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One thing to remember is that squad leading is a rather intense job, and sometimes you need to unwind a bit. Most people are unable to stay sharp for hours at a time, especially if there is sustained hectic fighting, which is the kind of situation that requires the most from SLs, in my experience. So reminding the SL that they need to re-focus on the fight is something that I have done on a number of occasions, and something that I encourage other people to do, if they feel the situation requires it. Just do it gently, please.
Firstly, it's hard, sometimes, to get that "break, break" off. Perhaps I (and any other newbies) need to just be more assertive about it. I suppose if everyone in the squad started using "Break" before each combat-relevant transmission, rather than politely keying their mics and waiting for an opportunity to speak, it might well have worked better. But it can be hard to know when it's appropriate to interrupt, because to an extent it's a question of individual preference. Some people might prefer or simply be able to cope with a bit more banter, even in the midst of combat, and I feel like I'm being a bit un-excellent to those people if I have to interrupt them when they are clearly enjoying themselves. Maybe this is just me though.
Secondly, splitting comms doesn't necessarily help. In fact, when this happened I'm fairly certain comms were already split and the chatter was either platoon-wide via the whisper bind or we were doubling up squads in channels as we often do. I forget which, but the point is that splitting comms by itself doesn't necessarily address the problem.
My feeling is that we're simply too loose with our comms discipline during combat in general, and especially as the size of the group starts to get bigger. I don't think it should be a question of needing to use "break, break" to interrupt the chatter; if we're in combat, especially when there's a lot of us, people should just be keeping the chatter to a minimum. Splitting comms is a tool which can make this easier to do, but fundamentally you still have to keep the chatter during battle battle-relevant for it to work.
I have to say writing this makes me feel a bit like the Misery fairy, telling people they shouldn't be having fun.
- Join Date
- Jan 2013
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- 4,594
Its been a whole week since last Thursday!
Do we have anyone who can TACgir PL tonight? After all the discussion we had, I think we have some really positive action points to put into practise this week.Planetside 2 : ParaTroop
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Just dropping in to say I stand by the ROs being isolated from the squads. A radio op's entire duty is to - figuratively speaking - sit in the corner with their headphones on, in a safe place. To be deaf to the squad so the SL doesn't have to be. My point is that the SLs are stressed out by both talking down to the squad during tactical nights, and up to the PL in the recipience and confirmation of orders/in providing sitreps and making requests for support.
When we run 'cohesive', per the commonly used word, with tight formation (i.e. everyone on alpha one let's go! Check your sectors and don't breach rooms alone!), the SL simply cannot be engaged in strategic discussion upward because he is the brain for a body comprised of ten other players, relying on him for direction, opportunity and safety. He is, or should be, entirely focused upon managing his squad to use them to best effect while providing them fun. When the SL is part of strategic discussion, rather than simply receiving clarified orders from the RO, the *entire squad* are alone, not knowing what to do or where the enemy are, and as seconds of this tick by they spread out more, more of them die, and they become harder to regroup for orders when the SL returns from the Higher Plane.
The radio operator takes care of the strategic discussion, relays orders and reports succinctly both from his own observations and reports from the SL. If he is subject to the 'GRENADE! MEDIC! OH GOD GAME OVER MAN GAME OVER!' wailing of his squad he is little better off than the SL would be in his place. Yes, an RO will get lonely - thus, as I said, we should be working on a rotation - each squad usually has at least two or three 'talkative' regulars who can be asked, nudged or begged to take RO for 25 minutes before the next person rotates in.
Not ideal, certainly - but is it worth a try? It's up to you.
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This isn't even a matter of hypotheticals, since as it happens, I've been such an RO. Platoon RO for a split-comms platoon during a CtA. I was in my own channel, capable of talking up to Command, and to my PL. It was the most isolated, dull, quiet night of PlanetSide 2 I've ever had. More importantly, it didn't increase efficiency at all. If anything, it decreased it. The flow of information was so disjointed, it made Command's job hell.
As an RO, filtering info honestly isn't that difficult 99% of the time. It's only those are occasions when you're busy, and the squad comms get cluttered, AND the RO comms clutter that things get tough. All you need is a little set-up discipline. If the PL announces "All squads, standby for an order" (or whatever you need), then the RO can clear his squad channel for a few seconds to keep it simple. Yes, you get some "Break break" moments in squad chatter, but it's a small price to pay for staying in the squad channel.
I find the claim that an RO in the squad channel is almost as hard as SL/RO pretty strange. Most of your time is spent as a grunt, operating a squad channel, with your SL running the tactical show. You give sitreps when arriving/leaving a location, copying an order, or updating the PL with important info. Squad-to-squad info can be dealt with by SLs without much hassle, since it's generally just a warning about armour, or notification of securing a certain objective.
An SL doing the RO's job is significantly harder, since it's not just cluttered comms that are your problem. It's just the simple mental gymnastics involved in maintaining contact with both the PL and the squad efficiently. Sitreps and confirmations and cross-squad comms begin stacking up, and will drive an SL to madness if he/she tries to do that and meet the tactical requirements of squad leading.
The only times an RO's job is particularly difficult is when emergency info is transferred up/down, or new orders are given and the comms aren't clear. Both of these problems can be solved by good ears, the PL giving a moment of warning before giving orders, and an RO unafraid of "Break break"-ing the squad.
Any other RO's agree with this? Using the overlay is pretty vital to the RO job, I grant you, but most of your time is spent as a grunt who gives sitreps, not someone doing constant strategic discussion with the PL.
Completely agree. I haven't done the isolated RO role but I have done RO a fair bit. Explain to your squad what "break break" is all about and they'll respect it. Think ahead when speaking and be concise. Being an RO in the traditional setup works well and isn't boring or unreasonably hard work.WallyTrooper = TrooperWally
Wally is now on Steam!
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- Jan 2013
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I agree with Carl. I like being the RO, and I particularly like SLing with an RO. Though, tonight's experiment with PL talks to all members of one squad at a time, was also a really nice experience for me as SL. I just got very tired after a while, felt I had to exert quite a lot of effort to get people to stick together and stuff. Went easier in the beginning, but got harder and harder as I progressively lost focus.
nyway, ROs are generally good and a role that is good fun to play. The major problem being having to find people to do it, really.
I've only been back playing for a week or so, but the main thing I've noticed no matter which recent comm set up is used, is that there is a lot of discussion about every order. I've heard PLs give an order to a squad, only for the SL to go "errrm, well, I reckon we should go over to XYZ instead" and then grunts or even other squad leaders (or even grunts in other squads!) pipe up with "or maybe ZYX, there's only 1-12 enemies there" etc etc and then there's confusion about whether the squad is following the PLs original order or not.
My tuppence on comms overall: The outfit seems to have tried several different set ups this year, and each one has had some problems. So we try to create another set up to fix those problems, and then yet another to fix different problems. I personally feel it would be better to stick to one set up and TRAIN PEOPLE UP to use it properly. 90% of the problems with any given set up are "User Errors". If the comms are too chatty, or orders are unclear, it's usually an issue with whoever was speaking rather than an issue with the channel they were in or the keybind they used...
I am on the Steemz
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- Apr 2013
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ROs need to tell the PL how things are with their squad.
I can;t see how they can do that without listening in to squad comms."KING GEORGE IS A FROG
le BANG~__-MICHEAL FUCK OFF~~__-INTERPOL KNOW YOU WELLBIENG~
I'd kind of agree with phatchance. The issue wasn't the system it was the fact comms discipline was missing. It seems to me we're blaming the system rather than the poor usage and trying to find something suitably restrictive.
For what it's worth I also didn't find the comms last night lonely. It was good and quiet.
Last night was pretty much perfect. The experimental comms set up let SLs who wanted to maintain contact with the PL do so themselves, or delegate it to an effective RO if they preferred that, and also allowed any Grunt to pipe up as needed. From the point of view of this grunt, the amount of chatter was spot on.
Never could find those whisper bindings cmaster talked about at the start, but I guess it didn't matter since I only talked to my squad anyway?
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Yeah, isolated ROs are not something I like the sound of.
One, it's going to mean that SLs have to go back to dealing with 2 streams of chat.
Two, they won't really understand what is going on with the squad
Three, they'll weaken the squad as a fighting force, not being a true part of it.
Equally, the "just be more disciplined" thing really isn't that easy.
When the PL is not at the same location as the squad they are talking to, then sometimes there needs to be a conversation. Some back and forth on what is happening, what the problems are, what can be done to solve them. But if this is going all over the place, then it disrupts a lot of other people, and causes the "too many voices in head" syndrome.
Equally, if ROs are calling "break" every time something comes through from PL, than we are barley any better off than with the current "casual" system.
I thought the comms setup worked well last night, but it seemed to put more pressure on CMaster. On top of leading he had to act as an intermediary for all the squads.
Other than that, it seemed to work quite well, Delta lead (LaKroy) was having problems with his binds so we had dedicated ROs anyway. And the squad could hear the RO/SL > PL communication which meant that we didn't have multiple voice syndrome, and people felt more engaged with the decision making process.
Last edited by Giraffiest; 16-08-2013 at 09:12 AM.Planetside 2 : ParaTroop
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I liked last night's comms because it eliminated chatter between squads, I also disliked last night's comms because it eliminated chatter between squads. In essence, I would have been helped by being able to talk to other SLs from time to time, telling them not to move their Sunderers out into the open until we had a chance to clear out some armour and AV turrets. Small stuff like that.
If we added the ability for SLs to talk to each other, I would be very happy with this system. There is a distinct advantage with having SL in contact with PL directly; it speeds up the response and it also allows SL to directly feed back any considerations they might have regarding the current tactical situation or any short term plans of their own. Could we extend this system to do what Dewi's diagram showed:
1: PL talks to all members of each squad individually or broadcast to all squads at once (sparingly!)
2: SL (anyone in SL channel) can whisper back to PL (other squad members can't)
3: SL can whisper to other squads and (my addition) all members of that squad will hear it.
That will allow:
a) private channels between PL and separate squads
b) SLs to coordinate, while not risking having to conversations at once (PL comms excepted)
It will also require some comms discipline, but as we've noticed, so does any system.
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We've got a couple of options for restoring inter-squad communications, and I'm not sure which would be best.
We can restore the SL channel, and have it so all the SL channels can talk to each other (a la the existing system)
Or, we can give squads access to the same "direct comms" that the PL has. IE, using the same keybinds as the PL does, any squad can contact any other specific squad.
I'd rather avoid the situation where only SL can send sitreps though. Last night, I spoke with SLs for A and C consistently, never to the SL for D, but a nominated person, and for B it varied between SL and one other.


