text:
A slot card issued by a slot club, or a membership card in another incentive award program, that is also capable of being used as phone calling card is provided. Free calling time is credited to the member's card account in response to the playing of the slot machine or utilizing the respective service. After incentive points are awarded, the member may use the membership card as a prepaid phone calling card, whereby the member's account is debited for the cost of the call.
1. A system for awarding telephone time for using a service and for redeeming the telephone time, said system comprising:
a controller for receiving a number that identifies a user of the service;
a memory connected to said controller and containing a data record associated with the user identifier in which is stored and accumulated telephone time allocated by the controller based on the amount of usage of the service;
a first communication port for receiving a telephone call from the user;
a second communication port for establishing a telephone connection to a party to be called from the user;
a telephone switch coupled to said first and second communication ports; and
a caller interface connected to said first communication port and said telephone switch for requesting and receiving the user identifier and a telephone number of the party to be called from the user,
the service includes a slot machine for allowing the user to bet on random events,
said controller is adapted to configure said telephone switch to establish the telephone connection between the user and the party to be called from the user based on the received user identifier and telephone number, and to debit the data record associated with the received user identifier by an amount based on the cost of the telephone call, and
the awarded telephone time is based on at least one of the group consisting of (1) an amount of currency played by the user of said slot machine, (2) an amount of currency the user has won from said slot machine, (3) an amount of time the user has played said slot machine, and (4) an amount of currency with which the user started playing said slot machine.
2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the controller sends the accumulated telephone time to said slot machine, and wherein said slot machine receives the accumulated telephone time and displays the received accumulated telephone time to the user on a display connected thereto.
3. A system according to claim 1, wherein the service is a travel-related service and the user is awarded telephone time for using the travel-related service.
4. A system according to claim 1, wherein said first communication port is adapted to receive a toll-free telephone call from the user.
5. A system according to claim 1, wherein said caller interface comprises an interactive voice response unit.
6. A system according to claim, wherein said interactive voice response unit is adapted to announce a current amount balance of the data record associated with the user identifier.
7. A system according to claim, wherein said interactive voice response unit is adapted to announce a maximum duration of the telephone connection between the user and the called party.
8. A system according to claim 1, wherein the data record contains a plurality of user identifiers and current account balances associated with each user identifier, and wherein the controller is configured to access the data record to retrieve the current balance associated with the identifier supplied by the user.
9. A system according to claim 8, wherein said controller is programmed to configure said telephone switch for the telephone connection requested by the user if a balance in the data record associated with the user identifier is above a predetermined value.
10. A system according to claim 8, wherein said controller is adapted to terminate the telephone connection between the user and the called party when, based on the cost of the telephone connection, the current amount balance in the data record associated with the user identifier falls below a predetermined value.
11. A system according to claim 1, further comprising a calls records database coupled to the controller, the call records database including a record of any telephone call made.
The present invention relates generally to a system for awarding prizes to members of an incentive program, such as a casino slot club, and more particularly, to a system for utilizing the membership card for such an incentive program as a prepaid phone calling card to award and redeem points to a member in the form of prepaid time for a telecommunications service.
Slot machines, such as video poker, reel machines, video keno or video blackjack devices (hereinafter, collectively referred to as "slot machines"), are an important source of income for the gaming industry. Despite the fact that the odds generally favor the casino, players still play slot machines in large numbers, in hopes of hitting a large jackpot, as well as for their entertainment value.
Each slot machine is designed to ensure that, on average, the casino retains a predetermined percentage of the total amount gambled (the house advantage or "vigorish"). In fact, slot machines generally have a higher house advantage than the table games of blackjack, poker or craps. Thus, the more these slot machines are played, the greater the revenue to the casino.
Accordingly, casinos constantly search for marketing strategies and programs to appeal to players and to distinguish their slot machines from competitors in the industry. For example, as an added incentive to play their slot machines, many casinos offer "slot club" programs to reward slot machine players. Each player in a slot club is generally issued a player tracking card encoded with the players' tracking identifier. The casino awards "player reward points" for the player as he plays slot machines in that casino. The "player reward points" can generally be redeemed for merchandise or services at the casino hotel.
In many cases, however, the incentive provided by conventional slot club programs may not be sufficient to attract new players or to retain existing casino players at slot machines. With conventional slot club programs, for example, the player reward points must typically be exchanged for merchandise and services at the casino hotel. Thus, once the player has left the casino, the player has limited options for redeeming the points in a convenient manner.
In addition, although it would be desirable for casinos to give a small, immediate and affordable reward to a player for his continued play, conventional slot machines can only pay out an integral numbers of coins. Thus, a small reward of a fractional amount of less than one coin is impractical with conventional systems. If a casino could cost-effectively provide an award to players every time the player pulls the handle, the slot machine may be advantageously promoted as providing a "win for every spin."
It is well known for vendors to sell prepaid calling cards for telephone calls at a fixed or standard rate. Such prepaid calling cards may allow, for example, the caller to call anywhere in the United States at any time of the day for a rate of 16 cents per minute, with a correspondingly higher rate charged for international calls. In addition, "rechargeable" prepaid calling cards are known which may be recharged by purchasing additional time, generally in blocks of minutes. Since the prepaid calling card is merely a pointer to an account maintained by the vendor, the card itself is not necessarily required to make a telephone call. There are no known prepaid calling cards, however, which allow minutes to be accumulated as an incentive award for the use of a particular service.
One casino slot card club offers a separate "giveaway" prepaid calling card, having a predefined value, as an incentive to join the club. However, this additional card simply acts as a standard prepaid calling card, and does not function as a slot card. Once the prepaid calling time is used up, the prepaid calling card cannot be refreshed by slot usage. Moreover, none of the known slot cards permit the accumulated bonus points to be redeemed for free phone time.
Generally, to overcome the above-described problems, the present invention provides a method and apparatus for awarding and redeeming telephone time to a member of an incentive award program, such as a slot club. According to one feature of the invention, a slot card issued by a slot club, or a membership card in another incentive award program, may be used as a prepaid phone calling card. In one embodiment, free phone time may be provided to a slot machine player as an immediate and low-cost reward for the continued playing of a slot machine. When a player plays at a slot machine or other electronic gaming device and inserts his slot card, the player can be credited with free phone time in small increments valued below the minimum win payout. The free phone time is credited to the player's slot card account in the casino's database. The free phone time may optionally be displayed on a video monitor associated with the slot machine, thus allowing the player to see and track his rewards as he receives them.
The slot card, or a membership card in another incentive award program, may be later used as a prepaid phone card to place a phone call. The player simply dials the phone number, for example, an "800" toll-free number, on the back of the card. That call is received by a caller interface, such as an interactive voice response unit, which queries the player for his slot card identifier and the desired telephone number to be called. Once that information is entered by the player, a controller matches the identifier to the player's account in the casino's database containing the player's free phone time. If the identifier matches a valid account and sufficient time has been credited to the account, the controller then causes a telephone switch to place the call to the entered telephone number. The call will continue until the account balance has been depleted or the call is disconnected by either party. The controller then debits the player's account automatically for the time of the call. The next time the player uses his slot card, the remaining free phone time is optionally displayed on the video monitor.
The present invention provides the players a small reward for playing the machine, from 1 second up to a few minutes of phone time. Since each second of phone time can be purchased at a relatively low cost, for example 0.2 cents, free phone time is an affordable reward for the casino. Moreover, free phone time, and the accumulation thereof, is a flexible reward, and is easily understood and redeemed, thus providing players a strong incentive to play the slot machines longer, or even to choose a casino which offers this reward over another that does not.
