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I love this video clip from The Empire Strikes Back. It's rightly famous for the classic line: Do…or Do Not…There is no Try. But awesome as that is, my favourite line from the clip is actually:
You must unlearn what you have learned.
Whilst we are in the Prison Camp we pick up ideas from The Commandant, The Guards and the other Inmates all the time. The trouble is that much of it is rubbish: a mixture of half truths, propaganda and Chinese whispers. Some of it is designed to persuade us to part with our hard earned money, some of it is just random noise.
The problem comes when we act on assumptions and facts that aren't true. Garbage in, garbage out.
As someone brainy once said: It ain't what you don't know that gets you into trouble. It's what you know for sure that just ain't so.
So lets take a closer look at some of those things we think that we know that just ain't so.
1. You don't always get what you pay for
Marketers, advertisers and economists have lead us to believe that we get what we pay for. But this is a half truth.
The full truth is that price is what you pay, value is what you get. But when we don't know the value of something, we often use price as a guide. So marketers use pricing and spec variations to create a consumer hierarchy (bronze, silver, gold etc) that we will compliantly slot ourselves into, based on our self image and desire to signal status.
Fuck that game. Take cars as an example. I realised that when I chose between a Skoda or an Audi I was getting essentially the same car. This introduces the radical notion that we can choose how much we pay for most things.
Remember that when investing in funds, you get what you don't pay for. Fees saved stay in your compounding machine, where your money continues to grows like the proverbial snowball rolling downhill.
2. Spending does not equal happiness
I wrote about this here recently. We evolved over millions of years in an environment where there was no money, no luxury goods shops and no drive through McDonalds.
So its kind of obvious that the things that bring happiness are the things that would have helped us to survive and thrive in our natural environment. Like real food, strenuous exercise, walking, community, being outside in the sunlight etc. Note that these things do not cost much money.
3. Leisure time needn't cost money
I used to think that my spending would go up if I was to retire early because I would need to be entertained. This turned out to be another idea I needed to unlearn.
Yes, its true you have a lot more time after you have quit The Prison Camp….but you can use that time to reduce your spending and find ways to earn other streams of income that are fun and meaningful.
Most people's spending contains a large line for miscellaneous entertainment: restaurants, theatre, cinema, tourist attractions and theme parks. But these are all voluntary…are they are worth spending extra years in the Prison Camp for?
4. We are not all doomed
The idea that we are all doomed is beamed at us everyday via TV news and other forms of media. This breeds fear initially and, over time, a kind of depressed resignation that its not possible to improve our situation.
So, to make ourselves feel better, we might just as well spend like there is no tomorrow…like it's Berlin in 1945 and the Russians are fighting their way in via the suburbs…right?
Wrong. If we can accept that maybe, just maybe, we are not all doomed, that allows us to think a bit longer term. We can then try not to fuck up the planet by covering all the fields and forests with shopping malls and suburbs full of SUVs.
5. Shares might be safer than you think (and property might be more dangerous)
Here in Britain we've been led by TV clowns to believe that you can't go wrong with property. And yet we're always told that equities are risky and we should consult a financial adviser before investing.
So we borrow as much as the bank will lend us and then vote for politicians that hold interest rates down and print money. This has the effect of reducing mortgage interest costs and artificially inflating house prices. What happens if that stops one day?
The Escape Artist is all for owning your own house. But if you still have a mortgage, you don't yet own your house, you are renting it from the bank. And remember they've got something of yours in The Banker's Jar.
Just because you can see a house and can kick it, that doesn't make it any more real than owning shares in businesses that own productive assets like factories, warehouses, brands, stock, accounts receivable, distribution networks and employees.
Nor any safer over the long term. If you own a house, its not immune from price falls due to interest rate rises, closure of a local employer, flooding or subsidance. But if you own shares in a Vanguard global tracker, you are at least diversified from local risks.
6. Sometimes less is more
I hope that we can all agree that less is more when it comes to STDs, concentration camps, alimony payments to exs and heart attacks.
If we agree that, then perhaps we can also accept that less might also be more when it comes to SUVs, holiday homes, ab-rollers, home shopping catalogues, unused home workout DVDs, TV channels and shopping malls?
I also hope we can agree that sometimes more is more. More is more with love, freedom, happiness, natural wilderness and money stored in The Cloud.
7. Sometimes its better not to stay "up to date"
If you want to get rich whilst improving your mental health, I suggest you stop watching TV news, adverts and infomercials.
How will you cope if you don't know what some politician said? Or what is fashionable in Milan this spring? Or who won X Factor? Or what the latest igadget is. Hint: Probably pretty well. If something genuinely interesting happens, someone will bring it to your attention via good old fashioned word of mouth.
And, unless you are a diplomat, general or world leader you probably don't need to watch distressing footage of natural disasters, terrorism or foreign wars.
If, having cut out the news, you are missing your regular dose of apocalypse, gore and violence, can I recommend you try The Walking Dead? Its way more realistic than the news.
8. Convenience is not always good
If you think that convenience is always a good thing then The Escape Artist has a thought experiment for you.
Imagine an iphone app for a service that delivers sugared doughnuts to you 24/7, wherever you are. Lets call it Diabetes DirectTM .
Diabetes DirectTM works as follows. You subscribe to the service for a monthly subscription debited automatically from your bank account. When you have a blood sugar crash or your boss shouts at you and you are feeling unloved, you hit the button on your iphone.
Diabetes DirectTM then send an attractive nurse (you get to choose which sex) in a white coat to hand deliver your doughnut to your house or your work. Diabetes DirectTM offers a key holding service, so they can let themselves in. You don't have to get out of bed or out of your chair.
With the bronze service, they leave the donut by your bedside or desk. If you're lucky, they won't steal anything on the way out.
With the silver service, they mush up the donut in a little bowl with some warm milk and spoon feed it to you whilst gently humming your favourite nursery rhyme.
With the gold service, they will come to your bedside, mush up the donut, dissolve it in a fizzy drink and inject donut solution straight into your intravenous drip before emptying the contents of your catheter bag onto your pot plants and turning the TV channel over for you.
9. Eating fat doesn't make you fat
Sugar makes you fat. Remember that all through history, starvation was always a threat and sugar was very rare. Sugar simply did not exist in the forms and quantities we are now exposed to.
You can think of processed carbohydrates as just concentrated forms of stored sugar. If you eat a bowl of pasta, your body turns that into a bowl of sugar in a couple of hours.
As sugar spike hits, hormones carry the message to to the rest of your body: BINGO! We've hit the sugar jackpot! This probably won't last so lets get busy adding fat and storing the surplus energy RIGHT NOW!
Eating fat does not make you fat. If you want an argument about that, go find a naturally ripped native Eskimo warrior that lives off seal blubber, poke him in the six pack, call him Mr Fatty and see what happens.
Let me know how you get on with that.
10. Frugality is not mean (and waste is not generosity)
Why is frugality often mistaken for being mean?
Imagine you are a caveman hunter. Most days you go out hunting with your buddies and you often bring home the bacon (literally) for your tribe.
You have more food than you need for yourself. But you have no way of storing the surplus meat….no freezers, no preservatives, no warehouses, no money, no ability to export the meat around the world.
The only way you can store the value is via social capital. You hand out the surplus meat to the other members of the tribe. This makes you popular with the other males and doesn't do you any harm with the caveladies either, if you know what I mean.
If you are generous with the other members of your tribe, then on the days when you have struck out hunting and they have surplus meat, they are much more likely to feed you. Everyone wins from this and it explains why we are hard wired for reciprocity.
It may also help explain why we're not very good at encouraging each other to save. The invention of money allowed us to store and trade surplus resources effectively. Saving is just the storage of surplus resources. Is it possible that in the modern world we mistakenly confuse frugality and saving for meanness because it somehow reminds us of the tribe member that holds on to their surplus meat for themself?
You can follow The Escape Artist via Twitter here


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ANAHEIM — One of Disneyland's most popular and visible attractions — the Matterhorn Bobsled ride — is down for six months for one of the longest and most extensive overhauls since it opened in 1959.
The Los Angeles Times (http://lat.ms/AbO5UW ) says that when the ride reopens it will feature shiny new bobsleds and a fresh coat of paint on the mountain. A permit filed with the city of Anaheim describes the work as a $1 million project.
Disney officials say they are not planning any significant changes to the ride itself. Although the company has tied in its movies with theme park rides, officials say there are no plans to connect the Matterhorn changes with an adventure movie that Walt Disney Studios is developing that takes place largely in the Swiss Alps.
Information from: Los Angeles Times

