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US doctors are far behind most of their counterparts in Europe and Australia when it comes to EMR adoption, according to a new study by The Commonwealth Fund.
To get a sense of EMR adoption internationally, the Fund surveyed almost 9,800 primary care physicians representing 11 countries. The results: the U.S. still has a ways to go to catch up with peers in other developed nations.
True, U.S. doctors' uptake of health IT has gone up dramatically, from 46 percent using an EMR in 2009 to 69 percent in 2012, the study found.
That being said, doctors in such countries as the Netherlands, Norway, New Zealand, the U.K., Australia and Sweden all reported EMR usage rates above 88 percent in 2012. The country with the lowest adoption rate was Switzerland, which trailed all countries in the survey with a 41 percent EMR uptake rate by physicians in 2012.
As for sophisticated usage of EMRs, defined by the Fund as using at least two electronic functions such as order entry management, generating patient information, generating panel information or clinical decision support, the U.S. didn't make it onto the list of power users. Only the U.K., Australia and the Netherlands had more than 50 percent of doctors who did so.
Despite the gap in usage between other nations and the U.S., I thought the nearly 70 percent rate of primary care usage was a very positive sign. I don't know if this jump is 100 percent attributable to Meaningful Use — I believe PCPs see the writing on the wall and will go with EMRs to manage medical home functions regardless — but either way, it's a sign that changes major and permanent have happened among the primary care flock.
Still, what really matters isn't just how many PCPs have bought an EMR. What I'd like to know is how many of those 70 percent are tackling Meaningful Use requirements effectively, and how many are still stymied. If I find that data you can be sure I'll share it here!

subset: commoncrawl


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Michael Jack in camp
A familiar face roamed the Carpenter Complex fields today on another picture perfect day in Clearwater. Phillies Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt checked into camp, as always looking tanned and relaxed. Michael Jack is a special guest instructor. He will be here until March 5th giving him a chance to not only watch our lineup in the batting cage, but just like everybody else, check out our starting rotation.
All of the players were at Bright House Field early this morning because it was photo day, another ritual of spring training. But not everyone smiled for the camera. Joe Blanton said he likes his baseball card to look serious. Smiling and posing, however, was no problem for Ryan Howard. Tongue firmly in cheek, the Big Piece talked with phillies.com about his fondness for the camera. This year Ryan said he was going for a look he called "Professionally Sexy". A combination of soft and super sensitive for the fans. You can watch Ryan strike a pose tonight on this site.
Big crowds continue to be the rule of the day. Most of the "snowbirds" from up north were talking about their beloved Phillies and also the most recent snowfall they missed back in the Delaware Valley. Their attention was on Cliff Lee, Roy Oswalt, and Joe, who threw their scheduled batting practice sessions. Lee looked great, by the way, throwing all of his pitches.
When the pitchers weren't on the mound they were taking part in another ritual of spring training, sliding practice. To make this as safe as possible they slid in their socks, and over a padded surface. Still, pitching coach Rich Dubee admits that he held his breath until everyone was finished. By the way, Closer Brad Lidge sat this one out, serving as a judge.
The MLB Network called asking if phillies.com would be sending up highlights of Thursday's game against Florida State University on the satellite. They are interested because it's the first organized spring training game by any Major League team. And, the answer is yes we will have it, and you can see it Thursday evening on this site.
Let the games begin!
A couple of years ago, the Phillies played FSU whose catcher was a kid named Buster Posey, now a member of the World Champion Giants . . . Videos that will appear this evening on phillies.com include Photo Day and interviews with Charlie and David Herndon . . . Doesn't look as if there will be intra-squad games this year with FSU on Thursday, a shortened workout day on Friday (players' annual golf outing) and the start of the Grapefruit League on Saturday.
(Scott Palmer contributed to today's blog).


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A Spring Valley girl survived a brush with an annoyed rattlesnake Monday. She's the most recent victim of what can be a dangerous time of year in San Diego.
Saniyah Colon, 5, had a swollen foot with a red mark and was a little shy when talking Wednesday about the snake she ran into while walking near her home.
"I was going to the swimming pool with my brother and I thought this rattlesnake was a stick so I just stepped down, so it just bite me," Saniyah said.
Her mother, Samatra Ethridge, said the snake was under a wooden plank and when Saniyah stepped down, the snake bit her.
"It's really hard to keep your child calm and yourself calm," she said.
Ethridge said there was some confusion over what kind of snake was involved.
Her sons searched online for an image of a similar snake and then showed the image to the firefighters.
A neighbor offered up an image from her own phone to help firefighters pinpoint the type of snake.
Emergency crews were able to get Saniyah to Grossmont Hospital early enough to get her the antivenin.
She was later transferred to Children's Hospital where she could continue her care.
Now, even though Saniyah can't quite wear her shoe on her foot, there isn't much pain. "It doesn't hurt, it just feels normal," she explained.
She's fortunate. Hospital staffers shared another story in which a young girl needed extensive treatment to overcome her injury from a rattlesnake.
WARNING GRAPHIC PHOTO of a more seriously injured snake bite victim and the surgical procedure necessary to treat her
So what should parents do if their child is bitten?
Katherine Konzen, Director of Rady Children's Urgent Care Centers, said it's important to keep calm and call 911.
The doctor said Ethridge did those key things in this situation and that helped her daughter get the help she needed.
"Usually we want that antivenin within 2 hours," Konzen said. "So time is of the essence."
Watch: What to Do if You're Bitten by a Rattlesnake
She also offered these key reminders on what to do if your child or anyone else should have a similar run-in with a rattlesnake.
- Keep the snake bite victim calm
- Remove anything constricting
- Call 911
- If possible, splint the area to keep area still
- Keep affected area below heart level
Kalani Hudson with the County of San Diego Department of Animal Services said there are a few differences between a rattlesnake and a harmless gopher snake.
A rattlesnake has a triangular-shaped head and a smaller neck.
"While you may be able to clearly be able a rattlesnake, you may not be able to clearly identify that it's not a rattlesnake," Hudson said adding that garter snakes can sometimes coil and rattle their tails as protection because they are not venomous.
She advised parents instruct children not to touch wild snakes and to go get an adult when they spot a snake instead of going near it.


