text:
Making hardware modules firmware-friendly
Post a comment
Most embedded system IC designs are done using a top-down design approach. The total design is divided into manageable functional blocks, which are each designed separately.
This paper presents some design organization techniques at the more abstract functional block level that greatly improve the ease with which firmware engineers can understand and control the overall design. This means the firmware engineer can work to a tighter schedule, resulting in earlier time to market than might be the case with less well-planned designs.
Separate access to each logic block
When hardware engineers are designing individual blocks in a design, each block will have a set of control and status bits that allow the firmware to read the current state of the design and control the future operation of the design. Sometimes there are many control or status bits, requiring several registers for the logic block. Other times there may be very few of these register bits.
If the control registers in several logic blocks only contains a few functional bit fields it is often tempting, for the sake of "efficiency," to combine these bits into a single register. From the standpoint of the hardware, address decode gates have been saved; from the standpoint of firmware, the project has just become a collaboration nightmare.
In this time of massive embedded system designs, firmware is never a one-man task. A firmware development project is executed in much the same manner as a hardware development project. The firmware team will generally consist of an architect and several firmware designers.
The architect is responsible for the overall design of the firmware. He determines how interrupts are handled, and how the firmware for the various low level hardware blocks communicate with each other. The total firmware design is then divided into manageable hardware blocks, and a firmware designer is assigned to each part. The code generated to control a hardware block in this context is called a hardware driver.
If two hardware blocks share a control register, then the firmware will run into situations where two different functions each try to modify the same register. Normally this is not necessarily a problem in firmware because, unlike hardware, only one function can be active at a time. There are exceptions to this rule, however:
1. Real-time operating systems split up the different threads of the firmware and allocate a certain amount of processor time for each thread. When a time slice is used up that thread is halted, status is stored, and another firmware thread is restored and begins running.
2. Interrupts can cause the currently running firmware to halt, store status, and relinquish control of the processor so that the interrupt service routine can react to the interrupt signal.
In each of the cases mentioned above, a firmware thread can be halted between reading a control register and writing back the modified value. If, while that thread is halted, another firmware thread or an ISR reads, modifies, and writes that register, returning to the original thread will cause the value written by the ISR or other thread to be overwritten.
The result of implementing combined control and status registers, then, is more complex, slower, and less reliable firmware. Separate registers for each hardware block result in a much more efficient team effort on the firmware development.
Designing in this manner can also improve the portability of the firmware to the next generation IC. As future modifications are made to the hardware, only the drivers for the affected hardware blocks need to be modified.
Use separate registers for each bit field type
There are many types of register bit fields that are common to logical blocks in an embedded system IC. These include:
- Control Bit Fields These bit fields modify the current state, next state, or operation parameters of the hardware block. These bit fields can be changed while the hardware block is in operation. Control bit fields can be changed during a "pause" state, meaning a state where the logic is not currently operational but is expected to resume at the point where it stopped operation. "Go" bits, or bits that start an operation when modified, should be in a control register.
- Configuration Bit Fields These bit fields modify the operational parameters for the hardware block. These bit fields should only be changed while the hardware block is in a "reset" or "stopped" state. A bit that sets the parity to be used in a data path is a good example of the type of bit field that belongs in a configuration register. A "pause" state, when the hardware is currently stopped but is expected to resume where it was stopped, is not a point where a configuration bit field should be changed.
- Status Bit Fields These bit fields are read-only bit fields that supply state and configuration information to the microprocessor. These may be read at any time, but some of the bit fields may not be guaranteed to be stable if the register is read while the logic block is in operation.
- Interrupt Bit Fields These bit fields cause an interrupt signal to asynchronously affect the flow of the firmware. See my previous article for further information on intelligent interrupt design.
- Data Bit Fields Data bit fields reflect data on which the hardware is operating. A common data bit field is a bit field containing the top of a FIFO stack. These bit fields may be read-only fields or may be writeable, allowing the microprocessor to change the value of the data. Normally, data bit fields are changed only by the hardware during operation.
- Test Bit Fields These bit fields contain data, status, or control information that is not normally needed by the firmware. See items nine and ten in my previous article for more information on test registers.
With bit fields separated into registers based on their use, comprehending the control of even extremely difficult hardware blocks becomes easier. Firmware engineers in this day and age are dealing with 400+ page specifications in order to try to understand the three basic properties of an embedded system IC:
1. What does it do?
2. How does it do that?
3. How do I make it do that?
This rule, combined with the next guideline, can also result in an easier upgrade path from the current IC to the next generation or revision of the hardware. This saves time for both the hardware development team and the firmware developers.
Use consistent relative locations for common register types
All the registers specified in the previous rule also apply here. While an embedded system design is divided into blocks for the various firmware engineers working on the project, a single engineer may be responsible for the design of drivers for multiple logic blocks. The logical and consistent placement of the registers in every block can greatly ease the pain with which he or she switches from one logic block to the next.
There are other benefits to this rule. It eases the learning curve when a firmware engineer is assigned a new block three months into the project. Debug efforts are simpler, as the firmware engineer need not refer back to the spec every time he accesses a register. Collaboration efforts between multiple firmware engineers are more easily handled without the need for those little register map charts taped to everyone's monitor, white board, and desktop.
Figure 1 shows an example of how the memory map for such a design might appear. The addresses shown are byte-wide addresses for 32-bit registers. It is important that hardware specifications always represent addresses and indexes in byte-wide formats. Mixed format addresses simply confuse the users of the IC (I automatically class any format other than byte-wide addresses as mixed formats because some other supplier to the total system is guaranteed to use byte-wide addresses in their specification).
Note the reserved location following the configuration register in the example in Figure 1. This sort of "hole" can appear in a block's memory map due to the fact that another logic block may require more than one of a particular type of register. Note that the example hardware block possesses two status registers; this will result in a hole in the memory maps of other registers possessing a single status register. This guideline really goes hand-in-hand with idea number seven from my previous article. Both of these increase the ease of use of the entire IC by the firmware and systems engineers.
Figure 1 -- Organized register map for a single logic block
Provide each hardware module with a separate block of addresses
This rule becomes almost a given when the previous guidelines are followed. If the relative locations of certain types of registers are consistent from logic block to logic block, it becomes very hard to intermingle the registers from two different logic blocks in the memory map.
Many common methods for setting up register definitions in firmware expect the registers for a single hardware block to be grouped within an address space with no outside registers mixed in. The register definition may be done using a C-code "struct," an array, or using a pointer-plus-offset technique. If registers from different logic blocks are intermixed, these structures or arrays become very complex and may contain large holes in the middle. These "holes," however, are not real holes but are writeable registers that are just not used by the current hardware block.
Grouping the registers of a logic block together means that all the registers for a logic block can be accessed using a single address pointer in the firmware. In addition to saving code space, this can avoid hard-to-find bugs that can crop up when the memory map changes.
This also increases the ease with which the registers of a logic block can be observed while debugging. It is a common practice to dump a set of registers to view when attempting to debug a design. "Holes" which are not really holes but are real registers not controlled by the current hardware block make comprehending a dump such as this extremely difficult.
It may make sense to include memory blocks in the address space for the logic block or it may not. In general, because memory is used differently from registers, memory is usually better off located elsewhere.
Provide unused address locations for each hardware block
In my experience, no new embedded system IC is ever entirely correct on the first pass. Additionally, even if the first version of the IC is functional, I've never met an IC architect who, at the end of a project, didn't have an extensive list of improvements that were not included in the design due to schedule constraints. Often the fixes or next generation upgrades require the addition of new registers into the register map. These can be done in two ways:
1. Add the registers at the end of the current register map.
2. Insert the registers in the middle of the current register map to keep them local to the registers of the modified logic block.
Depending upon how the memory map is coded in the firmware, inserting an added register into a massive, contiguous map of registers can wreak havoc with the C-code definitions for the registers. The firmware engineers will have to modify some (maybe all) defined literals that set up the register locations that follow the insertion point.
If extra space is initially included in the memory map for each logic block, additional registers become only a minor C-code change issue. The firmware for the current project can be reused on the next generation simply by adding the new registers in their proper places in the address map.
This can be taken a step further by planning future improvements into the memory map. If a logic block has sufficient status bits to use almost the entire width of a single status register, the hardware designer would be proactive by splitting the bit fields into two status registers with empty bit fields in each register. Alternately, the status register may be followed by an empty register space provided for future expansion. The same obviously holds true for control, configuration, or any other register type, which may require the full register width in the current implementation of the system.
Anything that can minimize changes to the memory map in the next revision or next generation of the product will decrease the time-to-market for the system as a whole. Note that Figure 1 shows a reserved space after Data Register 2. This is the impetuous behind the placement of this reserved space. If the next generation of the embedded IC requires an additional data register, the memory map for the hardware block will remain compatible with the previous version of the part.
Assign each logic block the same sized address space
A good corollary to the previous rule is to assign each logic block the same sized address space in the memory map. This is a simple technique that can assist a firmware engineer to keep the memory map in order in his or her mind. This may not be practical due to the varying number of registers in a logic block; this can be worked around, however, as is shown in the following example.
Figure 2 -- Example address map showing hardware blocks
An embedded systems IC contains 14 logic blocks, all with 16 or fewer registers except for two. One logic block contains 33 registers and another contains 57 registers. Assuming the registers are 32-bits wide, a 64-byte address space will work for every logic block except the two larger ones.
The 33-register block could be assigned a 192-byte address space (with 15 empty register locations) and the 57-register block could be assigned a 256-byte address space (with 7 empty register locations). In this manner, the address space for every logic block starts on a 64-byte boundary with the larger logic blocks simply occupying more than one of the 64-byte spaces.
Note that, in Figure 2, the last hardware block uses all sixteen available register spaces. It would have been more prudent to assign two 64-byte address spaces for this logic block in order to provide for future expansion.
The guidelines mentioned in this article are really design organization guidelines. The hardware architect who follows these guidelines will develop an embedded system IC that is not only easier for customers to comprehend, it will also be easier to upgrade or revise in future projects. The revision ease occurs on both the hardware side and the firmware side of the design, saving time in hardware development and in the implementation of the IC in a full system.
David Fechser is a senior staff engineer working for the Systems Verification group of the Storage Products Division at LSI Logic Corp. David lives in Fort Collins, Colorado and can be contacted at 970-206-5678 (firstname.lastname@example.com).