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Police in Amesbury are urging people not to leave their valuables in vehicles after experiencing an average of one theft per day from cars in recent weeks.
There has been an increase in handbags and similar items being stolen from cars that have been left unattended at beauty spots by walkers, and police are focusing on people who leave valuables in their cars as well as the offenders.
Inspector Christian Lange said: "We are trying everything to ensure that people don't leave valuables in their cars and are finding it increasingly frustrating that we continue to experience such preventable thefts.
"My officers will offer constructive advice to people who choose to ignore the previous warnings.
"In recent weeks, Amesbury sector has been experiencing an average of one theft per day from cars. Countywide there is an average of ten such thefts per day."
Recently the Amesbury Neighbourhood Policing Team put up posters on every notice board in the area, which they hope will make people think about the security of their belongings.
Police are encouraging people to remove empty bags from their cars as opportunistic offenders will smash the window to steal them.

subset: commoncrawl


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The recent release of iOS 6.1 exposed an issue with DPS viewers that have in-app purchasing enabled. This issue causes the viewer to crash when a network connection is not available. This includes situations where Wi-Fi or cellular network connections are not available, or when the device is in airplane mode. All viewers built with release 24 and earlier of the DPS tools are affected and will crash when a network connection is not available. Release 25 viewers are unaffected. Single Edition applications, regardless of release, are unaffected.
We have released a hotfix, now available through DPS App Builder, to resolve this in release 24 viewers. Customers who have live apps in the app store with release 24 or earlier should re-build their applications to release 24 or 25 with DPS App Builder and re-submit the viewer to Apple for approval.


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How Will You Create Your Future? Will. Power.
If you are looking for a school that will challenge you, support you, and empower you to achieve extraordinary things, welcome to William Paterson University. Our vibrant, diverse community is built around successful and motivated students, leaders, innovators and educators who believe in you and your aspirations. Our greatest strength is helping you find yours.
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Investigate exciting fields like legal studies, financial planning, professional sales, broadcast communication, biology, criminology and criminal justice—your options are wide open.
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In addition to the advice and mentoring you'll receive from your professors, you will have access to some of the most powerful academic and career resources available. These include the Academic Support Center, the new Science Complex, the Financial Learning Center, Russ Berrie Institute for Professional Sales, Nel Bolger RN Nursing Lab, GIS Laboratory, and HD-ready TV broadcast studios.
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We are an active, proud, and diverse community of more than 10,000 undergraduates and more than 1,300 graduate students from every background and perspective. Whether you join one of our 28 fraternities and sororities, participate in one of our 13 intercollegiate sports teams, or volunteer through one of our many campus clubs and organizations, you'll be part of the Pioneer Life here at William Paterson.


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Around the World With Tim IITrivia brain teasers have some element of trivia in them, but they are not just pure trivia questions.
Tim had just won a large sum of money, and traveled the world. He came back from his journey, but still wanted to travel. It was the year 2005, and he knew it was the best time to go traveling. So, he packed up and got on the plane. The cities he visited are these:
Tokyo, Mexico City, Sao Paulo, Cairo, London, and Sydney.
What is significant with these choices of cities? It has nothing to do with spelling or letters.
AnswerEach city is the most populated on each continent.
Here are the populations of each city:
Tokyo with 34,100,000
Mexico City with 22,650,000
Sao Paulo with 20,200,000
Cairo with 15,450,000
London with 11,950,000
Sydney with 4,198,543
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
which ones you have seen, and even make your own.
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Quote:Sometimes what we see as a closed mind is just a mind that looks at things from a different angle. This is a good trait, as then things can be seen that before were hidden from view. Because his knowledge and view differs from your own does not make him close minded, and to see it like this may instead make you close minded.
Quote:Are there better methods of training SD(bar fight perspective) than karate? Yep I think so.Go to a decent Muay Thai gym 3 times a week for a year and youre in shape and have the technique and sparring experience for most bar fight encounters. But unless youre either prepared to explore deeply into the history of Muay Thai or involve yourselve in the sport side, there is not much variation in training.Karate in that regard has to offer a very wide variation in techniques and principles, all to be explored from the it's legacy : the kata's.There is no limit towards exploring the potential of kata and it allows you to investigate other MA's and relatethese concepts back to kata. That's where the kata ends and real karate begins.
Quote: Your not going to tell me that karate has more techniques to learn in the first year than mai thai are you ?
Quote: please keep the comments to techniques ?
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PASADENA, Texas - Two men have been charged in connection with a drive-by shooting that killed a woman.
George Aguilar, 36, and Adrian Aguilar, 42, have been charged with murder. George Aguilar has been taken into custody, but Adrian Aguilar has not been arrested.
Pasadena police said the shooting happened as two vehicles headed eastbound on Vista about 11 a.m. Wednesday. The driver of the vehicle that was fired upon pulled into Houston Garden Centers on Beltway 8 near Vista.
The victim, Yolanda Aguilar, 58, was rushed to a hospital, where she later died.
Investigators said the shooter and the victim are related.
One of the relatives invited the other to participate in drug activity, detectives said. The invitee declined the offer and a family conflict began, officials said.
Aguilar was a passenger in the vehicle, investigators said. Her husband was driving the vehicle and may have been the intended target, police said.
"They were trying to kill me," Yolanda Aguilar's husband said. "My niece was living with this guy who used to do a lot of coke. He tried to get my son to help him sell some. We never do no coke or marijuana or nothing like that."
George Aguilar was the driver of of the vehicle from which the shots were fired, police said. Investigators have not said what role Adrian Aguilar played in the killing.
Anyone with information regarding Adrian Aguilar's whereabouts is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.
Copyright 2012 by Click2Houston.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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Sweetness #9 by Stephan Eirik Clark is a satirical debut novel about the food additives industry. In 1973 David is a young flavor chemist or flavorist hired by a big company to research an artificial sweetener called Sweetness #9. He notices that the lab rats and monkeys being fed Sweetness #9 are becoming obese and showing behavioral problems. Before he gets very far with his concerns, he is fired.
Summer in Fond du Lac is full of boating, biking, picnicking, gardening. Add to the list: reading. Lots and lots of reading.
Being a true Southerner means keeping up appearances at all costs. As a result, many Southern couples put on pretenses and sometimes lead double lives. In The Stories We Tell by Patti Callahan Henry, Eve and Cooper Morrison are that golden couple, seemingly leading the ideal life as the cream of Savannah society. But, things are not always as they seem. This powerful novel about the value of truth focuses on the Morrison family and the one night that changed the dynamics of their family forever.
Leaves are turning, kids are going back to school and the Fond du Lac Public Library unveils great fall programs for kids.
Members of the Wisconsin Visual Artists Northeast Chapter will exhibit their works in the Fond du Lac Public Library Langdon Divers Gallery from September 4 through October 1.
Marian University's History program is offering three stand-alone classes at the Fond du Lac Public Library this fall, one each in September, October and November. The classes – all at 6 p.m. – are free and open to the public; no registration required.
The Fond du Lac County Master Gardeners and the Fond du Lac Public Library are teaming up to host the second annual Plant Swap and Sale from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, September 13, at the downtown library.
Here's a debut novel for people who liked The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt and the TV series Breaking Bad. As in The Goldfinch, The Objects of Her Affection is set in the world of art and priceless antiques, and as in Breaking Bad, the main character turns to illegal activity to get money for her family. The story starts in 2005 and ends in 2007. Main character Sophie is married to Brian, a curator at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Sign-up starts Saturday, September 6, for the September 20 Jeans Pocket Purse Crafternoon class at the Fond du Lac Public Library. The class meets from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
It's harvest season, the perfect time to enjoy the bounty of Wisconsin's gardens and farms. It's also the best time to get serious about canning, preserving and fermenting these fresh foods.