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Brad Paisley Sets Up Scholarship for Music Students at Belmont University
Nashville's Belmont University can boast quite a number of now-famous alums in the country music world, including Brad Paisley, Josh Turner, LeAnn Womack, Trisha Yearwood, Julie Roberts and Sarah Buxton for starters. And since the university is the place where so many of these artists got a start in music, they don't often forget to go back and thank their alma mater when that music career finally pays off.
Paisley, who graduated from Belmont in the class of 1995 with a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, recently set up the Brad Paisley Endowed Scholarship for current and future Belmont University students. The scholarship with go toward the education of a person in the Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business who seems worthy of the financial aid.
"I've often said that the best course of education for a young person wanting to pursue country music is to go to college at Belmont," Paisley said in a statement on Belmont's website. "I speak from experience. I wouldn't be in any position to offer a scholarship if I had not gone to Belmont — this is the least I can do in appreciation."
Paisley was recently added to the celebrity lineup for the 47th Annual ACM Awards, set to take place this Sunday night (April 1) during a live telecast from Las Vegas. The reigning award winner is up for four awards this year including Entertainer of the year and Male Vocalist of the Year, an award he's been nominated for eight times and won five times — in a row — since 2006.


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Day Planners for Busy Moms
Clarity Agenday from Whomi
If you're looking for something compact to help you keep track of your family's various activities and appointments, check out the Clarity Agenda by Whomi. This weekly planner has color-coded lines for each of your family members and gives you a week's view in one shot. Pick from 5 fun designs and 2 sizes. $25-30 at Whomi.com.
Next slide: Franklin Covey Undated 12 Month Organizer
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Smoke Free Campus Initiative
Saint Mary's College can be the next college in California to go 100% smoke-free. Now is the time to stand up for the health of students and coworkers. Eliminating secondhand smoke will improve everyone's health on campus and encourage smokers to quit their deadly habit.
- Smoke-free campus policies protect non-smokers from second hand smoke exposure. 88% of adults (18+) do NOT smoke in the state of California.
- As students graduate, they are transitioning into smoke-free or tobacco-free work environments.
- College years have been identified as a time of increased risk for smoking initiation and transitioin into regular tobacco use.
- Campus employees are protected from OUTDOOR secondhand smoke.
- Smokers working in smoke-free environments were more likely to decrease the number of cigarettes they smoked throughout the day
- By eliminating tobacco litter, colleges are decreasing fire risk and clean up costs.
- There is no risk-free level of secondhand smoke exposure
- OUTDOOR tobacco smoke levels may be as high as second hand smoke indoors, especially when close to smokers.
- Exposure to secondhand smoke is the third leading cause of preventable death in the United States, killing over 50,000 non-smoker each year.
- Secondhand smoke is a group 1 carcinogen, the most dangerous class of carcinogens. They are in the same category as asbestos, arsenic, and UV radiation.


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Scott Disick Was Hospitalized in June for Alcohol Poisoningby Thomas Chau | PopCrush
On the night of his belated birthday bash on June 22, it's been revealed that Scott Disick drank so much alcohol that he went to the emergency room at a Long Island hospital.
According to TMZ, the 31-year-old businessman and reality star was in the Hamptons and out celebrating his belated birthday at a nightclub in in June (Disick's birthday is May 26).
The site says that Disick was described as being "drunk out of his mind" and was incapacitated to the point of believing that he was drugged. He was taken to the ER where doctors did tests and found that he simply drank too much alcohol.
Disick's longtime girlfriend, Kourtney Kardashian, had taken their two kids to California earlier to celebrate North West's birthday.
A source tells Us Weekly that Disick, who lost both of his parents at the end of 2013, "is doing great now." TMZ also reports that Disick hasn't had a drink since that night and is being counseled by the family's pastor, Pastor Rich Wilkerson Jr., who married Kanye West and Kim Kardashian in Italy.


