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Previous articles in the series:
Added a section on Presentation Layer Test Patterns.
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The idea of unit testing seems to always evoke a strong reaction in people. For those that buy into the concept, they have unanimously stated that good unit tests are difficult to write, and some question whether the tests they have written were really worth it while others rave about their effectiveness. On the other hand, there is also a large community that guffaws at the idea of unit testing, especially the concept that "the code is good when it passes the unit tests". When all the hoopla dies down, unit testing may one day be relegated to the dusty shelf of "yet another programmer tool". If this fate is to be changed, unit testing has to be embraced by both the community and the tool developers. The next version of Microsoft's Visual Studio will include tools to automate refactoring. It seems obvious to me that tools that automate unit test generation would not only address some of the issues concerning maintenance and cost, but would also introduce the concept to a much wider audience.
However, to achieve this acceptance, unit testing must be formalized so that it becomes a real engineering discipline rather than an ad hoc approach that relies on the dubious capabilities of the programmer. After all, the unit test is supposed to test the code that the programmer writes. If the programmer writes bad code to begin with, how can you expect anything of better quality in the tests? Of even more concern is the concept that the unit test should be written first, before the code that is to be tested. To a certain extent, this implies that not only does the programmer have to consider what the code will do, he/she has to consider how the code is designed. Both drive the interface. This is why many people balk at the idea of writing the unit test first--it places them in the uncomfortable position of having to do up front design work without consciously recognizing that this what they are doing.
So, we are faced with a double edged sword. First, there is no formal unit test engineering discipline established in the community that provides a guide to the programmer and works to ensure some level of unit test quality. Second, the prerequisite that the design has to be somewhat formalized before any tests can be written causes difficulty for many programmers because they either don't have formal design experience or simply don't like up front design work. Aggravating this situation is the idea that up front design work can be replaced under the guise of "refactoring".
In order to blunt this sword, two things are needed--a formalization of unit testing by establishing unit test patterns, and the early adoption of object oriented design patterns in the developing application to specifically target the needs of unit testing. This article will paint a picture of this two pronged solution with some very large brush strokes. The intention is to whet your appetite and hopefully begin a dialog amongst yourselves that will lead to a more formal unit test engineering process, similar to object oriented design, design patterns, and refactoring.
As you read this article, keep in mind that one of the goals is a tool suite that can be used to automatically generate unit tests, both as a reverse and forward engineering process. With the latter, it should be possible to generate the method stubs for the code under test. After all, one of the benefits of unit testing is that it provides the implementer with some documentation as to the expected structure and behavior of the code under test. Also, to keep this article in the general reader category, there are no code examples.
The patterns that I have identified so far can be loosely categorized as:
Again, let me emphasize that these are broad brush strokes. From my research, this appears to be quite new territory.
These patterns are your first line of defense (or attack, depending on your perspective) to guarantee good code. But be warned, they are deceptive in what they tell you about the code.
Pass/fail unit tests are the simplest pattern and the pattern that most concerns me regarding the effectiveness of a unit test. When a unit test passes a simple test, all it does is tell me that the code under test will work if I give it exactly the same input as the unit test. A unit test that exercises an error trap is similar--it only tells me that, given the same condition as the unit test, the code will correctly trap the error. In both cases, I have no confidence that the code will work correctly with any other set of conditions, nor that it will correctly trap errors under any other error conditions. This really just basic logic. However, on these grounds you can hear a lot of people shouting "it passed!" as all the nodes on the unit test tree turn green.
The Simple-Test pattern typifies what I call "black box testing". Without inspecting the code, that's about all you can do--write educated guesses as to what the code under test might encounter, both as success cases and failure cases, and test for those guesses. A better test ensures that at least all the code paths are exercised. This is part of "white box testing"--knowing the inside workings of the code being tested. Here the priority is not to set up the conditions to test for pass/fail, but rather to set up conditions that test the code paths. The results are then compared to the expected output for the given code path. But now we have a problem--how can you do white box testing (testing the code paths) when the code hasn't been written? Here we are immediately faced with the "design before you code" edge of that sword. The discipline here, and the benefit of unit testing by enforcing some up front design, is that the unit test can test for code paths that the implementer may not typically consider. Furthermore, the unit test documents precisely what the code path is expected to do. Conversely, discipline is needed during implementation when it is discovered that there are code paths that the unit test did not foresee--time to fix the unit test!
Still, the above test, while improving on the Simple-Test pattern, does nothing to convince me that the code handles a variety of pass/fail conditions. In order to do this, the code should really be tested using a range of conditions. The Parameter-Range pattern does this by feeding the Code-Path pattern with more than a single parameter set. Now I am finally beginning to have confidence that the code under test can actually work in a variety of environments and conditions.
Constructing Parameter-Range unit tests is doable for certain kinds of testing, but it becomes inefficient and complicated to test at a piece of code with a complex set of permutations generated by the unit test itself. The data driven test patterns reduce this complexity by separating the test data from the test. The test data can now be generated (which in itself might be a time consuming task) and modified independent of the test.
In the simplest case, a set of test data is iterated through to test the code and a straightforward result (either pass or fail) is expected. Computing the result can be done in the unit test itself or can be supplied with the data set. Variances in the result are not permitted. Examples of this kind of of Simple-Test-Data pattern include checksum calculations, mathematical algorithms, and simple business math calculations. More complex examples include encryption algorithms and lossless encoding or compression algorithms.
The Data-Transformation-Test pattern works with data in which a qualitative measure of the result must be performed. This is typically applied to transformation algorithms such as lossy compression. In this case, for example, the unit test might want to measure the performance of the algorithm with regard to the compression rate vs. the data loss. The unit test may also need to verify that the data can be translated back into something that resembles the input data within some tolerance. There are other applications for this kind of unit test--a rounding algorithm that favors the merchant rather than the customer is a simple example. Another example is precision. Precision occurs frequently in business--the calculation of taxes, interesting, percentages, etc., all of which ultimately must be rounded to the penny or dollar but can have dramatic effects on the resulting value if precision is not managed correctly throughout the calculation.
Data transaction patterns are a start at embracing the issues of data persistence and communication. More on this topic is discussed under "Simulation Patterns". Also, these patterns intentionally omit stress testing, for example, loading on the server. This will be discussed under "Stress-Test Patterns".
This is a simple data transaction pattern, doing little more than verifying the read/write functions of the service. It may be coupled with the Simple-Test-Data pattern so that a set of data can be handed to the service and read back, making the transaction tests a little bit more robust.
The Constraint-Data pattern adds robustness to the Simple-Data-I/O pattern by testing more aspects of the service and any rules that the service may incorporate. Constraints typically include:
As the diagram illustrates, these constraints are modeled after those typically found in a database service and are "write" oriented. This unit test is really oriented in verifying the service implementation itself, whether a DB schema, web service, or other model that uses constraints to improve the integrity of the data.
The rollback pattern is an adjunct to the other transaction testing patterns. While unit tests are supposed to be executed without regard to order, this poses a problem when working with a database or other persistent storage service. One unit test may alter the dataset causing another unit test to inappropriately fail. Most transactional unit tests should incorporate the ability to rollback the dataset to a known state. This may also require setting the dataset into a known state at the beginning of the unit test. For performance reasons, it is probably better to configure the dataset to a known state at the beginning of the test suite rather than in each test and use the service's rollback function to restore that state for each test (assuming the service provides rollback capability).
A lot of what applications do is manage collections of information. While there are a variety of collections available to the programmer, it is important to verify (and thus document) that the code is using the correct collection. This affects ordering and constraints.
This is a simple pattern that verifies the expected results when given an unordered list. The test validates that the result is as expected:
This provides the implementer with crucial information as to how the container is expected to manage the collection.
This pattern verifies issues of enumeration, or collection traversal. For example, a collection may need to be traversed forwards and backwards. This is an important test to perform when collections are non-linear, for example a collection of tree nodes. Edge conditions are also important to test--what happens when the collection is enumerated past the first or last item in the collection?
This pattern verifies that the container handles constraint violations: null values and inserting duplicate keys. This pattern typically applies only to key-value pair collections.
The indexing tests verify and document the indexing methods that the collection container must support--by index and/or by key. In addition, they verify that update and delete transactions that utilize indexing are working properly and are protected against missing indexes.
Unit testing should not just be concerned with function but also with form. How efficiently does the code under test perform its function? How fast? How much memory does it use? Does it trade off data insertion for data retrieval effectively? Does it free up resources correctly? These are all things that are under the purview of unit testing. By including performance patterns in the unit test, the implementer has a goal to reach, which results in better code, a better application, and a happier customer.
The basic types of performance that can be measured are:
Note that some languages and operating systems make this information difficult to retrieve. For example, the C# language with its garbage collection is rather difficult to work with in regards to measuring memory utilization. Also, in order to achieve meaningful metrics, this pattern must often be used in conjunction with the Simple-Test-Data pattern so that the metric can measure an entire dataset. Note that just-in-time compilation makes performance measurements difficult, as do environments that are naturally unstable, most notably networks. I discuss the issue of performance and memory instrumentation in my fourth article in a series on advanced unit testing found at http://www.codeproject.com/csharp/autp4.asp.
Unit testing is intended to test, well, units...the basic functions of the application. It can be argued that testing processes should be relegated to the acceptance test procedures, however I don't buy into this argument. A process is just a different type of unit. Testing processes with a unit tester provide the same advantages as other unit testing--it documents the way the process is intended to work and the unit tester can aid the implementer by also testing the process out of sequence, rapidly identifying potential user interface issues as well. The term "process" also includes state transitions and business rules, both of which must be validated.
This pattern verifies the expected behavior when the code is performed in sequence, and it validates that problems when code is executed out of sequence are properly trapped. The Process-Sequence pattern also applies to the Data-Transaction pattern--rather than forcing a rollback, resetting the dataset, or loading in a completely new dataset, a process can build on the work of the previous step, improving performance and maintainability of the unit test structure.
