text:
Ian Crane, Courtney Conlogue reign supreme at Oceanside Harbor
While man-on-man heats can bring out the worst in some competitors (Andy Irons vs. Mick Campbell and Brad Gerlach vs. Martin Potter come to mind), not so with the WSA Prime Series Invitational at Oceanside Harbor—the first ever event featuring the man-on-man format in the history of the WSA.
Under-18 finalists Ian Crane and Luke Davis (both from San Clements) were goofing around together prior to their bout to the point of almost inadvertently knocking out a mom with a water bottle. Lani Doherty and Lakey Peterson sat together in the sand watching heats after their final. Lakey and Courtney Conlogue walked from the water to the beach arm-in-arm after their final. And pre-teens Kanoa Igarashi and Parker Coffin are too young to understand what bad blood even means, let alone act upon it.
However, actions on land can be the contrary to what takes place in the water. Despite the friendliness on the beach, the battles still took place during the heats, as the level of competition was constantly being raised.
Ian Crane and Luke Davis paddled out on opposite sides of the competition area for their Boys Under 18 final – Crane to the north and Davis to the south. Ian quickly set the tempo of the 30-minute final with a clean air reverse, earning himself a 6.5. As Ian noted, "He had priority and I stayed away and got another good one."
That other "good one" was a left that Crane took full advantage of, racking one of the biggest scores of the day, a 9.27 that put Davis in a combo situation amongst shifting waist high sets, onshore wind, and a drained out rip tide. Crane then changed his strategy, keeping on Luke wherever he went, making sure not to give up a good wave to Davis. Luke snagged a couple of high fives and low sixes late in the heat, but by that point it was too little too late and Crane left the water victorious. The final preceding this one came down to the wire though.
Fourteen-year-old Lakey Peterson made both Girls' finals on Sunday, surfing with flair and tenacity on lefts and rights. She left Lani Doherty in the dust in the Girls Under 16 final – though Lani put in a mighty effort – and looked poised to seize a second win from Courtney Conlogue in the Under 18 division.
Sixteen-year-old Courtney was rarely challenged in the WSA Prime Series, one of the exceptions being this final against Lakey. The girls traded off wave after high-scoring wave. Late in the heat Lakey finally cemented the lead with Courtney needing an 8+ score. Experience would play a pivotal role in this though as Courtney was the only surfer on Sunday with prior man-on-man heat practice. "Perform and use priority to your advantage so you hold it in the last five minutes," Courtney stated. Having man-on-man U.S. Open and Billabong Pro Maui heats against the likes of Layne Beachley, Courtney continued, "that way you don't get passed up or you can get the score you need."
Courtney struggled to catch a wave that allowed for the 8+, going on almost anything that rolled in, leaving her visibly frustrated. But with five minutes left, she held onto priority and the ocean offered up one of the better waves of the heat, giving Courtney the chance to do damage on her forehand. The patient strategy helped out a bit, giving her an 8.67 and the lead by .03 of a point. Lakey was left looking for another solid scoring wave that never came, giving Courtney another victory in the WSA Prime Series.
The WSA Prime Series – the feeder system for the PacSun USA Surf Team – in it's inaugural season gave every one of these dedicated groms from all regions of the US an opportunity to improve themselves. The man-on-man season ending bout was just one of the many flexibilities that was employed during the season. "There wasn't anything they didn't have in regards to waves or the contest format itself," said Ian Crane.
The ultimate goal in the creation of the Prime Series is obviously to help the PacSun USA Surf Team be the best it can be. Seeing these kids improve in every aspect—from skills to actual heat strategy—it's apparent that the Prime Series is making a difference. Expect bigger and better things from the Prime Series next year, as team Australia and the Gold at the ISA World Juniors are in the crosshairs. -Ryan Brower
For more info on the WSA Prime series, head to WSAPrime.org.
WSA Prime Series Invitational Results:
Boys Under 14
1st Parker Coffin
2nd Kanoa Igarashi
Girls Under 16
1st Lakey Peterson
2nd Lani Doherty
Boys Under 16
1st Jared Thorne
2nd Taylor Clark
Girls Under 18
1st Courtney Conlogue
2nd Lakey Peterson
Boys Under 18
1st Ian Crane
2nd Luke Davis
Ian jumping for joy and his victory. Photo: Jack McDaniel. For more of Jack's work, head to gromfiles.com.


text:
One comes to mind:
"She tasted of life's bitter cup
Turned her head, and threw it up."
One comes to mind:
"She tasted of life's bitter cup
Turned her head, and threw it up."
I think I swallowed a bug.
"I told you I was sick."
"Here lies McGraw
He was slow on the draw"
"Go away - I'm asleep"
"That's all folks!"
Last edited by norah; 10-10-2007 at 08:22 AM.
If you enter this world knowing you are loved and you leave this world knowing the same, then everything that happens in between can be dealt with. - Michael Jackson
Here Lies Les Moore
Two Slugs From A 44
No Less
No More
[from memory, but it's in Boot Hill]
Take care,
Memory of an accident in a Uniontown, Pennsylvania cemetery:[SIZE=2]
Here lies the body
of Jonathan Blake
Stepped on the gas
Instead of the brake.[/SIZE]
At my age I do what Mark Twain did. I get my daily paper, look at the obituaries page and if I'm not there I carry on as usual."
Patrick Moore.
"Next Time, I Want to Direct!"
Grave of a small-time actress in Maryland
"Excuse my dust."
I think I swallowed a bug.
Printed very small, so you have to stand right near the headstone to read it:
"You're standing on my balls."
My Sweet George Feb 25 1943 - November 29 2001
Many thanks to IHTT for my FAB signature!
"pardon me for not getting up"
Sorry if this has been posted
elsewhere on the site:
Pretty funny stuff.
saw one , last name - Humpage
That's like those National Lampoon articles where people that are getting married have funny names. Like, Wolf-Spittle or Cox-Seaman.
[SIZE=4]Hubby and I love driving around and looking at head stones...such beautiful art on them and then you find the ones that just make you giggle .....[/SIZE]
Ha, thanks for sharing! :P
[SIZE=4]Ok here is another one I ran across while going through my photos. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=5]Ok..do you think his family got the point?[/SIZE]
Last edited by Dan33185; 12-21-2010 at 02:45 AM.
I think I remember reading about one tombstone that said "See, I told you I was sick"
[SIZE=4]Yep..it's located in Princeton NJ. It's the same place where President Grover Cleveland and his family is burried The Jose & Kitty Menendez are. If anyone ever gets the chance I suggest you visit. They have maps showing you where all the historic graves are and a background stories.[/SIZE]
This is a wall crypt at the end of the area where my Mom is buried.
I swear to you...this is ALL that's on it. And I was assured that there is, in fact, someone laid to rest there. LOL!
<3 Rest Well, pvezz. <3
It makes me smile every time I walk past it on my way back to the car from visiting with Momma...
<3 Rest Well, pvezz. <3
DAMN IT! I was just trying to find the picture of me, my mom and daughter posing at my grandparents' grave. I think I lost it when my computer crashed. Son of a bitch!
I guess I'll have to ask Mom to send it to me.
I know it's kind of weird, but I thought you guys would appreciate it! My grandmother actually wanted to have a picture of herself sitting on her own stone, but died before she got a chance. On a side note, when she was picking out their stone and asked my grandfather (who found no humor in pre-purchasing your own stone), "What do you want on your tombstone?" He looked at her with the most serious look on his face and answered, "Pepperoni." Could you just die!!!!
When I was at the cemetary this weekend-I saw a grave and had to ask someone about it.
It had two people's name,when they were married,a engraving of wedding rings, a glass globe with an angel and it was also a small bench.
I found out the information about the death was on the back. The husband was buried there(he killed himself)
For a long time his wife refused to do anything with the grave due to the fact she was still upset about him killing himself. She finally came to terms with it and had the grave created.
Btw, on the grave, it invites people to sit and chat.
I suspect that sometimes it is more difficult to let go after a suicide....I know that's been the case in my family....maybe that would explain the delay....hopefully his widow reached some degree of peace with his choice. It's not easy....but what is?!?!
When I was at the cemetary this weekend-I saw a grave and had to ask someone about it.
I don't understand......It sounds like alot of graves I've seen ...do you mean because she didn't have the gravesite marked for awhile??
I also think the invitation to chat is her way of encouraging couples, who might be passing by, to talk to each other about important things, before it's too late.
She's made her beloved's grave a quiet place for two other people to be deeply honest with each other, and avoid what she went through.
I think doing his grave like that was beautiful act. A (((HUG))) for her.
Take care,
I had preterm baby about 13 years ago and the hospital i delivered at had a service where you can have the baby buried and a marked (the marker isn't free) plot. Being a Catholic named hospital, they offered a graveside service.
When I arrived at cemetery, we were directed to a special area for children, and an even smaller area for babies. At the site there was another family and thier little girl was also in the so-very-tiny-casket with my daughter. It was probably the most heart wrenching thing I have every experienced. Not only for my grief, but for the other mother's also.
Afterward we walked alone up and down the rows and rows of babies graves observing dates and messages. Pink and blue, sets of twins, flowers, teddy bears, and baloons. It was so so beautiful. And different than anything else. We agreed that we were happy that our daughters were there. Some have told me it is TERRIBLE. No matter the circumstances, a child dying is a tragedy. How could you find beauty in an area where hundreds of childen lie? But for me, a child's grave beaks my heart, but many children's graves swell my heart...
"To everything - turn, turn, turn...
There is a season - turn, turn, turn...
And a time for every purpose under heaven."
- The Byrds
You know, a long time ago being crazy meant something. Nowadays everybody's crazy.
-Charles Manson
Harry: I suspect you are right about the bench and allowing people to sit down and really talk to each other. She probably also comes to talk to her husband also.
From what I could tell, she didn't put a Grave there for a long time. She probably put that grave there when she came to terms with his death(they married in 1969)
This may be a long story, so please bear with me. For some reason, I need to share this story.
A very close cousin of mine always loved children and couldn't wait to have her own. She married a few months before I did. I got pregnant quickly and easily. She struggled with fertility issues. She finally had some surgery and it enabled her to get pregnant with a baby boy. I was almost as excited for her as I was when I had my own three baby boys. The day came that she went into labor. I was home with my babies when my Auntie called with the news that her baby boy was born. Unknown to mother and doctor, my cousin had Beta Strep. The baby contracted it and during labor, swallowed mercurium (sp) and died shortly after birth. I immediately dropped to the floor and could not speak.
I raced down to the hospital and there she was, holding her dead baby against her chest. We talked and cried; cried and talked some more. I don't know what prompted me to do it, but I asked if I could hold the baby. When I took him from her and put him against me he was warm. I then brushed his cheek, which hadn't been the one that was against his mother, and it was ice cold. That's when it hit me he was really dead. I stood there, rocking him as though he were any other baby that any of my other girlfriends/family members had given birth to. As I handed him back to his daddy, the blanket fell open and I saw that most of him was black and blue. I can't remember what that's called, but it hit me again that this little, tiny beautiful baby would never cry or laugh for his mommy and daddy.
They had a regular funeral for him. I gave her my sons' baptismal gown that had been passed down for generations to her so she could dress him in white. After the burial, she told me that I was the only one who asked to hold him and that meant the world to her. It hurt her feelings that when she asked if people would like to hold him, while still in the hospital, and nobody did. She said she felt like her baby didn't matter to people.
Why am I telling you all this? I don't know. I just needed to. So, thanks for listening.
Last edited by Ruffian; 11-05-2007 at 08:20 PM.
OMG, I'm speechless. That's the most heartbreaking story I've ever read. My wife is currently pregnant with our second child. I just pray everything goes well.
Thank you.
This is the first time I've posted in response to anything having to do with a child or baby. I guess that's the one thing I can't handle when it comes to being a death hag.
Ruffian, your candid story is beautiful & touching while at the very same time so sad. Thank you for sharing this story...I am sure it was not easy to tell. Blessings to you & your family.....I am sure that you've never had a moments regret for asking to hold the baby. This is the intamacy of death that so many lives never experience.
Oh Ruffian, I am so sorry.... What a trial you and your cousin have been through... I hope that in time, if she is able, she will try again and have a perfectly healthy baby... That is my sincere wish for her... Then you will be there for the happiest moment in her life, as well as the saddest!
My mom had a baby that was still born, but in her case it was a blessing. She had encephalitis, and would have been horribly disabled had she lived... Never an easy thing to live through, that is for sure!
"Why does everything I whip leave me?"Homer to the universe-at-largeThe Simpsons Movie
Last edited by SinKittyVixen; 11-06-2007 at 10:00 PM. Reason: spelling

