text:
LITTLE ROCK — Mike Holland of Little Rock met with a licensed guide for the Arkansas Health Insurance Marketplace last week because he wanted to find out what the marketplace had to offer for his adult son, Matthew.
LITTLE ROCK — Mike Holland of Little Rock met with a licensed guide for the Arkansas Health Insurance Marketplace last week because he wanted to find out what the marketplace had to offer for his adult son, Matthew.
"He had a job in Washington, D.C., and he lost it and has moved back home. So we're looking into whether this would cover him, because right now he doesn't have any insurance," Holland said.
He said what he learned was encouraging.
"We were wanting to compare this to him just going out and buying insurance (outside the exchange)," Holland said. "It looks like it's subsidized in his case — maybe 100 percent."
Holland is among thousands of Arkansans who have inquired about the marketplace since it began operating Tuesday. Officials say the public response to the opening of insurance marketplaces, also known as insurance exchanges, under the federal Affordable Care Act has been overwhelming.
That's literally true in the case of the federal marketplace website, which Arkansans must visit if they want to enroll online because Arkansas chose not to establish a state-based exchange. The site has been down much of the time because of system overload.
According to the state Insurance Department, 36,383 people visited the Arkansas Health Connector website in the first 48 hours after the marketplace launched, 16,500 of whom clicked on an "Enroll now" button and were directed to the federal marketplace site.
Officials said they do not yet know how many Arkansans went directly to the federal site without going through the state's site, but they expect to have that information in a few days.
The state Department of Human Services said last week that 55,400 clients of DHS programs expressed interest in signing up for the private option, Arkansas' plan to use federal Medicaid dollars to buy insurance for people earning up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level.
About 500,000 people are expected to enroll in the exchange, about half of them under the private option. The Affordable Care Act requires nearly all Americans to have health insurance starting in January or face financial penalties.
Proponents of the law known as Obamacare say the strong public response shows that, despite continuing political clashes over the law, people are eager to learn what it has to offer them.
"I think the fact that you have had millions of (website) hits at the federal level, and you had lots of hits in Arkansas as well, I think is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of interest," said Rich Huddleston, executive director of the nonprofit group Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families.
"That interest is only going to build over time once those systems are up, and I think it does vindicate supporters of Affordable Care Act," he said.
Huddleston said the response shows how great the need has been for affordable insurance.
"For most folks it is an economic issue. They don't have affordable health care coverage," he said.
Candis Collins, who advocated for passage of the law as a member of Health Care for America Now!, said she believes Americans will come to embrace the Affordable Care Act just as they now embrace Social Security.
Collins is now one of about 500 guides in Arkansas trained to help people enroll in the marketplace. She said she met with 15 people last week who were eager to learn about their options.
"Of course, people that need it are not going to be negative about it," she said.
State Sen. Bryan King, R-Green Forest, an opponent of the Affordable Care Act, said Friday, "I think you have a certain segment that, yeah, they are looking for health insurance options, and with the government subsidy, they're going to look at it."
But King said poll after poll has shown that most people do not want the law.
"Obamacare is hugely unpopular in Arkansas, and a majority of Americans want to see it repealed," he said.
The insurance marketplaces opened on the same day that a government shutdown took effect because Congress was unable to reach a budget agreement by the end of the federal fiscal year. Republicans, who control the House but not the Senate, have demanded that Obamacare be defunded or delayed as a condition of a budget agreement.
Huddleston said the timing of the GOP lawmakers' stand against the law is no coincidence.
"People who oppose the law know that once you get millions of people nationwide, or in Arkansas' case hundreds of thousands of people who currently don't have coverage, once they start to get coverage … it's going to be very difficult for opponents six months from now, nine months from now, to make an effort to undermine the Affordable Care Act," he said.
"I think this whole battle in D.C. is reflective of the fact that they know that and so they're making one last-ditch effort," Huddleston said.
Jason Cline, Arkansas state director of Americans For Prosperity, which opposes the law, acknowledged that the law would be harder to turn back after it is fully implemented.
"Ronald Reagan always said that the closest thing on earth to eternal life is a government program," Cline said. "Taking anything away once something has been granted is a very difficult process."
Cline noted that the nation is $16.7 trillion in debt and said it is "troubling" to contemplate the political difficulties involved "if this thing turns out to be a budget buster and bad for the health care economy, as we believe it will be."
Dec. 15 is the deadline to apply through the marketplace for coverage that will become effective Jan. 1.


text:
Texas Government
Texas funds biotechnology center
- Details
- Category: Texas Legislature
- Published on 13 September 2013
- Written by lillie
$3 Million Grant Awarded to Create
Center for Cell and Organ Biotechnology
Texas Emerging Technology Fund (TETF) will provide a $3 million grant to create the Center for Cell and Organ Biotechnology. The grant is an investment in collaboration with the Texas Heart Institute (THI) and Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.
"This center represents another step toward making Texas the forefront of biotechnology for generations to come," Gov. Rick Perry said in his announcement Sept. 13. "The investment is all a part of the culture of creation we've nurtured in Texas, built upon the concept that if you give bright and visionary people the freedom to innovate and pursue their dreams, good things will happen. I could not be prouder that this life-affirming research will be conducted here in our state, and I can't wait to see it put into action."
The College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences is home to the Michael E. DeBakey Institute for Cardiovascular Sciences. The institute is known as a leader in biomedical research programs in vascular studies and cardiovascular devices, making it a natural fit for the partnership.
In the U.S. alone, one in three individuals suffer from some form of cardiovascular disease and more than one million die from end-stage organ failure each year. The new center will take a multi-faceted approach to chronic disease for both human and veterinary health care, based on cell and organ failure. It will be led by Dr. Doris Taylor, director of Regenerative Medicine Research at THI and will include scientists, engineers, physicians, veterinarians and business managers from both THI and the University.
"Dr. Taylor is certainly one of the stars in the adult human stem cell field, and we feel extremely fortunate to have her at the Texas Heart Institute," said Dr. James T. Willerson, president and medical director at THI. "With the work already underway at Texas A&M, Dr. Taylor will be able to draw from expertise at both institutions to position the Center for Cell and Organ Biotechnology as a world leader in adult stem cell research, organ transplantation, and personalized medicine."
"We are grateful to Governor Rick Perry and the State of Texas for the vision to create the TETF, which is rightfully the envy of many," said Dr. Eleanor Green, Dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. "It was clear from the beginning that this partnership between two highly regarded institutions and the State of Texas was special. We know that the health of animals and people is inextricably linked and this unique center will advance both human and animal health.
The TETF is a $200 million initiative created by the Texas Legislature in 2005 at the governor's request, and reauthorized in 2007, 2009, 2011 and 2013. A 17-member advisory committee of high-tech leaders, entrepreneurs and research experts reviews potential projects and recommends funding allocations to the governor, Lieutenant Governor and Speaker of the House.
To date, the TETF has allocated more than $203 million in funds to 142 early stage companies, and over $216 million in grant matching and research superiority funds to Texas universities. Additionally, since the inception of the TETF, more than $1.67 billion in additional investment from other non-state sources has followed on to the TETF investment, more than quadrupling the amount invested by the TETF.
For more information on the TETF, visit http://www.emergingtechfund.com.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Just Like Adults!
Your child will feel so big and adult with their very own recliner to sit back and relax after a long day of fun. This chair features a strong wood frame with soft foam and then enveloped in durable vinyl upholstery for your active child. Choose from an array of colors that will best suit your child's personality or bedroom. This petite sized recliner is highlighted with storage arms to keep all they need to truly relax, close at hand.
Shipping: FREE
I recently bought the pink and orange recliners. I had my daughters named personalized on them. I love them. The lettering was perfect. Not to mention that it only took a few days for me to get them. I was very impress. I know that my daughters will love them, but they will have to wait until Christmas.
Fast shipping, no damages, easy set up and very well done, even the monogram :) very pleased