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This may not be the best forum section. If not please let me know and I can repost.
After downloading source code (wxPython) from a book web site and then using the archive manager
to extract the files (including the directories) and I list the contents the directories show up in the
terminal/command mode listings as colors = green background and foreground color as blue. I interpret
that as a shared directory (?).
The problem I am having is that I can not use "./name.py" to execute a python script. When using this
this method I get a error message: "No such file or directory"
Also, I can not execute the script from the Ubuntu (12.04) GUI file menu. This is after I insure the file has permission's to allow execution. This seems to work as expected on other python script files.
I CAN execute the file with "python name.py" as well as execute the script when executing from python's IDLE .
I can't figure if this is an issue with the extracting the zip archive and how it is handled or if it is something else
Please help !


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Dog-friendly Iden, 2 Dogs & 7 People
This attractive detached house set in the owner's grounds provide spacious holiday accommodation situated at the end of a mile-long lane in glorious rural surroundings. Pet friendly and offering a plethora of walks on the doorstep, the cottage offers good quality linen and towels and a superb self catering base.
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Public Media Commons Archive: Youth 2012
The longest running of WHYY's media courses, WHYY's Youth Programs offer hands-on production training for teens. After-school programs teach 10th-12th graders to produce short documentaries, create original radio stories and operate the equipment in the Lincoln Financial Digital Education Studio. Students can further explore their interest through a series of summer camps with focuses on multimedia journalism and filmmaking. Youth Programs encourage teens to explore their own worlds through media, as they create projects on topics they select themselves.
The autism spectrum disorder is extremely broad and often misunderstood. Experts doing research, providing service, and families negotiating challenges that come about when their children are diagnosed as being on the disorder attempt to demystify autism and bring awareness. Produced by: Ben Abbaszadeh, Luke Hoheisel, Taiche Taylor. Watch now »
High School Dropout
Dropping out of high school is a difficult decision and often comes with facing many social stigmas and stereotypes. Youth and adults, who have dropped out, talk about some of the real reasons that cause individuals to drop out, and showcase initiatives to reengage individuals in the academic process. Produced by: Markese Ford, Dominic Henderson, Rakiim Thompson. Watch now »
Music and Poetry
The arts play an instrumental role in young people's lives. Pursuing creative endeavors helps young people in social, intellectual, and emotional development. Two disciplines, music and poetry, in particular are featured here. Produced by: Jaki Conroy, Christopher Holmes, Jared Jackson, Roger Pham, Kamerin Stroud. Watch now »
Philly's International Foods
Philadelphia is known for cheesesteaks, roast pork, soft pretzels, and water ice. Visitors and locals have long appreciated the diverse ethnic cuisine available, however in recent years, the city has seen an explosion in offerings across many diverse ethnic cuisines. Produced by: Andrew Cowell, Alec Kassan, Jackie Mangini. Watch now »
Social Networking: A Gateway to New Ways of Interaction
New media and computing has exploded in the last decade, growing and developing exponentially, providing outlets for distribution, accessing information, and facilitating communication. Students who have grown up knowing a world where these technologies have always been a part of their lives try to negotiate how they work and what some of the challenges are in using them. Produced by: Mikhail Dacres, Rishi Dutt, Tafari Gravesande, Kaylan Lewis. Watch now »
Civic engagement is the foundation for a flourishing democracy. Helping other people spans religious affiliation or social status, and has been a value appreciated in America since its founding. There is a strong public perception that young people do not consider others in society, but there are many whose experiences and efforts go undocumented. Produced by: Aurora Seamon. Watch now »


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Q: Who invented the printing press in the Holy Roman Empire in 1440?


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Bio and Research:
Stuart Pimm is a world leader in the study of present day extinctions and what can be done to prevent them. His research covers the reasons why species become extinct, how fast they do so, the global patterns of habitat loss and species extinction and, importantly, the management consequences of this research. Pimm received his BSc degree from Oxford University in 1971 and his Ph.D from New Mexico State University in 1974. Pimm is the author of over 270 scientific papers and four books. The Institute of Scientific Information has ranked him as one of the most highly cited environmental scientists for over a decade. Pimm wrote the highly acclaimed assessment of the human impact to the planet: The World According to Pimm: a Scientist Audits the Earth in 2001. His commitment to the interface between science and policy has lead to his testimony to both House and Senate Committees on the re-authorization of the Endangered Species Act. He was worked and taught in Africa for nearly 20 years on elephants, most recently lions — through National Geographic's Big Cats Initiative — but always on topics that relate to the conservation of wildlife and the ecosystems on which they depend. Other research areas include the Everglades of Florida and tropical forests in South America, especially the Atlantic Coast forest of Brazil and the northern Andes — two of the world's "hotspots" for threatened species.His international honours include the Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement(2010), the Dr. A.H. Heineken Prize for Environmental Sciences from the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (2006), the Society for Conservation Biology's Edward T. LaRoe III Memorial Award (2006), and the Marsh Award for Conservation Biology, from the Marsh Christian Trust (awarded by the Zoological Society of London in 2004). Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society, awarded him the William Proctor Prize for Scientific Achievement in 2007.
Contact Stuart L. Pimm
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The world is in mourning for comedy legend Robin Williams who was found dead at his Californian home last night in a suspected suicide.
But many in Merton have fond memories of his royal performance at the New Wimbledon Theatre, where he starred alongside John Cleese and Rowan Atkinson at an event in aid of the Prince's Trust.
The event saw Robin perform a mix of sketches and stand-up performances in front of Prince Charles in November 2008 which was later televised.
Before going on stage, Robin is said to have surprised an audience of 80 people at the Fighting Cocks in Kingston when he walked on to practise some material.
In an interview with Tim Vine, the Wimbledon Guardian's sister paper the Surrey Comet discovered the reaction to his surprise appearance.
Speaking about his own upcoming performance at the Kingston venue in the interview last month, Tim Vine said: "Robin Williams did it once.
"He was appearing at Prince Charles' birthday and he needed somewhere to try out his material.
"The audience had no idea it was happening. Maff (Brown, comedian) apparently said: "We've got a surprise for you tonight - Robin Williams!" and the audience laughed.
"Then Robin Williams actually walked on! To a room of about 80 people."
Robin with Bill Bailey in Wimbledon. Picture: ITV.
A spokesperson from the New Wimbledon Theatre said: "New Wimbledon Theatre were honoured and privileged to play host to Robin Williams in 2008, his first UK stage appearance in 25 years.
"Robin took part in a gala performance in aid of the Prince's Trust to celebrate the 60th birthday of HRH Prince Charles.
"We remember him fondly and are truly saddened to hear of this tragic loss."
Raynes Park resident Kevin Whincup has been a fan of the actor since he was a child.
Mr Whincup said: "I first remember seeing Robin Williams perform on TV in his role as Mork in Mork & Mindy, and then I saw him in various movies. I am still in shock over the news.
"He was a great actor and I grew up watching him in various roles. He would always make me laugh."
Mara Buxbaum, Williams' press representative, said: "Robin Williams passed away. He has been battling severe depression of late.
"This is a tragic and sudden loss. The family respectfully asks for their privacy as they grieve during this very difficult time."
Police said the death of the Good Morning, Vietnam actor was a suspected suicide.
A Marin County Sheriff's Office statement said: "At this time, the Sheriff's Office Coroner Division suspects the death to be a suicide due to asphyxia, but a comprehensive investigation must be completed before a final determination is made."
Were you at the performance in 2008? Send your memories of the night to email@example.com or call the newsdesk 020 8722 6336.


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Tom Brady called it a "bummer" that New England was catching the Dallas Cowboys when they were missing Tony Romo and Dez Bryant.
The star quarterback for the Patriots didn't say it was a letdown, though. Big difference.
"This team could easily be 4-0," Brady said of the Cowboys (2-2), who instead have lost both full games without Romo and Bryant.
The 38-year-old Brady is off to one of his best starts in his 16th season, the only quarterback besides Peyton Manning to have at least 1,110 yards passing and nine touchdowns without an interception in his first three games.
The Cowboys are just trying to find a way to win without Romo, who will miss at least four more games after this one with a broken left collarbone. Brandon Weeden is making his third start in Romo's place, and has a personal 10-game losing streak that goes back to his time in Cleveland.
While Romo lost Bryant to a broken right foot in the opener before sustaining his injury a week later, Brady and high-scoring favorite target Rob Gronkowski are at it again. They've connected on four touchdowns through three games for the league's top offense in yardage and points. New England's 88 first downs through three games are the most in NFL history.
"They've had a lot of success for a long time. And there is a reason for that," Dallas tight end Jason Witten said. "I don't think you focus on last year. We respect them because of what we see the last three Sundays they played. And they're a really good football team."