subset: commoncrawl


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PVTs use diagnostics, go digital, deliver multiple readings
Trends in Process Variable Transmitters Diagnostic capabilities Digital protocols Faster communication ONLINE See this product focus at www.controleng.com for additional information. Process variable transmitters (PVTs) perform a type of dance that goes on between various processes and the transmitter moving information to the end-user.
Trends in Process Variable Transmitters
Diagnostic capabilities
Digital protocols
Faster communication
See this product focus at www.controleng.com for additional information.
Process variable transmitters (PVTs) perform a type of dance that goes on between various processes and the transmitter moving information to the end-user. Users have seen this dance for over four decades. Partners may have changed, but the basic technique of one protocol has remained consistent.
Ola Wesstrom, pressure product manager for Endress+Hauser (Greenwood, Ind.), says, 'After 30 years, 4-20 mA still has a strong hold. Unless something revolutionary happens, I don't see indication of it going away at least for another 10 years.'
And it plays well with others, Mr. Wesstrom adds; 'Everything recognizes 4-20 mA.'
Jonathan Rowe, pressure product manager, The Foxboro Company (Foxboro, Mass.), says, 'When 'smart' and 'intelligent' transmitters were developed, they took advantage of the ability to put pulses on the 4-20 mA signal, either while the 4-20 mA signal was maintained or while it was held at a fixed value.'
Mr. Rowe explains, 'These pulses allowed for the digital transmission of data to and from the transmitter for both reading measurements and status as well as for configuration and calibration.'
Start of the dance
'4-20 mA has been an industry standard for analog communication of process variable information for approximately 30 years. About 40 years ago when electronic signal transmission was in its infancy, 3-15 mA was proposed by some in the industry because of its familiarity as a standard range used for pneumatic signals,' says Mr. Rowe.
'A competing signal range of 10-50 mA was used for some time, but as electronic components advanced, the attractiveness of operating at lower voltages won out and 4-20 mA was adopted universally,' adds Mr. Rowe.
Research was undertaken to learn more about present perceptions and attitudes of Control Engineering readers involved in specifying, recommending, and/or buying process variable transmitters. Out of 1,500 readers polled, 329 completed the survey for a 22% response rate. Here are some highlights from the survey:
Over 90% of respondents use temperature and pressure transmitters, while over 80% use level and flow transmitters.
37% of respondents say they prefer to specify/buy integrated units. Fifty-two percent have no preference between integrated units and individual components because it often depends on the application. And, 11% say they prefer individual (separate) components.
64% of respondents say raw materials processing industries best describes the industry segment for their company's primary end product or service; 10% say their company's end product or service is manufacturing of machinery and equipment; while 8% responded other fabricated metal and miscellaneous manufacturers were the end product or service.
94% of respondents now use 4-20 mA as their communication protocol for transmitters; 35% use HART; Ethernet comes in third with 20% use among respondents. (See graph.)
Although 4-20 mA appears to be 'the belle of the ball,' Louis DiNapoli, transmitters product manager, Siemens Moore (Spring House, Pa.), says, 'Digital field buses such as Profibus, FOUNDATION fieldbus, and others allow digital communications over a pair of wires. This digital communication allows much more information to be sent, rather than just a single process variable.'
Mr. DiNapoli adds, 'While these represent less than 10% of the transmitters installed today, it is a new concept in transmitter technology that will gain in popularity.'
Endress+Hauser's Mr. Wesstrom agrees other protocols may come to the forefront, but not in the near future. 'Profibus and FOUNDATION fieldbus are fully digital protocols battling it out. However, interest has cooled,' in his opinion, 'because it has taken too long to find a standard.'
Mr. Wesstrom says, 'To go fully digital is expensive,' although some would contend it's less costly, factoring in installation and life-cycle costs. 'Companies may go with digital for brand-new installations,' he adds, 'but a lot of revamping is going on instead of building new systems.'
Mark Menezes, manager of pressure and PlantWeb, Fisher-Rosemount (Chanhassen, Minn.), says, 'The key new functions in PVTs are advanced process diagnostics, that is, the ability to diagnose the entire system from the transmitter, such as plugged impulse lines, eroded orifice plates, etc. Increasingly, we are finding that users ask us to ship preassembled, leak-tested, and integrated systems instead of 'loose' transmitters. This reduces their installed cost and risk of mis-assembly.'
Multiple dance partners
When asked what percentage of transmitters are multivariable (MVT), on average, 22% of respondents' total transmitters are in this category. Mr. Wesstrom states that while MVTs are desired by end-users, the trend has not taken off as anticipated.
The future of MVTs seems bright, and, some say, the jury is still out on whether or not multivariable processes will dominate future industrial control.
Siemens' Mr. DiNapoli foresees other uses for process variable transmitters. He says, 'Smart microprocessor-based electronics allow the transmitter to become a source of diagnostic information for various conditions that occur in the process. This allows the user to better analyze process problems when they occur.'
Interconnectivity via networks, websites, mobile phones, and pagers will make information delivered from transmitters even more useful, throughout the enterprise and supply chain.
Process Variable Transmitter Products
For more information on process variable transmitters, circle the following numbers, or visit www.controleng.com/freeinfo. For a broader listing of PVT manufacturers, go to Control Engineering Buyer's Guide at www.controleng.com/buyersguide.
Transmitter offers higher static pressure
Greenwood, Ind .-Deltabar S differential pressure transmitter now offers higher static pressure tolerance, along with pushbutton configuration without the pressure source. The transmitter comes with a standard Hastelloy C276 diaphragm and can be equipped with a totalizer for flow. Ideal for applications in chemical, water/wastewater, and power industries, the device provides reliable measurement of differential pressure, level, pressure, and flow.
Circle 374
MVD technology with modular architecture
Boulder, Colo .-Micro Motion Series 1000 and 2000 transmitters combine multivariable digital (MVD) technology with a modular architecture. Front-end digital processing is said to reduce signal noise and give faster response time, compared to analog devices. MVD technology allows the user to measure multiple variables; choose integral or remote mounting with a standard four-wire signal cable; choose transmitter capabilities based on the application; and upgrade transmitter functionality as needed. Series 1000 transmitters are best for applications that require single variable measurement. Series 2000 transmitters measure multiple variables simultaneously, and have more output and digital communication options.
Micro MotionCircle
Convert, isolate signal with single module
Harrisburg, Pa .-MCR-T/UI module can accept any RTD/thermocouple signal and convert, isolate, filter and amplify all in one Class I, Div. 2, approved module. RTDs in platinum, copper or nickel can be converted to a standard industrial analog signal. Module temperature range is -200 to 800 °C for RTDs, and -200 to 2,300 °C for thermocouples. Standard features include a programmable high/low transistor alarm output at 24 V dc and 100 mA switching capability.
Phoenix Contact Inc
Circle 376
Intrinsically safe, explosion proof
City of Industry, Calif .-FCX electronic transmitters are said to be intrinsically safe and explosion proof. From sealed sensing systems to high-powered RTUs, the FCX measures, displays, alarms, and provides level, pressure and/or flow data. Typical industrial and commercial installations include oil and gas, food and beverage, chemical, power, water, and wastewater. FCX can be purchased as traditional analog 4-20 mA with
Barton Instrument Systems
Circle 377
Transmitter and receiver all in one
Logan, Ut .-MF Series microwave flow controls feature fast response time, easy adjustment by virtue of an LED bargraph display, and easy installation. MF Series sensor contains the microwave transmitter and receiver. The microwave signal is transmitted by the converter and reflected by a solid particle. MF Microwave Doppler Flow is designed for flow or plugged detection of solids and powders in a nonmetallic pipe, tube or chute. Typical applications include pneumatic or gravity conveyance of food products, pharmaceuticals, building materials, Styrofoam beads, or sawdust.
Scientific Technologies Inc.
Circle 378
Measure vibration on plant machinery
San Diego, Calif .-HI 5701VT vibration transmitter is a two-wire, loop-powered transmitter used to measure vibration on plant machinery. It connects directly to a DCS, PLC, or other monitoring instrument, providing a low-cost method for monitoring running condition of pumps, fans, motors, or other machinery. HI 5701VT attaches to a bearing housing, or other critical measurement point on a machine.
Hardy Instruments
Circle 379
High accuracy in various ranges
Michigan City, Ind .-Series 634S pressure transmitter uses an isolated piezoresistive sensor to provide pressure readings of air and non-corrosive gases or liquids with
Dwyer Instruments Inc.
Circle 380
Runs on batteries and solar power
Lenexa, Kan .-CSA certified for use in Class 1, Div. 1 explosion-proof and intrinsically safe applications, Series 536HS low-power pressure transmitters meet the needs of field automation personnel in the oil and gas industry, onshore and offshore. The low 536HS current consumption is said to be ideal for use in systems that rely on batteries and solar power. The accuracy (m0.25% of calibrated span) of its thin-film sensor combined with 5:1 turndown capability allows for measurement as low as 400 psi. Transmitters provide a 1-5 V dc output with current consumption less than 1.5 mA.
SOR Inc.
Circle 382
Panel mounting in various enclosures
Lakeland, Fla .-TW300 Series compact, two-wire transmitters are designed for mounting inside a thermocouple head or for field or panel mounting in various industrial enclosures. TW Series transmitters are resistant to harsh atmospheres and vibration found in industrial applications. Transmitters are set to customer specifications at the factory, but are field adjustable over
Wilkerson Instrument Inc.
Circle 383
Submersible transmitter
Norristown, Pa .-Model 276C, a leak-proof, two-wire submersible pressure transducer, is ideal for measuring levels of corrosive chemicals, as well as water and wastewater. It is available in eight depth ranges from 5 to 65 ft of water, full scale. It has temperature compensation to ensure high accuracy over wide temperature ranges found in process plants, water, and wastewater treatment. And, it can operate with an unregulated power source (12-38 V dc).
Transicoil, a Div. of Horizon Aerospace
Circle 384
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text:
"We have loved Dr. Rossiter for many years and I am so happy to see that he is getting to be the grand marshal in the St. Patrick's Day parade. He practiced the old fashioned way. Top of the mornin' to you, Dr. Rossiter."
"Savannah may not be a NASCAR town, but it sure has a huge number of NASCAR fans! Just do a survey on who watches the races and you will see."
"The auction held at the American Legion to benefit the spaying and neutering of cats on Tybee was wonderful. God bless the people who put the auction together and those who attended. Please support these projects."
"I wonder why can't Savannah theaters serve hot popcorn without so much salt? What can be done for those of us on salt-free diets?"
"The young Irish dancers are super; but, the hairpieces draw attention away from their performances."
"I cannot believe that NASCAR had people singing the national anthem two weeks in a row that knew how to sing it. What a miracle."
"It is a sad moment in time when one embarks on a personal Sunday afternoon tradition of visiting the Telfair Museum of Art in downtown Savannah only to be foiled by Chatham County's pulling the rug out from under the grant that allows free entrance to all such county residents to this illustrious, genteel museum. I don't know how long the free entrance grant has been in place, but certainly longer than my twenty year residence in this beautiful city."
"Well, Brett Farve has retired. A special thanks to Jerry Glanville and the Falcons front office for not subjecting us Falcon Fans to 17 years of a Hall of Fame quarterback ... keep up the good work."
"Savannah may or may not be a NASCAR town. However, all the surrounding cities and counties that the Savannah television stations reach are NASCAR towns."
"I am incensed. Why did someone name Diversions 'Do'? In our office we used to say, 'Did you do Diversions today to see what's going on this weekend?' Now we have to ask, 'Did you do Do today?'"
"Thanks for the new Diversions but you have a lot to eliminate in the comics section. Let's vote on eliminating the ones that are not amusing."
"Georgia's Black History Journey hosted by Kim Gusby was really interesting and I enjoyed it."
Pull Vox Populi into this box