text:
BRUSSELS, Feb. 25 (UPI) -- The European Commission Tuesday said the economy in the 18-member eurozone would grow modestly through 2015, but not fast enough to bring down high unemployment.
The commission said its economists called for "a moderate step-up in economic growth," which included inflation-adjusted gross domestic product growth of 1.2 percent in the eurozone in 2014, which is expected to accelerate to 1.8 percent in 2015. Economic growth in the larger 28-member European Union, concurrently, is expected to reach 1.5 percent in 2014 and 2 percent in 2015.
With two years of negative growth and unemployment at 12 percent in the eurozone -- the 18 countries that share the euro -- and 10.7 percent in the EU, the commission said improvements are expected across the region, although there are still "substantial differences" in debt levels between various states.
The region's headwinds include low inflation and high unemployment, the commission said. Unemployment is expected to remain high "as labor market developments typically lag those in gross domestic product by half a year or more," the commission said.
The commission forecast unemployment edging towards 10.4 percent in the EU and 11.7 percent in the eurozone by 2015, "with cross-country differences remaining very large."
Expect inflation at 1 percent in the eurozone and slightly higher in the EU in 2014 with a 0.25 percentage point increase in both regions in 2015, "when economic growth gains momentum."
Debt to gross domestic product ratios are expected to improve, reaching 90 percent in the EU and 96 percent in the eurozone. Budget deficits are likely to decline to 2.7 percent in the EU and 2.6 percent in the eurozone in 2014, the commission said.
"Risks are more balanced than they were in autumn," said the forecast report, which is released three times per year.
But risks remain, the commission said. The largest risk "is a renewed loss of confidence that could stem from a stalling of reforms at national or European level," the commission said.
The commission also warned of "sustained very low inflation," which is a sign of a stagnant economy.
The commission said there was "only a marginal probability of shocks large enough to de-anchor inflation expectations and initiate EU-wide deflation." Nevertheless, the concern is large enough to deserve a mention.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
All of us are only ever a stone's throw from crisis
Unionists should cut Alex Maskey, the Sinn Fein MLA, a bit of slack over his stone-throwing comments in the wake of attacks on homes in Short Strand by loyalist petrol-bombers.
Mr Maskey defended Short Strand residents, telling UTV: "What we've been hearing tonight is people from the Short Strand throwing stones back and, if they are, they're defending their homes.
"And, if I lived in the Short Strand, I'd be throwing the stones along with those people, because it's disgraceful what those people are having to put up with."
They were not exactly saintly comments. Paul Givan of the DUP was so outraged that he referred the matter to the Assembly standards committee. Yet what Mr Maskey advocated was quite probably within the law.
The Crown Prosecution Service in Britain issued guidelines entitled Householders and Use of Force Against Intruders, which do not require those fearful of attack to turn the other cheek, or even rely on the police. In this case, of course, the police have apologised for being unable to defend householders adequately.
"So long as you only do what you honestly and instinctively believe is necessary in the heat of the moment, that would be the strongest evidence of you acting lawfully and in self defence. This is still the case if you use something to hand as a weapon," the guidelines state.
That seems to cover stone-throwing. The guidelines add that: "The law does not require you to wait to be attacked before using defensive force yourself."
Edwin Poots, the DUP minister, feared attack last June when, according to a DUP statement, "unknown persons were observed on Mr Poots's property".
They weren't throwing petrol-bombs, but Mr Poots, a farmer, still felt justified in getting out his legally-held shotgun and firing it in the air to frighten them off.
He was praised by the DUP and, particularly since he has been under threat, was probably entitled to get the gun out.
Mr Maskey has also been under threat. In 1987, loyalists shot and seriously injured him during an attack on his home.
It was attacked again in 1992, when his friend Alan Lundy was shot dead while carrying out repairs on the front of the house.
Mr Maskey's wife, Liz, and her two teenage children fled in terror, while Mr Maskey was upstairs, powerless to intervene.
It is understandable that he takes a robust line on the right to defend one's home.
Yet Michael Copeland, of the UUP, seemed to be the only unionist politician capable of imagining himself in Mr Maskey's position. "I listened to the contribution from Mr Maskey last night and, if I was being honest, I would say that I understood it, because I have felt it myself," Mr Copeland said on Tuesday.
"I have felt it as stones rained into Pitt Park. I have felt it when bricks and petrol-bombs bounced off the roofs in Duke Street and Thistle Court. I have felt it in Cluan Place."
Rather than jumping to judgment and rushing to condemn, we all need to try and understand other people's positions and fears at moments of crisis.


text:
The United States on Monday expelled two Venezuelan diplomats in a move mirroring Venezuela's own expulsion of two US embassy officials there a week prior, according to CNN.
The State Department did not dance around the motive, describing it as essentially a tit-for-tat move.
"Around the world, when our people are thrown out unjustly, we're going to take reciprocal action," CNN cited State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland as telling journalists on Monday. "We need to do that to protect our own people."
Venezuela kicked out the two US Air Force officers last week, accusing the military attaches of trying to destabilize the nation, said Agence-France Press. The US denied the charges.
The move from Washington branded diplomats Orlando Jose Montanez Olivares and Victor Camacaro Mata personae non gratae and they have already left America, according to CNN, citing Nuland.
The United States and Venezuela do not have full diplomatic relations, having pulled their respective ambassadors three years ago, said AFP.
However, this latest exchange suggests relations may be deteriorating further.


text:
In statistics, estimation refers to the process by
which one makes inferences about a population, based on information
obtained from a sample.
Statisticians use sample
to estimate population
For example,
sample means are used to estimate population means; sample proportions,
to estimate population proportions.
An estimate of a population parameter may be expressed in two ways:
Statisticians use a confidence interval to express the
precision and uncertainty associated with a particular
sampling method.
A confidence interval consists of three parts.
The confidence level describes the uncertainty of a sampling method.
The statistic and the margin of error define an interval estimate
that describes the precision of the method. The interval estimate
of a confidence interval is defined by the
sample statistic + margin of error.
For example, suppose we compute an interval estimate of a population
parameter. We might describe this interval estimate as a 95%
confidence interval. This means that if we used the same
sampling method to select different samples and compute different
interval estimates, the true
population parameter would fall within a range defined by the
sample statistic + margin of error
95% of the time.
Confidence intervals are preferred to point estimates,
because confidence intervals indicate (a) the
precision of the estimate and (b) the uncertainty of the estimate.
The probability part of a confidence interval is called a
confidence level. The confidence level describes
the likelihood that a particular sampling method will
produce a confidence interval that includes the true population
Here is how to interpret a confidence level.
Suppose we collected all possible samples from a given population,
and computed confidence intervals for each
sample. Some confidence intervals would include the true
population parameter; others would not. A 95% confidence level
means that 95% of the intervals contain the
true population parameter; a 90% confidence level means that
90% of the intervals contain the population parameter; and so on.
In a confidence interval, the range of values above and below the
sample statistic is called the
margin of error.
For example, suppose the local newspaper conducts an election survey and
reports that the independent candidate will receive 30% of
the vote. The newspaper states that the survey had a 5% margin of
error and a confidence level of 95%. These findings result in the
following confidence interval: We are 95% confident that the
independent candidate will receive between 25% and 35% of the vote.
Note: Many public opinion surveys report interval
estimates, but not confidence intervals. They provide the margin
of error, but not the confidence level. To clearly interpret survey
results you need to know both! We are much more likely to accept
survey findings if the confidence level is high (say, 95%)
than if it is low (say, 50%).
Problem 1
Which of the following statements is true.
I. When the margin of error is small, the confidence level is high.
II. When the margin of error is small, the confidence level is low.
III. A confidence interval is a type of point estimate.
IV. A population mean is an example of a point estimate.
(A) I only
(B) II only
(C) III only
(D) IV only.
(E) None of the above.
The correct answer is (E). The confidence level is not affected
by the margin of error. When the margin of error is small, the
confidence level can low or high or anything in between. A
confidence interval is a type of interval estimate, not a type of point
estimate. A population mean is not an example of a point
estimate; a sample mean is an example of a point estimate.
▾ Variables
▾ Central tendency
▾ Variability
▾ Measures of position
▾ Patterns in data
▾ Dotplots
▾ Histograms
▾ Stemplots
▾ Boxplots
▾ Cumulative plots
▾ Scatterplots
▾ Comparing plots
▾ One-way tables
▾ Two-way tables
▾ Sets and subsets
▾ Stat experiments
▾ Counting data points
▾ What is probability
▾ Probability problems
▾ Rules of probability
▾ Bayes' rule
▾ Types of variables
▾ Distributions
▾ Mean and variance
▾ Independence
▾ Combining
▾ Transforming
▾ Random sampling
▾ Sampling distribution
▾ Diff between props
▾ Diff between means
▾ Probability dist
▾ Discrete/continuous
▾ Binomial distribution
▾ Negative binomial
▾ Hypergeometric
▾ Multinomial
▾ Poisson
▾ Normal distribution
▾ Standard normal
▾ Student's t
▾ Chi-square
▾ F distribution
▾ Estimation overview
▾ Standard error
▾ Margin of error
▾ Confidence intervals
▾ Estimate proportion
▾ Small samples
▾ Estimate mean
▾ Matched pairs
▾ Hypothesis tests
▾ How to test
▾ Test of the mean
▾ Diff between pairs
▾ Test for a proportion
▾ Region of acceptance
▾ Power of a test
▾ How to find power
▾ Goodness of fit
▾ Homogeneity
▾ Data collection
▾ Sampling methods
▾ Survey sampling bias
▾ Survey sampling
▾ SRS analysis
▾ Stratified sampling
▾ Stratified analysis
▾ Cluster sampling
▾ CLS analysis
▾ Sample size: SRS
▾ Sample size: STR
▾ Find right method
▾ Measurement scales
▾ Linear correlation
▾ Linear regression
▾ Regression example
▾ Residual analysis
▾ Transformations
▾ Influential points
▾ Slope estimate
▾ Slope significance
▾ Experiment intro
▾ Experimental design
▾ Simulations


text:
Our backyard attracts a slew of woodpeckers, and lately we've been graced by the presence of an amusing if misguided Northern Flicker.
About twice a day, the bird will perch atop the transformer on our utility pole and start hammering away, which produces a very interesting hollow, metallic sound. He'll wait about 30 seconds. And then he'll do it again. Apparently the lesson that woodpeckers are meant to peck wood, and not metal, hasn't landed yet. We love the li'l guy just the same.
The picture above shows the Flicker in mid-song, with his crest feathers raised a bit. Their call is fairly distinctive, and not uncommon in the area. Check out the "rolling rattle call" on the Cornell Lab of Ornithology site here and see if you've heard it before.


