text:
E.J. Singler made two free throws with 3.8 seconds left, lifting No. 23 Oregon to a 79-77 overtime win over slumping Washington State on Saturday to hold on to first place in the Pac-12 Conference.
Singler scored 25 points to lead Oregon (21-5, 10-3), which has won three in a row since a three-game losing streak dropped them from the Top 10. Carlos Emory added 20 for the Ducks.
Royce Woolridge scored a career-high 36 points for Washington State (11-15, 2-11), losers of six straight. Woolridge missed a half-court shot as time expired.
Washington State took an 11-point lead at halftime, but the Ducks erased that in the early minutes of the second half and the score was tied at 71 at the end of regulation.
DaVonte Lacy's free throw put Washington State up 72-71, but Johnathan Loyd replied with a basket and then Emory stole a pass and slammed the ball home for a 75-72 Oregon lead.
Brock Motum sank two free throws to bring WSU within one.
Singler made a free throw to give Oregon a 76-74 lead. After a WSU miss, Emory was fouled on the rebound and made his first free throw but missed his second. Oregon got the rebound but turned the ball over with 29 seconds left. Woolridge made a long 3-pointer to tie the score at 77.
But Dexter Kernich-Drew fouled Singler with 3.8 seconds left and the senior made both free throws for the winning points.
Washington State's first four field goals of the game were 3-pointers as they took a 13-11 lead.
Oregon center Tony Woods was called for a flagrant foul for elbowing Motum, WSU's leading scorer, in the head and was ejected from the game with 9:55 left in the first and Oregon trailing 19-13. Motum was on the floor for several minutes holding his head but returned quickly. Woods averages 10 points and 3 rebounds per game.
Washington State scored six consecutive points after that foul to take a 25-13 lead.
Oregon managed only one field goal over a 13-minute span to fall behind 32-15.
The Ducks clawed back behind three baskets by Emory, but Washington State led 38-27 at halftime. Woolridge had 22 points in the first half, besting his career high of 20, by making 7 of 9 shots, including 4 of 6 3-pointers. Oregon shot just 33 percent in the first, to 46 percent for WSU.
Oregon opened the second half with a quick 15-5 run, nine of the points by Singler and six by Damyean Dotson, to cut WSU's lead to 43-42.
Then Waverly Austin's basket gave Oregon its first lead since early in the game at 44-43 with 14:17 left.
Two 3-pointers by Kernich-Drew put WSU ahead 52-47.
The teams traded baskets, and Austin's layup brought Oregon to 56-55. Woolridge hit a 3-pointer for WSU, but Singler replied with one for Oregon.
Emory's dunk and free throw put Oregon ahead 61-59 with 5:54 left. Johnathan Loyd scored for Oregon, but Woolridge was fouled and made three free throws to bring WSU to 63-62.
Arsalan Kazemi's layup gave Oregon a 67-64 lead. After Motum made one of two free throws, Emory sank two free throws to put the Ducks up 69-65 with 1:58 left.
Washington State missed several 3-point tries. Then Woolridge was fouled going for a layup, and sank one free throw to bring WSU to 69-66 with 32 seconds left.
Washington State fouled Singler, who made both for a 71-66 lead with 28 seconds left. Motum was fouled shooting a 3 and made two of three to cut Oregon's lead to 71-68 with 18 seconds left.
Loyd was immediately fouled and missed both.
Washington State's D.J. Shelton rebounded and, after a timeout, DaVonte Lacy sank a 3-pointer from the left corner to tie the score at 71 with 5.3 seconds left.
Dotson and Singler both got off shots for Oregon, but missed and the game went into overtime.
Oregon has won five in a row over Washington State, including the game earlier this season in Eugene. They swept both Washington schools for the first time since 1990.
Washington State is 0-5 against ranked opponents this season.