These and other features and advantages of the present invention can best be understood by reference to the detailed description of the preferred embodiments set forth below taken with the drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a prepaid phone card reward program system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 depicts a member database for maintaining information associated with each member of the reward program, for use in the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 depicts a calls record database for maintaining information on each telephone call processed by the system of FIG. 1, for use in the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a flow chart describing an example of a point awarding subroutine for use by the system of FIG. 1 in the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIGS. 5A and 5B are flow charts describing an example of a point redemption subroutine for use by the system of FIG. 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
This system is for awarding free telephone time for using a service, such as a slot machine, and for redeeming that time. The term "slot machine" as used herein refers to any programmable gaming terminal controlling a random event in which one or more players can bet on the outcome of the event, including traditional slot machines, video bingo, video keno, video poker and video blackjack devices. Of course, the system is not limited to use with slot machines, but may also be used with table games, such as blackjack, craps, poker, sports book, keno and bingo. When used with table games, the free telephone time is typically awarded by a casino employee who monitors the player's activity and allocates the time to the player's account. Further, the service may be non-casino related, such as a travel service, where instead of free miles, the traveler is provided with free phone time. It should be noted that table games implement a player tracking system which is very similar to that used by slot machines. When a player initiates play at a gaming table, he presents his player tracking card to casino personnel who then insert that card into a player tracking reader. As is the case with the system used with slot machines, the information on the card is then transmitted to a network server. Based on the length of play and increments of wagers, points are awarded to the player as play continues.
According to a feature of the invention, discussed further below, telephone time may be awarded to a player in accordance with casino-specific rewards criteria which determines the amount of telephone time to be awarded (i) as an incentive reward for playing the slot machine, (ii) as a payout in lieu of a traditional payout (for example, certain slot machines may award five seconds of telephone time for two oranges on the first two reels), or (iii) as a supplement to the traditional payout (for example, certain slot machines may award three dollars ($3) and five seconds of telephone time for two cherries).
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a prepaid phone card reward program system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The casinos, or the known gambling venues, house the slot machines 80, each slot machine having connected thereto or integrated therewith a slot card reader 75.
The slot machines 80 are preferably networked to a slot network server 70, as shown in FIG. 1. It is noted that if a slot network server 70 is not utilized, the functionality provided by the network server 70 for awarding player reward points, as discussed below, could be provided directly in the slot machines 80, as would be apparent to a person of ordinary skill. The slot machines 80 and slot network server 70 transmit digitally encoded data and other information between one another. The transmitted data and other information may represent player name and identifier, play results and authenticated player identification. The communications link between the slot network server 70 and the slot machines 80 preferably comprises a cable or wireless link on which electronic signals can propagate.
The slot network server 70 is connected to a system controller 10. The system controller 10 may be embodied as a single processor, or a number of processors operating in parallel. Memory 100 is operable to store one or more instructions, as discussed below in conjunction with FIGS. 4 and 5, which the system controller 10 is operable to retrieve, interpret and execute. The system controller 10 preferably includes a control unit, an arithmetic logic unit (ALU), and a CPU local memory storage device, such as, for example, a stackable cache or a plurality of registers, in a known manner. The control unit is operable to retrieve instructions from the memory 100. The ALU is operable to perform a plurality of operations needed to carry out instructions. The CPU local memory storage device is operable to provide high speed storage used for storing temporary results and control information.
The controller 10 is connected to a system clock 60, and to memory 100. As discussed below in conjunction with FIGS. 2 and 3, respectively, the memory 100 includes a member database 200, which stores information on each player enrolled in the slot club program, and a call records database 300, which stores information on each telephone call processed by the system. Memory 100 also contains computer readable programs comprising a point awarding subroutine 400 and point redemption subroutine 500, discussed below in conjunction with FIGS. 4 and 5, respectively. Memory 100 may physically comprise a RAM or other computer storage device, such as a hard disk drive or a floppy disk drive, for storing the databases and the programs. The programs may also be separately stored in ROM. The controller 10 is also connected to a caller interface 20, such as an interactive voice response unit (IVRU), which in turn is connected to both a first communication port 30 for receiving a call on line 110, preferably toll-free, from the player, and a telephone switch 40. The telephone switch 40 is also connected to a communication port 50 for placing a call from the player to a called party on line 120. The operation of the system will be described in more detail below.
When a player joins a slot club program, the casino typically issues a player a slot card, encoded with a players' membership identifier, for example, by means of a magnetic strip or keypunch encoding. In addition, the casino opens a corresponding data record account for the player in its member database 200. When playing, the player selects a slot machine 80, and preferably inserts the slot card into the associated slot card reader 75. The slot card reader 75 reads the player's membership identifier off the magnetic strip or keypunch of the slot card and transmits the identifier to the slot network server 70. The slot network server 70 authenticates the player's membership account and causes the computerized system controller 10 to access the member database 200 in memory 100. The controller 10 matches the player's identifier to the player's data record account in the member database 200. The data record is used by the system to track and reward the player's slot playing, in a manner described further below.
Thus, every time the player inserts a slot card and plays the slot machine 80, the controller 10 credits free telephone time in accordance with the predefined casino-specific rewards criteria, from 1 second to a few minutes or more, in the data record associated with the player's member identifier, as discussed below in conjunction with FIG. 4. By awarding seconds of time, rewards in fractional amounts of the minimum payout are possible. For example, 5 seconds of long distance telephone time to anywhere in the continental United States may cost the casino only a penny.
Thus, if the minimum payout is 25 cents, 5 seconds of telephone time is only one-twenty-fifth of the minimum payout. The amount of telephone time credited to the player's current account balance, in accordance with predefined casino-specific rewards criteria, may be based on any one of the following, or combination thereof: (1) an amount of currency played by the player of the slot machine, (2) an amount of currency the player has won from the slot machine, (3) an amount of time the player has played the slot machine, or (4) an amount of currency with which the player started playing the slot machine. If telephone time is awarded every time the player pulls the handle, the slot machine may be advantageously promoted as providing a "win for every spin."
Similarly, the present invention allows the casino to pay out an entire win in telephone time instead of coins or as a supplement to the traditional coin payout, and further permits payouts in non-integral multiples of the minimum win payout consisting of telephone time alone, or both telephone time and coins. For example, a thirty cent win payout may be distributed as a quarter and 25 seconds of telephone time. In this case, the 25 seconds of telephone time is not a reward, but part of the payout--the player may still receive additional telephone time as a reward for simply playing or winning.
An example of member database 200 is shown in FIG. 2, wherein a data record comprises the member's identifier, optional biographical information (such as name, address, home telephone number, room number and credit card numbers), historical usage information, and current account balance. Historical usage information may optionally be used by the casino in determining the value of the award offered to the player. Preferably, the current account balance is also displayed to the player on a video monitor associated with the slot machine, thus allowing the player to see and track his free telephone time as it is rewarded. As stated above, a telephone time reward can also be awarded directly into the player's account by a casino employee.
In order to redeem the telephone time, the player removes the slot card from the slot card reader and uses the card as a prepaid calling card, as discussed below in conjunction with FIG. 5. The player makes this phone call preferably using an "800" number printed on the back of the slot card. This call is received by the IVRU 20, via the communication port 30. Upon receipt of the call, the IVRU 20 prompts the player for his member identifier and the telephone number for the party to be called, and once entered by the player, sends this information to the controller 10. The controller 10 preferably confirms that the indicated member identifier is valid and thereafter accesses the member database 200 to retrieve the current account balance. The controller 10 transmits the retrieved account balance to the IVRU 20. The IVRU 20 may then inform the player of the available telephone time.
If the current account balance is sufficient, the controller 10 then configures the telephone switch 40 to establish a telephone connection to a called party over line 120 via the second communication port 50. The switch connects the caller line 110 to the called party line 120. The call continues until discontinued by either the caller or called party, or until the account balance has been depleted. The controller 10 causes the data record in the call records database 300 associated with the player's member identifier to be debited by an amount equal to the duration of the call.
Alternatively, the current account balance may be maintained in units of money, for example, fractions of a cent, as opposed to seconds or minutes. For example, when the player is awarded player reward points, the controller 10 credits the player's account with 0.2 cents. In this example, when the player uses the slot card as a prepaid calling card, the cost of the telephone call, rather than its duration, is debited from the player's account. The controller 10 can calculate the cost of the call by known ways in the telephone service art. For example, a geographically variable per minute rate can be implemented by including a rate database which provides the per minute rate for the area code of the dialed number. The player's account is then debited by an amount equal to the rate corresponding to the dialed number times the duration of the call. In addition, if the player's credit card number is input into the member database 200, the player may be given an option to continue the call beyond the total rewarded telephone time, by allowing the system to charge his credit card account.