The concept of state cannot be decoupled from that of process. The whole point of managing state is so that the process can transition smoothly from one state to another, performing any desired activity. Especially in "stateless" systems such as web applications, the concept of state (as in the state of the session) is important to test. To accomplish this without a complicated client-server setup and manual actions requires a unit tester that can understand states and allowable transitions and possibly also work with mock objects to simulate complicated client-server environments.
This test is similar to the Code-Path pattern--the intention is to verify each business rule in the system. To implement such a test, business rules really need to be properly decoupled from surrounding code--they cannot be embedded in the presentation or data access layers. As I state elsewhere, this is simply good coding, but I'm constantly amazed at how much code I come across that violates these simple guidelines, resulting in code that is very difficult to test in discrete units. Note that here is another benefit of unit testing--it enforces a high level of modularity and decoupling.
Data transactions are difficult to test because they often require a preset configuration, an open connection, and/or an online device (to name a few). Mock objects can come to the rescue by simulating the database, web service, user event, connection, and/or hardware with which the code is transacting. Mock objects also have the ability to create failure conditions that are very difficult to reproduce in the real world--a lossy connection, a slow server, a failed network hub, etc. However, to properly use mock objects the code must make use of certain factory patterns to instantiate the correct instance--either the real thing or the simulation. All too often I have seen code that creates a database connection and fires off an SQL statement to a database, all embedded in the presentation or business layer! This kind of code makes it impossible to simulate without all the supporting systems--a preconfigured database, a database server, a connection to the database, etc. Furthermore, testing the result of the data transaction requires another transaction, creating another failure point. As much as possible, a unit test should not in itself be subject to failures outside of the code it is trying to test.
In order to properly use mock objects, a factory pattern must be used to instantiate the service connection, and a base class must be used so that all interactions with the service can be managed using virtual methods. (Yes, alternatively, Aspect Oriented Programming practices can be used to establish a pointcut, but AOP is not available in many languages). The basic model is this:
To achieve this construct, a certain amount of foresight and discipline is needed in the coding process. Classes need to be abstracted, objects must be constructed in factories rather than directly instantiated in code, facades and bridges need to be used to support abstraction, and data transactions need to be extracted from the presentation and business layers. These are good programming practices to begin with and result in a more flexible and modular implementation. The flexibility to simulate and test complicated transactions and failure conditions gains a further advantage to the programmer when mock objects are used.
This test simulates the connection and I/O methods of a service. In addition to simulating an existing service, this pattern is useful when developing large applications in which functional pieces are yet to be implemented.
I have only used this pattern in limited applications such as simulating bit errors induced by rain-fade in satellite communications. However, it is important to at least consider where errors are going to be handled in the data stream--are they handled by the transport layer or by higher level code? If you're writing a transport layer, then this is a very relevant test pattern.
In this pattern, the mock object simulates a component failure, such as a network cable, hub, or other device. After a suitable time, the mock object can do a variety of things:
Again, this unit test documents that the code under test needs to handle these conditions.
Unit testing multithreaded applications is probably one of the most difficult things to do because you have to set up a condition that by its very nature is intended to be asynchronous and therefore non-deterministic. This topic is probably a major article in itself, so I will provide only a very generic pattern here. Furthermore, to perform many threading tests correctly, the unit tester application must itself execute tests as separate threads so that the unit tester isn't disabled when one thread ends up in a wait state.
This test verifies that a worker thread eventually signals the main thread or another worker thread, which then completes its task. This may be dependent on other services (another good use of mock objects) and the data on which both threads are operating, thus involving other test patterns as well.
This test, which is probably very complicated to establish because it requires a very thorough understanding of the worker threads, verifies that deadlocks are resolved.
Most applications are tested in ideal environments--the programmer is using a fast machine with little network traffic, using small datasets. The real world is very different. Before something completely breaks, the application may suffer degradation and respond poorly or with errors to the user. Unit tests that verify the code's performance under stress should be met with equal fervor (if not more) than unit tests in an ideal environment.
This test is designed to validate the performance of data manipulation when working with large data sets. These tests will often reveal inefficiencies in insertion, access, and deletion processes which are typically corrected by reviewing the indexing, constraints, and structure of the data model, including whether code is should be run on the client or the server.
Resource consumption stress testing depends on features of the operating system and may be served better by using mock objects. If the operating system supports simulating low memory, low disk space, and other resources, then a simple test can be performed. Otherwise, mock objects must be used to simulate the response of the operating system under a low resource condition.
This test measures the behavior of the code when another machine, application, or thread is loading the "system", for example high CPU usage or network traffic. This is a simulation only (which does not use mock objects) and therefore is of dubious value. Ideally, a unit test that is intended to simulate a high volume of network traffic would create a thread to do just that--inject packets onto the network.
One of the most challenging aspects of unit testing is verifying that information is getting to the user right at the presentation layer itself and that the internal workings of the application are correctly setting presentation layer state. Often, presentation layers are entangled with business objects, data objects, and control logic. If you're planning on unit testing the presentation layer, you have to realize that a clean separation of concerns is mandatory. Part of the solution involves developing an appropriate Model-View-Controller (MVC) architecture. The MVC architecture provides a means to develop good design practices when working with the presentation layer. However, it is easily abused. A certain amount of discipline is required to ensure that you are, in fact, implementing the MVC architecture correctly, rather than just in word alone.
Sun Microsystems has a webpage which I consider is the gospel for the MVC archicture: http://java.sun.com/blueprints/patterns/MVC-detailed.html. To summarize the MVC pattern here:
It is vital that events are used for model notification changes and user gestures, such as clicking on a button. If you don't use events, the model breaks because you can't easily exchange the view to adjust the presentation to the particular presentation layer requirement. Furthermore, without events, objects become entangled. Also, events, such as managed by an event pool, allow for instrumentation and ease debugging. The only exception to this model that I have found in practice is that on occasion, a state change in the model might be captured by an event in the controller rather than the view. Some model changes, such as user authorization, are view-less but end up affecting other aspects of the controller.
This test verifies that for a change in the model state, the view changes state appropriately.
This test exercises only half of the MVC pattern--the model event notifications to the view, and the view management of those events in terms of affects on the presentation layer content and state. The controller is not a factor in this test pattern.
Once we have verified application's performance with the View-State Pattern, we can progress to a more complicated one. In this pattern, the unit test simulates user gestures by setting state and content directly in the presentation layer, and if necessary, invoking a state change event such as "KeyUp", "Click", etc.
As diagrammed above, the unit test verifies that the model state has changed appropriately and that the expected events fired. In addition, the view's events can be hooked and verified to fire correctly for the simulated user gesture. This test may require some setup on the model itself, and treats the controller as a black box, however model state can be inspected to determine whether the controller is managing the model state appropriately.
This article has described 24 test patterns that hopefully bring the technique of unit testing closer to a more formal engineering discipline. When writing unit tests, reviewing these patterns should help in identifying the kind of unit test to write, and the usefulness of that unit test. It also allows the developer to choose how detailed the unit tests need to be--not every piece of code needs to be stress tested, nor is it cost effective to do so.
As you can see from this article, we desperately need some tools that generate unit tests automatically. I'm not much of an advocate of code generates, but I can see that unit testing would really benefit from code generation. It would all but eliminate the arguments against unit testing based on cost and effectiveness, and could also be used as an application generating tool--given information on the unit test, the code generator can also create the application code classes, structure, and stubs.
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ranu_hai wrote:I want to write Unit Test cases for launching URL in default browser. Test cases are really simple to check whether the url is valid,
int ComputeDistance(LPCTSTR lpszZipCode1, LPCTSTR lpszZipCode2);
DistanceInMiles ComputeDistance(ZipCode ZipCode1, ZipCode ZipCode2);
int ComputeDistance(LPCTSTR lpszZipCode1, LPCTSTR lpszZipCode2) :: return is Distance, Miles, Not Nullable, Positive or Zero, :: lpszZipCode1 is 5 digits, numeric, Not Nullable :: lpszZipCode2 is 5 digits, numeric, Not Nullable
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WASHINGTON (AP) — Asserting "America's possibilities are limitless," President Barack Obama declared today that a decade of war is ending and the nation's economy is recovering as he launched into a second term before a flag-waving crowd of hundreds of thousands on the National Mall.
"My fellow Americans, we are made for this moment, and we will seize it, so long as we seize it together," Obama said, moments after taking the oath of office on a crisp day in the nation's capital.
The president didn't dwell on any first-term accomplishments but looked to hard work ahead in a country still grappling with a sluggish economy.
"We must make the hard choices to reduce the cost of health care and the size of our deficit," he said. But we reject the belief that America must choose between caring for the generation that built this country and investing in the generation that will build its future."
Hundreds of thousands of people fanned out across the Mall, and millions more watched on television, as Obama took the oath of office to begin his second term.
Sandwiched between the bruising presidential campaign and looming fiscal fights, Monday's inaugural celebrations marked a brief respite from the partisan gridlock that has consumed the past two years.
Standing in front of the flag-bedecked Capitol, he implored Washington to find common ground over his next four years. And seeking to build on the public support that catapulted him to the White House twice, the president said the public has "the obligation to shape the debates of our time."
"Not only with the votes we cast, but with the voices we lift in defense of our most ancient values and enduring ideals," Obama said.
Looking ahead to his second-term agenda, the president said the nation must "respond to the threat of climate change" and tackle the comprehensive immigration reform that has eluded Washington for years.
"Our journey is not complete until we find a better way to welcome the striving, hopeful immigrants who still see America as a land of opportunity," he said.
Moments earlier, Obama placed his hand on two Bibles — one used by the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and the other used by Abraham Lincoln — and recited the brief oath of office. Michelle Obama held the Bibles, one on top of the other, as daughters Malia and Sasha looked on.
Vice President Joe Biden was also sworn in for his second term as the nation's second in command.
Today's oats were purely ceremonial. The Constitution stipulates that presidents begin their new term at noon on Jan. 20, and in keeping with that requirement, Obama was sworn in yesterday in a small ceremony at the White House.