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About WhyNotAskMe
"...given that the copyright industries' sense of entitlement knows no bounds..."
Are the newspaper publishers behind this? Do they have the same attitude as the record companies and the movie producers? You give no justification for the use of that phrase, as it is used here in an article about the newspaper publishers. Now, perhaps its true, perhaps it isn't, but I think you need to be careful you don't tar everybody with the same brush. For example, I have no sympathy for the RIAA or the MPAA, but I have some sympathy for the news publishing industry. Come to think of it, TechDirt is a part of that, isn't it? Please clarify - thanks.
The problem with Copyright laws is that we are not consulted in their design. What would rational Copyright laws look like? I am sure if broad consultation was made along with input from academics, they would look totally different than what we have today. In the "bargain" between the copyright holders and us, our politicians should be representing the people. Instead, they are representing the copyright owners and giving away the store!
See our manifesto at http://whynotaskme.org/
What is wrong with copyright legislation today? Every time a change to copyright law is proposed, it is in response to demands from powerful lobbies. Legislation reflects neither the will nor priorities of the majority. Legislation crafted to respect the will of the majority will garner their respect and consequently, will be easier to enforce.
The power of the corporate lobbies needs to be curbed and their voices muted. The people must be heard. At a minimum, copyright duration urgently needs to be pushed back and reformulated to eliminate the cause of orphaned works. Incredibly, our political representatives give the lobbyists the focus of their attention, then rush through legislation such that there is little time for debate. The lobbyists have no need of political advocates, and no business being at the head of the debating table. They are more than capable of presenting their case directly to the people. Legislation crafted to respect the will of the majority will garner their respect and consequently, will be easier to enforce. See more on our website.


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PC World is to offer laptops worth £300 for free - providing you sign up to an Orange Broadband contract for two years. The deal, which will be offered in stores from tomorrow, means you pay £7.49 for the first three months. After that you'll need to pay £14.99 monthly. That'll give you a max ADSL speed of 2Mbps but there is also a £19.99 option to get faster 8Mbps broadband should you wish.
And what's the laptop you get? PC World says the minimum spec for the laptop is a Celeron processor, 256MB memory, 40GB hard drive, DVD Rewriter and 15.4-inch widescreen display.
Not exactly impressive stats but hey, it's free. Customers will also be offered to upgrade to a higher spec laptop from £19.99 or receive a discount up to £350 off any laptop across the PC World range.
There have been other broadband offers announced today. Pipex is offering a connection from £8.95 per month for the first three months, and £14.99 per month thereafter.


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Weekdays 6:00am - 10:00am
The GetUp Crew Podcast
Today the state is beginning to reopen and some people don't want to wait…
Ramiro, Pebbles, & Melissa.
Play Latest (17 hours ago)
477 episodes
Pebbles is a co-host on the GetUp Crew morning show on HOT 96.9. Leroy Irvin is the producer of the show. Off the air, they have some pretty fun conversations about the things there's just not enough time to talk about on the air.
Play Latest (April 1st)
33 episodes
Thank you for checking out VOICES with Pebbles . VOICES features conversations with people with creative voices, fascinating stories, people inspiring others with their voice, or are using their voice to make a difference. They're the storytellers, the activists, the entertainers, creatives and everyday people changing the world in their own way. VOICES with Pebbles […]
Play Latest (May 24th)
61 episodes