FIG. 3 depicts a calls record database for maintaining information on each telephone call processed by the system of FIG. 1. Each call record includes the caller identifier, date and time of the call, called number, call duration and the phone service carrier's member identifier.
As will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, the redemption functionality, discussed below in conjunction with FIGS. 5A and 5B, can be provided by the proprietor of the slot incentive reward program or by an independent third-party prepaid phone service vendor. If telephone time redemption is provided by the former, that is, by the casino itself, then the slot network server 70 and the controller 10 of FIG. 1 could use the same computer processor and share the same memory. In an embodiment where the telephone time redemption is performed by an independent third-party phone service vendor, the updates to the member database 200 by the casino to award newly earned player reward points are batched by the casino for transmission to the third-party phone service vendor or provided via a continuous online connection.
FIG. 4 is a flow chart describing an example of a point awarding subroutine 400 stored in memory 100 and accessed and executed by the controller 10 of FIG. 1. As described above, the points can correspond to, for example, either free telephone time in seconds or money in fractions of a cent. In step S401, the point awarding subroutine begins. In step S402, the controller 10 receives the player's membership identifier. In step S403, the controller 10 accesses the record in the member database 200 associated with the identifier. After receiving the game result information in step S404, the controller 10 determines how many points are to be awarded for the game play in step S405. In step S406, the controller 10 then adds the awarded points to the player's account balance in the member database 200. In step S407, the controller 10 then optionally sends the number of points, for example, seconds, rewarded for the game play and the total number of points in the player's account to the display driver for the display. The subroutine ends in step S408.
FIGS. 5A and 5B are flow charts describing an example of a point redemption subroutine 500 stored in memory 100 for use by the controller 10. The point redemption subroutine begins in step S501, and in step S502, the controller 10, via communication port 30 and IVRU 20, as described above, receives a telephone call from the player. In step S503, the controller 10 causes the IVRU 20 to prompt the player for the player's member identifier. In step S504, the controller 10 checks the member database 200 to make sure the identifier is valid. If not, in step S505, the controller 10 causes the IVRU to re-request the identifier. If valid, the controller accesses the member database 200 and retrieves the current account balance associated with the membership identifier in step S506. In step S507, the controller causes the IVRU 20 to prompt the player for the telephone number of the party to be called, and in step S508, causes the IVRU 20 to notify the player (caller) of the current account balance, for example, in minutes or money.
In step S509 (FIG. 5b), the controller 10 then causes, via the telephone switch 40, the connection between the caller and the called party to be made, and in step S510, the controller 10 monitors the telephone connection and the account balance, which is continuously debited to reflect the current duration (or cost) of the call. If the account balance reaches zero in step S511, or if either party disconnects the call in step S512, the connection is discontinued in step S513. Otherwise, if the account balance is not zero and the call has not been discontinued, the subroutine returns to step S510 to continue monitoring the call. After the telephone connection is discontinued in step S513, the controller 10 in step S514 adjusts the current account balance, if necessary, and in step S515, creates a record of the call in the call records database 300. The subroutine ends in step S516.
It will be appreciated that a player may utilize his free telephone time without actually having the player card in his possession. He need only have available to him his account number or identifier number, and the telephone number required to call into the telephone service provider.
In an alternative embodiment, instead of a slot machine network, the controller 10 is connected to a computerized travel service network or any service network where points are awarded to members as an incentive for using the service. In this embodiment, the travel service network passes the traveler's membership card identifier to the controller, which in turn allocates free phone time to a data record associated with the traveler's membership identification in its member database 200. The amount of phone time is now based on usage of the traveling service and other parameters, such as the number of miles traveled, mode of transportation, and the like. The traveler can then use his travel card as a prepaid phone card in the same way as the slot card as described above.
Of course, it will be appreciated that the invention may take forms other than those specifically described, and the scope of the invention is to be determined solely by the following claims.
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The power of BlackBerry
on your computer and tablet
No wires, no saving to a cloud, no transferring between devices. It's just there.
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Out of Scope
When you contact the BlackBerry® Technical Support team, a support ticket is initiated. Each support ticket is assigned a unique ticket number (for example, INC00001234567), which is used to track your issue from initiation to resolution.
The support ticket number will be provided either at the end of a call with a support representative or via an automated email message receipt when contacting BlackBerry Technical Support through the BlackBerry Expert Support Center.
Use this support ticket number for all communication relating to that specific issue.
All requests for support are initially deemed to be problems by the BlackBerry® Technical Support team. When you report a problem, indicate its impact to your organization to assist the assigned BlackBerry Technical Support representative in classifying the problem's severity
The severity classification of a problem is determined by the BlackBerry Technical Support representative and yourself.
|A critical incident is defined as a problem that causes a total loss of service for which no procedural workaround exists. This problem may affect either the BlackBerry® Enterprise Server or a majority of the deployed BlackBerry smartphones. The problem severely affects the ability to conduct business
Note: Research In Motion (RIM) support teams are paged 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for critical problems and the Problem Management Team will be contacted. You must agree to be available for engagement 24x7 until relief has been provided
|A serious incident is defined as a problem that causes a severe degradation of service. Your key business process is impaired but not disabled. You may continue your operation, but in a restricted fashion
|A normal incident is defined as a problem that has slightly compromised your ability to conduct business. Your productivity loss is minor. The situation may be temporarily circumvented with an established work-around
|A low incident is defined as a problem that has marginally (or not) compromised your ability to conduct business. The productivity loss is insignificant. This may include a request for service, enhancement or "how to" request. There is little or no risk of impact
Note: Severity classifications may be updated during the lifecycle of a problem being worked on by the BlackBerry Technical Support team if the impact to the customer changes. The severity classification will be assigned by RIM, in RIM's sole discretion.
The BlackBerry® Technical Support team sets response-time goals based on the method of access.
|Method of Access
|Response-time Goal
|BlackBerry Technical Support representatives strive to answer 80% of all incoming telephone inquiries within 90 seconds
|BlackBerry Expert Support Center
|BlackBerry Technical Support representatives strive to respond to all incidents submitted electronically via the BlackBerry Expert Support Center within 2 hours
Note: The foregoing response-time goal is a target only and Research In Motion (RIM) shall not be considered to be in breach of any of its obligations if it can't fulfill the target time.
Should you have technical issues of a Critical and Serious nature and aren't satisfied with the response or resolution provided to you by BlackBerry® Technical Support, use the following escalation path to have your concerns addressed:
If, after using one of these escalation paths, you'd like to request additional support or provide direct feedback to the Technical Support Executive team, email email@example.com. Your email will be sent to the Senior Management within Customer Support Operations at Research In Motion (RIM).
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As a member of the BlackBerry® Alliance Program, you assume the following responsibilities:
To effectively troubleshoot and resolve a problem, RIM may require you to provide records, such as log files or configuration files. If the requested information is not provided, it may impede RIM's ability to resolve the reported problem.
It's assumed individuals involved in support of the BlackBerry solution products and systems are familiar with the processes outlined in this plan. It's also assumed these individuals have received the required user training on any BlackBerry solution product or system they're supporting.
Examples of customer responsibility for support and system maintenance include, but aren't limited to,:
As a member of the BlackBerry® Alliance Program, you're expected to troubleshoot all Tier I and Tier II BlackBerry software issues before contacting BlackBerry Technical Support. BlackBerry Technical Support will only assist with Tier III issues. Research In Motion (RIM) reserves the right to charge a fee for support incidents that don't qualify as Tier III issues. You'll be warned in advance that charges may apply.
Services not described within your designated support level are outside the scope of BlackBerry Technical Support and chargeable on a per occurrence basis, at then-current rates. If you request any of these services, BlackBerry Technical Support will inform you, in advance of the service being rendered, that it may be subject to additional charges. Examples of services not covered by BlackBerry® Technical Support Services include, but aren't limited to,:


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This elegant selection of Whittard's best-selling fine black teas makes a lovely gift for any tea drinker. Black teas are classically rich, with a depth of flavour that makes them instantly comforting.