text:
PORTLAND, Maine —
A shipyard worker who set fire to the USS Miami because he wanted to go home and ended up causing $450 million in damage is due to be sentenced.
Under a plea agreement, Casey James Fury faces a sentence of about 15 to 19 years on Friday. He can withdraw his guilty pleas if a greater penalty is imposed for the fire that injured seven and caused extensive damage.
Fury, formerly of Portsmouth, N.H., admitted setting the May 23 fire while the nuclear submarine was in dry dock at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine.
The Navy intends to repair the Los Angeles-class attack sub, which is based in Groton, Conn. But the repairs have been postponed for now because of the automatic federal budget cuts.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
If the 2013 economy were a horse race, it often trotted more than galloped.
This fifth year of recovery was modest. Construction stayed in the race and reflected an economy that expanded in different ways. Sometimes growth continued to rise, sometimes it leveled, and sometimes it was strong enough to bolster some red balance sheets closer to black. Projections for 2014 indicate more of the same but with hope for an even stronger year holding fewer self-inflicted wounds.
In short, a hesitant economy played a role in decelerating construction momentum. Adding it up, total starts rose 5 percent ($508 million) in 2013. They rose 10 percent in 2012 (see Figure 1). However, McGraw-Hill Construction's Robert Murray, vice president of economic affairs, doesn't see the regression as a retreat.
"Rather, I think we hit a pause," he said. "We'll be back up to 9 percent ($555 billion) this year in line with a construction upturn that is subdued and selective." Murray spoke at McGraw-Hill Construction's Outlook 2014 Executive Conference held in October 24–25, 2013, in Washington, D.C.
While slow U.S. economic growth was frustrating in 2013, everything seemed to move in the right direction. The gross domestic product (GDP) grew 1.8 percent in the first quarter, then 2.5 percent in the second quarter and an unexpected upward revision to 4.1 percent in the third quarter (see Figure 3). Unfortunately, fiscal drags out of Washington took aim.
The government shutdown was estimated by some to stifle fourth-quarter growth. At press time, final figures were pending, but economists projected a 2 percent growth. The shutdown and a race toward fiscal default slowed an economy wanting to take off. A lack of agreement in initially crafting a budget and the resulting sequester drew negatives, as well.
In its 2014 economic forecast webinar, "Emerging Opportunities for Construction," held in October, Reed Construction Data's Chief Economist Bernard Markstein said, "Certainly, some of our [economic] problems are of our own making. So, when I look at this year's outlook, growth will continue but will be
slow, especially if the U.S. government continues on its dysfunctional track, which only breeds uncertainty and diminishes investment."
Speaking at the McGraw-Hill Construction's Outlook 2014 Executive Conference, Beth Ann Bovino, chief U.S. economist at Standard & Poor's, said, "In 2013, we saw a 1 percent loss of growth due to austerity measures. The end of the stimulus and the fiscal fog created by lawmakers created an uncertainty tax that constrained this economy."
GDP in 2014 is forecast for 2.7 percent. Murray sees a 5.7 percent growth if Washington-driven headwinds recede.
Some encouragement was found in December with the signing of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013.
"While not a grand bargain by any means, the agreement does provide clarity in federal budgetary spending for the next two years," said Marco Giamberardino, executive director, Government Affairs, National Electrical Contractors Association. "Congress now has a plan to appropriate spending dollars and set priorities within each agency budget. This represents the first bipartisan budget deal brokered under divided government since 1986 and gives us some serious hope that Congress can work together, cut through partisan gridlock, and address some key priorities."
Bovino added that other variables could serve as a drag, including a further slowing of exports, spiking oil pricing and any Federal Reserve move that would remove liquidity sooner than expected. And while the U.S. government debt is dropping at a steady pace, Bovino said tackling entitlements will be imperative; she said Medicare and Medicaid represent 40 percent of the federal budget and will increase to an estimated 60 percent in the ensuing decades.
For Bovino, a robust labor force is essential to a stronger economy.
"It's all about the jobs," she said. "When people are out of the market, they aren't paying taxes. Unemployment also dampens confidence."
The October 2013 unemployment report saw a slight uptick to 7.3 percent but also a robust job growth of 230,000 jobs, and the November numbers were better than expected: 7 percent unemployment and 203,000 jobs added (see Figure 4).
"We are about two-thirds of the way back from the 9 million dropped from the labor force," Bovino said. "Those numbers do hide some weakness, including part-timers and those who dropped out. As workers return, it is important to ask what kind of job will they have and at what salary?"
Employment specific to construction continues to rise but faces its own conundrum. As work returns, trained construction labor is hard to find. Many individuals sidelined during the recession left the profession.
"We [are] in for a challenge," said Ken Simonson, chief economist for the Associated General Contractors of America. "The good news is we saw construction employment rise in 37 states year-to-year from July 2012 to July 2013. North Dakota and Louisiana were particularly strong."
Simonson was part of the Reed Construction Data webinar economic forecast.
In the 2014 Dodge Construction Outlook, the authors added this perspective: "Construction is in the midst of a cyclical upturn, and is not stuck in an extended bottom (which many who focus on nonresidential building or the institutional sector might believe). The initial years of recovery following a financial crisis generally turn out to be slower than other recoveries." They added this recovery could use a "second-stage" boost by 2015 or 2016, which they posit will come from the "emerging energy boom" created by U.S. natural gas exploration and extraction, including shale oil. Reed Construction also covered this, calling it "the shale gale."
Bovino sees other positives, too. She cited a "robust" private demand for goods, higher housing prices, manufacturing coming back to the United States, a return of equipment production, and Fed policies that continue monthly bond-buying to keep interest rates down. She added that consumer debt is down and savings are projected to continue (see Figure 5).
"All of this suggests to me that we are turning a corner," she said.
Two significant indicators point to momentum for construction in 2014. Architecture billings are one of them.
"We see a sustainable recovery due to the growth in billings over the last 12 to 13 months," said Kermit Baker, chief economist for the American Institute of Architects (AIA), part of Reed's economic panel. "All major sectors are growing, with commercial and industrial accelerating the fastest. Institutional is showing some modest gain, as well. As the economy grows, everyone seems to be showing positive billings."
Though a work backload of eight months would provide the most confidence, Baker said firms are showing at least five months, which is allowing them to maintain their staff levels.
Another positive indicator is the Construction Industry Confidence Index (CICI) that measures confidence among designers, architects, contractors and subcontractors (see Figures 6 and 7).
"We've seen a one-third gain from third quarter 2012 to 2013 with a slight decrease in the later third quarter [2013] as budget negotiations in Washington had an effect," said McGraw-Hill Construction's Harvey Bernstein, vice president of industry insights and alliances, at its conference.
During 2013, single-family and multifamily housing continued their gradual ascent, rising 25 percent. The upward trends are expected to continue. An easing in foreclosures, low mortgage rates, and a rise in home prices will continue to help growth in single-family construction for 2014. Some easing in bank lending has begun, though it remains very tight. Meanwhile, the multifamily market slowed after four consecutive years of leading gains, though growth will continue in 2014.
According to CoreLogic, which collects and measures property and related financial data, foreclosures are moving quickly downward. Between 2009 and 2011, they reached an astounding 1.1 million. Last August, foreclosures dropped an impressive 34 percent from 2012. Homes facing threat of foreclosure fell 22 percent. While housing is not yet out of danger in this regard, the foreclosure drop has been precipitous.
Sales figures were encouraging, too. The National Association of Realtors (NAR) reports an increase of 59 percent or 5.48 million existing homes sold as of August 2013. New home sales grew 56 percent or 421,000 homes. These sales mark a return of 76 percent for existing homes and 30 percent for new homes (for more from NAR's report, see Industry Watch, page 12, and Figure 9).
Commercial buildings made gains, as well. The moderate growth is expected to continue this year, especially if more dollars for commercial property development emerge. This past year marked a 73 percent increase in square footage and a rise of 48 percent in dollars. Manufacturing-related construction also grew in dollar terms. There's good news in institutional construction, too. Dodge expects this market to turn around in 2014, no longer serving as a drag on nonresidential.
In total, 2013 nonresidential was expected to show a 4 percent gain.
In public works, while federal funding may not be strong, 2013 showed strength in recent local and state project bond funding that may help lift construction. The National Association of State Budget Officers' spring 2013 "Fiscal Survey of the States" shared that total general fund revenue for states rose 4.2 percent. Spending caution remains, but state and local governments are pursuing their own workaround through public and private partnerships.
Electric utilities will remain a sore spot for the construction marketplace. Dodge economists' said that, if the negative performance in electrical utility starts were removed, overall 2013 total construction performance would stand at a 12 percent gain versus 5. That figure is dispiriting in one way but remarkable in another.
A number of construction trends took hold in 2013 and are expected to increase over the next three years.
"We are certainly seeing a wider use of BIM [building information modeling]," said McGraw-Hill's Bernstein. "Some 42 percent of respondents said they use it, citing how this tool was reducing project duration and cost and encouraging repeat business" (see Figure 10).
Mobile access to project information is another growing trend. Some 38 percent surveyed said they tap into the cloud and other means to grab project information on-site. This includes pulling up BIM files.
"We are seeing a steady decline in PDFs, paper documents and drawings, and handwritten notes," Bernstein said.
Thirty-six percent of respondents also indicated they are regularly involved in integrated project delivery. Another 30 percent said they often work on projects that promote sustainability.
"Green is now a standard practice, and it's on the move," Bernstein said.
Green building accounted for 44 percent of all U.S. nonresidential projects in 2013 and is expected to represent almost 50 percent in 2014. Last year, 56 percent of all office projects and 51 percent of all school construction were green, as well. McGraw-Hill identified green projects as those that pursued LEED certification or incorporated sustainable design near that standard.
Smaller trends included an increase in prefabrication construction projects, lean construction and an adherence to safety to reduce project schedules and budgets. BIM plays a role here, too, because of its design clash detection ability that can also serve as hazard detection.
Finally, several speakers at the McGraw-Hill conference spoke to growing U.S. opportunity—involvement in the global construction marketplace. Bernstein said that construction makes up 36 percent of the world's GDP with that number growing to 70 percent by 2025. "Dollars" spent on high speed rail, water, electricity and highways were examples. On the high end, Brazil is spending $225 billion per year followed by China at $167 billion and India at $125 billion.
"Embrace the new global players, and study them," said Roger Flanagan, professor and chairman, Steering Committee for International Affairs and School of Construction Management and Engineering, University of Reading. Flanagan was the luncheon keynote speaker at the 2014 McGraw-Hill conference.
"Today, the developing world is moving faster than the developed one. The U.S. needs this 'other' market. See who is innovative, are fast learners, and embrace integrated delivery. Being green will be a given. Communicate how your company is different," he said.
Snapshot: in 2014, single-family starts will grow 24 percent, multifamily 9 percent.
The Dodge report states, "Single-family housing is finally moving solidly in the right direction." In 2012, starts grew by 25 percent and another 23 percent in 2013—a 90 percent increase from 2011's 413,000 units. This year, 2014, should add 24 percent (785,000 units) and grow 26 percent in dollar terms to $201 billion (see Figure 11).
The West will see the biggest start gains at 29 percent. The South-Atlantic should clock in at 25 percent. Other regions will also fare well, with South-Central at 22 percent, the Northeast at 21 percent and the Midwest at 18 percent.
While lending remains tight (buyers needing an average credit score of 700 or higher), Dodge economists feel this may surprisingly force banks to begin loosening their underwriting standards to maintain their bottom lines and generate new business. Though 30-year fixed rate mortgages have risen from a low 3.35 percent in late 2012, they held at 4.2 percent last October. Rising rates and their effect on home sales and starts remains unclear, according to Dodge authors.
Multifamily housing has led the way in the housing recovery beginning in 2010 with starts increasing by 16 percent. In 2011, starts shot up 37 percent and added another 32 percent in 2012. Last year, the market cooled but grew 19 percent. This year, starts are expected to advance 9 percent or 365,000 new units. Dollars will increase 11 percent (roughly $53 billion). Multifamily is definitely tempering (see Figure 11).
CB Richard Ellis Econometric Advisors say rental property growth is one culprit; they expect it to mature and settle in at a 3 percent annual rate. Condos, however, showed strength during the first nine months of 2013. Of the 10 largest multifamily projects around the country, four were condominium efforts that were also the largest in project dollar value. Two of the biggest were located in New York. They included the $390 million Greenwich Lane Condos and the 625 West 57th Street Apartments ($365 million). Boston followed with the $334 million condo portion of the $460 million mixed-use Millennium Tower. Miami had big projects, as well.
Regionally, 2014 growth is expected to stabilize in the Northeast, which enjoyed a 45 percent surge last year. The South-Atlantic gained 22 percent and is expecting 17 percent growth this year. The West increased 15 percent and is expected to maintain growth at 11 percent. Meanwhile, the Midwest showed a 21 percent increase last year but will drop to 6 percent in 2014. The only region that slid in 2013 was South-Central at 4 percent. It is expected to advance slightly in 2014 to 7 percent.
Snapshot: Commercial building will grow steadily up to 18 percent.
Commercial sector activity rose 16 percent (483 million square feet) in 2013. That represented $62.4 billion; a 73 percent increase from 2010 in terms of square-footage and 48 percent in dollars. This year's forecast for commercial buildings will be similar. The market is expected to increase 18 percent (568 million square feet) and 17 percent ($72.7 million). Helping this market are better occupancies and rents, stronger property values, and more lending.
Stores and shopping centers remain a commercial puzzle. On the positive side, the Consumer Confidence Index grew from 61.9 in March 2013 to 79.7 in September. The double-digit housing starts have encouraged this market, as well. Unfortunately, the "uncertainty tax" coming out of Washington and January 2013's lost tax advantages (raised payroll tax and higher tax rates for couples and single households in certain income brackets) chilled spending but not confidence numbers. That all translated to retail sales of 4.5 percent in the first eight months of 2013, compared to 5.4 percent in 2012. All of this drove growth in store construction: 11 percent in 2013 (117 million square feet) and an expected 17 percent increase (137 million square feet) in 2014 (see Figure 13).
Top cities leading the charge in growth in the first nine months of 2013 were Kansas City at a whopping 280 percent, followed by San Antonio (99 percent), New York (79 percent), Dallas (25 percent) and Chicago (15 percent). Big discount chains did their part. Walmart began construction on $1.8 billion worth of projects. Dollar Tree embarked on projects totaling $169 million, and Family Dollar was close behind at $167 million. Outlet centers broke ground across the country, representing $263 million in 2013—an increase of $55 million.
Commercial warehouse starts in 2013 crossed a 100-million-square-foot mark not seen since 2008. At 28 percent (123 million square feet), the year showed continued recovery from a boom in 2012 that saw starts rise a remarkable 53 percent. That year, Amazon.com led the way with 10 added distribution centers. Last year, it added four more. In 2014, starts are expected to dip slightly to 22 percent (see Figure 14).
Other project leaders in 2013 included a Nike warehouse expansion in Memphis (1.7 million square feet), DuPont Corporate Park in Seattle (1.6 million square feet) and Helen of Troy, also in Memphis (1.2 million square feet).
In a year of mild increases after steep declines, the office market continues to climb back. In total, 2013 starts rose an estimated 12 percent (75 million square feet). In 2014, expect a modest 16 percent (87 million square feet) gain (see Figure 15).
High-rise and large-scale developments took hold in 2013. The largest office high rise was the $850 million, 1.4-million-square-foot Hudson Yards South in New York. Office building projects ranging from $65 million to $100 million were spread across cities. Noteworthy data centers included an $861 million installation at Fort Meade in Maryland and a $500 million installation for Facebook in Des Moines, Iowa. The top three metro office performers included Dallas increasing 191 percent, Houston at 68 percent and Boston enjoying a 26 percent rise (see Figure 16).
While hotel growth has cooled from its 56 percent gains of 2011, 2012 and 2013 saw healthy growth at 23 and 18 percent, respectively (see Figure 17). Gains of 19 percent (46 million square feet) are expected this year as new projects begin and hotel fundamentals keep improving. For example, revenue per room advanced 5.8 percent in the first eight months of 2013. Occupancies rose to 61.4 percent.
During this time, several major hotel projects broke ground, including the $250 million Cabana Bay Beach Resort in Orlando and $165 million Ameristar Casino resort in Lake Charles, La. Major renovation also made the news. The largest was a $415 million remodel to the SLS Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.
Snapshot: The institutional market will turn a corner and grow 2 percent.
After suffering declines for five years, budget conditions are slowly improving for this market. In fact, this market has steadily been shedding its negatives since 2011 from –11 percent to last year's –4 percent. Forecasters expect this market to return to black in 2014, gaining 2 percent ($89.1 billion).
In year-to-date performance over the past four years, the educational building market has improved, though mixed. In the first nine months of 2013, construction starts declined in senior and junior high schools by 7 percent and 12 percent, respectively. Primary schools, however, increased 3 percent. Vocational school starts grew by 7 percent. Measured by expanded footage, community college construction grew by 2 percent, universities by 7 percent, and the laboratory/research and development sector by 13 percent.
Larger projects included the $252 million New York City College of Technology's Klitgord academic building in Brooklyn. Other noteworthy ventures were budgeted between $100 million and $218 million.
A number of 2012 bond measures will lead to construction starts this year, as well. For example, Miami-Dade County is embarking on $1.2 billion repair and renovation program for its schools. Houston is following suit with a $1.9 billion program. Upward enrollment trends in many states could open the door to construction down the road.
Hesitancy has ruled the hospital and other health treatment facility market for a few years. The uncertainty and battles over the Affordable Care Act (ACA) have kept large projects from moving to start stage. Before the recession and ACA, 39 project starts valued at $100 million or more broke ground in 2008; the largest projects totaled $7.6 billion and 19 million square feet.
In contrast, 2013 saw only 21 healthcare projects valued at $100 million or more. The largest ones represented a total of only $4.9 billion and 7.7 million square feet. Last year, starts slipped 2 percent. In 2014, starts will remain unchanged in square footage (68 million square feet) but will grow in dollar value by 2 percent as public financing becomes more readily available and the turmoil over ACA dissipates (see Figure 20).
Healthcare clinics, in particular, are showing growth over hospital construction (see Figure 21). Noted projects in 2013 included the $830 million Stanford University Medical Center Hospital in Palo Alto, Calif., and the $537 million Fort Bliss Replacement Hospital in El Paso, Texas. Replacing aging facilities and serving a growing aging population should add some strength to this market in the coming years.
Public buildings in 2013 saw some appreciably rising negatives. Police/fire stations were down 11 percent, military work fell 60 percent, and detention facilities dropped 41 percent. Courthouses lost 25 percent. In total, 2013 public buildings projects represented 17 million square feet, a decline of 28 percent from 2012. The pressures of reduced federal spending, most notably drastic cuts (34 percent) to the General Service Administration's new construction account, will keep this market in decline by 11 percent with activity averaging 15 million square feet (see Figure 22).
Noted projects in 2013 included the $222 million San Diego County Women's Detention Center in Santee, Calif., and the $137 million Capitol Building restoration in St. Paul, Minn.
Other declines included religious building starts dropping a further 13 percent. A smaller slide will continue this year at 4 percent. After falling six consecutive years, amusement-related construction stabilized (33 million square feet) thanks to strengths in auditorium construction (up 125 percent) and theaters (11 percent).
A $650 million retractable-roof stadium for the Minnesota Vikings in Minneapolis helped bolster the final quarter of 2013. This market category is expected to grow a bit more quickly in 2014 with an expected 8 percent rise (35 million square feet) (see Figure 23).
Finally, railroad terminal growth exploded in growth by 182 percent, while bus and freight terminals grew 33 percent. Phase 2 work ($650 million) of the Third Street Light Rail–Central Subway Station in San Francisco was one of several key projects that broke ground in 2013.
Manufacturing plant construction rose in dollar terms by 6 percent ($13.8 billion). Because Europe represents almost one-fifth of U.S. exports, its weak economies slowed acceleration in this market segment. Capacity utilization did climb to 77.3 percent in February 2013 and held to 76.8 percent in August. For 2014, manufacturing construction is forecast to grow 8 percent (54 million square feet) with an 8 percent dollar gain of $14.9 billion (see Figure 24).
Snapshot: Lack of infrastructure funding will drop public works by 5 percent.
Let's start with the good news. In 2013, public works projects rose 3 percent to $114.3 million. Within that, highway and bridge construction increased 12 percent (see Figure 25), and environmental projects grew by 8 percent. Those gains offset a plunge of 17 percent largely from a loss in pipeline construction. Starts are expected to slip in 2014 by 5 percent, representing $108 billion, especially if the sequester remains in place. Better general revenues and higher municipal tax receipts may ease state and local budget spending pressure.
Newsworthy projects in 2013 include the $1.6 billion Ohio River Bridge project; the $776 million Poseidon Resources Desalination Plant in Carlsbad, Calif.; and the $1 billion BridgeTex pipeline from Texas to the Gulf Coast.
For electric utility construction, 2012 was its year as the market reached a record $50.9 billion. What a difference a year makes. In 2013, starts dropped 55 percent. Surplus generating capacity and ample natural gas weighed this market segment down. This year, some of the negatives will lessen, but a drop of 33 percent looms (see Figure 27). Providing some upward direction may be the demand for electricity in the South-Central region of the country. Capital investment in improved distribution and transmission will continue thorough smart grid initiatives. Renewable energy mandates still unmet in many states may spur work, as well. Notable projects in 2013 included the largest project of the year, a $2.3 billion Antelope Valley Solar Power Plant in California, a $1.9 billion wind energy farm in Iowa, and a $1.2 billion in pollution abatement upgrade for the Mill Creek Generating Station in Kentucky.
Economic forecasters may not see a boom year for 2014, but if certain fundamentals are addressed and we don't get in our own way, maybe hitting a stride is within this economy's grasp.