text:
SANFORD — The scene in front of the Sanford Police Department last Thursday morning looked like something from a Bruce Willis action movie as five police officers wearing helmets and camouflage gear and carrying weapons walked behind a robotically operated bulletproof shield toward a "suspect."
"Move away from the vehicle," yelled an officer as the robot and officers advanced across the parking lot to the individual, disarmed and "captured" him.
The April 18 event was the unveiling of the Robotic Solution 1 — Robotic Ballistic Shield 1 (RS1-RBS1), or SWAT-Bot.
Developed and created by Howe and Howe Technologies in Waterboro, in conjunction with the Massachusetts State Police SWAT team, the SWAT-Bot is a military grade robot with a collapsible ballistic shield designed to protect officers and civilians from gunfire and even improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
Howe and Howe Technologies is known for its work developing state-of-the-art robotics for the military. Last fall, company owners and brothers — President Michael Howe and CEO Geoffrey Howe — met with Massachusetts State Police to discuss how the technology could be used by law enforcement to reduce officers' and civilians' exposure in dangerous incidents, such as domestic standoffs, hostage situations and riots. After months of research, engineering and testing, Howe and Howe announced the creation of the SWAT-Bot, a tool that will "drastically change SWAT/SRT [special response team] tactics forever, saving countless lives in the process," according to a company press release. Last week's unveiling and demonstration of the SWAT-Bot had been scheduled to be held in Boston with the Massachusetts State Police, but the company moved the event to Sanford due to the tragic event at the Boston Marathon on Monday, April 15, according to Mike Howe. Two homemade bombs exploded near the finish line of the 26.2-mile race, killing three spectators and injuring more than 200 others.
Demonstrating the SWAT-Bot last Thursday were members of the Southern Maine Special Response Team — one of four certified tactical teams in the state. The team, which is made up of 18 law enforcement officers and two paramedics from York County, recently had a seven-hour training session on the SWAT-Bot at Howe and Howe's Waterboro facility.
Sanford Police Sgt. Craig L. Anderson, the team leader for the Southern Maine Special Response Team, said in a letter following the training that the SWAT-Bot is "far superior to any type of conventional ballistic protection for dismounted officers we've ever been exposed to."
The SWAT-Bot is large enough to protect up to 12 police officers as they make tactical approaches and maneuvers. In addition to protection, it has number of attachments, such as a door entry ram that can smash in industrial and reinforced doors, and a Dragon Tail attachment that can pierce and remove doors. Its 16,000-lumen lights and "siren" will blind and disorient a shooter.
It also has a tray, or cage, attachment that can be used to deliver objects, such as a telephone to a negotiator in a hostage situation.
"It's no coincidence that the tray is about the size of a pizza box," said Mike Howe.
There is also a high-definition video system attachment that is "so clear you can see the date on a penny on the ground in front of you," he said. He said the video system can be used to "interrogate" and identify the contents of a backpack or other items.
Howe said the SWAT-Bot will sell for less than $100,000 — a lot of money, he said, but added that it is "the least expensive product in its class out there."
He said the cost of development is not reflected in the price of the SWAT-Bot because Howe and Howe was able to use years of research spent on developing robotics for the military to develop the SWAT-Bot for domestic use.
Howe predicted that in five to ten years, the SWAT-Bot (or similar technology) will be used across the world.
"I'd like to have one in my arsenal," said Sanford Police Chief Thomas Connolly in response to a reporter's question following the demonstration.
Connolly, who is the commander of the Southern Maine SRT, compared the SWAT-Bot to insurance. "If you have one incident and it saves the life of one officer — or more — it pays for itself."


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A bout of coral bleaching hitting Australia's Great Barrier Reef could be as bad as an episode in 2001-2002 that affected 60 percent of the reef, scientists warned Tuesday.
SYDNEY, Australia A bout of coral bleaching hitting Australia's Great Barrier Reef could be as bad as an episode in 2001-2002 that affected 60 percent of the reef, scientists warned Tuesday.
An international team studying the world's reefs said in a statement that water temperatures for the past four months off Australia's northeastern coast have been well above long-term averages.
"We were all very concerned when we saw the temperature readings for December," said Prof. Ove Hoegh-Guldberg of the University of Queensland.
He said temperature measurements were similar to those in 2001-2002, which led to the worst coral bleaching ever recorded on the Great Barrier Reef.
"In that event, over 60 percent of the Great Barrier Reef bleached and up to five percent of reefs suffered serious damage," he added.
Hoegh-Guldberg chairs the Bleaching Working Group for the Coral Reef Targeted Research and Capacity Building for Management Program, a worldwide network of more than 100 scientists.
Coral bleaching occurs when the microscopic plants, or zooxanthellae, which live in coral tissue stop working due to stress that often is caused by rising temperatures. The zooxanthellae provide corals with color and food.
Coral reefs are not immediately killed by bleaching and if they are not severely stressed, they can recover their zooxanthellae and regain their color.
Bleaching already has whitened coral around the Keppel islands at the southern end of the Great Barrier Reef, a World Heritage-listed chain of reefs that stretches for almost 1,200 miles along most of the coast of Australia's Queensland state.
"Corals at the Keppels are completely bleached and we are only halfway through January," Hoegh-Guldberg said. "How this will develop across the Great Barrier Reef is the number one question right now."
Healthy coral is key to marine ecosystems along the reef and also to a multibillion dollar tourist industry in Australia, where the Great Barrier Reef is one of the top draws.
Paul Marshall, manager of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority's Climate Change Response Program, said that while most of the tourism is based around the northern stretches of the reef, there are reefs of ecological importance and several popular resorts around the southern reaches.
Marshall said there had been reports late last year of some bleaching in the north of the reef, but temperatures there had since dropped while in the south temperatures continued to be above average.
"We are going to be pretty lucky to escape coral deaths in the southern Great Barrier Reef," he said.
"It's going to have to be some pretty serious cloudy conditions to avert more serious bleaching down there," he added.
Source: Associated Press
Contact Info:


text: Naughty all-natural Tessa Lane has a body built for sex and a mouth built for pleasure. Tessa was interested in porn from a young age, and admired pornstar Jenna Haze, so in 2010, Tessa thought she'd try her luck in the industry. She flew from New York to Los Angeles to see what would happen. Of course it didn't take long for someone to notice her huge natural tits, prefect ass and striking face, and soon Tessa had moved to the City of Angels to pursue her dream. This Long Island hottie is a pleaser, and loves to give the perfect blowjob. She would never spit, and says of girls who do: "That's like a guy eating my pussy and then wiping his tongue off. I would be highly offended." She also loves it when a guy comes on her face - in fact she says it turns her on so much, it makes her need to fuck again immediately. This edible Brazzers babe has also been featured on Mofos, Digital Playground, and more, and we can't wait to feast on all of her scenes.


text:
- This event has passed.
AA Women's Meeting
August 12, 2018 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
|Recurring Event (See all)
An event every week that begins at 6:00 pm on Sunday, repeating until September 9, 2018
This AA group for women meets every Sunday 6-7pm in the Upper Room at the North Ferrisburgh UMC.
For a group open to men and women there is one at St. Paul's Episcopal Church Rectory in Vergennes on Sunday at 7pm, or on Friday at 8pm.
For other local AA groups call their hotline at (802) 775-0402 or visit www.aavt.org.