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Item Code: 306217 / Net weight: 3 x 25g / 3 x 0.88oz
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For the perfect cup of these blended teas, ideally warm the pot first with a splash of hot water. Use one teaspoon (around 2g) per cup and always use freshly drawn and boiled water. Allow to brew for 3-5 minutes according to taste. Can be drunk with or without milk.
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by Michael Teague, NJCAA Asst. Media Relations Director
NOTE: As part of the ongoing celebration of its 75th Anniversary, the national headquarters of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) will release nine insightful articles during the 2012-13 academic year that will make up the NJCAA 75th Anniversary Feature Series. Below is the seventh in the series, which can also be found in the March issue of NJCAA Review.
Since 1959, the NJCAA Division I Baseball World Series has been synonymous with the community of Grand Junction, Colo. For over half a century, the most populated city on Colorado's Western Slope has been a staple of the NJCAA and America's marquee landmark for junior college baseball.
The idea for a national junior college baseball championship originated in 1949 when the NJCAA was beginning to find its legs again following World War II. Financial and location problems quickly extinguished tentative plans for a tournament but it wasn't long before the growing desire for a championship brought the issue back to the forefront.
By the spring of 1955, NJCAA President Reed K. Swenson determined that a study was needed to determine the interest and viability of a national baseball tournament. Swenson formed a special investigative committee and chose his brother-in-law, Jay Tolman from Mesa Junior College in Grand Junction, to chair the commission. Tolman's son, Tex, recalls his childhood being surrounded by the preliminary talks of a junior college baseball championship.
"In 1955, I remember my father started talking about championship baseball," Tex Tolman said. "(Swenson) and my father used to talk about it all the time on fishing trips."
In 1957, Tolman presented the results of his study which clearly indicated that the NJCAA membership desired a championship for America's pastime. Approximately one-half of the NJCAA's 230 member institutions participated in intercollegiate baseball and a majority of those programs supported the idea of a championship tournament.
Despite the excitement and enthusiasm surrounding the concept, the NJCAA was unable to identify a sponsor or host that could adequately finance and support such an event. At the NJCAA Annual Meeting in March of 1958, the organization's membership awarded the 1958 tournament to Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College on a one-year trial basis.
A lack of financial support quickly indicated that the tournament would not be able to provide the necessary funds to attract teams from all regions of the country. The first NJCAA baseball tournament in 1958 therefore was labeled as an invitational and featured eight junior colleges from Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas.
Constant, heavy rains put a damper on the 1958 invitational and, in turn, attendance was low. Cameron State College (Okla.) won the two-day, single-elimination tournament and became the first baseball champions of the NJCAA.
Tolman was in attendance at the 1958 tournament. As a NJCAA regional director and a member of the baseball committee, Tolman saw the potential that the tournament had with the proper financial support and returned home with a vision. That vision soon came to reality in what the Grand Junction community fondly refers to as "JUCO".
Before Tolman's trip to Oklahoma, the city of Grand Junction had already showcased its passion for junior college baseball in the 1958 NJCAA West Region Championship. The tournament at Lincoln Park Stadium was touted as a huge success and brought in a $200 profit. Mesa head baseball coach Walter "Bus" Bergman saw the writing on the wall and predicted that the tournament's success could have the NJCAA looking west for a future host.
"If we can show them Grand Junction will support a tournament of the regional caliber in a big way," Bergman said in an interview with the Grand Junction Sentinel, "then we've got a good chance at getting the national (tournament) here in the future."
With the foundation laid, Tolman returned from Oklahoma knowing that he had some allies to support his quest for a NJCAA World Series in Grand Junction. The first step in his journey was to garner the backing of the community.
Tolman brought together some of the most influential dignitaries and dedicated baseball-minds in the River City for an informal meeting at Mesa Drug Store on Main Street. Local leaders included businessman Don Sparn, Dr. Hurst Otto, Chamber of Commerce director Dale Hollingsworth and D.S. Dykstra, chairman of the chamber's education and athletic committee. For their baseball expertise, Tolman called on Bergman and Sam Suplizio, a former outfielder in the New York Yankees farm system.
"They were wondering whether or not they could generate money," Tex Tolman said. "This was a small town back then so they wanted to make sure that the town fathers would back it."
Once Tolman had earned the support of the Grand Junction leadership, a proposal was formulated to take to the NJCAA. Tolman estimated that they would need to raise $6,000 for the participating team's travel, housing and meals. Grand Junction Sentinel publisher Preston Walker stepped up to the plate and agreed to have his Grand Junction Festival Company underwrite $3,000 for the tournament.
In addition to Walker's contribution, the Coca-Cola Company agreed to annually provide funds to further offset the expenses of participating colleges. For the 1959 tournament, Coca-Cola committed $1,500 that helped solidify Grand Junction's bid. In the fall of 1958, Tolman and Dykstra travelled to meet with NJCAA executives in Hutchinson, Kan., to submit their proposal. With finances secured and a detailed blueprint in place, the NJCAA officially accepted Grand Junction's bid on October 28, 1958.
Tolman and Dykstra returned to Grand Junction with smiles of success. It wouldn't take long for the news to spread and the community quickly began to overflow with excitement and anticipation for the upcoming spring.
The 1959 NJCAA Baseball World Series was the first junior college baseball tournament that truly embodied the term "national championship". Eight teams from across the map participated in the four-day, double-elimination tournament. Paris Junior College (Texas) took the crown after defeating Northeastern Oklahoma A&M 14-4 in the championship game.
Despite cold weather and more rain, the tournament was praised as a huge success. The $3,622.17 in expenses were offset and a profit of $137.53 was secured through ticket sales, gate receipts and programs. The tournament even caught the attention of Major League Baseball as seven big league scouts were part of the 4,700 people in attendance.
"That junior college intercollegiate baseball competition on the national level is here to stay there is no question," Jay Tolman said in May 1960, "and it also appears quite possible that Grand Junction, Colorado may become the site of the annual NJCAA baseball championship playoffs."
Tolman's projection rang true when the NJCAA's regional directors unanimously agreed that the 1960 tournament return to Grand Junction. This announcement led to the addition of several new sponsors for the second annual NJCAA Baseball World Series. The MacGregor Company agreed to furnish baseballs for the tournament, while the Hanna Manufacturing Company of Athens, Ga., provided a trophy baseball bat to each member of the NJCAA Baseball All-America team and one to the national championship team.
Sizeable crowds again braved cold and rainy weather to see the 1960 tournament. Successful operations led to Dykstra accurately predicting the NJCAA's five-year contract offer in June of 1961. With the extension, the city of Grand Junction began to cement itself as the home of the NJCAA World Series.
Following the 1960 World Series, it became evident that more funds would be needed to sustain the tournament's growth in years to come. Dykstra's report to the NJCAA identified a lack of financial resources as an obstacle preventing Grand Junction from securing the nation's best teams.
"This committee is concerned about the many schools who could not afford the trip even though they may have been the best team in their region" Dykstra said in the report. "It was finally agreed that the NJCAA would find other outlets to subsidize this travel expense."
On June 23, 1960, Swenson sent a letter to Major League Baseball commissioner Ford Frick requesting financial assistance to support the growth of baseball in the NJCAA. Frick's response indicated that his office could not authorize such a contribution but that he would relay the request to the officials of the sixteen major league clubs.
Frick stayed true to his word and in January of 1962 it was reported that Major League Baseball would contribute $5,000 to defray transportation expenses for that year's tournament.
"That was important because a lot of times there wasn't enough money for all the teams to travel," Tex Tolman said. "A lot of the junior colleges were from small towns so they needed to be reimbursed as much as possible."
The donation became an annual one that exists to this day. Major League Baseball now contributes $40,000 each year towards travel expenses for teams participating in the NJCAA's Division I, II and III baseball championships.
"The contribution by Major League Baseball goes a long way to assuring that our baseball championships feature the best teams from around the country," said NJCAA executive director Mary Ellen Leicht. "It's not a huge amount of money but it is important for the 28 teams participating in the various World Series events."