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Spring MEGA SALE
Snow Helmets
If you're keen to get out on the slopes then Lazer have some of the highest quality, most innovative and best performing snow helmets in the world. With a full range for all, including men's, women's, kids, back country and freestyle! Ski helmets. The Lazer snow collection also makes the perfect snowboarding helmets.


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The record pressing plant will press 5 -10 copies (test pressings) and send them to you. I strongly recommend that you send a couple of these test pressings to your cutting studio to review. Your cutting engineer is the only person who knows how your record should sound. I mean, you know how your music should sound, but the cutting engineer knows how the record should sound. And even more importantly, what the test pressings should sound like.
Here's the rest of the story.: Test pressings are not perfect. Even when everything else in the process is done perfectly, sometimes test pressings will exhibit flaws. You have to be able to tell the difference between serious defects in the process, and ordinary flaws that are associated with the test pressings.
Almost every pressing plant utilizes a manual type press to make test pressings. They are not often made in ideal conditions, and always seem to be more noisy than the final records are. There are several reasons for this: It's a different press, the temperature might not be optimum, and the quality of the vinyl may not be the same as they will use for your final run.
So, with all these potential flaws, why are we paying for test pressings? You must listen to your metal work before pressing up thousands of pressings. If there is a serious flaw, it's much better to catch it before the big press run and all of the packaging costs. The main problem is, it takes so many steps to get from master to lacquer to father to mother and stamper and shipped back to you.
So, when you get your test pressings what are you supposed to listen for?
1. Any major flaw that would ruin the record. Skips, locked groves (repeats)
2. Other audible flaws that would detract from the listening experience. Once around or swishing sounds. Harshness, excessive high frequency distortion called Sibilants.
3. Surface flaws that may be annoying, and may be part of making records. Clicks and pops: Small ones are normal, but, really loud ones that are plainly audible need to be investigated.
4. Oh yeah, and don't forget to check the running order, gaps and any inscriptions in the "dead wax."
Here is the big issue: All test pressings have noises. Making a super short run on a manual press, it's just going to be noisy. The good news is, your final records should be quieter than your test pressings. But there is a catch, and this is why we want to have more than 1 or 2 test pressing available.
If a noise—even a loud pop—is not audible on every test pressing, then the stamper is likely good and the process can be continued. But, if that noise is on every test pressing, then plant should be contacted, alerted to a potential flaw in the stamper, and you should wait their reply.
When you (we) contact the pressing plant this is what they are ask for:
1. Is the defect visible? If it is measured with a stick ruler from the center hole to the defect, tell the plant "at 5 1/2 " from the center there is a hashy streak that's visible. If it's a visible flaw but doesn't have any annoying sound associated with it, you can safely ignore it.
2. Is the defect a repeated or cyclic noise? If so, mention when you first hear it and when it stops. Some defect sounds are only audible between songs. A particularly bad one is a squealing sound. It might just be one squeak, or it could be a sustained whistle-like sound. This isn't good and needs to be brought to the plant's attention.
This is a good time to remind you that the pressing plant doesn't listen to the records that they make. There are exceptions, but I don't think any plant listens to the entire record. They spot check it only, and often miss some issues. Also, the playback environment within a pressing plant are often too noisy to have good play back listening.
The moral of the story is, you (we) have to evaluate your test pressings to make sure that errors and molding defects are not going to spoil your records. And, you did leave yourself some extra time in case the test pressings don't sound right? Add an extra 2 to 3 weeks to the delivery time in case you have to reject the test pressings.
To document the disk, this is what i like to do. I sit down in a QUIET room without interruptions, and I have my headphones, a stopwatch and a pad of paper. As the record plays, if i hear anything that is loud enough to be disturbing, I note the time. I reset the stopwatch to zero and start it again at the top of every song. So, your list might look like this (if the test pressing is bad):
Side A (test pressing #3 of 5)
Noise in lead in – swishing sound. once around, noise floor is not consistent.
Song 1
0:30 loud pop (this is also audible on TP 4 but not on tp 5 or 6)
1:12 5 quick clicks in a row.
Noise floor is steady – slight surface noise, not swishy
Song 2
1:02 – 1:19 several loud pops – these are all audible on all of the test pressings, but not all as loud as TP3.
Also, note the surface noise between each song and at the end. Some noises are ok. Only the cutting engineer and a trained ear at the pressing plant can truly tell if a noise is bad enough to be rejected. Records have noises… we like that about records. But they shouldn't have a lot of really loud noises.
It takes practice to listen to test pressings and make sense of it all. Try to not make any guesses about what is causing the defect. It may be impossible for you to know – it's difficult enough for us to know. But use the best onomatopoeia words that you can think of to describe the noise or defect. Scratch, click, pop, scrape, bump, thump, ring, sizzle, crackle, snap, rattle, rumble… remember the sounds these words make when you say them resemble the sound you are trying to describe. 🙂
Compare notes with everyone that received test pressings. Call your cutting engineer (you do know who cut your record, right?) You didn't just send off a digital file to the plant to be cut? Your cutting engineer, if he or she is really dedicated to helping you make great sounding records, will review your test pressings for little or no cost. This is just simply a service we provide to help our clients wade through the confusing and frustrating parts of making a record. There isn't any way you are going to get a great sounding record without the assistance of a cutting engineer. Because we can talk "record" with the plating plant.
Be patient, you can't rush a great record. And do yourself an huge favor and do not book your record release event until you have approved the test pressings and have a confirmed delivery date from your plant. Even then, add two weeks for problems in the plant, printing problems, and shipping issues.
There is a reason why mastering engineers and producers love great sounding records. We know how hard it is to get everything to happen perfectly. But, when it does, like magic, your music is transferred into a completely different listening experience.


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SOUTH Australian Opposition Leader Steven Marshall has refused to rule out forming a minority government as he looks to overturn 12 years of Labor rule.
In delivering an election-eve pitch in Adelaide on Friday, Mr Marshall also insisted the Liberal party had put behind it the internal ructions that saw him replace former leader Isobel Redmond in January 2013.
Mr Marshall was also part of an earlier coup attempt in October 2012 when he successfully challenged for the deputy leadership on a ticket with Martin Hamilton-Smith, who failed in his bid to oust Ms Redmond.
"We have a very united party at the moment and can I just make the point, by contrast the Labor party has dissolved into complete division and disunity," Mr Marshall said.
"We only had six weeks ago the premier being forced to threaten to resign on the radio.
"There's complete dysfunction and Labor party members of parliament have been backgrounding journalists, saying that 'Jay Weatherill is a dead man walking. We're gathering the arsenal to destroy him'."
Despite the latest poll showing the Liberal Party with a two-party preferred lead of 53 per cent to Labor's 47 per cent, Mr Marshall said he expected Saturday's election to be close.
"It's going to be extraordinarily tight, there's no doubt about it," he said.
Mr Marshall said he would consider forming a minority government with minor parties or independents, but added that recent history in federal politics suggested that such an outcome would not be the best option for South Australia.
"We've never ruled that out but quite clearly we would like to govern in our own right," he said.
"That would be what we think would be great for South Australia, to have a clear decision on Saturday so we can get on with the important work of growing our economy."
"It is a concern. We've seen the dysfunction in Canberra when we had a minority government.
"We don't want that here in South Australia."
In 2010, the Liberal party received 52 per cent of the vote, but won only 18 of 47 seats in parliament.
In a final plea to voters, Mr Marshall said it was time for change in South Australia.
"We've had 12 years of Labor government here in South Australia. The premier is asking for 16.
"Our economy is in a world of trouble after 12 years of Labor and what we need is a decision by the people of South Australia to appoint a government which has got an action plan to get our economy back on track," Mr Marshall said.
Originally published as SA Libs would form minority govt: Marshall