text:
I am using the code below so solve function
syms x solve(1-x-x^0.3 == 0,x)
and MATLAB gives me the answer
2.2806043918081745336771958436901 0.301860807970099685692066514691 0.29115437161383716945904165867324 + 0.29287833041472217013239499780749*i 0.42827262660009503368869244743538 - 0.77711337147723605404039493650918*i 0.42827262660009503368869244743538 + 0.77711337147723605404039493650918*i 1.9090820154790144088601993088112 - 0.85475656146972727566334457636303*i 0.29115437161383716945904165867324 - 0.29287833041472217013239499780749*i 1.0802583864179162783074354058896 + 1.1426229105821451060150636481001*i 1.9090820154790144088601993088112 + 0.85475656146972727566334457636303*i 1.0802583864179162783074354058896 - 1.1426229105821451060150636481001*i
Clearly matlab sovle this problem numerically. The problem is that I find the first answer is wrong since I type
in the command code and get the result is
ans =
This is really bizzar! Is there anyone could tell me why? Really appreciated!
Log in to comment.
That first answer is not as wrong (or bizarre) as you might think. When you present 'solve' with fractional powers you must expect some unusual behavior. In the case of that first value, 2.28060439...., if you interpret its 0.3 power as the cube of its tenth root, one of those tenth roots is -1.085937913... whose cube is -1.280604392... and that will satisfy your equation.
In order to achieve a solution to your original equation, very likely 'solve' converted your problem to the polynomial equation 1 - y^10 - y^3 = 0 with the substitution y = x^(1/10) and got ten y roots. Then it took each of these to the tenth power to obtain the x values and those ten values you received are the result. You can check that by giving that equation in y to 'solve' and then taking each solution to the tenth power.
ha! Thanks! It clear things up! Do you also have any suggestions that how to avoid this kind of solution?
Yes: do not use floating point exponents when you solve(); it is just going to confuse you and confuse the readers.
When x and a are specific floating point numbers, x^a is calculated as exp(ln(x)*a) . When x is negative and a is real, then this produces a complex-valued result.
When you use symbolic forms, x symbolic and a real, then unless you are careful about what you are doing, then for x^a, the a is converted to the rational fraction in lowest terms, c/d, leading to x^(c/d) . (c, d integer). This is then calculated algebraically (x^c)/(x^d) which is going to come out real-valued for negative x if "c" is even, a distinctly different value than if x^a had been calculated numerically.
You need to decide which of the several possible meanings you want for x^a when a is floating point.
I would advise that rather than avoiding such an outcome as you received, Xueqi, the important thing is to understand it as a natural consequence of fractional exponents. As I think you might agree, the mystery you faced is not so mysterious when a logical explanation of it is provided. Often an equation or set of equations have more solutions than the user expects and the 'solve' function tries to find as many of them as it knows how, even though some of them may seem strange. Perhaps the real problem is that equations can turn out to be too difficult for 'solve' to find solutions for. After all, it is no "smarter" than the humans that created it.
Log in to comment.
Opportunities for recent engineering grads.Apply Today


text:
Rider: Travis Rice
Deeper, Teton Gravity Research
Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska
April, 2009
Travis Rice brought a freestyle element to the first Alaskan trip for Deeper that would go unmatched for the rest of the trilogy. Backside 720 over a massive crevasse gap in Glacier National Part.
Glacier Bay National Park
Photographer: Dan Milner
Deeper, Teton Gravity Research
10" x 15"
Open Edition
20" x 30"
50 unsigned limited-edition prints, with numbered provenance card
*All sizes listed are the image size.
*All photographs come with a 1" border on all sides.
$75.00 - $215.00
Jeremy Jones' Trilogy Collection
These images capture the spirit of Jeremy's quest to push beyond the boundaries of what was thought possible, and ride lines few had ever seen, let alone attempted. They are a fitting counterpart to Jeremy's book 'No Words For The Way Down' documenting his monumental achievement in snowboard mountaineering. We couldn't be more honored to share these images with you.


text:
An appeals committee of the Methodist Church has upheld a decision to dismiss a complaint against a lesbian pastor. The Reverend Karen Dammann, whose revelation of her sexual orientation spurred a complaint against her, expects to return to the Northwest this summer to serve. The 4-3 decision Thursday by the appeals committee means that Dammann, a former pastor at Woodland Park United Methodist Church in Seattle, will not face a church trial. The United Methodist Church's Western Jurisdiction Committee on Appeals voted to uphold an earlier decision to dismiss a complaint against Dammann, who had been accused of violating a church law that prohibits "self-avowed, practicing homosexuals" from being ordained or serving as pastors.
"We're very happy with the decision and happy to see the appeals committee uphold the investigative committee," Dammann, 46, said by phone from her current home near Amherst, Mass. She took a family leave to move to Amherst with her partner, Meredith Savage, 43, in 2000 to help look after Savage's mother. The couple have a 4 1/2-year-old son, Beckett. Dammann expects to hear by summer where her appointment will be within Washington State and northern Idaho, the area covered by the church's Pacific Northwest Conference.
In February 2001, Dammann wrote in a letter to Bishop Elias Galvan, head of the Pacific Northwest Conference of the United Methodist Church, that she was in a "partnered, covenanted, homosexual relationship." Under church orders, the bishop filed a complaint against her. An investigative committee of the conference dismissed it. The church appealed on the grounds that "the facts were so overwhelmingly obvious that to not refer to trial was an egregious error," wrote the Reverend Marv Vose, chairman of the Western Jurisdiction Committee on Appeals. Vose and two others wrote in the dissenting opinion that the committee had "made an egregious error of church law by dismissing the complaint." However, the majority opinion favored the broad discretion given to the investigative committee and the inappropriateness of the appeals committee to second-guess those decisions.
"The current legal position of the United Methodist Church is morally and theologically untenable," said the Reverend Jeff Procter-Murphy of Phoenix, a member of the committee. "It encourages duplicity and disqualifies those who are open and honest. The church has long ordained and been well served by gays and, more recently, lesbians. There is nothing extraordinary about this case. The Reverend Karen Dammann should not be punished but commended for her courage and honesty." The latest decision can be appealed only to the church's Judicial Council, its highest court.


text:
Governor Corbett Praises Pennsylvania State Trooper Recently Named International "Police Officer of the Year"
Oct 25, 2013, 12:45 ET from Pennsylvania Office of the Governor
Pennsylvania State Police Receive Award for Second Consecutive Year
HARRISBURG, Pa., Oct. 25, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Governor Tom Corbett today praised State Police Trooper First Class Timothy A. Strohmeyer, 41, of Blair County who recently received the International Association of Chiefs of Police/Target Police Officer of the Year Award.
"Trooper Strohmeyer's heroic actions exemplify the high standards and profound sense of duty found in the ranks of our Pennsylvania State Police. I am honored to count him among Pennsylvania's finest," Corbett said.
"Every day, the men and women of the Pennsylvania State Police take to our streets and highways to protect our citizens. Like Trooper Strohmeyer, they don't ask for anything but a chance to serve.''
Four people died and several were wounded, including three state troopers, when a man went on a shooting rampage last December in Geeseytown, Blair County.
"Trooper Strohmeyer exhibited great personal courage while putting his life on the line in an attempt to stop a killer and terminate any additional threat to the lives of other persons in the community," State Police Commissioner Frank Noonan said.
The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), based in Virginia, is the world's oldest and largest nonprofit membership organization of police executives, with about 20,000 members in more than 100 countries. The IACP partners with Target to recognize exemplary performance, heroism and bravery in law enforcement across the globe.
This is the second year in a row that the Pennsylvania State Police has been a recipient of this prestigious award.
Strohmeyer, along with Trooper First Class David Nazaruk and Corporal Kevin Campbell, all from Troop G, Hollidaysburg, were first to arrive in the area after state police were dispatched to reports of a man shooting people on the morning of Dec. 21, 2012.
While en route to the scene, Strohmeyer and Nazaruk passed the suspect, Jeffrey Lee Michael of Hollidaysburg, driving a pickup truck in the opposite direction. As the suspect passed the troopers, Michael fired shots into both cruisers.
Nazaruk sustained injuries to his eyes and forehead from shrapnel and glass fragments. Strohmeyer turned his patrol car around and pursued the pickup truck with Nazurak's cruiser driving close behind.
At the same time, Campbell was heading toward the scene when the suspect intentionally rammed his truck head-on into the cruiser. The impact disabled both vehicles and jammed the cruiser's driver's side door, making it difficult for Campbell to exit.
Within seconds, Strohmeyer arrived at the scene and rammed his cruiser into the rear of the suspect's truck. Michael charged toward Strohmeyer's door, firing as he approached, striking the trooper in the chest and left wrist.
"Even after being struck in the chest and hand, Trooper Strohmeyer drew his service weapon and returned fire until he had stopped the actions of the suspect," Noonan said.
"The expectations for a Pennsylvania State Trooper are beyond compare, from patrolman to crime fighter to counselor – all the while, these courageous men and women must be ready to come face-to-face with deadly situations at a moment's notice," said Noonan. "No profession can compare to the difficult decisions that a trooper must make in the midst of chaos."
The Pennsylvania State Police awarded Strohmeyer the department's Medal of Honor and the Purple Heart award in June 2013. Strohmeyer also was selected as the department's Trooper of the Year for 2012.
The Mid-Atlantic District Exchange Clubs' State Police Officer of the Year Committee has recognized all three troopers as the 2013 State Police Officer of the Year.
In addition, Strohmeyer, Nazaruk, Campbell and Police Communications Operator Justin Butterworth received the Blair County Operation Our Town's 2013 Law Enforcement Award for their actions.
For more information about the Pennsylvania State Police, visit www.psp.state.pa.us.
Media contact: Janet Kelley, 717-783-1116
Maria A. Finn or Tpr. Adam Reed, 717-783-5556
SOURCE Pennsylvania Office of the Governor


text: I have a 1950 DeSoto DeLuxe Club Coupe (S-14-1) with fluid drive and the semi automatic gear box (low and high gearing with a clutchless overdrive engagement). I have some questions about the (correct) workings and maintenance. First of: When I lift off the accelerator it grinds into the overdrive. It sounds like someone wrongly shifting a manual box. This sound take about a second, sometimes longer, then it's in overdrive and can step on the gas. Sometimes though, it will not shift all the way trough and just grinds when I step on the gas. I then have to clutch or else I am powerless. My guess is that isn't normal and should be adjusted. Can I adjust this somehow? Next question: When driving in low (3rd of 4th) and stepping on it, it has a lot of slippage in the beginning. Could this be the fluid drive coupling or is the clutch almost dead? How much slippage must it have? Last questions about the Fluid drive: How can I maintain the system? Should I be filling the Fluid Drive somehow? Or how can I check the right amount? Cannot find this in the manual I have (see next question). Overall question about maintenance: I have a '49 Chrysler workshop manual (with C45 through C50). Can I use this for my '50 DeSoto or are there some significant changes between '49 and '50 and between Chrysler and DeSoto?