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Movies for Kids (and Their Families) - 'The Three Musketeers' - Jacob Burns Film Center
Hours: 12pm
Ages: TOD,YE,TW
Price: $11; $6.50 children ages 12 and younger
364 Manville Road - 914-747-5555
Pleasantville, NY 10570
Description: Thrilling swordplay! Derring-do! Sets that make you want to climb up into the screen! The Three Musketeers offers all this and more in gorgeous Technicolor. Starring Gene Kelly as a charming, swashbuckling D'Artagnan, alongside a wonderful cast from cinema's golden age: Lana Turner, June Allyson, Vincent Price, and Angela Lansbury. 1948. 125 min. Not Rated.


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And Delft: http://www.archief.delft.nl/
And Delft: http://www.archief.delft.nl/
=== Content ===
=== Content ===
Revision as of 21:53, 30 March 2009
Genlias is the premier site for Dutch records. The information from this site was taken directly from the Netherlands Civil Register. Some church records are also included. This site contains almost 10.5 million records with over 44 million names. The index is not complete; records are continuously being added. Most notably missing are records from Amsterdam, 's-Gravenhage (The Hague)(Genlias does have marriage records for The Hague from 1811-1842), Rotterdam, Leiden, Delft, etc.
If you want to see what is currently included in Genlias, go to the web-site http://www.genlias.nl/ and click on "What is in Genlias". Scroll down till you find "Current database status" and click on the orange(!) link. Then choose the province and then the town you are looking for. If the town is not there, no records are as yet available. If there are records, it will tell you which time period and what type of records are covered.
There are also records included from some of the Dutch colonies.
Another incredible site is: http://geneaknowhow.net/digi/bronnen.html
Records for Amsterdam baptisms before 1811 can be found at: https://stadsarchief.amsterdam.nl/archieven/archiefbank/indexen/doopregisters/zoek/index.nl.html
Some records for The Hague can be found at: http://www.denhaag.nl/smartsite.html?id=37609
The web-site for Rotterdam is: http://www.gemeentearchief.rotterdam.nl
Leiden's web-site is found here: http://www.leidenarchief.nl/index.php?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=8
And Delft: http://www.archief.delft.nl/
This Genlias site includes:
- Births (1811 to 1903)
- Marriages (1811 to 1923)
- Deaths (1811 to 1953)
- Death duties - statements of succession
According to the Genlias site:
A record of birth provides you with the following information:
- The name of the child
- The names of the parents
- The exact date of birth
- In most cases, the parents' address
A record of marriage provides you with the following information:
- The names and ages of the bride and groom
- In most cases, the names of the bride's and the groom's parents
- In most cases, the places of birth of the bride and groom
- Whether the bride is a widow or the groom a widower
- In most cases the profession of groom and/or bride
A record of death provides you with the following information:
- The name of the deceased
- The exact date of death
- In most cases, the name of the deceased's parents
- In most cases, the age of the deceased
- In some cases, the deceased's place of birth
- In some cases, the name of the deceased's spouse
- In most cases, the address of the deceased
Using the Site
The site initially comes up in Dutch. If you want to see it in English, click English at the top of the home page.
Most web-sites in the Netherlands are free


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Search the LDC Catalog
The Catalog may be searched using any of the above criteria. Fields left blank are ignored.
For open text fields, enter full or partial names.
For the selection boxes, more than one value may be selected within the field depending on desired results. For example, Membership Year = 1996 OR 1998 returns publications with at least one of the selected values, while Membership Year = 1996 AND 1998 returns publications with all of the chosen values..
Searches by more than one criteria between fields will either return publications matching the criteria set for the chosen fields (e.g., Membership Year = 1996 AND Language = English), or publications matching criteria for at least one of the chosen fields (e.g., Membership Year = 1996 OR Language = English).


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Event Coverage Sponsored by
At a particularly dynamic year for Luxe Pack Monaco, happening October 24–26 2012, the event attracted more than 7,000 attendees and presented innovations from 370 exhibitors.
Click Here to view gallery
At a particularly dynamic year for Luxe Pack Monaco, happening October 24–26 2012, the event attracted more than 7,000 attendees and presented innovations from 370 exhibitors. The strong growth in visitor numbers and dense business exchange helped Luxe Pack Monaco 2012 maintain its presence as an essential event for creative packaging professionals.
A record figure, 7,022 visitors visited the show, an increase of 10.5% over 2011, and beyond the record numbers, the quality of visitors was more present than ever as international beauty brand decision-makers came in droves during the three days of the show. Fragrance and cosmetics was the largest sector represented among visitors followed by the alcohol and spirits, delicatessen, fashion accessory, jewelry and watch, pharmacy-health, leather goods, tobacco, writing instruments, table art, and decoration sectors. The show's internationality was confirmed by 52% of foreign visitors from 68 countries, with significant presences from the U.S., Russia and South America.
Speaking about the importance of beauty packaging in front of a full house, Luxe Pack Monaco's guest of honor Mary Lewis discussed design principles she uses as a guide in her everyday work. First win the eye, the heart, and then the mind, she noted as a simple truth that she appreciates not only as a design principle but because that is the reality of life. It is how people buy and not just a marketing pitch. "Luxury has acquired a social conscience, a new mortality and democracy. Beauty is no longer in the eye of the beholder; it comes from within," Lewis said.
During the conference on "Luxury Packaging and Sustainable Development—The New Alliance?," experts in sustainable development and responsible luxury laid the groundwork for reviewing analyses, the relevance, and specificity of a sustainable development initiative in the luxury sector. Groups such as LVMH and large houses such as Chanel and Guerlain have shown good sense in moving toward product packaging with eco-design and have illustrated case studies and innovations discretely but thoroughly carried out. Other topics industry experts weighed in on during the show included designing packaging for a product to be sold online, understanding emerging luxury markets to better adapt packaging, producing exceptional packaging, and associating sensory perception with luxury.
Additionally, many exhibitors had saved launches for Luxe Pack Monaco, and a wealth of innovations, new products, applications and materials were unveiled on the stands and in the Luxe Pack Innovation Forum area and workshops. The 2012 Luxe Pack In Green prize was awarded to Favini for its Crush paper make with 15% of organic food waste.