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Cats and Dogs Being Best Buds — Daily Distraction
[onescreen item="4988579″]
Historic enemies, cats and dogs have, in the YouTube era, been caught in the act … of friendship.
While no doubt these 42 seconds represent the less frequent side of their relationship, it's rather heartwarming to see these two species, fiercely antagonistic in our collective imagination, getting along so well.
The Daily Distraction is your Internet break from reality. Whether you're eating lunch at your desk or avoiding high school exes on Facebook, you might just laugh, say "aaahhh" or not believe what you just watched.


text:
Planning for care should start early, experts say
Dealing with the emotional turbulence of a move or a change in care can be difficult for a loved one who needs help, so experts and families who have been through it suggest starting the discussion early.
Convincing loved ones they need more help can be a delicate task.
Paint a picture of what a day of care would like, suggested Carrie Cowan, a registered nurse team leader at Agrace HospiceCare in Janesville.
Explore what life would look and feel like. Talk about the time and financial commitment of a week, a month or three months as a disease progresses, she said.
The conversation might be too overwhelming at the time of a diagnosis, but maybe it can be brought up as symptoms require greater management or after one or two trips home from the emergency room, she said.
Until you're confronted with a need to move, "you really don't think about it," said Sue Prostko, Rock Haven administrator.
People plan for many things in retirement, she said.
"We also should prepare our health care plans as to what our needs might be in the future," she said.
At 63, Diane Skinner, who with her husband owns Kelly House in Evansville, suspects she'll have a hard time parting with her belongings. She hopes her kids can take what they want, and in 10 years she hopes she will have downsized more.
"Rather than holding on to that stuff, we should be parting with it now," she said.
Jane Whitmore, 101, admits making the move to an assisted living apartment at Kelly House was difficult, but people "probably would be happier once they got in there," she said.
"It's making up their mind, giving up their apartment. That was horrid to do," she said.
But it was easier than giving up her car 34 years ago.
"Aww, that is really giving up your independence," she said, shaking her head.
Many people are reluctant to leave homes where they've lived for 50 years or that they built with their own hands. They say they'll never leave, Skinner said.
"I think the people who are the most successful thought about downsizing when they're young enough to get used to it," she said.
"You just have to be honest with them—let someone else enjoy it," said Rick Sheridan, sales and marketing manager at Cedar Crest in Janesville.
Sometimes the process is held up by the challenge of figuring out what to do with great-grandma's possessions that no one wants, he said. One way to lessen the separation anxiety is to create a "brag book" containing pictures of the items so the family member can always look at it and show others, he said.
Another approach is presenting a move as a short-term trial, he said.
"'Let's just try this for a couple months,'" he said. "Then the resident acclimates to the new surrounding instead of, 'Here's where you're going.'"
Many places will allow potential residents to spend a night or two while others allow month-to-month leases to try a short-term stay.
A needs assessment can help determine the level of care needed.
There are many levels of services just for eating, for example, Prostko said. The goal is to find the least-restrictive options to meet the needs.
Officials recommend starting at the county Aging and Disability Resource Center, where specialists help people understand the long-term care options available and help people apply for programs and benefits.
Area experts and families who have been through the process offered advice:
-- Don't wait. Family gatherings during the holidays can be good times to discuss plans.
Get your "ducks in order" before an emergency, said Jennifer Thompson, division manager of the Aging and Disability Resource Center of Rock County. It's better to talk about the care a loved one wants when he is healthy rather than when he is in an intensive care unit and family members all want to give their input, she said.
Pam Hatfield, branch manager at BrightStar in Janesville, has seen families interview agencies when their parents don't need help. Sometimes it's triggered by an event that requires adult children to take time off work to help, she said.
"Looking back, they wish they would have known more about home care because they had to take off work," she said.
-- Visit sites and talk to friends. People often move to places where they know other residents. For others, being able to picture life in a facility can make all the difference.
-- Think programming.
"Sometimes you get caught up in what a facility looks like because it's either brand new and beautiful or not so new and not that beautiful, but it's programming," Thompson said.
"Do you want your parent—or do you yourself want—to be sitting in a couch all day watching 'The Price is Right,' or do you want to be taken out to see the fall colors, or do you want to have an art project, or do you want to be taken to church?
"Talk about the kinds of activities they offer and the kinds of transportation they're willing to provide," Thompson said.
-- Consider what is important to the person. If a person is a former chef or enjoys cooking, they should ask to see a menu, Thompson said. If they enjoy gardening, ask if the facility provides a garden or if they can have plants in their room.
"You have to go back and find out what was important to them in their life," she said.
She's heard stories of people unhappy about a move until caregivers learn more about them. A master gardener could be tapped to plant and water flowers around the complex, for example.
"Just their flexibility with some of those types of things is so important for the person to thrive," Thompson said.