text:
State Police will be on the look out for drunk drivers now through the Labor Day Holiday. Extra police will be patrolling as part of the STOP-DWI Crackdown effort, where there will be sobriety check points set up in various locations on State roadways.
All 62 Counties in the State will be participating in the initiative. State Police Zone Sergeant with Troop T Brian Guise said the effort will ensure that everyone feels safe while driving.
"We want to get the word out so hopefully people will think twice before they drink and drive. If they've had a couple drinks they might think twice about having the third or fourth one before they choose to operate their car and drive home," said Guise.
Guise said additional patrols will also be looking for motorists speeding through work zones and people using their cell phones while driving this week as part of another effort called "Operation Summer Brake."


text:
Already a print subscriber? Get Access Already a digital subscriber? Log In
Never Miss a Story Subscribe Today
Sales growth comes slowly for Pep Boys auto-parts chain
0 CommentsIt was one year ago that the CEO of Pep Boys — Manny, Moe & Jack told analysts that his intent was to grow the auto-parts retailer... Read more
Beverage maker Skinny Nutritional files for Chapter 11
0 CommentsSkinny Nutritional Corp., the local flavored-water marketer that saw most of its board resign earlier this year, has filed a Chapter 11 petition... Read more
AltheRx Pharmaceuticals lands $15 million, new board and CEO
0 CommentsYou never know when an acquisition involving the automobile industry in the Midwest in 1998 might affect a drug-development firm in the Philadelphia... Read more
Red ink flows in difficult first quarter for Unisys
0 CommentsUnisys Corp. would love to finish 2013 with flat revenue over 2012. Well, that's going to be a tough slog after the Blue Bell information... Read more
Center City District CEO says Philadelphia needs to stem job loss
0 CommentsCenter City District president and CEO Paul R. Levy would like the city to set a goal of adding 50,000 to 100,000 jobs to its employment base... Read more
Wharton dean Robertson to step down in 2014
0 CommentsThomas S. Robertson will resign as dean of the Wharton School, the prestigious business school at the University of Pennsylvania, in June 2014... Read more
Beige Book: Modest pace of growth in business activity in Philadelphia
0 Comments"Modest" is the word for the state of business activity in the Philadelphia region, according to the latest Federal Reserve Beige Book report... Read more
DFC Global lowers earnings forecast, shares fall 22 pct.
0 CommentsIt's bad enough when a stock loses 10 percent of its value over the course of one quarter. It's even worse when the same stock... Read more
Inquirer business columnist Mike Armstrong and other staff writers take you beyond the business headlines in Philadelphia.


text:
[permalinks] Custom post type and permalinks
I will do my best to explain my problem.
I'm developing a music website. And there will be different post types like CD reviews, interviews and newsitems on it. I made those white custom post type. Because this will be a music site I want to categorize the different post types by genres (jazz, rock ,hiphop, etc, etc).
I don't register a custom taxonomy but let the custom post types use the "core" categories. But I have trouble with the permalinks.
If I save a CD review this is the permalink:
cdreview = the name of the custom post type
But what I want is this:
category = the genre where I want to save the CD review.
There will be a number of genres like: jazz, rock, pop, hiphop, etc, etc. So the "rewrite => sluge" solution will not work because the category name will be different each time.
I hope I made myself clear? And if you guys have a solution? 🙂
- The topic '[permalinks] Custom post type and permalinks' is closed to new replies.


text:
I am getting ready to do my part to make that happen! Can't wait to hear the song on iTunes and then watch it on the show. YAY Terry! I trust my FORT friends to let me know when my guy does good.! :-D
Nicholas made me cry, that was gorgeous!
Terry was awesome, loved that! Best cover that I've ever heard.
So pissed off that I cannot get Itunes on my computer so that I could buy Nicholas and Terry's singles. Waaaaaaaaaaahh.
Sheldon Cooper: Woman, you're playing with forces beyond your ken
Penny: Yeah, well your Ken can kiss my Barbie.
For all you Terry fans on iTunes. Buy the song once, then click to download it again immediately. Do not wait. It will ask if you want to download it again for free. Do that nine more times and that is ten votes! Nicholas fans, listen in! Everyone else? Look, something shiny! ;-)
Lol!!! Terry for the win!
Dang. I live in snowed-in Minnesota. Took me a freaking two hours to get home from work. I missed the whole thing. At this moment in time, the only one of the entire show that does anything for me is Nicholas. I'm glad to hear he sang something "gorgeous". I will definately watch a repeat.
Of the others - Terry is my second favorite. He and Nicholas both need a really good producer to bump of the "character" of their performances though. Each has become a little bland for me. Although, that could be because the show has drug on and they are singing songs they might not normally sing.
Cassadee - needs a really good songwriter and I think she'll make it.
Trevan - wonderful kid; great story. (I love how a big heavier inner-city black kid bonded with a white preppy Yale kid. I swear I think that music is half of the reason why we've had some progress in bridging racial divides). I don't care for the songs he's sung so far, but he is good. I hope he makes it in Hollywood - whether it's music or maybe a tv show.
The top 4 is the right 4 in my mind.
OMG....I can't believe it. First my jaw dropped and then I died laughing. I said right here on FORT that Trevyn should sing this song. I can't believe he actually did it!
Ok, come on people. Help me here. What other schmaltzy ballad should he sing if he makes it to the final? I nominate Bette Midler's other great classic, "From a Distance." (I can remember singing this with my girl friends back in the 90's. Perfect for Trevyn.)
As for Blake's team, I only recognize butt-slapping cowboy, long-haired Ozzie wannabee, and Mikaela. That's pretty sad.
Watching the show on DVR, not gotten to Terry yet. Can't wait.
Last edited by Babbred; 12-11-2012 at 12:29 AM.
Maggie: "While she takes care of the men with the guns, why don't you sit down and I'll make you a nice, hot cup of tea?"
Pan Am stewardesses: prepared for anything!
Contrary to the masses on this board, I like Cassadee, and I would buy her music. The others are good, but I wouldn't buy their music. The 3 others have sang songs that I know. Cassadee sang some songs I didn't know, and I liked them, and made me pay attention. I want songs that draw my attention. Those are the songs I buy..
So, contrary to the masses, GO CASSADEE!


text:
Ask the Experts
Sustiva induced gynecomastiaSorry if this is a duplicate question I have been asking on sites all over the web. I have mild gynecomastia probably related to my use of Sustivia and or my hair loss drug propecia. My Testosterone is always normal, though I did just have doc test...
Response from Keith Henry, M.D.
University of Minnesota, School of Medicine...Sustiva has not been consistently linked to gynecomastia. Propecia can cause gynecomastia which often is frustrating to pin down a cause and treat. KH Read more »
is my gynecomastia pubertal permanent, or Pseudogynecomastia?I'm 15 years old and having living with this condition for as long as I can remember. I have come... Read more »
Update on my use of Tamoxifen for gynecomastia and warningA while back I mentioned my using Tamoxifen to help get rid of Sustiva induced gynecomastia.. Long... Read more »
Understanding HIV-Related Clinical Trials...unlessyou want to. Each clinical trial has a written plan, or protocol, that describes thegoals and objectives of the study, how long the study will last, inclusion andexclusion criteria, and what tests and procedures are required of... Read more »
How HIV Drugs Get Approved... Why Does It Take So Long to Approve New Drugs? What Are the "Phases" of Clinical Trials? How Do We Know if a Drug Works? Using Unapproved Drugs Read more »
Frequently Asked Questions About Crystal Methamphetamine...methamphetamine? What is methamphetamine? What are the short-term effects of methamphetamine use? What are the long-term effects of methamphetamine use? What are some physical signs that someone is using meth? Is... Read more »
Atripla...already been on HIV therapy, may not be able to use it due to their having developed drug resistance, when medications may no longer work against the virus. Drug resistance most commonly occurs when people don't take their HIV medicine as... Read more »
Connect With Others
Posted by LostNconfused, 5 RepliesI tested positive 3 days before Christmas and I think I am still numb to the fact. I haven't told any friends or family because I really don't know how and most are judgemental and I'm sure will walk away. But I guess if they do, then I didn't need... Read more »
Excessive Mastubation
Posted by Anonymous, 5 RepliesEver since I found out that I'm poz, I've been spending a lot more time mastubating. Is that normal? Or could it be because of the amount of time I've been spending reading posts about sexual issues? Pleasing myself has become an every day thing... Read more »
How long...?
Posted by Anonymous, 3 Repliescan HIV live in a syrindge? Read more »
Gynecomastia -- painful breast lumps
Posted by patrickf, 2 Replies...size of a pencil eraser) under my right breast nipple. After a thorough radiologic and surgical exam, I've been diagnosed with gynecomastia. I didn't know anything about gynecomastia.... so I searched the web and found that gynecomastia and... Read more »