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Mr. Speaker, an urgent situation is developing in Robson Bight Ecological Reserve. This is a critical habitat for British Columbia's northern resident orca whales which are listed as threatened under species at risk legislation.
Last August a barge spilled its load, causing an oil spill contaminating Robson Bight. An underwater investigation shows the fuel tanker to be intact at this time but it will not be indefinitely. Time is running out.
Does the minister have a plan to remove the tanker full of diesel oil before the orcas' return in June, yes or no?


text:
We envision an association that will work together to reach Lancaster County (Jerusalem) with the Good News of Christ. As we work to make our website a tool for our community and our churches to use, we would appreciate your feedback on what you would like to see from our site.
View our newsletter
A message from the director...
Welcome to our Moriah Baptist Association website. Thank you for visiting us. We are the Southern Baptist Churches located in Lancaster County, South Carolina. As we move forward into the twenty-first century, after two hundred years of missions, we are networking together, one in unity, seeking to reach out with the love of Jesus beginning in our county and extending to all parts of the ea Read More


text:
Catering Sales Manager
Job Title: Catering Sales Manager
Department: Resort Sales
Reports To: Senior Event Manager
Responsible for proactively soliciting and managing group/catering-related business opportunities to meet and exceed personal and team related revenue goals. Ensures business is turned over properly and in a timely fashion for proper service delivery. Must support the service and relationship strategy and drive customer loyalty by delivering service excellence throughout each customer experience. Provides service to our customers in order to grow share of the account on behalf of the resort.
Supervisory Responsibilities
At present, this position does not have supervisory responsibilities.
Education and/or Experience:
High School Diploma or GED required; Bachelor's Degree in Catering, Hospitality Management or related field strongly preferred; 5 years hotel catering sales experience, on a property level, preferred or with at least 3 years property catering sales management experience and/or an equivalent combination of education, training and related hospitality sales experience.
Licenses and Certifications:
CMP, CHSE or other related certification preferred.
Computer Skills:
To perform this job successfully, an individual should have excellent PC skills and working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications. Broad knowledge of current and standard hospitality software applications and hotel systems, experience using Delphi preferred.
Other Qualifications
* Must have ability to work collaboratively with hotel service team in providing exceptional customer service;
* Must have the ability to provide creative, visionary direction to fully realize clients' ideal event;
* Must be detail oriented with strong organizational, communication (verbal & written) and presentation skills;
* Must have ability to support an extensive existing customer database;
* Must have superior customer development and guest relation skills;
* Must have excellent selling (including telephone sales) and negotiation skills and an understanding of the sales process including up-selling products and service to closing;
* Must have advanced knowledge of property-specific business segments, advanced knowledge of contractual agreements and legal implications, advanced knowledge of food trends, food and beverage composition and menu planning and advanced knowledge of food and beverage forecasting and attrition.
* Must be experienced and comfortable making cold calls in person and over telephone.
Physical Demands
While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to stand for prolonged periods of time; walk; use hands and fingers to handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl and talk or hear. The employee must regularly lift and /or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.
Work Environment
While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly exposed to secondary smoke. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.


text:
Jeter helps guide Yanks in final home opener
Double leads off two-run fifth inning; Kuroda works into seventh
NEW YORK -- Derek Jeter took a few loping steps out of the batter's box, seeming to allow himself a little extra time to take in his final home opener at Yankee Stadium. Why not? The sweet crack of barrel meeting ball had provided the captain with that luxury.
Jeter wasn't counting on the gusting Bronx winds having a little fun with him. Instead of reaching the palms of an eager fan, the ball pounded into the left-field wall, and Jeter had to turn it on. He just barely wrapped his left hand around second base before a tag was slapped down.
That brought howls from the Yankees' dugout, and Jeter heard about it after touching home plate on a Jacoby Ellsbury single. It might not have been a Jeter highlight-reel moment, but it was part of the winning cause as the Yankees posted a 4-2 victory over the Orioles on Monday.
"When I hit it, I thought it was a home run, then I thought it was going to go foul," Jeter said. "Next thing you know, it ricocheted right to the left fielder, so I had to pick up the pace a little bit. There were some guys laughing -- until a couple of them hit some balls and the wind got them, too."
Runs were at a premium on a cold, chilly afternoon, and the Yankees squeezed 6 1/3 solid innings of two-run ball from starter Hiroki Kuroda, who scattered eight hits and struck out four without issuing a walk to pick up his first victory of the year.
Receiving the loudest cheers during pregame introductions, Jeter joined former teammates Andy Pettitte, Jorge Posada and Mariano Rivera for a first-pitch ceremony that reunited the "Core Four" from New York's most recent championship clubs.
Manager Joe Girardi said that the pomp and circumstance created a celebratory atmosphere, but after nearly 20 seasons of watching Jeter lead by example on the basepaths, Girardi and the Yankees weren't about to miss a chance to rib Jeter about that premature trot.
"Oh, believe me, there was more than one person that got on him," Girardi said. "I even asked him, 'You think Jorge [Posada] is on you up in the suite?' He said, 'Oh yeah.'"
Jeter pushed across the Yanks' first run with a third-inning double-play ball and finished 1-for-4 in his return to the Stadium. New York produced four runs against Orioles starter Ubaldo Jimenez, who lasted 4 2/3 innings.
Yangervis Solarte's ascension from non-roster invitee to cult hero continued, as the hot-hitting rookie kept up his hot start with a fourth-inning RBI single that smacked off the glove of diving right fielder Nick Markakis.
Jeter touched the plate with New York's third run on Ellsbury's fifth-inning single, and the Yanks tacked on another run in the seventh when reliever Zach Britton issued a bases-loaded walk to Kelly Johnson.
"There are some pretty good hitters there, so it's not like you just throw your glove out there," O's manager Buck Showalter said. "That's one of the things that good teams like the Yankees are able to do, present challenges all the way through the order."
They provided enough support for Kuroda, who was economical with his 92 pitches. Matt Wieters had a run-scoring single in the fourth inning, and Nelson Cruz drove home a seventh-inning run with a hit off Kuroda.
"I was trying to be patient and make sure that I keep the ball down and not to walk anybody," Kuroda said through an interpreter.
"He's consistent," Girardi said. "He's been consistent ever since he's been here, whether it has been regular season or postseason. It's kind of what you expect."
As much as the Yankees wanted to center their celebration for the afternoon around Jeter, they were forced to adjust the plan by an injury to closer David Robertson, who was diagnosed with a Grade 1 strain of his left groin and will be placed on the 15-day disabled list.
Robertson would not have been available to pitch on Monday anyway after appearing in three of four games, but the Yanks' bullpen will be asked to jump into new roles and get the job done in Robertson's absence.
That domino effect started with Kuroda tiring in the seventh. Matt Thornton and David Phelps each recorded an out in that frame, bailing Kuroda out from a two-on, one-out jam, and Adam Warren snapped a slider past slugger Chris Davis to end the eighth inning.
"I was just trusting Brian [McCann]," Warren said. "He's a great catcher, so I was just trusting him on that sequence."
In the ninth, Girardi called upon Shawn Kelley for his first career save opportunity. Kelley said that he felt nervous and excited as he jogged out of the bullpen, but it didn't show in his performance, as he nailed down the victory with a perfect inning.
"It felt good -- that was my first one ever," Kelley said. "It was pretty cool to get that. I don't know if it's going to get easier, but it's a good feeling to get that one under the belt, and we'll go from there."
Just like Jeter's fifth-inning fly ball, maybe not everything exactly adhered to the script, but the Yankees found a way to achieve their desired result.
"It was a great day," Jeter said. "The fans were energetic, like they usually are, which makes it fun for us as players. I really missed it last year. Sometimes you don't realize it until you get back out on the field. Home openers are special here at Yankee Stadium."