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Teaching is hard work. And teaching poor children of immigrant families is probably one of the most serious career challenges a person could take on. That's the situation most Dallas Independent School District teachers face day in and day out.
Nevertheless, the time has come to radically change the way teachers are evaluated and compensated in our public schools.
Superintendent Mike Miles has drafted a plan named the Teacher Excellence Initiative that uncouples teacher pay from tenure and degrees and ties it to the performance of teachers and students.
The school board should approve the plan and give Miles the support he needs to implement this crucial reform.
Miles has called the new system "the most rigorous pay-for-performance system in the nation."
As things stand, teachers are paid based on years of service and their level of education. Their work is measured based on the 22-year-old Professional Development and Appraisal System. That system relies in large part on one 45-minute evaluation per year and a teacher's personal review of his or her performance. About 98 percent of teachers in the state received a proficient rating under that system, according to a DISD spokesman. A number like that indicates just how misguided the current system is.
DISD needs a more effective way to ensure that our best teachers are being rewarded for their work and that our worst teachers are encouraged to look for other employment.
Miles' new system is the right start. Regular classroom evaluations, five per semester, are the cornerstone of the plan. That will count for half of a teacher's overall evaluation, and it will provide more chances to help teachers, both new and experienced, improve their classroom skills.
Thirty-five percent of the score will be based on student achievement, a measure of test results and other measures. The last 15 percent might seem the most controversial. Students will rate their teachers based on a survey. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has studied such surveys and found they are valuable assessment tools.
The system Miles is proposing would give Dallas the most progressive performance evaluation plan of any major school district in the state. The current system is simply inadequate, something the Texas Education Agency acknowledged this month.
The agency is piloting a new system in the coming school year that addresses some shortcomings. But it still appears to rely heavily on teachers' self-evaluations.
Miles' system is more advanced. There are few jobs today where tenure and education determine pay. Most of us now have to show we can do the job, and do it better than the next person. That's the way the modern market works.
It should work that way for teachers, too, because in the end, that's what will work best for students.
How it works
Under the proposed pay-for-performance initiative, teachers would be evaluated and paid on a scale based on:
50 percent: Five classroom evaluations per semester
35 percent: Student achievement
15 percent: Student surveys
Evaluations would begin in the 2014-15 school year; salary structure changes begin in 2015-16.


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Error Message during 802.11b setup for Intersil Card ( prism2_usb ) setup in SoC
I have some problem in setting up 802.11b setup for Intersil Card in Cirrus Logic's EP9312 SoC board featuring ARM920T Core.
I have configured Linux-2.4.21 kernel, ARM Linux patch along with Cirrus Logic's Patch. Further, I have obtained successful configuration of Linux-Wlan-NG-0.2.1-Pre20 and compiled prism2_usb.o and p80211.0
In the SoC, though I get result_code = success after typing the parameters such as :
'modprobe prism2_usb prism2_doreset=1' to load the driver into memory.
'wlanctl-ng wlan0 lnxreq_ifstate ifstate=enable' to initialize the driver+MAC functions.
'wlanctl-ng wlan0 lnxreq_autojoin ssid=<your ssid> authtype=opensystem'
to enable the MAC in Infrastructure Station mode.
'ifconfig wlan0 <your IP address>'
Eventually, I get an error message as
" p80211knetdev-hard-start-xmit: Tx attempt prior to association; frame dropped. "
I have assured correct SSID as well as IP address. The ping status shows " Request timed out " after disconnecting the Ethernet MAC Cable. As far as Access Point is concerned, I am sure it doesn't have any problem. I have also verified about USB HOST of the board and it is working perfectly fine.
Although, I am optimistic about the Wlanctl-Ng utility, I wanted to try out the other option through wlan.conf method. I have made appropriate settings here. But, there is no improvement.
Hence, please consider my above problem and do furnish suitable suggestions and oblige. Should you need any clarifications, please do feel free to contact me.
|All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:45 PM.


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11 June 2008
Satnav signals could help 'dowse' for water
Satellite navigation signals already help cruise missiles to find their targets and hungry motorists their way to the nearest fast-food joint. Now it turns out they can also be used to seek out a valuable resource: water.
The fleet of satellites making up the Global Positioning System (GPS) bathes the Earth in weak microwave signals. When these signals bounce off the ground, their characteristics change in ways that convey information about the soil's moisture content. There has been speculation for a decade that it might be possible to exploit this effect, and now researchers at the University of Boulder in Colorado have shown how it can be done.
The team, led by aerospace engineer Kristine Larson and geologist Eric Small, estimated soil moisture levels using data from a permanent GPS station in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, which is normally used for seismic monitoring. The GPS-derived estimates correlated well with data recorded by


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Savannah Morning News columnist and The Shadow Man author Mark Murphy has launched a book trailer contest. Three cash prizes will be awarded and the first place winner will receive $3,000.
Contestants should create a trailer (no more than 1 to 3 minutes in length) and submit it before April 30th. The entries will be judged on the following criteria: creativity, originality, and how well the video can be used as a marketing tool.
Here's more from the announcement: "Trailers (1-3 minutes in length) should try and take advantage of the Savannah setting while incorporating aspects of the city that are present in the story. The iconic cover shot of the Forsyth Park Fountain at night must be incorporated into each video as well links to the author's website and Facebook page."


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(Adds detail)
NICOSIA, Jan 11 (Reuters) - Andis Hadjicostis, the chief executive of one of Cyprus's largest media groups, was murdered outside his home in Nicosia on Monday evening, police said.
"Two shots were heard and the victim was found dead outside his home" in a suburb of the capital, police spokesman Michalis Katsounodos said. "It is believed there were two assailants."
The area outside Hadjicostis's home was cordoned off and police were conducting enquiries, Katsounodos said.
Reports suggested the killers lay in wait for Hadjicostis and shot him as he got out of his vehicle, within close distance of the U.S. embassy in Nicosia.
After firing two shots which hit him in his chest and back, they fled the scene on a high-powered motorcycle.
Hadjicostis, 42, was CEO of the Dias Media Group, which ran Sigma, a highly successful private television station, a newspaper, a radio station and a host of magazines. The group was founded by his father Costis Hadjicostis, the present Dias chairman.
Cypriot parliamentary speaker Marios Garoyan condemned the killing.
"He was a great person, a friend, a person who never harmed anyone...We will not let lawlessness, crime or murders prevail. Our democracy is strong enough to withstand all of this," Garoyan said.
Sigma interrupted its normal programming and was playing classical music for most of the evening. The station is known for its investigative reporting.
Criminal activity targeting media figures in Cyprus is extremely rare. Police did not say what the motive for the killing may have been but said the investigation was still at an early stage.
(Writing by Michele Kambas, editing by Mark Trevelyan)
((email@example.com; 357 22469607; Reuters messaging firstname.lastname@example.com)) Keywords: CYPRUS MURDER/MEDIA
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Now, more than ever, technology plays a huge role in booking, planning, documenting, and navigating during your travels. Gone are the days of carrying around printed guidebooks and wind-and-snap cameras; now we rely on crowd-sourced travel and sharing our photos via social media. There are a ton of cool apps out there that help make traveling the world better. We did some research and scouted out some must-try tech tools that will make your next trip that much better. The best news? All but one of the apps are free!
Here's the thing: No one wants to get sick on vacation. But sometimes it happens. Don't get caught unprepared and have to make a very expensive and unnecessary trip to the emergency room for the flu or an ankle sprain. ZocDoc connects patients to doctors with open appointments ASAP. Think of their online and mobile scheduling system as OpenTable for doctors. According to a travel study, ZocDoc says "63 percent of travelers get sick on vacation" and "an estimated 35 percent of patients who seek help in an ER could go to a doctor's office instead – and at an 80 percent discount." Search by doctor specialty and insurance. Generally, patients can find day-of appointments or one within 24-48 hours from the time of search. Available on iPhone and Android.
With a roster of chefs, sommeliers, and bartenders that include the likes of Wolfgang Puck, Joshua Skenes (named one of Food & Wine's Best New Chefs), and Gavin Kaysen (executive chef at Cafe Boulud in New York), you know this app has something going for it. The concept is simple: Experts give their top places to eat and drink in their area. They go directly to the local pros so you can eat and drink like they do on your next trip. Whether its Malaga, Spain or Charleston, S.C., this iPhone app is growing in popularity. Available on iPhone.
If you haven't tried out TripIt yet, you're seriously missing out. Imagine a world where you don't have to dig through countless confirmation, ticket, and reservation emails. What if they all magically appeared in the same place, all organized for you?! It's no longer a dream – TripIt organizes your itinerary for you, adds in maps, charts weather in the area, and you can even book restaurant reservations and check into flights from the app. Available on iPhone, Android, and Windows Phone 7, Blackberry.
If you're an avid jetsetter, Trevi is a great way to keep track of all your travels. In essence, it's like a passport on your iPhone. The app creates albums and maps of your travels so, if you want to quickly look up a photo to show a friend, you don't have to scroll through your hundreds of other photos. Check out a timeline of all your trips or look at everywhere you've been on a map. You can even create a photo postcard to share with your friends who couldn't make it. Available on iPhone; cost: 99 cents.
With a tagline like "6 million things to do. everywhere. everytime." this app promises a lot. Though it's still in beta, it's definitely worth a look. Download the app and start exploring local festivals, nearby restaurants, and cool sightseeing tours – Goby does all the work for you. You can search by interest and type of activity, location, and what times you're looking to get out and explore. The app is quite handy when you're walking around in a new city. Now you can see it like a local. Available on iPhone and Android.
This award-winning app allows you to "See More." Want to learn more about the city you're in? With Wikitude's huge community, you'll find out about restaurants, activities, history, and more about the area. The app is basically like having Wikipedia super-imposed onto the world around you. You can get real-time information about things to do and see just footsteps away from where you stand. The app is constantly updating so your user experience improves each second! Available on iPhone, Android, and Windows Phone 7, Blackberry.
Which apps did we miss? Tell us your favorites in the comments!
MORE from ShermansTravel:
The best photo sharing and editing apps
Four inspiring adventurers to follow on Twitter