text:
1King Hezekiah heard those things, and he tore his clothes and put on the rough cloth ˻that showed he was sad and upset˼. Then he went into the Lord's temple. 2Hezekiah sent Eliakim (Eliakim was in charge of the king's house), Shebna (the secretary), and the elders of the priests to the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz. They wore the rough cloth ˻that showed they were sad and upset˼. 3They said to Isaiah, "Hezekiah says, 'This is a day of trouble, a day to show we are wrong. It is like the time for babies to be born, but there is no strength to give birth to them. 4The commander's master, the king of Assyria, has sent him to say bad things about the living God. Maybe the Lord your God will hear all those things. Maybe the Lord will punish the enemy! So pray for the people that are still left alive.'" 5King Hezekiah's officers went to Isaiah. 6Isaiah said to them, "Give your master Hezekiah this message: 'The Lord says: Don't be afraid of the things that the officers of the king of Assyria have said to make fun of me. 7I am putting a spirit in him. He will hear a rumor. Then he will run back to his own country. And I will cause him to be killed by a sword in his own country.'" 8The commander heard that the king of Assyria had left Lachish. So the commander found his king fighting against Libnah. 9The king of Assyria heard a rumor about Tirhakah king of Ethiopia. The rumor said, "Tirhakah has come to fight against you!" So the king of Assyria sent messengers to Hezekiah again. The king of Assyria gave a message to these messengers. He said these things: 10To Hezekiah, king of Judah: Don't let the God that you trust fool you. He says, "The king of Assyria will not defeat Jerusalem!" 11You have heard the things the kings of Assyria have done to all the other countries. We destroyed them completely! Will you be saved? No! 12The gods of those nations did not save their people. My ancestors destroyed them all. They destroyed Gozan, Haran, Rezeph, and the people of Eden in Tel Assar! 13Where is the king of Hamath? The king of Arpad? The king of the city of Sepharvaim? The kings of Hena and Ivvah? ˻They are all finished!˼ 14Hezekiah received the letters from the messengers and read them. Then Hezekiah went up to the Lord's temple and laid the letters out in front of the Lord. 15Hezekiah prayed before the Lord and said, "Lord, the God of Israel who sits as King between the Cherub angels. You are the God—you alone—of all the kingdoms of the earth. You made the heavens and the earth! 16Lord, please listen to me. Lord, open your eyes, and see ˻this letter˼. Hear the words that Sennacherib sent to insult the living God! 17It is true, Lord. The kings of Assyria did destroy all those nations! 18They did throw the gods of the nations into the fire. But those were not real gods. They were only wood and stone—statues that men made. That is why the kings of Assyria could destroy them. 19So now, Lord our God, save us from the king of Assyria. Then all the kingdoms on earth will know that you, Lord, are the only God." 20Isaiah son of Amoz sent this message to Hezekiah. He said, "The Lord God of Israel says this, 'You have prayed to me against Sennacherib king of Assyria. I have heard you.' 21"This is the Lord's message about Sennacherib: The virgin daughter of Zion ˻(Jerusalem)˼ doesn't think you are important. She makes fun of you! The Daughter Jerusalem shakes her head at you behind your back. 22But who did you insult and make fun of? Who did you speak against? You were against the Holy One of Israel! You acted like you were better than him! 23You sent your messengers to insult the Lord. You said, "I came with my many chariots to the high mountains. I came deep inside Lebanon. I cut down the tallest cedar trees and the best fir trees of Lebanon. I went up to the highest part of Lebanon, up to its lush forest. 24I dug wells, and drank water from new places. I dried up the rivers of Egypt and walked on that country." 25˻That is what you said.˼ But haven't you heard ˻what God said˼? "I ˻(God)˼ planned it long ago, from ancient times I planned it. And now, I have made it happen. I let you tear down the strong cities and change them into piles of rocks. 26The people in the cities had no power. They people were scared and confused. They were about to be cut down like grass and plants in the field. They were like grass growing on the housetops, dying before it grows tall. 27I know when you sit down. I know when you go to war. and when you come home. And I know when you get upset at me. 28Yes, you were upset at me. I heard your proud insults. So I will put my hook in your nose. And I will put my bit in your mouth. Then I will turn you around and lead you back the way you came." 29"This will be the sign to prove I will help you: This year you will eat ˻the grain˼ that grows by itself. Next year you will eat the grain that comes up from that seed. But in the third year you will gather the grain from the seeds that you planted. You will plant fields of grapes and eat the grapes from them. 30The people that have escaped and are left in the family of Judah will again begin to grow. 31Why? Because a few people will remain alive. They will go out from Jerusalem. People that have escaped will go out from Mount Zion. The Lord's strong feelings will do this. 32"So the Lord says this about the king of Assyria: He will not come into this city. He will not shoot an arrow in this city. He will not bring his shields to this city. He will not build up a hill of dirt to attack the walls of this city. 33He will go back the same way he came. He will not come into this city. The Lord says this! 34I will protect this city and save it. I will do this for myself and for my servant David." 35That night, the angel of the Lord went out and killed 185,000 people in the Assyrian camp. When the people got up in the morning, they saw all the dead bodies. 36So Sennacherib king of Assyria left and went back to Nineveh where he stayed. 37One day Sennacherib was worshiping in the temple of Nisroch, his god. His sons Adrammelech and Sharezer killed him with a sword. Then Adrammelech and Sharezer escaped into the land of Ararat. And Sennacherib's son Esarhaddon became the new king after him.
Copyrighted Material
Learn More


text:
With all of the success of our past Fan Fest events, we just couldn't turn down the opportunity to host another.
Come out to Red Bull Arena this Saturday between noon and 6pm for our Ultimate Red Bulls Fan Experience and Partial Plan seat selection.
During the event, you'll have the opportunity to:
- Record a video message for the Red Bulls' opening day video
- Tour the New York Red Bulls locker room
- Purchase 2012 Full and Partial Ticket Plans
Fans are encouraged to bring their cameras, wear their jerseys and invite friends and family along for the day.
Questions? Feel free to call 1.877.RB.SOCCER.
See you there!


text:
Welcome | Sign In or Contact Us
Receive Weekly How-To Tips & Specials
Air Compressors Direct is an online
SMC 5 HP Air Dryersuperstore, specializing exclusively in SMC 5 HP Compressed Air Dryers, SMC 5 HP Refrigerated Air Dryers and SMC 5 HP Air Compressor Dryers. Compare SMC 5 HP Compressed Air Dryer models, specs and prices. Consult with our experienced SMC 5 HP Air Dryer experts. SMC 5 HP Air Dryers for sale. Tax-Free.


text:
COOS BAY, Ore. (AP) — A Michigan man who decided to camp at the Oregon coast after exhibiting at a local recreational vehicle show was shot and killed as he slept by a drive-by gunman who shot up five vehicles in the beach parking lot before turning his gun on himself, authorities said Tuesday.
They later said the gunman's father was found dead in a separate location.
Coos County District Attorney Paul Frasier said Tuesday that 58-year-old William Ray Brimhall of Dillard had been shot multiple times.
His body was found near his vehicle on a rural road about 50 miles from Bastendorff Beach, where authorities say his son, Zachary Brimhall, shot five cars in a parking lot, killing a Michigan man who was sleeping in his vehicle.
Frasier said Zachary Brimhall then shot and killed himself.
Frasier says a number of large firecrackers used to scare seals were found in Zachary Brimhall's vehicle, along with materials to make an improvised explosive device.
The sleeping victim has been identified as 43-year-old David Jesse Hortman of Walker, Michigan, a representative of a recreational vehicle supply company. Frasier said Hortman had decided to take a week's vacation after attending a recreational vehicle show in Oregon.
There was no known connection between Hortman and Brimhall, 34, of Dillard, a rural community in neighboring Douglas County.
The shooting occurred at Bastendorf Beach just south of Coos Bay around 1 a.m. Tuesday. Bastendorf Beach is on U.S. Bureau of Land Management land near state and county parks with developed campgrounds. Bastendorf has long been a popular spot for homeless people as well as people who want to have a campfire on the beach, agency spokeswoman Megan Harper said.
There are three gravel parking lots a short walk from the water. About a year ago, BLM cut the camping limit from 14 days to 24 hours and stepped up patrols due to problems with people camping there.
"We have had some problems in the past with some nefarious activity out there," she said. "We have tried to step up patrols lately and it had seemed like it was getting a lot better."


text:
This restaurant was inspired by author J.P. Donleavy's modern classic, The Ginger Man. The picaresque work tells the story of a young American studying at Ireland's venerable Trinity College. The main character, Sebastian is dogged by vices of his own infatuation. And the book curates all of his charming misadventures with a brash honesty; one seldom seen in post World War II literature. Subsequently, upon publication, the book was initially banned in the United States and Ireland. For proprietors Michael and Pat Byron the novel represents the ideals of progressive society. Over the past thirty years, at this namesake restaurant, the City of Albany has experienced how The Byron's translates J.P. Donleavy's forward-thinking posture into the very best of food and wine and how we should all dare to eat…
Welcome to The Ginger Man
The Ginger Man boasts a large hand selected assortment of wines from around the world. We also feature NY state offerings in every varietal. Keeping in trend with Organic, Sustainable, Biodymanic offerings, the Ginger Man has something for every palate and price. We offer 18 global drafts with different craft and classic stylings from New York to Belgium. All meat and seafood and purchased whole and butchered in house, with every aspect of the animal used. Local meats, poultry and cheeses are purchased on a local level as much as possible. Gluten free menu and vegetarian options are taken into serious consideration and kept specialized.Read about us
Reserve a Table
The Ginger Man does take Reservations! If you would like to make a reservation for our live music events, wine classes, or just a casual dining experience please call 518-427-5963 today. We can accomodate large parties.
Don't see the time you'd like in Opentable? Call us and we can accommodate youCall and reserve a table
Our Menu
The Ginger Man offers a Lunch, Dinner, and Gluten Free Menu. We have something for every palate. All seafood and meat is butchered in house and purchased whole. We purchase local as much as possible. We have many vegetarian options and are able to specialize items for food allergies. We offer daily specials that you can view along with our everyday menu items on Instagram at the hashtag #albanygingermanmenu and #albanygingermancheck out our menu