text:
Adam Prochazka, Bellevue, WA/Milton, WI (1984 - 2014)
February 15, 1984 - January 5, 2014
Adam Jerald "AJ" Prochazka, age 29, of Bellevue, WA, passed away Sunday, Jan. 5, 2014, at his home. He was born Feb. 15, 1984, in Janesville, WI, the son of Deborah Prochazka. He graduated from Milton High School in the class of 2003. He moved to Washington about 9 years ago. AJ had just started his own company known as Frontier Global Enterprises. He had a very kind and gentle heart and soul. He enjoyed his animals, especially his 2 guinea pigs and he always had a smile on his face.
AJ is survived by his mother, Deborah Prochazka of Milton; stepfather, Herbert Hamre of Port Edwards, WI; grandmother, Joy Prochazka of Marshall, WI; two brothers, Aaron (Julia) Hamre of Sierra Vista, AZ and Andrew (Stephanie) Prochazka of Milton, WI; sister: Angela (Cameron) Knobel of Monroe, WI; four nephews: Landon, Evan, and Teagan Knobel and Jameson Judd; many other extended family. He was preceded in death by his grandfathers: Gerald Prochazka and Floyd Hamre. A Celebration of Life visitation will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2014, from 6 until 8 p.m. at the ALBRECHT FUNERAL HOMES & CREMATION SERVICES, Milton.
828 S. Janesville St., 608-868-2542


text:
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2015 BMW M3 maintenance
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text:
Council committe appointments cause rare stir
JANESVILLE—One Janesville City Council member Monday accused new president DuWayne Severson of "blatant favoritism and cronyism," and said Severson handed out plum committee appointments to those council members who supported Severson's run for president.
Council members Jim Farrell and Matt Kealy both voted against the committee assignments meted out by Severson
Severson denied Farrell's accusations.
It is the first time committee assignments caused a stir in at least 16 years.
The council president is charged with appointing members to various city committees, such as the plan commission and alcohol license advisory committee. Some committees are seen to be more important than others.
This year, staff provided council members a matrix so they could list their preferences beginning at "1."
All council members got at least their first or second request. Some, such as Brian Fitzgerald and Douglas Marklein, got their first, second and third requests.
Fitzgerald nominated Severson for president.
Kealy did not get any of his first three requests. In fact, he was appointed to the audit committee, which meets once a year for possibly a half hour, and the TIF committee, which might not meet at all.
Farrell nominated Matt Kealy as president.
"Blatant favoritism for people who supported him is not in the best interest of the city," Farrell said.
Farrell in an interview earlier Monday said he should have been appointed to the Janesville Innovation Center Board, which was his first choice. Instead, that went to Fitzgerald. It was Fitzgerald's third choice.
"It is very obvious that some of the appointments were based on who his supporters (are) and who they are not," Farrell said at the council meeting.
In an earlier interview, Farrell noted Fitzgerald and Severson have similar views on whether to increase the number of Class A liquor licenses, which could be why Fitzgerald is on that committee.
Kealy said in an earlier interview that appointments have always been made with the good of the community in mind, considering a council member's interests and time.
"I do question a little bit what the decision-making in this was," Kealy said.
Marklein at the meeting said he has a heavy committee load and offered to give his slot on the Downtown Development Alliance to Kealy.
Severson said he appreciated Farrell's and Kealy's comments but didn't agree with their assumptions of how he arrived at the appointments.
In an earlier interview, he said he gave Fitzgerald the appointments to get him more involved. Severson said he knew Fitzgerald wanted the alcohol licensing committee and that Kealy was on it last year.
"I've never been good at trying to identify a person's heart or their intentions, and so, I'm not sure how others do that," he said at the meeting. He said he would respect how his fellow members feel, however.
Severson said in his defense that he didn't know who voted for him as president because the ballots were secret. In the earlier interview he denied basing his decision on those suspected votes.


text:
Eastern Technical High School1100 Mace AvenueBaltimore, MD 21221-3315Phone: (410) 887-0190Fax: (410) 887-0424Email: firstname.lastname@example.com: www.easttech.orgApplication: Word | PDFEllicott Mills Middle School4445 Montgomery RoadEllicott City, MD 21043-6007Phone: (410) 313-2839Fax: (410) 313-2845Email: firstname.lastname@example.com: www.hcpss.org/emmsApplication: Word | PDFNew Market Elementary School93 West Main StreetNew Market, MD 21774-0284Phone: (240) 236-1300Fax: (240) 236-1301Email: firstname.lastname@example.com: http://nmes.sites.fcps.orgApplication: Word | PDFNorthern Middle School2954 Chaneyville RoadOwings, MD 20735-9665Phone: (410) 257-1622Fax: (410) 257-1623Email: firstname.lastname@example.com: http://nmsweb.calvertnet.k12.md.usApplication: Word | PDFNorthwestern Elementary School9975 Sharptown RoadMardela Springs, MD 21837-2218Phone: (410) 677-5808Fax: (410) 677-5850Email: firstname.lastname@example.com: http://www.wcboe.org/schools/nweApplication: Word | PDF
Baltimore County – Eastern Technical High School Eastern Technical High is a very high achieving school with a population that includes 20% economically disadvantaged students. The school's HSA reading proficiency scores in 2009 were 99.7% and math proficiency was 100%. It has maintained a record of high achievement for over a decade, having originally been named a Maryland Blue Ribbon School in 1997. The school has been named by Newsweek Magazine (3 years in a row) and US News & World Report (2 years in a row) as being in the "Top 5% of all High Schools." It has a 100% pass rate on the High School Assessments for the past three years for all subgroups, has an average daily attendance of 97.3%, and a 100% highly qualified faculty. The school's AP participation has increased by 400% in the last 7 years and the student pass rate is 81%. In addition, 85% of all students are enrolled in rigorous courses and 81% of all minority students are enrolled in these rigorous courses
Calvert County – Northern Middle School - Highest Achievement Northern Middle exemplifies high achievement with 8th grade students scoring 94.9% proficient and above in reading and 93.7% in math. Foreign language is emphasized with 52% of students completing two full years of Spanish or French. In math, 35% of students complete Algebra I by the end of the 8th grade and 25% complete Algebra II. Over the course of four years, 99.5 percent of Algebra learners passed the HSA. The school is a Washington Post grant recipient for its math tutoring program. Northern Middle teachers helped construct the State Curriculum toolkit and participated in Modified MSA standard setting. It is a PBIS silver school and a school proud of champion women's basketball and softball teams. Northern Middle also offers students opportunities in the performing arts, including talent and variety shows, stage production, drama, and performance based competitions.
Frederick County – New Market Elementary School - Highest Achievement With 100% of its students proficient and above in 5th grade reading, including special education students, and 96.2% in mathematics, New Market Elementary School is home to the current Frederick County Teacher of the Year and to The Green Team – a group of students and teachers who initiated a successful composting program which fertilizes a garden of fruits and vegetables for the local food banks. The school also has 275 parent volunteers, representing over half the student population. Health and fitness are emphasized. Students exercise each morning before school and teachers incorporate movement into their daily routine as a part of assessment and instruction. New Market, a professional development school with Mount St. Mary's University, earned a superior rating on custodial operations and cleanliness in 2009. Staff members play on a traveling floor hockey, kickball and basketball team.
Howard County – Ellicott Mills Middle School With 8th grade MSA scores in reading at 95.9% and math at 92.8%, Ellicott Mills Middle is a high achieving middle school. It won NAACP's Certificate of Excellence in Reading, Math, and Attendance as well as the Maryland School Performance Award for Outstanding Achievement. It is a Professional Development School and has an accomplished music performance program. Ellicott Mills Middle is a leader in parent involvement. It was named a National PTA School of Excellence and was honored with the Howard County Middle School Parent Teacher Collaboration Award. Other community awards include the Kids Care Katrina Campaign and the Hoops and Volleyball for Heart Campaign. Teachers have been named the New Middle School Teacher of the Year, Music Educator of the Year, Technology Educator of the Year, and Howard County Chamber of Commerce Educator of the Year
Wicomico County – Northwestern Elementary SchoolNorthwestern Elementary, a school with 51% of its students on Free and Reduced Priced Meals, has student achievement at high standards with 5th grade reading and 5th grade math scores both at 94.4%. The school received a Maryland School Performance Recognition Award in 2008 for increasing its subgroup performance on the MSA. Northwestern Elementary is a professional learning community school with all teachers, coaches, and administrators discussing student data on a weekly basis. Northwestern has implemented unique methods for reading and math which have helped reduce the number of students needing Special Education services. It has also increased PTA membership this year by 33% and significantly increased the number of community volunteers that assist teacher. Northwestern is also proud of its innovative art, music, and physical education departments which take the lead in numerous county programs.


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PCM data retention and the impact of crystal electrodes (Part 1)
The introduction and continued use of crystallized active material as one electrode in modern phase change memory (PCM) cells offers a number of fabrication benefits. An investigation designed to search for evidence of electro-crystallization effects suggested an unexpected resultthat the poor data-retention characteristics of PCM devices at elevated temperatures are not just an unfortunate phenomenon, but are caused by the designs of present-day structures. Furthermore, because crystal growth rates do not scale with lithography, elevated-temperature data retention (ETDR) performance may be dependent on device structure, making untested predictions of PCM ETDR with lithographic scaling unsafe.
The basis of this investigation is the use of a novel approach that establishes a link between ETDR results and parameters associated with the PCM set operation (the writing of the memory to its low resistance crystallized data state). This approach offers the possibility of determining whether the set pulse for a particular PCM device structure is optimized in terms of the time and the temperatures involved. The set time makes a significant contribution to the total PCM write data bandwidth; thus, to be able to reduce that by optimization would represent a useful step forward.
Linking set and data retention
Although not usually linked to the PCM set operation, the starting points for this investigation are the published accelerated ETDR testing results for PCM devices. In the case of a PCM device, the mechanism that determines an ETDR failure of the reset, or high-resistance state, is fundamentally the same as the mechanism on which the PCM device depends for its operation, i.e. crystallization. That alone is too superficial to be the key to the approach to be described here, however. What was necessary was to find a more detailed structurally dependent feature that would provide a closer link or common factor to both the set and ETDR mechanisms.
The initial step of this investigation is that instead of extrapolating the ETDR test results to longer times, we back extrapolate them to shorter times; that is, to those times (on the order of 100 ns) associated with the programming set step of a PCM and beyond (see figure 1). A simple explanation of my methodology is illustrated in figure 1; the three data points of a typical ETDR test on a PCM device are shown as red squares. Those data points usually extend over about two decades as a plot of log t = 1/kT, where t is time to failure, T is temperature, and k is the Boltzman constant; they are then forward extrapolated over four or five decades to obtain the time (in years) and operating temperature limits for data retention.


