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Fair Use and Public Media
PIJIP faculty members work to assure that the copyright fair use doctrine remains vibrant, in both analog and digital contexts. Working closely with AU's Center for Social Media and a number of non-profit organizations, we seek to explain and promote interpretations of copyright, communications and other laws that protect and facilitate the growth of public media. We applied our fair use initiative to documentary films, user-generated content on participatory Internet platforms, a new media format that can help the public to recognize and understand common social problems.
PIJIP's work in this area includes developing seminal "Best Practices" guidelines for fair use by non-fiction filmmakers, supporting research on the effects of intellectual property on the practices of media makers, and organizing and convening scholarly conferences.
The Code of Best Practices for Academic and Research Libraries
This is a code of best practices in fair use devised specifically by and for the academic and research library community. It enhances the ability of librarians to rely on fair use by documenting the considered views of the library community about best practices in fair use, drawn from the actual practices and experience of the library community itself.
Reclaiming Fair Use
Released in July 2011, this book by Professors Patricia Aufderheide, director of the Center for Social Media, and Peter Jaszi, Professor of Law in the Washington College of Law at American University, urges a robust embrace of a principle long-embedded in copyright law, but too often poorly understood—fair use. By challenging the widely held notion that current copyright law has become unworkable and obsolete in the era of digital technologies, Reclaiming Fair Use promises to reshape the debate in both scholarly circles and the creative community.
Code of Best Practices in Fair Use for Poetry
This code of best practices helps poets understand when they and others have the right to excerpt, quote and use copyrighted material in poetry. To create this code, poets came together to articulate their common expectations, facilitated by Patricia Aufderheide, director of the Center for Social Media; Katharine Coles, director of the Harriet Monroe Poetry Institute at the Poetry Foundation; Peter Jaszi, Professor of Law in the Washington College of Law at American University; and Jennifer Urban, Professor of Law at the University of California Berkeley.
Fair Use Challenges in Academic and Research Libraries
This report summarizes research into the current application of fair use and other copyright exemptions to meet the missions of U.S. academic and research libraries. It is the product of a collaboration between the Association of Research Libraries, the AU Center for Social Media, and the Program on Information Justice and Intellectual Property.
Copyright and International Documentary Film
PIJIP's program with the Ford Foundation and South African filmmaker organizations aims to explore (1) the problems that current interpretations of South African copyright law may pose to the development of the documentary film industry, and (2) opportunities to address those problems through changes in law or the practice of filmmakers.
Best Practices in Fair Use of Dance Related Materials
PIJIP and the Dance Heritage Coalition have collaborated to produce a guide for librarians, archivists, curators, and other collections staff who work with dance-related materials to use the fair use doctrine where they need presumptively copyrighted materials to meet their significant cultural, educational, and other institutional mandates.
Code of Best Practices in Fair Use for Online Video
Collaboratively created by a team of media scholars and lawyers, Best Practices will allow users to make remixes, mashups, and other common online genres with the knowledge that they are staying within copyright law. The code identifies, among other things, six kinds of unlicensed uses of copyrighted material that may be considered fair, under certain limitations.
Frequently Asked Questions on Fair Use
By Pat Aufderheide, Peter Jaszi, Maura Ugarte and Michael Miller
Does the Documentary Filmmaker's Statement of Best Practices actually carry weight with broadcasters and insurance companies? What is the appropriate length of a clip to fair use? Does it matter if you are a non-profit organization vs. a commercial organization? Is fair use stealing? ...and more.
Recut, Reframe, Recycle
When college kids make mashups of Hollywood movies, are they violating the law? Not necessarily, according to the latest study on copyright and creativity from PIJIP and the AU Center for Social Media. It shows that many uses of copyrighted material in today's online videos are eligible for fair use consideration.
The Cost of Copyright Confusion for Media Literacy
PIJIP's report shows that the fundamental goals of media literacy education are compromised by unnecessary copyright restrictions. As a result of poor guidance, counterproductive guidelines, and fear, teachers use less effective teaching techniques, teach and transmit erroneous copyright information, fail to share innovative instructional approaches, and do not take advantage of new digital platforms.
The Good, the Bad, and the Confusing: User-Generated Video Creators on Copyright
In this study, undergraduate and graduate college students who upload online video were asked to describe their practices and attitudes on using copyrighted material to make new work and on the value to them of their own copyright.
"Yes, You Can" - Where You Don't Even Need Fair Use
The answers to some of filmmakers' most common clearance questions don't really lie in the realm of "fair use" at all, but fall under the heading of "free use." Some examples include buildings that can be seen from public areas, any works made by the federal goverrnment, and reproductions of public domain works in museums or private collections.
Documentary Filmmakers' Statement of Best Practices in Fair Use
The Association of Independent Video and Filmmakers, Independent Feature Project, International Documentary Association, National Alliance for Media Arts and Culture, and Women in Film and Video, in consultation with PIJIP and the AU Center for Social Media.
Fair Use: Its Effects on Consumers and Industry
Testimony of PIJIP Director Peter Jaszi before the Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection of the US House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce, November 16 2005. The link above leads to Prof. Jaszi's written statement. To view a webcast of the hearing, click here.
- User Generated Content and Copyright, April 10 (afternoon), 2007.
In collaboration with the Center for Social Media at the AU School of Communications, this event will discuss the implications of copyright law on the growing use of platforms such as YouTube to facilitate user generated media content. Rappateurs' Report.
- American Library Association, Copyright, Fair Use and Access to Library Holdings, June 22, 2007.
This conference will focus on the balance between user and owner rights and interpretations of copyright law that can usefully support the media librarian's role as a facilitator for the public's access to audio-visual media.
Attribution for graphcis posted on flickr.com under a creative commons license: Photo of Digital Media Arts lab at Huntington University by Laffy4K. Photo of copyright C by DiscourseMarker. Photo of CDs by Chen Wenbo. Photo of person viewing online video by mobilechina2007. Photo of the Coca-Cola Xperience Center by Steffe. Photo of US Capitol dome by nKarthik.


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Back in Forth 15Language brain teasers are those that involve the English language. You need to think about and manipulate words and letters.
Based on the clue in parentheses, find a four-letter word that can be inserted backwards into the blank to complete a longer word.
Example: di____ve (a defeat)
Answer: dissolve ("A defeat" gives you LOSS, which is placed backwards in the blank: di_SSOL_ve.)
1. re____ed (pull; trace)
2. cur____s (transmitted)
3. fa____ll (water pitcher)
4. a____ble (military meal)
HintHere are clues for the eight-letter words:
1. bestowed honour upon
2. being rudely abrupt
3. polite parting words
4. come together
Answer1. rewarded (DRAW - re_WARD_ed)
2. curtness (SENT - cur_TNES_s)
3. farewell (EWER - fa_REWE_ll)
4. assemble (MESS - a_SSEM_ble)
What Next?
See another brain teaser just like this one...
Or, just get a random brain teaser
If you become a registered user you can vote on this brain teaser, keep track of
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subset: commoncrawl


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Today is a good day to get some deals on pro-audio software. The best place to see a list of what's going cheap is over at: rekkerd.org/deals-deals-deals. Native Intruments, Izotope, Waves, Slate Digital, Ableton, IK Multimedia, Cakewalk and many others are on the list. The only thing tempting me software wise this year is Izotope Trash 2.
"Cyber Monday is a marketing term for the Monday after Black Friday, the Friday following Thanksgiving in the United States, created by companies to persuade people to shop online." – Wikipedia
For more info: wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyber_Monday


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FORT WORTH, Texas -- Jimmie Johnson took a giant step toward his sixth NASCAR Sprint Cup championship by dominating Sunday's AAA Texas 500 at Texas Motor Speedway.
Johnson led 255 of the 334 laps to win his sixth race of the season and his first on a mile-and-a-half track this season.
Johnson now leads Matt Kenseth by seven points with only two races left in the season.
Kenseth had to battle back from a pit-road speeding penalty on lap 173 to finish fourth behind Johnson, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Joey Logano.
The only problem Johnson had all afternoon came on lap 240 when his pit crew had trouble on the right-front tire. The long pit stop dropped Johnson to fifth.
But 16 laps later, Johnson was back out in front and was never headed as he cruised to the victory.
Kasey Kahne finished fifth, followed by Brad Keselowski, Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick, Clint Bowyer and Ryan Newman.
Kyle Busch was running third when he made his final pit stop of the race on lap 298. But he, too, was charged with speeding on pit road. As a result, he ended the 500-mile race in 13th place. Busch began the day in fifth place in the points standings.
Jeff Gordon began the race in third place in the standings, 27 points back of Johnson and Kenseth, who were tied for the top spot. But Gordon's championship hopes were wiped out on lap 73 when a left-front tire went flat, sending him hard into the wall. Gordon finished 38th.
Pole-sitter Carl Edwards had his victory hopes erased on lap 188 when he suffered engine failure. He finished 37th.


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Showing the Beeley Street entrance which was the main entrance.
The view from the Travis Street side.
This view was taken from the multistory car park showing the Gymnasium wall - The main building has already been pulled down.
A view from the bottom of what was Thomas Street showing the Gymnasium building.
Looking over to what remains of the club from Travis Street.
Thanks Paul. Much appreciated . Excellent photos,as ever! :)


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Hunter Mill District Encourages Kids to Hang with Nature on April 20
Fairfax County Office of Public Affairs
12000 Government Center Parkway, Suite 551
Fairfax, VA 22035-0065
Contact: Merni Fitzgerald, Director of Public Affairs
703-324-3187, TTY 711, Fax 703-324-2010
Media Pager: 703-324-NEWS (6397)
April 16, 2008
Hunter Mill District Encourages
Kids to Hang with Nature on April 20
The Hunter Mill District Supervisor's Office is partnering with the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority to present "Hangin' with Nature…Just for Kids" on Sunday, April 20, from 1 to 4 p.m. at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens, 9750 Meadowlark Gardens Court, Vienna.
The free event encourages children to get outside and spend the day off the couch. Kids can explore the park; plant vegetables; create art; dance to live music; visit with reptiles and birds of prey; and learn about saving energy and ways to get around without a car, including using county sidewalks and trails.
The afternoon also is part of the Cool Hunter Mill District initiative, in cooperation with the county's Cool Counties program.
"Although Fairfax County is committed in many ways to meet the greenhouse emission reduction goal, we realize that the solution is not only with government," said Hunter Mill District Supervisor Catherine Hudgins. "Each of us can and must do our part to protect the environment."
The Cool Hunter Mill District initiative will be introduced on April 19, from 1 to 5 p.m., at an Earth Day event sponsored by the Reston Association at the Walker Nature Education Center, 11450 Glade Drive, Reston. The rain date is April 20.
Fairfax County is one of the founding members of the national Cool Counties initiative, which was launched in July 2007 in partnership with the Sierra Club, to reduce local government emissions by 80 percent by 2050. Since 2003, the board has implemented close to $7 million worth of projects and programs to address air quality and global climate change.
The Hangin' with Nature event will be canceled in the event of heavy rain. For more information, call the Hunter Mill District Office at 703-478-0283, TTY 711.
Fairfax County is committed to nondiscrimination on the basis of disability in all county programs, services and activities. To request this information in an alternate format, call the Office of Public Affairs at 703-324-3187, TTY 711.