subset: commoncrawl


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NEW YORK (AP) — Paula Deen should hope for more fans like Jennifer Everett of Tyler, Texas, who carried a shopping bag filled with $53 worth of merchandise from the celebrity chef's Georgia store on Thursday. A day earlier, it was revealed that Deen admitted during questioning in a lawsuit that she had slurred blacks in the past.
"Who hasn't ever said that word?" Everett said. "I don't think any less of her. She's super friendly. She's a warm person who wouldn't hurt a fly."
Deen's admission that she had used the N-word in the past wasn't the first time the queen of comfort food's mouth had gotten her into big trouble. She said in 2012 that for three years she hid her Type 2 diabetes while continuing to cook the calorie-laden food that's bad for people like her.
Hypocrisy is one thing, hostility another. From her days as a divorced mother selling bag lunches on the streets of Savannah, Deen has parlayed her folksy, Southern gal charm into an empire that includes Food Network TV shows, cookbooks, magazines and a wide swath of product endorsements.
Now there's at least some risk to that image — and her empire. The Food Network, which began airing "Paula's Home Cooking" in 2002 and added "Paula's Best Dishes" in 2008, has said it does not tolerate discrimination and is looking at the situation. She is one of the network's longest-running and most recognizable stars, although her show airs in daytime — not prime-time. About three-quarters of her audience is female. The network, using Nielsen data, said it did not break down its audience racially.
Deen is also the author of 14 cookbooks that have sold more than 8 million copies and her bimonthly magazine "Cooking with Paula Deen," has a circulation of nearly 1 million, according to her website.
Outside of her loyal fans, Deen is now best known as the woman with diabetes who cooks fatty food and has made racially controversial statements, said Matthew Hiltzik, a New York public relations specialist.
"Those are usually not the ingredients — no pun intended — for a successful brand," he said. "However, she has very loyal, dedicated followers who are most likely to accept her apologies and explanations."
Where it will most hurt Deen is in her ability to expand her business, Hiltzik said.
Deen's business expansion began in earnest in 2011, when she began putting out a full line of cookware sold at major retailers including Wal-Mart, food items like spices and even furniture. In addition to her restaurant, The Lady and Sons, she owns a Savannah seafood restaurant with her brother Bubba. There are Paula Deen Buffets at Harrah's Tunica in Mississippi and at Horshoe Southern Indiana Casino, and restaurants at other Harrah's.
Deen's racial statements came to light as part of a deposition in a lawsuit brought by a former manager of Uncle Bubba's Seafood and Oyster House, who claimed to be sexually harassed and said the restaurant was rife with innuendo and racial slurs.
Deen was asked in the deposition whether she had ever used the N-word.
"Yes, of course," Deen replied, though she added: "It's been a very long time."
The chef's representatives issued a statement Thursday saying that it was a different time when Deen admitted using the N-word, and she does not condone its use today.
"She was born 60 years ago when America's South had schools that were segregated, different bathrooms, different restaurants and Americans rode in different parts of the bus," the statement said. "This is not today."
Under questioning in the lawsuit, Deen was also asked to explain why she had suggested that all black waiters be hired for her brother's wedding in 2007. She said she had been inspired by another restaurant where the entire wait staff was middle aged black men. The idea was quickly dismissed.
The situation has made Deen the subject of some online mockery, with Twitter users suggesting new "Paula's best dishes" that include "Cotton Pickin' Fried Chicken" and "We Shall Over-Crumb Cake."
Last year, her career took a serious knock when she revealed that she had diabetes for three years while promoting high-fat, high-sugar recipes like deep-fried cheesecake and bacon-and-egg doughnut sandwiches. She made the revelation as she signed on as the face of an initiative by a diabetes drug company.
Deen lost weight after the admission and now tells people to eat fatty recipes in moderation, but she hasn't backed away from the butter. In fact, she recently came out with her own line of "finishing butters."
In Savannah on Thursday, Waridi Stewart of Brooklyn, N.Y., took a pass on the buffet at Deen's restaurant. She said it was because the wait was too long.
"I feel nothing toward her in terms of her being white and me being black," Stewart said. "The food is good. I'm not here because of Paula. I'm here because of the food."
But she said Deen needs to be careful about what she says.
Connie Caprara of Norwalk, Ohio, brought her family to lunch at The Lady and Sons Thursday even though she had read about Deen's remarks. She said boycotting the restaurant would unfairly punish its employees.
"We've all said things we didn't mean to say," said Caprara, a 48-year-old billing agent for a medical practice. "But somebody in her position really needs to filter whatever comes out of her mouth."
Associated Press Writer Russ Bynum in Savannah, Ga.; Food Writer J.M. Hirsch and National Retail Writer Anne D'Innocenzio in New York contributed to this report.


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Oxford five-piece, The Epstein, is Olly Wills, Jon Berry, Rowland Prytherch, Sebastian Reynolds and Paul Denley. Their debut, I Held You Once is a mesmerising mix of warm American West Coast-style folk rock, with a spectral cinematic sound. We caught up with Olly Wills, lead vocals and acoustic guitarist in the band, to chat about the revival of the British folk scene, similarities with Mumford & Sons and their EP I Held You Once.
I understand the EP was recorded over 14 months, how did it all begin?
We started by doing a residence in a small pub in Oxford, selling recordings at shows, releasing our first full length in 2008, touring the UK and extensively throughout Germany and Holland. For 2011, we're releasing a batch of new material, which we're very excited about.
The EP's songs interchange between full, rousing anthems like I Held You Once, to bluesy tracks such as Ring On Her Finger – as a band how do you try to explore the possibilities of your sound?
As musicians, we love to create soundscapes that combine our love of good, strong songwriting, both lyrically and melodically, along with the wider aim of creating an almost cinematic widescreen experience for the listener. Another Band Has Gone is a great example of this; we attempted a full band version, but ended up vocals, acoustic and an organ, along with a whole load of reverb.
There are similarities between your sound and bands such as Mumford & Sons, how has the sound of British music has changed?
There has been a revival in the British folk scene and mainstream bands such as Mumford & Sons, Laura Marling and Stornoway have experienced success. I hope that a few more great bands will emerge from this scene before we head back to dance music or glam rock again.
You have an Americana sound, an increasingly more visible influence in British music today – what has inspired this focus?
Personally, this came from playing in a band in the USA and being introduced to artists such as Wilco, My Morning Jacket, Eels and Josh Ritter. It's bands that combine really beautiful melodies alongside an indie-rock aesthetic.
What new bands would you recommend to our readers?
We have pretty varied tastes within the band, which always makes for interesting road trips! There are some great bands coming out of the local music scene in Oxford at the moment; Ute, Dead Jerichos and Chad Valley and Trophy Wife who are following fast in the footsteps of Foals. In terms of what I'm listening to, it's anything based around strong songwriting and inventive production: Conor Oberst, Josh Ritter, Decemberists and Sparklehorse, as well as Elbow's latest album.
What would you like to happen for The Epstein in 2011?
Our aim is to release two EPs and an album, play more live shows and bigger stages at festivals. We really want to push further in Europe and other countries, which is always easier once you are deemed successful at home. We also want to write more songs, which will be the backbone of our third album. As a band, we are happiest when we are busy, so the aim for 2011 is to continue this trend.
Bethany Rex