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Dear Sierra Club Members,
As 2012 begins, members of NC Sierra Club show no sign of slowing down. Sierrans worked tirelessly last year to support a transportation referendum, promote offshore wind, and push back against the construction of a coal powered cement kiln on the coast. This year, Sierrans are already hard at work, proposing positive clean energy solutions, elevating the dialogue about what lifting the fracking ban in NC would mean, fighting Titan Cement, and planning ways to bring pro-environmental candidates back to positions of leadership in the legislature. This is bound to be an exciting year! Please enjoy the first edition of Footnotes online for 2012!
Sincerely, Your staff at the NC Sierra Club
2012: The Issues
Solar Goes Local
Most of us have seen 'Eat Local' stickers and t-shirts around. But what if folks tried just as hard to get local clean energy as they do to get local food? That's just the idea behind one issue the NC Chapter will be working on this year.
Many businesses and landowners want to lease their rooftops and property to other companies that could install and maintain solar panels and sell the clean energy.
It's a simple concept, but it's not allowed in North Carolina. This process, known as Third Party Sales, would allow small and large businesses to lease their property to meet their own energy needs.
If you want to help make Third Party Sales a realty in North Carolina, join the NC Sierra Club Lobby Corps. today!
Fracking. You've heard about it, you've read about it. So, let's learn about what it could mean for communities in North Carolina.
To help move this dialogue along, the NC Chapter of the Sierra Club will be launching 'The Fracking Truth', a public awareness campaign, on January 25, 2012.
This campaign will provide resources, conversation, and news about fracking.
Sign up for your invitation to the virtual launch on January 25, and join the conversation about Fracking and North Carolina.
Offshore Wind
The Offshore Wind campaign generated tons of attention last year. And rightfully so. With North Carolina having the best offshore wind resources on the East coast, it's no surprise that residents want investment and jobs in our communities.
Sierran Steve Benbow hit the nail on the head when he told the Morehead City Council, "It's not a cure-all but wind can be part of the future in providing clean alternative energy."
Steve also announced an Offshore Wind Forum in Morehead City on February 7. So mark the date on your calendars, and getmoreinformationabouttheforumbyclickinghere.
Local Groups and Issues
The issues mentioned above are just a few that the NC Chapter will be working on in 2012.
But there are plenty of local issues right in your community for you to get involved in, as well.
FindoutmoreinformationaboutyourlocalGroupandwaystoworkwithyourneighborstoexplore, enjoy, andprotectourenvironment.
Offshore Wind Forum in Morehead City
February 7 – 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. – Joslyn Hall at Carteret Community College, 3505 Arendell Street Morehead City, NC (map)
This forum will bring together community, business, and academic leaders to discuss what offshore wind could mean for North Carolina.
Click here for more information about the forum.
2012 Southeastern Coastal Wind Conference
March 8 – 9 – Charlotte Convention Center, 501 S. College St, Charlotte, NC (map)
This event is a first of its kind that highlights Southeastern assets for wind energy deployment within the region. The conference is a collaborative effort involving more than 40 regional stakeholders from Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia.
Topics will include the region's supply chain, resource, and market strengths to educate decision makers about costs, benefits, and policy options for wind energy. Offshore and coastal onshore wind energy will be discussed a the conference with a concentration on offshore wind energy.
"To Frack or Not to Frack"
February 8 – 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. – Central Carolina Community College, 764 West St., Pittsboro, NC (map)
Brooks Rainey Pearson, Policy Council for the Nicholas School for the Environment, will present what can be learned from other states about fracking and the regulations needed to make it safe.
For information about this presentation, contact email@example.com.
2012 Political Training for Sierrans
February 18 – time and location tba
As the 2012 elections draw closer, the North Carolina Chapter's political committee is offering a training on how to support endorsed candidates. The training will focus on how to recruit a team, organize GOTV (Get Out the Vote) activities, and how to hold a PAC fundraiser.
To RSVP or for more information, contact Travis Hargett at firstname.lastname@example.com
DENR Holds Public Meetings on Fracking
Sanford, NC
March 20 – 6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. – The Wicker Center, 1801 Nash Street, Sanford, NC (map)
Chapel Hill
March 27 – 6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. – East Chapel Hill High School, 500 Weaver Dairy Road, Chapel Hill, NC (map)
The agency's draft report on Fracking will be made available on DENR's website in early March (at which time a public comment period will begin), and findings from the report will be presented at these two public meetings. Comments will be accepted at these meetings, as well as via mail and email.
January 28 – 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Corn Mill Shoals Hike – Meet at 10:00 a.m. in Asheville and return at about 4:00 p.m. DuPont Forest is a favorite location for hikers, and this loop trail is my favorite in DuPont. We will hike up and over the granite slabs of Cedar Mountain for a total of 5 miles and 700 foot elevation gain. Easy to moderate.
RSVP to hike leader Jane at email@example.com or 828-772-0379.
Croatan National Forest
February 3-5
Neusiok Trail – Friday will be committed to packing in and setting camp. Saturday we will hike to and along the Neuse River to Pinecliff, and return. Sunday we pack up and out.
Croatan National Forest is said to have more flesh-eating plants than people and is home to a large variety of mammals, birds (Red Cockaded woodpeckers, maybe), and reptiles (dormant at this time of year). Group size is limited depending on experience of participants.
Contact Jerry Weston at email@example.com most mornings, or email@example.com, or 336-856-1431. Telephone calls before 9:00 p.m. please.
Hyde County
February 5 – 8:00 & 10:00 a.m.
Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge – Explore one of the crown jewels of the National Wildlife Refuges on the east coast with a combination of wildlife watching and hiking. The refuge has miles of roads closed to traffic but open to hikers.
Meet at the Greenville Mall just east of the JC Penney store (Charles St. side) at 8 a.m., or at the Lake Mattamuskeet Lodge/Headquarters at 10 a.m.
Call Ernie Marshall at (252) 916-5462 for information and to sign-up.
Washington, NC
February 11 – 8:00 & 9:00 a.m.
Goose Creek State Park Valentine's Day Hike – Celebrate Valentine's Day with your valentine and friends by joining us on the traditional hike in Goose Creek State Park. Meet at the Visitor Center at 9 a.m. or at the JC Penney "east side" parking lot in the Greenville Mall at 8 a.m. to carpool. Allow extra time to visit the educational displays in the Visitor Center to learn more about the flora and fauna in the park.
Call Ernie Marshall at (252) 916-5462 for information and to sign-up.
Hayesville, NC
March 3-9
Fires Creek Rim & Basin – This will be a base camp/day hiking excursion in one of the most primitive, wilderness areas in the South. Each day, we will hike a different loop in this 17,000 acre place which may eventually become a small national park.
The topography is unique in that it is like a big bowl with trails going up to the rim and a 25 mile trail around the rim circumference. Participants need to be in good shape and have backcountry gear and experience. The hikes are all rated strenuous because of the elevation changes throughout.
Contact Chris David at firstname.lastname@example.com for more information.
For more information on Sierra Club Outings, check out the Outings Calendar.
Want to know the latest? Join us on Facebook or Twitter!
Did you know you can make a monthly gift to the NC Sierra Club? Find out how you can make a sustaining gift by visiting our website, or contacting the Chapter office at 919-833-8467.


