is getting it. Haha kidding wedge
the surf is getting a little bit better @ wrightsville beach, i looked on surfchex.com :D


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Deerfield, Ill., Walgreens opened its first Hawaii store, in Honolulu, on Thursday. It is the first of four Hawaii stores the company plans to open in the next year.
The others are in Kalihi and Kaneohe on Oahu and in Lahaina on Maui. The chain plans eventually to open as many as 30 stores in Hawaii.
The 9,000 -sq.-ft. store, which will be open 24 hours a day, is smaller than typical Walgreens stores.


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More on last-mile options in Phoenix
Douglas Ross (directorblue) has called this list "bogus" and claimed that only two of the options (Qwest and Cox) actually count. He rightly dismisses Cable America from the list on the grounds that Cox entered into an agreement to acquire them in January of this year--I grant his point and that reduces the number of broadband providers by one.
He dismisses Covad because it uses Qwest last-mile wires, but goes on to say, inconsistently, that he would count other cable resellers if the Brand X decision had gone the other way and providers like Cox were forced to enter into relationships like Covad has with Qwest. My observation is that if those reseller relationships exist and the reseller provides access to its own Internet network, then that is enough to foster a competitive environment. It doesn't matter whether it's government-mandated, it matters whether it exists.
Doug rejects all the wireless options out of hand on the grounds of Verizon's EVDO terms-of-service. (His section about why WiMax isn't viable doesn't actually discuss WiMax at all, only EVDO terms-of-service.) He misses the point that Sprint Broadband and Sprint EVDO are *two different services*--he doesn't actually give a reason to reject Sprint Broadband.
He says he doesn't understand why I put the City of Tempe's municipal WiFi network in the list--I did so because Tempe is right in the middle of the Phoenix metropolitan area (and noted Chandler's metro WiFi in-development, which is just south of Tempe, for the same reason). These are real options for people moving to the Phoenix area and for anyone who is willing to move to get different broadband service. (And certainly broadband options in an area are an important factor in choosing a place to live.)
Finally, he rejects HughesNet because it is unsuitable for VOIP or P2P. At least he doesn't say that HughesNet should be mandated to change the laws of physics in order to provide those services under net neutrality.
Doug's position on net neutrality appears to be that nothing counts as broadband unless it supports every application he wants to use. But it's important to note that the net neutrality bills in Congress *do* count all these options and place regulations on them--they count anything as broadband that is greater than 200kbps in one direction, whether wired or wireless. I don't see Doug volunteering to exempt things he doesn't count as valid broadband options from broadband net neutrality restrictions.
It appears to me that Doug's position is that whoever builds an infrastructure capable of supporting what he wants has to provide it to him, without recovering the costs of that infrastructure by charging any third parties. But I bet he also is unwilling to pay an unsubsidized rate to use such a service.
(UPDATE: I was just looking at Doug's blogroll, and he's pretty strong evidence that net neutrality positions don't necessarily correlate with political positions. Doug's political blog links include Michelle Malkin, Little Green Footballs, and the dishonest nutcases at "Stop the ACLU.")


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Deepwater drilling specialist Seadrill announced Friday that it has ordered two jackups for delivery in the first half of 2015 from Chinese firm Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Offshore.
The two units, which will cost $230 million per rig, will be based on the F&G JU2000E design, with water depth capacity of 400 feet and drilling depth of up to 30,000 feet. Seadrill has also arranged option agreements with Dalian to construct an additional two rigs for delivery in the third and fourth quarters of 2015, said the firm.
Seadrill Chairman John Fredriksen commented in a statement:
"These newbuilds position us for additional growth in a strengthening jackup market, providing further earnings upside for Seadrill. The premium jackup market continues to demonstrate strength as evidenced by increasing day rates and utilizations. Customers continue show preference for newer units from drilling contractors with proven track records of safe and efficient operations.
"Currently 312 jackups, or 65 percent of the total fleet of 483 jackups are older than 25 years. These two new firm orders increases our fleet of modern jackups to 25 rigs with an average age of three years, and further strengthens our position as the leading operator of premium modern, high-quality drilling units."