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STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Some Starkville residents gathered at George Evans Park for the dedication of the Needmore Community Historic Marker. There was live music along with food, and fellowship. Posters were on display to show visitors the historical district. The Needmore community was one of Starkville's earliest African American neighborhoods and was first settled in the late 1800s due to the construction of the Gulf, Mobile and Ohio Railroads. It was later annexed by the city of Starkville in 1972.


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The hot mess that is Snooki -- and her suprisingly doting now-fiancee, Jionni LaValle -- had a rather torrid courtship (played out on TV) before the proverbial sh*t hit the fan and she announced her pregnancy and engagement. Regardless of how we think her baby will turn out (Will it be born with pink and blonde extensions? A penchant for getting arrested?), we have the scoop on where and when it all went down.
- March 2011: Simpler times at the Luxor Hotel - Las Vegas, NV
- Snooks kicked off last year's Spring Break season by hosting a party at the Vegas spin-off of Los Angeles club LAX with her then-new BF in tow. While she may have been a bit sloppy (I mean, just look at her), she reportedly earned $25,000 just to dance and drink for a few hours at the club. Unlike the hotel's ancient Egyptian vibe, LAX features deep red leather interiors, oversized mirrors and glittering chandeliers, as well as an A-List crowd. (However, the room rates are pretty cheap here -- some serious bang for your buck.) And with the Luxor possibly making $45,000 in bar fees from one shot of Snooki, it's not surprising she has been often welcomed back to the City of Sin since.
Check out more milestones after the jump!
- December 2011: The moment of truth at the Palms Casino Resort - Las Vegas, NV
- Right after hosting a New Year's Eve fete at the hotel, the duo discovered that the reality starlet had a bun in the oven. Snooki's first thoughts, accordingly to UsWeekly? "'Sh*t, I've been drinking!' we were in Vegas, so I did go crazy." The star showed minimal signs of being preggers, but that's perhaps because she wore such short-shorts that no one paid attention to her carefully-ruched black top. We don't doubt that a sexy suite here, like the Palms Place Condo, could get even the prudest couple all randy: Sleek gray leather couches are ripe for chilling -- as is the fully-stocked minibar.
- March 2012: He put on a ring on it at the W Hoboken - New Jersey
- Where else would the two get engaged besides the state that made Snooki a star? While denying her pregnancy for weeks during the early part of 2012, LaValle was working with B&B Jewelry on a custom 2-carat engagement ring. It's super blingy -- but would you expect anything less for our Jersey Shore girl? As for the actual proposal, E! reports that Jionni dropped to one knee of the balcony of their room at the W Hoboken, shocking Snooks. And with such incredible skyline views of New York City, this W is actually a pretty perfect place to pop the question. We just hope she indulged in sparkling cider after saying "Yes!" instead.


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Sesame Street: "I Want a Monster to Be My Friend"
Sesame Street: Silly or Scandalous?
Old-school episodes of Sesame Street now come with an "only for grown-ups" disclaimer. We asked all of you to weigh in on the matter and an overwhelming majority deemed the warning unnecessary. A questionable song just surfaced that might warrant a change of mind. The song, titled "I Want a Monster to Be My Friend," was actually banned from Sesame Street in 1984 when a mother complained about a few of its lyrics:
If I make friends with a friendly monster,
I'll let him bounce me on his knee.
I'll let him do whatever he wants to,
Especially if he's bigger than me.
Is the message shocking? Or, when considered in context, do you find it harmless? Listen to the full song below and let me know whether you think the ditty is just plain silly or scandalous.


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Hong Kong based toy designers adFunture have teamed up with DITA Eyewear, Staple Design, Suitman, Revelator, Black Cross, GUE and Puma to design a new toy called Yoka. Only 100 pieces will be made. All sales will be donated to Red Cross Society of China to help those folks in Sichuan.
(Thanks Shion)


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An increasing number of dealers are calling me to say that times are tough—sales are drying up and the public is unemployed, penniless and disillusioned. My response is: The day you start believing that the economy is making sales impossible is the day you need to dust off the old résumé and start looking for another line of work.
It is particularly important that owners and managers never buy into the doom and gloom. Your staff wants a leader, not a whiner who folds at the first sight of difficulties. If you show anything but optimism, they will think about leaving and sales will dry up. Stop listening to the news—it's depressing. Let's look at some recent changes in the economy and their real effect on your business.
News is Always Slanted
The undisputable fact is that bad news sells newspapers. Bad news keeps us glued to the radio or TV. If a station reports that all is well, no one watches or listens. I think it is the job of media outlets to make you feel uneasy and helpless so you will use them to try to make sense of the news and find an answer. Business people and sales staff should limit their news intake or laugh as they listen.
We are less than a year away from the next presidential election. This makes matters worse. The candidates will try anything they can to make you nervous so you will accept their plans and want their help. The truth rarely comes from any party without exaggeration.
I am not saying the economy is perfect, but here are some reasons why you should just keep selling and why your customers will keep buying despite what you have heard on the news.
The Housing Crisis
It is very true that housing starts are down. Fox News reported that housing starts are down 20% and at the lowest level since 2003. That sounds ominous but that means sales of new homes should be down 20%, and that should only be a portion of your business. There are many other ways to generate sales and other markets to pursue.
When housing starts are down, many people decide to invest in their current home instead of buying a new one. Remember that over the last 10 years, builders may have fed you a lot of business, but in other parts of the country there are many water equipment dealers that did very well without builders and a housing boom. If they could do it, so can you. Try getting back to ways of generating business without builders. There are many that work in all parts of the country.
Gas Prices
It is true that gas prices are high. That must be cutting into available spending, as gas is at the highest it has ever been; however, the news never mentions that interest is near the lowest it has ever been. I think you will agree that most Americans spend far more on interest than they do on gas, so the savings in interest should offset the additional cost of fuel and keep spending power about the same.
Stock Market Plummets
As with other news, I consider the news of stock prices plunging exaggerated. The Dow Jones average was 12,621 on Jan. 1, 2007, and as I write this article in late-January 2008, it stands at 12,207. That is a 3% loss, but hardly a crisis that will stop people from buying, especially when you consider that in January 2002, it stood at 8,053, which means your customers averaged a 34% gain in five years—not too shabby for a "crisis that will bring us to our knees."
Do we really think people buy water equipment from their stock profits? Ninety percent of buyers finance their equipment and do not need to cash bonds to do so. And because interest is at a historic low, equipment is far more affordable than it was in the past. Now is a great time to sell if we listen to our customers and not to the news.
The news tells us that employment is falling, and people are afraid they will lose their jobs. It is true that there are areas of the country that have been hit hard, especially in the automotive industry. As a person who recruits salespeople and managers for clients every month, however, I can tell you that unemployment is so low it is tough to get people to show up for interviews.
The unemployment rate is so low that many people who do not even want jobs have jobs. There are many jobs available in most parts of the country. If I do not call applicants within 24 hours of getting their résumés, the good ones have jobs. A large percentage of people I interview turn down the offer. That means they think they can do better. They are not afraid that no job will come along and they are confident enough to be picky. I recruited during the last recession, and I can tell you that people were happy to get any offer. Hiring was not the challenge it is today, and that means people are not as concerned as the news would have us believe.
Unemployment may be going up slowly, but it started rising from the lowest rate in history. It is not high by historical levels, it is just higher than it was a year ago. The rate of employment is still above a mark that most experts thought could ever be achieved. Most of your customers have good jobs—they are buying. When you can get a parking spot at the mall near the door or when you can get a table at a great restaurant on Saturday night without waiting, that will mean people are cutting their spending. I do not see evidence of that in most parts of the country.
Be sure you are positive when selling or thinking about selling. If we believe the bad news, it makes it tough to believe customers will buy. A large portion of sales success depends on how much confidence is in our heads and in our hearts. My father once told me that as long as people can afford the good toilet paper, there is nothing to worry about with the economy. I think you will find that the vast majority of your customers can still afford the good toilet paper, so let's get out there and help them get the good water too.