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Nike U.S. Open Of Surfing: Men's No Losers Round of 24
It's Thursday at the Nike U.S. Open of Surfing and everybody's happy. The men, because they're surfing in the round of 24—the non-elimination bracket—where the winners skip a round and 2nd and 3rd get another chance to move forward tomorrow. No losers! The spectators, because since no one loses all the surfers go big—specifically Gabe Medina and Julian Wilson, who both posted high nine point rides to easily win their heats and take home the two highest heat totals of the event in the process. And lastly, the female teeny bopping fans—because when pro surfers are winners pro surfers are happy, meaning they took plenty of extra hours signing autographs and posing for Instagram uploads. Specifially John John Florence (he won his heat today anyway)—and immediately exited the water and took time to allow two young tiny bikini donned females on the beach shoot up close facials with him. The girls excitedly scampered away afterwards, waving their iphones to the heavens just begging for social media upload worthy cell signal. John John! A real photo with John John!
With a bump in the swell, the 2-3 foot south peaks were a welcome change from the last four days of dismal mushiness—today finally allowing a chance at more than one pump and the Huntington hop. MC Rockin Fig was fired up, even comparing the surf to Lower Tresles over the loud speaker, and then smartly rebuking his statement a few seconds later. "Well, not quite like Lowers…"
When Kelly Slater paddled out versus Yadin Nicol and Nathaniel Curran, the interior of tent city swelled forward and spilled out to the waters edge, the ballooning crowd eager to get a chance to see the champ compete live. Unfortunately for the Slater fans, Nathaniel Curran surfed a near perfect heat, easily scalping both Yadin and the Champ with an 18 plus point total. When the final horn blew, all three were swarmed regardless.
"Bra, it's heavy. It's like if you're surfing against Slater everyone just assumes you must be that good or something, " observes Sebastian "Seabass" Zietz, "When I lost yesterday, hordes of chicks came running out to me just because Kelly was in my heat, actually throwing their phone numbers at me in knee deep water. It was cool though [laughs]"
Of the eight heats in the round, five were won by Brazilian's—Jesse Mendes, Adriano De Souza, Gabriel Medina, Filipe Toledo, and Miguel Pupo; the Brazilian field dominating the day.
But with the likes of Kelly Slater, Brett Simpson, Dane Reynolds, Nathanial Curran, and John Florence still in the draw, there's a hard road ahead for any of hyper passionate contingent aiming to become the first U.S Open winner from Brazil.
Hang on folks; we've got four long days to go.—Zander Morton
19-year-old Keanu Asing is a fast rising junior from Oahu, and he's just started dabbling in the Men's WT qualifying events for the first time this year. A few months back, he placed third at the 6-Star Prime at Saquerema, Brazil—boosting him to 58th on the one world ranking heading into the U.S. Open. Although he lost in the quarters of the Juniors today, he's still in the main event; matched up with Pat Guadauskas in tomorrow's round of 24. We caught up with him for a quick chat about what this event means to him.
TransWorld SURF: What's been your best result at the U.S. Open?
Keanu Asing: I made the Semi Final's here last year in the juniors. This is my fourth U.S. Open but only my first time competing in the main event, so I'm pretty excited.
How hard is to focus on the task at hand with the maelstrom of madness surrounding you at all times?
It's crazy, trying to keep your focus. You just have to tune in to what you're trying to accomplish and black out everything else. Before my heats, I just pretend no one else is here.
Distractions aside, how do you feel competing in front of this massive crowd?
It's like being in an NBA arena with everyone watching. It's pretty unique; I don't think there is anywhere else like this. It's special, it's an honor. I've never surfed in an event this big before.
It must be nice to have a chance at a rare, clutch moment to turn a heat in the last second with everyone watching. Those are the moments we all love most about sports.
When you get those chances to grab that clutch score, it's huge. It's really hard to do. If you're a true competitor that's what you always strive to pull off. Sometimes in those situation's you can feed off the crowd, and it's fun to compete in front of them. With my third in a 6-Star Prime earlier this year, this event is a really big opportunity for me.
What would another third here mean to you? Could it set you up to potentially make a run towards the WT to start 2013?
It would mean the world. This is a hard comp; it feels like a WT event. I would kill to make the final [Laughs]. With a big result here, I could have a chance at the 2013 WT. That said, my goals right now are pretty limited. I didn't get a full year, so I'm more excited to carry my knowledge and momentum into next year.—Zander Morton
Boyz 2 Men
Kanoa Igarashi was met by a young crowd of excited boys when he entered the beach, victorious from a quarterfinals heat he navigated with confidence and ability well beyond his years.
But these were not fans. They weren't eager for t-shirt signings. These were friends. Eager only to hoist their childhood friend high above the crowd that now consumed their after school stomping grounds. Over the shouting and cheering and likely hazardous clouds of dust, a journalist told Kanoa that he looked pretty comfortable out there. Kanoa yelled back as he was carried away, "Yeah, I surf here everyday."
Day six of the 2012 US Open of Surfing saw a select group of boys delivered into surfing manhood. Four young surfers chosen by esteemed judges to be the bearers of radness in the semi finals of a contest that has brought global talent and a global audience to the shores of Huntington Beach, CA. Asked by all of us to continue what they have been doing so well- impress.
And Day six of the 2012 US Open of Surfing also saw good waves. "This is actually a really good day for Huntington Beach," says Kanoa. "I'd be psyched right now if I came down after school and saw this." Conner Coffin was another amongst those who manhandled his quarterfinals heat. He brought to the table the type of power surfing competitors can only hope to hang photos of on their bedroom walls.
"I've really just had one plan in every heat during this contest—just try to go out and get two good waves and some good turns," says Conner. "I think that's where judges have been giving out the best scores." Adopting this approach early in his heat, Conner moved on to the semi finals with unrivaled maturity.
"The waves just came to me," says Conner. "After my first two waves I just sat on the side and let the others battle it out. It's nice when the waves come to you- you can just cruise." The other two boys dominating their quarterfinal rounds and moving on to the semis were Felipe Toledo and Cooper Chapman. "But no rest for me," says Felipe. "I have to prepare for my Men's heat tomorrow. Preparing takes time." This coming weekend the stakes will be raised. The challenge will be proposed. And the only question that will remain is who will answer the call.—Alex Ryden
2012 Nike US Open of Surfing: Day 6 Women's Recap
The June (/July/August) gloom had a weird muffle effect on Huntington Beach this morning as the fourth round of women's competition unfolded with upset after upset. Or, what should have been upsets. The short round's results have dramatic implications, but top-fivers Tyler Wright and Steph Gilmore quietly–even acquiescently–went the way of the polar ice caps.
The Aussies were rocked by rookies Malia Manuel and Sage Erickson, ranked 7th and 16th respectively, in the first two heats. Sage noticed that the judges have been rewarding the men for well-executed two-turn rides and smartly adopted the tactic to earn herself an 8.07.
"It almost feels so surreal, because Steph Gilmore is our current 5-time world champ and I'm just a rookie on Tour," Sage said. "I was looking at it as if I had nothing to lose and everything to gain in that heat. Steph is such a well-rounded surfer and I'm just excited to make it one step closer to that final."
The [very] slightly beefed-up waves (2 to 4-foot) suited Coco Ho, who knocked out bestie Laura Enever in their first tête-à-tête. Coco's currently ranked 8th and Laura was 6th, so it was bound to happen sometime.
"We're best friends and this is the first time we've drawn each other since she's been on Tour with me. It's pretty crazy," Coco said. "But to have each other now, in the last event of the year, it was tough. I'm glad we weren't both in a situation where someone wasn't qualifying. It sucks that it came down to this event–we both want to do good and beat each other in the final, but we know that's how the story goes."
In the final women's heat of the day, Paige Hareb bumped Pauline Ado, who will fight for re-qualification on the WQS.—Casey Butler


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General Information
Course ID
|Alpha Numeric
|Environmental Sciences
Natural Sciences and Mathematics
|Course Level
|Credit Hours
Tuition and Fees
|A virtual laboratory-based exploration of the coral reef environment and the dynamics of the coral reef ecosystem. The web of life on reefs will be examined at multiple levels, including living and non-living components and specialized roles among species
|Thomas Bridgeman
|Section Details
Section number: 901
Enrollment Maximum: 50
Dates: 1/16/2018 - 5/4/2018 ; Session code: Full Term
|Instruction Method
|Online Web, other communication methods are determined by the instructor.
*A textbook search may not be available for this term; contact your campus bookstore to determine if the instructor has ordered textbooks for your course. If the Bookstore does not have an order contact the instructor or department office (click on the instructor e-mail link above). A textbook may not be required and some courses use other resources including special software.
You may also contact UT Online toll free at 1.866.Utoledo (866-886-5336) for assistance.
Before You Begin Your Course
|Online Etiquette & Honesty
|Please review the netiquette guidelines and the University policies on academic dishonesty, and responsible use of information technology. Online students are held to the same behavior and academic honesty standards as face-to-face students.
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Students are responsible to have access to a properly functioning device (computer, tablet, etc.) throughout the semester. The devicemust be able to run software required for coursework or capable of connecting to UT's Virtual Computer Lab. If using a device at a public library, students should check with the library to insure they will have access and for the length of time required.
Please review our Blackboard Toolkit and Blackboard Browser Check pages. Student devices need to be running the latest versions of plug-ins, recent software and have the necessary tools to be kept free of viruses and spyware.
Always read the course syllabus carefully and contact the instructor regarding specific requirements.
Will my course transfer? Check Out Transferology
Transferology is a Web-based transfer information system. In Transferology you can add the coursework you've taken (including some exams and military learning experiences) and find out how it might transfer to any of the participating schools in the nation-wide Transferology network.
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UT is an approved SARA institution; students residing outside of SARA states will want to review our State Status Web page to determine if UT is authorized in that state.
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text: You are looking at the top designs in Zazzle Canada's binders area, in which you can find a massive selection of binders available for personalisation or ready for purchase as is. Most Zazzle.ca binders are made very soon after the order is placed. Print in full colour on the back, front, and spine. Zazzle's Avery Custom Signature binders are designed for 8.5 x 11" sheets of paper and come with your choice of EZ-Turn© or 1 Touch© EZD© rings. Add your own pictures and text for free! To find other related products, visit the main area.