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Best Looks: Alicia Keys
Sisters Alana, Danielle, and Este Haim embody rockstar glamour both on and off stage. Together, along with drummer Dash Hutton, they make up HAIM, an alternative-pop band that has been winning over critics with not only their latest singles "Don't Save Me" and "Falling," but also with their edgy, vintage-inspired style.
Here, the sisters sport all-black ensembles, complete with leather jackets, during their performance at the SXSW Vampire Weekend Showcase in Austin, TX.
Alana Haim shows off her long legs in cropped black shorts and ankle boots during the band's performance at Stubb's Ampitheatre at SXSW in Texas.
Best Looks: Grimes


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TECH TRENDS: Software tools allow auto OEMs to quickly meet changing consumer preferences
Post a comment
When it comes to giving consumers what they want, todays automotive industry has turned nearly 180 degrees from Henry Fords any-color-so-long-as-its-black philosophy. The swing isnt completely reversed, or Fords famous edict would today sound something like, They can have any color they like so long as they buy a car from us!
Obviously, were not there yet. But automakers do put a great deal of time and effort into trying to figure out what consumers want, and considerably more time and effort into turning those desires into actual automobiles. Both jobs are incredibly complex.
Figuring out what consumers want is complicated by everything from where they live to how old they are, to how concerned they are about the security of their jobs and the price of gas. Consumers in the regions with undeveloped roads, for instance, want different handling than those who primarily travel interstate highways. Older buyers express more interest in collision-avoidance features compared to their younger counterparts.
There are even regional color preferences. (A quick Google search reveals that blue is the top car color in Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. while Boston and Seattle like green.) And consumers themselves have conflicting desires, valuing both fuel efficiency and a roomy ride, for example, and weighing those preferences differently, depending on the price at the pump.
Translating consumer preferences into successful vehicles is another challenge entirely, requiring up to several years to bring a new car concept into production. During that relatively long time frame, which is not nearly as long as it used to be, consumer preferences can change. The successful automaker is the one that can act quickly as consumer preferences become clear, and react quickly if and when they change.
Design functionality that delivers an advantage
CAD technology has contributed greatly to todays shorter cycle times. Automakers now develop cars, production lines, and entire factories digitally before building physical prototypes, stamping metal, or reworking a factory for a model change. With all of the major automakers taking advantage of this technology, the ability to get a new car into production faster than the competition is only a partial advantage. A vehicles design, and how well it matches consumer preferences, has now become more critical to success.
Consequently, the designers tool set has evolved far beyond the digital drawing boards of the past. Vehicle designers have access to functionality that lets them rapidly explore ideas, reuse existing knowledge, optimize concepts, and visualize and validate designs--all within a collaborative environment that accelerates a global vehicle development process while simultaneously taking into account the voice of the customer.
Tools such as NX software from Siemens PLM Software provide knowledge-based engineering templates to enable designers and studio engineers to explore vehicle architecture and packaging configurations to ease taking designs from idea to feasible conceptswhile simultaneously taking into account the voice of the customer.
Todays cutting-edge functionality includes hybrid modeling tools for quickly creating and editing even complex body geometry, collaboration tools for improving the effectiveness of automotive design teams, and capabilities for validating designs to make sure they conform to their original requirements.
Hybrid modeling makes body design more like sculpting clay
Digitally representing complex organic shapes, such as those of a car body, was not even possible with early CAD programs. Over time, CAD vendors developed the underlying mathematics necessary for representing complex curves and surfaces. From the users point of view, however, creating those shapes onscreen was never as simple as sculpting clay, which was the software developers ultimate goal.
Hybrid modeling, which combines tools for feature-based parametric design as well traditional, explicit modeling and direct manipulation of freeform surfaces, comes closer to sculpting clay onscreen than anything previously available. This makes it critical functionally for designing cars that meet consumers style preferences for two reasons:
- First, the designer is not limited by the software in terms of the shapes he can create. If consumers suddenly wanted a retro look and cars with fins, hybrid modeling would take months off the conceptual design portion of the development process by allowing the designers to quickly create and refine their ideas. Functionality such as multi-segment NURBS (non-uniform rational B-spline) modeling, for instance, reduces the surface count for fast 3D concept creation. Other hybrid modeling functionality, such as control point editing, makes the manipulation freeform surfaces as easy as pushing and pulling on selected locations on curve or surface, providing modeling with the speed necessary to keep the creative juices flowing.
- Second, hybrid modeling facilitates fast changes to existing designs, which can be useful in situations where consumer preferences change during development, or were defined incorrectly from the start. Do you remember the first-generation minivan from at least one car manufacturer? Instead of the sliding back seat door that is now ubiquitous, the first-generation of the minivans side doors opened outward, like front doors. Consumers clearly preferred the sliding version. The redesign of a body to change from a fixed door to a sliding door using the CAD technology of the time (mid-1990s) meant that the company couldnt introduce a sliding door until the second-generation of its minivan came out several years later.
To create complex, organic forms made popular over the past decade, NX supports a hybrid modeling philosophy and provides comprehensive tools to deliver the design intent. Utilizing hybrid modeling ensures the digital sculptor is never limited by the software but rather has the flexibility to select the most appropriate tools for the task at hand.
Today, using a CAD system that supports hybrid modeling, such a redesign effort would go quickly thanks to tools such as associative constraints (rules such as tangency and curvature continuity) and parameters (values such as length or radius) for controlling geometry. Values could be adjusted and features added, and the geometry would update accordingly. Other hybrid modeling tools include global deformation (global modeling by surface or function) and curve/surface rebuild controls for Bezier (single span) output. The latter deliver the superior control required for class-A surface refinement.


text: Discuss as: Rift grows between Israeli leaders over relations with US Back to Article Thursday Oct 4, 2012 1:08 AM Email 'Barak understands that elections are on the horizon ... He wants to separate himself from Netanyahu. What is his claim to fame? That he has good relations with Washington'


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DALLAS - Fans of country singer Randy Travis are pulling for him to recover.
Travis is one of country music's top selling artists with seven Grammys, 10 Academy of Country Music Awards and 10 American Music Awards.
The 54-year-old underwent heart surgery at a Dallas hospital after being admitted for a viral heart infection.
According to his publicist, Travis was admitted to the hospital for complications of viral cardiomyopathy.
He initially though he was suffering from the cold or flu, but it turned out to be much worse.
Viral Cardiomyopathy is a heart condition that can be caused by some 30 different viruses.
Dr. Jonathan Aliota with Kelsey-Seybold Clinic in Houston said the virus attacks the heart muscle, causing it to beat slower or even stop.
Dr. Aliota told Local 2, "Some families actually have this, and if you have a family member who has a history of what we call idiopathic cardiomyopathy, or familiar cardiomyopathy, then your risk may be a little higher, but in general, the risk is very low."
Symptoms may include shortness of breath, difficulty breathing or tightness in the chest.
Travis is currently on probation for a January DWI conviction which came after previous arrests for assault and public intoxication last year.
The star's troubled past has some speculating whether alcohol abuse is connected to his hospitalization.
Dr. Aliota explained, "Alcohol is a toxin. It's both toxic to the bone marrow, and other organs, and the heart is one of those organs. So enough alcohol use can contribute to an overall weakening and dilated heart or cardiomyopathy."
Viral cardiomyopathy can be treated with medication and surgically implanted devices, even heart transplants.
Travis' family has confirmed he underwent surgery, but they have not released any more details about the operation.
Travis had been scheduled to perform at the Deadwood Mountain Grand in South Dakota on Wednesday, but that show has been canceled.
Copyright 2013 by Click2Houston.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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The Top 5 Bedroom Moves That Will Rock His World
One guy shares the moves that will make your man weak in the knees.
-Matt Titus
Before I give the female gender complete control over all of mankind, I must also provide a disclaimer regarding the potential power and influence the below secrets of the bedroom may give you. The purpose of this information is to have men become physically addicted to you.
After reading this, you may make your man believe that you are like no other woman sexually on the face of this earth. Your sexual prowess just may make him open his heart and emotionally attach to you like glue if he hasn't already.
Read How Guys Tell If a Woman Is a Keeper
So, consider yourself warned. Here are the bedroom moves that will rock his world:
1. Connect through oral sex. The biggest turn-on is when a woman lets her guy know that she loves it, too. Telling him how much you like it when he watches you in action is an amazing turn-on. Looking him directly in the eye as you do it is another. Guys love it when you show the craving to please them.
2. Don't underestimate doggy style. It's totally hot. When a woman takes control in that position, it becomes nuclear hot. Try putting both your arms behind your back and crossing them, so he can grab your wrists and use them as leverage. It takes the position to a whole new level.
3. Let him enjoy the show. That's right, nothing is hotter than watching a woman pleasure herself the way she likes to be touched. Not only does it give us the insight into what you like, but it also puts the quest for the ultimate orgasm on a more even playing field (as you know, sometimes men have trouble lasting!).
4. Break out the toys. A secure guy will love to have a toy that acts as his wingman in making him look like a superstar during sex. Toys like the Rabbit and the vibrating egg are amongst others that top my list.
5. Get on top. When a woman is confident and not afraid to use a man for her own orgasmic pleasure, it's a super turn-on. A woman that climbs on top of a guy and rides him frontwards or backwards (reverse cowgirl) is someone who knows what she wants in the bedroom!
Matt Titus is a nationally recognized dating coach and matchmaker. He regularly appears on The CBS Early Show, The Today Show, The Wendy Williams Show. For more information about Matt Titus go to matttitus.com/services.