text:
Train Track Safety Awareness
June 5 @ 7:00 am - 3:30 pm$225
Train Track Safety Awareness
Upcoming Workshops
|Available Spaces
|Train Track Safety Awareness
|5 June 2020
|07:00 am - 03:30 pm
|8 Sloane St, Maribyrnong, Victoria 3032
You can book the stand alone TLIF2080 Safely Access the Rail Corridor or combine it in a package to get the whole Rail Industry Workers Card.
- This course provides skills and knowledge required for those seeking work in the rail corridor and is course is suitable for individuals who have no rail experience or those looking for recertification.
- This course is also known as Train Track Safety Awareness Course (TTSA)
- Units of Competency:
TLIF2080 Safely access the rail corridor
- Assessment Type:
Theory and practical assessment. The Practical Assessment is completed in a simulated rail environment
- Course Expires After:
Metro Recertification is required every 2 years
- Delivery Method:
Face to face
- What to Bring and Wear:
For the practical, full PPE is required, including:
- Work Boots,
- Long pants,
- Long Sleeve High Visibility Shirt or High Visibility Vest
- Eye Protection - safety glasses
- A Hard Hat
- Safety Gloves
- If you are unable to bring the above, please contact the TAA office to arrange to hire some in advance.
- Network
This course is recognised by Metro Trains Melbourne in Victoria.
This course includes the Metro Trains Melbourne – Safety and Environmental Induction.
To work on the V/Line or ARTC network, the Contractor Induction (available online, free) must also be completed.
- Cost
$225 per student for Safely Access the Rail Corridor Metro Safety and Envionmental Induction
$275 per student for Category 3 Rail Medical (completed on the same day)
$160 per student to have their details added to the Rail Industry Workers Card System
- Entry Requirements
- Form of Identification (preferably Drivers Licence)
- Advise if you have any language, literacy, or numeracy needs; or difficulties reading, writing, or speaking English. We can arrange in advance trainer assistance
- There are no formal prerequisite units for this course
Are you looking to get you Rail Industry Workers Card?
To work in the rail industry you must hold your Rail Industry Workers Card – RIWC
To receive your RIWC, we must submit the following requirements:
- White Card – (Construction Induction Card) – CPCCWHS1001
- Safely Access the Rail Corridor Course – (TTSA) – TLIF2080
- Category 3 Medical Certificate
- Many employers will also require the following as a minimum:
- Certificate II Rail Infrastructure – Core Units – TLI21315
Further information on what you will need:
- Safely Access the Rail Corridor Course (TLIF2080)
Anyone working within the rail corridor is required to have the unit of competency TLIF2080 (Safely Access the Rail Corridor).
This course is conducted by the Instruction Company (RTO 20928)
- Safely Access the Rail Corridor Course (TLIF2080)
- Category 3 Medical
In order to receive your Rail Industry Workers Card, you must obtain Category 1, 2 or 3 Medical examination to prove that you meet the health requirements set out in the National Standard for Health Assessment of Rail Safety Workers, (2012). For labourers, a simple Category 3 is all that is required.
The Category 3 Health Assessment includes:
– Basic vision test
– Basic hearing test
– Basic mobility test
– Drug and Alcohol screen
- Rail Industry Workers Card
Rail Industry Worker is a national competency management system for rail workers.
By law, everyone working on the Australian rail network must be able to provide proof of competency. This is the best way to reduce the risk of untrained people working on the rail network.The Rail Industry Worker (RIW) program provides a single online competency management system for Australian rail workers. It's owned and endorsed by the Australasian Railway Association (ARA) on behalf of members, meets regulatory requirements and complies with national rail safety law.
- Construction White Card (CPCCWHS1001)
A minimum to work on any construction site in Australia
Your Face to Face Construction White Card – 6hr course
If you are looking to be a track labourer, most employers will also require new employees to have:
- TLI21315 Certificate II Rail Infrastructure – Core Units
This is a 2-day course for people involved in basic operations within the rail infrastructure environment, undertaking a range of tasks involving known routines and procedures, and taking some responsibility for the quality of work outcomes
You might also be interested in some of our other courses:
Some Useful Links
- Information on Rail Industry Workers Program
- Search for authorised health professionals throughout Australia
Training Ahead is the appointed agent providing metropolitan Melbourne logistics for the delivery of Train Track Safety Awareness Course by The Instruction Company.
For all bookings in metropolitan Melbourne please contact Training Ahead on 1300 355 900
The Train Track Safety Awareness Course is conducted by The Instruction Company's qualified staff. All associated documentation is processed by The Instruction Company.
Website: www.instructionco.com.au/


text:
Wheeee! (Is it just us, or does the P.A announcer literally say "Wheeeee" after the shot?) That's Ben Brust of Wisconsin hitting one of his four threes on the day, and getting Wisconsin into an overtime against #3-ranked Michigan. Well, formerly #3-ranked Michigan. The Badgers outscored the Wolverines 5-2 in the overtime, and that was that, another college basketball upset in the college basketball upset books, which are getting pretty full.
We've debated the point in this space before, and of course we understand the whole thing about how difficult it can be to time the contact, but: You have to foul Brust if you're Michigan, right? John Beilein may reconsider his philosophy on that one after today.
Meanwhile, this almost turned into a epic refereeing disaster. Tim Hardaway Jr. fouled out with 13 seconds remaining, but stayed in on the final possession. Trey Burke's jumper with five seconds left in OT rimmed out, which, all things considered, is probably for the best.
Update: Turns out the last bit wasn't accurate. Big 10 referees live to see another day.