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High Court denies stay of execution for Troy Davis
Updated 11:00 p.m. ET
JACKSON, Georgia - The Supreme Court late Wednesday rejected an 11th-hour request to block the execution of Troy Davis, who convinced hundreds of thousands of people but not the justice system of his innocence in the murder of an off-duty police officer.
The court did not comment on its order late Wednesday, four hours after receiving the request. CBS News correspondent Jan Crawford reports there were no dissenting opinions on the court in denying Davis' request. Davis' execution had been set to begin at 7 p.m., but the high court's decision was not issued until after 10 p.m.
Davis' execution is expected to begin shortly.
"It is killing me, to tell you the truth. I don't know what to expect anymore," said Anneliese MacPhail, mother of Mark MacPhail, the man Davis was convicted of killing in 1989.
Though Davis' attorneys say seven of nine key witnesses against him have disputed all or parts of their testimony, state and federal judges have repeatedly ruled against granting him a new trial. As the court losses piled up Wednesday, his offer to take a polygraph test was rejected and the pardons board refused to give him one more hearing.
U.S. executions, by the numbers
Polygraph for Troy Davis blocked, attorney says
Troy Davis' lawyers filing execution-day appeal
Troy Davis clemency bid denied on execution eve
Davis' supporters staged vigils in the U.S. and Europe, declaring "I am Troy Davis" on signs, T-shirts and the Internet. Some tried increasingly frenzied measures, urging prison workers to stay home and even posting a judge's phone number online, hoping people will press him to put a stop to the lethal injection. President Barack Obama deflected calls for him to get involved.
"They say death row; we say hell no!" protesters shouted outside the Jackson prison where Davis was to be executed. In Washington, a crowd outside the Supreme Court yelled the same chant.
The crowd outside the prison swelled to more than 500 as night fell and a few dozen riot police stood watch. About 10 counterdemonstrators also were there, showing support for the death penalty and MacPhail's family.
"He had all the chances in the world," Anneliese MacPhail said of Davis in a telephone interview. "It has got to come to an end."
At a Paris rally, many of the roughly 150 demonstrators carried signs emblazoned with Davis' face. "Everyone who looks a little bit at the case knows that there is too much doubt to execute him," Nicolas Krameyer of Amnesty International said at the protest.
As his last hours ticked away, an upbeat and prayerful Davis turned down an offer for a special last meal as he met with friends, family and supporters.
"Troy Davis has impacted the world," his sister Martina Correia said at a news conference. "They say, `I am Troy Davis,' in languages he can't speak."
Correia, who is battling breast cancer and using a wheelchair as she helps coordinate rallies and other events, called on people to push for change in the justice system. Then she said, "I'm going to stand here for my brother," and got up with help from people around her.
His attorney Stephen Marsh said Davis would have spent part of Wednesday taking a polygraph test if pardons officials had taken his offer seriously.
"He doesn't want to spend three hours away from his family on what could be the last day of his life if it won't make any difference," Marsh said.
Amnesty International says nearly 1 million people have signed a petition on Davis' behalf. His supporters include former President Jimmy Carter, Pope Benedict XVI, a former FBI director, the NAACP, several conservative figures and many celebrities, including hip-hop star Sean "P. Diddy" Combs.
"I'm trying to bring the word to the young people: There is too much doubt," rapper Big Boi, of the Atlanta-based group Outkast, said at a church near the prison.
The U.S. Supreme Court gave Davis an unusual opportunity to prove his innocence in a lower court last year, though the high court itself did not hear the merits of the case.
He was convicted in 1991 of killing MacPhail, who was working as a security guard at the time. MacPhail rushed to the aid of a homeless man who prosecutors said Davis was bashing with a handgun after asking him for a beer. Prosecutors said Davis had a smirk on his face as he shot the officer to death in a Burger King parking lot in Savannah.
No gun was ever found, but prosecutors say shell casings were linked to an earlier shooting for which Davis was convicted.
Witnesses placed Davis at the crime scene and identified him as the shooter, but several of them have recanted their accounts and some jurors have said they've changed their minds about his guilt. Others have claimed a man who was with Davis that night has told people he actually shot the officer.
"Such incredibly flawed eyewitness testimony should never be the basis for an execution," Marsh said. "To execute someone under these circumstances would be unconscionable."
State and federal courts, however, have repeatedly upheld Davis' conviction. One federal judge dismissed the evidence advanced by Davis' lawyers as "largely smoke and mirrors."
"He has had ample time to prove his innocence," said MacPhail's widow, Joan MacPhail-Harris. "And he is not innocent."
The latest motion filed by Davis' attorneys in Butts County Court disputed testimony from the expert who linked the shell casings to the earlier shooting involving Davis, and challenged testimony from two witnesses. Superior Court Judge Thomas Wilson and the Georgia Supreme Court rejected the appeal, and prosecutors said the filing was just a delay tactic.
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, which has helped lead the charge to stop the execution, said it was considering asking President Barack Obama to intervene.
Obama cannot grant Davis clemency for a state conviction. Richard Dieter, executive director of the Death Penalty Information Center, said he could halt the execution by asking for an investigation into a federal issue if one exists.
Press secretary Jay Carney issued a statement saying that although Obama "has worked to ensure accuracy and fairness in the criminal justice system," it was not appropriate for him "to weigh in on specific cases like this one, which is a state prosecution."
Dozens of protesters outside the White House called on the president to step in, and about 12 were arrested for disobeying police orders.
"The fact that the White House hasn't addressed this issue is completely disrespectful," college student Talibah Arnett said.
Davis was not the only U.S. inmate scheduled to die Wednesday evening. In Texas, white supremacist gang member Lawrence Russell Brewer was put to death for the 1998 dragging death of a black man, James Byrd Jr., one of the most notorious hate crime murders in recent U.S. history.
Davis' best chance may have come last year, in a hearing ordered by the U.S. Supreme Court. It was the first time in 50 years that justices had considered a request to grant a new trial for a death row inmate.
The high court set a tough standard for Davis to exonerate himself, ruling that his attorneys must "clearly establish" Davis' innocence -- a higher bar to meet than prosecutors having to prove guilt. After the hearing judge ruled in prosecutors' favor, the justices didn't take up the case.
The planned execution has drawn widespread criticism in Europe, where politicians and activists made last-minute pleas for a stay.
Spencer Lawton, the district attorney who secured Davis' conviction in 1991, said he was embarrassed for the judicial system -- not because of the execution, but because it has taken so long to carry out.
"What we have had is a manufactured appearance of doubt which has taken on the quality of legitimate doubt itself. And all of it is exquisitely unfair," said Lawton, who retired as Chatham County's head prosecutor in 2008. "The good news is we live in a civilized society where questions like this are decided based on fact in open and transparent courts of law, and not on street corners."