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NEW YORK STATE INSURANCE LAW §3224-b
A White Paper Issued by Kern Augustine Conroy & Schoppmann, P.C.
November 10, 2009
Michael J. Schoppmann, Esq., Kern Augustine Conroy & Schoppmann, P.C.
David N. Vozza, Esq., Kern Augustine Conroy & Schoppmann, P.C.
NEW YORK STATE INSURANCE LAW §3224-b
Physicians today face unfair treatment in the health plan financial audit process due to health plans apparent disregard of the reforms to New York Insurance Law Section 3224-b which were instituted to even the playing field and ensure that audits are conducted in a fair and efficient manner. Today, physicians who receive a medical record request from a health plan routinely face a pre-designated, automatic labeling of their prior billing methods as "fraudulent" and/or "abusive". Faced with such an undue characterization, physicians are forced to spend vast amounts of time and financial resources as they hire certified professional coders and healthcare counsel simply to ensure that health plans treat them fairly during the audit process. Physicians are often forced to retrieve, at great expense, medical records from storage in order to meet these labels and their attendant demands for billing and claims information that is six or more years old. Over the past several months, many of our efforts in defending physicians have been met with health plans becoming exponentially more aggressive in the scope, manner and mechanisms of their audit demands and much less willing to negotiate appropriate and reasonable settlements. These new tactics and methods by the health plans serve to undermine, if not obviate, the very intentions of the reforms gained under New York Insurance Law Section 3224-b.
We do not argue that health plans should not have the opportunity to review medical records to ensure that the claims have been appropriately paid to the providers. We simply argue that they must be required to comply with New York Insurance Law Section 3224-b and conduct audit claims within the boundaries of the law and the clear intention of the legislature in enacting the same. The health plans' interpretation of the meaning of "abusive billing practices" has become so broad that the effect is to allow them to routinely look back for claims paid within six years prior to the audit demand in almost every case. If left unchecked, health plans, mindful of the costs concomitant with defending such audits, will only continue their abusive auditing practices. Already financially strapped physicians will be left with little choice but to make unjustified payments to health plans - even in defensible cases. Clarifying the law to require that health plans must first establish clear evidence of an intent to bill incorrectly, or a willful disregard of accepted standards of billing and coding practices, in order to make any claim that a physician has been fraudulently or abusively billing, will end this practice and provide the physicians of the state of New York the rights intended, and originally afforded them, under the law.
New York Insurance Law Section 3224-b(b)(2) states that:
"A health plan shall not initiate overpayment recovery efforts more than twenty-four months after the original payment was received by a physician. Provided, however, that no such time limit shall apply to overpayment recovery efforts which are: (i) based on a reasonable belief of fraud or other intentional misconduct, or abusive billing, (ii) required by, or initiated at the request of, a self-insured plan, or (iii) required by a state or federal government program. Notwithstanding the aforementioned time limitations, in the event that a physician asserts that a health care plan has underpaid a claim or claims, the health plan may defend or set off such assertion of underpayment based on overpayments going back in time as far as the claimed underpayment. For purposes of this paragraph, "abusive billing" shall be defined as a billing practice which results in the submission of claims that are not consistent with sound fiscal, business, or medical practices and at such frequency and for such a period of time as to reflect a consistent course of conduct."
The New York legislature has recently made revisions to this section of the Insurance Law. Accordingly, effective January 1, 2010, the relevant provision set forth above, now Insurance Law Section 3224-b(b)(3), will state:
"A health plan shall not initiate overpayment recovery efforts more than twenty-four months after the original payment was received by a health care provider. However, no such time limit shall apply to overpayment recovery efforts that are: (i) based on a reasonable belief of fraud or other intentional misconduct, or abusive billing, (ii) required by, or initiated at the request of, a self-insured plan, or (iii) required or authorized by a state or federal government program or coverage that is provided by this state or a municipality thereof to its respective employees, retirees or members. Notwithstanding the aforementioned time limitations, in the event that a health care provider asserts that a health plan has underpaid a claim or claims, the health plan may defend or set off such assertion of underpayment based on overpayments going back in time as far as the claimed underpayment. For purposes of this paragraph, "abusive billing" shall be defined as a billing practice which results in the submission of claims that are not consistent with sound fiscal, business, or medical practices and at such frequency and for such a period of time as to reflect a consistent course of action."
Despite the express time limits set forth therein, health plans and managed care companies have recently acted, in concert and by clear design, to circumvent the law and extend the "look-back" period to six years in furtherance of their audits of health care providers. Specifically, managed care companies' self-serving interpretation of the term "abusive billing practices" has essentially nullified the intent of the law. This tactic flies in the face of the efforts of the Medical Society of the State of New York and acts to circumvent the hard earned reforms that were implemented to guarantee fair results in managed care audits. As a result, the managed care companies' interpretation of what constitutes "abusive billing practices" has become so broad that the effect is to allow them to routinely extend the "look back" period to include claims paid within six years prior to the audit demand in almost every case. In effect, the statutory two year "look back" period has become virtually irrelevant.
The following case study provides a perfect example of the tactics used by managed care companies to circumvent the law. In the fall of 2007, Dr. A. B. received a chart request from a third-party contractor that performs audits for Oxford Health Plans ("Oxford"). Prior to this request, Dr. A. B. never received a phone call or correspondence from any insurer indicating that his billing or documentation practices were deficient in any way. There was never a suggestion by any party that his billing or documentation practices were abusive or fraudulent.
In order to ensure that he and his office staff were complying with the relevant documentation and billing guidelines, Dr. A. B. immediately retained a certified professional coder to audit his practice, review his documentation practices and train his staff.
After reviewing the relevant records and speaking with the doctor's staff, the certified coder rendered the opinion that Dr. A. B. provided the care and treatment that he billed for, however, noted a documentation error in that while Dr. A. B. documented the length of each patient encounter, he did not note how much of that time was spent counseling and coordinating the patient's care and how much of that time was spent examining the patient. This inadvertent technical mistake was certainly not evidence of abusive billing. The certified coder educated all of the staff of the medical office, including the doctor, concerning relevant guidelines and appropriate documentation procedures.
Given the certified coder's findings, Dr. A. B. was understandably shocked to receive Oxford's subsequent overpayment demand of $130,285.28. This demand was comprised almost exclusively of claims that were paid more than twenty-four months prior to the date of the demand. Tellingly, Oxford's correspondence did not accuse Dr. A. B. of abusive billing or fraud but instead noted "incorrect Evaluation and Management (E&M) Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes submitted." For the first time, Dr. A. B. was offered guidance from Oxford regarding the appropriate coding method (which he had already, on his own, obtained).
Prior to responding to Oxford's demand, the certified coder was asked to review a sample of Dr. A.B.'s then-current charts and to analyze trends in the volume of each level of CPT code that the practice was billing. This time she found that in each instance the doctor's documentation comported with the relevant guidelines and gave him credit for 100% percent of what he billed. In comparing the two reviews that the certified coder performed, it was noted that:
1) Dr. A. B., at all times prior to and subsequent to the initial review, provided the care that he billed for;
2) There was no evidence of fraud or abusive billing practices at any time;
3) The physician had applied the knowledge gained during the in-service that had been conducted; and
4) Dr. A.B.'s patient population is unique. As a Reproductive Endocrinologist, he treats patients with complex medical problems and provides highly specialized medical care to them. Therefore, his utilization of Level 4 and Level 5 visits is appropriate and justified.
In response to Oxford's findings, Dr. A.B. filed a detailed submission, enclosing the certified coder's findings, and putting forth the evidence that all care billed for was in fact provided and articulating the unique aspects of Dr. A.B.'s patient population. Without addressing the specifics of the submission, Oxford responded by letter that cited an outdated New York State Insurance Department opinion letter and an erroneous interpretation of the definition of "abusive billing practices". The certified coder's unchallenged report was more than enough evidence to support the position that any alleged technical billing error made was clearly unintentional. Oxford's findings, citing its self serving interpretation of Insurance Law §3224 constitutes bad faith and a willful disregard of the law. In the face of Oxford's deplorable conduct, one would submit that a showing of united force is needed to make clear that Oxford's fiscal recovery efforts are egregious and unlawful.
Unfortunately, there is little or no guidance regarding what constitutes "abusive billing practice". This firm contacted an attorney at the Insurance Department and discussed the case with him. He opined that Oxford had erred in looking back beyond the twenty-four months allotted by statute. We also ordered, and reviewed, all New York State Insurance Department opinion letters, legislative history and other information made available to us in response to a Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) request.
Of note, this firm did not identify any Insurance Department opinion letter that adequately described the meaning of "abusive billing practice." However, a careful examination of the Legislative History pertaining to the January 1, 2007 Amendment to New York State Insurance Law § 3224-b reveals that the amendment was passed to address the inequities in the audit process. The following highlighted excerpts from a sample of the letters of support for the legislation, although authored by different individuals from different organizations, read as though penned by one hand.
New York State Senator Nick Spano wrote in support of the reform explaining that:
"This measure seeks to address some of the numerous difficulties faced by physicians and other providers in their dealings with health insurance plans. Inconsistent and cumbersome procedures cause physicians to waste valuable resources dealing with the administrative burdens of health plans, rather than treating patients. These problems include deviation from nationally accepted claims coding standards, confusing health plan rules used to adjudicate claims submitted by physicians, excessive demands for refunds of claims paid several years in the past, the lack of meaningful notice to physicians of refund claims… To address these issues, this legislation would enact much needed reforms by attempting to assure fairness, uniformity and consistency for physicians and health plans…"
Dennis Whalen, Executive Deputy Commissioner of the New York State Department of Health noted that "The legislative intent of this bill is to provide some uniformity and consistency in claims and payment…" and recommended the approval of the reforms.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists conveyed the following analysis:
"When insurers demand that physicians pay back large sums of money several years after the original claim was made, it puts a tremendous financial burden on the physicians and their respective practices. Contesting the demand is often difficult because so much time has passed between when the refund is demanded by the insurer [and notice of the dispute]… The aforementioned managed care reforms are necessary to correct abuses which have been employed by insurance companies in New York State."
The letter of support of the amendment from the Medical Society of the State of New York also appears in the legislative history. Specifically, Gerard L. Conway, Esq. made several noteworthy points, as follows:
"[the proposed amendment would] begin to address some of the several contracting problems that health care providers have experienced with certain HMOs and other insurers in the processing of health insurance claims and the credentialing of physicians… It should be noted that several of the settlement agreements of lawsuits initiated by MSSNY against the managed care plans have resulted in provisions that have set forth time imitations on the ability of health plans to demand refunds from physicians of previously paid claims. It should also be noted that this issue has been debated extensively between MSSNY and the health plans for the past several years at the Insurance Department Health Care Roundtable. A major roadblock to a successful resolution of this issue in this forum has been the argument by the health plans that there is no language currently in statute that expressly limits the ability of health plans to demand such refunds. We believe that this two-year "look back" limitation set forth in this bill, while not completely addressing the problem of unfair health plan refund demands, would at least narrow the scope of the problem."
The legislative history cited above explains the difficulties faced by physicians defending audits and confirms that the intent of the amendment to the New York State Insurance Law § 3224-b was to require managed care companies to address any billing concerns soon enough for physicians to defend them properly and without undue hardship. Now, health plans and managed care companies, such as Oxford, disregard these reforms that the Medical Society of the State of New York and others fought hard for. The result is that thousands of physicians now face the very same burdens and uncertainty as they faced before the reforms were passed.
Therefore, it is our suggestion that substantive revisions be made to Insurance Law §3224-b to remove the current ambiguity in the law regarding the rights prescribed to both health plans and healthcare providers therein and to ensure fairness in the audit process overall.
First, it is our suggestion that health plans be limited to utilizing only universally accepted and standardized methods of reviewing the billing habits of health care providers. In the absence of such a standard, health plans will be permitted to continue to use their own self-serving proprietary standards and result oriented software. This change in the law would prevent such unfairness and instill confidence in health care providers that the audit process is both legitimate and objective.
Second, the "look back" period, currently set at twenty-four months, should be reduced to twelve months. As set forth above, the overpayment amounts determined by health plans are extremely substantial and can serve to financially devastate a practice if not render it insolvent altogether. The reduction of the retrospective "look back" period would remove the unfair practice of a health plan seeking repayment for a time period much longer than what is required by them to determine that billing irregularities may exist. In essence, the onus will be placed on the health plan to notify the health care provider within a reasonable period of time as to any billing concerns it may hold so as to reduce the amount in controversy and mitigate the repayment amount.
Third, in determining overpayment amounts, health plans should be limited in utilizing the application of "extrapolation" in only those cases where there is clear evidence of fraud or intentional misconduct. Extrapolation is the statistical method wherein a claim for a minimal amount can be multiplied over all claims and then the resulting, far higher amount is multiplied again over a period of years – bringing the original minimal claims amount to an exponentially higher level.
Fourth, in connection with those specific instances that are exempt from the current two year "look back" limitation, the term "abusive billing" should be removed altogether. As set forth above, the term is ambiguous and is subject to self-serving interpretation which, when applied without appropriate basis, can result in an unjust windfall for a health plan. Even with the term's removal, the health plan is already sufficiently protected under the law as the exemptions to the two year "look back" period - fraud and intentional misconduct. Moreover, to prevent the future misapplication of this "false label", the law should provide that if a health plan alleges fraud or intentional misconduct and initiates overpayment recovery efforts for more than the two year "look back" period and it is subsequently determined that the payments in dispute are not a result of fraud or intentional misconduct, that health plan shall reimburse the falsely-accused health care provider for any and all reasonable legal fees, consulting fees and costs expended in connection its defense against such an action. To further prevent such abuse, a health plan found to have falsely accused a health care provider of fraud or intentional misconduct, shall be subject to a penalty of up to five thousand dollars per payment.
There are several potential, and differing, approaches to address this problem. We have prepared this White Paper with the hope that we can coordinate a collective approach that garners the maximum amount of physician support and substantive impact in order to prevent future unfair and unlawful audits.
It has been our experience that far too few physicians are aware of the risk of an audit, the inherent unfairness of the audit process and/or the increasing likelihood that no physician or practice will be able to avoid facing such threats. However, through the issuance of this White Paper, we would hope to increase physician awareness of these issues and we firmly believe that increased awareness will result in increased involvement.
Combining that involvement with the support of organized medicine, we believe that physicians can take action toward restoring the health plan financial audit process to its intended methods and/or mechanisms, mindful of the rights of the physician community. To those who share such goals, we would hope that this White Paper will serve as a starting point toward developing a collective strategy and a unified attack against unlawful audits.
This White Paper is published by Kern Augustine Conroy & Schoppmann, P.C., a law firm that has been dedicated to and exclusively representing physicians and other healthcare professionals for more than a quarter of a century. Kern Augustine Conroy & Schoppmann, in association with its affiliates, Augustine Kern & Levens, Ltd. and Physicians' Counsel, LLC, forms one of the nation's largest Healthcare Law Firms devoted predominantly to the needs of physicians and other healthcare professionals. Together they have defended physicians throughout the United States.
The author, Michael J. Schoppmann, Esq., has spent his career focusing on the defense of healthcare professionals in actions before state licensing authorities (OPMC), the Office of Inspector General (Medicare), hospital disciplinary actions and other state and federal authorities. Mr. Schoppmann has also served as a faculty member of the Cornell University, Johnson Graduate School of Management, Executive Program in Health Care Delivery Management. He is a past two-term Chairman of the State Bar Association's Administrative Law Section. For more information, please contact Mr. Schoppmann at (516) 294-5432 or firstname.lastname@example.com.
Contributing writer David N. Vozza, Esq., practices in the areas of health care law, commercial litigation and professional discipline. Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Vozza was in private practice and has extensive experience in representing physicians in a wide variety of matters including corporate issues and no-fault claims. For more information, please contact Mr. Vozza at (516) 294-5432 or email@example.com.
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Members enjoy peace of mind knowing that they have reputable counsel available whenever a government inquiry arises.
Read more...
© 2017 Kern Augustine, P.C. All rights reserved. Website maintained by Winning Strategies ITS


