text:
We have updated our Privacy Policy and encourage you to read it by clicking here.
Today, Lee Gomes' Portal column in the Wall Street Journal today entitled, "Vendors Still Paying For IT Research That Flatters Them" (subscription required) delivered a serious bodyblow to technology consulting and research outfit, The Aberdeen Group. Gomes' essential point was that companies like Aberdeen (and I'd say all other big IT and Finance research firms) are far from unbiased and actually quite conflicted in the work they do.Â
Let's first understand Gomes' arguments. He writes about the old Aberdeen "which was for the most part a "pay-for-praise" operation. If you saw an Aberdeen report saying that Acme MicroMacro sold world-class solutions, you could be sure that Acme had written Aberdeen a world-class check."
He then goes on to discuss how Aberdeen has repositioned itself by ending this practice and now doing "sponsored research." He writes, "The new Aberdeen is better than the old one. How much better, though, is the question, because the new reports also seem conspicuously flattering."
Basically, sponsored research lets firms pay ~$30,000 to Aberdeen who then conduct surveys with tech users. The sponsors Gomes talked to said they like to sponsor a report because it provides a "chance to rise above the noise of the marketplace by being associated with something customers consider "research"." Even sponsors know the research is of dubious value, but it gives them an air of credibility.
He goes onto describe the conflicts which are clear. Aberdeen did 212 reports last year with 4-5 sponsors each. He writes, "But if much of your top line is dependent on getting tech companies to sponsor your research reports, you've got quite an incentive to design questionnaires that will yield the kind of reports tech vendors will want to sponsor."Â
"In that regard," Gomes writes, "Aberdeen delivers. The reports seem to invariably discover that "best in class" companies use, or are thinking about using, or somehow embody, whatever technology the report happens to be discussing."
I hope more people will take heed of what Gomes is writing. I've written about it before in my blog as there are too many inherent conflicts that such organizations have and so their advice is far from fair and balanced. But when someone brings it up in the Wall Street Journal, it will get attention which it deserves. I'm sure the PR machines of the big research firms are going into overdrive to demonstrate how unbiased they are, but there is no way to get around these massive conflicts. Beyond research sponsorship, other conflicts include:
As I have argued previously in my blog, (see one posting) you have to remain skeptical because objective research on the myriad self-anointed "best practices" is often not objective and the practices they're advocating are often far from best. So before you use a report to help make the case to buy a piece of software or undertake an initiative to mirror some "best practice" within your organization, be mindful of the source.
Anand Sanwal is the former Vice President, Investment Optimization and Strategic Business Analysis, at American Express where he built and led the company's corporate portfolio management effort managing several billion dollars per annum of discretionary investment spend. It is widely recognized as the most ambitious corporate portfolio management undertaking by a large- or mid-size corporation. He also oversaw the CFO's strategic planning group in addition to also leading the creation and management of the company's inaugural $50MM Chairman's Innovation Fund. He is the author of the book Optimizing Corporate Portfolio Management: Aligning Investment Proposals with Strategy. He is a founder of consulting & advisory company Brilliont.
He speaks and consults frequently with research organizations and companies on the topics of innovation, corporate portfolio management and cost optimization and has worked with leading financial services, pharma, high-tech, healthcare and public sector institutions. His work has been featured in Business Finance Magazine, BPM Magazine, The Journal of Accounting & Finance, Baseline Magazine and The Deal amongst others. He graduated from the Wharton School of Business with a degree in Finance and Accounting and also has a degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania. More info can be found at Brilliont or at his personal website. He can be reached at email@example.com.
As you can probably tell, Anand also enjoys writing descriptions about himself in the third person.