text:
Added to Shopping Bag
Chinese Laundry Ballet-style Flats
Listed by Caroline Yoo
Size: 6.5
Price: $29.00
Final Sale (Non-Returnable)
This item is "Final Sale" and may not be returned.
If your item was misrepresented in any way, file a Misrepresentation Claim within 4 days of delivery. Our team will review your claim and you may be eligible for a full refund.
Shopping Bag :
Reserved for -:--
This Item is No Longer Available
Ballet-style Flats
Size: 6.5
$29.00 Shipping Included
Chinese Laundry Ballet-style Flats
Shipping Included
Not available
This item is no longer available
8 people saved this item
This item has visible signs of wear
Pretty and unique oriental print ballet-style shoe by Chinese Laundry. Love this shoe but am looking to give it to someone who will get more use out of it than me - needs a new home! Worn only a few times. The only sign of wear is slight markings on the soles (see photos). Has a slight (about 1/2") heel, but I would consider this shoe more of a flat. Size 6.5
Style Tags:
Wed 11/29/17 - Sat 12/2/17 (5-8 days)
This item is Final Sale and may not be returned. We recommend taking a good look at all item details before ordering.
Final Sale items purchased in the U.S. are eligible for a full refund if the listing is misrepresented. Learn More
Have a similar item? Sell Yours
Authenticity Promise
Tradesy only allows the sale of authentic designer goods. If you believe your purchase is a replica, send it to our team for a free evaluation. You'll get a full refund if anything's amiss.*Learn More
Our Guarantee
Get what you ordered, or your money back. We'll give you a full refund if the condition, style, or authenticity of an item are misrepresented in any way.*Learn More
Real People, Here to Help
Need help? Have questions? Our team in sunny Southern California is available by phone, email, and chat.Help & Support


text:
Selection Tournaments, Sabotage, and Participation
This paper studies sabotage in tournaments with at least three contestants, where the contestants know each other well. Every contestant has an incentive to direct sabotage specifically against his most dangerous rival. In equilibrium, contestants who choose a higher productive effort are sabotaged more heavily. This might explain findings from psychology, where victims of mobbing are sometimes found to be overachieving. Further, sabotage equalizes promotion chances. The effect is most pronounced if the production function is linear in sabotage, and the cost function depends only on the sum of all sabotage activities: in an interior equilibrium, who will win is a matter of chance, even when contestants differ a great deal in their abilities. This, in turn, has adverse consequences for who might want to participate in a tournament. Since better contestants anticipate that they will be sabotaged more strongly, it may happen that the most able stay out and the tournament selects one of the less able with probability one. I also study the case where some contestants are easy victims, i.e. easier to sabotage than others.
If you experience problems downloading a file, check if you have the proper application to view it first. In case of further problems read the IDEAS help page. Note that these files are not on the IDEAS site. Please be patient as the files may be large.
|Date of creation:
|Apr 2006
|Contact details of provider:
| Postal: Geschwister-Scholl-Platz 1, D-80539 Munich, Germany
Phone: +49-(0)89-2180-3405
Fax: +49-(0)89-2180-3510
Web page: http://www.sfbtr15.de/
More information through EDIRC
References listed on IDEAS
Please report citation or reference errors to , or , if you are the registered author of the cited work, log in to your RePEc Author Service profile, click on "citations" and make appropriate adjustments.:
- Derek Clark & Christian Riis, 2001.
"Rank-order tournaments and selection,"
Journal of Economics,
Springer, vol. 73(2), pages 167-191, June.
- Clark, D.J. & Riis, C., 1996. "Rank-Order Tournaments and Selection," Memorandum 27/1996, Oslo University, Department of Economics.
- Lazear, Edward P & Rosen, Sherwin, 1981. "Rank-Order Tournaments as Optimum Labor Contracts," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 89(5), pages 841-864, October.
- Edward P. Lazear & Sherwin Rosen, 1979. "Rank-Order Tournaments as Optimum Labor Contracts," NBER Working Papers 0401, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
- Mark Bagnoli & Ted Bergstrom, 2005. "Log-concave probability and its applications," Economic Theory, Springer;Society for the Advancement of Economic Theory (SAET), vol. 26(2), pages 445-469, 08.
- Bagnoli, M. & Bergstrom, T., 1989. "Log-Concave Probability And Its Applications," Papers 89-23, Michigan - Center for Research on Economic & Social Theory.
- Margaret A. Meyer, 1991. "Learning from Coarse Information: Biased Contests and Career Profiles," Review of Economic Studies, Oxford University Press, vol. 58(1), pages 15-41.
- Kong-Pin Chen, 2005. "External Recruitment as an Incentive Device," Journal of Labor Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 23(2), pages 259-278, April.
- Kong-Pin Chen, 2004. "External Recruitment as an Incentive Device," Econometric Society 2004 Far Eastern Meetings 514, Econometric Society.
- Kong-Pin Chen, 2004. "External Recruitment as an incentive Device," Econometric Society 2004 North American Summer Meetings 54, Econometric Society.
- Green, Jerry R & Stokey, Nancy L, 1983. "A Comparison of Tournaments and Contracts," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 91(3), pages 349-364, June.
- Jerry R. Green & Nancy L. Stokey, 1982. "A Comparison of Tournaments and Contracts," NBER Working Papers 0840, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
- Green, Jerry & Stokey, Nancy, 1983. "A Comparison of Tournaments and Contracts," Scholarly Articles 3203644, Harvard University Department of Economics.
- Luis Garicano & Ignacio Palacios-Huerta, 2001. "An Empirical Examination of Multidimensional Effort in Tournaments," Working Papers 2001-14, Brown University, Department of Economics.
- Lazear, Edward P, 1989. "Pay Equality and Industrial Politics," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 97(3), pages 561-580, June.
- Canice Prendergast, 1999. "The Provision of Incentives in Firms," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 37(1), pages 7-63, March.
- Baumol, William J., 1992. "Innovation and strategic sabotage as a feedback process," Japan and the World Economy, Elsevier, vol. 4(4), pages 275-290, December.
- repec:cup:apsrev:v:89:y:1995:i:01:p:49-61_09 is not listed on IDEAS
- Kong-Pin Chen, 2003. "Sabotage in Promotion Tournaments," Journal of Law, Economics and Organization, Oxford University Press, vol. 19(1), pages 119-140, April.
- Harrington, Joseph Jr. & Hess, Gregory D., 1996. "A Spatial Theory of Positive and Negative Campaigning," Games and Economic Behavior, Elsevier, vol. 17(2), pages 209-229, December.
- Hvide, Hans K. & Kristiansen, Eirik G., 2003. "Risk taking in selection contests," Games and Economic Behavior, Elsevier, vol. 42(1), pages 172-179, January.
- Hvide, H.K. & Kristiansen, E.G., 1999. "Risk Taking in Selection Contests," Papers 5-99, Tel Aviv.
- Konrad, Kai A, 2000. "Sabotage in Rent-Seeking Contests," Journal of Law, Economics and Organization, Oxford University Press, vol. 16(1), pages 155-165, April.
- Chan, William, 1996. "External Recruitment versus Internal Promotion," Journal of Labor Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 14(4), pages 555-570, October.
- Rosen, Sherwin, 1986. "Prizes and Incentives in Elimination Tournaments," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 76(4), pages 701-715, September.
- Sherwin Rosen, 1985. "Prizes and Incentives in Elimination Tournaments," NBER Working Papers 1668, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
- Krakel, Matthias, 2000. "Relative deprivation in rank-order tournaments," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 7(4), pages 385-407, July.
- Drago, Robert & Garvey, Gerald T, 1998. "Incentives for Helping on the Job: Theory and Evidence," Journal of Labor Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 16(1), pages 1-25, January.
- Glazer, Amihai & Hassin, Refael, 1988. "Optimal Contests," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 26(1), pages 133-143, January.
- Emmanuelle Auriol & Guido Friebel & Lambros Pechlivanos, 2002. "Career Concerns in Teams," Journal of Labor Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 20(2), pages 289-307, Part.
- Christine Harbring & Bernd Irlenbusch & Matthias Kräkel & Reinhard Selten, 2004. "Sabotage in Asymmetric Contests – An Experimental Analysis," Bonn Econ Discussion Papers bgse12_2004, University of Bonn, Germany.
- Schlicht, Ekkehart, 1988. "Promotions, Elections, and Other Contests: Comment on Sherwin Rosen," Munich Reprints in Economics 3170, University of Munich, Department of Economics.
- Drago, Robert & Turnbull, Geoffrey K., 1991. "Competition and cooperation in the workplace," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 15(3), pages 347-364, May. Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)
This item is not listed on Wikipedia, on a reading list or among the top items on IDEAS.
When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:trf:wpaper:118. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.
For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: (Tamilla Benkelberg)
If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.
If references are entirely missing, you can add them using this form.
If the full references list an item that is present in RePEc, but the system did not link to it, you can help with this form.
If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.
Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.This information is provided to you by IDEAS at the Research Division of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis using RePEc data.


text:
Poland has become the "political victim" of leaks years ago by U.S. officials who indicated the country hosted a secret CIA prison for terrorism suspects, the prime minister said Thursday.
Donald Tusk made the comments after a leading newspaper reported that Polish prosecutors have brought the first charges in the investigation they opened in 2008 into a now-closed CIA facility in the country.
"Let me remind you that really, in some sense, Poland is a political victim of indiscretions of some participants in the U.S. administration from a few years back," Tusk told a news conference, clearly referring to first word of it being mentioned in U.S. media.
Without confirming that a CIA site was ever based in Poland, Tusk said that the ongoing investigation is proof of Poland's democratic credentials and desire for greater transparency.
Poland will "no longer be a country where politicians - even if they are working arm-in-arm with the world's greatest superpower - could make some deal somewhere under the table and then it would never see daylight," Tusk said.
The Gazeta Wyborcza newspaper report Tuesday that charges were brought against a former intelligence head, Zbigniew Siemiatkowski, for exceeding his powers by depriving prisoners of war of their freedom and allowing corporal punishment.
Tusk said with the knowledge he has of the facts, he would not have brought the charges.
Siemiatkowski has refused to comment, telling The Associated Press he was bound by secrecy on the matter.
Former U.S. intelligence officials have identified Poland, Romania and Lithuania as nations that hosted some of the CIA's secret prisons.
Former CIA officials have told the AP the prison in Poland operated from December 2002 until the fall of 2003, and that prisoners were subjected to harsh interrogations. The Council of Europe and the United Nations have also said they have evidence the site existed.
Two prisoners at Guantanamo Bay, Abd al Rahim al-Nashiri and alleged al-Qaida facilitator Abu Zubaydah, have been given victim status in the investigation in Poland after claiming they were held in the country and subjected to harsh treatment.
Politicians in Poland have vehemently denied the claims, particularly Aleksander Kwasniewski and Leszek Miller, who were the president and the prime minister at the time the CIA ran the prison.
Poland backed the U.S. as it pursued the so-called "war on terror" after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks.