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Ruslan Zakirov | Feb. 1, 2013This is amazing that Seadrill keeps building rigs and paying for them more than other drilling contractors. Thats a bit exagerated to pay 230mil USD for a jack-up built in China. From the other hand, if thats the same type of the deal as a couple of years ago, when a rig is built for 220 mil USD, sold to an agent for 240 mil USD after a half-year operations in Myanmar and re-sold by the same agent to a new owner for 400 mil USD, thats a nice business.
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THE SQL Server Blog Spot on the Web
A while back I asked myself: "Self, do you think it is possible to create a custom SSIS 2012 task using Visual Studio 2012 Express?" That question launched a quest to learn the answer. In this series of posts I describe what I learned:
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Tried to access these articles on Linchpin people site and most of the links are broken. Would like to read this, are the links going to be fixed?
Hi C,
You are correct. Our Linchpin People site migration changed some of these links. I'm aware of it and looking into it. Thanks for the heads-up!
A trainer on training wheels..... Weeeee!


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PAUSATF Long Distance Running Banquet
Impala Racing Team
Sunday, February 17, 2013 at 5:00 PM (PST)
Event Details
Join us to celebrate the 2012 PA racing season!
Sunday February 17th @ 5PM
- Team awards for Road, Cross Country, and MUT PA grand prix series
- Individual awards for Open and Age Group series winners
- Special Runner of the Year awards
- Great guest speaker!
At the Pyramid Alehouse, Brewery & Restaurant in Berkeley.
Price includes Buffet Dinner w/ non-alcoholic beverages.
Test out the great selection of Pyramid Brews at the no-host bar.
5PM - 6PM: Social hour (No host cocktails)
6PM: Dinner
6:30 - 7:30: Awards begin (emcee: Tom Bernhard, LDR Chair)
Introduction of chairs and overview of 2012 season and events
7:30 - 8:00: Guest speaker (emcee: Mark Winitz)
8 - 8:30: Continuation of Awards
Have questions about PAUSATF Long Distance Running Banquet? Contact Impala Racing Team
When & Where
Pyramid Alehouse, Brewery & Restaurant
901 Gilman St
Sunday, February 17, 2013 at 5:00 PM (PST)
Add to my calendar
Impala Racing Team
PAUSATF Long Distance Running Banquet
Things to do in Berkeley, CA


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When Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) developed the T-50 Golden Eagle in partnership with Lockheed Martin in 2001 hopes were high in South Korea that the only supersonic trainer jet would become a hit around the world. Nine years later, industry opinion remains divided as to whether this potential will be fulfilled and what has actually been achieved to this end since KAI entered a joint marketing effort with Lockheed Martin in 2006.
South Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) and KAI are jointly pushing for a first overseas sale of T-50, which they had hoped to achieve last year. The aircraft is on display here at the Singapore Airshow specifically to impress prospective customers here in Southeast Asia.
"The sale of T-50 is central to boosting South Korea's defense exports," said Jeon Young-bok, head of DAPA's bureau on arms export policy. "We expect the first sale to be sealed this year, as several deals are in the works."
The T-50 is competing for trainer selections here and in Poland, while Greece and the U.S. also have shown interest. Lockheed submitted the T-50 bid to Singapore in July, but it needs to overcome its Italian competitor–Alenia Aermacchi's M-346–following the frustration of losing out in its first competitive bid for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) earlier this year, when it made it onto the shortlist.
KAI (Stand T87) could have an advantage in Lockheed's involvement in the project since the U.S. company participated in Pilatus' successful bid of its PC-21 single turboprop basic trainer to Singapore. Meanwhile, Aermacchi has teamed with Singapore's state-run ST Aerospace.
The Korean OEM wants to secure about 30 percent of the global military trainer market within 25 years, and it believes the T-50's position as the world's sole supersonic high-performance trainer will play in its favor. However, some in the defense industry question whether governments will pay the higher price associated with this supersonic capability. The T-50's flyaway cost is ranges from $16- to $20 million, while the slower M-346 is 20 percent cheaper.
The T-50 can fly at Mach 1.4, has an operational range of just over 1,000 nm and a service ceiling of 48,000 feet.