text:
by Betty Dravis
Betty Dravis: Good morning, Rob, It's my pleasure to have you visiting with us all the way from Holland. I'm glad you could make it, and thanks for taking time from your busy schedule.
I'd like our readers to know that I met you through model/award-winning screenwriter Kitania "Kitty" Kavey who starred in our first Dream Reachers book. She recommended you highly, but I must confess, when I started researching you it was your logo that intrigued me. Odd to say, but that orange lizard is rather attractive, in a funky kind of way. (laughs)
But first things first, Rob… To relate to people as you do, a person must have inborn intuition and certain powers of persuasion. Did you recognize any special skills as a child? When did the urge to help people start? Please share some of your early childhood with us. I'm especially curious about what it was like growing up in Holland.
Rob Waterlander: Well, Betty, I am not the typical personal, mental or motivational coach people might expect. My intuitive and empathetic nature is something I was born with and have developed over my lifetime. I have always been a beacon–shining and attracting people who were wondering what direction to go–although initially, I wasn't aware in full. Looking back, I think things started moving in the direction of guiding people when classmates started asking for guidance, mainly girls sharing their emotions.
I feel I got my extensive class, or University of Life, the first three months of my life. Long story… (laughs)
Being adopted by two of the most loving parents after I was given away has been the key to unlocking my potential for intuitively seeing and feeling people. It helped me to enter the world of helping those in search of more of what they want.
And by the way, Kitty is an amazing person, gifted and so sweet.
In 1996 I started organizing youth sports events for charity: CliniClowns sports events. CC is a foundation that originated in NYC when Patch Adams started to perform as a clown in hospitals, entertaining children with long-term illnesses, sometimes terminal. These sports events put me in contact with professional soccer players and the rest is history; one soccer player referred me to another, etc. And I love it!
By the way, Hunter Doherty "Patch" Adams is one of those special ones on earth. Would love to meet him in real life and have a chat.
As for Holland, my country is probably one of the best countries overall. I grew up in a suburb of Amsterdam, what used to be a little fishermen's village where I felt safe, being able to play, hang out and develop the "real" me.
Betty Dravis: That's interesting how CliniClowns started; I recall reading some stories about Patch Adams. I agree with you about him; he had to have been a caring, sensitive man to devote his life to children like that. I sensed when I met you that you were born with this "sensitive" ability, Rob. Thanks for explaining the fascinating details.
This might seem like an odd juxtaposition, but getting back to your logo before I forget: Why did you choose a lizard? And why an orange one…?
Rob Waterlander: I chose the lizard, Betty, because it's associated with intuition and psyche, balance and sensitivity, helping us to detach from our past what no longer serves us. Detachment from ego, power to regenerate that which is lost, facing fear, controlling dreams, conservation, agility… The lizard is an archetype of adaptation, variation, flexibility and shrewdness. The lizard typifies characteristics that I work on every day within my own life, and it helps teach my clients to realize these same skills in theirs.
Also, the lizard's stillness and its silence–having the peace and ability to hang-out for hours and hours in the heat of the sun–is something that I can relate to myself. So, as you see, there are various aspects of what the lizard is to me and, therefore, what made me choose it. I listen, absorb in silence, and then intuitively see and feel where the person's next steps are.
Betty Dravis: Well, I can't argue with your wise choice, Rob. I once chose the turtle as the logo for a newspaper I owned…because of its patience. But that didn't last long because my subscribers thought I meant that they were "slow" like the turtle. (laughs)
But back to you, after the lizard, the second thing I noticed on your page was your brilliant smile. It was a pleasure when you visited my home in February to find that the smile is genuine and almost a constant… I found you to be a truly happy, up-beat guy. In my opinion, only a man who has found his true calling in life can be that happy. But before you get into what you're doing now, please share a little about the path it took to get from "there to here."
Rob Waterlander: I am following the path leading to the sanctuary where I want to be, and being on track feels good. I have two lovely souls in my life who are blood related: my children, a son and a daughter. Those two are my link to many things in life that I cherish, given by one of the most remarkable women in my life, the high school sweetheart I married and was married to for almost twenty-one years. I divorced almost ten years ago, although she is someone I am eternally linked to. There is another woman in my life with whom I have found the connection I so want, leading closer to the sanctuary where I love and long to be. I am feeling good… From here, I have everything to offer to people looking for guidance, joy and releasing resistance in life, allowing them to be who they are and enjoying life in full.
Having been in sales for a long time, I learned a lot about myself and people. I enjoyed doing something that brought me success and acknowledgment of me as a professional: advising and selling roofing constructions for new and re-roofing projects with a contract value of up to more than two million dollars per project. One of the projects I did brought me to Richard Meier, the well-known and famous NYC architect.
My intuitive qualities were a valuable asset to work with project teams and buyers within the construction industry and during those years I developed my qualities extensively.
Betty Dravis: I agree, Rob, that being in sales teaches valuable lessons about others. I bet you felt proud and fulfilled when you actually viewed the architectural beauty of the completed construction projects, also.
I saw some recent photos of you with a lovely, dark-haired woman with a smile that matches your own. Is she the new woman that you spoke of above?
Rob Waterlander: Yes, Betty, she is felt as my mate in the sanctuary. (smiles) Her name is Carly Couweleers and we were brought together by one of her daughters and two of my best friends. She is a guide, too—although a bit different from what I do. She is able to see through people at levels going beyond what most of us see, and I can see us working together with people in the future. It is amazing to experience someone to work with who is guided by spiritual guides and is a woman of God, also. That I asked for too…
Betty Dravis: I'm so happy for you both, Rob. Carly does, indeed, sound like a God-send and I can tell by your glowing description that she's "the one" for you. (laughs) You should make a great, inspiring team. Like-minded, compatible people working together can perform miracles,
When you decided to take a road trip to visit me in Manteca, you were in the States for client meetings in San Francisco, and after you left you had more meetings in the L.A. area. Were those meetings successful and did you manage to help your clients progress in their search for a more meaningful life?
Rob Waterlander: I was in California for a few meetings with people and some workshops in San Francisco and L.A. I am glad I took the time to also drive down to Manteca from the Bay Area before heading to L.A. Being able to meet up with you, as well as with your friend Johnny, was such a good thing.
You, being a mother, do have the natural drive and joy of wanting to make a difference, but it was Kitty Kavey who told me and still does: "Rob, go to L.A. They need you there." Truthfully, Betty, after having lived in San Diego in 2003, going back there has been a good stepping stone. I am glad I decided to say yes to the meetings. Whether the people I met are making the progress they want in their life or not, it is an option I offered to them. As you know, we all have freedom of choice. I love working with those creative guys and gals…and Malibu is so my area. (smiles) I am certain to go back soon.
Betty Dravis: It's a great start, Rob, and I'm happy you enjoy working in the States. Speaking of road trips reminds me that you love to travel and have clients in many countries. What countries have you visited and where did you go on your most recent trip?
Rob Waterlander: I love the globe–the playground offered to all of us here in the world. The world is huge, although I think it is nothing compared to what is out there and waiting for us, Betty. My last travels took me to the Middle East and I will be there soon again. It's an amazing area… Also I had the chance to spend some time in Venice this summer.
I have been to many places in the world; except for the Far East I have been to almost all continents, although not all over those continents. I would love to see more of Africa and the Middle East. Sydney and San Francisco are my favorite cities. Another part in the world that intrigues me is South America; Venezuela and Bolivia showed me extremes in atmosphere.
My next travel will be to Saudi Arabia and Northern Africa, both for business. Then in 2011, I am also traveling to the USA, both for pleasure and business. Recently, I started to look more into the Dutch Islands, close to Amsterdam, and other than the climate, it is so wonderful.
Betty Dravis: Wow–all that travel boggles my mind! That's a mighty ambitious agenda, Rob. You certainly do love to travel, and fortunately, you're in the right career to be able to do it. (laughs)
I know cruises are a lot of fun, so what's the funniest or most embarrassing thing that ever happened to you on a cruise?
Rob Waterlander: Wow, Betty…. hahahahaha… I had the chance to go on a cruise with my best friend–thanking him for all the years he gave me so much fun while he was playing in one of the leading soccer leagues in the world, the Premier League in England. We went to Norway and met some wonderful entertainers while on the cruise. He had a not-so-nice experience, which to me was very funny… (laughs) We kayaked in a beautiful fjord and he turned upside down while looking backwards; not so nice for him–losing his camera and phone. But I will always remember that cruise as precious because I spent quality time with a dear friend who gave me a lot, both he and his wife. Enjoying food and travel with a dear friend is the best!
Well, kind of funny, too, my son's luggage not being there when traveling for a cruise departing from Panama and having to shop for new clothes almost every day because each day new promises came our way. Eventually, he had to take part in a formal night and seeing my son actually enjoying being dressed in a tuxedo was worth it. My son said, "The next time, I will probably travel with a plastic bag and an empty suitcase." Six weeks later, the suitcase re-emerged having been to Miami and all over the Caribbean. (laughs)
And, very sweet was being with my daughter during a formal night seeing her in her evening gown.
Betty Dravis: It's odd how those embarrassing moments give us laughs years later, isn't it, Rob? As for your kids in formal attire, I'm posting a photo of you with your lovely daughter in her formal gown. She does, indeed, look so grown up and lovely. I bet your son was very handsome too.
Now, getting back to your career, to sum it up, you are an intuitive motivator, "people whisperer," inspirer and guide and you work one-on-one with people to help create the life they want. This means working to ensure their independence and helping them discover or rediscover their personal light in order to continue through life's challenges.
That sounds like a colossal job to me. Do you mind telling us how you begin with an individual? And please share a few success stories.
Rob Waterlander: Before I answer that, Betty, let me assure you and your readers that my work is not meant to substitute for those who have addictions or conditions that should be treated, but I can work as part of their team to success. All the possibilities are within each individual and I can help them discover the endless joy and happiness that is there.
Light is essential. Many times we try to see the light in our lives, and we can't. It may seem there is no light… Circumstances and events can overwhelm us. Even well-meaning friends and family can discourage us from living our true purpose. Entertainers and sports stars, in particular, are under tremendous pressure to fulfill the expectations of others around them, often losing themselves and their personal focus in the process.
What I always start with is tuning in on people, feeling and seeing behind the masks we all wear in daily life. I am just silent… I listen and, occasionally ask a question. Listening to what they say and don't say, figuring out where they are and where they want to go…
Talking about individual people, I would have to give disclosures that most prefer me not to give. In general, I can say this: Entertainers and sportspeople with level-headed spouses who use common sense should stay in close connection with their partners, enabling them to thrive. When they lack support of a good husband/wife or similar, they might, sooner or later, need a person who is able to give support, guiding them through life's challenges and helping them to focus on what they do so well.
Betty Dravis: I understand and respect the privacy of your clients, Rob, so thanks for generalizing for us. I totally agree that a helpful mate is a powerful force and it's very important to support one another…whether it's a spouse or a dear friend.
I hear that you specialize in working with people in the entertainment and sports community; professional athletes, musicians, singers, movie actors, artists and other creative talent. Why and how did you manage to narrow the field?
Rob Waterlander: As I said earlier, the sports events helped me connect with sports people and those guys kept referring me to other athletes.
Basically, I have chosen these entertainers and sports people, as well as other creative guys and gals, because I enjoy working with people with that specific state of mind. Driven and at the same time fragile somehow. I think all the attention and "The show must go on" stress levels make people prone to stuff that would stress out anyone. There is just no escape when everybody is expecting a brilliant performance and appearance.
Betty Dravis: You're absolutely right about that, Rob. We've all seen some of our favorite stars, whether entertainers or athletes, fall apart due to that kind of stress.
I've heard through the grapevine that you're good at what you do and I hope you don't mind if I share what a few people wrote about you. I'll start with Kitty Kavey since I know her and she's mentioned above.
"Intuitive, kind and empathetic to others, Rob Waterlander is an absolute joy and privilege to work with. If you're in the entertainment or sports industries, he really "gets" the pressures that we have to live up to–not only our own expectations, but the needs and expectations of those around us and the public. He doesn't preach, or tell you what to do or which plan to follow. Instead he leads each individual to the place within where the answers lie. He gently guides one to what they know, and what they need to know, to not only be successful in career, but also to be able to reconnect with the happiness and peace within. Not only that, but Rob is also an expert in combining the realities of business and marketing (and public relations), with the spiritual/emotional needs of an individual." – Kitania Kavey, Screenwriter, Actress, Model, The Netherlands/Europe
And the following is from a sports professional in the UK:
"Rob is someone who is empowering and directing. He has the ability of communicating at the right moments, pointing out exactly that part I couldn't see beyond at that moment. I call it diving in, opening and showing the pregnant space of possibilities… opening doors to what was waiting so close. In a way, I wasn't initially aware that I was applying aspects of what he said and shared when we interacted. When distracted by people in my daily professional or personal life, it's easier to feel the patience of knowing whether now, tonight or tomorrow I would exactly see what I needed to see. As an athlete with a focus on performance, once or twice a week having a balanced day-to-day life is essential. Rob is a valued part of keeping focused, knowing that all is well." – Fabian Wilnis, Professional Footballer, UK
Those are powerful words of praise, Rob. Knowing that you've helped those people must be encouraging to you, keeping you inspired and focused on your own dreams and goals. I've heard you say, "An interesting question for many coaches supporting people could be 'who is going to motivate you when the motivator has gone home?'" Please answer that intuitive question for us.
Rob Waterlander: Well, Betty, I feel what works best is when a client is independent, only dependent on their own gained knowledge. When they absolutely know themselves–their hearts, and can listen again to their authentic selves–only then will they be secure and happy. I have made it my life's work to guide people towards what always has been waiting for them, and once there, I just stay around to fine-tune, watching from a distance as they live thriving and wondrous lives.
Once I have established a level of clearness with my clients, I try to see them twice a year…up to a max of twelve times.
Betty Dravis: That makes perfect sense to me, Rob, and I see that truth working in the Dream Reachers that my co-author Chase Von and I have interviewed. That's good, solid advice and I can see where we could all use someone like you in our lives—someone who really cares. I saw your gentle guidance when you met my friend John Manha who has multiple sclerosis. You talked with him at length and I saw your compassion and nurturing abilities first-hand. As a strong, determined Vietnam veteran, he's a good judge of character and he was truly impressed with you and admires your calling. He felt your life flow… Thanks for that and for encouraging him in his personal and business goals.
But we're nearing the end of this interview, so I'd like to invite you to share your Mission Statement. We've discussed everything in the statement, but I think our readers would like it condensed as a refresher.
Rob Waterlander: My Mission Statement as stated on my website is: My goal is to guide each person to create for themselves the opportunity to have each of their talents and thoughts tuned in to the direction of that which one has a passion for. I know that if the passion and creative direction of each individual is found and followed, then the physical, mental and financial rewards will flow naturally.
Thank you, Betty, for this chance to get my message across to more people. I sure hope to meet up soon again and have the chance to do another lunch together. Meeting Johnny was felt within… Please say hi to him from me and deliver this message: "I enjoyed talking to you a lot, Johnny. Man, you have an awesome smile." (laughs)
Betty Dravis: I, too, hope we do lunch again next time you're in the States, Rob. I certainly enjoy your company. This time I will listen for your "silences" too. (laughs) And I'll certainly pass on your message to Johnny. He'll be pleased to know you're thinking of him.
It's awesome what you offer your clients, Rob, but I almost forgot to mention that you work with companies too. By now our readers must be eager to learn how to contact you, but before that, tell us a little about your corporate services.
Rob Waterlander: I'm glad you remembered, Betty, because that's a big part of my business. I am available to work with corporate Human Resources Departments and with recruiters and headhunters to help find the right executives for their companies…or the right companies for their clients. In today's market it is imperative to match the job opening with the right candidate before time and money is invested in a position that doesn't work out. I assess the needs of both the company and the job seeker to ensure a good fit for both. I walk with them on the beach or we cycle… Any activity is great while figuring out whether the company and the candidate are a match. It is so fun to be with a person who has a dream…and spending a while with a candidate for a job enables me to see whether he really wants it or whether he just wants to survive. I understand it is so much better when a person actually feels excited because the job fits a part of his dream. And it saves a company loads of money when the new person is the right one.
Betty Dravis: You're right, Rob! That's very important in today's business climate. I have several corporate friends who use services such as you offer. Thanks for expounding on that area of your profession. And now here are some links where people can reach you:
Rob's Main website:
Other websites:
Before closing, Rob, this might seem silly, but I think it will shed more light on the real you: If you were stranded on a desert island what three things would you take with you?
Rob Waterlander: It's the island life! Wooo-hoooo… I'm so much an island person, it feels like a present to me. Hahahahaha… This is a good question for me, Betty. Thank you for asking.
Now let me think… What/who I would like to take with me and what I would like to have with me there? I can choose whatever I wish, though only three? Well, that is easy: My children and Carly. And hopefully, there will be available a few jackfruit trees and coconut trees.
I might be pushing a bit now, but if possible, I would like to take my two best friends. I will miss you all, but having my children and Carly will help me to get through. (smiles)
Betty Dravis: Oh-haha, Rob, I guess you would be living on love, coconuts and jackfruit then. I've never seen jackfruit, but I read somewhere that it's the largest fruit in the world and can grow as large as eighty pounds. Well, that's a lot of food, so you certainly wouldn't go hungry. (laughs)
I really appreciate your sharing your time and your life with us today. It's fascinating how you found your true purpose in life. I see the principle of "What goes around comes around" working in your life: Helping others achieve their full potential to live their dream enables you to live your dream.
The cost of your services wasn't mentioned, but you do work on a sliding scale and are available worldwide, so that's a big plus in your favor. That said, it's been fun getting to know you better, and do come back to keep us posted from time to time. As for me, I'll see you on Facebook, I'm sure. And I know you're open to answer comments from everyone on Facebook.
Farewell and good luck, Rob…or in your language, Vaarwel and geluk! Please keep us posted on your activities. Oops—I almost forgot to thank you for the bright yellow "wooden shoe" house-slippers you brought me last time.
Rob Waterlander: Hehehehe, I see some Dutch here… (smiles)
Well, what I do always makes me feel good and that is the most important thing. Feeling good… What I charge depends on circumstances, indeed. Roughly it varies between 1,000 to 4,000 Euro/US Dollars for working with someone a maximum of two days, and people pay/arrange my travelling and lodging.
Thank you so much, Betty. It was fun to answer your questions. I am grateful because it helped me to go back to joyful moments, especially those in the six years of organizing sports events. It was fun and educational to work with pro-athletes, pro-referees and nine- to ten-year-old soccer players of the major soccer teams in Holland, as well as working with TV and radio teams and those who sponsored the events. I learned a lot… One thing I remember so well is what a general manager of Nike said: "Rob, focus on two things at the same time, max. That allows you to be successful with what you do. Just do it!"
And, I am amazed at you every day, Betty. You are the age of my mom, though you run your blogs, write books and do your interviews… I hope I have the chance to see you again and then I would like you to have some fun in real wooden shoes, instead of the fluffy ones. (laughs)
Thanks again, Betty. Hugs and loving vibes sent your way. xx