For the next five decades, the NJCAA World Series experienced tremendous growth. Having reached an attendance of 8,000 in the 1960s, the 70s saw that number quickly propel to over 40,000 fans. Attendance surpassed 80,000 in the 80s and eventually reached the 100,000-mark in the 90s.
The formation of the Grand Junction Park Improvement Advisory Board in 1960 marked the city's dedication to providing the NJCAA with some of the best facilities available. In that decade, the aging bleachers behind home plate were replaced and the trees in foul territory down the first base line were removed. New ticket offices, lights and press boxes were added in the 70s along with metal bleachers down the third base line.
In 1989, a 7-foot bronze statue of "Casey at the Bat" was installed in honor of the legendary poem that embodied America's pastime. A year later, the stadium was named Sam Suplizio Field in honor of the tournament's first director and the proclaimed "Mr. Baseball" of Grand Junction.
"What Sam did for us is get us more on the national level," said current tournament director Jamie Hamilton. "He was visionary enough to bring in good, young leadership to make sure this tournament went to the next level which we think it has."
New backstops and dugouts were installed in the 1990s, followed by the addition of new electronic scoreboards, outfield bleachers, press boxes, a new sound system and improved bathrooms. After nearly $2 million in renovations, the once tattered field that former NJCAA Executive Director George Killian once described as a "cow pasture" became an extravagant park that was worthy of the city's beloved event.
Although drastic improvements were made between 1960 and 2010, an unprecedented 25-year contract from the NJCAA in 2010 stimulated investments to an entirely different level.
"Although it was a big decision, it was a relatively easy one for the NJCAA to make given our history with Grand Junction," Leicht said. "There was no reason to believe that committing to a 25-year contract extension would prove anything but beneficial to NJCAA baseball and given the success of the 2012 championship in the newly renovated stadium, we were proven correct. I think it's important to remember that in addition to the NJCAA committing to Grand Junction, the city has shown their long range commitment to NJCAA baseball."
With the event guaranteed to remain in Grand Junction until 2035, Lincoln Park began an $8.3 million renovation project in June 2011 that was funded by the city, Mesa County School District 51, the Grand Junction Baseball Committee and various grants.
New bleachers and the addition of a mezzanine level pushed the stadium's capacity to over 12,000. A stateof-the-art, two-story press box was also constructed to provide press members with an expansive view of Suplizio Field and adjacent Ralph Stocker Stadium which is the home of Colorado Mesa University football.
"It involved a great collaborative effort," Hamilton said. "It's unique in the fact that the facility handles football and baseball for four high schools, Colorado Mesa University, the JUCO tournament and now 38 games with the minor league affiliate Grand Junction Rockies. We knew we needed to have better amenities that would take us to the next level. We needed to have better facilities, lighting and signage."
Suplizio Field has started accumulating accolades due to its 21st-century renovations. The park was named 2009 "Field of the Year" by the Colorado Sports Turf Managers Association. The 2012 NJCAA Division I Baseball World Series even received a nomination for Best Collegiate Sports Event Series by SportsTravel magazine.
Taking a look at today's NJCAA Division I Baseball World Series, it's hard to comprehend how much the tournament has grown since 1959. In 1985, Hamilton – a former baseball player at Colorado Mesa – began working fulltime for Suplizio at Home Loan & Investment Co. and joined Bergman as the tournament's co-director. Ever since, Hamilton's tireless efforts have amplified the scale and publicity of the World Series.
"I don't think the renovated part of the stadium would be there without Jamie," Tex Tolman said. "He's an unusual person in the fact that he combines his love of baseball with being a good businessman. One of the best things he has been able to do is find new ways to bring in money while maintaining the community aspect of the tournament."
Despite all of the improvements and renovations of the last 54 years, Hamilton and other organizers are still exploring new ways to elevate the event to an even higher standard.
"The next thing that we really have to look at is improving the playing facilities," Hamilton said. "If that involves adding field turf or synthetic turf, then that's something we want to take a look at. Knowing that we have that 25-year commitment, we can go out and raise more capital to get it done."
No matter what changes the World Series undergoes, it will still be the classic event that the people of Grand Junction hold dear to their hearts. The tournament truly has woven itself into the fabric of both the city and the NJCAA.
"A number of our fans told us that they never want to lose the integrity of what this tournament means to the city," Hamilton said. "Every one of the people that have gone to this tournament feels like they own a piece of it."
"The relationship between the NJCAA and Grand Junction has always been one of mutual respect," said Leicht. "I think both parties understand and embrace the benefits provided by the World Series. NJCAA student-athletes and fans are treated to a once in a lifetime experience. In return, Grand Junction is treated to a week of fantastic baseball not to mention the economic impact the tournament has on the city's businesses."
When it comes down to it, Grand Junction's World Series is about more than the NJCAA baseball national championship. This treasured tradition is defined by community, family and the lasting memories of the thousands of people who have sat in the bleachers of Suplizio Field to see players and teams from all corners of the map.
"I have so many good friends that I either met as coaches or players throughout the nation," Tex Tolman said. "I can't go anywhere in the country that I don't want to meet up with somebody. Kids grew up watching the tournament here and now attend as adults. My daughter met her husband at JUCO. It became a community thing that everyone got involved with and it is special for us. It's the one thing that everyone looks forward to every year."
Ten more teams will descend upon Grand Junction this May to play in the 56th NJCAA Division I Baseball World Series. Thousands of fans will once again fill the storied stands to enjoy the game they love and add to the cherished memories that make the tournament so special.


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Daily Tip: How to get around a buggy iPhone Home Button using Activator [Jailbreak]
Have a broken or buggy iPhone Home Button and curious how to work around it? When Apple released iOS 4.1 several of our readers reported a bug with their iPhone Home Button, and for some of us, performing a restore or waiting for Apple to fix it in a software update hasn't paid off.
If you aren't near an Apple Store to swap out your iPhone, or you're out of warranty, here's something you can do to help circumvent the problem using Activator gestures to simulate a Home Button click -- hit the jump to find out how it's done!
Activator is a well-known jailbreak extension that integrates gestures into your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch using a system-wide mobilesubstrate hook in iOS. You can designate a number of gestures to do things like launch apps, perform tasks, toggle WiFi on-the-fly and a lot more -- you can even map a gesture to the Home Button!
My personal iPhone 4 has had this issue for a while. Right now I just swipe up from the bottom of the screen in order to 'press' the Home Button, and swipe up from the bottom-right to call up the app switcher. It was a little awkward at first, but after a day or two my muscle-memory kicked in and I haven't been annoyed by the Home Button problem ever since -- simply because I never actually have to press it anymore.
If you haven't already jailbroken your iPhone then check out our jailbreak starters guide first. Now just follow these quick steps to get Activator set up to allow a custom Home Button gesture:
- After installing Activator in Cydia (free) open the Settings app and select Activator from the settings menu.
- Tap 'Anywhere'.
- Now you'll have to select your desired gesture here. I chose the Slide In gesture but you can choose whatever you prefer.
- Now swipe up to reveal the search bar and run a quick search for the Home Button.
You'll need to kill the Settings app for the gesture to kick in, and you can go through the same steps for setting up a gesture for the iOS app switcher as well.
That's it! Using a gesture to simulate the Home Button has taken away those random frustrating moments when my Home Button wouldn't respond, and we hope it helps you get around the problem too! Let us know what other suggestions and work-arounds you've come up with in the comments below!
Bonus Tip: @JBaby_9783 on Twitter suggested using rubbing alcohol to help clean dust and grit from areas around the Home Button. You'll need to wet a QTip with 91% rubbing alcohol and apply it on and around the Home Button after you've powered off your iPhone. Get the button area slightly wet (having a small puddle in the concave of the button is fine) and then press the Home Button multiple times while it's still wet, then let dry. You can quicken the drying process by applying a blow dryer to your iPhone for about a minute, but make sure it's fully dry before powering the iPhone back on. This should help address response issues with the Home Button but you won't see a change if your problem is bug-related.