text:
I've developed an XBMC add-on for DVBlink.
It lists all available channels on your DVBlink Connect Server and streams them to your XBMC.
You can install this add-on in XBMC by downloading it and then going to System - Add-ons - Install from zip file.
You then need to edit the settings for the add-on, this is done by selecting DVBlink and pressing C or right click on the add-on and select Edit add-on settings.
Version 1.2.6
Download the new version here: http://www.dsd.se/plugin.video.dvblink-1.2.6.zip
You need to install it the same way as stated above.
- Changed info about what's playing so it's shown above the channel name (if you press Enter while watching a channel).
- UTF-8 decoding is done when loading cached channels.
- Some extra errorhandling has been added.
- Minor bugfixes.
Version 1.2.5
Download the new version here: http://www.dsd.se/plugin.video.dvblink-1.2.5.zip
You need to install it the same way as stated above.
- Added support for different streaming types such as HLS and ASF.
- A new setting is added for stream type, which means that you can select the type you want.
- A new setting is also added for caching the channel list, this is useful when running the add-on on devices with a weak CPU (Raspberry Pi).
- Loading time when the channel list is constructed is improved on devices such as Raspberry Pi.
- Playback on the Raspberry Pi is improved by using HLS streaming.
- Channel logos are now properly loaded.
- An error when showing channel EPG on MAC should now be fixed (please test and verify this).
- When streaming a channel, the program that's currently playing is shown after the channel name in XBMC (when moving the mouse or pressing pause).
Most of the added functionality in this release is for the Raspberry Pi.
With this version you can actually run the add-on on the RPI without any problems.
Playback is smooth and load time is immensely improved and I've gotten the time down to 7-8 seconds when using cached channel list.
After the initial load the load time is even better and down to about 5 seconds.
These figures will vary depending on the amount of channels, for instance I have 116 channels.
The cached channel list is activated through the add-on settings.
When selected the next time you run the add-on it will check if there is a channels.xml file present in the channels folder.
If it's not, then the channel list is loaded by asking the DVBLink Connect Server (same as before) and then saving the list to channels.xml.
The next time you run the add-on it will find the channels.xml and use that instead of asking the server.
When you deselect the cached channels setting, the next time you run the add-on the channels.xml file is removed and channels are loaded by asking the server.
For those of you that are running the add-on on the Raspberry Pi need to use the Raspbmc in order to run the add-on.
You also need to select the stream type HLS (in the add-on settings). The "Http Live Streaming" (HLS) stream type is the same one that is used on the Iphone and Ipad when running the DVBLink app.
The HLS stream might use a bit more power on your server when transcoding the stream.
Version 1.2.4
Download the new version here: http://www.dsd.se/plugin.video.dvblink-1.2.4.zip
You need to install it the same way as stated above.
- The playback was broken in version 1.2.3, and should now work.
- Added support for channel logos (for more info see below).
Channel logos.
In order for channel logos to work you have to download and place those logos that you want to use in the folder "\Resources\channels" which is located under the following path on Windows:
Every channel that you put in this folder has to have the exact name of the channel and the file extension of ".png".
My recommendation is that you go to http://www.lyngsat-logo.com/tvcountry/tvcountry.html and look for the channel logos that you want and save them in the "\Resources\channels" folder.
Due to how XBMC is caching thumbnails, if you already added a channel logo and want to change that, you might have some trouble, but there are ways to fix that (some are a bit tricky)...
There is a add-on setting which controls if the add-on should look for channel logos or not. By default this setting is set to False, meaning that the add-on will not look for channel logos.
Version 1.2.3
I've temporarily removed the 1.2.3 version since it still has playback issues.
Download the new version here: http://www.dsd.se/plugin.video.dvblink-1.2.3.zip
You need to install it the same way as stated above.
- A few bugs have been fixed regarding playback.
Version 1.2.2
Download the new version here: http://www.dsd.se/plugin.video.dvblink-1.2.2.zip
You need to install it the same way as stated above.
Please note that this version is a test version which means that this version will be a bit more shaky than previous versions.
Should you find a bug then please let me know and I will do my best to fix this in the upcoming version.
It would be great if anyone running a Raspberry Pi could test the transcoding and let me know if it works.
Also anyone with channel names that have strange characters are welcome to test the new version, the problem should now be gone...
- Improved errorhandling for DVBLink error, they are now presented in plain text.
- Some changes has been made to how channel names are handled this due to channels with special characters.
- You can now turn on/off subtitles when streaming a channel if subtitles are supported, a new setting is added.
- Added support for transcoding using the protocol RTSP and MPEG4 with AAC audio. A new section is added in settings.
- The DVBLink Client ID can now be changed through settings, this is usable when running several devices with the XBMC add-on in the same network.
- The value of the password is now masked in the settings dialog.
- Dutch translation has been updated (thanks to CrashingDutchman).
I've put together some more information about the changes that was made in this version.
There are a few new settings in this version.
As you can see from the screenshot below the settings dialog is now divided into two sections "General" and "Advanced".
"General" has the settings that deals with connection and subtitles. The other section "Advanced" deals with transcoding.
When the transcoding option is selected the add-on will instruct the DVBLink Connect Server to stream using the RTSP protocol and
the other settings such as height, width and bitrate are also factors that are sent to the server when the transcoding is started.
When the transcoding option is not selected, then the add-on will instruct the server to send a raw http stream which means that
the stream will be in MPEG2 or H264 with a much higher bitrate. This is recommended for streaming in the same network.
Version 1.2.1
Download the new version here: http://www.dsd.se/plugin.video.dvblink-1.2.1.zip
You need to install it the same way as stated above.
- The streaming of a selected channel was broken in version 1.2.0, this was due to data being cut off when parsed.
Version 1.2.0
Download the new version here: http://www.dsd.se/plugin.video.dvblink-1.2.0.zip
You need to install it the same way as stated above.
- The add-on now handles channel names with special characters, thanks to Wal.
- Streaming is now stopped when the add-on is started and this also occurs when the playback of a channel is stopped.
Version 1.1.0
Download the new version here: http://www.dsd.se/plugin.video.dvblink-1.1.0.zip
You need to install it the same way as stated above.
- The add-on now uses the DVBLogics python classes for calling DVBLink Connect Server.
- Added support for EPG.
You can invoke the context menu with EPG info by pressing C or by clicking the right mousebutton.
- Added support for Dutch language.
[This version is no longer available]
Here's a link to the add-on: http://www.dsd.se/plugin.video.dvblink.zip
I've only tested this add-on on XBMC 11 (Eden) so anything else is not recommended.
Comments are welcome