text:
Blaise Ilsley begins his fifth season as the team's bullpen coach, after being promoted to that position on November 5, 2012. His current role follows five seasons as the pitching coach for the Cardinals Triple-A Memphis affiliate. He was promoted to the Triple-A club in 2008 after working six seasons as the pitching coach at the Cardinals Double-A affiliate.
His combined 12 seasons with the Cardinals' minor league organization includes overseeing a Memphis pitching staff that led the Pacific Coast League in team ERA in three of his five seasons. One of those years was with the 2009 Memphis team that finished 77-67 en route to the PCL playoffs and eventually the league championship. The 2011 staff combined to lead the PCL with a league-best 4.10 ERA and tied for the league lead with a walks+hits/innings pitched ratio of 1.39 on the season. Ilsley was honored by the Cardinals following the 2004 season with the George Kissell Award, presented annually by the Cardinals for excellence in player development. He came to the Cardinals from the Orioles' organization after serving as the pitching coach for Bluefield in the Appalachian League during the 2001 campaign.
Ilsley began his coaching career in 1999 with Winnipeg of the Independent Northern League and moved on to coach at Sioux Falls in 2000. He spent 14 seasons playing in the minor leagues with the Astros, Cardinals, Cubs, Phillies, Indians and Expos, concluding his playing career in 1998.
He appeared in 10 games in the Major Leagues with the Cubs in 1994, making his Major League debut on April 4 of that year. A fourth-round pick of the Houston Astros in 1985, Ilsley was named to the Topps Rookie League All-Star team after leading the New York-Penn League with 116 strikeouts in 90 innings for Class-A Auburn. He combined to win 20 games at two minor league stops in 1986. The 1982 graduate of Alpena High School (Mich.) attended Indiana State University.
Ilsley, 53, resides in Sarasota, Fla., with his wife, Jo Anne.


text: Tuesday, March 06, 2012 Longer Diabetes Duration Linked With Increased Risk of Stroke A new study shows that having diabetes for 10 years or more triples the risk of stroke, according to the American Heart Association. The findings emphasize the chronic nature of diabetes and the need to educate young people about the disease and how to prevent it. As part of the Northern Manhattan Study, researchers followed 3,298 people (average age 69) who had never had a stroke. Nearly 22% of participants had diabetes at the start of the study. After an average 9 years of follow-up, an additional 10% developed diabetes. Compared with participants without diabetes, those with the disease were at increased risk. Specifically, the authors found the risk increases 3% each year, and triples with diabetes at 10 years. Some of the reasons for increased stroke risk may include an association between longer diabetes duration and thicker plaque in neck arteries and the higher prevalence of hypertension, accelerated vascular complications, and clotting abnormalities in people with diabetes. The onset of diabetes may be 4 to 7 years earlier than diagnosis, the authors say. Among the nearly 26 million Americans with diabetes, more than half are younger than 65, and the age of diagnosis is "getting younger and younger because of the obesity problem among young people." "If how long a person has diabetes matters, young people with a long history of diabetes are more likely to develop complications earlier in life," says Mitchell S. V. Elkind, MD, MS, the study's senior author. "It's possible that people with diabetes may start having strokes at a younger age." Full text of the study is published online ahead of print in Stroke. APTA offers members physical fitness pocket guides for survivors of stroke and people with type 2 diabetes.


text:
Will Barack Obama face a primary challenge? If history is an accurate guide – a big if for reasons I discuss below – he should. Dating back to 1948, incumbent presidents with a combination of low approval ratings against the backdrop of poor economic conditions have almost always been challenged for their party's nomination. In the table below, I present every post-W.W. II incumbents' approval rating and the misery index (a combination of the inflation and unemployment rate) at the time when a candidate announced, or might be expected to announce a challenge to the sitting president. For ease of interpretation I've arrayed them in descending order, based on the misery index.
|President and Year of Reelection
|Gallup Approval
|Misery Index At Time of Convention or Announced Challenged
|Challenged for Nomination?
|Carter – 1980
|51% (December 1979)
|Ford -1976
|41% (November, 1975)
|Truman – 1948
|40% (June, 1948)
|Obama – 2012
|40% Current
|Reagan – 1984
|52% (Jan.1984)
|Bush I -1992
|52.2% (December 1991)
|Nixon – 1972
|49% (Jan. 1972)
|Clinton -1996
|42% (Jan. 1996)
|Bush II – 2004
|49% (Jan. 2004)
|74% (June 1964)
|Eisenhower 1956
|73% (June 1956)
*In January 1948 Henry Wallace bolted the Democratic Party to run as a Progressive, while Strom Thurmond campaigned as 3rd party candidate after the Democratic Convention.
This is a relatively simple but I think effective gauge of an incumbent's perceived vulnerability. To be sure, there are a couple of apparent anomalies. Jimmy Carter was challenged by Ted Kennedy, and Jerry Brown, despite approval ratings at the start of the election year above 50%. But that is misleading – Carter's approval rating was temporarily buoyed by the rally-round-the-flag effect caused by the Iranian takeover of the American embassy in November, 1979. Prior to that event, and during the period Kennedy was deciding whether to run, Carter's approval ratings were mired in the 30% range.
The other apparent outlier is Ronald Reagan, who faced no significant internal challenge in 1984 despite a misery index above 12. However, as indicated by his relatively high approval ratings, Reagan was benefiting from the comparison with the conditions he had inherited from his predecessor, Jimmy Carter, who saw the misery index peak at above 20 when he left office. The subsequent decline in the index over the next four years, particularly in inflation because of Fed's tight money policy, bolstered Reagan's approval ratings and scared away any challenge.
Based on the historical comparison, then, it appears that Obama's current approval rating, coupled with a double-digit misery index should invite a primary challenge. If so, one would expect it to be announced no later than December. But will anyone step up to the plate? Despite the usual rumors, no credible candidate appears on the horizon as yet. I've already speculated about a Clinton challenge, and what it might take to trigger it. But it might be more helpful to consider why, despite the historical pattern, Obama might not face a challenge. I can think of at least three reasons.
1. Money. Obama smashed all fundraising records his last time around (and in the process likely put the nail in the coffin of public campaign financing). Early reports show that he hasn't lost the Midas touch; his second quarter earnings, in conjunction with contributions to the DNC, reached $86 million, shattering all records for this time period before an election. It's hard to see how an opponent could match that.
2. Race. If I heard it once from you, I heard it a thousand times: that African-Americans in particular, but also many other Democrats, would view a primary challenge as a "stab in the back" of the nation's first black president. For this reason, it would prove unusually divisive. No one wants to risk that controversy.
3. History. Look again at the table above. None of the four challenges to incumbent presidents succeeded, although two – those by Reagan in 1976 and Kennedy in 1980 – went all the way to the convention. Nonetheless, if the historical record suggests a challenge is likely, it also tells us that such a challenge won't succeed. So why bother?
To these I might add a fourth reason: the Democrats lack a candidate with the stature of a Kennedy or Reagan to take on Obama. Sure, there are some progressives, such as Dennis Kucinich who could carry the torch for the Left, but they lack the political clout to seriously challenge the President. So who does that leave? Al Gore? He has name recognition, but may be too tarnished by personal issues at this point. Andrew Cuomo? Too young and inexperienced. Howard Dean? Been there, done that. Indeed, in considering likely candidates, one is struck by just how weak the Democrat Party lineup is at this stage. I can't think of a single Democratic politician with the stature, name recognition and built in support to take on an incumbent whose record in most years would invite such a challenge.
Can you?


text:
Reliv Now® for Kids with LunaRich®
Kids' Core Nutrition
The statistics are alarming: one-third of American children are obese or overweight while only a small percentage are meeting recommended dietary guidelines. Reliv Now for Kids can help your family bridge the nutritional gap.
Essential vitamins, minerals and micronutrients give growing bodies what they need to thrive. Advanced ingredients boost energy and mental performance. And LunaRich, Reliv's epigenetic superfood, maximizes the documented health benefits of soy. It's much more than just another cartoon vitamin pill.
Give your kids a head start on a healthy life. Ideal for children ages 2–12. Choose from two kid-pleasing flavors.
View Reliv Now for Kids Chocolate Nutrition Panel (pdf)
View Reliv Now for Kids Vanilla Nutrition Panel (pdf)
Reliv Now for Kids Product Information
- View product info flyer (pdf)
- View benefits sheet (pdf)
- Read related posts on the Reliv Blog
- Learn more about soy safety and benefits
Feature: Reliv's exclusive LunaRich® soy powder
Features & Benefits
Benefit: You've found a nutritional breakthrough — scientifically designed to maximize soy's documented health benefits.
Feature: Broad base of basic nutrients and advanced nutrients
Benefit: It helps meet kids' nutritional needs for growing bodies and developing minds and boosts energy and mental performance.
Feature: DHA, an omega-3 fatty acid
Benefit: It provides a nutrient critical for development and function of the brain, eyes, and central nervous system.
Feature: Phosphatidylserine and Phosphatidylcholine (PS & PC)
Benefit: It supports healthy cellular development, mental clarity, memory, learning and cognitive function.
Feature: Grape seed extract, a powerful antioxidant
Benefit: It protects against cell-destroying free radicals.
Feature: Delicious vanilla or chocolate flavor
Benefit: Kids will love the creamy, healthy shakes filled with advanced nutrition to fuel their day.
Reliv's scientific approach to optimal nutrition offers much more than you can find in the leading kids' nutrition shake. We challenge you to find a better kids' nutrition product on any store shelf!
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.