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I am biased
I have to start with a confession. It is impossible for me to be objective in my analysis of Apple and it is not just because the stock has done so well for me over the last decade. My first computer was a Mac 128K that I bought in the early 1980s and I have bought every Apple model since (even the ill fated Lisa and the not-so-great Powerbook Duo). Why should you care? One reason that the debate on Apple is so heated is that people have strong preconceptions about the company and those preconceptions drive their suggestions about what the company should do. As you read the rest of this assessment, you should recognize that my substantial positive bias towards Apple does affect my analysis. To structure my thoughts about what Apple should do, here is how I see the choices for the company:
The first and most critical question is whether Apple's cash holdings are doing harm to the stockholders. Let's dispense with the reasons that don't hold up to scrutiny:
1. Cash earns a low rate of return: It is true that Apple's cash balance earns a very low rate of return. It is, after all, invested in treasury bills, commercial paper and other investments that are liquid and close to risk less. It earns less than 1% but that is all it should earn, given the nature of the investments made. Put differently, cash is a neutral investment that neither helps nor hurts investors.
2. If that cash were paid out, investors in Apple could generate higher returns elsewhere: Perhaps, but only by investing in higher risk investments. Investors in Apple, who were concerned that Apple was investing so much in low return, low risk cash could have eliminated the problem, by buying the stock on margin. Borrowing roughly 20% of the stock price to buy Apple stock would have neutralized the cash balance effect and would have been a vastly more profitable strategy over the last decade than taking the cash out of Apple and searching for alternative investments.
So, what could be defensible reasons for worrying about cash? Here are a few:
1. The "low leverage" discount: The tax laws are tilted towards debt and Apple by accumulating $ 100 billion in cash, with no debt, is not utilizing debt's tax benefits. In fact, the gargantuan cash balance gets in the way of even talking about the use of debt at the company; after all, why would you even consider borrowing at 2 or 3% interest rates, when you have that cash balance on hand?
My assessment: By my computation, Apple's optimal debt ratio is about 40-50% (download the spreadsheet to check it out yourself) and its current net debt ratio is -20% (using the cash balance of $ 100 billion as negative net debt). Given the risk of the business that Apple operates in, I would not let the debt ratio go higher than 20-30%. Their cost of capital currently is about 9.5% and it could drop to about 9% with the use of debt. That would translate into a value increase of $20-25 billion for the company, not insignificant but that is about a 5% value increase.
2. The naiveté discount: It is undeniable that legions of investors still use the short hand of a PE ratio, often estimated by looking at an industry average, applied to current or forward earnings to get a measure of whether a stock is cheap or expensive. In the process, they can significantly under value companies that have disproportionate amounts of cash. To see why, assume that the average trailing PE ratio for electronics/computer companies is 14 and that the average company in the sector has no cash. If you apply that PE ratio to Apple's net income or earnings per share, you are in effect applying it not only to the earnings from its operating assets (where it is merited) but also to its earnings from its cash balance (where you should be using a much higher PE ratio). Thus, you will come up with too low a value for Apple.
My assessment: I would be more inclined to go along with this argument if Apple's stock price had dropped 50% over the last few years. I find it difficult to believe that after the run up that you have seen in Apple's stock price, stockholders are under valuing the company. The counter, of course, is that the PE ratio for Apple, at 16 times trailing earnings or 13-14 times forward earnings, seems low and may reflect a naiveté discount.
3. The stupidity discount: In a post on Apple more than a year ago, I referred to what I called the stupidity discount, where stockholders discount cash in the hands of some companies because they worry about what the company might do with the cash. If investors are worried that the managers of a company will find a way to waste the cash (by taking bad investments, i.e., investments that earn less than the risk adjusted rate of return they should make), they will discount the cash.
My assessment: My personal assessment in January 2011 was that, as an Apple stockholder (which I have been for more than a decade), the company had earned my trust and that I was okay with them holding my cash. I am open to a reassessment and I think any disagreement boil down to the answer to the following question: Do you believe that Apple's success and strategy over the last decade was attributable to Steve Jobs or Apple's management? If you believe it was Steve Jobs, you are now in uncharted territory, with Tim Cook, a capable man no doubt, but capable men (and women) have wasted cash at other high profile companies. If you believe that Apple's management team was responsible for its success over the period, your argument is that nothing has really changed and that you see no need to change your views on the cash.
What if there is no discount?
If the cash balance is not hurting Apple's stockholders right now, the pressure to return the cash immediately is relieved. However, you still have a follow up question to answer. Does Apple see a possibility that it could find productive uses for the cash? While Jobs never broached that question and preserved plausible deniability, I am afraid that Tim Cook has conceded on this issue, when he said last week that Apple had more "cash than we need to run the company".
Bottom line: I am inclined to believe that Apple is not being punished right now for holding on to $100 billion in cash. However, I am more concerned than I was a year ago. While I had the conviction that Steve Jobs could never be pressured (by investors, portfolio managers or investment banks) to do something he did not want to do, I am not as sure about Tim Cook. Having seen how quickly markets can turn on high flying companies (Microsoft and Intel in the early part of the last decade come to mind), in the face of disappointment or a misstep, I am worried that Apple may be one misstep away from a discount being attached to cash. Given that even Tim Cook does not think that Apple needs this big a cash balance, I think that it is time that we ask the follow up question: what should Apple do with all this cash?
What should Apple do with the cash?
In the broadest sense, Apple can either invest the cash or return it to stockholders and it seems that even Apple does not believe in the first option. Investing the cash internally in more products and projects sounds like a great idea, given Apple's track record over the last decade. In 2011, for instance, the company generated a return on equity of 42% on its investments; if you net the cash out of book equity, the return on equity exceeds 100%. If Apple could invest the $100 billion in cash at 42%, that cash would be worth $350 billion, but put those dreams on hold, because it is not going to happen. First, that high return on equity can be traced back to the blockbuster products that Apple introduced in the last decade, the iPod, the iPhone and the iPad, and those are not easily replicable. Second, there are other constraints (people, technology, marketing, distribution, production) that essentially limit the number of internal projects that Apple can take.
How about a few acquisitions? I am sure that there are willing and eager bankers who will find target companies for Apple. The sorry history of value destruction that has historically accompanied acquisitions of large publicly traded companies leads me to believe that this path of action will provide justification for those who attached a stupidity discount in the first place. So, to those who are counseling Apple to buy Yahoo!, Pandora, Linkedin or go bigger, please go away!
If Apple cannot find internal projects of this magnitude and the odds are against value creation from acquisitions, the company has to return the cash to investors and there are three ways it can do this: initiate a regular dividend and tweak it over time, pay a large special dividend or buy back stock. In my view, there are four factors that come into play in making this choice:
- Urgency: A company with a large cash balance that has been targeted by an acquirer or activist investors has to return cash quickly, cutting out the regular dividend option. Apple's large market cap protects it from hostile takeovers and its stock price performance and profitability give it immunity from activist investors.
- Stockholder composition: When a company that has never paid a regular dividend initiates dividend payments, it attracts new investors, i.e., investors who need or like dividends, into the company. While this "investor expansion" has been used as an argument for regular dividends, I think it should actually be an argument against regular dividends. While some of my best friends are "dividend investors", I think that they are temperamentally and financially a bad fit for Apple, a immensely profitable company that also operates in a shifting, risky landscape. If Apple initiates a dividend, the demands for increases in those dividends in future years will come and the company will find itself locked into a dividend policy that it may or may not be able to afford.
- Tax effects (for investors): The choice between dividends and stock buybacks is also affected by how investors in the company will be taxed as a result of the transaction. While both dividends and capital gains are still taxed at the same rate, that will change on January 1, 2013, when the tax rate on dividends reverts back to the ordinary tax rate (which could be 40% or higher). If Apple drags its feet into 2013, the choice becomes a simple one: buy back stock.
- Valuation of stock: Finally, there is the question of whether the stock in the company is under or over valued. A company, whose stock is over valued, should pay a special dividend since buying back shares at the inflated price hurts the stockholders who remain after the buyback. While I am normally skeptical of the capacity of management to make judgments about the "fair" value of the stock, I decided to take my best shot at valuing Apple using an intrinsic valuation model. Using what I thought were reasonable assumptions (8% revenue growth for 5 years and a 30% target margin, both significantly lower than the numbers from recent years), I estimated a value of
$716$710 per share for Apple. You can download the spreadsheet that I used to make your own judgment. Once you have made your own estimates, please enter them in this shared Google spreadsheet. A buyback at the current price would provide a double whammy: a reduction in a "too large" cash balance and a buyback at a price lower than value. (Update: As many of you have rightly pointed out, a significant portion of the cash is trapped overseas and Apple will have to pay the differential tax rate (between the US marginal tax rate and the foreign tax rate already paid) when the cash is repatriated. I have added the trapped cash input into the excel spreadsheet and factored in the additional taxes.)
Apple should announce a substantial buy back, but it should use it do so on its terms. First, the buyback should leave Apple with enough of a cash balance (my guess is about $15-$20 billion) to invest in new businesses of products, should they open up. For the moment, I would avoid the debt route, even though Apple has debt capacity. Second, Apple should follow the Berkshire Hathaway rule book and set a cap on the buyback price. While Berkshire Hathaway's cap is set in terms of book value (less than 110% of book value), Apple should set its maximum as a function of earnings or cash flows (say, 16 times earnings). Third, Tim Cook should stop talking about whether Apple has too much cash and get back to business. Make the iPad 3 a success and lets see an iTV, an iAirline, a iUniversity and an iAutomobile (think of any product you use now that is badly designed or a business that is badly run and think of how much better Apple could do...). Apple did not get to be the largest market cap company in the world by finessing its capital structure or optimizing dividend policy. It did so by taking great investments.