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The Monetary Transmission Mechanism in the Tropics; A Narrative Approach
Many central banks in low-income countries in Sub-Saharan Africa are modernising their monetary policy frameworks. Standard statistical procedures have had limited success in identifying the channels of monetary transmission in such countries. Here we take a narrative approach, following Romer and Romer (1989), and center on a significant tightening of monetary policy that took place in 2011 in four members of the East African Community: Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda. We find clear evidence of the transmission mechanism in most of the countries, and argue that deviations can be explained by differences in the policy regime in place.
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|Date of creation:
|20 Sep 2013
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| Postal: International Monetary Fund, Washington, DC USA
Phone: (202) 623-7000
Fax: (202) 623-4661
Web page: http://www.imf.org/external/pubind.htm
More information through EDIRC
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|Web: http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/pubs/ord_info.htm
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.:
- Christina D. Romer & David H. Romer, 2010.
"The Macroeconomic Effects of Tax Changes: Estimates Based on a New Measure of Fiscal Shocks,"
American Economic Review,
American Economic Association, vol. 100(3), pages 763-801, June.
- Christina D. Romer & David H. Romer, 2007. "The Macroeconomic Effects of Tax Changes: Estimates Based on a New Measure of Fiscal Shocks," NBER Working Papers 13264, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
- Jason G. Cummins & Kevin A. Hassett & R. Glenn Hubbard, 1994. "A Reconsideration of Investment Behavior Using Tax Reforms as Natural Experiments," Brookings Papers on Economic Activity, Economic Studies Program, The Brookings Institution, vol. 25(2), pages 1-74.
- Christina D. Romer & David H. Romer, 1989. "Does Monetary Policy Matter? A New Test in the Spirit of Friedman and Schwartz," NBER Chapters,in: NBER Macroeconomics Annual 1989, Volume 4, pages 121-184 National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
- Romer, Christina D. & Romer, David H., 1989. "Does Monetary Policy Matter? A New Test in the Spirit of Friedman and Schwartz," Department of Economics, Working Paper Series qt5h07k8vf, Department of Economics, Institute for Business and Economic Research, UC Berkeley.
- Christina D. Romer and David H. Romer., 1989. "Does Monetary Policy Matter? A New Test in the Spirit of Friedman and Schwartz," Economics Working Papers 89-107, University of California at Berkeley.
- Christina D. Romer & David H. Romer, 1989. "Does Monetary Policy Matter? A New Test in the Spirit of Friedman and Schwartz," NBER Working Papers 2966, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
- Hamid R Davoodi & S. V. S. Dixit & Gabor Pinter, 2013. "Monetary Transmission Mechanism in the East African Community; An Empirical Investigation," IMF Working Papers 13/39, International Monetary Fund.
- Andrew Berg & Filiz D Unsal & Rafael Portillo, 2010. "On the Optimal Adherence to Money Targets in a New-Keynesian Framework; An Application to Low-Income Countries," IMF Working Papers 10/134, International Monetary Fund.
- Michal Andrle & Andrew Berg & R. Armando Morales & Rafael Portillo & Jan Vlcek, 2013. "Forecasting and Monetary Policy Analysis in Low-Income Countries; Food and non-Food Inflation in Kenya," IMF Working Papers 13/61, International Monetary Fund.
- Carlo Cottarelli & Angeliki Kourelis, 1994. "Financial Structure, Bank Lending Rates, and the Transmission Mechanism of Monetary Policy," IMF Staff Papers, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 41(4), pages 587-623, December. Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)
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By Allan Muir
It's clear that Brendan Shanahan hit Patrick Kaleta a lot harder than the Buffalo winger hit Brad Richards.
So why does the five-game suspension that Shanahan imposed on Monday afternoon feel like a slap on the wrist?
Not that anyone should be surprised by this verdict, especially in the wake of last week's soft touch fine handed down to Dallas' Jamie Benn. Shanny telegraphed this decision when he offered Kaleta a phone hearing, a format that ensured the sentence couldn't be more than five games. That's a significant number because a provision in the new Collective Bargaining Agreement allows a player to appeal any suspension above that level to an independent arbitrator.
And yet all the elements in play with this situation cried out for that line to be crossed. Seeing this result, instead of eight or 10 games, it's fair to wonder if Shanahan was trying to avoid turning this incident into the test case. Was he worried that Richards' return to the game and the absence of a serious injury would undermine his ruling in the eyes of the arbiter and, by extension, call his other rulings into question? Sure feels that way, doesn't it?
What Shanahan should have considered was the one overriding element of this incident: Kaleta is a repeat offender who has twice been suspended previously. He's the definition of a reckless player, epitomizing a dangerous style that everyone says they want out of the game. Here's a chance to make a statement and Shanny offers up a harshly worded "tsk-tsk."
Look at the play (VIDEO). There's nothing bang-bang about it, no way Kaleta could claim that he was simply following through on a hit and things went bad at the last instant. Kaleta had no chance to make a play on Richards or the puck, so he pushed him face-first into the boards.
Shanahan recognized that much, noting that "Kaleta was in full control of this play and had ample opportunity to make a better decision."


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If Group D is this season's Group of Death then Manchester City have just moved ominously close to having their toes tagged for the morgue. A side cannot hope to make an impact on the Champions League with this form of carelessness and perhaps most dispiritingly for a club of their ambitions, they are threatening to go out of the competition with a certain amount of ignominy attached.
Three games in, this defeat leaves the Premier League champions with only a solitary point and hard evidence about their inability to adapt to Europe's elite club competition. Samir Nasri's goal offered hope 22 minutes into the first half but the capitulation that followed merely affirmed the sense that City, and Roberto Mancini, have not yet fully grasped what is required in Europe.
They have seldom looked so vulnerable in the Mancini era and from where they now find themselves, it is going to need an extraordinary feat of escapology. As it stands, City are bottom of their group and might not even be playing in the Europa League come February.
Ten points was not enough for them to qualify last season and this group does not get any easier. City's next assignment is also against Frank de Boer's Ajax team, followed by a home game versus Real Madrid and the problems they invariably pose, and then a trip to Germany to face the Borussia Dortmund side who made Mancini's men look so ordinary at the Etihad Stadium three weeks ago.
If they are still in contention when they reach the Westfalenstadion it should probably be seen as a victory of sorts. Mancini talked of needing "a miracle".
This section was always going to be difficult, incorporating the Dutch, Spanish and German champions, but the fact is City have been guilty too often of making life unnecessarily hard for themselves. Siem de Jong's equaliser was a soft goal to concede but Ajax's second, coming from a corner, probably best epitomised the deterioration in their defending this season. The third was fortuitous, Christian Eriksen's shot taking a sizeable deflection off Gaël Clichy, but the defending before that moment was poor again.
As for Mancini's tactics, the Italian should not be immune from criticism because of what he has achieved in other competitions, and it was difficult to fathom his thinking. Mancini began with Sergio Agüero on the left wing then abandoned his 4-2-3-1 system early in the first half, tried out 4-4-2 and then ditched that for 3-5-2. With so many changes, it was not entirely surprising the team looked so dishevelled. Micah Richards's comments afterwards about the players preferring a flat back four hardly dispelled the lingering accusation that Mancini's managerial qualities have been seen only fleetingly in this competition over the years.
More than anything, this was a night when City seemed to have misplaced everything that brought them success in the previous couple of seasons.
They looked hesitant, lacking leadership. Their play was pockmarked with individual mistakes and it was only at 3-1, when the situation was desperate, that they began to attack with any real penetration. The best chance, however, fell to Ajax's Tobias Sana, clean through but denied by Joe Hart's goalkeeping.
Even the opening goal was largely against the run of play, stemming from their first noteworthy attack. Nasri finished off James Milner's pass confidently, running in from the left and applying just the right amount of curl to bend his shot into the opposite corner.
Briefly it unsettled Ajax and discontent could be heard in the home stands. Yet the game lurched back in their favour in first-half stoppage time when Ricardo van Rhijn, one of seven academy graduates in the Ajax side and hugely impressive, put in a low centre and De Jong lashed a first-time shot past Hart.
Gareth Barry's part in that goal was pretty undistinguished, with only a half-hearted attempt to intercept the cross, and the same player was partly to blame in the 68th minute for Ajax's third, losing the ball to Lasse Schone in the build-up to Eriksen's deflected left-foot shot.
In between, Niklas Moisander's goal to make it 2-1 was even more harrowing from a City viewpoint. Eriksen swung in the corner from the right and Moisander out-jumped Joleon Lescott to divert the ball inside an unguarded far post.
It was standard stuff, but this was a substandard night for City – one with considerable repercussions, potentially, unless they achieve the miracle their manager talked about.


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Dear Amy: I am engaged to a wonderful man whom I've been dating for more than three years. Very early in our relationship, I brought up the fact that I don't want to change my last name when I get married. He was upset by it and told me he'd want his wife to change her last name, but at that time the conversation ended at that.
He proposed two months ago. Last week I told him that because I knew taking his last name was important to him, I'd be willing to hyphenate my last name, and his and any children would have his name alone. I thought he'd be overjoyed, since this was a big compromise for me.