text:
The electric utility on Hawaii island published Friday the first draft of a plan to add 50 megawatts of geothermal power to the island's electric grid.
Hawaii Electric Light Co. will seek public comment on the draft to help guide renewable energy developers as they prepare their bids to supply geothermal power to HELCO. A final draft of the document is scheduled to be completed by January, and selection of the winning bidder or bidders is expected by July or August.
An existing 38-megawatt geothermal plant on Hawaii island already accounts for about 20 percent of the island's peak electrical load. An additional 50 megawatts would push the amount of geothermal generation to nearly 50 percent of peak load.
"This project combines our efforts to increase renewable resources on our island with a commitment to reduce costs for consumers," HELCO President Jay Ignacio said.
HELCO customers pay among the highest electricity rates in the state.
HELCO plans to conduct a technical conference webinar next month to allow prospective bidders to ask questions and provide comments on the draft document, known as a request for proposals, or RFP.
The contracted price HELCO will pay developers for the geothermal energy will not be linked to the cost of oil, as is the case with many of the other renewable energy projects on Hawaii island.
"This is incredibly important for ratepayers on the Big Island," said Lt. Gov. Brian Schatz. "This will help stabilize prices. What people on the Big Island need is clean, affordable energy, and that's the purpose of this RFP."
One of the keys to making the plan work is engaging the community, he added. "We are working hard to have it done right, respecting the environment and the culture," Schatz said.
Bringing another 50 megawatts of geothermal power online will pave the way for the eventual retirement of fossil fuel-burning electrical generators on Hawaii island, he said.
More than 40 percent of the electricity consumed on Hawaii island is generated from renewable resources, the highest percentage of any island in the state.
Besides geothermal, Hawaii island has hydroelectric, wind and distributed solar power generation.
Related articles
- Hawaii island utility seeks proposals for geothermal energy production (staradvertiser.com)
- HELCO files geothermal request to PUC (kitv.com)
- Survey Shows Support for Aina Koa Pono (damontucker.com)
Filed under: aloha, Announcements, Big Island, Community, Economy, Environment, Hawaii, Pahoa, Puna, Rumors, State Affairs, Technology | Tagged: Brian Schatz, Geothermal energy, Hawaii Electric Light Co., HELCO, Puna Geothermal Venture, Request for proposal | Leave a comment »


text:
The Central Connecticut volleyball team claimed at least a share of all three Molten/Northeast Conference awards in Monday's weekly release. Senior Jamie Rademacher was named NEC Co-Player of the week, sophomore Brittany Schumacher was named NEC Defensive Player of the Week and freshman Makenna Lommori was named NEC Rookie of the Week for their performances in the Blue Devils' three NEC victories last week.
Rademacher hit .500 over the three NEC victories last week. She recorded per set averages of 2.73 kills and 1.36 blocks. She posted 30 kills on 52 attacks with just four attack errors through the three matches. Offensively, her best match came on the road at Bryant on Saturday, Rademacher tallied 15 kills on 25 attacks with just one error for a .778 hitting percentage.
Rademacher also contributed defensively with 15 total blocks, including seven vs. Sacred Heart and six vs. Quinnipiac.
Schumacher recorded 55 digs in the Blue Devils' three wins last week to earn her first defensive player of the week honor of the season. She started the week with 23 digs on the road at Sacred Heart. She followed that with a 23-dig performance at Bryant on Saturday. On Sunday, she posted nine digs in the Blue Devils' three set victory over Quinnipiac. The sophomore led the Blue Devils in digs in each match last week and averaged 5.0 digs per set.
Lommori earns her fifth straight rookie of the week honor after contributing to the Blue Devils' three wins. She tallied 110 assists, 14 kills, 17 blocks and 18 digs for set averages of 10.0 assists, 1.55 blocks, 1.64 digs and 1.27 kills per set. Lommori had 45 assists against Bryant and 36 against Sacred Heart.
Defensively, Lommori had a huge match against Sacred Heart with eight blocks, including three solo. She also posted seven blocks on Sunday against Quinnipiac.
In addition to her five rookie of the week honors, Lommori also earned defensive player of the week once this season. This is the second player of the week award for Rademacher who also took the honor on September 10.
The Blue Devils return to action on Sunday at LIU Brooklyn. That match is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.


text:
So far, it looks like I'll be the only one taking part in this week's shared topic, but it's okay, I've never been all that good with sharing anyway. The shared topic (which probably isn't going to be shared) for this week was suggested by Rilandune of A Rogue's Tale and the original thread can be found on Blog Azeroth.
This is a topic I have planned for an upcoming piece. It happens far too often that players of another class simply do not understand your own class, and for that matter everyone elses. The classes within WoW are so dynamic that there is a large gap in understanding between those who play [insert class here] and everyone else who does not.
What 3 core abilities, be they spec dependent or core class spells, would you most like to see every other player know and understand? These could lead to better teamwork in PvP, or cleaner, more concise raiding environments where, for instance, everyone understands how the Hunter Misdirection works.
I've written in depth discussions about specific spells before, notably the Blessings, Divine Sacrifice and Beacon of Light. If you're interested in the ins and outs of paladining, I suggest you check them out. I'm going to bend the topic a little because, lets face it, I never do things the way I'm supposed to. Still, when it comes to paladin spells, some things need to be said. Said, and sometimes beaten into people by my giant spoon. So here's what I'm going to talk about: the use of my tanking shield, resurrecting etiquette and the darker side of blessings.
Things you (and me and them) can do with a tanking shield
A shield can be used to block, which decreases damage taken. You can also use it to bash enemies over the head, which damages and angers your victims. And if you have to, you can throw it from a distance to grab an enemy's attention or to shut them up for a few seconds.
Me: I can't line of sight, could someone silence that caster for me?
Person X: Use your shield.
Me: *sigh*
What they say is true, if a pally tank does does their talents properly, Avenger's Shield will silence for 3 seconds. On the downside, it also dazes whatever it hits, so chances are the silence will run out before those casters reach us. It's also on a 30 second cooldown and takes up a lot of mana, which is sometimes an issue in a 5 man. Yes, it's a great spell, but it's not always available.
And just because I get asked this all the time, Block Rating increases a tank's (or anyone's, really) chance to block an attack and Block Value increases how much damage will be absorbed by a block.
How to Die and Be Rezzed Properly in 6 Easy Points
1- Really, you shouldn't be pulling aggro (unless you're the tank) or standing in bad looking things in the first place.
2- Paladins can't battle rez. As long as we're in combat, you're not getting a rez.
3- If the rezzer in the party seems to be at least sort of aware of what's going on, don't ask for a rez.
4- If the rezzer has died and will need to run back, release and run back too. The rezzer isn't below you in any way. If he has to run back, so do you.
5- Upon rezzing, sit down and eat. If the healer is busy drinking, then you should be busy eating. Don't expect to be spoonfed health points.
6- Upon rezzing, thank the rebuffers. Don't ask for buffs unless it's really obvious they forgot.
Why do I always get so pissy when talking about rezzes? Anyway, moving on.
Be Patient about Blessings
If there's more than one paladin in the party, it might take a few minutes to them to come to an agreement. We're not like priests or mages who can just buff the whole raid with one click. (And if priests and mages sometimes screw up, then we're allowed a break!) While the system is far from the headache it used to be, it can still be confusing to a new level 80 paladin, especially one who doesn't have PallyPower or ZOMGbuffs installed. Personally, I discuss buffs (I'll do kings, you do might) in party/raid chat at the beginning of a PuG so the others can see whats going on, but it doesn't seem to be common practice.
Also, if you get battle rezzed, you'll probably be given a temporary 10 minute buff. It's ok. Most fights are shorter than 10 minutes and you'll get a full buff after you're out of combat.
Note that Blessing of Sanctuary (3% damage reduction) is a prot talent and must be given by a tank. Note as well that Blessing of Might and Blessing of Wisdom can be improved via talents points. These blessings are identical to a Warrior's Battle Shout and a Shaman's Mana Spring Totem, respectively, so a crappy version of either Might or Wisdom can be overwritten by the improved Battle Shout or Mana Spring Totem. In the future, when the Might given to you by the holy paladin disappears while there's a dps warrior in the group, you'll know why.
And there you have it
3 spellish things about paladins that I wish everyone knew. If there's something you wish everyone knew about your class, there's still a few hours left, feel free to join in on the shared topic. Despite what I say, I really don't mind sharing…too much.