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"I'm definitely the underdog, but skill-wise I don't consider myself the underdog. It's not going to be a 'Rocky' thing where I have to fight tooth and nail to come back from behind." - Ian Loveland
How obsessed is Ian Loveland with fishing? Enough to get a gigantic rainbow trout tattooed across his entire back.
The extraordinary choice of body art naturally piques the curiosities and prejudices of cageside observers. Today, however, the bewilderment ends. The UFC bantamweight, who faces Joseph Benavidez next week at UFC 128 in New Jersey, revealed that the steelhead trout billboard is not a metaphor for something else and holds no hidden meaning.
"I just wanted a steelhead tattoo," he said. "Steelhead fishing is my life. Steelhead and fighting."
In fact, the Portland, Oregon native believes that battling a 10-pound fish with a rod and reel has much in common with clashing wits and wills against another man inside a cage. Of note: Loveland said he has fought "the hardest fighting fish in the world" for upwards of 15 minutes straight – the same time limit for a standard three-round fight in the UFC.
"If you catch a real big steelhead, it's the same rush as going into a fight. You just get flooded with adrenaline," Loveland said. "It's all about the high … The best thing about living in Portland is the proximity to world-class steelhead fishing.
"A steelhead is a sea-run Rainbow trout; it's the premier game fish in the world. It takes a lot of time to learn how to catch them and a lot of technique. The coolest thing is the variety of places you can find them. You can find them in remote places and close to downtown Portland, within 15 minutes of my house."
There are other similarities between Loveland's favorite pastime and courageous profession, the 27-year-old observed. In fighting, you're trying to exploit an opponent's weakness. With fishing, you're trying to discover what will make a fish put a hook in its mouth on any given day. And, believe it or not, what instigates a fish one day to bite may not work on another day.
"It's all in the preparation. Fights are won and lost in the gym. Same with fishing," said Loveland (14-7). "You have to develop a solid gameplan. When I go fishing I keep my eye on the weather, the river levels, the snow, the rain, the wind -- everything plays a part. It's just like fighting, where you have to work on your ground, your striking, studying tape on your opponents … there are so many factors involved and fishing is the same way."
A product of Team Quest, Loveland survived a rocky 3-4 start to his career but has
become red-hot, winning seven straight. He has not tasted defeat since 2007 and credits his turnaround to maturity and re-evaluating his goals.
"Fighting probably wasn't my number one priority, day to day," he said. "I was spending way too much time fishing and doing other stuff. Eventually I decided, if I'm going to half-ass it I might as well quit. It's taken priority in my life now. That's the main difference."
The fighting life has made a globetrotter of him, with bouts in Bahrain, Tokyo, British Columbia, Quebec and Las Vegas. Coming off a unanimous decision victory over Tyler Toner at The Ultimate Fighter 12 finale, Loveland has spent the bulk of his career competing at 145 and 155 pounds. The wily counterpuncher has competed but once at 135 pounds in his career, finishing his foe in under a minute.
"I felt as good as I've ever felt going into that fight," he said. "My cardio and my speed are better at 135 pounds … (Benavidez is) a solid fighter, a solid wrestler. I'll definitely have the height advantage, and I think I'll have the size advantage, too. Skill-wise I don't see any glaring holes in his game.
"I'm definitely the underdog, but skill-wise I don't consider myself the underdog. It's not going to be a 'Rocky' thing where I have to fight tooth and nail to come back from behind. I picture myself controlling the fight and imposing my will. I'm going to win the fight. I don't know how. I should be able to finish him with a knockout or a submission."
Other than that, Loveland has relatively little to say about MMA. But switch the topic to fishing and his speech accelerates, his voice rises and his typical brevity suddenly vanishes.
So serious and guarded is Loveland about his trout fishing, he declined to reveal the numerous rivers he frequents.
"Those are secrets. I don't like company," he asserted. "I really don't care if anybody else is catching fish as long as me and my buddies are catching fish."
He calls himself an addict, and said pro fighting is helping to support it.
"Every cent I've ever made fighting has gone into fishing," said Loveland, who trains with Team Quest. "I've spent money I don't have, too. Gas, rods, reels, tackle, boats, bait, all that stuff."
Relatives have attempted an intervention. Sort of.
"My wife has definitely curbed some of my fishing spending over the course of our marriage," he said. "I'll keep getting crazier and crazier and start fishing everyday unless my wife keeps me in line."
One of Loveland's coaches, Matt Lindland, is a kindred spirit.
"Pretty much any discussion we have about fighting takes place on the river," Loveland said. "I only have time to fish and fight. I can't squeeze anything else in. For a big fight like this I haven't had a whole lot of opportunities to fish. I've been fishing like once a week."
In fighting, there are consequences, namely joy and pain. But what's the worst that can happen when Loveland goes fishing?
"That's the good thing: There's no such thing as a bad day of fishing," he said. "There are bad days fighting and I've definitely had my share of them, but fishing is good because there's not the pressure, it's a release. Fighting is also a release, because I get to take out frustrations and built-up anxiety and excess energy. But fishing is a way for me to manage the stress of competition."
Loveland's goal is to win an Ultimate Fighting Championship. But what drives him is neither riches nor fame. He envisions fighting as a vehicle to someday help him get paid to go fishing.
"I'm hoping to be UFC champion to gain name recognition and start my own (TV) fishing show," he said. "People will want to watch me on a steelhead fishing program on Versus or something like that."
Until then, Loveland must keep rattling off wins. In between fights, he tries to add more ink to his rainbow trout tattoo, which remains an incomplete work in progress. The image began two years ago. Loveland knows that many people might think it's dumb, and he said he doesn't really care. But his fellow fishermen have been totally supportive.
"People that fish are like, 'Oh, that is bad ass.'"
UFC Performance Institute
Dana White On The Opening Of UFC PI Mexico


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Well, boys and girls, it's been a while since the end of the 2011 Season, and we've got a while to go before the start of spring training. That can only mean two things: Stubbs is bored, and it's time for a reader competition!
It's been tough to come up with a game that meets the highest standards of SoSG reader challenges, but I may just have one that demands the absolute minimum amount of skill and the maximum amount of dumb luck.
If you possess the above qualities, you can steal few moments to play before 5pm, and you possess a high tolerance for ridiculousness, let me know in the comments.
Details and schedule will be posted early next week, once I finish scribbling out the rules in purple crayon.
SoSG family members are also welcome to participate, as well. Your inside knowledge will not help you here.
Update 11:30am
So far, we have:
- Neeebs
- Jason
- Loney Fan
- Spank
- Hideo Nomo
- Franklin Stubbs
- Steve Sax
- Karina
- Steve K
- Dusty Baker
- Paul
- MeanieBreanie
- Orel
- Rbnlaw
- Mr. F
- Fred's Brim
- Fernie V