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Computex 2006: Abit is back, Biostar expands, and Thermaltake dazzlesby Gary Key on 6/10/2006 4:00 AM EST
- Posted in
- Trade Shows
27 Comments
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soydios - Tuesday, June 13, 2006 - linkDoes anybody know when we can expect to begin seeing Socket AM2 motherboards based on RD580 in the retail channels? I'm still waiting for the M2R32-MVP. =\ Reply
Gary Key - Thursday, June 15, 2006 - link
Does anybody know when we can expect to begin seeing Socket AM2 motherboards based on RD580 in the retail channels? I'm still waiting for the M2R32-MVP.
End of June for MSI and ECS, probably a week or so later for Asus. These schedules might change but they are still working with ATI on bios improvements. Reply
Pythias - Sunday, June 11, 2006 - linkThats a lot of juice. I though the industry was headed towards power conservation.... Reply
poohbear - Sunday, June 11, 2006 - linkman abit needs to drop that Fatl1ty nonsense if they're trying to cater to enthusiasts. who's gonna buy an overpriced mobo just because of some gamers name attached to it?! we're not rabid teenagers who have a loyal following to some pop star like computer geek, we're mostly in our 20s/30s, so start catering to adults w/ quality mobos that dont need some geeks name attached to it to stand out. Let the quality and features speak for themselves please, not "fatal1tys" name. have they even done any market research to see if ppl actually buy products because of this guys name attached to em? Reply
darklight0tr - Sunday, June 11, 2006 - linkI agree. In fact, I avoid any product that has the Fatal1ty name on it, no matter how good it looks. All of these companies think gamers slobber over the name Fatal1ty, when in fact they don't give a crap. We want quality products, not marketing pieces. Reply
Gary Key - Sunday, June 11, 2006 - link
agree. In fact, I avoid any product that has the Fatal1ty name on it, no matter how good it looks. All of these companies think gamers slobber over the name Fatal1ty, when in fact they don't give a crap. We want quality products, not marketing pieces.
I agree also, this is all marketing and you will see more FataL1y products from Zalman and others in the near future. I would just assume Abit use the color scheme on the boards, add a couple of PCI slots, lower the price, and call it a day. However, these companies assume his name has leverage in the marketplace, whether it does or not, only Abit and others will know at the end of the day.
Abit recognizes this to some degree which is why they will be promoting the Max line heavily into the upper market tier segments. While the board needs a couple of PCI slots, I can tell you it has reached 435FSB with a "B" revision Conroe. ;-) Reply
Missing Ghost - Saturday, June 10, 2006 - linksincerely, I don't see what's the big deal about the products they show. They all seem to have ugly layouts and bad design choices. Reply
cornfedone - Saturday, June 10, 2006 - linkAll of these new, useless, over-priced mobos are intended for what? As noted by others, the mobos don't have a practical number of USABLE PCI slots, the prices are way excessive, you can bet they will have long lists of defects based on virtually all Asian designed consumer mobos shipped in the past three or more years and there will be little if any customer support for the malfunctioning mobos customers will be stuck with if they purchase these POS. Instead of fixing the defective mobos properly the mobo companies will crank out new POS to great fanfare by the hardware review sites.
It's as if the mobo makers are working in a vacuum and don't care that their products do not meet consumer demands and that they don't function properly. I say they can keep their defective products as I don't need them. Reply
koomo - Saturday, June 10, 2006 - linkThe PC world is increasingly becoming a common consumer item, and seems just a few years away from joining VCRs and microwave ovens as disposable-when-broken houseware.
Conroe and the K8L seem like logical, traditional progression along the better/faster/cheaper curve.
But now we're looking at 1000W power supplies? How will the PC gaming developers handle this, with a smaller-and-smaller piece of the overall video gaming pie requiring such power-hungry and expensive toys?
I'll take a PC game over a console any day, but I wonder it would be best to take a holiday for a year on the latest software/hardware until the future lower-energy video cards are supposedly due. And in the meantime, spend more time playing boardgames with VASSAL ;)
dhei - Saturday, June 10, 2006 - linkAnother day, another voltron inspired case. Honestly are people buying these? Or is this some sick joke from case manufactors. I want the guy who started this trend to be fired.:)
Hey Thermaltake, 1960s Sc-fi movies called, they want there computer props back. Reply
Operandi - Sunday, June 11, 2006 - linkLian Li and SilverStone need companies like Thermaltake to make ugly ass cases to make theirs look good. ;) Reply
Griswold - Saturday, June 10, 2006 - linkOr the all-time classic:
Optimus Prime called, he wants his chest armor back! Reply
Lonyo - Saturday, June 10, 2006 - linkPutting passive cooling on their "max" motherboard. It makes me sad. Reply
vailr - Saturday, June 10, 2006 - linkOnly one PCI slot on Abit's "Top of the Line" board? No thanks. Would need at least 2, or preferably 3 PCI slots.
And regarding the passive/heatpipe chipset cooling: these won't work with some of
the Lian-Li mid-tower cases where the motherboard is oriented "upside-down". Reply
Chernobyl68 - Saturday, June 10, 2006 - linkThat was my first thought when I started seeing all of the passive cooling solutions out there...how would it work with the Lian-Li case I plan to buy? do I need to reconsider my options? I thought all I was waiting on was an acceptable motherboard to be released before I make my new system but I may be waiting a bit longer.
Chern Reply
Gary Key - Saturday, June 10, 2006 - link
Only one PCI slot on Abit's "Top of the Line" board? No thanks. Would need at least 2, or preferably 3 PCI slots.
We discussed this at length with Abit, too late to change now but we told them there would be a backlash. Also, if you run CrossFire or SLI, that single PCI slot is gone. Reply
LoneWolf15 - Saturday, June 10, 2006 - link
We discussed this at length with Abit, too late to change now but we told them there would be a backlash. Also, if you run CrossFire or SLI, that single PCI slot is gone.
Major case of "Aim gun at foot, pull trigger".
Unless Abit is willing to come up with some high quality PCIe peripherals to match, their high-end single-PCI slot boards are worthless, and releasing them will be a major monetary loss. With Crossfire/SLI, this means no Creative X-Fi (or insert other better-than-onboard-sound-card here), and limited choice of any other peripherals.
Universally stupid. Reply
JarredWalton - Saturday, June 10, 2006 - linkThe only major loss is sound card support, as you can currently get Theater 550 TV Tuners in PCIe format. I'm personally finding onboard audio sufficient for my needs, especially with the latest HDA solutions. X-Fi sounds better and cleaner, but it's not something you really notice unless you have really nice speakers/headphones.
It's sort of like integrated NICs - is there anyone out there that really cares about the difference between 700 Mbit vs. 950 Mbit GbE performance? The only time I touch those speeds is when doing theoretical tests; HDD speeds are the limit otherwise, and gaming? Don't make me laugh: games don't even stress a 10 Mbit Ethernet connection in most instances, and certainly don't need more than 100 Mbit.
Anyway, my point is that integrated audio is fast nearing the point where few people worry about add-in sound cards. Get some digital speakers and use the S/PDIF connections on nice motherboards, and I'd love to see some people do a "blind" listening test. I'm sort of curious about what percentage of our readers still use add-in sound cards - I would be surprised if it's more than 10%. Reply
Odeen - Tuesday, June 13, 2006 - linkThere are a few problems with onboard audio. The sound quality is one of them. The second problem is the PERFORMANCE hit and the 3d sound rendering features available.
Basically, onboard audio (and outboard audio processors without hardware DS3D and EAX support can emulate EAX, but not perfectly. EAX 4.0 is a no-go at all. And this emulation is tantamount to doing software 3D rendering - it's very slow, especially when dozens of sounds need to be located in 3D space and processed.
Any gamer owes it to himself to use a sound card capable of 3D sound processing, or they're cheating themselves out of frame rates. Reply
BPB - Saturday, June 10, 2006 - linkDid they really think that people running Crossfire setups wouldn't at least want better-than-onboard sound? That alone is one PCI slot. The onboard sound looks good, but is it that good? Reply
Gary Key - Saturday, June 10, 2006 - link
Did they really think that people running Crossfire setups wouldn't at least want better-than-onboard sound? That alone is one PCI slot. The onboard sound looks good, but is it that good?
The on-board sound on this board will be the Realtek ALC-882M that is placed on a riser card. The sound was significantly better audio quality wise than some of the 882m solutions we have heard placed on the motherboard. We also spoke with Abit about utilizing the new Realtek ALC-888 which sounded a generation better to us and that was on a $85 ASRock board the same day. We are hoping the transition to the ALC-888 will be a quick one for most manufacturers as it would suffice for about 90% of the users. The balance will want a X-FI or something else discreet.
My issue with Abit, the Product Managers agreed, is that the buyer for these boards will typically not only want a discreet sound solution but also a slot for a TV tuner card or a professional audio interface card. PCI is not dead until the multimedia companies move over to PCI-E, it is that simple and until such time, the board should have two if not three PCI slots that are not blocked, take one of the PCI-E x1 slots, combine the lanes, and give us a universal x4 slot if need be to make room but do not block this slot also. We were able to play with the 975x board before the show opened and although it was pre-production, it ran like a banshee. ;-) Reply
xsilver - Saturday, June 10, 2006 - linkany indication of what the prices are going to be?
hopefully prices will stay the same and just replace a 600w one with a 1200w one?
or if the price is going to be 2x the 600w one, who could afford it?? Reply
Gary Key - Saturday, June 10, 2006 - link
any indication of what the prices are going to be?
Pricing was not set yet but we would estimate in the $250~$325 range at this time. Yikes..... Reply
emilyek - Saturday, June 10, 2006 - linkYou'd think 50 engineers could rub their heads together and come up with something decent.
Have the Thermaltake boys been watching 'Pimp My Ride' or something? The only decent thing in their lineup as shown is the HTPC.
Xenoid - Saturday, June 10, 2006 - linkThe Thermaltake cases were all very nice (and I'm sure very expensive), but is it just me or do the LAN-style carry cases still look ridiculous? Same with that big box for 2 systems in one..I'd rather just have 2 full-towers..they'd take up a lot less room and cost less too. Reply
toyota - Saturday, June 10, 2006 - link
quote:what a waste of ram. i guess this means we will start seeing 1 gig on next gen cards that might actually utilise it. Reply
This was the first 7600GS card we noticed with 1024MB of memory. Whether the card can utilize this amount of memory properly is debatable but it was nice to see cards including 1024MB at mainstream pricing.
JarredWalton - Saturday, June 10, 2006 - linkWe've already got the GX2 with 1GB, though granted that's really 2x512MB. Vista may actually be able to use the GPU RAM for lots of other things, though - that's the theory anyway. Imagine, no longer getting the slow background refresh when Windows decides to swap some of that information out of RAM and into the page file.... Reply