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John Kenneth Galbraith
News about John Kenneth Galbraith, including commentary and archival articles published in The New York Times.
Keep It Short
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March 24, 2014, Monday
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Keynes and Keynesianism
Rather than being for or against Keynesianism, policy makers should pragmatically try to respond to the most pressing economic issues.
May 14, 2013, Tuesday
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America's Mid-20th-Century Infrastructure
Americans are curiously willing to tolerate shoddy infrastructure rather than supporting spending to repair and improve it.
November 16, 2012, Friday
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Invitation to a Dialogue: Does Selfishness Rule?
A lawyer says self-interest is guiding debate on public policy. Readers are invited to respond.
July 11, 2012, Wednesday
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The Other Chinese 'Junk'
Guo Shuqing, chairman of China Construction Bank, proposed in an interview with The Financial Times that "junk" bonds be introduced to China to give smaller private companies a new source of credit.
April 19, 2010, Monday
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Seeking a Poet for the Great Mess of '08
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November 3, 2008, Monday
MORE ON JOHN KENNETH GALBRAITH AND: Economic Conditions and Trends , Reform and Reorganization , Layoffs and Job Reductions , Labor , Galbraith, John Kenneth , Banks and Banking
Managing Up, Down and Sideways
A historical view of the peculiarly circumscribed world of a White House adviser illuminates the political art of holding your tongue while thinking your piece.
October 7, 2007, Sunday
MORE ON JOHN KENNETH GALBRAITH AND: Presidents and Presidency (US) , Kennedy, John Fitzgerald , Ehrlichman, John D , Haldeman, H R , Schlesinger, Arthur Jr , History , Johnson, Lyndon Baines , McNamara, Robert , Galbraith, John Kenneth , Harriman, W Averell , Humphrey, Hubert H Jr , Reeves, Richard , Nixon, Richard Milhous
A Free-Market Economist, Up by His Bootstraps
This Milton Friedman documentary is so unabashedly venerating that it ultimately does its subject a disservice.
January 29, 2007, Monday
MORE ON JOHN KENNETH GALBRAITH AND: United States Economy , Friedman, Milton , Documentary Films and Programs , Public Broadcasting Service , Galbraith, John Kenneth
Editors' Note
An article on Sept. 21 about criticism of President Bush at the United Nations by President Hugo Chávez of Venezuela and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran reported that Mr. Chávez praised a book by Noam Chomsky, the linguist and social critic....
October 6, 2006, Friday
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Home > Wellness > Health Library > Deciding to Get Treatment for PTSD
Browse and register for related classes.
There are many reasons why you may not want
to get treated for
post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
But you need to get treatment. Treatment can work, and
early treatment may help reduce long-term symptoms.footnote 1
Here are some reasons people don't seek treatment and what you
can do about them.
For more information, see the topic
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Bisson J (2010). Post-traumatic stress disorder, search date March 2009. BMJ Clinical Evidence. Available online: http://www.clinicalevidence.com.
ByHealthwise StaffPrimary Medical ReviewerAdam Husney, MD - Family MedicineKathleen Romito, MD - Family MedicineSpecialist Medical ReviewerJessica Hamblen, PhD - Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
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There was no excuse for parents and friends of Landewednack Primary School not to buy plenty at its Christmas fair when it featured the launch of a new shopping bag.
Covered in self portraits of the children and staff at the school and adjoining Little Lizard Children's Centre, the bag is being sold in aid of both.
Made of heavy duty cotton, the bags proved popular at the fair although there are still some left, which can be bought by calling into the school office.
At the fair the school hall was packed full of stalls, including Christmas treats, raffles and games for the children.
Beforehand the children had been given a bauble to take home and decorate in a competition organised by the School Association.
All entries were then judged by the school's chair of governors Alix Lord, who said what a difficult task she had been given as all the baubles were "fantastic."
The fair was hailed a great success, with £408.25 during the afternoon.
The school has thanked the members of the School Association, everyone made cakes or donated raffle and tombola prizes, and everyone who supported the fair.