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Three killed, ten injured in attack on Thai farmers
Two farmers were gunned down and 10 others wounded in Pattani province, where a third man was also killed in a separate incident late Friday.
The attack on the farmers occurred about 5 p.m. on a rural road in Yaring district. It could lead to a shutdown of the promising state project which aims at reviving rice farming in the deep South. The farmers said they will return home and relatives began arriving on Saturday to take them out of the South.
Witnesses said that 12 farmers from Singburi were traveling in a pickup truck when gunmen riding pillion on two motorcycles fired on them with assault rifles. The attackers then fled.
Saneh Khunnain and Ekarin Homchoey were hit several times and died on the spot. Their ten colleagues were injured and taken to the hospital. Police blamed separatist
The farmers from the central region were working with the Southern Border Provinces Administration Centre (SBPAC) to teach rice growing techniques to local farmers. The SBPAC started the project to rehabilitate abandoned rice fields in the three southernmost provinces.
A separate attack on Friday night in Yarang district took the life of a local villager.
Pol Lt Col Thawatchai Sangkamitkol, the deputy chief of Yarang police station, said he received a report of a shooting on a local road about 9:50 p.m. He led a police team to the scene where witnesses said that the victim, Abdularsi Sa, had been shot several times and taken to the hospital. He was later pronounced dead.
The witnesses said that Abdularsi was walking to a teashop in the village when gunmen in a pickup truck fired on him with M16 and AK47 assault rifles. The assailants then fled.
Posted by: ryuge 2013-02-03


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text:
Re: Would you love to spend time with your family or on the BFFC more?
That's nice, terra. Spending quality time vith your lov-ed one's. Lol.
( I was being srious though, only kidding there! )
I will never have a lover , since I am too shy and have not got the particular looks.
Hey, it's really not a question of looks. And being shy isn't really an issue either. When you're shy you don't flirt, you make friends first, which is better. And for looks... I know some guy in my art classes which is ugly as a flea and not too clean either. But he's confident in himself and smiles a lot. He has this "I'm not cute but I don't care" attitude which is usually a winner. I know many girls who really wouldn't mind having something with him, I can tell you.
And as for lov-ed ones... Not sure I can have both my man and my baby at once here. I hope to see the Lil'Sunshine at least once while he'll be here so he can meet her, but it depends on my ex too... so we'll see.