Tips of the day will range from beginner-level 101 to advanced-level ninjary. If you already know this tip, keep the link handy as a quick way to help a friend. If you have a tip of your own you'd like to suggest, add them to the comments or send them in to firstname.lastname@example.com. (If it's especially awesome and previously unknown to us, we'll even give ya a reward…)
Have something to say about this story? Leave a comment! Need help with something else? Ask in our forums!
Andrew Wray is a Salt Lake City, Utah based writer who focuses on news, how-tos, and jailbreak. Andrew also enjoys running, spending time with his daughter, and jamming out on his guitar. He works in a management position for Unisys Technical Services, a subsidiary of Unisys Corporation.
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Reader comments
Daily Tip: How to get around a buggy iPhone Home Button using Activator [Jailbreak]
I was having this issue and after two clean restores I finally decided to take it in to the apple store. The tech wouldn't replace the phone. After three separate appointments (same guy every time) I took it to a different Apple store. That store replaced it immediately. Problem is fixed (although this iPhone is running a bit warmer than my last).
How long did you have the other phone?
Been using activator for that for a while now and it makes my phone feel more fluid. Swipe right -> sbsettings, swipe left -> app switcher, swipe down -> close app ( simulate home button press)
Hate the double press and really haven't use it at all since I started using activator
Hey I thought it just was my iPhone!
You know, this should have been obvious to me. I have Activator, and use it for all kinds of functionality. I have a problem with my home button, but I just keep mashing it until it does what I wanted it to do. I never connected the two together as a solution. Also, for some reason it's nice to know others are in the same boat as me.
Thanks for the article, Andrew.
I'm glad I was able to help :) On a side note, hopefully Apple fixes this soon... Seems to be an issue for a lot of users.
I have the same problem with my iphone as well .It was fine in iOS 4.1 but with iOS 4.3.1 it became worse.Read some where that keeping the camera app running the background did fix the issue for some .Tried the same and voila it works for me.I have tested with out camera app running in the background the home button issue arises but with camera app running in the background its all fine.
Its sounds weird but it works for me.
Apple is so hung on patents they should lock in crappy magical software and hardware. This is sad you have to go through all this because apple is incompetent to fix this.
i don't use apple's crappy switcher anymore... i use the double tap home button for multifl0w, and then there's sbsettings with the removebackground addon with i use frequently (for the apps which stay in the background but don't show up in multifl0w)
the standard switcher is still there but its under short hold home button and it barely sees the light
This is a crazy issue. I have had a new iphone4 since October. It was a replacement from my launch day iphone 4(yellow spots). It came with 4.0.1 and apple upgraded it to 4.1. I was on 4.1 until Feb. I have been on 4.3.1 since earlier this month. I started seeing the home button issue yesterday and it got worse last night and early this morning. I did the alcohol cleaning method this morning and so far after 2 hours it's fine. My buddy on the other hand had a launch day iphone 4 and for 3 months it's been sporadically happening. Last week it he couldn't take it anymore and Apple Genius bar guy opened it up and blew canned air and cleaned it. He was fine for 5 hours and then it came back. He has since got a replacement. I have no idea how long the alcohol cleaning trick will work for me. I just don't want to spend a half day restoring everything.
how do you kill the settings app to make this work?
very helpful! thankyouuuu!!
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Market research shows increasing enterprise acceptance of cloud strategies for communications. But what exactly "cloud" means for enterprise communications varies widely. Enterprise Connect's Cloud track examines the range of options — from virtualization in on-prem datacenters, to Hosted PBX services, to more complex hybrid public-private cloud models for service delivery to your end users. Cloud sessions will address the business cases for various Cloud scenarios, the range of technology choices and architectural options, and the strategies you should employ for crafting and executing your Cloud strategy. You'll come away with input that helps you decide how to use the Cloud for maximum benefit in your Communications & Collaboration future.
Choosing a Cloud Communications Provider
UC in the Cloud: A Reality Check
What Kind of Hybrid Should Your Cloud Be?


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Budgets Rise Health costs hit Vt. schoolsBy JOSH OGORMAN
Staff Writer | February 17,2013Vermont school districts are facing a dilemma: Keep budget increases small while facing rising insurance costs, dwindling federal aid and the realities of deferred maintenance and equipment purchases.
But voters are facing an average school budget increase of 4.6 percent, based upon data from 250 of the 274 school districts in the state. The increases are driven in part by more expensive health insurance.
While insurance costs have been rising for most people in the public and private sectors, school districts have seen modest increases in recent years until now.
Right now, were predicting health costs will go up 10.7 percent starting July 1, said Laura Soares, president of the Vermont School Boards Insurance Trust, which provides health insurance to all public schools in the state.
This year is different on many fronts, she said, pointing first to the uncertainties surrounding the federal Affordable Health Care Act, which goes into effect in 2014.
Schools are now proposing budgets for July 1 through June 30, 2014.
Over the past decade, we have been able to offer (insurance) costs that were very favorable, Soares said. This year is an anomaly.
Insurance rates through the Vermont School Boards Insurance Trust have risen 7.3 percent during the past 10 years, and 2.9 percent during the last five years.
After looking at small (insurance) increases for so long, this is really hard, said Ken Page, executive director of the Vermont Principals Association.
Also missing from the revenue side of school budgets will be federal dollars from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which many districts used to stave off staff cuts or to keep their budgets low.
Keeping budgets flat has caught up to many districts, said Jeff Francis, executive director of the Vermont Superintendents Association.
We are coming through a period of austerity, so were coming through a period of deferred maintenance, Francis said. Schools have put off making repairs, making improvements, purchasing new equipment for so long its come to a point where they can defer no longer.
It is uncertain how much the statewide school budget increases will affect the education property tax rate.
When the state Legislature sets the tax rate, it looks at education spending, which is the total of school budgets minus revenue sources.
Education spending across the state is rising 5.5 percent, higher than Tax Commissioner Mary Petersons forecast of 4.8 percent in December.
Under this scenario, the base education amount per pupil which has remained frozen at $8,723 for the past three years would rise to $9,151.
The Vermont education tax rate would rise 5 cents from 89 to 94 cents per $100 of assessed value for Vermont property owners and from $1.38 to $1.43 for nonresidents.
A bill before the Legislature, H.265, proposes most of these increases. However, the bill seeks to raise the nonresidential rate by an extra penny, to $1.44.
The bill passed the House Ways and Means Committee by an 8-3 vote last week and is now in the Appropriations Committee. The bill can be tracked online at www.leg.state.vt.us/database/status/status.cfm.
Its always a balancing act between a sound education and the interests of the taxpayers, said Francis of the Vermont Superintendents Association.
I was a principal for 21 years, said Page of the Vermont Principals Association, and Ive learned there are many things you have no control over. Eighty-five to 90 percent of costs are fixed, and we try to find cuts in the remaining 10 to 15 percent.
firstname.lastname@example.com IN This Just InNEW YORK Yes, your mutual fund may own some Greek stocks. No, most likely not a lot. Full StoryWHITE RIVER JUNCTION A Springfield man who was captured Friday evening after he took off... Full StoryLoan program launched for owners of flood damaged apartment houses Full Story
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- TOMORROW'S HEADLINES TODAY: Rutland Herald News Editor Alan J. Keays and staff writer Gordon Dritschilo discuss stories planned for the February 18, 2015, edition of the newspaper: Winter budgets maxed, legal marijuana, Springfield bank job, USPS slowdown
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No Firefox web browser for iPhone or iPad unless Apple relaxes its rules
Mozilla has no plans to bring its Firefox browser to the iPhone or iPad in the future and it is putting the blame firmly at Apple's door. Mozilla vice president Jay Sullivan was speaking at the mobile browser wars panel at SXSW Interactive. According to CNET:
Of course this should come as no great surprise to iOS users; the browser debate has been rumbling on for a long time. The App Store already offers a lot of different web browsers which include the likes of Google Chrome, Dolphin Browser and more.
Source: CNET
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Reader comments
No Firefox web browser for iPhone or iPad unless Apple relaxes its rules
Tired of looking for the new Firefox for iPad Browser?
Visit http://www.FirefoxiPad.com now for all you need to know about the Firefox browser and install it successfully for you iPad device.