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Hiiraan Online
Today from Hiiraan Online:
Somali Map
Somali Music
Contact Us
Google Plus
Ads By Google
Somalia-Kenya: Conflict over port and buffer state
The Africa Report
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
Ads By Google
Beaming with confidence after a string of international conferences pledged to back his government, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has to grapple with a new set of security and diplomatic problems.
The most serious is the growing tension between his government and Kenya's.
Simmering for many months, disagreements between Mogadishu and Nairobi over the control of Kismayo broke into the open when rival clans started a war for the spoils of the port city in June.
For now, Kenya's proxy and leader of the Ras Kamboni militia, Ahmed Mohamed Islam 'Madobe,' has defeated his rivals militarily and politically.
A seasoned operator, Madobe emerged as 'elected' president of Jubaland after a specially convened conference at Kismayo in May.
Madobe and his backers in the Kenya defence forces want to see Jubaland as a semi-autonomous province of Somalia, along the same lines as Puntland.
That way, Madobe gets a fiefdom – collecting port dues can make a warlord very rich – and Kenya gets a buffer state.
One problem is that President Hassan and the Somalia National Army (SNA) are not in the equation.
Somalia has a federal constitution, and Hassan insists that all regions accept the authority of his government and the presence of SNA troops.
Madobe does neither and shows no signs of relenting.
Jubaland is also important economically.
This too inflames tensions between Kenya and Somalia.
A confidential report by United Nations (UN) monitors, which surfaced in mid-July, accuses Kenyan troops of collaborating with smugglers in Kismayo.
Kenya and its allies in the african Union have unsuccessfully petitioned the UN Security council to lift the ban on charcoal exports from Kismayo.
Despite this, illegal charcoal exports under Madobe's control have increased: an estimated $15m worth leaves Kismayo each month.
Swedish politician attacked in Somalia's Mogadishu
Swedish politicians shot in Somalia drive-by
- The Local
Pioneering Soma Oil to give Somalia data, pick exploration areas
- Reuters
Mogadishu Streets to See Traffic Lights for First Time in Decades
- Sabahi
Somalia: Headquarters of Somali National Olympic Committee Under Construction
- Sabahi
AU forces suspected of rape in Somalia
Somalia battling polio outbreak
- Press TV
Somalia: No Ransom, No Release for Hostages of Somali Pirates
Aid group explains reason for leaving Somalia
Somalia: AMISOM seeks to 'mop up' latent Al Shabaab terror threat
- The Africa Report
Somalia: Dr Tedros Confers With UN Secretary General's Special Representative for Somalia
- Allafrica
Post your comments
You need a Frames Capable browser to view this content.
Ads By Google
Somali Music
Somali Map
All Rights Reserved Copyright. © 1999-2017, www.hiiraan.com


text:
AG says higher ed board met illegally to discuss Shirvani buyout
BISMARCK - Behind closed doors, State Board of Higher Education member Grant Shaft laid out the game plan for how to handle the vote that would decide embattled Chancellor Hamid Shirvani's fate. The board would publicly weigh two options: one to keep Shirvani at his post, and the other to buy out his contract.
"If someone wants to say, 'I move we scrap the continuation,' then we can vote on that," Shaft said, according to an audio recording of the hourlong private meeting June 3. "Now you just have a separation agreement.
"Or vice versa," he added.
Back in the public eye minutes later, the board shot down two proposals to keep Shirvani as chancellor and then unanimously voted to buy out the remainder of his contract for a total of nearly $1 million.
In an opinion released Tuesday, Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem said Shaft's tactical conversation - plus a brief discussion of three different buyout packages - should have been held in public.
Citing a portion of the state's open meeting laws that allows public entities to discuss negotiating strategy with an attorney in private, the board went into a 77-minute "executive session" before approving Shirvani's buyout. Stenehjem said only the portions of the meeting that involved the attorney should have been held behind closed doors.
He ordered the board to turn recordings of the remainder of the meeting - nearly 30 minutes of audio - over to The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead and other news organizations that requested an opinion on whether the executive session violated the state's open meetings laws.
In a separate opinion, Stenehjem stated that a series of individual meetings between three board members and 10 North Dakota university presidents - held about a week after Shirvani's ouster - weren't subject to the state's open meetings law. Had there been four board members participating - enough to establish a voting quorum - those meetings would have been considered public.
Board President Kirsten Diederich said in a statement that the board was happy to be cleared of one allegation of wrongdoing, but also disappointed with yet another open meetings violation.
In a May opinion that dinged the board for two improper meetings earlier in the year, Stenehjem wrote that the board's violations of open meetings laws are "pervasive." He required all board members to complete training to avoid further violations.
Diederich said the board is committed to improving its transparency.
"We were very sensitive to following open meetings requirements, thus we were very cautious on the front end and had several conversations with the attorney general's office before the (June 3) meeting," Diederich said. "We thought we were following its guidance"
Inside the boardroom
The State Board of Higher Education spent the majority of its executive session consulting with an attorney, Sara McGrane, about which buyout proposal would put the board on the best legal footing. Stenehjem said the board was right to take that conversation private.
But among themselves, members briefly discussed three possible buyout packages for Shirvani:
- Paying out the remainder of the chancellor's contract in full, regardless of whether he found another job afterward. This is the option the board approved, and the only one it discussed in public.
- Paying out the remainder of the chancellor's contract in full until he found another job. If Shirvani's new job paid him less, the board would cover the salary difference. Shaft said Shirvani and his attorneys would not accept this deal.
- Paying out the remainder of the chancellor's contract in full, plus money for moving and "reputation damages" as well as a tenure position at the University of North Dakota or North Dakota State University. "That really wasn't acceptable," Shaft said.
The 28 minutes of recordings released Tuesday show that board members spent much of that time discussing the tactics of the looming vote and the difficulty of reaching an agreement that would keep Shirvani on as chancellor.
In order to continue, Shirvani asked for complete autonomy and a vote of confidence from the board. Board members briefly discussed implementing an evaluation process if Shirvani were to stay on the job.
Shaft said that if Shirvani was given a choice between staying on the job and taking a buyout, he would likely take the money.
"I have a very strong hunch, for what hunches are worth, that we are going to end up with a separation agreement," Shaft said.


text:
Sound Meter - Professional sound level meter in your pocket!
1. On some devices the app will NOT WORK because of the way required for Sound Meter app to sample sound from the microphone.
2. Due to microphone limitation in some devices the meter range is limited, the low end of the scale is limited by the microphone noise and the upper end of the scale by the microphone distortion on high levels.
3. Devices employing AGC (Automatic Gain Control) will have significant measurement errors and limited range. This is not app's fault.
· direct reading in dB
· 0 to 100dB range
· variable update speed
· 5% max error (device dependent)
· predefined and custom calibration
· vintage analog look
· 6 skins
What's New in This Release:
· Added support for more devices, more calibrations and 8 new case skins. Also added vibrating alert if a measurement is above the defined value.
What's New in 2.0:
· Added support for even more devices.
What's New in 2.0:
· Added square meter face and support for more devices. Also, improved look on very small and very big screens.
What's New in 1.6:
· Bugfixes and improvements.
What's New in 1.5:
· Added min/max value indicator
Sound Meter - Professional sound level meter in your pocket!