text:
Over the past several years, CCRI's campuses have increasingly become cluttered with paper signs and announcements that have been hung on, among other places, walls, doors, glass surfaces, columns and elevators. Along with contributing to an unattractive environment, this also violates the fire code as delineated by the municipalities in which our campuses are located. The sign policy is designed to recognize the needs of the college's distinct campuses while promoting a safe, uncluttered and more attractive environment.
Bulletin boards are, and have always been, the primary intended places for signs, announcements and notices on campus to be posted. When the college's sign committee began to study the problem, members realized that, if areas such as walls, doors, glass surfaces, columns and elevators were to be taken away, additional bulletin boards must be added.
Toward this end, members of the sign committee walked every hallway on every campus and determined optimum locations for new bulletin boards to be located. These high-visibility boards will help you spread your message to students, faculty and staff.
Yes. Every effort was made to include student and faculty input. Student government leaders were encouraged to attend committee meetings, and a draft of the sign policy was presented to a number of faculty and students at a special meeting before the draft was forwarded to Governance.
The sign committee drafted the policy and forwarded it to the proper Governance committee. Once it passed through the proper Governance channels, it was brought to President's Council, where the council voted unanimously to implement it.
No. Many campuses across the country have similar policies regarding signs. One nearby example is Rhode Island College.
No. The sign policy is specific that these areas are not included. Faculty members may post signs and notices on any surface in their offices, on the inside of their glass windows and on the inside or outside of their doors. Department offices and areas also are exempt. Student club areas fall under the same guidelines as faculty offices. The sign policy is intended to clean up public spaces and hallways.
Students have limited means to communicate with the general student body, so an exception was granted for student government elections. As spelled out in the sign policy, student candidates may post signs on various surfaces beginning three weeks prior to the election. All signs must be removed within 48 hours of the close of the election.
The sign policy specifies individuals on each campus who will have the responsibility of approving and stamping sign requests. The stamps will include a removal date. It is the sole responsibility of the individual/organization/department posting the signs to remove them by the stated removal date. Failure to remove signs by the removal date will result in a warning. Those who have repeated violations will risk denial of future sign requests.
One sign per event will be permitted per bulletin board. Multiple postings in one location are both wasteful and inconsiderate of other organizations and may be subject to immediate removal. The total allowable number of signs posted for any event is limited only by the total number of bulletin boards on a campus.
One bulletin board per campus will be provided exclusively for outside/off-campus organizations and will be designated as a community bulletin board. In accordance with the college Alcohol Policy, no signs or displays may promote the sale or consumption of alcohol or drugs. No signs or displays may promote any organizations associated with adult entertainment. Signs posted on the community bulletin boards should be of general interest and benefit to the college community. Any outside organization wishing to post a sign or display in our campuses must receive a stamp of approval; any signs posted without stamps will be removed.
Related links


text:
Monday, May 06, 2013
Great Moments in MLB.com Gameday
Posted by p at 8:59 PM
4 comments:
Being sarcastic? I don't see anything so great here.ReplyDelete
"Great Moments In..." is a sarcastic series for when I notice obvious data errors. Typically this occurs on Yahoo! box scores, but Gameday is not immune as can be seen here. I usually post without comment so the reader can spot the funnies on his own.ReplyDelete
There's no rule against putting two outfielders in left, as far as I know.ReplyDelete
No, and this is the bench display so it makes sense that both Lutz and Paul are listed as LF.ReplyDelete
The items to focus on here are the columns for games, at bats, and runs.
Comments are moderated, so there will be a lag between your post and it actually appearing. I reserve the right to reject any comment for any reason.
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


text:
MythBusters, the science-fact television show that started life on the Discovery Channel, has put hundreds of rumors, myths and adages to the test. In the future, they will be tackling the fact and fiction of video games.
So said MythBusters co-star Adam Savage at Comic-Con 2010. Addressing an interested MythBusters fan's request to see, say, the physics of Ubisoft's Assassins's Creed leaps of faith tested—hey, didn't we already do that?—Savage offered more than hope. He offered confirmation.
"We have a couple of stories from video games that have been on the list for a long time," Savage says, including one tentatively named "Nintendo vs. Pro."
"The idea is of taking a kid who has just got his drivers license and training him on the Sears Point Raceway in a Formula 3 car and seeing if the training in the video game is good enough to make him able to compete in an actual [race] on that racetrack," Savage explained.
"There's a lot of material there," he added, promising that "at some point there will be a video game special."
The show's Grant Imahara added that he'd heard directly from Ubisoft about the publisher's interest in seeing the program tackle video game science.
Sounds different from GameTrailers' good Pop Fiction series, which explores video game myths along the lines of Mario's ability to jump over the castle flagpole in Super Mario Bros.
MythBusters: Video Game Special [Discovery - thanks, Sarah & Nightwheel!]