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Used 2009 Honda Values
Read more Read less
2009 Honda Values & Prices: Honda, in 2009, continued to offer the Honda S2000 sports car. Styling updates were made to the Civic, Element, Fit, and 2009 Ridgeline. A major recall has been made for 2009 Fit's due to issues with flawed an engine springs, a problem experienced in over 690,000 units.
Select a 2009 Honda model below to get used trade-in values and retail prices
(2018 - 1964 including exotics and classic cars)
2009 Honda Accord Cpe
Continuing its reign as a high resale car, the 2009 Honda Accord Coupe has a top reputation for stable performance, reliability and high popularity.
2009 Honda Accord Sdn
A roomy mid-size family sedan, the 2009 Honda Accord Sedan is reknown for its exceptional reliability and safety.
2009 Honda Civic Cpe
Offering great fuel efficiency and performance, the 2009 Honda Civic Coupe gets strong crash test scores and boasts an upgraded interior, making it a good buy in the small-car segment.
2009 Honda Civic Hybrid
Famous for its gasoline/electric engine, the 2009 Honda Civic Hybrid offers fuel economy and safety, but it's a good ride too.
2009 Honda Civic Sdn
Topping the lineup, the 2009 Honda Civic Sedan features a traditional or clean-burning compressed natural gas engine, along with a performance-enhanced six-speed automatic.
2009 Honda CR-V
A top seller that makes sense, the 2009 Honda CR-V five-door SUV is safe, agile and ergonomically friendly.
2009 Honda Element
An entry-level crossover SUV, the 2009 Honda Element is a solid blend of design appeal and reliability which appeals to a large audience of car shoppers.
2009 Honda Fit
The smallest in the lineup, The 2009 Honda Fit is an affordable subcompact with generous appointments.
2009 Honda Odyssey
A minivan with four doors and seating for up to eight passengers, the 2009 Honda Odyssey is reliable and comfortable and has great safety features.
2009 Honda Pilot
With room for plenty of cargo and refined interior storage, the redesigned 2009 Honda Pilot is a midsize crossover SUV providing comfortable utility.
2009 Honda Ridgeline
With the passenger space of an SUV and comfort similar to a sedan, the 2009 Honda Ridgeline is a versatile, all-around four-door pickup truck that seats five.
2009 Honda S2000
A convertible sports car, the 2009 Honda S2000 is a high-performance racetrack-ready roadster boasting nimble handling in addition to solid ergonomics and seating comfort.


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The rules:
One photo per person which has been taken this week (starting TUESDAY). Everyone is welcome to join in. Competition will start Tuesday with submissions ending the following Monday.
If you wish, please note your rating after your image:
Rating 1 Beginner (just got my camera)
Rating 2 Amateur (learning about settings)
Rating 3 Hobbyist (have a good grasp of the theory)
Rating 4 Semi Pro (improved well beyond when I started)
Rating 5 Pro/serious hobbyist (I'm well experienced and have been doing this for quite a while)
All images must be up by next MONDAY at (9pm EDST, 8pm EST, 7.30pm CST, 6pm WST) for inclusion.
Remember the EB rules state images within posts must be smaller than 500 (wide) x 470 (high) pixels and 100kb.
Challenge history for the winner:
Food - rbat
Portrait - elle-M
Macro/close up - ILBB
Rule of Thirds - mummy26
Vanishing point - rbat
Patterns in nature - Jupiter123
Fun - Silverwattle
Seven - mummy26
Texture - ILBB
At Home - elle-M
Nostalgia - rbat
Reflection - Bryden
Half - Nut
Spring - millie71
Antique - elle-M
Tells a story - Ev
Postcard - raven74
Favourite things - winkwink
Long exposure - rbat
Wings - silverwattle
Sweet - rbat
Light - Skepticaemia
Wild - Mecurial
Moody - BeagleBoy
In the eye of the beholder - cat
Symmetry - JamieLee85
Serenity - winkwink
Out Of Place - Peanut
Water Drop Shot - blue4me
One - Raven74
Black & White Portrait - rbat
Red - Luckyseven
Suggestive - Abbygirl
Mostly Black/Mostly white - PrincessPinkenIt
Autumn - Superman+4Sisters
Capturing Action - Peanut
Black and white perspective - Abbygirl
Shadows - winkwink
Props - Jalex
Numbers - apocketfull
Circle - mummy26
Coke - rbat
Abstract - mummy26
Edited by rbat, 11 December 2012 - 11:07 AM.


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That is Hilaria Baldwin on the left from almost a decade ago. Seeing these, I bet she would love to be on DWTS. Alec would say no.
Jane Fonda takes a nap on the set of her show.
Judge Judy and her husband at LAX.
Also at LAX were January Jones and her son and I haven't seen them in forever. That new place of hers is really giving her some privacy.
Yet one more celebrity at the airport was Joan Rivers who made a friend and kept the kid laughing the whole time.
Kristen Stewart for Chanel. And for groceries.
This is Kate Upton when she was 15 and she doesn't look a lot different now. Probably because she is not that much older.
Lucy Hale picks up a dress to wear to something.


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BP Comment Quick Links
April 13, 2012
BP Podcast
Episode 89: Marriage Counseling
We're back with another big show. After reading your emails (nice bounce back week from the listeners) we get into lots of baseball talk as I took in my first minor league game of the year and Miguel Sano did not disappoint. Then it's onto the big leagues as Jason breaks down the first starts of 2012 by Yu Darvish and Neftali Feliz of the Rangers, and we talk about how Yoenis Cespedes has become much-watch television. With some hot minor league starts, the questions about when a player will reach the big leagues have arrived, and I answer every one of them before Jason goes on a rant about how we evaluate defense. Our special guest is ESPN Baseball Tonight host Steve Berthiaume, who for some reason listens to our stupid show, and then it's the return of Not Jim Tracy and all the goofy stuff. As always, we hope you enjoy.
Note: We do alert you to the presence of the occasional adult language and subject matter. Don't say we didn't warn you.
Up And In Episode 89: "Marriage Counseling"
Download Here (128 MB; 2:20:50)
Contact Information
Email Us: email@example.com
Table Of Contents
0:00 But, back to that
4:07 Housekeeping
4:49 Emails
33:28 Getting to the first minor league game (lots of Miguel Sano talk)
41:54 First starts from Yu Darvish and Neftali Feliz
54:28 Yeonis Cespedes: must see TV.
59:17 When Is Player X coming up?
1:05:57 Some thoughts on evaluating defense
1:15:53 Listener of the week: ESPN Baseball Tonight host Steve Berthiaume (@sberthiaumeespn)
1:59:49 Not Jim Tracy on lifetime contracts and Ubaldo throwing at Tulo
2:02:44 Music Guest: Trampled By Turtles (@tbtduluth)
2:05:05 What Are You Drinking?
2:09:10 The Week Ahead
Music is by Trampled by Turtles, from the album Stars and Sattelites, courtesy of Thirty Tigers.
Kevin Goldstein is an author of Baseball Prospectus.
1 comment has been left for this article.
BP Comment Quick Links
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Two-Tone Baked Potatoes Recipe
- 6 medium russet potatoes
- 6 medium sweet potatoes
- 2/3 cup sour cream, divided
- 1/3 cup milk
- 3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 4 tablespoons minced chives, divided
- 1-1/2 teaspoons salt, divided
- 1. Pierce russet and sweet potatoes with a fork. Bake at 400° for 60-70 minutes or until tender. Set sweet potatoes aside.
- 2. Cut a third off the top of each russet potato; scoop out pulp, leaving skins intact. Place pulp in a bowl; mash with 1/3 cup sour cream, milk, cheese, 2 tablespoons chives and 3/4 teaspoon salt. Set aside.
- 3. Cut off the tip of each sweet potato; scoop out pulp, leaving skins intact. Mash pulp with remaining sour cream, chives and salt. Stuff mixture into half of each potato skin; spoon russet potato filling into other half. Place on a baking sheet. Bake at 350° for 15-20 minutes or until heated through. Yield: 12 servings.
Reviews for Two-Tone Baked Potatoes
Average Rating
"These were amazing and so cute! Will definitely make again."
"This is an excellent recipe and especially fun to make for a holiday dinner. I prepare them ahead of time and let them sit covered in the refrigerator for a few hours before baking. They will then require a few more minutes in the oven, but it's wonderful to have these already prepared to go into the oven prior to company coming."
"Love this recipe as we can have both sweet and white potatoes in one meal, easily! The potato filling is wonderful! Had to search for this recipe online as I couldn't find it in my books, but wouldn't give up until I had it!"
"I started making these when the recipe first came out for the holidays. Everyone loves them! Now they get a taste of both kinds of potatoes. I make them of ahead of time, refrigerate, covered, let set on counter for 30 minutes and bake (it takes longer) until heated."