text:
Egal Ahouvi, Delek Real Estate Purchase 15 Hilton Hotels in U.K.
The 15 hotels contain a total of 3,100 rooms. The two largest are in the London area - one at Gatwick Airport and the other in Kingston.
Delek Real Estate and Israeli businessman Egal Ahouvi have signed a major deal under which they will purchase 15 Hilton hotels in the United Kingdom for close to 400 million pounds (about NIS 3.3 billion).
However, the Hilton chain will continue to manage the hotels for at least the next 30 years.
According to the London Times, which first reported the deal, Ahouvi also is close to acquiring a sixteenth unit, the Hilton Edinburgh Airport, for an estimated 14 million pounds.
The 15 hotels contain a total of 3,100 rooms. The two largest are in the London area - one at Gatwick Airport and the other in Kingston. One of the reasons for the purchase is the forecasted upswing in tourism to the U.K. due to London's successful bid to host the 2012 Olympics.
The deal apparently has been closed. However, because of its size, Delek and Ahouvi presumably will try to bring other Israeli investors into it.
According to the Times, Hilton also plans to put additional British hotels on the block, hoping to raise another 400-500 million pounds. The terms of these sales will be similar to the Delek deal, meaning that Hilton will continue to manage the hotels. One of the hotels reportedly up for grabs is the London Metropole, one of Europe's largest hotels.
The Times said that the hotels bought by Delek and Ahouvi were part of a group of 18 properties that Hilton put up for sale in July through a real estate agent, CB Richard Ellis Hotels. Two of these hotels, located in Northern Ireland, have since been taken off the market.
Over the past year, Ahouvi has snapped up real estate in Britain, Germany and Switzerland. At the start of the year, he bought seven properties in Germany for 273 million euros in conjunction with Delek International (another member of Yitzhak Tshuva's Delek Group) and Electra Real Estate, a subsidiary of Electra.
Earlier this month, Ahouvi and Delek International bought 45 percent of an office building in Zurich, which has been rented in its entirety to the University of Zurich until 2015. That deal was worth NIS 432 million.
One of Ahouvi's largest deals was closed in September 2003, when, together with several other Israeli investors, he bought a British parking garage company for 610 million pounds ($978 million at the time of the sale). The investment consortium included Delek International (40 percent), the Phoenix insurance company (5 percent), businessman Zvika Biran (8 percent), and a company controlled by Professor Itzhak Swary. The parking lot company, which owns 138 parking garages that bring in $41 million a year, was purchased from the British bank RBC. To finance the purchase, the buyers took out a 540 million pound loan.
Want to enjoy 'Zen' reading - with no ads and just the article? Subscribe todaySubscribe now


text:
Helping a child tend to a garden will over a lifetime grow into a worthwhile investment, teaching children a sense of responsibility and accomplishment, while they learn valuable lessons about the environment, including wildlife habitat and the importance of native plants.
The National Wildlife Federation ( www.nwf.org ) in Reston, Va., offers a series of helpful tips for developing your child's green thumb and appreciation of nature.
Getting started:
Take your child or children to public places where plants thrive, such as nurseries, garden centers, arboretums, community gardens, or botanical gardens (San Diego Zoo, Wild Animal Park, Quail Botanical Gardens, Balboa Park, to mention a few).
Show them the treasures in your own back yard -- birds, bees, blossoms, seed pods, while cultivating their curiosity.
Give your children a small garden plot of their very own -- no wider than a yardstick. Let them choose what to plant, whether flowers, vegetables or herbs. Use fast-germinating seeds, starter plants or cuttings. Other options include planting window boxes or containers.
Help them to include plants that will excite their senses, such as fragrant flowers, fuzzy ornamental grasses, or eye-catching flowers, and plants that will attract butterflies or hummingbirds.
Explain to your children why native plants provide the best overall food source for backyard birds and other animals, and that they also require less moisture and are naturally resistant to local plant diseases and pests.
Getting dirty:
Provide kid-sized tools and teach young gardeners how to use them safely. Start them out with household items, such as spoons, forks and measuring cups.
Don't use toxic chemical fertilizers, weed killers and pesticides. Use harmless, yet effective alternatives, like Safer's Soap.
Practice good hygiene. When it comes to gardening, getting dirty is half the fun for children, but be sure they wash up after working in the soil, as it can contain harmful contaminants and bacteria.
Encourage children to do their share of garden chores, according to their limits. The more the kids do, the more they will feel that the garden is also theirs, but give help when needed.
Teaching lessons:
Go into the garden with your kids each day to make sure they don't miss its beautiful rewards: smelling the flowers, seeing butterflies sip nectar, seeing ladybugs munch on aphids. Teach them about the pill bug on the ground and show them that the roly-poly posture is just a means of defense.
If your children pose questions that you can't answer, visit the library or the Internet and find out the answers together.
Encourage children to share their garden with family, friends and neighbor children. Giving tours of their garden helps instill a sense of pride. Plants and seeds can be exchanged.
Most of the gardening adults vividly remember a family member, parents or a grandmother, grandfather or aunt who taught them as a child the simple pleasures of gardening. And now these adults are passing it on to their children, who then will pass it on to the next generation.
The Nature Wildlife Federation also has great info on their Backyard Wildlife Habitat program, which would be a great school or home project for children of all ages.
For more info, visit www.nwf.org/bwh.
Sunset magazine has opened its Southern California Idea House in Valencia, inspired by Spanish colonial and Monterey architecture and surrounded by an oak preserve. It is open to the public until Oct. 10. The Idea House will also be featured in their October issue.
The garden includes a complete outdoor kitchen, with a rose arbor, a vegetable garden, an overflowing fountain and a stone-faced fireplace. The garden offers a truly natural setting: orange trees and sycamores, along with hardy plants that thrive in the Mediterranean, such as salvia and lavender. For more info and directions, visit www.sunsetmagazine.com, then click on left bottom bar "Resources, Events," then click on "Idea House."
Tineke Wilders is a freelance garden writer. Questions to: email@example.com .


text:
Health Centers
Health Forums
Ask a Doctor
Sign Up
Email or Display Name
Remember Me
Forgot your password?
Medical Questions
Womens Health
Vaginal and Uterus Health Forum
Swollen and Pale Pink Urethral Sponge
Must Read
Vaginal bleeding
To better understand abnormal vaginal bleeding, we first review normal vaginal bleeding. Do you know when uterine blood is normal, or not?...
Read more >>
Vaginal Bleeding Symptoms
What are the signs and symptoms of abnormal vaginal bleeding? When should you seek help?...
Read more >>
Vaginal Bleeding Diagnosis
Prepare yourself and know what to expect when you visit your doctor for vaginal bleeding. We review the medical tests and diagnostic procedures frequently used....
Read more >>
Womens Health
Painful swollen legs
Swollen lymph nodes after sex
Labium minor has swollen
Vaginal and Uterus Health
Clitoris swollen and sore
Checking levels of male and female hormo...
Swollen vaginal interior
Related Topics
Torn Labrum Slap Repair Swollen hand /Fi...
Swollen Left Foot
Swollen under right nipple
June 21st, 2009
I'm not sure whether this is a vaginal or urinary problem, but my urethral sponge (the little piece of flesh below my urethra and right above my vagina) has become enlarged, has become pale pink, and it sticks out more than it usually does. Also my vagina itches, hurts when I have sexual intercourse, and burns when I pee... However, there is not odor or chunky discharge. I went to the doctor twice for this problem and both times I was given yeast infection medicine and once I was given medicine for a UTI. Both times the swelling went down and the discoloration went away, but returned after having sexual intercourse. My boyfriend has been checked for STIs and doesn't have any. I have only had sexual intercourse with him.
I'm also wondering if birth control pills might have something to do with this problem, but, I have been on the pill for almost 10 months now and my problems only started showing around 6 months ago. The problems have also been getting worse in recent months. I'm going to get an appointment with a gynecologist as soon as I can, but unfortunately it might take a while to see one so I'd like to know what it is, (if anyone's encountered it before) and/or if this sounds super serious and in need of urgent medical attention...
Also I should mention that there are holes in my urethral sponge, and although I'm pretty sure it's normal that they're there, I'm a little worried with how deep they are... I don't know if that's normal as well...
Thanks for the help.
Did you find this post helpful?
You marked this post as helpful!
I changed my mind
replied July 20th, 2009
Swollen Urethral sponge
I'm actually relieved that someone has the same problem as me. I have the exact same thing - it fares up after intercourse and I've noticed the deep holes, too. I've recentley had two UTI's. I have no idea what it is, but I'm going through the same thing.
Did you find this post helpful?
You marked this post as helpful!
I changed my mind
replied December 26th, 2011
The clitoris is the most sensitive spot in the female body because it is densely packed with extremely sensitive nerve endings. The organ exists solely for sexual pleasure and clitoral stimulation is usually necessary for a woman to achieve an orgasm. If you have never touched your clitoris before until just recently, it could be very sensitive and that is why you feel that it hurts when you push on it. Because this is a new feeling for your brain to process it may not know what to do with the intense sensations that touching the clitoris can produce, and thus you interpret it as pain. Even once your clitoris gets used to being touched, it can still be incredibly sensitive and the line between pleasure and pain is often very thin. Some women have clitorises that are so sensitive that they cannot be directly stimulated- this is something that you will have to figure out as you continue to explore your body.
I don't know If this will help, I have the same problem as well. Sometimes I would be on my period. So my body was very sensitive. The first time, I've had it. It went away once my body calmed down. I got this from a teenMed site.
Did you find this post helpful?
You marked this post as helpful!
I changed my mind
replied December 29th, 2011
I had this very same problem so I consult my physician and she said that she didnt exactly know what could have cause it because i had no sign of infection in my urine, and all my std test came back negative! So i worried for a while...ok back to the problem the space betewwn my urethra and vaginal opening was very swollen and it hurt pretty bad to lean forward or to sit so I took it apon myself to go and buy some suppositories for a yeast infection even though i didnt have one i used the cream and the first night It felt very irritating and itchy but the next morning it popped yes It busting open like a pimple or something and once I cleaned myself up the relieve was unbelievable!!! I contined to take my Bactrim and I was back to new again!!! I hope this helps...I think a women can become irritated by different saops, santitary pads, and tampons. And ladies always remember to wipe front to back this is very important as well!
Did you find this post helpful?
You marked this post as helpful!
I changed my mind
Birth Control Pills
sexual intercourse
Yeast Infection
Birth Control
Quick Reply
Sign up for FREE weekly health tips!
Do you live in Canada?
Sign up here.
Ask a doctor
Type your medical question here
Featured Experts
Dr. Madhumita Avinash Paul
General Medicine, Women's Health
Bhupinder HirA
General Medicine, Obstetrics/Gynecology, ...
Dr. Sanjoy Bhattacharyya
Gynecology and Obstetrics, currently ass ...
eHealthPedia Articles
Chlamydia Causes and Risk Factors
Chlamydia Diagnosis
Chlamydia Symptoms
Chlamydia Treatment
Search eHealthForum for
Learn About Us
Contact Us
About Us
Advertise With Us
Privacy Policy
Cookie Policy
Terms of Use
Get Help
Ask a Doctor
Getting Started
Join In
Sign Up
Find People
Free Medical Forms
Community Guidelines
Do More
Become an Expert
Become a Partner
RSS Feeds
You are helping me a lot. Thanks for the support, eHealth Forum. - Hunnie
The site is not a replacement for professional medical opinion, examination, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your medical doctor or other qualified health professional before starting any new treatment or making any changes to existing treatment. Do not delay seeking or disregard medical advice based on information written by any author on this site. No
health questions
and information on eHealth Forum is regulated or evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and therefore the information should not be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease without the supervision of a medical doctor. Posts made to these forums express the views and opinions of the author, and not the administrators, moderators, or editorial staff and hence eHealth Forum and its principals will accept no liabilities or responsibilities for the statements made.
Health Disclaimer
This page was last updated on Nov 22, 2017.
© 2017 eHealthForum.com