text:
- This topic has 1 reply, 2 voices, and was last updated 13 years, 1 month ago by Anonymous.
May 3, 2007 at 3:35 am #1334Don DonzalKeymaster
Below are the editing reports by Brian Wilson on his last days at Notacon 4:
Notacon Day 2 – 3
Here is Day 2. Then again, Day 2 was really Day 2 and 3, because, once the Saturday evening events started to wrap up around 1:00 AM, the mass drinking and break out sessions began. One thing I do need to mention is that there was a lot of activities outside of the talks going on the whole time of the con.
For example, 'DOS Man' had a display of locks and showed us how to pick different kinds of locks (He also had some picks for sale). The cool thing about the lock pick display was that he left all the locks and picks out for anyone to try and assisted with advice on how to pick locks, lock security, and picking prevention. Other cool displays were all over and someone decided to bring a Nintendo Wii with a projection screen for everyone to play.
The discussion in the EH-Net forums for my Day 1 report brought up the fact that this event seemed to be getting a thumbs down from me. Let me clarify. I was a little down on the technical content of the con. Then again, it is named "Not-a-Con" and apparently for good reason. It is not your typical hacker con in the sense of IT security. It is more of a throwback to cons of old where you hack everything… even the after-parties (More on this below). So keep this in mind as we move through the other presentations I attended:
8 Dirty Little Secrets of Information Security (Presenter: Bruce Potter, Shmoocon founder)
This was a funny presentation and was well thought out. I enjoyed the fact that he covered a lot of different technologies and procedures. He was good at relaying complex topics in a way that non-security users could understand. Bruce covered Windows, OS X, Linux, Unix, servers, hardware, software, web appliances and more. His explanation of Application Armor (the act of controlling software to keep it from committing malicious acts) was spot on and really hit home with how security is needed on many layers. He went on to explain how networks and systems are getting more complex, and our ways of securing them have not changed much in the last 35 years. He then showed us a DoD document from 1972 where the Air Force explained that with a fully patched Unix system, they were still being hacked. Furthermore, more controls and procedures need to be implemented to help protect information systems. This is where the talk started getting good. He then talked about the history of security. He also brought up the point the companies that pay for 0-days scare him, because their business is to use the 0-days to make money by claiming that their product has more patches for 0-days than the next vendor. So his point was, "What is the motivation for the security patching/pen testing companies to help fix the issue, since they profit from the issues?" Other valid points he discussed were that the corporate side of 90% of the industries are not concerned about securing networks but just want to keep up with compliance ( SOX, HIPPA, & others). He also brought up points that "you can never train everyone in a network," so you have to program better code and implement better policies to protect the infrastructure. I enjoyed this talk so much that I paid $15 for a copy of the DVD, just so I could make sure I got all the information from his talk. Well time ran out before he could get though all the security secrets, but this was by far the best session I sat in on. I will add there was little standing room left after he started to talk, and I did not hear a single person at this con have anything bad to say about this session.
Online Communities and the Politics of DDoS (Presenter: Seth Hardy)
Seth started his talk with the mistakes he had made in the past with the free community sites he has run and the fact that there is always users that want to cause problems for others. He also explains the dynamics of dealing with an open community, how to agree on rules and when to enforce them. This is especially hard when you are trying to accept everyone.
He explained the way a botnet is built and controlled on a basic level. He also explained how it is not to easy to find and stop control channels on a IRC network. He also explained how to trend and find bots in IRC, so they can be turned off or stopped.
Next he explained a few different types of attacks and gave details on how each kind of attack works. His explanation of how the attacks functioned was explained very well. He covered:
Types of DDoS (discussed in the talk):
• Ping Flood
• SYN flood
• Smurf/fraggle
DDoS Counter Measures:
Black Holing:
• Quick and easy to do
• Cuts off you connectivity
• Change your IP address (& pray the botnet dose not follow you to your next IP)
Tools to prevent DDoS
• Routers
• Firewalls
• IDS (Intrusion Detection Systems)
• IPS (Intrusion Protection System)
• DDoS Mitigation Devices
• Contacting your ISP
o ISP might not be to helpful if your not a top level customer
o Best they normally offer is to black hole traffic
Basic Response Process
• ID the issues via a traffic capture
• Contact your upstream provider
• Contact providers of the attackers
Other responses to a DDoS Attack
• Determine who the attacker is…
• Persuade the attacker to stop
• Wait it out
• Who is at fault?
• Why are you being attacked?
• What did you do?
• Do you use IRC?
Squarewave to Heaven (Presenter: Nullsleep)
Nullsleep was using old Midi and squareway devices to make music. It was amazing to see the different kinds of music made from these older platforms. The complexity of the sounds made and mixed sounded very high tech, and it was interesting to see older 8 bit technology being used in this way. I could easily see this music in a techno club or even used as dance music. Unfortunately I can only convey that I liked this talk/demonstration, since you would have to be there to truly enjoy it. Below are the different devices used to make the music:
• Commodore 64
• Amiga
• Atari ST
• Game Boy
• NES / Famicom
Here are some links to sites that feature this kind of music:
HVSC – http://www.hvsc.c64.org
Mod Archive http://www.modarchive.com
8bitpeoples – http://www.8bitpeoples.com
Telco Q & A (Speakers: Paul Timmins & Co)
First thing to say is that the room was full as this was a very popular talk. The way this talk worked was that they passed out notepads, and the audience wrote down questions they wanted answered, and the speakers tried to answer them. The talk started with the different speakers explaining their role in the telecom industry and sharing their experiences. After the brief introduction the room started passing the question notes up. Most of the questions where about how to be the 10th caller in a radio contest, but there were a lot of good questions about different services and how much should you pay for them. The biggest issue with questions like "how much should I pay" is that it all depends on where you live and how much competition is in the area. Other good questions where about PRI & BRI (PRI 23B channels [for voice] and 1D channel [for signaling] BRI 2B channels and 1D channel). There was also a lot of talk about how bad this service provider verses that one. Another interesting thing was the talk on Caller ID spoofing. The speakers made it sound like it could not be done and also pushed that it's a bad idea (I agree it's not good to screw with the public telephone service). I did raise my hand and tell them you can spoof caller ID, and that it is very easy. I then went to explain that there are companies that use this as a business model. I got the idea at this point that they did not want the group to understand how caller ID spoofing worked (for good reason again because if you spoof called ID you can trash the call routing and cause 911 trucking issues for you and possibly your area). I did explain that there is http://www.spoofcard.com and a lot of international SIP providers that allow you to send custom (spoofed) caller ID. After that the speakers ran out of time and the questions poured into the hallway. It seams this is a hot topic and the old days of Phone Phreaking might be coming back.
Final Thoughts on Notacon 4
Saturday night, Irongeek, a few others and I went to the bar for drinks. We talked about hardware key loggers and a lot of other geek stuff and finished off a few drinks. Around midnight the Block Party started, and it was like an alternative art festival. I would just like to say a Demo Party is very fun and has all kinds of cool computer generated entertainment. About 1:00 AM the Block Party started to fade out and the micro parties began. Room by room and floor by floor you could jump into and out of smaller parties. I ended up not going to sleep that night and just kept partying with the rest of the con until the next day. I will say that when Day 3 started, about half the con was asleep or hung over.
The last day was more like a big farewell and was kind of depressing. This was not an effect of the all night sessions, but because everyone was preparing to go home. That was the one big takeaway from this event. It is a people event. For this reason, the ending celebrations & closing ceremonies were cool, because we found out that Notacon was finely in the black. With Notacon now debt free, it was guaranteed that there would be a Notacon 5 next year. I hope you enjoyed my attempt at reporting this con for all of you, and we'll see you next year.
Be sure to add your comments,
May 3, 2007 at 9:21 am #12685AnonymousParticipant
well it definitely seems like Day 2 was much better. Those talks looked alot more interesting. Bruce Potter is a really sharp guy and i am looking forward to moving back to the DC area because he does alot of talks with the local security groups in the area. i remember Defcon 10 when he talked about how bad it was going to get with 802.11 and pretty much everything he talked about came true. not to mention all his work with aircrack when that was the only tool doing what it did.
good writeup Brian.
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text:
Council Of Nine - Dakhma (2015)
- Details
- Published on Sunday, 17 May 2015 21:04
Band: Council Of Nine
Album title: Dakhma
Release date: 28 April 2015
Label: Cryo Chamber
Council Of Nine created a masterwork within dark-ambient genre, the sound can be put somewhere in between the two cult masters of the genre like are Desiderii Marginis and Atrium Carceri, but still in Council Of Nine's sound is something unique, cosmic, something so vivid expressed through sound that there's rarely a chance to hear. Dakhma is a horrific cinematic beauty, yet emotional, thus it pushes with ease the listener into a fantasy world with many unexpected twists. A fantastic and highly recommended release for any fan of dark ambient, but as well it can be a fine starting point for all those who want to explore the genre.
Read a full review HERE


text:
American Milestones, Brown v. Board of Education
This book provides an in-depth look at our nations history and one of the most significant judicial turning points in our country. The Brown decision initiated educational and social reform throughout the United States. This book describes fascinating facts and fun activities your students will love! The American Milestone series are a favorite among teachers nationwide! Each book includes ideas for lesson plans, hands-on activities, biographies, fascinating facts and stories. Your students will be amazed as they study Brown v. Board of Education because it is not simply about children and education but it improved human rights struggles across the country and around the world. The American Milestone series meets national and social studies standards. This 28-page comprehensive book is reproducible and educational.
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text: Faculty More than 650 faculty teach at the HSG every semester. Besides the active faculty, you can also find retired faculty, as well as honorary professors, associate professors and habilitated lecturers of the University of St.Gallen on the list. You can display the faculty members according to names or functions. You can select the mode of your choice in the left-hand column. What will be displayed is the faculty members' valid functions/positions of the current semester, as well as their addresses and contact data. A double click on the name will get you to a brief desciption the faculty member (if available).


text:
Towson basketball off to best start in history
Tigers beat Abilene Christian 74-47
Jerrelle Benimon had 13 points, seven rebounds and five assists on Saturday and Towson shot 57.8 percent from the field to defeat Abilene Christian 74-47 on the final day of the Battle 4 Atlantis Mainland tournament.
Towson (6-2) is off to its best start ever as a Division I program. Rafriel Guthrie led five Tigers in double figures with 15 points. Marcus Damas and Four McGlynn each had 14 points and Mike Burwell had 10.
McGlynn scored all of his 14 points in the first half. He had four 3-pointers and a pair of free throws near the end of the first half to give Towson a 46-25 lead at the break.
Abilene Christian (2-8) continued its struggles to score points this season. The Wildcats entered the game ranked 337th in the nation, averaging only 60.3 points per game. Jacob Lancaster led the Wildcats with 15 points and eight rebounds.