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The U.S. has avoided default and brought federal workers back to their jobs after a 16-day partial government shutdown. In approving legislation to end the crisis, Congress effectively hit the snooze button on both problems. The stage is potentially set for another crisis three months into the future.
The votes in both chambers were overwhelmingly in favor of resolution, marking a sharp setback for Congressional conservatives. In the Senate, the vote was 81-18, while the House vote was 285 to 144.
With the legislation, the debt limit is suspended until Feb. 7, 2014, and federal agencies are funded through Jan. 15, 2014.
About 12 hours after he signed the measure, President Barack Obama urged both sides to work together to avoid another breakdown. Said the president, "There are no winners here. These last few weeks have inflicted completely unnecessary damage on our economy. We don't know yet the full scope of the damage, but every analyst out there believes it slowed our growth."
Sterne Agee chief economist Lindsey Piegza said the result "isn't a solution at all but simply kicks the can down the road."
How can Washington avoid another damaging meltdown, given a short timeline? In the hope of addressing that, the measure also created a bipartisan budget panel, headed by Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., and Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash. They must report on plans for a long-term budget by Dec. 13.
Murray issued a statement saying, "My hope is that in the weeks and months ahead we can heal many of the partisan divides that keep us from addressing the big challenges we face, including returning our focus to creating jobs and improving our economy."
Ryan also sounded a spirit of hope, even after he voted against the bill to avoid default. "I look forward to convening the first conference on a budget resolution since 2009. And though a budget resolution by itself can't resolve our spending problem, I'm committed to making a bipartisan budget conference a success," he said in a statement.
As Obama acknowledged the challenges of forging an agreement, he said, "We shouldn't approach this process of creating a budget as an ideological exercise -- just cutting for the sake of cutting. The issue is not growth versus fiscal responsibility -- we need both."
In the meantime, damage has been done. Economists at IHS Global Insight say the three weeks of government shutdown will reduce growth in the current quarter from an earlier estimate of 2.2 percent to 1.6 percent. Their note says, "There will also be some impact from lost private-sector jobs tied to the shutdown, as well as a loss of consumer and business confidence resulting from the debt-ceiling showdown."
Standard & Poor's said the shutdown cost the U.S. economy $24 billion and also revised down its forecast for the economy in the current quarter.
The crisis has also prompted leaders around the world to continue to ponder the risks posed by the U.S. International Monetary Fund Managing Director Christine Lagarde issued a statement saying, "It will be essential to reduce uncertainty surrounding the conduct of fiscal policy by raising the debt limit in a more durable manner." The latter is a reference to the proverbial can being kicked, again. Lagarde says the IMF continues "to encourage the U.S. to approve a budget for 2014 and replace the sequester with gradually phased-in measures that would not harm the recovery, and to adopt a balanced and comprehensive medium-term fiscal plan."
On the challenges in the months ahead, the note from IHS Global Insight included what their economists called "the bottom line." They said, "The U.S.'s prestige in global financial markets and world capitals will continue to deteriorate if we lurch from crisis to crisis."
In his first public appearance just minutes after Senate passage, President Obama had prepared remarks and took no questions. Even so, one reporter asked, "Mr. President, isn't this going to happen all over again in a few months?"
Obama stopped and turned with a one-word reply: "No." The official transcript also noted "(laughter)" after his answer.
Do you think that members of Congress and President Obama can avoid another crisis in the months ahead?
Follow me on Twitter: @hamrickisms.


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Instead of being on the acquisition side of a buying spree, VMware seems to have flipped the tables and is now selling off technologies.
Earlier this month, the virtualization giant announced it had sold off its Protect line of patch and asset management software acquired through the purchase of Shavlik Technologies back in May 2011. VMware unloaded this product line to LANDesk, a provider of IT management, security, mobility and services, owned by private equity investment firm Thoma Bravo, LLC.
[ Also on InfoWorld: Piston Cloud unveils enterprise OpenStack 2.0 | Former VMware CEO Maritz to lead new EMC and VMware spinoff | Track the latest trends in virtualization in InfoWorld's Virtualization Report newsletter. ]
VMware and Shavlik have a long history, going back to 2006 when the two companies first partnered. Back then, VMware was looking for a way to help provide its upcoming Virtual Infrastructure 3.1 release with a better way to manage patches of its ESX host servers and its guest operating systems. The two worked closely to create a new VirtualCenter module called Update Manager, a module to provide virtual administrators the ability to decide which patches to install on their Microsoft Windows guest OSes and to identify which patches were needed for Red Hat Enterprise Linux.
In 2009, the companies came together again to create the free Web-based Go service, which VMware previewed in August 2009 and delivered the following January. VMware Go let users virtualize their servers with a few simple mouse clicks and provided an easy on-ramp to companies new to virtualization. The free service worked to bring VMware ESXi hypervisors under management and provided basic performance and resource management for the VMs.
At the time of the original acquisition announcement, VMware said the two companies would build upon those joint successes and continue to provide management services for small to medium-sized businesses, including centralized IT management services, simplified deployment and automation, and automated IT management.
Fast-forward to April 2013 and VMware is now bidding farewell to Shavlik. But VMware isn't apologizing to those who question why the company spent money to acquire Shavlik only to turn around and sell it off. There is a reason for this departure. According to Ramin Sayar, vice president and general manager of cloud infrastructure and management at VMware, the sale maps to VMware's strategy to execute against its three main priorities: the software-defined data center, the hybrid cloud, and end-user computing.
"As part of our efforts to focus on these areas, we came to the conclusion that asset and patch management as a stand-alone offering would be best provided by a partner such as LANDesk," stated Sayar. "It was important to VMware to find a buyer that would be a good home for Protect customers, and we believe LANDesk is a great fit. In transitioning the Shavlik Protect product family to LANDesk, we are confident that customers will be in good hands with seamless product support and further technology innovation."


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Currently on display in the library are selections from our New Religious Movements Research Collections. The GTU was one of the first institutions to formally study the evolving nature of new religious organizations, from Hare Krishna to the Unification Church.. These materials are from our 10 main NRM archival collections.
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gel-quantum 360 2 shoe
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The Asics GEL-Quantum 360 2 Shoe for men is a one-of-a-kind running shoe. Engineered with multiple technologies like the Heel Clutch System™, Solyte® midsole and signature Gel® cushioning system for an explosive performance, the shoe keeps you on your toes and lets you adjust speed and precision.
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You can return your items for free within 14 days of purchase. Returns numbers must be requested within 7 days of receiving your order and you will have a further 7 days to return unsuitable items. For more information please refer to our Returns Policy page. We deliver straight to your doorstep across the UAE and GCC; if you require further information please refer to our Shipping Policy page.
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5500 Capital Blvd
Directions Raleigh, NC 27616
So now that you have seen Leith Chrysler Jeep's inventory of new car models in Raleigh, including the all new Jeep Wrangler Unlimited and Chrysler Town & Country, why not take a minute to browse our selection of used Chrysler, Jeep and pre-owned cars in Raleigh We inspect all pre-owned vehicles that come into our Raleigh, North Carolina dealership to ensure we are providing genuine quality for our greater Cary, Durham and Garner customers. Come visit us at 5500 Capital Blvd and see for yourself!
Want to learn more about a particular vehicle? Check out our Vehicle Showroom, allowing you to configure your own car, truck, minivan or SUV while also learning the technical specifications and available features for each model.
*Price of vehicle listed, plus tax, tag and $598 administrative/documentary fee due at signing. Not all customers will qualify for all incentives including but not limited to IDL bonus cash and/or trade in bonus cash. See dealer for details.
* MSRP is the Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of the vehicle. It does not include any taxes, fees or other charges. Pricing and availability may vary based on a variety of factors, including options, dealer, specials, fees, and financing qualifications. Consult your dealer for actual price and complete details. Vehicles shown may have optional equipment at additional cost.
* The estimated selling price that appears after calculating dealer offers is for informational purposes, only. You may not qualify for the offers, incentives, discounts, or financing. Offers, incentives, discounts, or financing are subject to expiration and other restrictions. See dealer for qualifications and complete details.
* Images, prices, and options shown, including vehicle color, trim, options, pricing and other specifications are subject to availability, incentive offerings, current pricing and credit worthiness.
* In transit means that vehicles have been built, but have not yet arrived at your dealer. Images shown may not necessarily represent identical vehicles in transit to your dealership. See your dealer for actual price, payments and complete details.