text:
After getting leaked online Activision has announced Call of Duty: Ghosts.
The next instalment in the Call of Duty series of first person shooter is official and Ghosts will be released on 5 November. The game will launch on Xbox 360, PS3 and PC and keen gamers can pre-order it already. See also: Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 review.
Eric Hirshberg, CEO of Activision Publishing, said: "Ghosts delivers an all-new story, all-new characters, an all-new Call of Duty world, all powered by a next generation Call of Duty engine, which is a leap forward for the franchise. Infinity Ward is going all-in to create the next generation of Call of Duty worthy of the world's greatest fans."
See also: The 39 best ever first-person shooter games.
Activision has brought back Infinity Ward which made Call of Duty 4: Modern Warefare. The developer has made a 'next-gen engine' for the title. There are little details on what the game will entail but you can check out the teaser video below. Read our controversial: 18 Worst Video games ever
"Everyone was expecting us to make Modern Warfare 4, which would have been the safe thing to do. But we're not resting on our laurels," said Mark Rubin, executive producer of developer Infinity Ward.
Call of Duty: Ghosts will also be available for next generation platforms, confirmed Activision, suggesting it will launch on PS4 and the Xbox 720. The Wii U isn't mentioned but it's still possible the game will arrive on Nintendo's latest console. See also: The 26 best role playing games ever.
If you're keen to find out more about Call of Duty: Ghosts, a first look will be shown on Xbox.com on 21 May at 10am PDT when Microsoft unveils the next-generation Xbox.
Follow Chris Martin and @PCAdvisor on Twitter.


text:
If an item you ordered from TextbookRush does not meet your expectations due to an error on our part, simply fill out a return request and then return it by mail within 30 days of ordering it for a full refund of item cost.
Learn more about our returns policy
Limited time offer:
Get the first one free! (?)
All the information you need in one place! Each Study Brief is a summary of one specific subject; facts, figures, and explanations to help you learn faster.
List price: $18.00Copyright year: 2010Publisher: Penguin Group (USA) IncorporatedPublication date: 9/29/2009Binding: PaperbackPages: 320Size: 5.50" wide x 8.25" long x 0.75" tall Weight: 0.770Language: English
Abolqasem Ferdowsi(9401020) is the preeminent poet in the Persian language and one of the greatest poets of his time in any language. Dick Davisis the premier translator of Persian poetry at work today. Azar Nafisiis the author of the bestselling Reading Lolita in Tehran.
Dick Davis is an Englishman who has lived for most of his adult life outside his own country - in Greece, Italy, Iran and the United States. He is currently a professor of Persian at Ohio State University in Columbus.
*A minimum purchase of $35 is required. Shipping is provided via FedEx SmartPost®
and FedEx Express Saver®. Average delivery time is 1 – 5 business days, but
is not guaranteed in that timeframe. Also allow 1 - 2 days for processing. Free shipping is eligible only in the continental United States and excludes
Hawaii, Alaska and Puerto Rico. FedEx service marks used by permission."Marketplace"
orders are not eligible for free or discounted shipping.
Learn more about the TextbookRush


text:
Research Topics
Elena Seminari
Affiliation: San Raffaele Scientific Institute
Country: Italy
Detail Information
- Higher plasma lopinavir concentrations are associated with a moderate rise in cholestasis markers in HIV-infected patientsElena Seminari
Infectious Disease Department, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Via Stamira d Ancona 20, 20122 Milan, Italy
J Antimicrob Chemother 56:790-2. 2005..The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between liver function markers (necrosis and cholestasis) and plasma lopinavir levels in a cohort of HIV-infected patients treated with lopinavir and ritonavir...
- Osteoprotegerin and bone turnover markers in heavily pretreated HIV-infected patientsE Seminari
Infectious Diseases Department, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
HIV Med 6:145-50. 2005..To characterize osteoprotegerin (OPG) levels, bone remodelling and bone mineral density (BMD) in heavily pretreated HIV-infected patients on antiretroviral therapy, and to evaluate the clinical factors associated with bone density decline...
- Amprenavir and ritonavir plasma concentrations in HIV-infected patients treated with fosamprenavir/ritonavir with various degrees of liver impairmentElena Seminari
Infectious Disease Department, San Raffaele Scientific Institute and Universita Vita Salute San Raffaele, Via Stamina d Ancona 20, 20122 Milan, Italy
J Antimicrob Chemother 60:831-6. 2007..The purpose of this study was to evaluate the steady-state pharmacokinetics of amprenavir and ritonavir in HIV-infected patients with different degrees of hepatic impairment...
- Steady-state pharmacokinetics of atazanavir given alone or in combination with saquinavir hard-gel capsules or amprenavir in HIV-1-infected patientsElena Seminari
Infectious Disease Department, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Vita Salute University, Via Stamira d Ancona 20, 20122 Milan, Italy
Eur J Clin Pharmacol 61:545-9. 2005..The aim of this pilot study was to examine the pharmacokinetics of atazanavir (ATV) when given in combination with amprenavir (APV) or saquinavir hard-gel capsules (SQV) to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients...
- Redistribution of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 variants resistant to protease inhibitors after a protease inhibitor-sparing regimenNicola Gianotti
Clinic of Infectious Diseases, Vita Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses 21:545-54. 2005..In highly PI-experienced patients, a PI-sparing regimen may lead to a reduction, no change, or increase in the number of PI mutations. The reduction is negligible in most cases...
- Changes in darunavir/r resistance score after previous failure to tipranavir/r in HIV-1-infected multidrug-resistant patientsVincenzo Spagnuolo
Department of Infectious Diseases, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 50:192-5. 2009..To evaluate changes in resistance to tipranavir/r (TPV/r) and darunavir/r (DRV/r) in patients who had failed a TPV/r-including regimen...
- Liver function parameters in HIV/HCV co-infected patients treated with amprenavir and ritonavir and correlation with plasma levelsVincenzo Spagnuolo
Infectious Disease Department, San Raffaele Scientific Institute and Università Vita Salute San Raffaele Milan, Italy
New Microbiol 30:279-82. 2007..2002). The aim of this study was to evaluate the liver function tests in HCV-co-infected patients treated with fos-amprenavir and ritonavir...
- Resistance to amprenavir before and after treatment with lopinavir/ritonavir in highly protease inhibitor-experienced HIV patientsHamid Hasson
Clinic of Infectious Diseases, Vita Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
AIDS 18:123-7. 2004..Treatment with LPV/r can select for the 50 V mutation. In this setting, significant differences in the inference of the amprenavir phenotype from genotype were observed when using different algorithms...
- Viro-immunological dynamics in HIV-1-infected subjects receiving once-a-week emtricitabine to delay treatment change after failure: a pilot randomised trialAlessandro Soria
Department of Infectious Diseases, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
J Clin Virol 47:253-7. 2010..In HIV-1-infected patients harbouring the M184V mutation (M184V), lamivudine monotherapy leads to a smaller decrease in CD4 percentages (CD4%) than treatment interruption, possibly due to the reduced fitness of the mutated virus...
- Evaluation of atazanavir Ctrough, atazanavir genotypic inhibitory quotient, and baseline HIV genotype as predictors of a 24-week virological response in highly drug-experienced, HIV-infected patients treated with unboosted atazanavirNicola Gianotti
Clinic of Infectious Diseases, Vita Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
New Microbiol 28:119-25. 2005..In conclusion, the number of ATV resistance mutations is the only correlate to virological response through 24 weeks of treatment with unboosted atazanavir 400 mg once daily...
- Predicting the magnitude of short-term CD4+ T-cell recovery in HIV-infected patients during first-line highly active antiretroviral therapyAntonella Castagna
Infectious Diseases Department, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
Antivir Ther 15:165-75. 2010..The extent of short-term CD4(+) T-cell recovery in patients tolerating first-line highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and attaining undetectable HIV RNA levels is inadequately defined...
- Impact of a treatment including tenofovir plus didanosine on the selection of the 65R mutation in highly drug-experienced HIV-infected patientsNicola Gianotti
Clinic of Infectious Diseases, Vita Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
AIDS 18:2205-8. 2004..After a median of 26 weeks of treatment, two patients (10%) selected the 65R mutation. These results support the hypothesis that NEM hinder the selection of this mutation...
- Modulation of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-specific immune response by using efavirenz, nelfinavir, and stavudine in a rescue therapy regimen for HIV-infected, drug-experienced patientsDaria Trabattoni
Cattedra di Immunologia, Universita di Milano, DISP, LITA Vialba, Milan, Italy
Clin Diagn Lab Immunol 9:1114-8. 2002..Therapy with EFV, NFV, and d4T increases HIV-specific type 1 cytokine production as well as CD4 counts and reduces plasma viremia. This therapeutic regimen may be considered for use in cases of advanced HIV infection...
- Granule-dependent mechanisms of lysis are defective in CD8 T cells of HIV-infected, antiretroviral therapy-treated individualsDaria Trabattoni
Department of Immunology, University of Milan, Via GB Grassi 74, 20157 Milan, Italy
AIDS 18:859-69. 2004..CTL are stimulated by type 1 cytokines and can kill targets via granule-dependent (perforin and granzymes) and -independent (tumour necrosis factor-alpha, CD95) mechanisms...
- Sex differences in nevirapine disposition in HIV-infected patientsMario Regazzi
Departments of Pharmacology and Infectious Diseases, IRCCS Policlinico S Matteo, 27100 Pavia, Italy
- Multiple relapses of human cytomegalovirus retinitis during HAART in an AIDS patient with reconstitution of CD4+ T cell count in the absence of HCMV-specific CD4+ T cell responseDaniele Lilleri
Servizio di Virologia, IRCCS Policlinico S Matteo, 27100 Pavia, Italy
J Clin Virol 26:95-100. 2003..However, cases of HCMV disease in HIV-infected patients treated with HAART have been reported...
- Haemostatic activation in HIV infected patients treated with different antiretroviral regimensAngelo Pan
Istituto di Malattie Infettive e Tropicali, Spedali Civili, Universita di Brescia, Brescia, Italy
Curr HIV Res 6:70-6. 2008..In conclusion, a) HIV infection per se may alter the haemostatic markers of cardiovascular risk, b) minor differences were observed among the different classes of HIV infected patients, namely between NNRTI and PI treated patients...
- Early and late effects of highly active antiretroviral therapy: a 2 year follow-up of antiviral-treated and antiviral-naive chronically HIV-infected patientsMario Clerici
Cattedra di Immunologia, Universita degli Studi di Milano, DISP LITA Vialba, Milano, Italy
AIDS 16:1767-73. 2002..Control of HIV replication can be observed in highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART)-treated and, occasionally, in HAART-naive patients. The immunological correlates of these situations were examined in a longitudinal study...
- Control of HIV during a structured treatment interruption in chronically infected individuals with vigorous T cell responsesFranco Lori
Research Institute for Genetic and Human Therapy RIGHT at IRCCS Policlinico S Matteo, Pavia, Italy
HIV Clin Trials 3:115-24. 2002..To study whether and under what circumstances HIV can be controlled in chronically infected patients...