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Mott the Hoople: The reunion and the Mottober blog
In early August we told you that legendary British rockers Mott the Hoople were set for a reunion in London, marking the first time the band's original lineup played together in decades. Well, the shows are getting under way, and so far so good. And, boy, do I envy all… Read More →


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We are two graphic designers and a writer who all surf together. When at our local breaks, we found that many of the people we met were artists, architects, designers, and writers — often leaders in their fields. We wanted to create a publication that tells their stories and opens up a rich dialogue in the urban surf community. — kickstarter.com
Check out Archinect's latest curatorial pick at Kickstarter. To view all of our selections visit Kickstarter.com/Archinect. View full entry
Current tag:
SUBMIT NEWS: submit in 60 seconds!


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New Zealand wrapped up a 4-0 series win with an 87-run victory over India in the fifth and final one-day international in Wellington on Friday.
Ross Taylor, fresh from an unbeaten 112 in Hamilton last time out, smashed a second consecutive century as the hosts reached 303 for five.
In reply, India could only limp to 216 before they were skittled out in the final over, with Black Caps debutant Matt Henry taking four wickets for 38 runs.
As has been the case in every match this series, India won the toss with skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni putting the hosts into bat.
It looked a shrewd move early on when openers Jesse Ryder (19) and Martin Guptill (16) were removed without troubling the scorers too much, but Taylor, in tandem with Kane Williamson, soon had New Zealand on track.
The pair combined for a century partnership, with Williamson bringing up his fifth consecutive half-century before being removed on 88 by Varun Aaron.
There was no such misfortune for Taylor, who brought up his 10th ODI ton in 105 balls - a knock which featured 10 fours and a six.
His innings was ended by Mohammed Shami with the very next delivery, but his contribution was nevertheless key as the hosts ran up an imposing total, that also saw good contributions from Brendon McCullum (23) and Jimmy Neesham (34 not out).
India's reply faltered almost as soon as it had begun with opener Rohit Sharma dismissed for just four runs by Kyle Mills, while Henry was soon marking his debut with his first international wicket, removing Shikhar Dhawan on nine.
Virat Kholi (82) and Dhoni (47) mounted a fightback but the Black Caps' total was always beyond them, and Henry added the scalps of Ajinkya Rahane (two), Ambati Rayudu (20) and Bhuvneshwar Kumar (25) to his personal haul as the hosts comfortably wrapped up a series they have dominated.
Attention now turns to the two-match Test series, which begins in Auckland on February 6.


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Hey, Everybody's Talkin'....on KAAA and KZZZ!
From Searchlight to Needles, Kingman to Laughlin, Bullhead to Topock,
and beyond
youll never be more than a push of a button away from the
Tri-States All Talk Network. KAAA 1230 am in the greater Kingman area
is networked with KZZZ 1490 am in the Laughlin/Bullhead City area to
bring the Tri-State the best news/talk stations in the area.
By broadcasting the biggest names in talk radio from two separate
stations and taking advantage of their adjacent coverage areas, we are
now able to offer the Tri-States only 24 hour talk radio network.
Common ownership has now made it possible to join together the forces
of KAAA AM 1230 and KZZZ AM 1490 to form All Talk From A to Z - the
only Tri-State news/talk format powerhouse.
Local Personality Gary Sheler headlines our live and local Morning
Show followed by the big names of Rush Limbaugh, Glen Beck, Mike
Gallagher, Laura Ingraham, Kim Komando, and more! Youll
be kept up-to-speed on the days latest events with our award-winning
national news from FOX Radio News and our own local news on all of our
stations. Weather is also updated hourly from the KAAA-KZZZ news team.
Talk weekends bring you the best of our prior week's shows, so if you
missed any of them, you can always catch up on Saturday and Sunday.
This year we have added Armed American Radio to Sunday Nights...so
tune in because everybody's talkin'!
Now you can turn to the KAAA/KZZZ Talk Network for news, insight, and
great information from around the world to around the corner.
Home | About Us | Program Schedule | Hosts | News | Advertising | Contest Rules | Copyright & Trademark Notice | Employment Opportunities | Public EEO Reports
TalkAtoZ.com © 2017 Cameron Broadcasting, Inc.


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ILOG JRules 6.5 brings rules to SOA
ILOG BRMS shines with smooth deployment of decision services, but some usability quirks remain
ILOG JRules Version 6.5 is primarily a refinement of the architecture and features first introduced in Version 6.0. With the 6.x line, ILOG adopted the basic architecture seen across the BRMS (Business Rules Management System) industry. As such, JRules combines a rule engine deployed and managed as a stand-alone module (Rule Execution Server); a rule repository for sharing, versioning, and reporting on rules (Rule Team Server); and a set of authoring tools for both business users and technical staff to interact with the repository (Rule Studio).
This application architecture reflects the commoditization of the rule execution engines: Dozens of rule engines are on the market these days. The difference between the major vendors (ILOG, Fair Isaac, and a few others) and the open-source engines is the maturity of the tools supplied for integrating business rules into the enterprise and managing the rules, and the ease with which nontechnical analysts can use them.
The 6.5.2 release of ILOG JRules I tested contains the usual slew of bug fixes, some refinements to existing features, and adds the capability of building, deploying, and managing rule-based decision services within an SOA environment. Note: At the time this went to press, ILOG released Version 6.6.
Rule services made simple
I'll start with the most exciting feature first: the capability of easily deploying rule services as part of an SOA. Although this had been possible in previous versions, it required a rather involved deployment process and was beyond the abilities of most technical analysts. With 6.5, business rules may be deployed into a SOA with zero code development and then updated by business users from the browser using Team Server. This feature, referred to as TDS (Transparent Decision Services)by ILOG, elevates business decision services to first-class citizens within a service-oriented architecture.
There are a few limitations to TDS: It provides only SOAP/HTTP based services, and it only works if the Business Object Model has been defined in XML. These days, with SOA being adopted more widely, the latter isn't a significant limitation. On the other hand, having only SOAP/HTTP limits the usefulness of TDS to point-to-point solutions. With a bit of programming, developers can create a JMX (Java Management Exension) MBean (Managed Bean) that will appear in the Rule Execution Server console as a JMS (Java Message Service)-based decision service, but it's not the kind of zero-coding option that TDS provides for point-to-point Web services.
All that said, this is still a big step in the right direction, and I hope that ILOG will continue to improve TDS. Allowing business users to directly manage rule services in an SOA, without relying on developers to make changes, makes the business much more responsive to a changing environment.
The flip side of putting rule management into the hands of business owners is increased risk of mistakes. Testing becomes more important. RSM (Rule Scenario Manager), the optional testing module for JRules, sees a few minor enhancements to usability. RSM has great potential, although I hope to see further improvements to usability in future versions. Having a mechanism to test business rules to ensure operational compliance (BASEL II, SOX, etc.) is essential, and RSM makes this much easier than writing JUnit tests. However, the tool is still suitable only for technical staff. In order to be truly useful, RSM should allow business analysts -- the folks who truly own the business rules -- to test rules and run simulations and scenarios on their own. RSM is also inflexible in its methodology. For example, rule-testing artifacts should be stored and versioned along with the rules themselves, but RSM handles them separately.
RTS (Rule Team Server), the authoring environment, contains improvements to the way business analysts locate business rules during the maintenance cycle of business rules. This "Semantic Query" feature allows users to write simple rules that locate other rules, and to find rules without knowing the structure of the repository. Users may search for rules that have a particular condition ("Find all business rules such that each business rule uses the value of loan amount") or action ("Find all business rules such that each business rule may lead to a state where a loan is rejected). Plus, the queries may be authored using a GUI environment very similar to that used to author business rules.
Performance ranking for JRules has not changed since the review of JRules 6.1 by James Owen. In optimized mode, JRules has good performance overall, but it is not at the top of the pack. For example, see the accompanying chart of WaltzDB test results, which shows optimized JRules ahead of JBoss Rules and Jess but behind Blaze Advisor and CLIPS. We performed all of our tests on a machine with an Intel Pentium 4 CPU 2.40GHz processor and 1GB of RAM, with all figures averaged over five runs of the benchmark. We tested on Linux, Solaris, and Windows, and no significant differences emerged across operating systems. The results shown come from tests on Solaris.
Bumps in the road
A few areas still need smoothing. I've mentioned the documentation before, and this hasn't improved in 6.5.2. Although ILOG provides an applet for searching the documentation, this search mechanism just doesn't do as good a job as the old CHM (Microsoft Compiled HTML Help)manuals did. With such a large documentation set it's essential to allow users to easily find what they need, when they need it. A documentation road map would be a nice start. Tuning the search engine to identify higher-level, rule-oriented concepts (through metatags or good old-fashioned indexing) would also be helpful. The existing search engine is just too rudimentary, and it returns many pages of the same keyword. ILOG is aware of the problem and does have several people working to on it, so we can look forward to some improvement in future versions.
My other minor gripe is with the ruleflow and decision table editors. These two components still have some of the same quirks from JRules 5.x, and I hoped they'd be straightened out by now. The ruleflow editor especially could use some improvement. The current system of click and point for some artifacts and drag and drop for others, combined with menus that appear in odd places and icons that lose focus, not only impairs usability but is downright annoying. The ruleflow editor is also quite memory intensive; when used on Team Server, memory usage soared to 345MB of real RAM and 1.45GB of virtual memory. CPU usage also shot up to nearly 100 percent.
One welcome addition would be a floating palette that allows you to drag and drop all components onto the diagram. In the end, the ruleflow editor and decision tables work well enough to do the job, but they stand out as lacking polish in what is otherwise a very usable interface.
JRules6.5 brings a significant enhancement with the introduction of Transparent Decision Services, albeit only for SOAP over HTTP. Most parts of the system have received additional polish and improvements over 6.1, with the exception of the documentation. For those organizations implementing SOA, the transparent decision services alone are worth the upgrade. For any JRules shop still running 5.x, the enhancements to the Team Server warrant a serious look at the 6.x line.
|InfoWorld Scorecard
Rule Management (30.0%)
Documentation (10.0%)
Performance (20.0%)
Developer tools (20.0%)
Value (10.0%)
Setup (10.0%)
Overall Score (100%)
|ILOG JRules 6.5.2