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Slip into the Wild West in these Women's Gypsy Soule Indian Sugar Soule Western Boots by Ariat. These boots have wild native art designs with a rock twist. These Gypsy Soule boots have a skull screen print scull with embroidered feather headdress on the shaft that has been wear tested for durability. The bright colors and embroidery accents on the foot and shaft give these boots a funky fashionable look that is sure to add just the right amount of western rock flair. These boots have unique accent pull straps that have dangling leather feathers over an arrow over lay that puts the finished touches on these unique and creative boots. The full grain leather foot and shaft, lining and outsole give these boots a comfortable ad durable feel. The ATS footbed technology provides comfort and stability for all day wear. Whether you are out for a night on the town, at a rodeo, or tearing up the dance floor these boots will have you in comfort and style wherever you go. These one of a kind boots are limited edition so get them while you can!
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Ariat Boots quickly became known as the most innovative and performance riding boots. They provide the same technology in men's riding boots, women's riding boots and kids riding boots. They totally redesigned the traditional outsole, arch support and last shape and took Ariat Boots to the next level in riding boot technology. While building the technology into these western riding boots, Ariat had hundreds of top riders help design and develop their final product.
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If you are the professional rider who absolutely demands performance boots or the novice who likes to ride around from time to time, Ariat definitely has the boots for every man, woman or child. We have all of the top styles including the Fatbaby boots, Heritage Western, the Dixie and the QuickDraw. These styles are all must have for men's western boots, women's western boots or kids western boots. The casual look and performance driven Ariat Boots will provide you with long comfy rides in the country or a relaxing day in the sun. Get yours today!


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Freeport swimmer prepares to defend titles
Freeport's Bria Otwell became a freshman sensation last season when she upset older, more experienced swimmers and emerged from the pool with two WPIAL Class AA titles.
Otwell is determined to avoid a sophomore setback but said it won't be easy.
She captured gold medals in the 200-yard individual medley and 500-yard freestyle at the WPIAL finals. She also placed fifth and seventh, respectively, at the PIAA meet.
Otwell's stronger and more experienced. On the other hand, she's no longer a relatively unknown ninth-grader. She's become a top target for competition.
"The WPIAL is still a big challenge," Otwell said. "There's a bunch of great girls. I'm even more nervous for WPIALs this season. Last year, as a freshman, there were no expectations. Not to sound cocky, but the other girls will be out there for blood. They know my name. They know what I can do. My goal is to win WPIALs again and go for a win at states."
The WPIAL championships are set for Feb. 26 through March 1, and the state finals will follow in mid-March.
About two months ago, Otwell suffered a partial tear in the quadriceps muscle of her left thigh. The injury didn't require surgery, but she said it will slow her breaststroke, which requires great leg strength, at least for a while. The breaststroke is one of the four styles used in the individual medley.
"The leg doesn't hurt, but it gets fatigued," Otwell said.
Another major and more positive change, Otwell said, is her method of schooling. Last year, she was cyber schooled, which helped accommodate a grueling practice schedule that often included waking at 4:30 a.m. for a workout before school.
But cyber schooling made it more difficult for Otwell to interact directly with others and enjoy a typical high school experience. She's thrilled to attend public school again, even though her practice schedule still is challenging.
"I missed my friends," she said.
Also in Class AA, St. Joseph senior Holly Stein is eager to make a run at a WPIAL championship after finishing less than a second short of that goal last season.
Stein (1:07.18) was passed late and placed second to South Fayette's Morgan Fink (1:06.78) in the 100 breaststroke. Again, the title could come down to Stein and Fink, who's also a senior.
"It's something I'm preparing for," Stein said. "I was really into my race at the beginning, and I could see I was winning. That got into my head a little, and I got out of rhythm. I need to try to focus more and concentrate on my own race rather than what other people are doing."
Stein, who has scholarship offers from Division II California (Pa.) and Edinboro, also finished ninth in the 200 IM at WPIALs. She qualified for states in both of her primary events.
Stein started lifting weights this past summer and feels much stronger heading into this season. Even though she'd like to win a WPIAL title, she said her times are more important to colleges.
"I would like to get around 1:06 or maybe even 1:05 (in the 100 breaststroke)," Stein said.
Among local boys, Knoch senior Ian Lindsey appears to be the top returning swimmer after taking third place in the 100 breaststroke at the WPIAL Class AA championships.
Lindsey (1:01.50) had the misfortune to compete against two standout seniors. Quaker Valley's Bobby Francis (58.44) and Shady Side Academy's Grant Zentgraf (58.60) each broke the previous WPIAL meet record.
Francis and Zentgraf have graduated, leaving Lindsey among the favorites to claim the crown this season. Indiana senior John Haycock (1:01.56) took fourth and could challenge Lindsey for top honors.
"John Haycock is very fast," Lindsey said. "I raced him (in YMCA competition) this year already and beat him. I'm hoping it will be between me and him. He'll push me to get better."
Lindsey, who has received interest from Division II Clarion, injured his shoulder during the summer but said he feels "great."
"It was a slight labrum tear," Lindsey said. "I had to work on building more muscle. It wasn't anything major. It would have turned into something bigger if I hadn't been careful."
In coaching news, former WPIAL standout Beth (Karaica) Brancato was hired to lead the swim teams at her alma mater, Highlands.
Brancato earned All-American recognition at Nebraska in 1997, '98 and '99. For the Cornhuskers, she was a member of two relay teams — the 200 freestyle (1:31.06) and 400 freestyle (3:18.46) — that still hold school records.
Paul Kogut is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at email@example.com or 724-224-2696.


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Mint Julep
To be fair the Mint Julep pre-dates the existence of the word "cocktail". In fact, this delicious mix of American whiskey, sugar, mint and ice even predates the use of the very whiskey it now contains. Early juleps were fashioned by American colonists with brandy, rum or whatever spirit came to hand. This drink has proved a keeper though and can be ordered in any decent bar-room.
90ml Straight bourbon whiskey or rye (Woodford Reserve makes a full-flavoured julep)
1 teaspoon castor sugar
Lots of mint
Crushed ice
Method: Load the bottom of a pewter tankard, glass or, if you're lucky enough to have one, a julep cup with fresh mint leaves. Add your sugar and gentle muddle with the mint. Pack your vessel with crushed ice and pour the whiskey over it. Stir vigorously add more crushed ice and garnish with at least three sprigs of mint.
Brandy Punch
Before the idea of a single-serve cocktail really took off, punch was the king of drinks. Gentlemen would dutifully station themselves around an overflowing bowl of punch and not budge till they had drunk it dry or keeled over. This single serve punch was a revelation and comes from the first ever bartender's guide written in 1862. The drink is still a doozey.
90ml VS cognac brandy (fine champagne cognac like Remy Martin works a treat)
30ml lemon juice
30ml still water
10ml real raspberry syrup
2 teaspoons castor sugar
Method: Combine all ingredients in a shaker and fill with ice. Shake briskly and strain into a tall ice filled tumbler. Garnish with orange slices, pineapple and raspberries.
Prohibition banned the sale and supply of beverage alcohol to the American public for 13 years from 1920 to 1933. It led to the rise of the 'speakeasy' bar, organised crime, and normalised the fairer sex being allowed into bars. It also encouraged Americans to travel – and wherever they went the brought the local tipple back with them. Tequila went from an obscure local Mexican tipple to a global bar staple thanks to Prohibition and this mighty tasty classic.
50ml 100 per cent puro de agave tequila
15ml Triple sec (Cointreau is a leading brand)
5ml sugar syrup
20ml freshly squeezed lime juice
Method: Add all ingredients to an iced shaker. Shake briskly and strain into a chilled cocktail glass rimmed with a little lime and flaky sea salt.
Japanese Slipper
This neon combination of Midori, Cointreau and lemon took the world by storm when it was first mixed up in 1984. It wasn't created in the nightclubs of London, Manhattan or gay old Paris, however. Rather it was a Melbourne bartender by the name of Jean-Paul Bourguignon who we can thank for this creation. It's as retro as Tom Cruise in the movie Cocktail, and hardly the most macho drink going around, but it's a pretty safe bet that if a bar stocks a bottle of Midori they know how to whip this one up. Just don't tell too many people how much you enjoy it.
30ml Midori
30ml Cointreau
30ml Lemon juice
Method: Add all ingredients to an iced shaker. Shake briskly and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a cocktail cherry or a slice of honeydew melon.
Pharmaceutical Stimulant (aka Espresso Martini)
In the fast paced life of the '80s a strange new stimulant known as x-presso starting popping up in bars and coffee shops in London. In 1984 an inspired barkeep, by the name of Dick Bradsell, who worked at Soho's infamous Fred's Bar decided to throw it in a cocktail. Now commonly known as the Espresso Martini this beverage remains most of most popular going tipples going around almost 30 years on.
50ml vodka
15ml coffee liqueur (like Kahlua or Toussaint)
5ml sugar syrup
30ml shot of fresh espresso
Method: Add all ingredients to a shaker, ice then shake to the 1984 Michael Jackson hit Thriller. Garnish with three coffee beans.
Source: This was originally published as a blog entry on Booze Hound on May 4, 2012.