text:
Top 10 Single-Board Computers Under $200
16 comments
Bigger isnt always better. That is certainly the case for todays SBCs (single-board computers), which rival and sometimes surpass the power desktop PCs had from just 10 years ago. There are literally dozens of SBCs currently on the market and companies continue to release a steady stream of new boards seemingly every eight months or so. While most companies are gearing up to get their new boards out (think CES 2015), others have recently released new iterations of their popular SBCs. Listed are some of the more powerful boards that do not require deep pockets to be had.
Click on the image below to begin the slideshow. The slideshow will display in a new tab on your browser.


text:
Please make sure to send in the recorder money with your child for music class as well as report card envelopes if you haven's done so already. Hope you have a wonderful weekend!
Mileage Club Volunteers
Attention ALL PARENTS! Mileage Club 2014 is looking for many awesome volunteers! This year, Mileage Club runs from Monday, April 14th to Friday, May 30th! Volunteers are needed from 11:30-12:45 on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays…as long as it's not raining. You will be asked to stand outside to keep our students safe near the parking lot and punch Mileage Club cards! Please consider signing up for a few days! It's easy to sign up this year...Just click HERE to be directed to a sign up page or go to http://goo.gl/4NlT2S! Thanks in advance for helping make Mileage Club successful this year for our children!
Next week is conference week. Conferences are on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday evening from 5:00-8:00. Please make sure to sign up if you haven't done so already. Looking forward to seeing all of you next week!
Valentine's Party
Tomorrow is our Valentine's Party. With our Friday schedule being full in the afternoon, we are going to have a shorter, more laid back party from 2:00-2:30. We will be playing a class Valentine bingo game and eating some food. You are more than welcome to join us if you would like to, but wanted to let you know that it will be shorter due to our schedule.
Field Trip
I hope you enjoyed your long weekend. Hopefully we will be done with the bitter cold weather for a while. Mrs. Rycus and I will be deciding in the next week or so when we will be going to the Michigan Historical Museum. I will let you know as soon as I know anything. Thanks for your understand and sorry for any inconvenience this has caused.
No School Monday
Don't forget there is no school on Monday for Martin Luther King Day. Hope everyone has a great weekend!
I hope you all had a wonderful holiday break. I just wanted to let you know that we are starting a new program called REWARDS, which is working with words and spelling combinations. Since we are implementing this program, we will not be having regular spelling tests for the rest of the school year. I may send home a couple words a week I want them to work on based on what we are working on in REWARDS, but there won't be any formal tests. If you have any questions just let me know.
Gingerbread House Supplies
Last Friday I sent home a sheet in the Friday folder letting you know items that need to be brought in to make our gingerbread houses for the holiday party. Please make sure you get those items in by next Thursday, December 19th. Thanks for your cooperation!
On Tuesday, November 20th, our class is going to have a Read-In. This is a time when we all sack out on comfy blankets, cozy up with a special stuffed animal, and READ for the joy of reading. Please send in the following supplies for our Read-In:
·blanket or sleeping bag, pillow
·a special stuffed animal or doll
These items must be able to fit into a garbage bag (please don't try to stuff blankets into your child's backpack!) and your child must be able to carry the items and have them fit on the bus.
Thank you to the parents who have sent in snacks for our classroom. Your donation is greatly appreciated.


text:
Obama's Feisty Proclamations are Subliminal
The US President Barack Obama's one hour, sixteen-minute State of the Union address in Washington on Tuesday was largely devoted to illustrating a single point, namely, that 2014 can be a «breakthrough year» for the American economy. Obama sounded acutely self-conscious that his presidency has hit the bumps. The latest CNN poll showed him at a low 43% approval rating.
Unsurprisingly, foreign policy issues took a back seat. Although Obama pointedly touched on the Iran problem and the Middle East, US's 'rebalance' to Asia and the turmoil in Ukraine, the details were skimpy…
One major announcement he made was that the prison at Guantanamo Bay ought to be closed within the year, but, again, this ultimately turns out to be the reiteration of an intention which is as old as Obama's five-year old presidency, and he didn't give any clue how he proposed to get the «remaining restrictions on detainee transfers» removed by a recalcitrant Congress, which has been in no mood to cooperate with him on any issue.
Obama did not even once use the term 'exceptionalism', but instead there has been a swagger, contrived or spontaneous, and he did expound ideas that in his opinion made America truly exceptional. He said, «From Tunisia to Burma, we're supporting those who are willing to do the hard work of building democracy. In Ukraine, we stand for the principle that all people have the right to express themselves freely and peacefully and to have a say in their country's future.»
Four issues that Obama discussed – Iran, Syria, Afghanistan and the 'pivot' to Asia – need to be put in perspective. As regards Iran, Obama repeated his rejection of any more sanctions being legislated against Iran, whilst the negotiations are going on regarding the nuclear problem. He repeated that he would exercise his presidential prerogative to veto any such legislation.
Obama claimed once again that the Geneva agreement meant rolling back «parts» of Iran's nuclear program, although Tehran has openly rubbished such an interpretation. Clearly, Obama was addressing the lawmakers on Capitol Hill and the US domestic opinion. He continued to insist that he «stands ready to exercise all options to make sure Iran does not build a nuclear weapon.»
Obama repeated his skepticism about the success of his engagement policy toward Iran, which again is more a hedge, because «we're [US] clear about the mistrust between our nations, mistrust that cannot be wished away.» In their totality, Obama's remarks on Iran contained no new elements. What stood out from the fact that it was on Iran that he spoke at some length in his speech, is the highest importance he attaches in the year ahead to the resolution of «one of the leading security challenges of our time without the risks of war.»
Obama's remark on Syria was, in comparison, curt and wrapped up in a couple of sentences. The interesting part is that it came hot on the heels of the Geneva 2 conference last week. Surely, it does cause some uneasiness that Obama's stress was the US' continued «support» for the non-jihadi rebel forces. He did not say a word about the peace talks in Geneva. He left things suspended in the air by saying the US will «continue to work with the international community to usher in the future the Syrian people deserve – a future free of dictatorship, terror and fear.»
But then, this has been how all along the regime-change agenda has been propagandistically presented by the so-called 'Friends of Syria' grouping, which includes the US. A question arises: Is the Obama administration considering a revving up of the support for the rebel fighters in Syria following the impasse at Geneva 2?
On Afghanistan, Obama made it clear there is no going back on his decision on troop withdrawal. He stressed that the withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan signified «America's longest war will finally be over.» Obama seemed unsure of the US-Afghan Bilateral Security Agreement coming through, by saying if it is signed, a «small force» will remain in Afghanistan «to carry out two narrow missions,» namely, training and assisting the Afghan forces and, secondly, for undertaking counterterrorism operations against «any remnants of al-Qaeda.» He didn't refer to the Taliban at all.
The remarks on Syria, Afghanistan and the al-Qaeda problem, put together, arguably, the contours of a 'Obama doctrine' emerges. He himself underscored the following:
• The deployment of US forces in conflict situations should be only if «it is truly necessary.»
• The US should avoid getting «mired in open-ended conflicts.»
• Large-scale US troop deployments abroad will «drain our strength and may ultimately feed extremism.»
• Counterterrorist operations must be active and aggressive but should be through «targeted efforts» and by building the capacity of the US' foreign partners.
• «America must move off a permanent war footing.»
Curiously, however, the Obama doctrine doesn't apply to the US' 'rebalance' strategy in Asia. He asserted, «we will continue to focus on the Asia-Pacific, where we support our allies, shape a future of greater security and prosperity.» Yet, the 'pivot' to Asia is a strategic reset necessitating the deployment of 60 percent of the US' fleet in the Pacific, and equipping the Pacific Command with the most cutting-edge capabilities by 2020.
Put differently, America is indeed gearing up on a «permanent war footing» in the Asia-Pacific. The principal purpose of the rebalance strategy is to guarantee that US' hegemony in Asia-Pacific remains unchallenged through the 21st century. The US is inserting itself into China's problems and disputes with its neighbors by posing as a neutral party but de facto becoming a participant. In fact, the US' military presence has already complicated the Asia-Pacific security scenario.
In sum, the disconcerting part of Obama's State of the Union address is that he was grandstanding. For example, he couldn't resist taking a swipe at Russia by remarking that when Team USA «marches the red, white and blue into the Olympic stadium» at Sochi next week and «brings home the gold,» it will be an expression of the US' commitment to the «inherent dignity and equality of every human being, regardless of race or religion, creed or sexual orientation».
At the end of the day, Obama could not help reverting to American exceptionalism. He said, «My fellow Americans, no other country in the world does what we do. On every issue, the world turns to us, not simply because of the size of our economy or our military might but because of the ideals we stand for and the burdens we bear to advance them.» Of course, this is sheer humbug. Such feisty proclamations prompted a CNN commentator to compare Obama's state of the Union address to a «Rorschach of sorts» – a reference to the inkblot test associated with the Swiss psychologist Hermann Rorschach, which helps examine a person's personality characteristics and emotional functioning and to detect underlying thought disorder where patients are reluctant to describe their thinking processes openly.