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Label Changes for:
Haldol Decanoate (haloperidol) For IM Injection Only
August 2008
Changes have been made to the BOXED WARNING and WARNINGS sections of the safety label.
Detailed View: Safety Labeling Changes Approved By FDA Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) -- August 2008
|The detailed view includes drug products with safety labeling changes to the BOXED WARNING, CONTRAINDICATIONS, WARNINGS, PRECAUTIONS, ADVERSE REACTIONS, or PATIENT PACKAGE INSERT/MEDICATION GUIDE sections. Deletions or editorial revisions made to these sections are not included in this summary.
|Sections Modified
|Summary of Changes to Contraindications and Warnings
WARNING: Increased Mortality in Elderly Patients with Dementia-Related Psychosis:
Elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis treated with antipsychotic drugs are at an increased risk of death. Analyses of seventeen placebo-controlled trials (modal duration of 10 weeks), largely in patients taking atypical antipsychotic drugs, revealed a risk of death in drug-treated patients of between 1.6 to 1.7 times the risk of death in placebo-treated patients. Over the course of a typical 10 week controlled trial, the rate of death in drug-treated patients was about 4.5%, compared to a rate of about 2.6% in the placebo group. Although the causes of death were varied, most of the deaths appeared to be either cardiovascular (e.g., heart failure, sudden death) or infectious (e.g., pneumonia) in nature. Observational studies suggest that, similar to atypical antipsychotic drugs, treatment with conventional antipsychotic drugs may increase mortality. The extent to which the findings of increased mortality in observational studies may be attributed to the antipsychotic drug as opposed to some characteristic(s) of the patients is not clear. Haldol Decanoate is not approved for the treatment of patients with dementia-related psychosis (see WARNINGS).


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Milder weather means improved fishing conditions
Today is a good day to go fishin' just about anywhere in southern Wisconsin. We are now in the fourth day of a stable weather pattern—one that isn't dominated by an arctic high pressure system.
This means fish will be, at the very least, in a neutral feeding mood. Put an intriguing morsel close to a fishy face and you might just tempt a bite. On many waters fish activity will ease into more positive attitudes between 4 p.m. and dark.
Finding fish is the first factor in a successful fishing equation. Binoculars are the best "fish finder" on the Madison chain, Delavan and even Koshkonong.
Fishing pressure rates right up with arctic high pressure on the negative side of a fish-catching equation. On just about any ice within 100 miles of Janesville, the pressure per productive surface acre now is somewhere between heavy and extreme.
One solution is to seek out bigger water. A DNR survey conducted in 2007 indicates Wisconsin folks have already reached this conclusion; Lake Michigan, Lake Winnebago and the Mississippi River ranked as the state's three most popular waters.
Arctic high pressure and frigid temperatures that dominated the state last week were more conducive to planning than actually executing a fishin' mission. A DNR live chat on the Internet last Tuesday provided a wealth of information regarding that 200-plus-mile-long fishin' hole that forms Wisconsin's western border.
Rivers are notoriously tough to manage from a fisheries standpoint. The mighty Mississippi is toughest of all in this regard. For the most part, fisheries management here consists of observing and taking notes.
One exception is the walleye situation, with a slot limit approved at last year's spring hearings and now moving through the rules process.
Some concern was raised during the live chat regarding overharvest of bass both through the ice and in frequent summer tournaments where delayed mortality after the fish are weighed and released has had some impact.
DNR biologist Brian Brecka said the largemouth bass population has exploded on the Mississippi in recent years with almost as many bass as the river's profound population of panfish.
The yellow perch population on the Mississippi has been increasing for the past 10 years, now rivaling any water in the state. Brecka said desirable weeds are key to perch survival.
Brecka rated pool 8 near La Crosse as the best winter perch water of this fishery, most notably Lake Onalaska, the ice around Stoddard and similar habitat in Lawrence Lake almost directly across the River.
One blogger asked the experts if heavy pressure by panfishers was impacting populations. The answer was a resounding no. Last summer produced some of the biggest bluegills folks who fish this water regularly have seen in recent years. Gills up to 10 inches long continue to be caught as we ease into 2014.
The panfish limit on the Wisconsin side of the Mississippi is a profoundly liberal 25 perch, crappies and rock bass plus 25 bluegills and punkinseeds.
Although a Wisconsin license is valid anywhere between the railroad tracks that parallel both sides of the Mississippi, harvest regulations and other rules can vary considerably west of the stateline. A 10-bluegill limit is enforced in Minnesota waters.
Those who venture here should be aware of other state-specific rules. For example, it is illegal to ride double on an ATV not designed to carry a passenger in Iowa.
It is perfectly legal to tow the kids in a sled and "crack the whip" at 30 miles an hour, but putting them on the ATV and moving at walking speed will result in a substantial ticket.
The Wisconsin DNR deserves kudos for increasing public awareness and participation with our natural resources over the past year or so. Proactive use of the Internet for everything from campsite access to top trout streams to live chats with experts is a great way to reach the customers.
There is no doubt today will be a great day to fish. Next weekend could be even better. The DNR is offering "free fishing days" statewide on Jan. 18 and 19. No fishing license is required, so get out of the cabin before the fever gets you!
Ted Peck, a certified Merchant Marine captain, is an outdoors columnist for The Gazette. Email him at firstname.lastname@example.com.


text: Used appliances are those that have been used by other parties and resold after refurbishment. This can present a less costly option for consumers, compared with buying brand new appliances, such as fridges, freezers, washers, and dryers. Appliances, both small and major, can improve the lives of people in the home, offering a faster, more efficient way to wash dishes and prepare food. Some are electric, and others are gas. It all depends on the energy system you use in your home. You can visit a used appliance store or dealer to find discounts on used appliances like refrigerators and other major household kitchen and bathroom appliances. But it helps to know some common terms first pertaining to appliances found in your home.


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EH Chocolatier: Does the "EH" Stand For "Exquisite + Handmade"? No. But It Could.
Elaine Hsieh and Catharine Sweeney never meant to become chocolatiers. In fact, they first met over a wedding cake. A mutual friend was getting married and enlisted them to bake her cake – something new to both of them. Judging by their continuing partnership, the cake was a success, a challenge that got them started making sweets of their own.
Although neither Catharine nor Elaine had experience making chocolates, both were life long lovers of food with varying degrees of culinary experience. At first they honed their skills, selling to friends and family through a chocolate of the month club, before opening their doors to the public last year.
After a successful season, the duo decided to close up shop for the summer in order to experiment with new flavor combinations. Julia and I, chocolate buyers at our Cambridge and South End locations respectively, jumped at the chance to stop by to see what goodies Elaine and Catherine had cooked up during their hiatus. After a delicious and sugar-fueled trip, I can safely say EH Chocolatier is back in action with a slew of exciting, new chocolate creations joining their original line-up, a collection of chocolates already well on their way to be becoming old favorites!
Elaine and Catharine, proprietors and chocolatiers of EH Chocolatier, were gracious enough to show us around in their Somerville kitchen. Don't be fooled – Catharine and Elaine might be new chocolatiers, but their confections are anything but amateur. Anyone who is familiar with their chocolates knows that they pay great attention to the details – from aesthetics of packaging and individual bonbons, to the balance of flavors in every chocolate creation. Formaggio Kitchen staff members are vocal in recognizing Elaine and Catharine's work – in this year's staff survey, EH Chocolatier's chocolates were chosen as one of our top 10 of 2011.
A tour of their kitchen revealed just how many details there actually are in the multi-step, labor-intensive process of small batch, hand-crafted chocolates. We watched them whipping up ganache, hand coating chocolates, cutting pâte de fruit and critiquing some experimental chocolates. Take a look at the process below to whet your appetites!
Making ganache:
Cutting pâte de fruit:
Dipping and decorating:
The assembly line – applying transfers to the chocolates:
The finished product:
Gini Bell is a cheesemonger and the chocolate buyer at Formaggio Kitchen South End.