Poland is looking to acquire 16 lead-in fighter trainers for delivery beginning in the third quarter of this year to replace its PZL TS-11 Iskra; it is considering the T-50 as well as Finland's surplus BAE Hawk 128 trainers. Also, KAI and Lockheed hope for at least 600 to 800 export orders if the T-50 succeeds in replacing U.S. Air Force's T-38 platform in the long term.
South Korea's air force, which has been flying the aircraft since 2005 when mass production began, wants to have 50 by 2013. It also wants another 10 T-50s for aerobatic displays and has ordered 22 FA-50s, the modified light attack version.
About $300 million is being spent to reconfigure four T-50s as FA-50s under a contract signed by DAPA and KAI in December 2008. Once mass production begins by 2013, FA-50s will replace A-37 attack jets and F-4/F-5 fighters in the low-tier backup to the air force's frontline capability.
South Korea's air force also wants more than 100 FA-50s to replace its older fighters. The FA-50 will be equipped with EL/M-2032 radar from Israel's Elta Systems, which has look-up tracking range of between 35 and 55 nm. The aircraft will also feature advanced tactical data link systems, precision missile guidance equipment and enhanced avionics.
The lighter fighter will be outfitted with the wind-corrected munitions dispenser kit, incorporating an internal navigation system and flip-out control fins to guide bombs. This corrects weapons launch errors, determines atmospheric conditions and computes optimum flight paths and cluster bomb release points. The FA-50's armaments will include AGM-65 Maverick air-to-surface missiles and joint direct attack munitions bombs.


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A Rulk like no other...
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It's obvious that Red Hulk has won the popularity award over the original Green Hulk and it is of no surprise why. With his ferocious attitude, military tactics and unstoppable power; Red is the new Green. The Red Hulk's demonically charged and menacing look has been interpreted into collectible form by various companies but none have been able to accurately capture comic book artist's Ed McGuiness iconic look for the character until now. Thanks to Kotobukiya and the craftsmanship of the talented Erick Sosa, fans can now own the definitive Red Hulk statue.
PACKAGING: The new Red Hulk statue is housed within a simple yet elegant white box with gold foil lettering. The back of the box features an image gallery of the Red Hulk statue from different angles. The package also features a preview image of the upcoming Doctor Doom statue and a mini bio and photo of artist Erick Sosa. The top flap of the box features the word "HULK" embossed into it which is barely visible from certain angles but a nice added touch regardless.
SCULPT: The level of detail put into this Red Hulk statue is truly incredible and captures the design and style of comic artist Ed McGuiness. The Red Hulk's monstrous and chiseled physique is rendered flawlessly in this three-dimensional resin piece. Rulk's body is dynamically posed cocking his arm back and ready to punch which goes great with the upcoming Hulk statue.
The piece includes two interchangeable heads which easily attach to the neck magnetically allowing collectors to display their Red Hulk with their favorite expression. The facial expressions on both of the interchangeable heads are rendered flawlessly and look amazing. The RULK statue stands a top a realistic volcanic environment base which accents the piece very well. The red behemoth measures 13 inches in height from base to top which conveniently fits inside most curio cabinets or shelving units.
PAINT: At first glance it becomes obvious why this piece is part of Kotobukiya's Fine Art series. The vibrantly detailed paint work on Red Hulk breathes life into the already epic piece with its wide range of red hues.
The volcanic display base is beautifully detailed with a broad range of paint techniques and colors which give it a life-like environmental look.
Both of the interchangeable portraits have slightly shinier finish on them which is most likely as a result of the material they are made out of. This new Marvel Fine Art statue is painted as such and Red Hulk looks so good that it seems as if he jumped right out of the pages of the Hulk comics.
OVERALL: Kotobukiya's Marvel Fine Art line keeps getting better and better with every new release and this amazing new Red Hulk statue stands as proof of this. Whether you are a general Marvel or Hulk fan, adding this incredible statue to your collection is a no-brainer as it will ultimately dominate your statue collection. The Kotobukiya Fine Art Red Hulk statue will be released in July for approximately $200.00 and is available for pre-order right now directly through Kotobukiya's website and select fine retailers such as BigBadToyStore.com.
Review and Photos by Jorge Pelaez
Review Sample Courtesy of Kotobukiya


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Chief economists from the nation's largest banks look for growth to accelerate modestly in the second half of this year. They're betting the worst of the drag caused by the "fiscal cliff" in Washington, D.C., will lift after the first six months of the year, while conceding the risk that it could be even worse.