text:
Short-Term Travel Grants (STG)Sponsor: IREX (International Research & Exchanges Board)
Submission Deadline
February 6
Field(s) of Study
Liberal Arts/Humanities, Languages/Linguistics, Journalism/Broadcasting, Economics, Agriculture...
Award Amount
The Short-Term Travel Grants Program (STG) supports postdoctoral scholars and professionals to conduct independent or collaborative research in Eastern Europe and Eurasia. With its flexible format and quick turnaround time, this program meets an important need for the scholarly and policy communities, and makes a direct impact on the formation of U.S. foreign policy through the support of policy-relevant, "open-source" research on current regional issues of importance to the United States. STG is designed to allow scholars to conduct short, targeted projects without significantly affecting their teaching and work schedules. STG is sponsored by the Title VIII program through the Bureau of Intelligence and Research (INR), U.S. Department of State.
Other Criteria
U.S. Citizen; Must hold a graduate degree at the time of application; Cannot be currently enrolled in a degree seeking program
Contact Information
You must be logged in to view contact information.
Register Now To View Contact Information For This Scholarship or login
More Award Details
|Number of Awards
|Roundtrip international airfare; Stipend; Visa support; Fied office support
|Nationality Required
|Host Countries
|Uzbekistan, Ukraine, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Slovenia, Slovakia, Serbia and Montenegro, Serbia, Russia, Romania, Poland, Montenegro, Moldova, Macedonia, Lithuania, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Hungary, Estonia, Czech Republic, Croatia, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Belarus, Azerbaijan and Armenia


text:
Early indications on Election Day are showing that turnouts at polling places throughout the Bay Area are significantly less than the 2008 election.
In Alameda County, voting opened last weekend, but the turnout wasn't great, Registrar of Voters Dave Macdonald said.
"We opened voting on Saturday. The most I saw in line was 20 people," Macdonald said. "In 2008 ... a line of people wrapped around the building.
There were maybe a thousand people." Macdonald said that, for this election, there just doesn't seem to be the same enthusiasm. In San Mateo County, Registrar of Voters Mark Church is seeing the same thing.
Lines are a lot shorter than they were in 2008, Church said. "We're off to a slow start," he said. Church said this year there are a lot fewer registered voters in the county than there were in 2008, which may be why there are shorter lines. "We're electing the leader of the free world for the next four years," Church said.
"Everyone is encouraged to come and cast their ballot." Both Macdonald and Church are speculating that voter turnout in their respective counties will spike at least 5 percent.
In 2008, Macdonald said 78 percent of voters in Alameda County cast their ballots. This year, he speculates about 70 percent of residents will vote. Church said 79 percent of San Mateo County voters cast their ballots.
This year, he expects 73 percent will vote. Macdonald said he believes the drop-off will be statewide.
"There are a lot of very important things on the ballot," he said. "For whatever reason, the voters aren't coming to vote."


text:
Since Nate Dogg passed away in March 2011 from complications of multiple strokes there has been a fight over his estate between his children and ex-wife, LaToya Calvin. That was settled in November 2012 when LaToya withdrew her petition for control of the estate.
Now a new legal battle looms. TMZ reports that a woman named Shereda Williams filed a creditor's claim against Nate's estate, claiming she's owed $339,924 in unpaid child support.
Shareda claims the late singer was supposed to pay her $4,358 a month for their child born in 2006, but according to her he never made a single payment.
Nate was very ill during the last several years of his life. When he died he didn't leave behind much money, nor did he have a will. His family asked for money to help cover the cost of his funeral.
It will be next to impossible for Shareda to get such a large sum of money from his estate.
Follow Me
Views: 5139


text:
Mark Bohanan—owner and executive chef of Bohanan's Prime Steaks & Seafood, and creator of San Antonio Cocktail Conference—presented a check for $100,000 to HeartGift San Antonio and ChildSafe on Wednesday at the Sheraton Gunther downtown.
Both of these organizations are focused on saving the lives of children. The San Antonio Cocktail Conference 2014, a four-day event was held here from Jan. 16-19 and offered education and celebration of craft cocktails and spirits.
"The third annual San Antonio Cocktail Conference proved to be even more successful than we could have anticipated," said Bohanan.
"It's incredible to see the generous support of our community partners and friends. The contributions of everyone, including our presenters and attendees, are the true backbone of this event and we simply could not have come this far without their continued support. This donation is especially meaningful as it allows two organizations to provide their services to children in need, a cause that is so near and dear to my heart. It is with great joy that we present this check today."
Bohanan was joined by Charlie Deacon, chairman of the board of HeartGift San Antonio; and Kim Abernethy, president and CEO of ChildSafe.


text:
Many people may assume that deafness must exclude an individual from enjoying or participating in auditory activities such as movies, concerts, musical plays, operas, or simply playing a musical instrument. Deafness by definition is the inability to use hearing to communicate through speech and language. Partial hearing impairment interferes with auditory communication, but doesn't completely prevent it. But music transcends language. Music is a multidimensional art form and hearing is only part of the picture. Experiencing music can also involve rhythm, sight, vibrations, and emotion, all of which are sensations that can be communicated with or without auditory ability.
Being deaf does not preclude one from singing, playing music, or even composing it. Beethoven began experiencing hearing loss by his late 20s and had long been considered functionally deaf when he wrote and performed his famous Ninth Symphony. Deaf since age 12, Scottish percussionist Dame Evelyn Elizabeth Glennie has learned to distinguish pitches by the different feel of their vibrations. Finnish rapper Signmark was born deaf, but has been able to use the bass and heavy beats typical of rap music to sense the rhythm that he cannot hear. Each of the following people achieved successful music careers in spite of being partially or completely hearing impaired.
Artists Who Combine Visionary Experiences and Music
Music videos and electronic music visualizers certainly provide a graphic accompaniment to songs. But many artists take it a step further, incorporating elements of sight, touch, and even taste into their acts. Cirque de Soleil performances are set to music, but it is the graceful movement of the dancers and the texture of their elaborate and vibrant costumes that bring the music to life. Blue Man Group is known for their reliance on theatrics and props, from paint drums that splash colored pigment with the varying intensity of drum beats to the occasional use of crunchy cereal as an instrument. Similarly, the percussionist company Stomp uses everyday items like garbage can lids and brooms to create beats that can be seen and felt. With the following artists, one can sense the music whether or not they can hear it.
Technological Advances to Provide Better Access to Music
Cochlear implants are two-piece electronic devices that can help people with profound hearing loss perceive sound. An outer piece picks up and digitizes sound signals, then transmits the signals to an inner ear implant that stimulates the auditory nerve. But while cochlear implants allow many deaf people to hear speech, they do not usually allow for differentiation of pitch changes and patterns. Therefore the majority of cochlear implant recipients are still unable to enjoy music audibly. Scientists are currently exploring how a concept known as synesthesia could allow perception of music. A small percentage of the population experiences synesthesia (or alternately, synaesthesia), a condition in which two of the five senses are involuntarily linked. In visual motion synesthesia, certain motions can trigger the sensation of sound. This has led to the development of experimental technologies, such as a vibrating collar worn around the neck and shoulders. Each vibration is intended to correspond with a different frequency, from bass to treble. Another idea being explored is a vibrating chair. When combined with music and a visual display, many participants in an academic study were able to experience a more immersive full-body sensation when listening to music, similar to what people of all hearing abilities experience at a live performance.
Thus, through the use of technological innovation, visual performances, and personal effort, people who are deaf are not only able to enjoy music, but to create it, feel it, and even see it. Deafness is not about sensory deprivation but the ability to look at music from outside the box, even if the box is soundproofed.


text:
This product is no longer available.
You can try these similar gifts instead.
Personalized Cutting Board with Elk
If their friends like the cutting board with the "deer" on it, kindly educated them that this is an elk and then offer to cook them up some tasty elk stakes with green peppercorns prepared using this maple cutting board.