text:
A colleague of mine sent me this link, and wanted me to have a look at point 5:
Choose sys_guid() instead of sequences for populating meaningless PK-columns.
Traditional sequences are used for populating an ID-column.
Sequences have several disadvantages:
• Sequences have to be created, maintained and deployed.
• Sequences need PL/SQL-code to be fetched (the 'select into' construction is obsolete in 11g, but defaulting a column with sequence.nextval still does not work).
• When you introduce triggers to fetch the .nextval value, you introduce significant undesired performance penalties
• When moving your data from data from one environment to another (e.g. copy PRODUCTION data to ACCEPTANCE), you have to synchronize the .LASTVAL of all sequences.
• Fetching sequences can be a performance-critical in big environment (bulk fetch in Data warehouse for instance) which has to be fixed by increasing the CACHE property
Use guid's to overcome the disadvantages of sequences:
create table employees
( guid raw(32) default sys_guid() not null primary key);
I knew about the SYS_GUID() function, but didn't realize you can use it as a default value for a primary key column. That sure is convenient. Where other RDBMS all have some sort of autonumber/identity column to automatically fill an ID column, Oracle uses sequences, which is a little more cumbersome to implement. However, I found the story not really balanced. Before addressing each point and mentioning some of the disadvantages of SYS_GUID, let's see how it works. Using sequences, a simple setup can be like this:
rwijk@ORA11GR1> create sequence seq cache 1000
2 /
Sequence created.
Here I create the sequence with "cache 1000", because I want a session to fetch 1000 numbers at once, instead of one each time. This reduces the overhead for Oracle to maintain the SYS.SEQ$ table. Gaps in the numbers might be large this way, but this shouldn't bother you. If it does bother you, you likely shouldn't be using a sequence, as they are never gap-free. A table is created without any reference to the sequence:
rwijk@ORA11GR1> create table t_seq
2 ( id number(9) primary key
3 , filler varchar2(1000)
4 )
5 /
Table created.
To fill the id column with the sequence value, I prefer to just use the nextval function directly in my api. Another option is to use database triggers, but I'm on a mission to avoid those whenever possible. The next procedure represents such an api:
rwijk@ORA11GR1> create procedure p_seq
2 is
3 begin
4 insert into t_seq (id,filler)
5 select seq.nextval
6 , lpad('*',1000,'*')
7 from dual
8 connect by level <= 20000
9 ;
10 end;
11 /
Procedure created.
Using the SYS_GUID() function, a similar setup would look like this:
rwijk@ORA11GR1> create table t_sysguid
2 ( id raw(16) default sys_guid() primary key
3 , filler varchar2(1000)
4 )
5 /
Table created.
rwijk@ORA11GR1> create procedure p_sysguid
2 is
3 begin
4 insert into t_sysguid (filler)
5 select lpad('*',1000,'*')
6 from dual
7 connect by level <= 20000
8 ;
9 end;
10 /
Procedure created.
One object less (the sequence), and you don't need to bother about the ID column in the insert statement. The mentioned disadvantages of sequences per point:
Sequences have to be created, maintained and deployed
While obviously true, I don't think it is a major point. A sequence never comes alone, so we are already creating, maintaining and deploying database objects. But it adds up a little indeed.
Sequences need PL/SQL-code to be fetched (the 'select into' construction is obsolete in 11g, but defaulting a column with sequence.nextval still does not work)
You don't necessarily need PL/SQL to use a sequence, as shown above. So this is untrue. Although it is true that you cannot default a column with sequence.nextval.
When you introduce triggers to fetch the .nextval value, you introduce significant undesired performance penalties
So don't introduce database triggers to fetch the .nextval value :-)
When moving your data from data from one environment to another (e.g. copy PRODUCTION data to ACCEPTANCE), you have to synchronize the .LASTVAL of all sequences
This is true. Very minor disadvantage though, in my opinion. If we refresh the acceptance database, we don't only refresh the data, but also the objects itself.
Fetching sequences can be a performance-critical in big environment (bulk fetch in Data warehouse for instance) which has to be fixed by increasing the CACHE property.
The solution to the possible problem is already presented here.
No advantages of sequences over SYS_GUID are mentioned, so here are some of mine:
A RAW(16) column takes up more space than a NUMBER column.
The SYS_GUID is a RAW(16) taking up 16 bytes, whereas as an ID populated by a sequences typically is a NUMBER(6), NUMBER(9) or NUMBER(12). A reasonable average is NUMBER(9) which takes up only 4 bytes. When you have foreign key columns in your table, this effect is multiplied.
Ad-hoc querying has become more cumbersome.
Which one would you rather type. This:
select id from t_sysguid where id = '48000DA3C76E41A789C7E8925A91E28A'Or this:
select id from t_seq where id = 1234
You can no longer see the order of inserts by the ID column.
When using the cache property and multiple sessions, this is neither necessarily true for sequence populated ID columns, but there is a strong correlation between the number and the time it was populated. This "information" is not there with SYS_GUID() populated columns.
Performance seems to be slightly less when using SYS_GUID()
The results of my test varied a lot. But generally it favoured the sequence approach. Here is the output of one of the more representative tests:
rwijk@ORA11GR1> begin
2 runstats_pkg.rs_start;
3 p_seq;
4 runstats_pkg.rs_middle;
5 p_sysguid;
6 runstats_pkg.rs_stop(1000);
7 end;
8 /
Run1 draaide in 1670 hsecs
Run2 draaide in 2220 hsecs
Run1 draaide in 75.23% van de tijd
Naam Run1 Run2 Verschil
STAT.recursive calls 1,162 49 -1,113
LATCH.enqueue hash chains 1,626 508 -1,118
STAT.hot buffers moved to head of LRU 1,213 75 -1,138
STAT.dirty buffers inspected 5,613 3,266 -2,347
STAT.free buffer requested 6,215 3,482 -2,733
STAT.free buffer inspected 6,678 3,577 -3,101
STAT.redo subscn max counts 4,147 753 -3,394
STAT.heap block compress 3,678 7,119 3,441
LATCH.cache buffer handles 4,922 0 -4,922
STAT.Heap Segment Array Inserts 12,512 7,156 -5,356
STAT.HSC Heap Segment Block Changes 12,582 7,156 -5,426
STAT.calls to get snapshot scn: kcmgss 6,752 152 -6,600
LATCH.checkpoint queue latch 17,879 9,818 -8,061
LATCH.cache buffers lru chain 27,793 13,845 -13,948
LATCH.object queue header operation 40,308 25,913 -14,395
STAT.consistent gets 26,810 7,302 -19,508
STAT.consistent gets from cache 26,810 7,302 -19,508
STAT.consistent gets from cache (fastpath) 19,687 145 -19,542
STAT.redo entries 42,552 71,492 28,940
STAT.db block gets from cache (fastpath) 21,080 57,202 36,122
STAT.session logical reads 98,920 144,900 45,980
LATCH.simulator hash latch 5,752 56,028 50,276
STAT.db block gets from cache 72,110 137,598 65,488
STAT.db block gets 72,110 137,598 65,488
STAT.db block changes 63,379 129,357 65,978
LATCH.sequence cache 150,100 0 -150,100
LATCH.cache buffers chains 396,737 572,383 175,646
STAT.undo change vector size 2,564,000 4,921,872 2,357,872
STAT.physical read total bytes 17,776,640 23,355,392 5,578,752
STAT.physical read bytes 17,776,640 23,355,392 5,578,752
STAT.cell physical IO interconnect bytes 17,776,640 23,355,392 5,578,752
STAT.physical IO disk bytes 17,776,640 23,355,392 5,578,752
STAT.redo size 59,361,376 66,097,504 6,736,128
Run1 latches totaal versus run2 -- verschil en percentage
Run1 Run2 Verschil Pct
679,069 707,672 28,603 95.96%
PL/SQL procedure successfully completed.
So while I am certainly not saying no to SYS_GUID(), I thought there was a little more to the story than the all-positive points in the link.
If you know some more advantages or disadvantages from one over the other, please say so in a comment.


text:
Mplus Home
Last Day
Last 3 Days
Last Week
Tree View
Edit Profile
How to adjust for binary explantory v...
Mplus Discussion
Latent Variable Mixture Modeling
Jon Heron
posted on Tuesday, February 27, 2007 - 3:22 am
I have a 4 level latent outcome, derived from an LCA, and wish to fit some multinomial models using this. I have fixed the thresholds for these trajectories so that inclusion of covariates will not affect the trajectory shapes.
Some of my predictors are categorical, e.g. gender. To estimate the univariable relationship between gender and the outcome, I have simply been adding gender to the usevariable and categorical lists within the variable section. This gives me a gender ratio within each class and also the odds-ratio for girls versus boys for each class referenced to the 4th class – just what I want.
If I was just to fit a manifest logistic model, it would not matter if I included gender as a continuous or a binary variable, the estimates would be the same.
However, if I fit (what I believed to the be) the same univariable model, but remove gender from the categorical list and add the line: c#1 c#2 c#3 on gender; I get a completely different answer for the effect of gender. Whys is the differe4nt and what is the meaning of the new set of estimates?
(The motivation for this was that I wished to include a number of continuous predictors into my multinomial model so it seemed more appropriate to have all predictors specified within the ON statement.)
Linda K. Muthen
posted on Tuesday, February 27, 2007 - 8:57 am
In most cases, the predictors should not be placed on the CATEGORICAL list. This option is for dependent variables. I would have to see the two analyses to comment on why you get different results. If you would like me to do this, please send your inputs, data, outputs, and license number to
Jon Heron
posted on Thursday, March 01, 2007 - 1:11 am
Thanks Linda,
before we explore that option, perhaps I can ask another question which might help me get to the bottom of this.
Simple example with my 4-class latent variable plus gender. I want to derive 3 odds ratios for gender, with class 4 as the reference category.
Odds ratios don't distinguish between dependent and independent variables, it's simply an association.
Seems to me that if I fix the trajectories and then add gender to the mix (as a categorical varaible), this is simply a contingency table and that I should get exactly the same results were I to save out the posterior probabilities and match in gender for a simple analysis in a standard stats package.
The advantage of doing this within Mplus is that it's much more straightforward to model the latent variable rather than resorting to modal classes.
Is there a big flaw in my logic here?
Jon Heron
posted on Thursday, March 01, 2007 - 1:32 am
There IS a flaw, but I'm not sure if it's a major one.
By modelling this contingency table within Mplus I am allowing the posterior probabilities to vary between genders whereas if I export the data to merge with gender outside Mplus, the probs are constant within each pattern.
Linda K. Muthen
posted on Thursday, March 01, 2007 - 2:23 pm
We do not advocate putting exogenous independent variables on the CATEGORICAL list. This is not what is done in regression, linear or logistic. If you get very different results when you do this, we would need to see more information as I mentioned earlier.
Doing the analysis in two steps will introduce estimation errors in your parameter estimates and their standard errors because people are not in one class during model estimation. They are proportionally in all classes. Therefore, using most likely class membership where they are assigned to one class is not correct.
Jon Heron
posted on Friday, March 02, 2007 - 2:23 am
Thanks Linda,
it looks like we may need to go down the route of my sending some files if that is OK with you.
Just to pick up on your last point, rather than using the most likely class, my method was to actually use the posterior probabilities within a weighted regression analysis (e.g. convert a 4-class model on 10,000 kids into a dataset of 40,000 observations and a set of probabilities). I think this should avoid the introduction of estimation errors.
Bengt O. Muthen
posted on Friday, March 02, 2007 - 8:37 am
Sounds like your approach is letting subjects have fractional class probabilites as they should which avoids the parameter estimate bias. However, the SE biases will still be there. Although perhaps useful as an exploratory technique, a better way to approach having a covariate influence a latent class variable is to do the analysis in one step. When requesting Residual in the output, you can see how the covariate mean changes over the classes. When including a covariate, such as gender, changes the solution, then that is an indication of lack of measurement invariance, i.e. direct effects from gender to the indicators.
P.S. The fractional membership approach does not have to be done via expansion of the data set - just use the Training = ...(Membership) option described in the UG under TRAINING.
Jon Heron
posted on Monday, March 05, 2007 - 1:08 am
Hmm, all 'residual' appears to do is give me
within-class univariate and bivariate distributions for the u variables
Am I missing something out here:
names <snip>;
classes = c (4);
categorical = ds_kk ds_km ds_kp ds_kr ds_ku;
usevariables ds_kk ds_km ds_kp ds_kr ds_ku sex;
missing are ds_kk ds_km ds_kp ds_kr ds_ku (999);
type = mixture;
type = missing;
starts = 500 250;
stiterations = 10;
stscale = 15;
c#1 c#2 c#3 on sex;
Linda K. Muthen
posted on Monday, March 05, 2007 - 9:30 am
It gives model estimated values and the difference between observed and expected. What would you expect it to give you?
Jon Heron
posted on Tuesday, March 06, 2007 - 12:35 am
To quote Bengt above:
"how the covariate mean changes over the classes"
Linda K. Muthen
posted on Tuesday, March 06, 2007 - 5:57 am
If you have a covariate that is not on the CATEGORICAL list, you will also get that. When you put a covariate on the CATEGORICAL list, it is treated as a dependent variable.
Jon Heron
posted on Tuesday, March 06, 2007 - 7:53 am
Not in the categorical list here (I've learnt my lesson)
There's no mention of my covariate in the residual output
Linda K. Muthen
posted on Tuesday, March 06, 2007 - 8:13 am
Then you will need to send the whole output to
so I can see exactly what you are doing.
Back to top
Add Your Message Here
Posting Information:
This is a private posting area. Only registered users and moderators may post messages here.
Enable HTML code in message
Automatically activate URLs in message
Tree View
Program Credits


text:
Moderators: MetroSonus, Plink Floyd
christianrock wrote:PMI=Project Management stuff. It means BonsoWonderBoss is moving on up.
BonsoWonderDog wrote:I'm going to do a certification exam in PMI-ACP - does that count?
Dude... r u me or wut? The arithmetics are totally what's kept me from going back for my bach in EE. I hate thems. I suc exponentially at thems. I squint suspiciously @ those who think they are teh funs.midinut wrote:I have been flunking PreCalculus Algebra
I dunno, someone has to teach drum n bugle corps.midinut wrote:I'm also not sure whether the VA would approve a music degree. After all, the goal is to "get a job" when I'm done. lol
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 9 guests


text:
A play on the word 'pupil' which could apply to an area in education field. Also Qupil could be used by any eye related business as their product/business name.
Add this domain to your shopping cart and complete the checkout process.
You'll receive an order receipt and your logo source files (.ai) in your inbox.
We'll follow up to determine which registrar you'll manage your new domain name.
The necessary steps will be taken to transfer the domain into your account. Done!
Namerific is a marketplace for premium domains and logo designs that are ready to be used to launch your new company or businesses, products, mobile apps, blogs, websites, and more. We have an awesome and diverse selection of ready-to-use, selected brand names in dozens of categories.
Every brandable domain name comes with a beautiful logo created by top designers. These days, it is difficult to find a domain name that fits your citeria, and we're here to solve that problem for you. We make naming your new business as quick, easy and affordable as possible!
Domain names have inherent value as a piece of online real estate that has continued to climb in price over the years, and will continue to do so.
Hundreds of startups, brands have purchased their new business name on Namerific. New exciting names are added daily. Get yours today!