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On the Road with Andean Naturals: The Story of Bolivian Quinoa
Sergio Núñez de Arco of Andean Naturals shares his experience with Fair Trade quinoa farmers in Bolivia
Once referred to by the Incas as the "mother of all grains," quinoa is one of the most complete nutritional superfoods on Earth. Originating in the Andes region of South America, it contains an exceptional balance of amino acids, vitamins and minerals. Since its discovery almost 5,000 years ago Andean highland cultures have considered quinoa sacred; a food source so deeply ingrained in the culture and lives of its farmers. Today quinoa has found its way down from those ancient mountaintops and into the homes of millions of health-conscious consumers who value its distinctive taste, easy preparation, and nutritional bounty.
By choosing Fair Trade Certified™ quinoa, you are helping farmers and their families earn better wages for their hard work, allowing them to hold on to their land, keep their kids in school, preserve their cultural heritage and invest in the quality and productivity of their harvest. With Fair Trade, Bolivians are one step closer to eliminating food scarcity and making sure there is enough quinoa for all who want and need it.
The story below comes to us from Sergio Núñez de Arco, General Manager of Andean Naturals (an importer of Fair Trade Certified quinoa). Read on to see how one man was inspired and empowered by an ancient grain and the people who love and work its land.
I am glad to contribute to this effort by sharing my story of Fair Trade quinoa farmers. During my last trip to Bolivia we experienced first-hand how the farmers long for, even cry out for their story to be told. They want to share their quinoa, this extraordinarily nutritious food that they work so hard for, with the world. They want to people to see what it takes to grow quinoa in arid lands at 12,000 feet of altitude, hoping for the 10 inches of rainfall per year that may never come. These people are strong and proud. It is not handouts they seek, but rather a bond with the global community; a respectful relationship that recognizes the true value of their product and the hard work they have put into it.
I truly appreciate the passion of the The Fair Trade USA team for telling the stories of the growers. Those stories help close the gap between our food and where it comes from; how it is cultivated and by whom. They also help us become aware of the impact of our everyday shopping choices.
Journey to the Bolivian Highlands
In a May 2011 trip to Bolivia, the photographer Vitaliy Prokopets came along with our team and took amazing pictures that we hope will help bridge the gap between quinoa farmers and those who purchase their product in North America.
The quinoa farmers that Andean Naturals works with are all located near the town of Salinas, at the shores of the Bolivian salt flats (Bolivia is a landlocked country in the heart of South America. It is the second poorest country in the Americas after Haiti.) Getting to this remote location takes 9 hours of driving on dirt roads at 12,000 feet of altitude.
Quinoa is Life
Quinoa grows in a desert. It is planted and harvested once a year when the seed heads are dry. To the right is a plant that will yield red quinoa. At this altitude and in this environment there are no other crop alternatives. Quinoa farming is the only income generator for these families. All harvest is done by hand once a year (April/May). The product from each small plot will go to fill about 1,500 1-pound retail bags of quinoa.
Along our journey we met a family of quinoa farmers from the Fair Trade cooperative. Here you can see them in front of their home. No water, no electricity. Just one room where the 8 family members huddle together during the ice cold nights. A typical family such as this makes an average of $90/month selling quinoa (before Fair Trade, they earned just $35/month). Quinoa, as we witnessed during our trip, is the main source of food here. They eat it for every meal, in various forms- some use it as a side dish with some llama meat or as a drink.
This family of quinoa farmers belongs to a Fair Trade cooperative in Bolivia. They report that their income has increased from $35/month to $90/month in the last two years.
I met many quinoa farmers along the way. One farmer in particular laughed when he saw the difference in our hands. We had to take a picture of my "office hands" next to his calloused hands. This photo tells the story of how we each do our part in the quinoa supply chain. I wanted them to know that our job, as market developers and importers, is to serve them. We provide them a service in bringing their quinoa to market.
In the next community we visited (Aroma) we were received by 3 tribe leaders. Their hats, ponchos, llama scarves, pouches holding coca and whips are symbols of their responsibility and authority.They set up a podium on the flatbed of a truck! Here is one of the chiefs explaining the importance of being represented in the market. They then asked us to share their food, and to take their story back to share with the people of North America.
Keeping Kids in School
Back at the town of Salinas we had the chance to visit a school. This is where we experienced the true impact of Fair Trade quinoa. I asked below how many children had parents who were quinoa growers and 95% raised their hands. Three years ago nearly all of these children, eight years and up, would have been out in the fields harvesting quinoa alongside their parents. Instead they now attend school, and unlike many of their older siblings, have a chance to go onto high-school.
On behalf of the Andean Naturals team, the quinoa growers, their families and all the employees at the processing plants, thank you for choosing Fair Trade Certified quinoa! It makes more of a difference than you know.


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You've already got 5 items in your shopping cart, so there's no room to reserve another one. If you'd like, you can take something out of your cart to make room for this one.
Movie & Video Game Rentals at Piggly Wigglysearch locations browse by state
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Browse available movies and video games at the Redbox location in your local Piggly Wiggly. You can reserve your rentals online and pick them up when it's convenient for you.
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1. Re: Can't setup my exchange emailB33 Apr 10, 2012 4:49 AM (in response to geospeedjr)
Here Give this a Try an Hopefully it Works For Ya! b33
How do I set up or customize my exchange email settings?
Note: Exchange account (Corporate Sync) is for Microsoft® Exchange server work email accounts. Enter details from your IT administrator.
If you need to manually setup your corporate sync with account details such as user name, server name, etc. We suggest the following:
- Open up My Accounts application from application tray or through your Menu > Settings
- Tap Add account
- Tap Corporate Sync
- Your Corporate exchange account settings will be displayed
- To access the manual set-up options for Exchange account, temporarily use a Gmail email, Yahoo email, AOL email or a different email account (account you use does not need to be active) on the first screen for the corporate sync account setup
- On the second screen that appears, additional fields will be displayed
- Change the username and password to the correct credentials for the Exchange email account. Also enter the domain name and server name
- After the account has been validated, go to the Main Home screen and click on the Menu key > Settings > Accounts, look for the new account that was just created; it will have the same name of the account that was used to start this setup process (Gmail, Yahoo, AOL, etc.).
- Select the correct account name; then tap on General Settings and change the account name to the correct name for your Exchange account followed by tapping on OK.
- Open up My Accounts application from application tray or through your Menu > Settings
2. Re: Can't setup my exchange emailB33 Apr 10, 2012 5:20 AM (in response to B33)
An to Remove the exchange email if need be.. Here's How to Do that:
Remove Corporate Email Account (Exchange Activesync) - DROID RAZR / RAZR MAXX by MOTOROLA
- From a Home screen, select the App menu (located in the lower right).
- Select My Accounts.
If the application icon is missing, select App menu filter (located at the top) then select All apps.
- Select the Corporate Sync account (Exchange Activesync®).
The accounts listed may vary.
- Select Remove account.
- Select Yes.
- From a Home screen, select the App menu (located in the lower right).
3. Re: Can't setup my exchange emailbandj Apr 13, 2012 6:41 PM (in response to B33)
Thank you SO much. This should be posted on the help section.
4. Re: Can't setup my exchange emaileemom2000 Apr 19, 2012 6:35 AM (in response to B33)
Thank you for posting! I had actually gone to the Motorola website and found the same info. The first time I tried it I got a certificate error and when I clicked on "Trust" then it gave me another error about some service not being supported. I was showing my friend (who happens to work at Verizon) so she could see the errors, but the sync finally took. I made sure I sent them the link so they would have it for the future!
5. Re: Can't setup my exchange emailB33 Jun 12, 2012 11:24 PM (in response to bandj)
Your Welcome and i will try to find that Section..b33


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(Excerpt from Mr. Adnan Oktar's Live Interview dated September 18, 2010)
They say, 'THESE ANIMALS AND CROPS ARE SACROSANCT. NO ONE MAY EAT THEM EXCEPT THOSE WE WISH – AS THEY ALLEGE – AND ANIMALS ON WHOSE BACKS IT IS FORBIDDEN TO RIDE, and animals over which they do not mention Allah's name, inventing falsehood against Him. He will repay them for the things they have invented. (Surat Al-An'am, 137-138)
They act according to falsehood, fabrications and say we heard as such from our ancestors. They lie in the name of the Prophet (pbuh) and say they heard these from him. Then they charge the ones who do not carry these out with being profane. "Confuse them in their religion," so they establish a religion full of confusion. Thousands of things made unlawful, they make religion incredibly complicated. Allah gives us examples of their techniques for inventing new unlawful (haram).


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The Story of Stuff and the Ocean Floor
You don't expect to find a baby stroller on the ocean floor. It makes you wonder what happens to zillions of baby strollers and many other consumer products from our everyday lives. But what happens to all these strollers? In fact, what happens to all our stuff?
Everyday we're faced with thousands of choices, especially when we're shopping. In an effort to shop smarter and greener we look for labels like earth friendly, BPA free, natural, organic, locally grown, ethical and eco. But we're lucky if the labels even tell the whole story.
The Story of Stuff Projectis a fascinating look at all these issues.
"The story of going green has some serious shortcomings. Trying to live eco-perfectly is exhausting and often prohibitively expensive. Our entire economy is set up to reward making waste…" Story of Stuff
Waste. Rubbish. Marine Debris. Whatever we call it, it's littering our dive sites, choking coral reefs and killing the creatures we love. We want a clean, healthy ocean.
Watch the movies www.storyofstuff.organd you'll hear that it's not bad shoppers who are the source of the problem. It's bad policies and bad business practices. And that's one of Project AWARE's big goals: to provide an underwater perspective of marine debris impacts, take action to reduce waste and improve waste management at all levels.
When you Dive Against Debris you see first-hand how rubbish is trashing our ocean planet. But the good news is, divers like you are change-makers. And Project AWARE Foundation is the voice of the dive community at an international level keeping marine debris issues at the top of ocean policy agendas.
Our movement is strong. We can and will change the rules of the game and work together to fight against marine debris. You can take action this September for Debris Month of Action.