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January 2012 is the scheduled date for an alleged business loan fraud case involving AEA Federal Credit Union.
Former vice president, wife, associate accused in apparent $1 million kickback scheme.
Signs that AEA Federal Credit Union was in trouble started well before its former executive was recently indicted for an alleged kickback ring with ties to a portfolio now crumbling under the weight of defaulted loans.
An 11-month federal investigation has revealed that a former vice president of business services at AEA Federal Credit Union in Yuma, Ariz., was allegedly one of the persons behind the approval of business loans in an apparent $1 million kickback scheme.
More than $25 million in alleged fraudulent loans authorized by William Liddle, the former vice president of business services at AEA Federal Credit Union, are now in default


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Three weeks after a proposal to change the date of next year's primary election appeared to be bottled up in a D.C. Council committee, lawmakers are poised to decide the matter Wednesday.
The decision by Chairman Phil Mendelson (D) to move an emergency bill changing the election date from April 1 to June 10 sidesteps the normal legislative process. A bill introduced in April by Mendelson and Kenyan McDuffie (D-Ward 5) has been unable to move to the full council, with at least three of the five members of the Government Operations committee opposing it.
Emergency legislation is only temporarily in effect but does not have to move through a council committee. It requires a two-thirds vote of the council to pass, meaning nine members would have to support the election measure if all 13 members vote Wednesday, at the final council legislative meeting before the summer recess.
In a memorandum sent to council members and staff Friday, Mendelson cited "multiple reasons justifying this change, including: avoiding the need to campaign – including petition gathering – during the Thanksgiving and Christmas season; reducing the duration of lame duck status for retiring or defeated incumbents; increasing voter participation which is likely to be greater in June than in April; and reducing the pro-incumbent dynamic inherent in an early primary."
From 1974 until 2010, the District's local primaries were held in early September. But a change in federal law meant the city had to move in 2011 to put more time between its primary and general elections in order to allow overseas voters more time to receive and return absentee ballots. Last year's debut April primary was met with dismal candidate reviews and lagging voter participation.
Mendelson said in the memo that he has "spoken with numerous individuals and believe there is widespread support for this change in the community." But several council members — including Muriel Bowser (D-Ward 4), who intends to appear on the ballot as a mayoral candidate — have criticized the proposal, saying it amounts to changing the rules in the middle of the game.


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Fringed puccoon Lithospermum incisum
Borage family — Boraginaceae
Also known as:
Puccoon, Yellow Puccoon, Narrow-leaf Puccoon, Golden Puccoon
Slides: (click for larger view)
Both the "incisum" part of the scientific name and the "fringed" part of "fringed puccoon" refer to the unusual and notable crinkly edges of the flowers. This species occurs in almost all parts of Texas except the extreme east, preferring calcareous prairies and other open habitats. The roots produce a red or purple dye that has a long history of usage. The showy flowers are produced in the spring--but there's a catch. These flowers lead to very few fruits and seeds (which, after all, is what flowers are supposed to be all about, despite the joy they bring to us). But later, in the summer, the same plant--looking very different, with smaller more crowded leaves and branchlets--produces tiny almost unnoticeable self-fertilizing flowers that lead to most of the seed for the next generation. Plants do strange and wondrous things!
Dried Specimens: (click for larger view)
Flowering Months: February, March, April, May
|About This Species Page |   View Region Map


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The "Tre Voci" Piano Trio to Perform Nov. 9 at BaylorNov. 5, 1998
by Richard Veit
Tre Voci, a faculty piano trio in residence at Houston Baptist University, will present a concert at 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 9, in Roxy Grove Hall on the Baylor University campus.
This chamber music group (whose Italian name means "Three Voices") has been performing together since its debut in the fall of 1995. The members are violinist Rodica Weber, cellist Min Cao, and pianist John Hendrickson.
A native of Romania, Weber holds a master's degree in violin performance from Rice University's Shepherd School of Music, where she studied with Sergiu Luca. She has performed concert tours in Austria, Switzerland and Romania, and now serves as a member of the Houston Symphony Orchestra.
Cao earned his bachelor's degree from Shanghai Conservatory in his native China before coming to the United States, where he received a master's degree from Rice University under the supervision of Shirley Trepel. A former principal cellist of both the Texas Opera Theater Orchestra and the Beaumont Symphony Orchestra, he has also served as a member of the China National Symphony Orchestra. He has performed at European cello festivals in Germany and England.
Hendrickson, artist-in-residence at Houston Baptist University, is on the touring roster for the Texas Commission on the Arts. He has appeared at London's Wigmore Hall and the Kennedy Center's Terrace Theatre in Washington, D.C., in addition to touring as a recitalist in Austria and Romania. He has won top prizes in the International Leschetizky Competition and the Toronto International Bach Competition. Hendrickson presented a recital at Baylor in March of 1996.
The concert is free and open to the public. For more information, call the Baylor School of Music at 710-3991.
More News ...


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- through public workshops and home study programs.
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- experiential training exercises
- and all required hours consultation
- for one all-inclusive fee.
We offer onsite basic EMDR training at your agency.
Advanced EMDR therapy training programs for those who have completed an EMDRIA approved basic training in EMDR therapy.
We also offer
EMDRIA accredited home study, distance learning programs on basic and advanced topics for those who have already completed basic training in EMDR therapy.
Consultation on the use of EMDR therapy
- Individual, group, and international teleconference
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- Advanced consultation for complex cases
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Professional support when you need it.Individual, group, and international teleconference consultation for
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8/9 Hooper Street Randwick 2031 NSW
Avail Now. This very spacious top floor apartment is situated to the rear of a small block of 9 units and has wonderful district views towards the city skyline. Features include no common walls, 2 double bedrooms (main with built-in robes), new near carpet, spacious modern kitchen, large bathroom with separate shower and bath, 2 balconies, one off the lounge room and one off both bedrooms, a sizeable share laundry on same floor as unit with space for tenants own machine and there is an allocated undercover carspace. The property is located in a nice quiet street within close proximity to Bondi Junction, Centennial and Queens Parks and all local beaches.
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text:
If a noun is usually in the plural, or a verb is usually in the passive, this is a salient fact about the word (possibly worth mentioning in a dictionary). We include these facts in the word sketch in the form of word sketch highlights. 75% of the occurrences of the English noun constraint in the BNC are in the plural. How salient is this fact? To answer, we need to know whether it is unusual or typical behaviour for an English noun. We need to assess the fact about constraintagainst the background of "other nouns".
We do this by
- calculating the percentage for all nouns,
- putting them in rank order, and
- seeing whether the keyword (e. g., constraint) is an exceptional case.
If it is, we add a note to the word sketch — we simply decide if the percentage of the word occurring in plural exceeds a pre-specified threshold. Default value for "what counts as noteworthy" (so that we add a note to the word sketch): in the highest 10% of the population.
The approach is currently being tested: parameters will probably change.