text:
Lee's win just one interesting fact from opener
ARLINGTON -- Cliff Lee allowed eight runs in five innings Monday and got the win in a 14-10 victory over the Rangers.
Crazy? Absolutely.
Here are some other interesting facts from Opening Day:
• The 24 runs scored were the most scored on Opening Day since 2011, when the White Sox beat the Indians, 15-10.
• The Phillies outscored the A's, Blue Jays, Braves, Brewers, Cardinals, Cubs, Indians, Orioles, Pirates, Reds, Red Sox, Rockies, Royals and Tigers combined (14 teams, 12 runs).
• The Eagles and Cowboys have played each other 110 times, but have never finished a game at 14-10.
• Cody Asche went 3-for-4 with a double, home run, two RBIs and four runs scored. He was the first player to score four runs in his team's first game of the season since Albert Pujols scored four for the Cardinals in 2010. The last Phillies player to score four runs on Opening Day was Nap Lajoie in 1900.
• Lee became the first pitcher to allow eight or more earned runs and win the season opener since Oral Hildebrand allowed 10 earned runs in a 15-10 complete game victory for the St. Louis Browns over the White Sox on April 21, 1937.


text:
helping women with cancer | pour aider les femmes atteintes du cancer
Thank you. You are registering for Saskatchewan Cancer Agency - Saskatoon
Look Good Feel Better® workshops are offered exclusively for women diagnosed with cancer to help you manage any appearance-related effects of your cancer and subsequent treatment. Since 1992, the program has helped hundreds of thousands of women face cancer with confidence. We sincerely hope you have a meaningful experience, too! An email confirmation will be sent to you once this form has been completed.
This Release Form is mandatory protocol. Please complete the following:


text:
Very little is known plotwise about Captain America's sequel, Captain America: The Winter Soldier. But we do know that Steve Rogers will be interacting with a handful of classic Captain America characters, such as Bucky Barnes and the Falcon, played by Anthony Mackie. In a recent interview with AICN, Mackie revealed a few important details about the modern day version of this character. And oh yeah, he's gonna fly.
"I will have wings. I will be able to fly. I will be a superhero and fight people, namely The Winter Soldier... It was funny; a lot of the research I found was online. My older brother was a huge comic book buff. So when the news came out online, he called me and just gave me the whole rundown. Luckily, I have a lot of friends who weren't cool growing up, but who are really cool now, so they read a lot of comic books. So I would just call and ask them, and they would send me all of this stuff online, and I got to read a bunch of the old comic books. It's fortunate, because it's a take off the comic book, it's not the exactly storyline of the comic book."
The Falcon is a flying vigilante, who spent most of his earlier days protecting Harlem. His special powers are his mechanical wings that allow him to fly (and cut bad guys into tatters) and telekinesis. When asked what he'd learned about franchises thus far, Mackie dropped this fairly strange little tidbit:
"This is what I learned about franchises. They can always cast somebody else and say, 'Well that last person died,' or just not address it. You see the second movie, and the guy is a different guy than the first, and they're like, 'Yep, same dude to me.'"
Which sounds like it's directed at Sebastian Stan, but that's not possible. Perhaps Mackie was just speaking generally of franchises. Shooting for the Falcon starts on April 1st — we can't wait to see the first shots of him in his wings!


text: If you're among the millions of Americans tackling renovations this year, follow these tips to ensure your project goes smoothly and your money is well spent. By Cameron Huddleston, Former Online Editor October 18, 2011 My husband and I are getting ready to make some repairs around our home. Some are minor that we can tackle ourselves, such as painting a couple of rooms. But others require hiring professionals. To be clear, we're not embarking on any major remodeling projects. But millions of homeowners across the nation are. According to the BuildFax Remodeling Index, residential remodeling activity has increased steadily over 22 consecutive months and hit a record high in August. More than 3.3 million permits are expected to be issued for remodeling projects in 2011, a 9.5% increase over 2010. One reason for the surge in remodeling activity is that Americans who have refinanced mortgages at record-low rates are reinvesting the extra cash into their homes, says Joe Emison, vice president of research and development at BuildFax. There's also a group of homeowners making improvements to their property in hopes of making their houses more appealing to buyers. Sponsored Content Whatever your reason for remodeling is, you should take certain steps to ensure that your money is well spent. That includes hiring the right contractor and focusing on projects that add value to your home (and pay off when you sell your house). Below are tips for people embarking on projects of all sizes -- from major remodeling to do-it-yourself renovations. Advertisement Hire a Contractor Who Measures Up You might be lured by low-cost labor with a quick turnaround. But it's no deal if the contractor isn't licensed, bonded and insured. What You Need to Know About Hiring a Contractor Get more tips on finding the perfect person for your remodeling job. SLIDE SHOW: 8 Remodeling Projects That Pay Back These small to mid-range projects could pay for themselves if you sell your home when the housing market improves. Everything You Need to Know About Replacement Windows Find out how to calculate your payback, choose the right window and select a dealer. Advertisement When embarking on a remodeling project, don't settle for the first estimate a contractor quotes you. Try your hand at haggling to negotiate a better deal. See Master the Modern Art of Haggling for tried-and-true techniques. You can use these techniques, too, if you're tackling any of the projects listed below on your own and want to get the best available deal on supplies. SLIDE SHOW: 8 Easy Projects to Add Value to Your Home These easy home improvements cost less than $500 each and should require less than a day's work. 9 Projects to Spruce up Your House These fixes for $1,000 or less will help maximize the space you have. Follow me on Twitter


text:
BOSTON – Doug Fister has quickly gone from a pitcher looking for a big league job right into being a key starter for a team chasing a division title.
Fister gave up one run over seven innings, Jackie Bradley Jr. hit a two-run homer and drove in three runs and the Boston Red Sox beat the Toronto Blue Jays 6-1 on Wednesday night, a day after the teams played a 19-inning marathon.
The Red Sox claimed the 33-year-old Fister in June after he opted out of a Triple-A contract and was released by the Los Angeles Angels. In the last couple weeks, he's been Boston's best starter.
"To say that when we got him from the Angels that he would be running a streak of starts consecutively like he is, no – he's surpassed the initial expectation," Red Sox manager John Farrell said. "He's doing a great job."
It was the second straight win for the AL East-leading Red Sox, who moved four games ahead of the second-place Yankees. New York's game at Baltimore was rained out.
Playing just 18 hours after completing a 3-2 victory that lasted six hours and ended on Hanley Ramirez's bloop single, the Red Sox took charge with a four-run fourth that was capped by Bradley's homer.
Fister (5-7) allowed four hits, struck out nine and walked three, improving to 3-1 in his last four starts with a 1.50 ERA.
"It's definitely a fun time of year, being anxious for what might come," he said. "I just continually work hard each and every day."
During his strong four-start stretch, Fister has allowed all five of his runs in the opening inning.
Miguel Montero drew a bases-loaded walk after Fister gave up a leadoff single to Ezequiel Carrera, a double to Justin Smoak and a walk to Michael Saunders.
"He gets into the rhythm of the game. It takes him an inning," Farrell said. "It's been uncanny how similar the beginning of games are and how he finishes out."
With rain starting to fall when the Red Sox came to the plate in the fourth, Xander Bogaerts halted a 3-for-33 stretch by lining an opposite field RBI triple and scored on Rafael Devers' single. Bradley then belted his homer into Boston's bullpen, making it 5-1.
"I thought he threw the ball pretty good early under these conditions," Blue Jays acting manager DeMarlo Hale said of starter Joe Biagini, who was tagged for five runs in 3 1/3 innings.
"You think about the fourth inning, really the big blow was the home run. He left a changeup up to Bradley and I thought that was really the big blow of the game."
Biagini didn't waste time analyzing his outing.
"Bad. That's a short answer for you," he said. "It's a search for consistency, consistency of release point. Just aggressiveness and all that good stuff."
Around the bases: Farrell decided to DH 2B Dustin Pedroia with the forecast of showers to limit playing on his left knee that landed him on the DL with inflammation for nearly three weeks last month. ... The Red Sox were 4 for 4 in stolen base attempts, and improved to 29 for 32 this season against Toronto, the most steals by any club in the majors against an opponent this season. ... The Red Sox are off today. LHP Drew Pomeranz (14-5, 3.36) looks to rebound after his career-best eight-game winning streak was halted in his last start when Boston opens a three-game series against Tampa Bay at Fenway Park on Friday.
RED SOX 6, BLUE JAYS 1: Another strong start for Fister
BOSTON – Doug Fister has quickly gone from a pitcher looking for a big league job right into being a key starter for a team chasing a division title.