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Any SOLID arguments against evolution?
Discussion of everything related to the Theory of Evolution.
Moderator: BioTeam
my point was more general than the example I gave (because they are familiar to me), and what i was trying to explain, is that basically all the organisms that have been found on earth do have genes that are related to another. Because of that the tree of life has been built, and when a new organism is found, it can be added to it relatively easily (very much so when we talk about prokaryotes, damn eukaryotes are bit harder to deal with). And to a large extent ribosomal phylogeny do match other types of inferred phylogenyn (Horzontal Genetic transfer muddling things a bit).
Similarly with the panda's thumb. The bear family lost the thumb before the panda evolved, and for Panda the ability to grab bamboo shoot is quite useful, and an appendage allowing them to do just that, but that did not come from the long lost thumb was selected for.
As for your question about the Y chromosome, I have absolutely no idea what it is about (I deal with bacteria) and cannot provide any kind of informed answer, so I have to excuse myself and not deal with it.
The wider point being that both thos facts are coherent with what would be expected from an evolutionary point of view, where necessity and chance are the name of the game. On the other hand, if I use a creationist view of the world, I cannot expect one specific behaviour, because everything can be expected. There are no predictions possible, just observations. Add to that the fact that those observations do not show a coherent design scheme (the creator "knew" how to make a thumb, why do the pandas have this weird thing instead?) and the idea of an intelligence behind creation seem to require an incredibly pervert or/and dumb designer.
Science has proof without any certainty. Creationists have certainty without
any proof. (Ashley Montague)
Ahh, out of the two evils you pick the least evil one…
I do NOT believe in everything told in the bible literally. I am willing to realize that it has a grain of truth in it. It got distorted through all the re-writes of various versions and translations etc. Thus, I do NOT believe in any part of "we are exactly the same as we were made by God".
However, if you allow that the story of creation at least reflects the shadow of what actually happened (after all the idea for the bible did appear from somewhere) and say that god is a "mad scientist" while we are experimental subjects, everything falls in its place…
I know I cannot prove +ve this theory any more than creationists can prove theirs OR any more than evolutionists can prove that our common ancestor with the ape was more ape-like in appearance than human-like. As I said before, evolution from ape-like to human-like appearance presumes appearance of new genes in the gene pool (from where?) that goes against commonly observed disappearance of genes overtime (gene -> pseudogene).
You said you deal with microbes, so… You should know that unless bacteria can pick up genetic material from environment, new genes do not spontaneously appear. However, they can mutate existing genes to survive. Like kan resistance due to mutation in ribosomes. As you also know that too many mutations in any functional gene would lead to loss of fuction…
I really think that if there is something true in the bible with respect to creation, it probably was serendipity. Whatever a group of older semitic nomads could gather from the local myth and their own creativity, maybe informed by rough observation of the natural world (which amounts to anecdata). So I seriously doubt that even that shadow can inform us about biology/geology or anything that happened.
Your idea that your god is a mad scientist and that nature as we see it is its experiment, is in fact just a rehash of the god of the gaps hypothesis. And thus as "useful" as the deity hidden where noone can see it. At least the FSM has the elegance to actually use its noodly appendage to prevent detection, rather than hidding deeper and deeper away from science.And from an utilitarist point of view, such deity is as useful as solipsism.
Genes disappear, but also multiply (duplication at the gene or (part of) chromosome level, viral transformation have been documented). And if the level horizontal genetic transfer is higher than that of gene creation, it does not preclude the possibility for genes to be copied and then to evolve independantly. To get money I could go in the north of my country and mine for gold, or get a job close to my home. Te fact that most of us opt for the latter does not prevent the possibility of the former. It is just less frequently witnessed, and generally also less efficient when credit cards offer abounds
Science has proof without any certainty. Creationists have certainty without
any proof. (Ashley Montague)
in my point of view, all we need is some kind of replicator and the notion of fallibility. Nothing is perfect and some errors are likely to occur during replication. In addition, resources are unlimited so replicators have varying success. Finally, and for bioinformaticians there can be no better example for evolution than looking at a sequence alignment because the fact that similar genes can be found in different organisms.
Re: Re:
Well - if he's flawed, then the things said about him like; Omnipotent, Omniscient and Benevolent are incorrect. So why call him a god?
Re: Any SOLID arguments against evolution?
I believe it is pointless trying to argue for/against religion/science by pointing out problems in scientific theory. If you are doing this then you don't understand the philosophy of the scientific method. The beauty of science (and I say beauty because I do have a bit of a bias due to being able to empathies with the philosophy) is that you can never 'prove' anything as being right, all you can do is gather evidence that show alternate theories to be unlikely/wrong, thus increasing the probability that your hypothesis is correct.
Therefore it is quite futile pointing out issues where scientific knowledge may be wrong in order to show religious views as being right. The only way that science progresses is through new ideas, ideas which in most cases contradict old ones. This leads to new scientific concepts/theories.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that the debate for or against evolution and religion should concentrate on the philosophy behind science and religious beliefs (or how we perceive reality) rather than on specific scientific theories or the interpretation of religious scripture.
The way I see it most biological scientists would love it if anyone (religious or not) came up with some scientifically legitimate falsifiable hypotheses that may disprove the theory of evolution. If we are on the wrong track I certainly would like to know. However if these people did hold religious beliefs the problem they would then encounter is that only because there was a paradigm shift in biology (see Thomas Kun's theories) doesn't mean that science would then recognise religious beliefs as scientific theory.
Until then evolution remains a fascinating and extremely insightful theory that helps us understanding many of the puzzling observations of life. "Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution" (Theodosius Dobzansky 1964).
So, in a fantasy dialogue with the being Vendian - Charnay - who has fallen in our time, I explain the mechanism of the so-called Cambrian Explosion:
***** "- Well, something did you remember? - said Ue Ooi.
- Yes, of course, much more! Many ... The main issue - that's what I remember! Six thousand years of wander and think: - How could it happen that a great nation, commanding all other peoples and the mass of dead-end domesticated species ... has now become worm-parasite in the intestines of their former slaves?
Everyone was silent, digesting what was said.
- Uh, yes. So. Our civilization has enjoyed all the benefits that are provided global division of labor between the specially bred for a variety of social and business functions - several dozen species and races - the service-Jobers with much shorter life expectancy. Well, enjoy these benefits, we - "The people of Kings." Although ... was believed that all these types - degenerative just of race and breed our own species ... But it was a terrible sedition, which is tightly nipped in the bud! Since many of these Jobers just used for food ... Well, they were considered irrational types, so ...
- Oh! Yes you were cannibals! - Wedged Gerard.
- No more than you do now. You're eating animals and plants? Drink milk?
- Gerard, hey, let Charney remember!
- Yes. Our villages under water and on land were beautiful, exquisite, special Jobers illuminated at night, warmed and cooled in the cold in the heat. We had an ultrasound and radio communication via special Jobers-signalers. We lived in a blue and green Jobers-plant moved to Jobers-transports, ate delicious food Jobers-cooks who prepared them from regenerating components themselves ...
- Brrr ... - again could not resist Gerard - That's because - sybarites!
- And our babies, the larvae were introduced into the body of special Jobers-queens, and where all enjoy the benefits of prenatal. "*****
( http://translate.google.com/translate?s ... _id%3D5308)
Cambrian explosion, from this point of view, was an act of devolution - away from universalism! Like all paleo-history of life. So, the concept of "Evolution" should be changed to the term "Devolution" Here's an argument!
The only thing that is truly unexplainable is the big bang. Saying that everything came from an infinitely dense spec that just randomly explodes is... strange. It's not much of a solid argument AGAINST evolution per se, but evolution does rely heavily on such a bogus idea.
Re: Any SOLID arguments against evolution?
Nicely said.
"Some scientists claim that hydrogen, because it is so plentiful, is the basic building block of the universe. I dispute that. I say there is more stupidity than hydrogen, and that is the basic building block of the universe."
-Frank Zappa
The biggest argument against evolution that I see is found in all DNA. And that is the information that is in fact built into all DNA. Where did the instructions come from? And how are the vast amounts of instructions actually built into the strands themselves. If you can explain to me how evolution or natural selection accounts for the instructions then I might be swayed a little. So which came first? The chicken or the egg.
The information in DNA was accumulated incrementally over billions of year. The fact that you cannot figure out (nor apparently educate yourself about) how that could have started is not a proof against evolution. Just a demonstration of your lack of understanding.
A post in a forum is not the right place to teach a full course on molecular biology, and it would be hard to educate you there. However there are plenty of resources on the web But you could start here:
and particularly there:
And the egg was there long before the chicken, dinosaurs were laying calcified eggs long before any chicken walked on the Earth.
Science has proof without any certainty. Creationists have certainty without
any proof. (Ashley Montague)
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Janesville City Council could close or sell landfill
JANESVILLE--The Janesville City Council might sell or even close its landfill on Black Bridge Road because revenues no longer cover the cost of operations.
Last year, Operations Director John Whitcomb said the landfill wasn't to blame for the looming deficit in the sanitation fund. He said deficits were the result of residential garbage pickup fees not covering the cost of collecting trash.
Collection fees were increased, and this year they cover the cost of trash collection.
"Now, the focus is the landfill is not covering its costs," Whitcomb said.
In January, the city lost one of its larger customers, Sherman Sanitation, when Sherman was purchased by a company that owns its own landfill.
Waste haulers like Sherman Sanitation pay the city to dump trash into the landfill.
The Janesville City Council in a closed meeting earlier this year directed staff to seek options for the landfill's future. Options include selling or closing the landfill.
The city Thursday published proposals to test the private sector for interest in the landfill operations. The city would entertain any suggestions, including leasing, Whitcomb said.
Any changes hopefully would not affect city residents, Whitcomb said.
A city council decision is expected in mid to late summer in advance of drafting the 2015 city budget.
Until this year, the landfill was a break-even or profitable operation within the sanitation fund, according to a city release.
For many years, landfill revenues subsidized all or a portion of garbage collection costs.
Since 2008, however, the tons of waste hauled to the landfill dropped 53 percent, and revenues fell 37 percent. During the same time, operating expenses rose 28 percent.
Causes of the drop in garbage volume included the recession and stiffer competition in the regional marketplace for waste hauling and disposal, Whitcomb said.
The city council could delay a decision and see if garbage volumes pick up.
"I've not had a lot of luck finding much more (garbage) out there," Whitcomb said.
Companies often are locked into years-long contracts with landfills.
Closing the landfill would save more than $10 million in future borrowing through 2023, Whitcomb has said.
Whitcomb didn't think customers would see much difference in service if the city no longer owned a landfill. Few Wisconsin cities own landfills.
The city would hope to negotiate with any new owner a reasonable disposal price for trash collected by the city's curbside service, Whitcomb said. He hopes to keep the compost and demolition landfill areas open.
Garbage pickup costs could increase if the city closes the landfill and then must haul waste to another landfill, he said.
Whitcomb doesn't foresee any scenario in which the city would no longer offer garbage pickup.
"The objective would be, if that property were to change hands, that the residents in the community here hopefully won't even notice the difference," Whitcomb said.