text:
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Hobart - Ben Hilfenhaus limped off the Bellerive
Oval during the first Test against Sri Lanka on Sunday to almost certainly
leave Australia a pace bowler short for the second time in three matches.
The big Tasmanian, who took his 99th Test
wicket on Saturday, managed to bowl just two balls of the eighth over
of the day before pulling up with a side strain.
The 29-year-old was taken to hospital for
scans on the injury with the results expected in the next 24 hours.
"Ben's got a side injury, almost a
typical fast bowlers injury," Australia's physio Alex Kountouris told
"It's not too bad at the moment... and
we'll see what he looks like in the morning... but it's looking doubtful whether
he'll be able to bowl in the rest of the game."
Australia have already lost young quicks
Pat Cummins and James Pattinson to injury for the domestic season and the loss
of the dependable Hilfenhaus would be a big blow to them with two Tests left in
That is not to mention the huge hole it
would leave in the bowling attack for the remaining two days of the first test
on a Hobart track which, despite predictions, has turned out to be fairly
Peter Siddle ended up bowling 63.5 overs
and Hilfenhaus 53.3 after Pattinson broke down in the second test against South
Africa in Adelaide last month, and both were considered too fatigued to play in
the decisive third match in Perth.
"Probably lucky enough we've got Shane
(Watson) which is different to Adelaide," said Siddle, who finished with
5-54 on Sunday as Sri Lanka were bowled out for 336.
"So it's just a question of going
about our job and getting the business done. We were lucky enough today that
after lunch, all the bowlers dug in and got the job done the way we wanted to
do it."
All-rounder Watson missed the first two
tests in the series defeat to South Africa due to injury and was used sparingly
in the third.
Kountouris, though, said he would not be
restricted by the medical team as to the number of overs he bowled in Hobart.
"There's absolutely no limits to what
Watto can bowl in the game," he said. "Once he plays the game, it's
up to the captain how much he bowls, when he bowls."
Mitchell Johnson, who took six wickets in
Perth and was 12th man for the Hobart test, looks likely to get another chance
to revive his test career if, as Kountouris suspected, Hilfenhaus is not fit to
play in the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne.
Among the other candidates, John Hastings
finished with a disappointing 1-153 on debut against the South Africans at the
WACA, while Josh Hazlewood, who was also included in the squad for Perth, has
been sidelined with a foot injury.
"I wish it was a simple answer as to
why guys are breaking down," said Kountouris.
"It's obviously not ideal, we've got
more injuries that we'd like to have at the moment. We're working really hard
to come up with solutions..."
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text:
©2000 John Edward; © and (P)2000 Hay House, Inc.
"Excellent Psychic Development Audio Book"
I've taken several Psychic Development Classes and this is an excellent alternative and/or additional practice to going to a seminar. It has very good meditations a beginner to intermediate can use. I like going to actual classes, yes, but an audio book with lots of excellent exercises is great because it can be played over and over again.
John Edwards also covers numerology, scrying, psychometry, tarot cards etc. This audio book is packed with practical, invaluable information.
"What A Wonderful Book"
For years I have read almost anything and everything regarding spirituality and the meta-physical realm. This is one of the two best books I have ever encountered. This takes you on a journey into the meta-physical. John uses humor and clear examples to get the idea across to the reader (and/or listener). He first explains the ideas and points of each section and then gives you exercises and meditations to implement and practice each of these. I have been able with this book to boost my own psychic abilities and use these gifts to help others. I just say a special thank you to John for sharing his gifts and lessons with us.
"Great Information, Could Have Been Better"
John Edwards spends a lot of time giving listeners a lot of great information along with funny anecdotes, suggestions, recommendations, and brief overviews of many different psychic modalities. In this, he was very very good and I thoroghly enjoyed it! What I did not enjoy, what kept me from giving 5 stars was the quality of the audio (I heard him turning pages throughout as well as someone speaking in the background) and his lightening speed as he led the listener through guided meditations. John, meditations are supposed to be relaxed, the person should feel softly led from visualization to visualization. I felt like I was being pulled out of each scenario before I could grasp it, like I had been given too much caffeine.
Had the audio quality been better, less talking in the background (this wasn't a speech, it was an audiobook) and slower guided meditations, it would have garnered 5 stars from me.
As for Developing my own Psychic Powers...don't expect miracles. The audiobook gives some good pointers, suggestions, and had the guided meditations been better perhaps yes. I found that taking his original suggestions in the meditation to meet your spirit guide and then using those in my own personal meditation I was able to do it better. But I do still give him all thanks for giving me those images in the first place. Very helpful and enjoyable tool.
Wonderful series for meditation, chakras and psychic development. Practical useful applications for any level and some "real world" advice regarding this. Presented in a spiritual pursuit without any religious bias. The series will change your life if used correctly. It can be just the beginning of a spiritual journey for many like me!!
"average information"
I found this book to be average. Informative and relaxing nothing I didn't already know. It's a great first book for exploring Meditation. I recomend it for the begining psychic explorer. I am amased with John Edwards' ability to comunicate. He explains psychic powers simple and complete.
"Good stuff"
This is a great meditation and a great way to open up your psychic abilities. There is a color meditation that really helps with the chakras and keeping you in balance. The only issue I have with the narration is that John goes really fast. He's a very fast paced man. Which if you are used to slowing down in your meditations, or are new to this. This will be a bit difficult for you. But over all it's a fantastic guide.
"Old, Less Polished Version of Infinite Quest"
I downloaded this after I had read Infinite Quest because I loved Infinite Quest so much and wanted more.....Unfortunately so many of the stories and examples are EXACTLY the same as the ones discussed in IQ. Furthermore, the recording quality is clearly much less sophisticated as sometimes you can actually hear other things going on in the background. Save your money on this expensive collection but download Infinite Quest instead.
Yes, Absolutely.
There was background noise and conversation.
I really appreciate and respect John Edward. He has obviously evolved over the years. I just wish that with all of his new experiences that he wouldn't have recycled the same stories and examples. This collection should probably be retired but if it is the only set that you download, it is still good.
"Developing Your Own Psychic Powers"
It was a great help to me in a stressful time. I found the exercises calming and easy to do.
"Narration way too fast!"
The content may be good but the spoken word is way too quick. Particularly in the meditation and practical exercises. It was almost defeating the purpose of trying to relax and breath.
"loved it!"
the best psychic development guide out there. John gives it you straight, it's up to you to put your ego and preconceived notions aside and spend considerable time and effort to achieve results for the betterment of yourself and to possibly help others. Cheers to John Edwards, I will be eagerly awaiting more from him.
"Combines all his psychic development work"
I wish I had've known before I bought the other 2 John Edward Psychic Development audiobooks that this one encompasses them all and has extra on doing psychic readings etc. Then I could've simply bought this book and not wasted my time going through each chapter listening to him and thinking 'I've heard all this already'. So on the whole, this book is fantastic. It covers everything you need to know when embarking on psychic development. I love his no crap attitude - you either listen to his advice or you don't, it's no skin off his nose. In this book he covers meditation, meeting your guides, angels, psychic protection, getting started on your psychic journey, doing readings, and most importantly the responsibilities and power you hold and you must be aware of when embarking on this work.
I wish I had've known all this before. Because the description doesn't tell you this is the only reason I've given it 4/5 and not 5/5.
"Excellent love it xx"
Fabulous book and a lot of great advice. I enjoy listening over and over to this book. the meditation helps you relax. thank you x
"most inspiring read"
Quite an excellent read will also read parts of it again, one of the most inspiring books i have read so far!
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text:
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by Brenda Ellis | Apr. 22, 2013, 1:35 PM | Want more research news? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter »
For the fourth year in a row the Best Payload Design award went to the Vanderbilt Aerospace Club in the 12th annual NASA University Student Launch Initiative Sunday, April 21, in a field at Bragg Farms in Toney, Ala. This is the sixth year the club has entered the national rocketry competition.
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text:
"So…" we ask in as roundabout a way as we can, realizing that this question will change the direction of the conversation, which thus far has been about things that most people talk about, and by most people, we mean vanillas. And we straddle two worlds, the vanilla world that would be shocked at what we're here to do and the world beyond, the world of openness, of non-monogamy, of swinging. "How does this work?"
We asked it on our first date.
Well, I did. Marilyn was far less talkative back then.
And since that first date we've been on dates with three newbie couples, just dipping their toes in, just seeing how the water feels over here, unsure if they're ready to buy some white rocks for the front yard, all asking that same question. Because we like plans, don't we? This is what separates our experimentation with that of the wild college years that are sort of a hazy testing ground for the new and different, where it's perfectly societally acceptable these days for girls to have trysts with their female roommates when drunk/high/otherwise out of their gourds.
How does this work?
And what we really wanted to know is: DOES this work? Can you look us in the eye right now and actually confirm to us that you're happy, that you enjoy this thoroughly, that swinging is a boon for your relationship, a positive addition to your lives. How does this work is also a question that asks, is this ok? Because it's a process question, we want to know the process of swinging, what happens now, what happens next, when do we kiss, get naked, start fucking. We want to know all of that, but we also want to know how on Earth this wild thing that spits in the face of 2000 of marital tradition WORKS. How could it possibly?
So it's with a certain bit of desperation that we ask that question, "How does this work?"
Because I think we want so desperately for it to work. We have this idea in our heads that's pushing out the fears of jealousy and finding another lover, the idea of real happy swinging with all the supposed perks, the communication boost, the redirection of wanderlust. Some of us just want to do it like rockstars.
But the answer to "How does this work?" is quite different for everybody. For some, this date stage is skipped entirely, and even the newbies walk into a sex club and get right down to business, sometimes with nary a name exchanged, just a thanks afterwards, perhaps a pat on the ass and a fare-thee-well. For others, the discussion process is almost interminable, endlessly running scenarios and plotting next moves the way a grand master plays chess.
For us, the best path has always been fairly middle of the road between those. We won't jump into bed without names or chat, but we won't make them fill out a complete sexual history either. For Marilyn and I, how this works, especially at the beginning, was letting fantasy guide us.
We'd met our first couple, asked them how it worked, and they told us how it worked for them. In the week between our first date and our (far more adventurous…with the soft swapping) second we fantasized together, which is something we never really did before that. Asking each other, while in the throes of ecstasy, what we wanted to do, what we wanted to see, how we wanted to act, where we wanted to go, and how we wanted them to fit in with our lives.
This prep work helped ensure that the jealousy monster could be held down at least, maybe with tape over his mouth. So when we did get together with them the next time, we were able to (giggly perhaps) articulate where we might want things to go, or at least were far more willing to be led.
Now, how this works is always left up to our friends.
We've gotten to a point in this lifestyle where there's really very little that makes us uncomfortable or take pause. After all, we're cool with same rooms or separate rooms, full swap or soft swap, girl/girl, guy/guy, all in the bed in a pile. Nothing bothers us, and we're willing to try pretty much everything once…or twice in case we got it wrong the first time. So because of that, it's a very easy for us to cede the lead to the newbies, of course perfectly willing to push them a bit on their way as well, but we let them dictate the level of play, knowing full well that we'll be able to have enough control to redirect if anyone seems uncomfortable.
Our new friends we met Monday are just beginning their journey, it's just a twinkle in their eye right now, a fantasy in their sex life. So, "How does this work?" Well, we shall see.
Or, put another way:
"How does this work?" "It works GREAT!"
How about you? Does this question come up on dates? What's your answer?


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The future is looking bright for the Detroit Red Wings. Tomas Tatar is the brightest 18 year old starto make the pro-ranks in the organ-i-zation in quite some time, and now it looks like our collegiate athletes are doing quite well also.
According to Red Wings Central, Detroit prospects Gustav Nyquist and Brendan Smith are among the 70 preliminary nominees for this year's Hobey Baker Award.
No Detroit propsect has ever won the award (to date).
Nyquist has 14 goals and 26 assists for 40 points in 26 games. He is just two points behind Cory Conacher for the NCAA scoring lead.
Smith leads all NCAA defensemen in scoring with 12 goals and 21 assists for 33 points in 26 games.
Not bad, boys. Keep it up…and don't forget to do your homework.