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Estimated read time: 4-5 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
AP Medical Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) - Missed flu-shot day at the office last fall? And all those "get vaccinated" ads? A scramble for shots is under way as late-comers seek protection from a miserable flu strain already spreading through much of the country.
Federal health officials said Friday that there is still some flu vaccine available and it's not too late to benefit from it. But people may have to call around to find a clinic with shots still on the shelf, or wait a few days for a new shipment.
"We're hearing of spot shortages," said Dr. Thomas Frieden, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Colorado offers an example. Kaiser Permanente, which has 535,000 members in the state, stopped giving flu shots this week. But it expected to resume vaccinations when new shipments arrive, expected this weekend.
Some questions and answers about flu vaccines:
Q: Are we running out of vaccine?
A: It's January _ we shouldn't have a lot left. The traditional time to get vaccinated is in the fall, so that people are protected before influenza starts spreading.
Indeed, manufacturers already have shipped nearly 130 million doses to doctors' offices, drugstores and wholesalers, out of the 135 million doses they had planned to make for this year's flu season. At least 112 million have been used so far.
The nation's largest manufacturer, Sanofi Pasteur, said Friday that it still has supplies of two specialty vaccines, a high-dose shot for seniors, and an under-the-skin shot for certain adults, available for immediate shipment. But it also is working to eke out a limited supply of its traditional shots _ some doses that it initially hadn't packaged into syringes, said spokesman Michael Szumera. They should be available late this month.
And MedImmune, the maker of the nasal spray vaccine FluMist, said it has 620,000 extra doses available.
Q: Can't they just make more?
A: No. Flu vaccine is complicated to brew, with supplies for each winter made months in advance and at the numbers expected to sell. Although health officials recommend a yearly flu vaccination for nearly everybody, last year 52 percent of children and just 39 percent of adults were immunized. Most years, leftover doses have to be thrown out.
Q: Should I still hunt for a vaccine?
A: It does take two weeks for full protection to kick in. Still, health officials say it's a good idea to be vaccinated even this late, especially for older people, young children and anyone with medical conditions such as heart or lung diseases that put them at high risk of dangerous flu complications. Flu season does tend to be worst in January and February, but it can run through March.
Q: I heard that a new flu strain is spreading. Does the vaccine really work?
A: Flu strains constantly evolve, the reason that people need an updated vaccine every year. But the CDC says this year's is a good match to the types that are circulating, including a new kind of the tough H3N2 strain. That family tends to be harsher than other flu types _ and health officials warned last fall that it was coming, and meant this winter would likely be tougher than last year's flu season, the mildest on record.
Q: But don't some people get vaccinated and still get sick?
A: Flu vaccine never is 100 percent effective, and unfortunately it tends to protect younger people better than older ones. But the CDC released a study Friday showing that so far this year, the vaccine appears 62 percent effective, meaning it's working about as well as it has in past flu seasons.
While that may strike some people as low, Frieden said it's the best protection available. "It's a glass 62 percent full," he said. "It's well worth the effort."
Q: What else can I do?
A: Wash your hands often, and avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Viruses can spread by hand, not just through the air. Also, cough in your elbow, not your hand. When you're sick, protect others by staying home.
And people who are in those high-risk groups should call a doctor if they develop symptoms, added CDC spokesman Tom Skinner. They might be prescribed antiviral medication, which works best if given within the first 48 hours of symptoms.
AP Medical Writers Lindsey Tanner and Mike Stobbe contributed to this report.
(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)


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By TAMI ABDOLLAH
Associated Press
LOS ANGELES (AP) _ Los Angeles Clippers co-owner Shelly Sterling would remain close to the organization under terms of the pending sale to former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, according to two individuals close to the negotiations.
The individuals, who are not authorized to speak publicly, told The Associated Press that the $2 billion deal allows for up to 10 percent of the team _ or $200 million _ to be spun off into a charitable foundation that Shelly Sterling would essentially run. The deal was negotiated by Shelly Sterling after husband Donald Sterling's racist remarks to a girlfriend were publicized and the NBA moved to oust him as team owner.
One of the individuals said Shelly Sterling and Ballmer would be co-chairs of the foundation. The individuals said the foundation would target underprivileged families, battered women, minorities and inner city youths. "To benefit those on the receiving end of Donald's rather abhorrent remarks," one individual said.
The idea to allow Shelly to continue some role in the team was floated early on by her attorney, Pierce O'Donnell _ neither he nor Shelly Sterling responded to a request for comment _ and it was enthusiastically agreed to by the NBA. "The NBA was all over it in terms of support," one of the individuals said. "It gave her a meaningful role and stake in the team, and gave the NBA 100 percent sale of the team."
However, the NBA made clear she wouldn't be involved with the basketball franchise.
"It is not accurate that Mrs. Sterling will have a role with the Clippers or stake in the team," NBA spokesman Mike Bass said.
Donald Sterling's attorney, Maxwell Blecher, declined to comment.
But it's unclear if this deal will ever materialize as Donald Sterling still had not signed off on the deal's terms because the NBA would not agree to revoke its $2.5 million fine and lifetime ban, according to one of the individuals.
Sterling had agreed to sell the team Wednesday and drop his $1 billion federal lawsuit against the NBA assuming "all their differences had been resolved." But now he's considering continuing the suit after being told by intermediaries the NBA won't budge on the punishments doled out by Commissioner Adam Silver after Sterling's racist comments were publicized.
Donald Sterling's consent to his wife's potentially record-breaking $2 billion deal was the first sign of an end to weeks of uncertainty. The NBA's owners must approve the deal.
Donald Sterling's comments to V. Stiviano included telling her to not bring black people to Clippers games, specifically mentioning Hall of Famer Magic Johnson. They resulted in a storm of outrage from the public and players and even prompted President Barack Obama to comment on what he called Sterling's "incredibly offensive racist statements."
Silver ultimately decided to ban Donald Sterling for life and began efforts to force Sterling to sell the team.
Donald Sterling's federal lawsuit alleges that the league violated his constitutional rights by relying on information from an "illegal" recording that publicized racist remarks he made to a girlfriend. It also said the league committed a breach of contract by fining Sterling $2.5 million and that it violated antitrust laws by trying to force a sale.
For weeks, Donald Sterling said through his attorneys that he'd fight the NBA's attempt to oust him as a team owner. But last week Shelly Sterling utilized her authority as sole trustee of The Sterling Family Trust, which owns the Clippers, to take bids for the team and ultimately negotiate a deal with Ballmer.
Under the deal Shelly Sterling would also get the title of "owner emeritus" and be entitled to continuing perks such as floor seats, additional seats at games and parking.
One of the individuals said the deal also includes conditions that allow Ballmer to buy back the 10 percent portion of the team for a pre-designated price upon Shelly Sterling's death.
"All the proceeds go to charity, it's not going to go to her," an individual said. "She's walking away with a $2 billion check. That's enough for her."
AP Basketball Writer Brian Mahoney in San Antonio contributed to this report.


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Anyway, I've been racking my brain to come up with a good -- and preferably short -- list of sci-fi archetypes that could conceivably be used as the basis for some SF character classes. So far, I've got:
- Soldier/Warrior: The straight-up combat guy.
- Rogue/Scoundrel: The sneaky/disreputable guy.
- Diplomat: The persuasive guy.
- Scientist: Concerned with abstract knowledge.
- Technician: Concerned with practical/technological knowledge.
- Mystic/Adept: The guy whose knowledge transcends science.
There might also be room for a "barbarian/outsider" archetype as well -- a guy from some backwater or unusual place and, because of that, possesses uncommon skills and abilities from the norm. The problem is that the archetype might be too broad to be meaningful as a basis for a character class, though, so I'm not sure if it fits in with the others.
So, where have I gone wrong? What am I missing? What further divisions/amalgamations would you recommend? I realize it's hard to offer truly useful advice since I haven't said what function a "class" will play mechanically (mostly because I haven't fully decided yet). For now, assume something akin to D&D's classes and assume a very broad "space opera" kind of science fiction -- definitely not hard SF -- and you should be good.