The outlook, released by a panel of economists with the American Bankers Association, comes with a big caveat. The group says the downside risks posed by tax hikes, a possible prolonged fight over the debt ceiling and the threat of sharp spending cuts this year could stop the economy "in its tracks."
Speaking to reporters at a Washington news conference, Scott Anderson, of Bank of the West, presented the group's view that economic output will grow at less than a 2 percent annualized rate in the first half of the year. The panel looks for an increase in the rate of growth to 2.6 percent in the final quarter of this year.
James Chessen, the ABA's chief economist, explained that as part of the process in producing the forecast, the economic advisory committee holds an off-the-record meeting with members of the Federal Reserve board, but that the outlook is not intended to reflect the central bank's opinions.
The group sees the chances of a recession this year at 23 percent, going down slightly in 2014 to 20 percent. The chance of a "severe recession" is said to be 8 percent this year and 5 percent next year.
Job creation is expected to weaken in the first half of 2013 before improving somewhat, but the unemployment rate is expected to fall to 7.4 percent by the end of the year. The December 2012 jobless rate was 7.8 percent.
The Federal Reserve has stated that it will use low interest rates to push down the unemployment rate to 6.5 percent. Anderson said the ABA panel doesn't see the 6.5 percent target being achieved until May 2015.
The group is less bullish on growth overall than the Fed itself. The committee looks for economic output to grow between 1.6 percent and 2.3 percent this year. The Fed's forecast, or "tendency," for growth is 2.3 percent to 3 percent this year. Anderson said the panel's sense is that "the fiscal drag is a bigger factor," referring to the budget stalemate in Washington, including the risk that mandatory budget cuts could still take hold.
Asked whether the Fed has tendencies to be overly sanguine, Anderson told Bankrate that "if you look at the record the last couple of years, they have been too optimistic."


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Gary Susman has an excellent overview of the movie trailer in Yahoo News with my comments.
As he notes, "a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, movie trailers were just commercials, disposable ads for upcoming films. Then, in 1998, came the trailer for what was then the most eagerly awaited movie in years: Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace. Fans bought tickets to Meet Joe Black just to see the Star Wars clip and walked out before the supposed main attraction started.
In a pre-broadband, pre-YouTube era, fans downloaded the Phantom Menace promo millions of times, poring over it for clues. And an evolution that had begun more than 20 years earlier finally became evident: the modest movie trailer had grown into an attraction in itself, one as worthy of scrutiny and appreciation as the art form it advertised.
Today, the Internet has made available to us a cornucopia of trailers we can watch when we want, as often as we want, for free. In addition to tracking the box office, Variety and The Hollywood Reporter now chart the most popular new trailers as well, with the top clips scoring in the millions of streaming views. (The Fault in Our Stars trailer, at this writing, has drawn more than 25 million viewers, more than twice as many as have bought tickets to the hit movie itself.) And online critics can now give close readings of trailers the way they do for full-length films.
The humble film promo wasn't necessarily built to withstand such intense scrutiny. But over the past 50 years or so, trailers have matured into bite-size pop-art commodities, worthy of both critical study and mass consumption. (Indeed, it's easy to watch the online clips the way we eat popcorn, one morsel after another, after another.) Here's a brief history of how trailers have come into their own."
You can read the entire piece by clicking here or on the image above; lots of great trailers embedded throughout.
Tags: Film History, Gary Susman, Movie Trailers, Yahoo News


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Laurens wrote:Thanks for the reply. There seems to be a huge variety of interpretations of the Anapanasati sutta resulting in a vast number of techniques. I guess its best not to worry about the method that is the most correct, rather I should go for the method that works.
Manapa wrote:use your discernment!
it is simply a case of no-one is you or can tel you what is best at any point, sure we can all debate techneques say what has and hasnt worked for us in the past but you have to rely on yourself here, well for the most part, sure if a particulare problem keeps ariving ask
This book brings together the most important suttas from the Pali Canon and extracts from the commentaries dealing with anapanasati the meditative practice of mindfulness of breathing.