The new Firefox for iPad from Mozilla is here I found out all about how to get it on my iPad on this site http://www.Mac-Webserver.com and have successfully used it ever since
Explain how other browsers such as Chrome or Mercury are not "fully functional". Just because it doesn't have the Nitro engine or the ability to be a default browser doesn't mean it doesn't perform all of the functions that safari does. I can still view every web site, video, picture, etc. it functions just like a browser is supposed to.
Actually, it does. You just listed two things Safari does that Chrome cannot. Or, if you really want to split hairs, you listed one thing Chrome cannot do and one thing Chrome will never be able to do as well as Safari, no matter how hard they try.
The point is an "alternative" browser on iOS can have only those functions Apple allows it to have. That by definition limits the power and creativity of the developer. Mozilla has chosen not to develop under those conditions. I'm sure Google hates them, but they are willing to work under them to get more eyeballs. As much as Google emphasizes speed, I would wager V8 on iOS would have forced Apple to improve Nitro to keep up. But they insulate Mobile Safari from such competition.
You may agree with Apple's reasons, and think the trade-offs are worth it. On balance, you may even be right. But to pretend those trade offs do not exist, and that there are not consequences for developers and users is disingenuous.
Arguably V8 on Android forces Apple to improve Nitro, no?
Yes...but not as much as an Apples-to-Apples comparison (snicker) on the same hardware would.
Headline could read:
"Firefox's stubborn refusal to develop for iOS costs them 500 million potential customers."
I think Firefox is correct for making a stand it would be nice to be able to choose which default browser I want to use without having to jailbreak, it's not about we want to be able to use our own rendering engine it's more about choice and what would this world be without choice honestly, look at it this way if android had not come in and take the world by storm we would all still be using 3.0 mpeg cameras on a 3.5 inch screen.
Making a stand? Really?
Let's see. If you want to race in the Indy 500, you need to have a race car that follows several rules and limitations. If Mozilla wants to put on an unsafe car that doesn't follow the same rules that everyone else follows you think this is "taking a stand?"
Firewhat now? Seems if it mattered it would already be there....
Apple need introduce a new system, their current one doesn't give developers any freedom in what they produce! Android Markets system is good because developers can pretty much do as they wish but have to declare what things the apps can do (privacy wise). Apple kind of introduced it with photos, Facebook and twitter access but it certainly doesn't give developers anything more! I would also like to see different rendering engines allowed on iOS! Nitro is ok, but not the best...
"…their current one doesn't give developers any freedom in what they produce!" Really? Then who's making the more than 750,000 apps that run on the iPhone?
Or perhaps you mean developers don't have the freedom to produce the 293,091 Apps classified as outright malicious and a further 150,203 classified as high risk. It took Microsoft Windows 14 years to attract this volume of malicious code!
not a loss. most people couldn't care less.
No. Because Apple does allow alternative browsers.
Also, Apple does not have any sort of monopoly, you are free to use an Android phone.
Also, this is not anti-competitive. Apple merely restricts a few APIs in the OS from third party use.
The EU can't go after Apple because Firefox doesn't want to write code for iOS. Firefox could write a browser and Apple would approve it. There is no anti competitive anything here.
Firefox (Mozilla) used to be an underdog. So they wrote a browser for just about every OS out there. Then they got big, and fat and lazy. Now they are complaining that the world is not fair. It seems like they should go back to their roots and remember that what made them big was the fact that we could use a good Firefox browser wherever we wanted to... Now they are stamping their feet crying about Apple and all it does is limit the audience of people using Firefox... Counter productive.
Apple may lose 3 iPhone sales over this... Firefox loses 500 million potential users.
Keep crying Firefox...
Microsoft was a dominant platform (90%+ share). iOS isn't. When you're not a legal monopoly, governments aren't allowed to tell you what to do.
Which is a good thing, usually.
I'm not a huge fan of a lot of Firefox's recent choices. I would have preferred they support H.264, and that they focus more on native interface.
They could easily make a UIWebView powered browser for iOS, but if they're allowed to use their HTML and JS engines, and there's a vulnerability, how fast could it be patched, what could Apple do if Firefox didn't patch it quickly?
Mobile isn't desktop. iOS isn't OS X.
They're more like game consoles than PCs. There's not much browser choice on Xbox, Wii, or PS.
Their choices now are based on the same principles they have always held - free, open, and standard. It is not hyperbole to credit their digging in their heels in the days of IE6 for keeping control over the entire web out of the hands of one company. Those principles that compelled them to stand firm against significant pressure to adopt ActiveX and other platform specific conventions compel their choices today. That you like today's market king better than yesterday's does not lessen the need for somebody to keep them honest.
I was a Lumia 800 user (WP 7.8) until last week. I switched last Thursday to iPhone 5 and the first thing I've installed was Chrome (love the sync between my PC and the Phone), to be honest I don't care about Firefox, at all. But having it in the ecosystem wouldn't harm however Apple should focus more on improving the OS (make it more customizable), I would love to see the option to make a default browser without having to jailbreak my brand new iPhone.
Nah. They were on a panel where the subject was broached, and they stated their reasons.
I'm not so concerned about different web engines on my iPhone so much as I wish Apple would allow a different default browser to open for http and https links.
Tired of looking for Firefox for iPad Browser?
Visit http://www.FirefoxiPad.com today for all you want to know about the Firefox browser and secretly download it for you iPad device.


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Looking for a great breakfast idea that can be made the night before? This egg bake recipe is the answer. Perfect for Sunday brunch!
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1. Arrange bread in lightly oiled 13x9-inch glass baking dish.
2. Whisk together eggs, half and half, basil, mustard, salt and pour over bread. 3. Sauté onions, peppers and bacon in olive oil over medium heat 3-4 minutes and pour over egg mixture.
4. Cover egg dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight. In the morning:1. Preheat oven to 350° F. 2. Remove plastic wrap and cover egg dish with aluminum foil.
3. Bake 30 minutes, uncover, sprinkle with cheese and bake an additional 10-15 minutes or until center is firm.Tip: Lightly spray the inside of aluminum foil to keep it from sticking to eggs and cheese.
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Monday, April 29, 2013
One of my students brought this one in the other day. It is a little plant worth a considerable amount of discussion. Here are a few thoughts.
This is a carnivorous plant, meaning that it is able to capture and digest animal life as a means of augmenting whatever minerals (especially nitrogen and phosphorus) are available to it in the wild. The animals used by carnivorous plants are generally quite tiny; no need to worry about falling into a carnivorous plant around here or anywhere else. The carnivorous Venus' fly-trap, which does grow our coast, is capable of capturing animals as large as small frogs. (Plant carnivory has always fascinated humans…you might want to see "Little Shop of Horrors" sometime.) You might be interested in knowing that the southeastern USA is one of the world's hot-spots for carnivorous plants. Our Mystery plant and Venus' fly-trap (Dionaea), represent two of the genera of them. The others are the sundews (Drosera), the butterworts (Pinguicula), and of course, the fabulous pitcher plants (Sarracenia). Are any of these represented in your area?
Our yellow-flowered meat-eater belongs to a genus of about 100 species found throughout the world. This one is an aquatic, annual species which develops a prominent floating device. This flotation structure consists of a number of branching "arms" that inflated with air, and which, as it develops, rises through the water of a quiet pond or ditch, ultimately bringing the flowering stem to the top. The underwater "floats" bear tiny traps on their edges. These traps are nearly microscopic, but highly effective in pulling in small aquatic critters that swim too close. A complicated mechanism, involving tiny trigger hairs and a trap door, is involved. Other, related species of our mystery plant don't float, but instead live on saturated or dripping soil. The flowers are clustered at the top of the aerial, leafless stem. Each flower has 5 bright yellow petals, and they are arranged in a very "bilateral" way. It's good to remember that the flowers don't "eat" anything…it is the tiny traps down under the water that do all that.
You might see our mystery plant in any of the coastal counties of the Southeast. It is fairly common, blooming now, and occurs from New Jersey south to Texas and Florida. Several brilliant yellow flowers –as bright as hot butter--occur near the top of the leafless stalk, and a pond full of thousands of these fascinating plants is a beautiful sight.