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Euphonium Sheet Music
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What to Expect During Labor
Labor is a 3-stage process leading up to birth. The first stage begins when a pregnant woman's uterus contracts and her cervix dilates. The uterine contractions that occur with labor are caused by the hormones oxytocin and prostaglandin. During the second stage of labor, the baby is pushed through the vagina. The third stage of labor is the delivery of the placenta and fetal membranes, which happens just a few minutes after the baby is born. The length and experience of labor varies considerably among women.
Your doctor uses certain guidelines to determine if your labor is progressing normally. Occasionally, labor does not progress normally, and medical assistance or a cesarean section may be needed. If labor begins before the 37th week of pregnancy, it is considered preterm. If you have any symptoms of labor before the 37th week, you should call your doctor immediately.
There are many different aspects to labor. Here is some information on signs, stages, and what you can expect.
Knowing the Signs of Labor
Your due date is only an estimate of when labor will begin. It is normal for labor to begin anytime within 2 weeks before or after your due date. Labor will begin with regular contractions of the uterus and the opening and thinning of the cervix. When your body is preparing for labor, you may experience the following signs:
Baby Dropping
It will feel as if your baby has dropped lower in your abdomen. This happens when your baby's head settles deeper into your pelvis. This occurs a few weeks to a few hours before labor begins.
Mucus Plug or "Show"
You may pass a thick plug of cervical mucus or have an increase of vaginal discharge that may look clear, slightly bloody, or pink. The mucus plug is pushed into the vagina when the cervix begins to open. This may occur several days before labor begins or during the onset of labor.
Water "Breaks"
You may feel a continuous trickle or a gush of fluid from your vagina. This is caused when the amniotic sac breaks, releasing the fluid that surrounded your baby during pregnancy. The water may break before labor starts, or it may not break until after labor has begun. Even if you do not have contractions, call your doctor if this happens.
Regular Contractions
When regular contractions occur, you may actually be going into labor. Effective labor contractions (as opposed to false labor contractions) are usually felt in the abdomen, but with a heavy sense of low-back pressure or discomfort.
When you actually go into labor, you will experience the following signs:
- Contractions that come at regular intervals and last about 30-40 seconds. The contractions will become closer together with increasing intensity.
- Contractions that do not go away when you move around.
- Pain from the contractions that may be felt in the back and the front of your abdomen.
False Labor
False labor pains, also known as Braxton-Hicks contractions, often occur in the third trimester. They may be uncomfortable or painful and can lead you to think that you are going into actual labor. It can be difficult to tell the difference between false and true labor. In fact, sometimes the difference can only be determined by a vaginal and cervical exam. False labor may be characterized by:
- Irregular cramps that do not get consistently closer.
- Contractions that stop when you walk, rest, or change position.
- Contractions that are felt only in the abdomen (not in the lower back).
The Stages of Labor
First Stage of Labor
During the first stage of labor, regular contractions begin causing the cervix to dilate. At the end of the first stage, your cervix will be completely dilated. The first stage of labor consists of a latent phase and an active phase. In the latent phase, your cervix slowly dilates up to 3-4 centimeters (cm)—a process that can take 8 or more hours. It is marked by fairly mild contractions that last about 30-40 seconds and shorten to about 5 minutes apart.
The active first stage of labor starts when your cervix is about 3 cm dilated and lasts until you are fully dilated (10 cm). Contractions become more intense and closer together. The contractions become increasingly more painful. Some women request painkilling drugs and some women get an epidural to decrease pain. During this phase, you may want to change positions frequently, sit up, begin controlled breathing, or even get up and walk around. A warm bath or shower may help you relax. You will also benefit from coaching and support, which will help to increase relaxation.
At the end of the active first stage, contractions become very intense, about 2-3 minutes apart, and last from 60 to 90 seconds each. You will need to concentrate on your breathing and will benefit from a lot of coaching. During this phase, you may experience the following signs:
- Hot and cold flashes
- Irritability
- Sensitivity to the environment
- Nausea or vomiting
- Leg cramps
- The urge to push
Second Stage of Labor
The second stage of labor starts when your cervix is fully dilated. Contractions will be very strong and painful, will last about 60 seconds, and will come at intervals of about 2-3 minutes. You will have an intense urge to push. This stage can last anywhere from a few minutes to up to 18 hours (average 8) for a first-time mother and shorter if have delivered before. You may feel a stretching or burning sensation as the baby's head is pushed out of your vagina. At the end of the second stage of labor, after your baby is born, you will feel greatly relieved and excited.
Third Stage of Labor
The third stage of labor directly follows delivery of your baby and ends with the delivery of the placenta, usually within 30 minutes of the birth. During this stage, your uterus will contract and expel the placenta and membranes that have surrounded the fetus in your uterus. You will feel mild contractions that are very different from labor contractions. During these contractions, you may be encouraged to push. You also may be given intravenous oxytocin to assist uterine contractions.
After the placenta is delivered, you may need some sutures placed to close any tears that occurred during delivery. You will also be closely monitored for complications, such as bleeding and infection.
Labor Complications
Your labor will be carefully monitored by your doctor. Throughout labor, your vital signs, uterine contractions, and your baby's heart rate and well-being will be checked. These can be checked manually or with an electronic monitor. If any problems are detected, your doctor can take the necessary action.
Labor can be a long and painful process. Knowing what to expect can help prepare you to meet the newest member of your family.
Family Doctor—American Academy of Family Physicians
The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada
Women's Health Matters
How to tell when labor begins. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists website. Available at: http://www.acog.org/Patients/FAQs/How-to-Tell-When-Labor-Begins. Updated May 2011. Accessed October 24, 2016.
Labor and birth. Office on Women's Health website. Available at: https://www.womenshealth.gov/pregnancy/childbirth-beyond/labor-birth.html. Updated September 27, 2010. Accessed October 24, 2016.
Management of routine labor. EBSCO DynaMed Plus website. Available at:http://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T905272/Management-of-routine-labor. Updated April 11, 2016. Accessed October 24, 2016.
Preterm labor. EBSCO DynaMed Plus website. Available at:http://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T115273/Preterm-labor. Updated August 19, 2016. Accessed October 24, 2016.
Stages of childbirth: Stage I. American Pregnancy Association website. Available at: http://americanpregnancy.org/labor-and-birth/first-stage-of-labor. Updated August 2015. Accessed October 24, 2016.
Last reviewed October 2016 by Michael Woods, MD


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HOUSTON (AP) - Former President George H.W. Bush was released from a Houston hospital and went home Monday after spending nearly two months being treated for a bronchitis-related cough and other health issues, a family spokesman said.
Bush, 88, the nation's oldest living former president, was admitted to Methodist Hospital on Nov. 23. His stay included a week in intensive care last month.
"I am deeply grateful for the wonderful doctors and nurses at Methodist who took such good care of me," Bush said in a statement released by spokesman Jim McGrath. "Let me add just how touched we were by the many get-well messages we received from our friends and fellow Americans. Your prayers and good wishes helped more than you know, and as I head home my only concern is that I will not be able to thank each of you for your kind words."
Bush had been in the hospital for about a month before his office disclosed in late December that he was in intensive care because physicians were having difficulty controlling a fever that developed after the cough improved.
His office said on Dec. 29 that he had been moved back to a regular hospital room. Since then, his condition has continued to improve and he has been undergoing physical therapy to rebuild his strength.
"Mr. Bush has improved to the point that he will not need any special medication when he goes home, but he will continue physical therapy," Amy Mynderse, the doctor in charge of Bush's care, said in Monday's statement.
Bush's office said he was treated for a bacterial infection, along with the bronchitis and cough.
Bush and his wife, Barbara, live in Houston during the winter and spend their summers at a home in Kennebunkport, Maine. On Jan. 6, they celebrated their 68th wedding anniversary. They are the longest-married presidential couple.
"The problem now is he's no longer going to be pampered by all these nurses and health care providers in the hospital; now his caregiver is Barbara Bush," Bush's son, Jeb, the former governor of Florida, joked Monday at an education forum in Nashville, Tenn.
"Now I'm going to have to call my mother and apologize," he quickly added.
Bush had served two terms as Ronald Reagan's vice president when he was elected in 1988 to be the nation's 41st president. Four years later, after a term highlighted by the success of the 1991 Gulf War in Kuwait, he lost to Democrat Bill Clinton amid voter concerns about the economy.
Bush has a long record of service, beginning with his enlistment in the Navy in World War II. At one point, he was the nation's youngest naval aviator. He was shot down in the Pacific and rescued by an American submarine. He's also been a congressman from Texas, U.S. ambassador to China and CIA director.
He suffers from a form of Parkinson's disease that has forced him in recent years to use a motorized scooter or wheelchair to get around.
(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)


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The first thing you'll see when you open Outlook is a brand new look. It's cleaner, but it's also designed to help you focus on what's important with a clear view of email, calendars, and contacts.
To learn how you can start working with emails, tasks or appointments, and calendars in Outlook 2013, see Basic tasks in Outlook 2013 and Outlook 2013 Quick Start Guide.
Important: Some features aren't available in Office 2013 RT applications. Want to see what version of Office you're using?
In this article
Tame your inbox
Preview messages in the message list
Know at a glance which messages to read and tackle first.
Respond faster with inline replies
Reply with one click by typing your response right in the Reading Pane. Or, start a Lync IM conversation for a real-time chat.
Use commands in the message lists for quick action
Flag, delete, or mark your messages read or unread with handy commands in the message list.
Also, with the All and Unread buttons in the inbox, you can focus on the messages you want.
Read more:
Customize your Inbox
Rename the folders in your Inbox and move them around to support the way you work.
Keep on top of your appointments and tasks
Sneak a peek
Grab a quick glance at your schedule, an appointment, or details about someone you're emailing—without, for example, having to switch from email to calendar or other modes.
Read more:
See all your contact details in one place
The People Card collects all the key details about a contact in one place: phone, email, address, company info, social media updates, even whether they're available. From the card, you can schedule a meeting, send an instant message, or give them a call, making it a one-stop-shop for all communication.
Quickly switch between the main Outlook elements
Just above the status bar at the bottom of the screen, you'll find a clearer view of Mail, Calendar, People, and Tasks, for easy navigation.
Read more: See your calendars, contacts, or tasks
One place for all your project docs and email in Site Mailboxes
Give everyone on your team access to a team folder, calendar, and task list to manage on the go, using the combined power of Outlook, Exchange, and SharePoint.
Connect with Outlook.com without any add-ins
Outlook 2013 includes built-in support for Exchange ActiveSync, which means you don't need a special connector add-in to connect to Outlook.com (formerly Hotmail). Also, if you use Tasks to plan every detail of your life, now you can sync Outlook.com Tasks with Outlook to put all those plans together.
Find what you want, when you want
Search and filter
Search email, attachments, calendar appointments and contacts to find the information you need fast.
Read more:
Check the weather
You don't have to find your local weather forecast because it's right there in Calendar view, along with current conditions.
Tip: To turn this feature on or off, go to File > Options > Calendar > Weather.
Read more:


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Welcome to Konnecting - Skilled Migration & Recruitment Consultants. "The International Recruitment Specialists"
Konnecting offers integrated recruitment services , immigration and settlement solutions to connect Australian employers with skilled overseas staff. Whether you're a looking to move to Australia on a temporary or permanent basis, or an Australian employer struggling to find qualified staff, we can offer an efficient, straightforward solution.
Having worked previously in industries with skill shortages, the founders of Konnecting experienced first hand the difficulties of sourcing skilled staff from overseas. From the visa application process and recruitment to assisting migrants to settle in, hiring staff from overseas can be a complicated, costly and disruptive process for a business. Konnecting can help businesses by streamlining this process to make it more efficient and less costly. We strive to assist employers to source suitable workers from around the world or if they are currently in Australia on a 457 Visa.
Konnecting specialises in skilled international recruitment, ens visa and migration services. And with one of our founders having migrated from overseas himself, we understand the migrant's experience too. We know what a huge step it is to move to a new country and how important it is to have employment and settlement assistance when you get here. Our services are designed to ensure both employers and employees have a smooth transition.
Fred Molloy, Registered Migration Agent (MARN: 0853698) Konnecting - Australian Skilled Migration & Recruitment Consultants.