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ATLANTA - State lawmakers in Georgia face a busy final day.
By law, the General Assembly meets for a 40-day annual session. The final day Thursday is called Sine Die, which means adjourning without setting a date to return.
Lawmakers typically face a daylong series of votes that continue in a chaotic rush until the clock strikes midnight. Any bills not approved by the House and Senate by Thursday automatically fail for the year. Lawmakers can pursue those proposals again next year.
State lawmakers have been discussing whether to restrict lobbyist spending, loosen gun laws and still need to pass the state budget.


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text:
It's called the Nanodatabase according to the Nov. 30, 2012 news item on Nanowerk (Note: I have removed a link),
The Danish Consumer Council and the Danish Ecological Council has in cooperation with DTU Environment developed a database, which help consumers identify more than 1,200 products that may contain nanomaterials. The Nanodatabase gives consumers a choice. [emphasis mine]
"Most consumers have no idea if there are nanomaterials or not in the goods they're buying. And they have no way of finding out, so that they can avoid the products if they are worried about the potentially harmful effects" says Claus Jørgensen, Senior Advisor at the Danish Consumer Council.
This is why the Danish Ecological Council and the Danish Consumer Council in cooperation with experts from DTU [Technical University of Denmark] Environment has decided to launch the Nanodatabase. Now consumers can search the database to see if a certain product contains nanomaterials or is marketed as 'nano'. This way the consumers can choose if they want the nanomaterials or not.
The database contains more than 1,200 products which contain nanomaterials or are marketed using the nano-claim. [emphasis mine]
"Until we know for sure that the use of nanotechnology is safe and the legislation is in place, we need a label that can help consumers make informed choices", says Lone Mikkelsen [chemical expert from the Danish Ecological Council].
The two organisations hope that the English version of the database will help consumers in other countries. The hope is that consumers will report products that contain 'nano' or claim to be a nano product to the database.
This project reminds me of the Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies (PEN) and their consumer products inventory. I don't believe they're adding to that inventory any moreas the March 10, 2011 news release announcing over 1300 nanotechnology-enabled products (as claimed by manufacturers) in the inventory appears to have been PEN's last. I think they, like the Danish Consumer Council and the Danish Ecological Council, were hoping to raise awareness.


text:
Field Supervisor FAQs
How many credit hours and clock hours are needed to fulfill the field placement requirement?
Students enrolled in the 33 credit M.A. in Addiction Studies or the 60 credit M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling are required to successfully complete the three credit Counseling Practicum course. The field practice requirement for this course is 100 hundred hours, with at least 50 of them being in direct service.
Students enrolled in the M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program are required to successfully complete a Mental Health Internship. This internship is comprised of two semesters of enrollment in the three credit Clinical Internship course. The field placement requirement for each semester is 300 hundreds of experience with at least 150 hours of direct service.
Can a student use his or her current job for the 595 or 680?
In order to give a flavor for the operation of different agencies and different client groups, we encourage students to engage in a varied field experience. Thus, if students do their practicum or internship at their work they are potentially losing a chance to broaden their view of counseling. However, if their constraints are such that they need to get at least some of their field-work in during their job, they can do two semesters there with a couple of constraints in mind: a) The student must have a qualified supervisor who is not in his or her work supervision chain (having any say over your his or her work promotions, raises or assignments would imply a dual role which is unethical); b) The site must agree to the same constraints that all other sites agree to when they take one of our students (hours, supervision, recording, etc.).
Can a student do two 680 sections in a semester?
Only one field assignment can be taken during any semester (including summers). The hours required and the need to take full advantage of the experience does not allow students to do it any differently.
Can students carry over hours from 595 to 680? Can they carry over hours from one 680 to another 680?
Our standards do not allow students to take 595 hours over to a 680. They are considered a different level of experience and the 595 hours can't count as 680 hours. Students can carry up to 100 hours over from one 680 to the next (the 100 hours is a limit for the total of all carryovers for the degree).
May students use previous experience or coursework to fulfill the internship requirement?
Because CACREP and the faculty of the Department of Professional Counseling set high standards for all components of field placement, transfer courses and professional experiences from outside the department are acceptable as substitutes only for the practicum course and only if they meet or exceed these minimum program requirements.
What are the requirements for an internship site supervisor?
In accord with the CACREP standards, the Department of Professional Counseling requires that site supervisors meet the following requirements:
- a minimum of a master's degree in counseling or a related profession and licensed as a mental health professional;
- a minimum of two (2) years of pertinent professional experience in the program area in counseling and mental health; and
- knowledge of the program's expectations, requirements, and evaluation procedures for students.
In addition to these requirements we recommend that Site supervisors be trained and certified in the practice of supervision. The Approved Clinical Supervisor certificate is available from the Center for Credentialing and Education. Monmouth University seeks to assist site supervisors in attaining this level of professional development.
How and when do the students select an internship site?
Students are required to secure their own placement and are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the nature of the population served, services provided, and support offered to students in considering potential placements. Students enter field placements at the beginning of any semester (Fall, Spring, or Summer) and they begin the process of seeking a placement very early in the semester prior to their placement.
Students whom you select for placement at your site will ask your assistance in completing the Site Approval Form which will outline the agreement between your site and the University. If your agency has additional affiliation agreement, please forward that to the Field Placement Coordinator.
How qualified are the students who seek placement?
Students seeking placement at your site from our program are young professionals seeking to develop skills of the profession. They have met our criteria for continuation in the program and have been endorsed by two faculty members as prepared for the level of field placement for which they are applying.
What support will the University give to help me supervise students?
The Department of Professional Counseling recognizes that the supervision of student counselors is very generous contribution of time and effort on your part. We seek, therefore to insure that we make a administrative processes as least cumbersome as possible, while fulfilling the necessary requirements of accountability for the student. The Field Placement Coordinator provides an email orientation and support program for on-site supervisors and is available by telephone and email for supervisors.
How can I help the intern get the most from her or his internship experience?
Apart from evaluation and administrative requirements, the supervisor is free to provide structure for the student's experience, either formally or informally. However, a comprehensive internship should include the following important elements: orientation to the site, clear expectations, clear information and feedback, and evaluation of the intern and the internship experience.
Introducing the Student to the Site
Orientation normally encompasses a description of the organization's mission and goals, administrative structure, and policies and procedures. Of course, the student should be introduced to the staff members and have their various roles and duties explained. The student's lines of reporting and authority should be clarified. It is helpful if the intern is taught how the agency fits into the greater organizational picture, as well as the institutional mission.
Clear Expectations
Structuring of the internship should be accomplished early in the student/supervisor relationship. This involves defining expectations of both student and supervisor, and describing agency rules, procedural guidelines, departmental norms, and expectations regarding work hours. The practical matters of availability of office space and assignment of a desk also should be addressed. Other staff members might need clarification of their responsibilities concerning the intern, particularly with regard to reporting and supervision. We hope the staff will be encouraged to interact with the student as a colleague and that supervisory lines are clear to everyone involved.
Because clear goals area as important as clear expectations, we ask the students to work with the supervisors to develop clear goals and objectives for the internship experience. The student's goals should identify specific learning outcomes and objectives provide clear means to achieve those outcomes. These goals and objectives also serve as one aspect of his evaluation at the end of the semester.
Clear Information and Feedback
Putting the internship into action once expectations have been established requires supporting the student by providing access to information and giving feedback. The intern should be directed to literature, manuals, and other information resources that will help in preparing for and assimilating this new role. Additional input should be given by the supervisor to complement written material and provide on-going guidance. As a supervisor, you are very important to provide a sense of perspective regarding the agency's present role in the community, identifying future trends affecting agency policy, and to share insights regarding other professional issues.
Assessment and consultation through regular meetings or informal conversations should be planned in advance. These are opportunities to discuss the student's progress towards his or her objectives, conflicts or problems she or he may be having, or other concerns. Most important, this is an important time for the student to receive on-going feedback.
The intern should be prepared to assume normal staff duties by first attempting them under supervised conditions. This is designed as a developmental learning experience and as such, challenge and support go hand in hand. When possible, student participants should be allowed to tackle problem solving situations, as would other staff members.
Evaluation of the Student's Performance
The midterm and final evaluations are completed through the Chalk & Wire online assessment system. Approximately halfway through the semester, the student will schedule an appointment to review the goal statement with you. This mid-term evaluation is an important tool for corrective feedback and making adjustments to the goal statement. Near the end of the semester you will be asked for a final end-of-the-term evaluation of the student's work.
The evaluation of the intern is based upon the CACREP core competencies. The evaluation form may serve a dual function. First, it is an objective rating of the student's progress. Its second purpose is to guide the content of your supervision throughout the semester. Therefore the evaluation form will be distributed to you at the beginning of the semester.
What if I have other questions?
The Field Placement Coordinator is available to answer any question you may have regarding accepting a student or supervising a student once accepted at your facility. If there is information regarding a student that you feel is important for the program to have, please pass that along as well. The Field Placement Coordinator is:
Dr. Gary Handler