Publ. Year 1998, 126 pp. ID: BP 502S
Price: $ 3.50 ISBN: 955 24 0167 4
Laurens wrote:Thank you for your kind replies
I guess my other question would be, how does one know when one has found the right meditation technique?
What are the qualities that I should look for?
I have tried techniques which make me feel very calm and relaxed, others make me feel blissful (an kind of exciting tingling sensation - that is not quite the same as the relaxed/calm state), some don't seem to do an awful lot for me.
With metta
Ben wrote:Hi laurens
At some point you may wish to join a residential retreat which will give you access to a teacher, instruction and close supervision. Then you should devote yourself to what you have learned for an extended period of time and then assess the results.
kind regards


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Many people consider this season the most wonderful time of the year. The celebrations in store help us recall some of our most nostalgic memories, which we often turn into our own traditions. No matter where you are in your relationship, you may each have a different perspective on how to celebrate the season. Love Letters from Kansas, a public awareness campaign sponsored by Catholic Charities of Kansas that promotes the benefits of healthy relationships, encourages couples to embrace their differences and create new traditions together over the holidays, rather than play tug-of-war over which ones will reign in the relationship.
Holiday traditions are key ingredients for joy, more so than the year's hottest gift. According to "What Makes for a Merry Christmas" a 2002 study published in the Journal of Happiness Studies that followed 117 people through the holiday season, happiness occurs more frequently when families spend quality time together with traditions like decorating the home as opposed to materialistic habits like receiving gifts and spending money. Focusing on moments together this time of year, rather than items, can help set your relationship up for greater happiness.
"During this joyful time of year it's important for couples to focus on creating their own traditions," said Jan Lewis, president and CEO, Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas. "Whether a new tradition is a well thought-out decision or a chance occurrence, it has the potential to turn into something that a couple looks forward to every holiday season. In the Catholic Charities of Kansas relationship education workshops we help couples develop traditions that will enrich their relationships in addition to providing numerous skill building tools for all participants."
The process of creating new traditions as a couple doesn't have to be difficult. In fact, it can be a fun and enlightening process. Here are a few ideas:
Catholic Charities of Kansas offers free workshops and support services in communities throughout the state to help couples navigate their relationship through the holidays and all other times of the year. Relationship education and marriage enrichment workshops are open to both singles and couples, regardless of faith, who are looking for tips and tools to enrich their existing or future relationships.
Find a complete schedule of English and Spanish workshops at www.KansasLoveLetters.com.


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'"You put the trust in those people," said Bruins forward and former Boston University standout Jay Pandolfo. "You want to continue to live your life. You don't want to think too much about it. It might be in the back of your mind, but you know these people are going to do the best they can to look after you. That's what we have to have faith in."'
You are here: Home / SabresBeat / In Boston, players and fans refuse to bow to terror fears


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Original thread:
Hey all,
I am new to this forum.... looks like a good one
I am interested in starting my own web design business, but am unsure about exactly what I should do to get started, besides just design. I have one site, going on three, that are still under development.
So how do I start designing for people? Do I just do a couple free jobs to get started? Do I need a site, that displays my work, etc?
Thanks in advance!
Sounds like you are about where I was a couple years ago. I actually started in high school -- figured out I enjoyed graphic design and web design, and decided I wanted to do something with it. I currently run my business as a side project, usually accepting only one or two clients at a time since I have a regular job and take college classes full time as well.
Where do you get started? Probably after you finish up with the sites you are currently working on, you should settle on a name for your business (unless you are simply going to use your own name) and design/build a simple portfolio site to showcase your work. Ultimately, that will become your best selling tool for explaining who you are and what you do. If you can, do this while you have the time and aren't busy with client projects. As I have learned, the longer you wait to do it, the better chance that you won't. It's hard to spend time on personal projects when you have paying projects to think about. smile
Depending on your skills, it may be a good idea to come up with a logo and some basic templates for your business, (letterhead, business cards, a design proposal template and an invoice template). You are about my age, and I have found that having some of these items has boosted my credibility and made people take me a bit more seriously as a designer and entrepreneur. If you can't do this yourself, perhaps see if you can find another professional or student who you can trade services with -- they'll do some identity work for you in exchange for a website.