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Basil Cream Sauce Pasta with Chicken |
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 - 3/4 cup dry white wine
3/4 cup chicken stock
Freshly ground black pepper
1/2 pound cooked chicken breast, julienned
1/4 pound sliced prosciutto, julienned (optional)
1 cup frozen tiny green peas (I used asparagus)2 teaspoon lemon zest
1/4 cup basil pesto (I used the recipe below)A handful of fresh mint leaves, chopped
A handful of fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped
A handful of fresh basil, chopped
Bring a big pot of water to a boil for the pasta. Salt the water, add the spaghettini, and cook to al dente.
To serve, toss the sauce with the drained spaghetti. Garnish with the chopped herbs.
½ cup packed parsley
2 - 4 whole peeled garlic cloves
30 mL (2 tablespoons) pine nuts
60 mL (1/4 cup)sun-dried tomatoes, drained and ¼ cup julienned
coarse black pepper to taste
3 mL (1/2 teaspoon) salt
60 mL (1/4 cup) extra-virgin olive oil
¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese (optional but droolworthy)
Combine all remaining ingredients except Parmesan in food processor or whiz with immersion blender and process until well combined. Recipe makes about 10 tbsp (150 mL) of pesto. Use desired amount to toss with the pasta in this recipe. Cover and refrigerate the remainder for up to 3 days for another use.
You are reading this post on More Than Burnt Toast at http://morethanburnttoast.blogspot.com. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to the author/owner of More Than Burnt Toast. All rights reserved by Valerie Harrison.


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[cue applause]
Welcome to Guess That Cake, where your most delicious desserts are decorated and designed, deconstructed and defined. I'm your host, Kay Krex. Let's start the show!
[cue applause]
Now folks, if you're just tuning in, you're just in time for the rules. We'll show you a cake that was prepared by professional bakers at an actual cake store. All you have to do is GUESS... THAT... CAKE!!
Here we go. Let's start off easy with a cake sent all the way across the interwebs from Bridget H.:
Is birthday boy Shaun a fan of:
A) The Fireys from Labyrinth (attacking a B for Bowie, of course)
B) Colorful Rorschach inkblot tests
C) Budweiser
And the answer goes to....
The stakes are raised on this second cake, a CCC, sent in from Jenny H. Let's take a look:
Is Jenny's cake supposed to be:
B) California holding a sledgehammer
C) The Virginia Tech logo
Drumroll please.....
Moving on to our final round where the points that we've neglected to mention until now are DOUBLED, let's take a look at this masterpiece sent in by Jasmine:
Can you tell us if that little guy on the bottom is supposed to be:
A) A broken vase
B) A bullhorn with a stick through its eye
C) A fish with legs wearing sunglasses and a beret and carrying a paintbrush
Survey says...
Eeeeesh- tough one. Tough one. I'm sure most of you were so distracted by the haphazard confetti sprinkles and day-glo lettering that you missed this little camp logo altogether. Spitting image, really. What a shame.
Better luck to you cake-lovers and wrecktators out there on the next episode of "GUESS... THAT... CAKE!" G'night, everyone!
[cue applause]
{off air}
- Related wreckage: Twins!


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Kitchens have always been a familiar gathering place in the home. However, in addition to attracting family and friends, common household pests often stake out the kitchen as their nesting grounds due to the abundance of food and hiding places.
As winter is typically the time of year many pests seek food and shelter inside homes, the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) reminds homeowners that many pests, such as cockroaches, fruit flies, rodents and others can contaminate food, spread bacteria and increase grocery bills from having to replace ruined food.
"Keeping our kitchens clean may not be a foolproof way to prevent any and all pest infestations, but a few proactive steps can go a long way in ensuring the only visitors enjoying the food are those homeowners have invited," noted Missy Henriksen, vice president of public affairs for the NPMA.
The NPMA recommends the following preventative measures to ensure your kitchen, pantry and home remain pest free:
* Immediately wipe up any crumbs or spills from counter tops, tables, floors and shelves.
* Store food in airtight containers, and dispose of garbage regularly in sealed receptacles.
* Only purchase food in sealed packages that show no sign of damage.
* Add a bay leaf to canisters and packages of dry goods like flour, rice and other grains — the pungent scent repels many pantry pests.
* Check expiration dates on baking ingredients before use.
* If you keep fresh fruit on the counter, check it often for signs of over-ripening or decay. As female fruit flies lay an average of 500 eggs on the surface of fermenting fruit, it's best to dispose of the fruit in outdoor trash cans to prevent those eggs from hatching in your indoor trash.
* Run your garbage disposal regularly.
* Don't let dirty dishes pile up and stand in the sink for long periods of time.
* Don't leave pet food and water bowls out for long periods of time.
* Install door sweeps on exterior doors, and repair damaged screens.
* Eliminate all moisture sites, including leaking pipes and clogged drains.
* Seal cracks and crevices on the outside of the home and around the kitchen, especially around stove and water pipes.


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Final countdown to the Chicago Summit
NATO has begun the final countdown to its summit in Chicago – a summit that will ready the North Atlantic Alliance to tackle the challenges of the future.
The Summit, on 20 and 21 May, will take crucial decisions on the NATO-led ISAF mission in Afghanistan, the question of how to maintain and improve defence and security capabilities through difficult economic times, and NATO's relationship with its global partners.
"We face a wide range of security challenges. And we will take the necessary decisions to ensure that our Alliance can meet those challenges," NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen told a meeting of young people in Chicago on 19 May.
The "Youth Summit" meeting brought together students and young people from the United States, Afghanistan, NATO member countries and nations around the world for a unique debate on current and future security issues.
Key to the NATO Summit will be decisions on Afghanistan. The Afghan National Security Forces are progressively taking over responsibility for keeping their country secure. As agreed at NATO's last summit in Lisbon in November 2010, transition is expected to be completed by the end of 2014.
In Chicago, NATO and partner countries in the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) are to set out how they will make sure the transition process succeeds, and what kind of assistance they will offer once it is completed.
"By the end of 2014, Afghans will be fully in charge of their own security. That is when our ISAF mission will come to an end. This does not mean the end of our commitment – and we will make that clear, here in Chicago," the Secretary General said.
NATO and ISAF partners, together with the Afghan Government, will discuss a follow-on mission in Afghanistan that is likely to focus on the provision of training, advice and assistance to the Afghan forces once the current mission comes to end. They will also discuss how to contribute to the financing of the the Afghan National Security Forces as part of a broad international effort.
"We will also play a full part in sustaining the Afghan forces. But there is an important role for other members of the international community too," the Secretary General underlined.
NATO heads of state and government are also expected to take critical decisions on improving the way Allies maintain and develop their military capabilities, to make sure that NATO remains capable of dealing with any security challenge.
Central to the discussion is the concept of Smart Defence, by which nations focus on prioritisation, specialisation and cooperation in order to maximise the efficiency of their defence spending. The Summit is expected to adopt Smart Defence as the new way NATO does business.
"NATO is judged by what it does, and this requires us to have the right capabilities to protect our populations effectively," the Secretary General said. "By adopting a new approach – the Smart Defence approach – we can do better with what we have."
NATO is already putting Smart Defence into practice in areas such as ballistic missile defence, linking together different national systems to create a shared defence. In Chicago, Allies are expected to take a first step by declaring an interim missile defence capability.
"On its own, no nation would be able to provide this level of protection for its people. But by working together, through NATO, they can. It's cheaper, and much more effective. This is Smart Defence in action," the Secretary General said.
Finally, NATO Allies are scheduled to discuss key security issues with partners from around the world – from Western Europe to East Asia, and from the South Pacific to North Africa.
"In today's world, threats know no borders and respect no country's sovereignty. They require the broadest possible cooperation between nations and organisations," the Secretary General stressed.