text:
Golf Courses
Course Spotlight
Current Projects
A select listing of golf course design projects undertaken by this golf course architecture firm that are representative of the quality and prestige of projects on which our efforts are focused. Courses consist of eighteen holes and practice facilities unless otherwise noted.
Developed to be a private, all-men's golf club featuring a challenging course that places high demand on shot making. Numerous professional golfers and competitive amateur golfers are members of this nationally ranked golf course. Women members are now being accepted. Profiled by LINKS Magazine as a Modern Classic Course in 1996, Wolf Run ranked # 4 in Indiana in Golf Digest America's Top State Golf Courses of America 1995-96 and # 5 on that list for 1997-98. Wolf Run has been on GolfWeek's America's 100 Best Modern Courses since 1997, most recently occupying the #16 position (2002). Wolf Run was the site of the 1991 Indiana PGA Sectional Championship; USGA qualifiers in '91, '92, '93, '94; and has been selected for the 2004 Qualifier. Read more...
An invitation-only national golf club located on an ecologically challenging site. Close to Tampa's downtown area, the course exists in a setting of great variety, offering natural lakes, mature woodlands, and open, rolling, former grove land. This walking-only golf course was built for the principals of The Outback Steakhouse restaurants. Ranked # 7 in Golf Digest's 1998 Best New Private Courses, Old Memorial was profiled as a Modern Classic Course by LINKS Magazine in 1999. In its first full year of eligibility, GOLF Magazine ranked Old Memorial as # 68 in the Top 100 Courses in the United States 1999, and it debuted at # 55 among GolfWeek's America's 100 Best Modern Courses list in 2000 and climbed to # 35 on the 2001 list. The course hosted the U.S. Open Sectional Qualifiers for 2001 and 2002. Old Memorial is home to the Annual Gary Koch Invitational.
Our firm orchestrated an award winning redesign of the existing private course in one of the nation's premier country club communities. This complete renovation added significant shot value, strategy, and other design elements to the course. Isleworth Country Club is the backyard and training ground of many of the top players of the world. It now offers a fine game and fantastic challenge for the membership. The re-design took advantage of the rolling terrain and generous greens to provide the ultimate in championship golf. Isleworth Golf & Country Club is home to the Tavistock Cup and the Isleworth Collegiate Invitational. The club hosted the Hero World Challenge in 2014.
This private golf club is a collaboration with Nick Faldo Design and Steve Smyers Golf Course Architects. After opening in October 1993, this creative and challenging course hosted its first televised, professional golf tournament, the Ladies European Tour Ford Ladies Open, in 1995. Shortly thereafter, Golf World (UK) rated Chart Hills Best New Course in the British Isles. Every year the European PGA Tour Qualifier is held here. Chart Hills was ranked by FOLLOWING THE FAIRWAYS (1996) as # 1 on the list of 50 Best Inland Courses in Great Britain & Ireland. Read more...
A dynamic resort course situated right off Orlando's International Drive, next to Marriott's Grande Vista Resort. Named Golfweek's Top 100 "America's Best Resort Courses", this 18-hole course posseses a harmonious interaction between golf and the surrounding environment. A unique throwback to classic golf architecture of the early 1900s, Grande Pines opened in January 2004. GOLF INC. Magazine named Grande Pines as first runner up in their annual Renovation of the Year in February of 2004.
An exclusive private membership facility, designed to be the centerpiece of an upscale residential community. LochenHeath is programmed to provide a championship caliber golf experience. Opened in the summer of 2001, the course features expansive views of East Grand Traverse Bay. LochenHeath was ranked # 7 in Michigan by GolfWeek's America's Best (2002). It is the venue for the U.S. Amateur Qualifier, Mid Amateur Qualifier, and the local U.S. Open Qualifier.
A golf-only, 36-hole premium daily-fee facility located on a former farmland in central New Jersey, less than an hour drive from New York City. These 36-hole daily-fee golf courses are uniquely designed, each showcasing their own style. While each course features the strategic integrity inherent to a Steve Smyers design, the West Course contains the dramatic and dangerous bunker stylings popularized by Dr. Alister Mackenzie, and the East Course presents a more refined, yet no less demanding, style employed by Donald Ross. Royce Brook opened for play in May 1998. The metropolitan area's top amateur and professional events are held here, including the 2003 Eastern Club Pro Championship. In 2002, the West Course was rated # 4 and the East Course # 9 in New Jersey by GolfWeek's America's Best Courses.
A premium daily fee championship-standard course built as an additional amenity to a resort facility adjacent to the Casino district of Atlantic City. Opened in Spring of 2000, the course hosted the 2003 USGA Public Links Championship event. In 2002, Blue Heron Pines East was ranked # 7 in New Jersey on Golfweek's America's Best List.
A championship-standard course created as the core of an extraordinary development whose atmosphere and character are rooted in the traditions of golf. Inspired by the low rolling, windswept courses of Europe, this 18-hole semi-private course was designed in collaboration with Nick Price. Heartland Crossing Golf Links hosted the 1999 USGA Mid Amateur Qualifier and the 2004 Indiana Open.
This premium daily-fee golf club is a unique course in central Florida designed with a great emphasis on strategic and creative play. The essence of exposed, windswept dunes land, with a flavor of classic links courses, is a main feature of this nationally ranked course. For all shots, multiple strategic options for play are open to golfers of any ability level. Ranked in GolfWeek's America's 100 Best Modern Courses every year since 1997, Southern Dunes was included in LINKS Magazines 1998 list of Top 10 Golf Courses designed in the last ten years. GolfWeek's America's Best List rated it the # 4 course in the state of Florida in 2002. The venue for top Florida amateur events, Southern Dunes has hosted several USGA Amateur Public Links Qualifiers. Read more...
A championship resort golf course designed for guest play while satisfying the demands of playability for all levels of golfer. This course also serves as a venue for televised professional golf tournaments. Nestled in the heart of Hunter Valley, Cypress Lakes has developed into a premier golf destinations in Australia. Read more...
This championship-standard, semi-private course is surrounded by a golf club community. The course offers a challenging golf experience with extraordinary balance of strategic options and offerings of shot value. Variety is a very important element in premium golf experiences and at Kokopelli, it is present in the constantly changing terrain, length, and direction of holes. GolfWeek ranked it #10 in Illinois among Americas Best in 2002. This course was slotted as the site for the 2004 Illinois State Ladies Championship.
This private golf club is located in the Washington, D.C. area and is designed by Steve Smyers in association with Nick Price. This championship-standard course is located within a parkland setting of dramatic terrain and natural features. Opened to great fanfare in June 1998, Four Streams is developing a grand reputation among the storied courses in the Washington / Baltimore corridor. It was the site of the 1999 PGA Toyota Challenge and Mid Atlantic Section and the 2003 Mason Dixon Challenge Match and the USGA Amateur Qualifier.
A private golf course built on the estate of Melvin and Bren Simon. This golf facility is one of unique concept. The course offers three distinct nines, making possible three different course configurations. Each one is a par-36, championship-standard course. A new 18-hole short course was added adjacent to the original layout. This provided an entertaining test of golf, featuring several holes in and around a beautiful lake.
A private course with Royal designation, the course was originally built in the 1880s and was remodeled in the 1950s by Fred Hawtree, a noted British designer. Our firm was charged with the responsibility of bringing the course to modern standards yet not losing its traditional ambiance. The redesign of this top-ranked African course was accomplished with the collaboration of Nick Price. Royal Harare is a regular stop for the South African tour. It hosted the 1991 Zimbabwe Open Championship, won by Nick Price.
Tamahka Trails is a resort course for the Tunica-Biloxi Indian Tribe of Louisiana. This championship quality golf course was designed as an amenity to complement the existing hotel and casino complex adjacent to the beautifully wooded site. Opened in 2000, Tamahka is rated the # 5 course in Louisiana among Golfweek's America's Best in 2002. Tamahka Trails is a frequent host of the Louisiana State Golf Association Championships, the U.S. Open Local Qualifier and U.S. Amateur Qualifier in 2001.
The Golf Club at Bridgewater is an exciting resort-style golf course that opened in the spring of 2007 and is noted as "Florida's New Premier Links Course." The course, spanning over 180-acres, has five sets of tees and the practice facility includes grass tees, target greens, practice bunkers and a dedicated chipping area and a large putting green. Steve Smyers describes his course design at Bridgewater: "We've taken distressed wetlands and made them into 40 acres of pristine wetlands. The course will actually turn into a nature conservancy as well. This is a perfect example of golf and nature coexisting.
The Club de Bonmont course at Plantation Bay has been ranked as one of the "Top 50 Florida Golf Courses" and among the "50 Most distinctive Courses in the Southeast U.S". The layout has sweeping elevation changes and beautiful vistas creating a wealth of lasting images. From undulating greens, strategic bunkering, trees, and water--the course requires players to use every club in the bag.
Restored to its original style and strategy in 2008. According to Crains Chicago Business Golf Writer H. Lee Murphy, the newly restored South Course is a monstrously tough challenge that remains true to its origins, ranks as one of the finest course makeovers around Chicago in recent years. Olympia Fields (South Course) was the site of the 2010 Illinois Section PGA Championship and 2011 US Girls' Junior Championship. The South Course will be the site of the 2012 Junior Ryder Cup, 2013 Western Amateur, and the 2015 U.S. Amateur Championship. The South Course is ranked Golfweek's "Top 200" (2012).
In 2007, the course was redesigned to build upon Joe Lee's original concept and further accentuate the raw beauty of the club's natural surroundings. The course features meticulously manicured fairways and greens, an abundance of large lakes and strategically placed bunkers that provide a delightful challenge for players of different skill levels.
Originally designed in 1922 by William Langford, Butterfield Country Club is nestled in Oak Brook, IL. William Langford was known for bold contours, shapes and patterns-signature features reminiscent of another legendary designer, Seth Raynor. Steve Smyers has become well versed over the years restoring courses to their original charm and character. The Smyers remodel not only took the layout back to its original style, but the new plan highlights key features such as ridges, hillsides, valleys, and streams as key features, while keeping the modern game in mind. The project lengthened the courses, strengthen the courses, and improved the aesthetics, shot making, and playability of the courses. The renovation created a facility which garners the highest esteem in the golf community and included an 18-hole routing (composite course) of significant strength and length. Butterfield Country Club is ranked in Golfweek's Top 200 (2012).
In 2010, work began to renovate the existing "Aerie" Course. The course needed a renovation that would relocate greens to increase visibility and variety, redefine landing areas for more shot options and other design refinements. The solution was to shape holes and orient tees, landing areas and green complexes to the natural movement offered by the lakes, woodland edges and dome-shaped wooded wetland areas. In addition to the complete renovation a new name was given to the course...The Eagle.
As a result of the renovation, this classically designed course hosted the 2012 CME Group LPGA Titleholders Tournament. Smyers and his design associate, Patrick Andrews consider The Eagle Course a true work of art that makes the most of the natural setting. Like their historical mentors, they adapted the holes to fit the land – and lengthened the historical layouts to accommodate modern equipment.
In 2013, the American Society of Golf Course Architects announced The Eagle Course as one of six courses to receive the distinguished "Design Excellence" recognition. All of the nominations were reviewed by a panel of golf industry leaders, including representatives of the Club Managers Association of America, Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, Golf Course Builders Association of America, National Golf Course Owners Association and "Golf Digest" architecture writer Ron Whitten. Read more...
The course also received "Best New US Private Course of the Year" by Golf Magazine.
Evian-les-Bains, France
Evian Golf Club was re-designed in collaboration with European Golf Design and is the Home of the LPGA's 5th Major, The Evian Championship.
Fort Myers, Florida
Fort Myers Country club, a Donald Ross design that opened in 1917, with Bahia grass fairways and common Bermuda greens, was modernized and reopened in October 2014. Steve Smyers and his chief design associate, Patrick Andrews, were charged with updating the classic Ross course for the City of Fort Myers, which operates the club as a municipal, daily-fee facility.
"We approached this project as if Ross came back and designed a course on the same site", says Smyers. "If Ross were alive today-given the modern playing equipment, turf grasses, maintenance practices and all other changes that have evolved in golf over the last hundred years-I am confident he would not design a golf course on this property exactly as he designed in the early 1900s".
Read more about this project...
View Course Rendering
View Rendering Hole #18