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Varsity ClubFlames Home > Official Page
Varsity Club
The Liberty University Varsity Club builds relationships between former Flames student-athletes, connects them back to exciting athletic developments at their alma mater, and promotes their lifelong development into Champions for Christ. Membership to the Varsity Club is free for former Liberty University student-athletes at the Club Sports and NCAA level. Varsity Club members receive a variety of benefits, including discounted athletics tickets, a designated seating area at football games, and access to exclusive events. Don't miss out on all that the Varsity Club has to offer! To activate your membership, simply click the picture below and complete a short questionnaire about your time as a Liberty Flames athlete:
Aside from receiving a free membership, Varsity Club members will enjoy a variety of benefits including:
- Free Under Armour Varsity Club T-Shirt
- Complimentary window decals with Varsity Club logo
- Significant discounts on season tickets to NCAA games
- Designated seating area at home football games
- Discounted admission to Flames Club luncheons
- Free Flames Club membership (Member Level or $60 credit to higher level, separate registration required at LibertyFlames.com/FlamesClub)
- Exclusive Varsity Club events
- And more!
Contact Us
Want more information about Liberty's Varsity Club?
|(434) 592-6188
|Varsity Club
LaHaye Ice Center
1971 University Blvd.
Lynchburg, Va. 24515


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Ispiri Collection by Dream Home - 12mm Poplar Forest Oak- Laminate Flooring- 30 Year Warranty
- Store flooring flat for 48 hours in its original packaging at room temperature.
- Must be installed over a clean, stable, flat, smooth, and dry surface.
- Moisture barrier is required for installations over concrete.
- Make sure the panels are mixed sufficiently when you install them so that you do not end up with too many identical, light or dark panels next to each other.
Ispiri Collection's Advantages:
We caught up with real Lumber Liquidators' customers who volunteered to discuss their floor shopping, buying and installation experiences. In no way did these customers receive compensation for their kind words. (They're speaking straight from the heart.)
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REVIEW SNAPSHOT®by PowerReviews
Best Uses
Reviewed by 46 customers
Displaying reviews 1-10
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Best Uses
daughter picked up at store, they were very helpful
does not show dirt. Good color. Picture is more reddish then actual color. Purchased over 1500sq ft only 3 bad pieces. Looks and feels like real wood. No need for padding except for moisture barrier for the ground floor and used foam pad ( the most economical one) for the second no noise problems at all.. love it
Best Uses
New flooring in almost every room in the condo. Perfect. Couldn't be happier with our new laminate floor!
Love it
Not bad. Once you get the first couple of rows locked in and straight the installation goes relatively easily. You really have to take your time starting out, though, because banging on one section can cause a previous installed section to gap. A dead blow hammer and a tapping block are your friend, but you have to hit these pieces with care or they will tear up.
I would give this flooring a C as far as quality goes, but I don't really have a good basis of comparison since this is the first laminate wood flooring that I have worked with. You have to be pretty careful with it during installation or it will chip. There were also random chips in new pieces that were fresh out of the box. It looks fine, though, once it's down.
I think my biggest complaint about this flooring is redundancy in pieces in each box. In case you aren't aware, they rotate around 8 different wood "images" for the pieces so you have to be careful to rotate accordingly as you install. In several of the boxes I have opened, at least 90% of the pieces in a single box are the exact same image, so I have to open another box and hope that it doesn't have the same image repeated. This was extremely annoying as I worked my way through the first half of the boxes. This is clearly a quality control issue. Fortunately, I have a big enough space and enough boxes to where this hasn't been a huge problem so far, but as I work my way towards the end, my concern is that I'm going to end up with a lot of redundancy.
Best Uses
We purchased flooring about a year earlier and just installed it and found we underestamated the floor and hade to buy a half box. The flooring we used was not instock and we were finishing out the last row in a closest so we went looking for a "close"fit to finish. The man at LL was very helpful and we used sample to to plan modifications to make the toungue and grooves fit. Now the floor is finished and all is fine.
Service and delivery comments:
great service
Best Uses
I am using this product to replace a laminate floor in the kitchen and a engineered floor in the living and dining room. Floor was laid on top of the tile floor and the engineered floor. Couldn't be more happier at the new look.
I think it could be a challenging install for a novice that is why I went with a professional installer.
Service and delivery comments:
The staff at my local store were very helpful. I used the local installer recommended by the store. I was very pleased with them especially Milton. Item went on sale 4 days after I purchased the flooring. LL adjusted the invoice to reflect the lower cost. Customer service was very helpful in adjusting the invoice.
Best Uses
Recommend having a professional install this flooring as it is very thick, heavy duty. I am so glad I had it installed in all 4 bedrooms,LR, and den. We absolutely love it! It makes the house look totally new inside!! We have inside dogs and it is exactly what we needed to keep the flooring clean & scratch resistant. I'm very proud of this flooring!! Thanks Lumber Liquidators for the great price on 1550 sq. ft. too!!
Displaying reviews 1-10
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Do you have questions about this product?
AnswerBox - Get answers from Staff Experts and real customers by clicking "Ask a question" or click here to ask our Customer Service Team
Q:Are the seams beveled?
1 answer
A:Yes, "eased bevel" not v-groove.
Q:I recently had some forest oak laminate flooring installed by your company and have noticed that there are pieces that seem to be lifting, over several areas of the floor. Can you please explain to me, the possible cause of this?
1 answer
A:A few possible causes are:
Q:On the Tranquility flooring page, your site includes a use and care fact sheet regarding potential scratching. Where do I find such info for the Ispiri?
1 answer
A:Unfortunately there is no equivalent "sheet" for this product.
Q:Where was this flooring made? Can you guarantee this product's formaldehyde levels are in accordance with CARB?
1 answer
A:This is a product of China.
Q:How should you clean these? Is there a type of cleaner to use on them that won't cause damage? Thank you.
1 answer
A:We can only recommend our Bellawood Floor Cleaner, or cleaners that are safe for water based urethane finishes. Never use any polish, wax, oil soaps or cleaners that add shine to the floor. In addition, we do not recommend using steamers or wet-jet cleaning systems for hardwood because spraying can collect moisture in between board edges. The use of these products is at your own risk.
Q:should we take off baseboards or use base shoe along the walls
1 answer
A:You could R&R the baseboards to cover the expansion space or use quarter round/shoe molding.
1 answer
A:This product has a fixed length of 3' 11-13/16". Thank you for your inquiry
Q:Can you tell me if this is hand scraped or Is it textured? Thanks.
1 answer
A:This laminate is not hand scraped but has deeper grained texture than most other laminates.
Q:Will this product hold up to 3 dogs and kids running around on it?
1 answer
A:Laminate flooring with a high warranty like this can hold up well with dogs and kids. Spills need to be toweled promptly as with hardwood flooring. Dog nails should be trimmed regularly according to your vet. Vinyl claw covers are also helpful.
Q:We are having a very difficult time installing this product. The pieces do not "click" together, and when trying to use a tapping block, it just ends up knocking out the previously installed pieces. Looking at the reviews it seems as though many other people have had this problem. What are your suggestions for installing this flooring?
1 answer
A:Please call our Tech and Installation Dept. @ (800) 366-4204 for a detailed answer to your question. Thank you for your inquiry.


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Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals: Statement by Ambassador Wittig on behalf of France, Germany and Switzerland
(as prepared for delivery:)
"Co-Chairs, Colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to present this statement on behalf of France, Switzerland and my own country Germany.
A truly universal agenda applicable to all countries should build on the universality of human rights, respect for which is at the very core of human development. From a human rights perspective, poverty eradication and sustainable development are a matter of justice. A human rights vision is universal, based on the dignity and equality of all human beings, without discrimination, protected through strong and independent rule of law institutions.
The MDGs were inspired by the values and principles of the Millennium Declaration – values which are still fundamental today. Yet the MDGs do not reflect the human rights based development approach including protection against discrimination of any kind. Such an approach could help to focus the Post 2015 agenda on people, on their expectations and needs, on their empowerment and well-being.
Since human rights and sustainable development objectives are interdependent and mutually reinforcing, addressing human rights issues within the Post-2015 Agenda will be essential for truly sustainable development.
We already have a good basis to draw from: both the Rio+20 Outcome Document and the UN Millennium Declaration reaffirm the importance of respect for all human rights, including the right to development. In addition, we should build on the lessons learnt from the Agenda-21-process in order to reflect the interdependency of human rights and the social, economic and environmental conditions for sustainable development.
A human rights-based approach includes civil and political rights and issues such as political participation, personal security and access to justice, which have been neglected in the implementation of the MDGs. Human rights and other international standards and principles are helpful in identifying goals, targets and indicators for measurement.
The right to development relies on the full realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms. It highlights the respect for human rights as a precondition to enable any person to assume responsibility for development and to enjoy it.
Of course, the implementation of the post-2015 agenda will not be carried out by states alone. We also need to integrate the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights into the post 2015 agenda.
The principles of equality and non-discrimination provide the basis to adequately prioritize resources to realize the human rights for all individuals. It is mandatory to ensure that those who are vulnerable and marginalized are now specifically targeted.
Monitoring and accountability mechanisms need to be significantly improved compared to the MDG system and should ensure effective and meaningful participation of all stakeholders. Data availability and quality, especially if monitoring is to be in line with human rights standards and principles, remains an enormous challenge.
allow me a few words on Global Governance:
The world is facing increasing interdependences in the economic, social and environmental areas as well as security challenges. These call for a multilateral framework with enhanced transparency, effectiveness, coherence and reduced fragmentation as recommended in the Rio+20 Outcome Document.
Global governance should be strengthened for improving international trade and financial systems, the environmental global governance or the shared management of natural resources. We believe that the following measures will be critical for creating a global favourable environment for sustainable development:
We cannot achieve food security if we fail to successfully address governance issues at the international and at the country level, including the reduction of agricultural prices volatility.
Domestic resource mobilization will remain limited and threatened if we fail to collectively adopt stricter rules against tax evasion, illicit flows or tax havens.
Water security will not be achieved if we don't promote shared management of water resources and better water quality.
We regard the new High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development an important step towards a strengthened institutional framework for sustainable development and the post-2015 agenda. It should:
o promote policy coherence within the UN system;
o integrate sustainable development in UN-system wide policies and programming;
o and allow for conducting regular reviews – in our view preferably among member states – on the follow-up and the implementation of sustainable development objectives in the context of the post-2015 agenda.
And last but not least: the international financial institutions and multilateral development banks are decisive actors for financial stability and for development. They should integrate sustainable development into their work programs in accordance with their respective mandates.
The full version of this statement will be circulated.
I thank you."