text:
Government legislation can be open and transparent
Can citizens use open source to create legislation?
Subscribe now
In recent weeks we've seen a number of projects in the area of collaborative legislation that operate similarly to open source software. Today, you can find French, German, and Swiss proposals in git repositories. If you're a developer familiar with these tools, it's easy for you to review the patches (bills), submit your own, and collaborate around the code (law). These are exciting projects undertaken by people in many different countries, but very few governing bodies appear to be harnessing their citizens' input.
Under a traditional 'democratic' system, bills are often drafted behind closed doors by legislative staff with the help of a few lobbyists and subject matter experts. With advances in technology, bills introduced into a legislative body are now often posted online, but changes are submitted by other legislators, or can be suggested via email, letters, or phone calls from citizens. It isn't the most efficient or transparent process.
Governments, with help from legal academia and ordinary citizens, could be pushing forward systems that could make the democratic process easier, more effective, and cheaper—as we know, democracy is not cheap! So, why not utilize technology to help us with it?
There are now a few government-sponsored projects aiming at this problem, such as the legislation portal of the Slovak Republic's Ministry of Justice, where you can comment on laws in the making. Sadly, because this portal is closed source, it cannot expand due to vendor lock-in and the lack of public access to the source code. More interesting software may come from LEOS, Legislation Editing Open Software, an open source project funded by the ISA for the European Union expected to be completed in 2015.
I think this is the question for discussion: Is legislative collaboration one of the essential parts of eGovernment?


text:
Duration: 9 DaysMuseums and cinnamon buns by day, hot saunas and Swedish meatballs by night - welcome to Scandinavia! A candy bar of experiences for both the Nat Geo nerd and the metro magnet. This 9-day holiday will get you deep into the enchanting countries of Denmark, Norway & Sweden.
Scandinavia (End Stockholm)(Multi Share,Start Copenhagen, End Stockholm)
from $2705
Day 1
Start Copenhagen
Good morning globe-roamers and welcome to 12-days of memory-making magic. After a bit of a mingle with the new squad we'll getting into the spirit of our imminent adventures in Copenhagen. We've got all day tomorrow to suss out the city, so today can stay reserved for Contiki hangs if you're feeling social.
Day 2
Constantly named amongst the most livable cities in the world, Copenhagen is an artwork of locals on bicycles, Danish pastries in cute café windows, & Renaissance architecture. Being a bustling university town and home to the hippie hood of Freetown Christiania, nightlife and unique culture can be found at every turn. Explore the sites with your Trip Manager & sign up to an optional tour of Carlsberg Brewery - straight to business!
Day 3
Copenhagen to Oslo
Before you go bursting out of your travel clothes thanks to your new-found pastry dependency, we're bailing on Denmark. Next stop: Norway!To the call of castles, fresh seafood, & pretty parks, we respond! Today we're taking on Norway. We'll be surrounded by 200 bronze statues eating Krumkaker pastries before we can say "jeg elsker Norge!" (that's "I love Norway," folks).
Day 4
Oslo, both the capital and biggest city of Norway, is a riverside metropolis back-dropped by mountains of greenery and filled with easy-going culture. Pottering around museums and pretty buildings will keep us busy by day, while taking a stroll through the city should keep you busy by night.
Day 5
Oslo to Voss via Hardangervidda
Though you'll feel like you know Norway inside out by now, you can't really grasp the country until you've witnessed its great open plains & small country towns...Before we arrive in our overnight hub, we'll coast through the rugged river and rock landscapes of Telemark and Hardangervidda regions, with nature worthy of an Instagram or two...Tonight's stop, Voss is the adventure capital of Norway. We'll take the chilled out approach here, with a night of relaxing and getting to know the crew in our lakefront lodge, it's like waking up in a movie.
Day 6
Voss to Geiranger Fjord via Sognefjord
The outdoor vibes don't end today, we'll be getting back to nature from sun up 'til sun down. Wild animals and spectacular scenery are on the cards so keep that camera of yours charged to full.Norwegian countryside and pretty waterfalls will highlight our journey to the 200km long Sognefjord, a sight set to take your breath away.After lunch at Boyabreen glacier - which will see you pondering more rural life goals - we'll continue our journey to Geiranger Fjord where we'll spend the night surrounded by some of mother nature's finest.
Day 7
Geiranger Fjord to Gjovik via Lom and Lillehammer
There's no way we can drag you away from this place first thing this morning, even though we have a whole lot of adventure to fill the day. A morning cruise around Geiranger Fjord amongst cascading waterfalls should ease you into things.This little town is steeped in history, with the jewel in the crown being Lom Stave Church, one of the few left in the world and dating back to the 12th Century. Yes, you read that right. These wooden churches are about as medieval as they come and religious or not, this cute little spot (and town) will delight!The alpine ski resort of Lillehammer will appear in front of us shortly after our drive past old farms and unspoilt Norwegian countryside. Home of the 1994 Winter Olympics, you'll have the chance to live out your "Cool Runnings" dreams with an Olympic Bobsled Ride - squeal!!A night of traditional Norwegian life set on Norway's largest lake, yes please and thank you! Soak up the vibes before we set off for Sweden.
Day 8
Gjovik to Stockholm
Today we drive outta Gjovik through lands known to host bears, moose & wolves. Yes, yes, you read correctly - bears, moose & wolves.The forests will eventually part and we will descend upon the 24,000 islands of Sweden's capital, Stockholm. Spend the night getting out amongst this eclectic buzzing city, maybe even signing up for the quintessential ice bar experience.
Day 9
Gasp at Stockholm's famous town hall, wander the quaint medieval streets of Gamla Stan & try to catch the changing of the guard at the Royal Palace. All that ground covered will earn you some Swedish salmon & an Absolut on the rocks. Your trip ends at lunchtime today, so make sure you make the most of this morning to say goodbye to your new travel squad - and get planning the next trip. New Zealand perhaps?
- See the Little Mermaid, the Gefion Fountain and the Royal Palace
- See Hamlet's Kronberg Castle
- Orientation tour of Oslo
- See the impressive Tvindefossen Waterfall
- Take in breathtaking views as you cruise the stunning Geiranger Fjord
- Scenic drive through unspoilt forests & lakes, known for bears, moose & wolves
Start Date: 2020-07-11
End Date: 2020-07-19
Adult Price: $2865
Start Date: 2020-09-05
End Date: 2020-09-13
Adult Price: $2705


text:
Football fans and players alike love a bone crushing tackle, but after a weekend of scary incidents, the NFL is declaring enough is enough.
The league is expected to announce by October 20 that it will begin suspending players for "devastating hits" and "head shots," according to ESPN.
There were at least four major instances of helmet-to-helmet collisions in games over the weekend, a practice banned by the league because of their high injury rate. In perhaps the most violent episode, Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson was leveled by the Atlanta Falcons' Dunta Robinson on a play that left both players unconscious and unable to leave the field under their own power. Each player sustained a concussion and Jackson will almost certainly miss the team's next game against Tennessee. Similar incidents occurred in the Ravens-Patriots, Browns-Steelers, and Broncos-Jets games.
U.S. & World
"We can't and won't tolerate what we saw Sunday," said Ray Anderson, the league's executive vice president of football operations. "We've got to get the message to players that these devastating hits and head shots will be met with a very necessary higher standard of accountability. We have to dispel the notion that you get one free pass in these egregious or flagrant shots."
In the past the league has issued fines for first and second offenses on hits of this nature, but suspensions would indicate that the rhetoric is being matched by action.
"What we saw Sunday was disturbing," Anderson said. "We're talking about avoiding life-altering impacts."
In an incident not directly referenced by Anderson, Detroit Lions player Zack Follett had to be removed from the turf during a game with the New York Giants after a major collision on a kickoff return play. He showed no evidence of spinal injury and had movement in all extremities following the game. Ironically, Follett's injury occurred not far from where Rutgers lineman Eric LeGrand suffered a major spinal cord injury on a similar play during Saturday's game against Army. LeGrand is intensive care at at the Hackensack University Medical center and remains paralyzed from the neck down.
The NFL has shown serious interest in reducing the number of catastrophic hits after a spate of articles appeared last fall in publications as diverse as the New Yorker and GQ that questioned the league's commitment to player safety after concussions seemed to be on the rise. In recent years, there have been high-profile incidents involving former NFL players exhibiting erratic or destructive behavior that has been traced, at least in part, to brain injuries sustained during their playing days.
Selected Reading: ESPN, New Yorker, GQ


text:
I somehow missed indie platformer Tiny Barbarian, an adorable little package that was based on Conan the Barbarian tale The Frost-Giant's Daughter. For that, I am very upset, because its follow-up looks lovely.
It's called Tiny Barbarian DX, and if you asked me to imagine the lovechild of Gauntlet and Cave Story, is probably what I'd be picturing.
The original is free to download and play here. I've since caught up on my oversight, and am having a blast.
You can keep up with the development of DX at the game's official site, below.
Tiny Barbarian DX [StarQuail, via Rock, Paper, Shotgun]


text:
Formula One's three-time reigning world champion Sebastian Vettel signaled he is the man to beat again in 2013 by setting the fastest time in both practice sessions Friday for the season-opening Australian Grand Prix.
Vettel and Red Bull teammate Mark Webber set the two fastest times around the Albert Park circuit, immediately dashing the hopes of rivals who thought they'd caught up during the offseason.
Mercedes' Nico Rosberg was third quickest but suffered what an apparent gearbox failure late in the second session, shortly after new teammate Lewis Hamilton went off the track into a tire wall. The late problems put a tarnish on an otherwise promising afternoon for the team, which confirmed impressions from preseason testing that it would be pushing for podiums and even wins in the early stages of the season.
Lotus' Kimi Raikkonen and Romain Grosjean were fourth and fifth. The Ferrari pair Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa were sixth and eighth - separated by Hamilton - while Force India's Adrian Sutil and Sauber's Nico Hulkenberg rounded out the top 10.
McLaren's Jenson Button, who has won three of the past four Australian races, was down the timesheets in 11th place, indicating the team still has some problems with its new design, which is more innovative than the conservative evolutions of rival teams. Button was 2.4 seconds off Vettel's time, while his new teammate Sergio Perez was a further quarter of a second back.
Much interest in the first official day of the 2013 season was centered on how the tires would perform, as the higher-degradation compounds raised the ire of just about all teams in preseason testing. They lasted better than expected, with most drivers managing more than two dozen laps on the medium tire and a dozen or more on the super softs.
Friday provided what may be the best chance of the weekend for teams to test their settings, as rain is forecast for Saturday and cool conditions for race day Sunday.
The street circuit was still slippery and dusty, but develops grip over the course of the weekend as rubber is laid down. Vettel's best time Friday was almost a full second off last year's pole position time, in cars of very similar specifications.
The practice sessions also gave the best indication yet of the early pecking order among the teams after the mysteries of preseason testing.
The order of best times Friday was: Red Bull, Mercedes, Lotus, Ferrari, Force India, Sauber, McLaren, Toro Rosso, Williams, Marussia and Caterham.