text:
"All corporate growth has to funnel through return on equity. The problem with growth companies and growth countries is that they so often outrun the capital with which to grow and must raise more capital. Investors grow rich not on earnings growth, but on growth in earnings per share. There is almost no evidence that faster-growing countries have higher margins. In fact, it is slightly the reverse." - Jeremy Grantham
"The fact that growth companies historically have underperformed the market – probably because too much was expected of them and because they were more appealing to clients – was not accepted for decades, but by about the mid-1990s the historical data in favor of 'value' stocks began to overwhelm the earlier logically appealing idea that growth should win out. It was clear that 'value' or low growth stocks had won for the prior 50 years at least. This was unfortunate because the market's faulty intuition had made it very easy for value managers or contrarians to outperform. Ah, the good old days! But now the same faulty intuition applies to fast-growing countries. How appealing an assumption it is that they should beat the slow pokes. But it just ain't so." - Jeremy Grantham
Buffett on Berkshire's "Powerhouse Five" & "Big Four"
"At Berkshire we much prefer owning a non-controlling but substantial portion of a wonderful business to owning 100% of a so-so business. Our flexibility in capital allocation gives us a significant advantage over companies that limit themselves only to acquisitions they can operate." - Warren Buffett
Buffett on Berkshire's Float
"If our premiums exceed the total of our expenses and eventual losses, we register an underwriting profit that adds to the investment income our float produces. When such a profit is earned, we enjoy the use of free money – and, better yet, get paid for holding it. That's like your taking out a loan and having the bank pay you interest." - Warren Buffett
"...we have now operated at an underwriting profit for ten consecutive years, our pre-tax gain for the period having totaled $18.6 billion. Looking ahead, I believe we will continue to underwrite profitably in most years. If we do, our float will be better than free money." - Warren Buffett
"So how does our attractive float affect the calculations of intrinsic value? When Berkshire's book value is calculated, the full amount of our float is deducted as a liability, just as if we had to pay it out tomorrow and were unable to replenish it. But that's an incorrect way to look at float..." - Warren Buffett
"The value of our float is one reason – a huge reason – why we believe Berkshire's intrinsic business value substantially exceeds its book value." - Warren Buffett
Warren Buffett on "The Key to Investing"
"American business will do fine over time. And stocks will do well just as certainly, since their fate is tied to business performance. Periodic setbacks will occur, yes, but investors and managers are in a game that is heavily stacked in their favor. (The Dow Jones Industrials advanced from 66 to 11,497 in the 20th Century, a staggering 17,320% increase that materialized despite four costly wars, a Great Depression and many recessions. And don't forget that shareholders received substantial dividends throughout the century as well.)
Since the basic game is so favorable, Charlie and I believe it's a terrible mistake to try to dance in and out of it based upon the turn of tarot cards, the predictions of 'experts,' or the ebb and flow of business activity. The risks of being out of the game are huge compared to the risks of being in it." - Warren Buffett
Not Picking Stocks By The Numbers
An exchange between Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger as summarized by the Wall Street Journal's live blog:
"We are looking at businesses exactly like we are looking at them if somebody came in and asked us to buy the whole business," Buffett said. He said they then want to know how it will do in ten years.
Munger was even more forceful: "We don't know how to buy stocks by metrics ... We know that Burlington Northern will have a competitive advantage in years ... we don't know what the heck Apple will have. ... You really have to understand the company and its competitive positions. ... That's not disclosed by the math.
Buffett: "I don't know how I would manage money if I had to do it just on the numbers."
Munger, interupting, "You'd do it badly."
Buffett on Bonds and Productive Assets
"I bought a piece of real estate in New York in 1992, I have not had a quote on it since. I look to the performance of the assets. Maybe...my piece of real estate have had pull backs, but I don't even know about 'em. People pay way too— way too much attention to the short term. If you're getting your money's worth in a stock, buy it and forget it." - Warren Buffett
"...interest rates have a powerful effect on...all assets. Real estate, farms, oil, everything else...they're the cost of carrying other assets. They're the alternative. They're the yardstick." - Warren Buffett
"...the fact that there are troubles in Europe, and there are plenty of troubles, and they're not going go away fast, does not mean you don't buy stocks. We bought stocks when the United States was in trouble, in 2008 and— and it was in huge trouble and we spent 15 1/2 billion in three weeks in— between September 15th and October 10th. It wasn't because the news was good, it was because the prices were good." - Warren Buffett
"In terms of stocks, you know, stocks are reasonably priced. They were very cheap a few years ago. They're reasonably priced now. But stocks grow in value over time because they retain earnings..." - Warren Buffett
(Stocks prices were, of course, generally much lower when Buffett said this compared to now.)
"There could be conditions under which we...would own bonds. But— they're conditions far different than what exist now." - Warren Buffett
"I would have productive assets. I would favor those enormously over fixed dollars investments now, and I think it's silly — to have some ratio like 30 or 40 or 50% in bonds. They're terrible investments now." - Warren Buffett
"News is better now. Stocks are higher. They're still not— they're not ridiculously high at all, and bonds are priced artificially. You've got some guy buying $85 billion a month. (LAUGH) And— that will change at some point. And when it changes, people could lose a lot of money if they're in long-term bonds." - Warren Buffett
"...I bought a farm in 1985, I haven't had— had a quote on it since. But I know what it's produced every year. And I know it's worth more money now. You know, it— if I'd gotten a quote on it every day and somebody's said, "You know, maybe you oughta sell because there's, you know, there's clouds in the West," or something. (LAUGH) It's — it's crazy." - Warren Buffett
Charlie Munger: What Buying a House and Rabbit Hunting Have in Common
"Partly there was a time you felt foolish you didn't buy a house because you weren't making all the money everybody else was making, so it was a typical crazy boom. Now people have learned house prices can go down as well as up." - Charlie Munger
"It's like a fella who goes rabbit hunting and thoroughly enjoys himself. And then the rabbits haul out guns and start firing back. It would dim your enthusiasm for rabbit hunting, and that's what happened in the housing market." - Charlie Munger
More quotes in a follow-up.
Long position in Berkshire Hathaway (BRKb) established at much lower prices
Quotes of 2012
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