[Answer: "Floating bladderwort," Utricularia inflata
John Nelson is the curator of the A. C. Moore Herbarium at the University of South Carolina, in the Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia SC 29208. As a public service, the Herbarium offers free plant identifications. For more information, visit www.herbarium.org or call 803-777-8196, or email firstname.lastname@example.com.
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Patrick Campbell
Economics and Political Science
The familial atmosphere caught my attention.
When I first visited Bradley, the familial atmosphere caught my attention. Coming from Wisconsin, I looked at our major state school, but when you attend large schools, although you feel like you are a part of something, you have little personal identity. At Bradley, I found that everyone has the chance to be a big fish in a pond that's just big enough.
I found myself captivated by the enthusiasm of the professors I had at Bradley. When visiting, you don't necessarily see the vast opportunities Bradley offers for mentorship or networking with an extraordinarily intelligent group of faculty who remain at the forefront of their fields. I knew Bradley was the place for me before I came, but in hindsight my mentors in numerous different departments truly reinforced my decision.
I also think students should know that the administration is extremely down to earth. President Glasser and Dean Galsky were so accessible while I was in school. My friends and co-workers here in Boston can't say the same about their alma maters. The care the Bradley's faculty, administration, and staff have for their students is imperative to a fruitful college experience and unique to Bradley; and it's what kept me happy at Bradley.
I completed four exciting and diverse internship experiences while at Bradley. My first internship was as a special projects intern for the City of Peoria's Equal Opportunity Office. I also spent two summers and a fall semester in Washington, D.C., working for an alumna as a government relations intern at British Telecom, for Newt Gingrich at American Enterprise Institute as a research intern, and at the National Security Agency as an Intelligence Analyst Fellow, which I cannot speak too much about!
When you're competing for BUST, you can slip into focusing so much on success and not enough on shooting for excellence. As a result, you worry too much about what can go wrong, like your judges or audience scowling at you during a humorous event, stumbling in a speech, or even going to the wrong room for a round. Yet, all of this worrying just becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. As a National Champion in Oratory, I've found that if you focus on doing the right thing well, then success will come naturally.


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As I have said before, I am known for my cooking skills, but not in a good way. That still stands pretty much true but I just made parsnips for the first time and they are freaking delicious! I did it! YAY me.
I got some to cook about two weeks ago? I never did though, so they went to compost.
I got some more yesterday and promised myself to cook them today, so I did.
I opted to boil them in my pasta boat in the microwave with baby taters, onions, garlic, salt, and enough butter to make Paula Deen blush. Bam, right?
And for the record I jacked this from a site about the origins of sayings 'n stuff.
: Does anyone know the origin of the saying 'Fine words butter no parsnips'? Although I do understand what it means now, as a child I was mystified by its meaning
The earliest known example of the phrase dates from 1639, in the form "Faire words butter no parsnips". Anybody who has ever eaten boiled parsnips knows that they cry out to be glazed in butter before serving, and in traditional English cookery they invariably are - it is a necessary part of their preparation. The point of the phrase is that words alone achieve nothing - a person may "butter you up" with fine words, but he can't butter parsnips with them! (VSD)


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This Jellyfish Lamp, which now proudly sits on my desk and keeps me company, was my first attempt at working with LEDs. So if I can do it, so can you!
Basically, it is a purple light made of translucent materials that "glow" as the light shines through them. Although it took about four hours to build, the step that takes the longest is making a structure that looks like a jellyfish. Besides that, all you have to do is string up the lights and turn it on.
Let's get started!
Step 1: Materials Used
4 x 12 in LED Light Bar Extension Cables
2 ft UL LED Strip
2 ft LED Lamp Wire
1 DC Wire Plug
2 x Female DC Wire Plug
1 Mini RGB LED Controller
1 12V Adapter
1 RGB Strip Light to Bar Connector
1 x plastic strip light spool
1 x plastic to-go container lid
1 x Ziplock Bag
2 x long Ziplock shipping bags
10 sheets of packing bubbles (multiple colors optional)
1 x Hot glue gun
3 x Hot glue sticks
Step 2:
Start by cutting off one side of the spool support (the four arms coming off the center with a ring). This will leave you with a central piece and the other four arms and a ring. Be careful when cutting so you do not split the rest of the piece as the plastic is very brittle. You might have to file the edges of the ring down to dull down any sharp edges left from the cutting.
I would have used 1 switch instead of 2 and more LEDs, but my budget was 0 and I made this one using only stuff I had lying around.
I think it would have been better to provide a complete list of materials at the beginning of the instructions.
Alternatively, use a multi-position rotary switch to let the user choose usable white light versus moody blue light.
The list is getting rather long, but I think this one will get bumped to the top.
Great job!
I like the fact that it uses a lot of recycled materials.
LED lights are very in now days as it saves electricity as well as cuts down our electricity bills. We can replace bulbs and lamps with LEDs.


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The red Love Capri Legging is tight fitting, features a roll-down waist that can be adjusted to sit any place on your waist or below and a 18" inseam which hits at the top of the calf muscle. These are the perfect basic yoga legging, all the while furthering your commitment to green living.
Wearing shades of red (base/root) - Courage and action. Encourages self-confidence, passion, drive, self-awareness, groundedness, joy, and trust. Red is the color of life force.
|92% organic cotton / 8% spandex


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FORT WALTON BEACH — The Okaloosa County Division of Environmental Services, which began spot spraying in May, has four tips to avoid mosquitoes.
Mosquito Control and Public Health Departments urge the public to "SWAT" as follows.
•Stay inside with screened doors and windows during dusk and dawn, when mosquitoes bite.
•When outside, wear clothing that covers skin.
•Apply mosquito repellant that includes DEET on your skin when you are outside.
•Turn over standing water where mosquitoes lay eggs or rid your outdoor area of standing water in which mosquitoes can lay their eggs.
Apply all mosquito repellents in accordance with the recommended frequency and methods suggested by the manufacturer, the groups said.
Mosquito spray trucks generally operate from 7 p.m. until 12 p.m. but could also operate in the early morning hours.


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Wednesday, August 05, 2015
Auction house Gooding & Company will be selling off these rolling pieces of art. Better bring your banker — the prices are in the millions.
Mathieu Heurtault/Images copyright and courtesy of Gooding & Company
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text: Jill makes the perfect all-natural companion for your little one! This adorable doll with charming embroidered facial features comes with a change of clothing packed in her purse. Firmly stuffed with the softest organic Egyptian cotton. No dangerous chemicals to worry about! Measures 13" tall. Spot clean doll, clothes are machine washable.


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There is good news and bad news about the new animal shelter for Logan County. The good news is that there is a brand new structure at three-mile-curve which could be completed in a short period of time. The bad news is the shelter is located in the right-of-way for the Route 10 road construction and has to be moved.
The landfill, which is on property adjacent to the location of the animal shelter, is also in the right-of-way.
County Administrator Rosco Adkins said he met with the W.Va. Department of Highways and they told him he would be notified the direction to go in by February 8.
"If they give me an answer, then I'm back to work putting it (the animal shelter) where we need to put it," said Adkins, "The land fill is a separate issue. They are going to pay for the landfill since the county owns the property. We'll have to find another location and go through the process again, but there is no problem with that."
Adkins said the building for the animal shelter is more important. The plan is to move the building to a different elevation on the other side of the leased property, which is outside of the right-of-way. The move can be accomplished within a week once the location is designated.
Contractors are lined up and ready to complete work on the shelter, which was scheduled to be ready by February 1. The work to be completed after the building is in place includes pouring the floor, installing drains, electrical wiring, heating and cooling and fencing around the property. Adkins believes the work can be completed in a very short period of time, barring any problems or bad weather.
Once the shelter is completed, animals will have a door to go from inside to outside into a fenced area. There will be an overhang of five feet from the building to provide the animals with protection from the sun or rain. The floor will be sealed concrete so it can be hosed off and kept free of germs and bacteria. There will even be separate drains and systems for disposing of human vs. animal waste.