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Sarah Harris
Sikich LLP, a professional services firm specializing in accounting, technology, investment banking and advisory services, has named former Baker & McKenzie partner Sarah Harris general counsel.
Harris has expertise in mergers and acquisitions, private equity fund formation and regulation and general corporate and securities transactions and counseling. In her new role, Harris will manage all regulatory matters related to the firm's numerous practice areas. Specifically, she will focus on risk assessment as Sikich continues to grow and acquire other companies.
"Sarah's ability to provide best-in-class counsel across a wide variety of legal issues will ensure that we comply with all rules and regulations and take advantage of strategic growth opportunities at the right time moving forward," said Jim Sikich, CEO of Sikich in a statement.
Prior to Baker & McKenzie, Harris was an associate at Mayer Brown LLP and vice president and general counsel of The Milwaukee Brewers Baseball Club. Harris has also worked with The Law Project as part of the Chicago Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, Inc.
Harris has a B.A. from Scripps College and a J.D. from the Northwestern University School of Law.


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The troubles for prosecutors in the case of Rajarengan ("Rengan") Rajaratnam — younger brother of convicted insider trader Raj Rajaratnam — are mounting, as a federal judge dismissed two insider-trading counts through narrowing the definition of what constitutes insider trading.
Since noting the Securities and Exchange Commission's near-perfect record in insider trading cases since the turn of the century, the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals has begun requiring a higher standard of proof in these cases since April 2014.
Citing this recent trend, U.S. District Judge Naomi Buchwald dismissed two counts against Rengan, claiming that prosecutors did not reach this higher standard of proof. Prosecutors attempted to claim that people who used confidential information only need to know it had been disclosed in breach of a fiduciary duty. However, Judge Buchwald claimed that prosecutors hadn't provided evidence that he was aware of the benefits of his information.
Judge Buchwald also informed prosecutors that some of their arguments were "singularly unpersuasive." In statements not before a jury, Judge Buchwald said of the arguments, "They're going to be shoved down your throat because they don't make any sense."
Insider trading much more prevalent than suspected especially before mergers and acquisitions
SEC loses insider trading case involving a California-based computer storage device business
Firms file class action suit against U.S. stock exchanges over high-frequency trading
The judge claimed that this was only the second time she had dismissed charges mid-trial, and it came after prosecutors themselves withdrew four of the original seven charges against Rengan voluntarily. Now, the only remaining charge left against Rengan is the conspiracy charge. Jury deliberations on that charge could begin as early as Monday.
Prosecutors believe that Rengan Rajaratnam conspired his brother Raj, who is currently serving 11 years in prison for insider trading, to conduct an insider trading scheme while working as a hedge trader at Galleon Group. Prosecutors claim that the alleged trading occurred between 2006 and 2008, and Rengan made more $3 million in illegal gains.
"Rengan Rajaratnam and his brother shared more than DNA," Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said at the time of Rengan's initial charges. "Along with his brother Raj, Rengan Rajaratnam was allegedly at the heart of an insider-trading scheme that swept up an unprecedented number of people in its web of corruption."


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Today's Red Leaf Tea Special
New Facebook Promotions:Like this page and get $10 OFF coupon for Large Caramel MATCHAccino. Get 10 friends to like this page and get FREE small size Caramel MATCHAccino (Available 20 packages, USA & Canada only)
Let me know if you have any questions. Have fun.
I was wondering about how long matcha keeps. If I keep some packets sealed, how long can I expect them to last for? I was thinking I could just do a bulk matcha order to score free shipping, and then probably go through the pouches at a rate of one pouch a month. Assuming I kept the others sealed until I finish one, would they still be fresh tasting six months down the road?
(bearing in mind I'm not extremely picky. I can crunch on banana loaf and be happy lol)
Holiday's sale, today only:
Hemp Matcha
French Vanilla Matcha
Macademia Nut Matcha
Fig Matcha
Oriental Jasmine Matcha
Any Pu-Erh lovers here?
My supplier has shipped us a wrong tea and instead of black tea we received Pu-Erh cubes. Since we did not have to pay for this product, why not share the love with our customers. I have about 70 cubes to give away.
Depending how many people will opt to get it, I will divide the stock equally and will only ask for shipping fee. I can not say the shipping price yet since I don't know how big each portion will be.
Please let me know here on Steepster who many people would like to get some and I'll post further instructions later on, once I get the list.
I would love some!
Please send $3 (USA) or $5 (Canada) for shipping to our PayPal account at [email protected] and in note mention word Pu-Erh and I'll have it shipped tomorrow. As a bonus I will send a small sample of high quality Pu-Erh ($150/kg wholesale price :-)
Hey, thanks for the Pu-erh! I'm trying one of the cubes today and it's real nice :)
Thank you for the puerh! I made a pitcher of cold steeped puerh, which is one of my favorite hot weather drinks, and it was good. The college age kids drank it this weekend. I have my daughter's, too, but she won't get it until she comes next time, which is next week! Reviewed it under unknown puerh. Do you sell the additional sample that you sent? Would you like some reviews under its actual name?
I'm glad you like it, but the pu-erh I received will not be sold at out store. I'm slowly moving my store from selling different kinds of tea to focusing on matcha tea. My goal is to specialize on green teas powders only by the end of this year.
I would love some. Since it will be my first puerh would you tell me how to brew my perfect cup?
Thanks a lot
I just saw this post, and I would love some if it's still available. :)
Ashley and boychik: I still have some available. Please see the post above yours for the payment instructions.
Just a heads up. Matcha testers needed again.
I have received new samples of Matcha tea, but this time the new supplier offers low, mid and high quality of unflavored matcha tea. I will have 8-12 samples available, 10-20g each.
Samples are free, but shipping will not be.
I will have more info at the end of this week, but wanted to let you know since last time some people got too late into the game. This time I want all to have a chance.
Hope you can help me out. :-)
Interested if there is space for me, but no problem if you want mostly new people! :)
Anyone is welcomed. My preference would be towards people that have some experience with unflavored matcha tea since they would have something to compare it to, but it's not mandatory. Since my customer base consist of people that are new to matcha as well as some that have tried them all, it will be nice to hear opinions from all types.
I'd like for our store to be considered the place to go to when looking for occasional as well as everyday matcha drinkers, therefor opinion is needed from both types.
I would love a chance to get in on this! :-)
I ordered extra large size samples so that I can have enough for about 20 people :-)
I'm game for some testing!
I would be interested if you're still looking for testers.
Our biggest matcha testing yet!!!
12 samples. 5 suppliers. From low quality to VERY high quality.
Only 15 sets available. Shipping fee maybe a bit higher, but that's due to the amount of samples and it's total weight.
Samples as always are free, well, $1 to be exact. I had to put something so that the system does not freak out.
Below is the link to those samples (not available to the public):
Snagged. :) Can't wait! Thanks a ton.
I've been waitng for this! Just ordered! Thanks for the chance to try a whole bunch of samples. Matcha has really been somethng I've wanted to try more of lately.
NEW Product: Green Coffee Bean Matcha. This weekend at 30%OFF.
Perfect aid for those trying to loose a few pounds.


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From: Central N.Y.Interests: Tiki, photography, travel, alt. rock, BBQ, etc.Tiki Central Profile
My early interest was in historical mugs. As I learned more about tiki culture from books and online (I live in the middle of New York state - about four hours from the closest tiki bar), I discovered modern tiki mugs. And, through collecting tiki, I've met some very cool people.
Someday I'll build my own home tiki oasis ...
A word on trades: I love trading mugs; if you have a mug for trade that's not in my collection, I probably want it - just drop me a PM.
New to Ooga-Mooga?
Learn how to get your mug collection in Ooga-Mooga -- it's fast & easy!


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Save more. Do more.
We help you get the most out of your visit to Al Duwadimi with savings on hotels and car rentals. Explore your hotel options and get an unforgettable experience at a great price. Our hotel deals put 4- and 5-star hotels within your budget. See even more of Riyadh with a rental car. Snag up a car rental and turn your visit into a Riyadh adventure! Unlock extra spending cash with a package deal that saves you even more.