text:
HOUSTON - A Katy man got an unpleasant surprise when he left work on Monday and discovered thieves had broken into his car. It was parked in a lot in The Heights near Nolda and Roy Streets, not too far from the Katy Freeway.
"They broke into my car took my laptop, Bluetooth and left a $400 pair of sunglasses in the visor," said Patrick Gilpin, who told KPRC Local 2 he secured the laptop in his trunk before heading into work that morning.
"I really think it might have been somebody watching me because my laptop was in the trunk of my car," he said.
Gilpin believes the thieves used a Slim Jim or some type of device to unlock his doors because there was minor damage done to the area around his passenger side window.
But what upsets him the most is what was on his laptop -- priceless photos of his late mother, photos he fears he will never see again.
"That far exceeds the value of the laptop itself," Gilpin said. "That's something that can never be replaced and there's nothing I can do about it."
Gilpin wants people who live and work in the area to know about the crime. He said it happened to him in broad daylight, and it can happen to anyone.
"It seems to just more or less be a hot spot all the time."
Copyright 2012 by Click2Houston.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


text:
Stage 4 of the Tour of California saw the first real fireworks and selection of the race. Though the day began on a somber note, honoring Wouter Weylandt, the big contenders got down to business on the final climb.—Wil Matthews
2011 Tour of California: Stage 4
Moment of Silence for Wouter Weylandt
Leopard-Trek riders lead out the peloton at the start of Stage 4 of the Amgen Tour of California in Livermore in memory of their late teammate Wouter Weylandt, whose funeral was held that day in Belgium.
Keeping up With Thor Hushovd
A flag wielding fan chases Thor Hushovd (Garmin-Cervelo), the reigning UCI World Road Champion.
Rollers Before the Big Hills
The peloton heads into the foothills outside of Livermore for the 131km Stage 4.
No Luck for the Break
The breakaway in Stage 4, which included World Champion Thor Hushovd, never established more than a two-minute advantage.
Ben King Pulls on the Front
U.S. Road Champion Ben King sets tempo in Stage 4 with his Team RadioShack teammates. The team's Chris Horner eventually won the stage atop Sierra Road in San Jose.
Horner and Leipheimer Ascend
RadioShack teammates Chris Horner and Levi Leipheimer climb Sierra Road together, three kilometers from the finish. Horner went on to drop Leipheimer and finish 1:15 ahead of the three-time Tour of California champion.
Tom Danielson Leads the Chase
Garmin-Cervelo's Tom Danielson leads the chase group of Levi Leipheimer (Team RadioShack), Andy Schleck (Leopard Trek) and Rory Sutherland (UnitedHealthcare). Danielson was dropped by his companions with less than one kilometer to the finish.
A Future California King
Andrew Talansky (Garmin-Cervelo) finished ninth on the mountain finish, 1:50 down. Talansky is in his first year of riding for a top tier, UCI World Tour team. In 2010, he was riding for the low-level California Giant team.
Jens Voigt Crushes the Climb
Jens Voigt (Leopard-Trek) worked hard early in the stage for leader Andy Schleck, despite a hard crash during final kilometers of Stage 3.
The Gruppetto Arrives Within the Time Cut
The tail end of the peloton crests the Sierra Road summit in San Jose to close Stage 4 of the Amgen Tour of California.
Copyright © 2017 Rodale Inc.


text:
Добро пожаловать на крупнейший портал бизнес-авиации
Jets.ru bussiness aviation portal
Empty legs
It doesn´t have to cost a fortune
It doesn´t have to cost a fortune
Elsewhere in this issue, you will find plenty of discussion about the tangible and intangible benefits of using business aviation, but what about the expenses? Nobody ever said flying privately is cheap, but the good news is that it can be less costly than you might think–if you take steps to minimize expenses. One reason business aviation is often unduly expensive is that people buy the wrong airplane. But the first mistake is often buying an aircraft at all. The average business jet flies about 400 hours per year, according to statistics compiled by the National Business Aviation Association. If you fly only 100 hours per year, don´t expect owning your own jet to be cost-effective. At this level of usage, it´s worth considering such alternatives as charter and fractional programs. Charter is generally the least expensive form of business jet travel, especially if you have lots of round-trip flights in compressed time periods from major cities. For example, if a typical trip is from Teterboro, N.J., to Los Angeles on Monday, returning Tuesday, you´ll be hard-pressed to find a cheaper private-aviation alternative than chartering a Teterboro-based heavy jet. But if a typical trip is Iuka to Altoona, Pa., on Monday, returning two weeks later, a fractional program (which doesn´t charge extra for positioning) may easily be the least expensive option. If you don´t fly enough hours to justify owning a jet, you might consider acquiring an airplane with one or more partners. In some ways, this is like forming your own little fractional ownership program–and it comes with many of the same headaches. Probably the biggest point of contention is figuring out who gets to use the aircraft when and how to align ownership costs fairly with usage costs. Joint-ownership arrangements often come to naught because one "equal" partner ends up using the aircraft a disproportionate amount. Such arrangements can doom the best of friendships. If purchasing an aircraft, either alone or with others, is right for you, the next key decisions you have to make concern what model and aircraft to buy. Opportunities to overspend abound here. Just as you wouldn´t be wise to buy a Ferrari if your typical drive is to the grocery store, so it doesn´t make sense to purchase a Gulfstream G550 if your typical trip is flying two passengers from Detroit to Chicago and back. My favorite example of making this kind of mistake concerns a guy who put a Falcon 50 on the market two months after he bought it because he found out it couldn´t take him where he needed to go nonstop. You can still save money even after you have identified the right model or models for your missions. On an apples-to-apples basis, aircraft of the same model for sale often represent value differences of many millions of dollars. Take it to the bank: you won´t be able to assess the true values of aircraft in the marketplace without the help of an unbiased professional adviser. ONCE YOU DECIDE ON AN AIRCRAFT TO purchase, the next step is deciding how to pay for it. Here again, your choice may have a big impact on how cost-effective it is to own the airplane. For many businesses and high-net-worth individuals, financing makes sense because there are better uses for the buyer´s capital than locking it up in an aircraft. If your typical return on investment is 10 percent, you´d be wise to borrow, say, the million purchase price of a jet at 4 percent (in many cases a tax-deductible cost) and use your own money for a more suitable million investment. But not all loans are equal. One way to inflate your financing costs is to choose non-recourse. Being able to "walk away" from the aircraft and leave a bank "holding the bag" may sound attractive, but it´s an expensive option few aircraft owners ever select, and it can significantly increase financing costs, both by requiring a larger down payment (30 to 40 percent isn´t uncommon) and a higher interest rate. Normal recourse financing is a much better financial deal. These days, interest spreads remain high, but actual interest rates are relatively low–at least compared with historic rates. (Unfortunately, returns on investment are often equally low.) If maximizing cash flow is your objective, however, you should consider lease financing, which may offer greater flexibility than simply borrowing from a bank. Whichever route you go, be sure to solicit, compare and negotiate several financing proposals to ensure that you get the best deal possible. First-time aircraft buyers often turn to management companies to operate their airplanes. This introduces an additional expense: monthly management fees. But management companies can also save you money, generally through economies of scale–such as fuel discounts, fleet insurance policies, favorable hangar rent and so on. Most management companies offer another cost-saving strategy: third-party charter. You shouldn´t fall for claims that the aircraft can "pay for itself" if you charter it out, and charter may make no sense for you if you´ll need the airplane a lot yourself. But if your own usage is limited and flexible, charter can provide an opportunity to offset some of the fixed costs of ownership. As the owner/operator, you´re already on the hook for things like crew salaries, depreciation, opportunity cost, hangar and insurance, whether the aircraft flies or not. With outside charter, you can effectively transfer some of that expense to other business jet travelers. Keep in mind, though, that charter is no golden-egg-laying goose. In fact, it can cost you money. Additional equipment may be required; additional flight hours cause the aircraft to depreciate more rapidly; additional pilots may be needed to handle the extra hours the aircraft will be flying for charter customers; and a less-attractive depreciation schedule may be necessary. FINALLY, YOU CAN ACTUALLY GET UNCLE SAM to help pay for your aircraft. You can generally deduct for income tax purposes the expenses associated with owning and operating an airplane in a trade or business, and that can make ownership more feasible on an after-tax basis. The biggest cash-flow booster is usually depreciation expense. As a rule, if more than 50 percent of the aircraft usage is in a trade or business, the airplane is eligible for accelerated tax depreciation (MACRS), which permits you to write off more than 50 percent of its basis in the first two years and the entire sum over six years (assuming 100 percent business use). Bonus depreciation, which Congress has served up with some regularity in recent years, makes the tax benefit even more enticing. But though IRS rules allow you to take depreciation on your aircraft in the tax world much faster than it actually depreciates in the real one, when you sell it, you will have taxable income (depreciation recapture) to the extent that the sale proceeds exceed your tax basis–unless you shield the income using a tax-free exchange. Thus, tax depreciation subject to recapture is best thought of as an interest-free loan from Uncle Sam. Most other aircraft expenses aren´t subject to recapture and thus deducting them for tax purposes represents a permanent economic benefit–assuming you have the income to offset. But unless you´re a big company making lots of money that uses the aircraft exclusively in its business, maximizing tax benefits associated with an airplane requires careful planning. IRS regulations are a minefield–passive activity, hobby loss, at-risk and entertainment disallowance rules readily come to mind. So consulting a professional who can make your tax planning fit with FAA and state requirements is essential. If you can´t use tax deductions–because, for example, you aren´t using the aircraft in a trade of business or your business isn´t producing sufficient taxable income–consider leasing from a financial institution that will write off the airplane in its leasing business, passing on the savings to you in lower financing costs.
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