text:
LONDON, Jan. 16 (UPI) -- The British economy relies too heavily on natural gas from Qatar, where shipments are in jeopardy because of Iran's regional threat, an analyst says.
Frank Harris, an analyst at energy consultant Wood Mackenzie, told the Financial Times that Japan, which gets nearly all of its oil and natural gas from imports, has a more secure energy sector than the United Kingdom because its supplies are diversified.
"(The United Kingdom is) incredibly dependent on Qatar from a liquefied natural gas perspective," he was quoted as saying. "If you are going to want to change that you are going to have to start contracting on a firm basis."
The newspaper notes mild winter temperatures are providing regional relief as more natural gas is held in storage. Yet, domestic production has declined about 6 percent per year since 2005 while natural gas imports from Qatar soared 67 percent from 2010 to 2011.
Iran has threatened to cut oil and natural gas deliveries through the Strait of Hormuz if backed into a corner, leaving the British economy with few options. Germany's Deutsche Bank estimates only one-quarter of LNG contracts from Qatar are secured under long-term fixed contracts, leaving the British economy vulnerable to market fluctuations.


text:
Book Cliffs, geological feature of east-central Utah and western Colorado, U.S. Beginning near Helper, Utah, and joined at Green River, Utah, by a second escarpment, the Roan Cliffs, the 2,000-foot- (610-metre-) tall mountain wall, winds a 250-mile (400-km) course along the Tavaputs and Roan plateaus, ending near Grand Junction, Colorado; it is the longest continuous escarpment in the world. Viewed in oblique light, the cliffs resemble a book lying on its side. Much of the rugged region is administered as wilderness or grazing land by the federal government.
Keep Exploring Britannica
We welcome suggested improvements to any of our articles. You can make it easier for us to review and, hopefully, publish your contribution by keeping a few points in mind.
- Encyclopædia Britannica articles are written in a neutral objective tone for a general audience.
- You may find it helpful to search within the site to see how similar or related subjects are covered.
- Any text you add should be original, not copied from other sources.
- At the bottom of the article, feel free to list any sources that support your changes, so that we can fully understand their context. (Internet URLs are the best.)
Your contribution may be further edited by our staff, and its publication is subject to our final approval. Unfortunately, our editorial approach may not be able to accommodate all contributions.
Our editors will review what you've submitted, and if it meets our criteria, we'll add it to the article.
Please note that our editors may make some formatting changes or correct spelling or grammatical errors, and may also contact you if any clarifications are needed.
There was a problem with your submission. Please try again later.


text:
I'd keep the GIT
Thread: GIT or Riverside drive
Ok I'm not a complete newb but I am suffering from fragrance choice anxiety. I recently got a bottle of green Irish tweed 4oz for 120 from fragrance net. I also have been smelling samples of riverside. They both give me a similar green vibe but I am torn on if I should return my creed/sell it because I'm getting much better longevity and project from the bond. Does anyone have any unbiased thoughts? I don't see the need to have 2 green niches in my collection that serve a similar purpose.
I'd keep the GIT
I think you answered your own question ... Bond's Chez Bond and its more dark Riverside do mimic Creed's Green Irish Tweed; and given the better projection and longevity from Riverside that you are experiencing, that is the one you should have ...
Im a big bond no 9 fan but riverside drive to me is boring old to me
Git is more interesting
Thanks for all the help guys, but I was wondering if its worth owning both? I mean i do sense a smoother smell from GIT.
I dont think they smell similar. I think Chez Bond smells more like GIT than Riverside Drive.
I would keep the GIT
Sounds like someones having a case of the Mondays
thanks charlie, I am definitely keeping GIT but i guess my real question is: should i get riverside?
Threads like this make my head spin.... 10 people with 10 different answers. haha
I'd go with GIT
Does GIT give better projection during warmer months? i just bought this thing a week a ago, its like in the 30's here in NY and doesn't really get noticed. I do faintly smell it at the 2.5 mark but was wondering if it amps up when the heat kicks in? is the scent cloud 1 ft or more? I have 2011 batch.
A3211P03, i have had it a little under a month, first GIT/CREED i ever owned but have smelled it all over. I love the smell but its quite cold here in NY so i guess i not using it during the right time.
GIT is one of my favorite fragrances of all time. That being said I have never tried Riverside Drive. Since, Riverside is supposed to be similar but not as good I have no desire to sniff this one out.
My current top ten:
1. Oud Wood
2. Straight to Heaven
3. Pardon
4. Santal 33
5. Tonka Imperial
6. Pure Malt
7. Jubilation XXV
8. L'air Du Desert Marocain
9. Envy
10. Terre D'Hermes
EnvYuS My Wardrobe
About a year ago I was at the Bond counter at Saks sampling various things. The SA sprayed Riverside Drive onto the paper and I said it reminded me a little bit of GIT. Her eyes lit up and she said "If you really want something that smells like GIT, you need to try this!" It was Chez Bond. I thought it was odd that the SA was so happy/proud that one of the Bonds smelled so much like another fragrance.
I don't think it would be the worst thing in the world to own both GIT and Riverside Drive, but if my resources were limited I'd just get GIT.
Current Top Five:
1. Bois des Iles--Chanel
2. George Sand--Maitre Parfumeur et Gantier
3. L'Ame Soeur--Divine
4. Violet Blonde--Tom Ford
5. Santal Blush--Tom Ford
Another one for GIT
Riverside drive is a copy of Himalaya. Get GIT.
Want to trade - Chanel Platinum Egoiste for Dior Eau Sauvage...
GIT for me.
GIT. No contest.
I don't think that GIT and Riverside smell that much alike, so if you like both than get both. I don't think Riverside is a copy of Himalaya in the slightest. If you were to somehow put Riverside in a Creed bottle, people would probably hail it as insanely original and a top quality, must have scent. Oh, the power of the label CREED, and their ability to not even come close to smelling like any other scent on the planet they are so amazingly original in the extreme. Yeah, that last sentence was sarcastic, if you didn't catch that.
Last edited by Kybid; 7th September 2012 at 06:43 PM.
If I HAD to choose one, it would be GIT without much hesitation. However, I do like Riverside Drive quite a bit and personally, don't find it similar to GIT at all. RD has a completely different smell all the way through for me. Also, if it was supposed to be a copy of Himalaya, they did a terrible job, because it smells NOTHING like Himalaya to me, either. GIT is...well, GIT, and everyone knows what that smells like, but RD is mainly fruit, moss and wood on me. I find it quite unique, actually and am very happy having both in my rotation.
Another vote for GIT


text:
Growing up on a Grayson County farm during the Great Depression helped mold Samuel Kenneth Vaughan for years of public service.
He was active in church and civic affairs before being elected to the Texas Legislature, where he represented Garland and surrounding areas. In 1977, he was appointed to the Dallas County Court of Criminal Appeals.
Vaughan, 89, died Tuesday of natural causes at Baylor Medical Center at Garland.
Services for Vaughan will be at 10 a.m. Friday at First Baptist Church of Garland. He will be buried in Cherry Mound Cemetery in Grayson County.
"Growing up in the Depression had a great effect on him," said his daughter, Cindy Spencer of Garland. "He never forgot where he came from ... that gave him a really strong sense of wanting to serve other people."
Vaughan was born in Denison and grew up on a farm in Cherry Mound, where his family moved after his father lost his job during the Depression. He graduated from high school in Bells and was drafted into the Army during World War II.
He received a Bronze Star for his service in the China-Burma-India Theater.
"He was training Chinese troops to fight the Japanese," his daughter said.
In 1949, he received a bachelor's degree in chemistry from Baylor University. That same year, he married Sylvia Forsgard and moved to Garland, where he was a laboratory supervisor for Kraft Foods.
Mr. and Mrs. Vaughan lived in a Garland duplex, where their neighbor was young lawyer and future county Democratic Party leader Earl Luna.
"He encouraged my dad to go to law school," Spencer said.
Vaughan worked days at Kraft and attended law school at Southern Methodist University in the evenings. He received his juris doctor degree from SMU in 1957.
He practiced law for 18 years in Dallas and Garland.
"He was a man of deep faith," Spencer said. "He was one of the most godly men I ever knew. He was just a perfect father. He was always my hero."
Vaughan was a member of First Baptist Church of Garland, where he had been chairman of the board of deacons and taught the men's Sunday school class.
He served on the Garland Plan Commission and the chamber of commerce board of directors. He also served six years as a Democratic precinct chairman.
He was elected to the Texas Legislature in 1974. He was re-elected to the House, where he served until Dallas County commissioners appointed him to the county bench.
In 1978, Vaughan held court on Saturdays to clear the backlog of misdemeanor cases. One Saturday, he heard 600 cases, working from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
In 1981, he switched parties — with many other Democratic judges — and became a Republican.
He retired from the bench in 1998.
In addition to his daughter, Vaughan is survived by his wife, Sylvia Vaughan of Garland; one grandchild; and one great-grandchild.
Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church of Garland.