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Let the countdown begin! Finally a festival right in the heart of the beautiful, picturesque, romantic setting of Napa Valley! Bottle Rock is a festival that encompasses all aspects of entertainment: live music, food, wine, comedy, and much more.
Situated on four stages spread over 26 acres on the grounds at the Napa Valley Expo in the City of Napa, more than three dozen chefs and restaurateurs will join more than 50 wineries and artisan brewers during the inaugural Bottle Rock Napa Valley May 9 – 12.
With over 600 wineries in Napa Valley, Bottle Rock Festival deemed its name in order to pay homage to the 'Bottle Shock' phenomenon. This is the first year that Bottle Rock has come into existence, and has already garnered some major credibility and press. The perfect distinction between Bottle Rock and other festivals, is Bottle Rock is considered a 'premium festival' due to its depth, proximity, and not to mention killer lineup.
"We wanted to make Bottle Rock a big audacious event, and really establish ourselves, said Gabe from Will Power Events- a promoting company in Napa Valley, think of Bottle Rock as a killer concert series for music connoisseurs!" Bottle Rock is only able to hot 35,000 people per day which is far smaller than its 'competitors' such as: Coachella, Bonnaroo, and Lollapalooza which can hold nearly 100,000. Limited availability makes for a comfortable experience because everything is easily accessible and it is within the same price point as all the others.
When you buy your pass to Bottle Rock Napa, you are doing more than just attending an incredible, new, unique music festival with over 60 bands on 3 stages, top wineries, the best of Napa food, microbrews, and top comics - You're having the time of your life for 4 amazing days in Napa, AND to top it off you are doing it all for a good cause - many good causes in fact.
This year's festival will benefit: Autism Chords, Bacchus Benefits Group, Non-Profit Partnerships, as well as The 300! Non-Profit organizations include: Institute for Conservation, Advocacy, Research, and Education, Believe in Bleachers Campaign, Girls on the run, Napa Valley Education Foundation, Land Trust of Napa County, Napa Valley Film Festival, Napa Valley Youth Symphony, Wildlife Rescue Center of Napa County, CASA, Credo High School, Tug McGraw Foundation, Sweet Relief Musicians Fund, Napa Bike, Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation, IMHRO, Global Zero, Crohn's & Colitis foundation of America, Breast Cancer Fund, and The Rex Foundation.
The 'good will' doesn't stop there either. For every festival ticket sold $4.00 will go to their community partners, which are: Autism CHORDS (Cure, Housing, Ocean Resources, Development, and Socialization), Land Trust of Napa County, Foundation of Recreation (Napa Parks and Recreation), Downtown Merchants' Association, Napa Valley Unified School District's "Music Connection".
In addition to the carefully curated cuisine, BottleRock Napa Valley features an incredible lineup of more than 80 artists, bands and performers, including: Kings of Leon, The Black Keys, Zac Brown Band, Further featuring Phil Lesh and Bob Weir, Jane's Addiction, The Shins, The Avett Brothers, Train, The Flaming Lips, The Black Crowes, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Cake, Ben Harper & Charlie Musselwhite, Primus, Alabama Shakes, Jackson Browne, Edward Sharpe and Th Magnetic Zeros along with comics such as: Jim Gaffigan, Demetri Martin, Aasif Mandvi, Anthony Jeselnik, Tig Notaro, Jim Breuer, Greg Behrendt, Wyatt Cenac, Rob Delaney, Kristen Schaal, Bill Burr, J Chris Newberg, and Natasha Leggero.
"The music speaks for itself, says Gabe, this will be a rock show with people with a palette for music." What more can you ask for?! Breathtaking setting, decadent bites, fresh brews and wines all the while of soaking in melodic tunes and great laughs, Bottle Rock Festival is setting the bar high- and is definitely one for the books! Festival passes are on sale now and begin at $139 for a single day pass, $329 for a 3-day pass, $399 for a 4-day pass, and $599 for 4-day VIP passes. Passes are on sale at www.bottlerocknapavalley.com.


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$("#navigation").navobile({ cta: "#show-navobile", changeDOM: true })-
Big John Carroll Second Quarter Dooms St. Norbert's Ireland Trip
From Sports Information Director, August 31, 2012 | Football
by Dan Lukes, firstname.lastname@example.com, (920) 403-4077
DUBLIN - John Carroll University erased a 3-0 deficit with a 27-point second quarter and went on to defeat St. Norbert College 40-3 in the Global Ireland Football Tournament in front of a raucous crowd of 4,877 at Donnybrook Stadium.
John Carroll quarterback Mark Myers, a transfer from the University of Pittsburgh, set a school record with 457 passing yards in his first appearance with the Blue Streaks. Myers completed 30 of 43 passes with five touchdowns and one interception.
St. Norbert (0-1) held a 3-0 lead after the first quarter, following Randy Hill's 39-yard field goal with 5 minutes 13 seconds left in the period.
John Carroll (1-0) answered with a 14-play 97-yard drive to pull ahead 6-0 on DaQuan Grobsmith's 1-yard run. Myers hit Randy Greenwood on a swing pass out of the backfield, and Greenwood broke free for a 73-yard touchdown for a 13-3 lead with 6:35 left before halftime.
The Blue Streaks struck a huge blow in deciding the outcome with two touchdowns in the last 1:27 of the first half. Myers twice found Lane Robilotto on 20-yard touchdown passes, the last one coming with 15 seconds left before intermission after St. Norbert bobbled a punt snap and gave the ball up on downs.
John Carroll closed out the scoring with Myers finding Alex Kline twice, on a 27-yard touchdown pass with 21 seconds left in the third quarter and again on a 57-yard aerial with 12:29 remaining in the game.
St. Norbert couldn't muster much offense, getting just 90 yards of total offense on 59 plays. Austin Williams rushed 14 times for a team-high 43 yards. James Tringali made his first collegiate start for the Green Knights, completing 12 of 25 passes for 48 yards and one interception.
John Carroll had 513 yards of total offense, with 483 coming through the air. Robilotto caught nine passes for 116 yards, while Kline added eight receptions for 143 yards.