As far as getting started and getting more clients, the best way I have learned is through word of mouth, and also through online. If you offer good service and reasonable prices and keep your client's happy, they'll refer you to others. Also, it helps if you take some time to create a quality website that is optimized for search engines. My latest client is someone who found me via my website (how the did that, I really have no idea, since I don't rank highly for anything at the moment...) and they have quickly become my highest paying client.
Should you do free work? It depends on the skills you have and your situation. Unless it is for a non-profit organization or a cause you feel deeply about, I wouldn't suggest it. However, you may offer clients that since you are just getting started and need the experience, you would be able to offer them a deal. That way, there is a clear understanding that you won't always be cheap, and they won't undervalue your services.
Setting up a business does take a bit of legal understanding... Where are you based? If you're in the USA, I'll go into that a bit more. Otherwise, you'll have to do that research on your own.
Just ran across a series of articles on Freelance Folder that might be helpful... especially the one on branding.
Yes, i am in USA. Currently, I have a site that I was going to use to showcase some of my sites that I have created. So yes, any of the legal/business advice would be a great help?
Also, right now what my skills lack is image creation, since I am not very good with either gimp or photo-shop, most of my sites lack very many images. Any suggestions/help in this regard? Also, how do I know what to charge clients?
Thanks so much for you help!
OK... some legal details... As a disclaimer, I really don't claim to be an expert on this subject, but I'll pass on whatever I have picked up in the last few years of doing this.
OK, this applies primarily to California, where I live, so you may have to check on your state's rules if you live in a different state...
If you live in California and operate a business that does not include your name, you need to register your business name with your County and set up a DBA (Doing Business As). Basically, this registers your business name and your contact information with the state, and allows you to legally operate. In addition, once your DBA is approved, you have to place an ad in a local paper stating that you have started a new business. Usually, after you register your DBA, a couple local papers will contact you with ways that you can post your ad in their paper -- it's pretty easy. If I remember correctly, registering the DBA costs about $20, and the newspaper ad costs somewhere between $30 and $50.
Also, if you are using a business name that does not include your own name, you may want to double check that it is not in use with some major corporation. While the chances of you getting sued over a business name is probably pretty low, you could be pressured into changing the name to avoid legal hassles.
There are tax rules that you will need to research more, especially if your business will be your sole means of income. I need to go back and refresh myself on those rules, so I really can't cover it in much detail. However, if you are self employed, the government will take out about 25 to 35 % in taxes, and if you are earning a significant amount per year, you are expected to file estimated payments with the IRS four times a year to cover the tax bill that will come due in April. However, (as in my case) if you have another job where the employer is paying part of your taxes for you, and you aren't making a great deal of money working freelance, it is much less of an issue.
One thing I forgot to mention in my previous post... It really helps to have a standard contract that you use and ask clients to sign before you start work with them. The contract would cover what services you are offering the client, what the cost of the project is, and which parties have which responsibilities. This document should also protect you in case the project falls apart and either side decides to cancel the project and other legaleze if things don't work out. When I was first starting out, I didn't use a contract, but I have found that it is very useful to have a document that lays out the exact agreement between me and my client. I simply won't do a project without a signed contract.
As for your lack of image creation skills, that is definitely something you will want to improve in. There are many sources of online tutorials out there online that may help you, or you may consider taking some classes at your college or a local junior college -- that is what I have done. Knowledge of photoshop or a similar program is very useful, since that is the part of the website that most people will see directly and understand. Most clients don't want or necessarily need to understand the coding that is involved.
What do you charge clients? I don't think anyone has an answer for that one. =P It depends on your skills and confidence level, and often where you live as well. If I remember correctly, I started at around a $20 an hour figure, and worked my way up from there. It does vary greatly though, depending on who you ask. I've found the average figure for design work (at least in my area) seems to be around $50 or $60 an hour. It'll often depend on the client too, and what they are willing to pay. Obviously, you would charge a large corporation that will get a lot of publicity more than a tiny one person business.
Two books to recommend... One is "How to start a home based web design business" by Jim Smith. (Amazon Link It doesn't go into things in great depth, but I found it useful for some general business knowledge, and it has a useful contract template that should get you started. Also you may want to look at the Graphic Artists Guild Handbook: Pricing & Ethical Guidelines (Amazon Link) which contains some useful legal/pricing information.