text:
The Martinlaakso swimming pool in Vantaa will begin swimming lessons for Muslims next spring. For this purpose, the halls windows have been covered with curtains. The swimming classes have been organised by swimming clubs and by the Muslims own organisations.
The underlying factor behind the swimming schools is the fact that in Vantaa many Muslim pupils have not wanted to attend swimming lessons in schools because of their religion. Moreover, the parents of Islamic children have forbidden their children from attending swimming classes arranged at school. According to Veli-Matti Kallislahti, Sports Director of the City of Vantaa, swimming skills are part and parcel of the Finnish national culture, and learning how to swim will help immigrants integrate into Finland, quite apart from possibly saving their lives.
I could imagine that the Muslim girls now attending swimming classes behind the curtains and learning how to swim could in 15 years from now perhaps be taking their own children to regular swimming classes in schools, Kallislahti notes on the integration aspect of the project. (...)(...more)


text:
I have worked extensively as both a composer and theorist throughout my career and see no separation between these two complementary, mutually enriching activities. My work as a theorist has been profoundly influenced by my composition and vice-versa.
I view the theorist as one whose role is that of helping to understand the innumerable ways that musical designs reflect our ever changing, ever deepening understanding of the world. A truly important theorist will sensitize us to the many new dimensions of sonic expression that we continually encounter in the work of our most original creators (past and present). Clearly, I do not view the role of a theorist to be that of one who merely formalizes what is known but rather that of one who opens us to the unknown.
Similarly, the really interesting composer is one who creates musical designs that attempt to corral his/her innumerable experiences of the world and—at least for a moment—make some sense of them. The analytical studies of works by such modern masters as Xenakis, Lucier, Feldman, Carter, and Scelsi that I have pursued over the course of my career have helped me discover my own unique concerns and expressive needs and ultimately make my own sense of the world through my composition.


text:
Coffee Service
Music & Games
Bulk Vending
ATMs & Kiosks
Meetings & Events
Names in the News
Vend Product News
Bulk Vending and Crane Products
Small Business News
Video Content
Press Releases
Classified Ads
Buy a Classified Ad
e-Newsletter Signup
Bookstore Sales
About Vending Times
Media Kits
Editorial Calendars
Circulation Data
Contact Us
Sometimes optimism pops up in unexpected places. "I think the industry is doing better," a veteran street operator said this summer'despite the fact that he does business in an economically depressed state. "I'm fairly bullish on the industry," this operator continued: "In fact, we're probably going to have the best year we've ever had this year. We are doing very well."
So says Jerry Johnston of Amusement Unlimited (Eugene, OR). How does he explain his route's record profitability? "Well," he said, "I sure don't attribute it to that old idea that the amusements industry performs better when times are bad. Here in Oregon, we have the highest unemployment in the country. I suspect that people have less money to spend on entertainment today than they did a couple of years ago, especially in working-class bars. And don't forget, we are also competing with the Oregon Lottery."
Instead of attributing his high earnings to some counter-cyclical economic theory, Johnston cheerfully claims the credit for himself'based on good, solid, professional operating. "We are doing a good job and the marketplace is responding to our efforts," he declared. "For one thing, we're really diversified, with pool, music, and pinball, as well as video. In fact, we pride ourselves on offering the full range of today's equipment. Our locations know that whatever comes along, we're ready. We are using all of our products to pick up new business, and to increase business in places where we had machines before. That's why, even though our local economy is weak and entertainment spending is down, I am pleased with our situation."
Johnston is not alone. From coast to coast, many professional operators say they are having an excellent year. G&G Amusement Co. in Los Angeles, celebrating its 51st year in business this month, is another example. And, this happy trend is not confined to street routes. If you have been reading Frank Seninsky's column in this publication, you know that his Alpha-Omega Amusements (E. Brunswick, NJ) is experiencing an extremely strong year with its arcade-based business.
So if "the good news" is not confined to one region of the country or one type of operation, what common factors are found in all of these success stories? Quite simply, the operators of these profitable businesses have a very aggressive policy of (a) updating their routes with good, new equipment; and (b) selling older equipment after three or four years, while it still commands a decent price.
"I have forced competing operators in my area to keep up with me," says Phil McBride of T&G Music (Titusville, FL). "They are having to go with newer equipment, because I am constantly upgrading my own machine inventory. But in regions where nobody is leading the market, operators are bleeding their routes by taking the money out of the cashbox without reinvesting in newer machines. Today you have to invest 25% to 30% of what you take in, to keep your route current. Otherwise, you're just cashing out early. You can't keep up with the industry and you get caught in a downward spiral. As your equipment ages, collections drop and replacing machines becomes even harder."
Of course, all operators (and distributors) would like to see available more of both good and new equipment from which to choose. Who wouldn't? But the winners aren't just passively waiting for "the next 'Pac-Man'" to appear. And they aren't sitting around wishing for legalized gambling, either. They are jumping on the best of whatever is available, operating it as well as they can'and smiling. You'll see these operators at this month's AMOA International Expo. They will be walking the aisles, studying the new products, talking to manufacturers, distributors, and each other. You'll also see them scribbling down notes on which products they plan to buy, and how many.
Operating is hard, hard work; that fact will never change. But the "secret" of success in this industry is really not so secret. It's hiding in plain sight, from Oregon to New Jersey, and from Florida to Los Angeles.
Connect With Us!


text:
Written on: 28/01/2010
I bought F&P DD603 almost 9yrs ago, installed it myself, never had a problem, not even once. Recently without thinking I just pulled opend one of the drawers during wash cycle and that stuffed it up.
It was my mistake that its malfunctioning. Otherwise its a great product.
I would certainly reccomend this product but to a small family of three or four at the most.


text: Today I updated to 4.4.2 on my Note 3 (SM-N900W8) and had to root my phone again. So I'm slowly trying to customize the phone back to the way I had it before, but running into a few issues. I'm stuck trying to hide the Vibrate & Silent icons that show up in the status bar. I remember using a combination of GravityBox and Wanam Xposed to achieve this before, but I can't seem to find it now. Any help is greatly appreciated.


text:
"Nick, are you playing tomorrow?" Chris Kaman interrupted Nick Young's interview during Saturday's Los Angeles Lakers practice.
"Yea, Brother," Young responded.
"I love it! I love it! I love it!" Kaman screamed as he walked off the practice floor.
After a win over the Boston Celtics on Friday night, the Lakers' spirits were high at Saturday's practice. The additions of Kent Bazemore and MarShon Brooks had instantly translated to an influx of energy, youth and athleticism. Most importantly, Bazemore and Brooks had delivered a win.
"Bring more energy," Bazemore responded when asked how he could build on his debut with the Lakers.
With Young set to return on Sunday and Xavier Henry practicing on the court, the Lakers finally looked like a team that had depth. Young said he welcomed the competition, and he was especially happy to see Henry get up and dunk the basketball during Saturday's session.
Pau Gasol, who had only returned to game action on Sunday, said he was not hampered by any injuries and felt strong one day after his return. He, like everyone else, was impressed by the two new kids.
"They brought energy, you know, great play, aggressiveness, freshness, so it was key for us to win," Gasol said about Brooks and Bazemore.
Initially, the two additions were widely believed to be useless pieces acquired to dump salary. After only one game, Bazemore and Brooks had proven they could play and help the team. However, their ability to consistently provide energy, defense and productivity remains to be seen.
For Sunday's game, though, Young's return should reduce minutes for Brook and Bazemore in the second unit.
"I don't know what it was," Young joked he was unaware that he had suffered a fractured kneecap.
When told the timeline for recovery was pretty fast, Young knocked on the hardwood and responded, "It was a miracle."
After sitting on the sidelines for over two weeks, Young was back smiling and speaking his own language, "My main thing is to play as hard as I can and 'swag' out."
Before he finished his time with the media, Young was asked how Bazemore and Brooks could succeed in the Lakers' system.
"Just give me the ball," Young said and ended the interview.


text:
W.H.: Gitmo still closing in January
The White House says President Barack Obama's pledge to close the Guantanamo Bay prison in January is still in place, even though two task forces he set up to review detention and interrogation policies will miss deadlines Tuesday to make recommendations.
On his second day in office, Obama issued executive orders setting six-month deadlines for one task force on current and future detainees, and for another panel to look at how prisoners captured in the future should be interrogated.
Story Continued Below
However, major issues related to the new policies remain unresolved, and Congress has complicated the effort with legislation last month that restricts Obama's ability to ship detainees out of the prison at Guantanamo Bay, officials said Monday.
During a background briefing for reporters by senior administration officials, one said there was "good reason" to extend the detention review by six months and the interrogation review by two months.
"The issues are complex," the official said. "They have a long history both in terms of contentious debate within the country and the Congress and elsewhere. They have been the subject of a lot of litigation."
Asked if they still plan to close Guantanamo by January, the official said, "That is our goal. That is what we're working towards."
"I think we're all comfortable with where we are in the process," another official said. "These are hard, complicated and consequential decisions. I mean let's not kid ourselves. What we're trying to do is make sure we make the right decisions."
Outside analysts said the delay in the task force reports signaled that Obama will not meet his self-imposed deadline to close the Guantanamo prison by January.
"At this point, I think it's virtually impossible that they make that—a delay is almost inevitable," said Matthew Waxman, a Columbia Law School professor who handled detainee issues at the Pentagon and the State Department under President George W. Bush. "I just don't see them moving [the Guantanamo prisoners] into the U.S. until they have got their policy and legal strategy in place for what to do long-term, and I don't see that getting resolved anytime soon."
Waxman also said he was not surprised that the task force reports weren't ready. "The issue is just extremely complicated," he said. "The legal, political and operational terrain keeps shifting….One of the challenges here is one cannot ever get entirely ahead of those changes."
The senior officials did not say explicitly what complications led to the need for extensions. However, they hinted that one factor was Congress's move to restrict Obama's ability to bring Guantanamo prisoners to the United States.
"As you've seen, this has been an issue that's been a lot of concern in Congress. There's been a lot of interest in it," one official said.
The rider to a supplemental appropriations bill signed by Obama and in effect through September 30 bars release of Guantanamo Bay prisoners in the U.S. The legislation also requires advance reports before they are transferred abroad or brought to the U.S. for trial or further imprisonment.
The Obama administration officials repeatedly sought to shift blame onto the Bush administration for postponing key decisions about Guantanamo and for leaving the records about individual detainees in shambles.
"These are issues, frankly, that could have been and should have been wrestled with over the course of the last seven years. Regrettably, frankly, they weren't," one senior Obama official said. "Comprehensively and robustly, in our view, this administration is doing that."
The decision not to stake out a new Guantanamo policy this week effectively punts the issue to the end of September, when the Congressional restrictions run out. When new funds are needed for the Justice and Defense Departments for the next fiscal year, Obama and lawmakers will have to hash out the terms of any future restrictions on the Guantanamo prisoners.