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Gift cards might be easy, but are they good ideas?
We've entered the Christmas shopping season. No, Thanksgiving isn't here yet, but it falls rather late in November this year, so we'll have limited shopping days between turkey day and Christmas. Many shoppers without great ideas buy gift cards for loved ones. That way, shoppers figure, recipients can buy whatever they most want. Besides, these cards are simple ways to mail "gifts" to friends and family who live far away.
Consumer advocate Clark Howard, whose talk show airs on WCLO in Janesville, despises gift cards. He realizes that, too often, unused cards sit in drawers, expire and create a gravy train for merchants. He says too many cards also come with fees, limited choices and other restrictions.
Howard's website has pages that provide alternatives to giving cards and to buying and using them.
The first is a certificate that you can print out and wrap around a cash gift to a loved one. The certificate has a message from Howard explaining his dislike for gift cards and showing him holding a giant dollar.
For those who still insist on giving cards, and for those who get them, Howard reveals websites that offer discounts of up to 30 percent for buyers and also offer ways recipients can trade unwanted gift cards for lesser amounts of cash.
Howard says the websites make money on the buy/sell spread.
"So don't let that unloved plastic gather dust in a drawer this season," he concludes. "Discount gift card sites can save or make you some big money."
Consider these options to help keep your holidays happy.
Greg Peck can be reached at (608) 755-8278 or firstname.lastname@example.com. Or follow him on Twitter or Facebook.
Greg Peck can be reached at (608) 755-8278 or email@example.com. Or follow him on Twitter or Facebook.


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Growth on metal pot?!
About microscopic forms of life, including Bacteria, Archea, protozoans, algae and fungi. Topics relating to viruses, viroids and prions also belong here.
Moderator: BioTeam
No not at all I was just exaggerating JorgeLobos ignorance, for if you don't know what something is how could you conclude that it's not deadly with out testing in a lab or discovering it is. I may have exaggerated a bit too far, I mean no harm to JorgeLobo and I would never construct such contract, for humans are more equal than other organisms. I now apologize to JorgeLobo. I am sorry for my rudeness, and hope all is forgiven.
Re: Growth on metal pot?!
Oh like the after math of when bubbles dry on a particular surface creating weird structures? Or would this be a different reaction?
No willy - in fact I'm quite famiiar with the potential microbiology and chemistry involved. In either context I'm not aware of any fitting a "deadly" scenario. Is it going to jump off the pot and strangle the oroginal poster? If there was a deadly presence, not only would the original poster be dead but there'd be a fair body count if such mundane practices on not cleaning dishes were deadly.
Tell us willy, what would be a "deadly" precedent - or are you seeing this as a case of spontaneous and deadly generation or are you ignorant of the microbiology and chemistry involved?
As odins says - it's probably not even biological. Alot of melodrama ovr a dity dish.
I used the term "deadly" because i think that was he is concerning about,
I should have said--pathogenic, disease-causing organism,
Re: Growth on metal pot?!
I see michi. I just don't see the etiology. This is on dirty dish - so it's not obvious that it can effect pathogenicity. We're exposed the potential pathogens all the time but they have to reach us in a manner that can affect us. Unless this colony/clot of stuff leaps off the dish in some manner or the poster inadvisably uses the dirty dish - there doesn't seem to be a way that can make it dangerous, if it even has that potential.
Sorry willy - you again offer nothing of substance. Do you know nothing in the way of microbiology? i anticipate you don't so let me help you. Food microbiology addresses specific pathogens rather than numbers (some foods carry milions of bacteria per gram) and such pathogens are well characterized and documented. I refer you to the US FDA "Bad Bug Book"
http://www.fda.gov/food/foodsafety/food ... efault.htm
I'm familiar with the bug so listed anddon;t see any that offer potential to leap from a dirty pot and prove deadly. Perhaps you have a different perspective and can identify a scenario by which one would pose such a risk.
This doesn;t preclude some new leaping pathogen arriving from outer space or via spontenaous generation - was that what you meant?
This is great, no Jorge I'm sorry. Anyone else have an idea of what this could be? Someone who's not going to refer me to read a book, which isn't a bad idea, but my schedule doesn't give me that kind of time for I have other books to read. Thats why I'm seeking information on this forum.
Re: Growth on metal pot?!
As odinsravien (aka raven) said, it could be chemical. some kind of soap. But most dish washing products are surfactant based rather than soap. Is your water pretty hard (alot of Calcium and Magnesium)?
Do you think this will be faster? We can hardly give you any advice if we do not know even whether is it really biological (alive) or just something chemical.
Cis or trans? That's what matters.
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Technology is central to this. Used effectively, it can help a company to understand and minimize potential risks, such as the impact of currency risks on the business, while protecting supply chains. It can also be used to generate detailed payments information at critical junctures early in the process. This allows the treasury team to focus on managing — rather than discovering — transaction risk.
However, technology is costly and takes time to implement; therefore companies should educate themselves on the choices available and understand the imperative of strong coordination between their payments bank and technology provider. When adopting new technology, there are two guiding principles: First, it must deliver transparency; second, it must improve the efficiency of payment processes. Companies achieve this best when they review their goals with their workstation provider and payments bank together.
Goal 1: Connectivity
There are a number of technology options available that enable connectivity, so it helps to identify specific requirements in advance to choose the option best suited for the company. For example, are there specific security needs and comfort levels regarding authentication, job segregation and entitlements? Knowing these requirements will help to articulate the company's needs when working with technology firms.
The trend in recent years has been towards private cloud-based models — although similar concepts have been around for some time under different names, such as hosted services or application service providers (ASPs). Private cloud-based models have significant advantages over public models because they offer faster deployment and accelerated development.
By understanding and considering their requirements in sufficient detail, companies can better choose between a public or private solution. For example, many corporations invest in an infrastructure that can support file-based payments as part of their strategy to improve efficiency. Others may want final approval of payments before they are released to maximize security. Historically these attributes might have been mutually exclusive, but not anymore. There are businesses today that have integrated approvals as part of file-based payment processes and they have accomplished this by fully discussing requirements such as these with their payments bank.
Goal 2: Payment integration
Communication standards such as ISO 20022, as determined by the Common Global Implementation (CGI) initiative, offer opportunities to lower costs and increase flexibility. However, there are implications for adoption. For example, some banks may not be as willing to provide support for an interoperable standard as for their own proprietary standard and, therefore, alternative support may be needed.
Another important consideration regarding payment integration is the consolidation of single and cross-currency payment types in a single file, which can significantly improve efficiency and lower costs. Since many regional and local banks may not be able to meet such requirements, it's important to choose a payments bank that can.
Similarly, companies need to be certain that they will be able to leverage their existing contracts and spend to reach into countries where they operate or where they plan to expand — especially in emerging markets, which are necessarily harder to access. Corporations also need to consider whether their payments bank is focused on helping them to select the right payment types based on their country, currency or payment urgency requirements — from high value wire payments to low value ACH payments — so that they can achieve the highest payment efficiency.
Goal 3: Automation
Given the volatile macro-economic environment, managing risk is a priority for all companies — and is at the heart of the strategic role that treasury now plays. The use of technology allows companies to automate day-to-day tasks and generate detailed up-to-date information about their payments and exposure to risks.
There are numerous opportunities to improve automation by integrating bank information into a company's treasury system. For more than a decade, straight-through processing (STP) has been a realizable goal for corporations. What now separates payments banks (and the technology solutions they offer) is not in delivering STP but in delivering information about a company's failed payments. Exception handling — and the provision of data showing precisely the reasons for failure — is now the priority.
Automation can be used to generate detailed payments data and quantify exposure to risks. For example, it can not only acknowledge when payments are processed but also when a payment file has been received so that no payments are missed.
Banks can all provide basic reporting information. However, smarter integration between your bank and treasury workstation can create a more dynamic reconciliation process — improving efficiency and minimizing manual intervention.
In order to move to a reconciliation approach, however, companies need sufficiently granular information about the status of payments, the exchange rates used and the return reasons of payments. They may also need to work with a bank that offers the functionality of a multi-channel approach — using online, file or mobile — to alert them to potential problems.
Effective reconciliation can significantly improve efficiency and reduce the need for time-consuming manual intervention in the payments process. As importantly, leaving the tactical management of day-to-day FX and payment issues to technology enables the business and the treasury to focus on the strategic issues that are increasingly important in today's volatile environment.
Goal 5: Access to Ongoing Support
When implementing new technology, corporations need to understand the level of integration expertise and testing capabilities it will require. As the banking world increasingly moves towards interoperable standards such as ISO 20022 and bank agnostic solutions such as SWIFT, differentiation between banks on the basis of solutions has become more difficult. It is therefore essential to differentiate between banks based on their implementation expertise and the quality of their people and processes.
Support and expertise also comes in the form of knowledge about the global payments environment. Transacting in emerging markets can be tricky and may require the need to accommodate various regulations. How well the payments bank's operations team and other experts are able to advise should factor into the overall consideration.
Leading banks have already invested in smart ideas to simplify global payments. Only by carefully reviewing their payment goals and requirements with their bank and technology providers can companies achieve best practices and effectively mitigate payment processing and currency-related risk.
Finally, if the company is having to build complex reporting around the bank's limitations it might be time to up-tier the banking relationship, not the technology.
Tom Durkin
Global Head of Integrated Channel Solutions
Bank of America Merrill Lynch