Any other questions?
Thanks, how do you go about getting someone to sign a contract if they are from a different state? Do you ever do work for clients in different countries?
As far as the images on your sites are concerned, do create these or get free images from the internet?
As far as coding it concerned, I am very familiar with CSS and HTML, but just starting with PHP. Do you find it necessary to know scripting languages for your work such as JavaScript, PHP, or APS.net? If so, do you know of any good source for learning these languages?
Thanks so much!
"Thanks, how do you go about getting someone to sign a contract if they are from a different state? Do you ever do work for clients in different countries?"
Depends... You could always accept a signature by fax. I don't always ask that my clients physically sign the contract. Often, I'll simply accept a written acceptance via email (though I'm not quite sure if that would hold up in a court of law).
Recently, however, I have been developing a client backend to my website in PHP, which allows my clients to login and view project details. In that area, it includes the contract, and the client can electronically sign it, which sends an email to both parties saying that the client has signed the contract and stores the agreement in a database.
Images on the sites I develop are a combination of free stock photography (sxc.hu, specifically) and paid stock photography (istockphoto.com or dreamstime.com). If the site will require a significant amount of stock photos, I usually ask the client to agree to cover the costs of the photos.
"Do you find it necessary to know scripting languages for your work such as JavaScript, PHP, or APS.net?"
Originally, I started out with HTML and CSS, and have been slowly adding to my skills. A bit of knowledge of PHP or another dynamic programming language is quite useful, and I'd definitely encourage you to continue learning. It'll help set you apart from all of the rest of the coders out there that only know HTML and CSS. Most of my PHP knowledge either comes from personal experimentation, PHP books or tutorials on killerphp.com or phpvideotutorials.com.
Ok, well I really appreciate you time. A few more questions:
If a client asks you to do something for their site that you do not know how to do or can't do, do tell the "I can't do that" or do you hire a third party to do it for you?
Secondly: This is a issue I have been very perplexed about. Once you design a site for someone, how do you handle updating it? Do you allow them to update it via a CMS or are most of your sites pretty stationary?
Thirdly, do most of your clients already have hosting and a domain, or do you include that in the price as well?
Lastly, if this a area that is going to be profitable for me once I get started, so that maybe I could do it full time, or is it more of a "chunk-change every-once in a while" hobby?
Thanks for your experience and input!
If a client asks me for something I can't do... it depends. If it is something that I could do, and just may need a bit of experimentation, I usually tell them it isn't something I have experience with, but I will get back to them in a day or two and let them know if it is possible. If it isn't something I could learn quickly enough to do it yourself, I may check if a friend or contact can/would be willing to do it (though that may cut into your profit.) If you can't do it and you can't find a friend to do it, I usually would pass on that project, and perhaps suggest another company in my area that might be able to help.
How do I handle updating sites? Depends on the site. Up to this point, most of the sites I have designed are static sites that I take care of updating for a monthly fee. However, as I have found this to be sometimes stressful and timeconsuming, I have been moving towards using a CMS. It's just a matter of finding the necessary time to learn. Especially with larger clients, they tend to assume that they will have the power to edit content, so it is important to either know a CMS or be working in that direction.
As for hosting, I usually offer hosting services via a resellers account at hostgator.com. Most of my clients want hosting, but don't want to deal with the hassle of setting it up. I usually include that in the contract as a quarterly fee that they pay me.
Will this be profitable? It really depends on your experience, your energy and your networking skills. Doing it yourself is tough work, and I have had a few friends burn themselves out trying to do it. At this point, even after a couple years experience, I don't feel ready to try and do it myself -- it'll stay part time for me, at least while I am busy with school. The longer you do web design, the more there seems to be to learn. At least while you get started, I'd suggest doing it as a hobby or part time job, and thus don't expect to get paid a lot. Don't make it your primary source of income -- that's just asking for trouble. However, as you build up experience and improve your skills, yes, I do think it has the potential to be profitable.
You may also want to consider, after you have more experience, trying to get hired by a web design firm in your local area and working for them for a while. You'll get a lot of good experience, and will be able to build some of the skills needed to do it full time.