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February 22, 2010 a large group of Huichols, or Wixárika as they call themselves, were harassed by police while they were gathered at the sacred place they call Wirikuta, conducting an ancient ritual that, to them, ensures the well being of not only their own community but of the entire universe.
According to a bulletin released by the Asociación Jaliscense en Apoyo de Grupos Indígenas (AJAGI), the police treated the Wixárika gathering with disrespect - they broke up the ceremony with rifles, handled sacred objects and offerings, crossed a ceremonial line that shouldn't be crossed, accused a mara'kame (shaman) for cocaine use, and showed various other types of abusive behavior.
The police counted the number of peyote buttons collected by the pilgrims and accused them for being in violation of the law. In 2004 a maximum "personal" quota of 100 peyote buttons was introduced, but the Wixárika pilgrims are collecting peyote for the entire community, not just individual use. The police also threatened that the Federal Agency for the Protection of the Environment would sanction and detain the pilgrims, arguing that the peyote had been cut with the root. Harvesting the root might not be the best of harvesting techniques but it has been the practice of the Wixárika for several thousand years.
Huichol woman holding large peyote, Wirikuta
The AJAGI bulletin more than indicates that the real conflict is not as much based on plant conservation issues as on the clash between the traditions and ceremonies of a millennia-old culture and the tireless insisting on "development" by modern society. Today the Huichols' sacred pilgrimage route is threatened by mines, agro-industry, and manufacturing facilities along with the highways, roads, and electric infrastructure needed to supply these industries.
The Huichols are known to fight for their right to the peyote pilgrimage route. In February 2008 a group of 800 Huichols set up an encampment at a highway construction site and remained there for six months. Since then they have filed suit against the government, saying the highway project violates environmental laws as well as their spiritual rights and right to the land.
One can only hope that this intricate situation is going to be solved with respect for all involved parties.
AJAGI bulletin, February 25, 2010
Police harass Huicholes during pilgrimage, The Esperanza Project
The image above is courtesy of Nicola "Okin" Frioli
For reference, please find the full content of the AJAGI bulletin included below.
February 25, 2010
To National and International Civil Society
To the Press
To the National Indigenous Congress
At five pm on February 22, 2010, while a sizable Wixárika contingent from Tuapurie - Santa Catarina Cuexcomatitlán, was in a location named Tanque Valentín, in the ejido (rural land concession) of Las Margaritas, municipality of Catorce in the state of San Luis Potosí, carrying out ceremonies that are part of their millenarian tradition in the sacred region of Wirikuta, four squad cars of state police arrived with an arrogant attitude and began to insult and treat the wixaritari as delinquents, interrupting their ceremony. The sacred circle was broken and Our Grandfather Fire was disrespected by breaking up the large Wixárika gathering with rifles.
The harassment continued until 8 pm and took place in a location where the three ceremonial centers of the community of Tuapurie, Las Latas, Pochotita and Tuapurie had gathered in a rare fashion (the latter had left for another sacred point in the desert of Wirikuta just a few hours prior). Each ceremonial center had brought a bus full of Wixárika pilgrims bringing together a large concentration of jicareros (votive bowl carriers).
The police manhandled the sacred offerings, the deer antlers, and crossed the ceremonial line that they should not have. They accused one mara'kame (shaman) of ingesting cocaine.
They proceeded to count the number of peyote buttons that the pilgrims had gathered, citing an accord signed by governmental agencies that regulates the pilgrimage to Wirikuta, in violation of the communities' traditions and forms of ceremonial operation, in that the pilgrims are representatives of the entire community and not just of one person or family.
At that moment, the police threatened to return and did so on Tuesday the 23rd at 2 am, arriving with video and photo cameras once again interrupting the ceremony, the chant of the mara'akame and the words of the sacred Ancestors.
On Tuesday, while the emissaries of the ceremonial centers left to place offerings at the sacred site of Leunar (in the Cerro Quemado), the police returned at 9 am and threatened that the PROFEPA (Federal Agency for the Protection of the Environment) would sanction and detain the pilgrims, arguing that the peyote had been cut with the root; a practice that has occurred for the past 3 thousand years.
This aggression in itself is an attack against the Wixárika people, and particularly for those from Tuapurie since the assault was against all three ceremonial centers of this community, that are in charge of the wellbeing not just of their territory but of the entire universe.
The harassment occurred just a few hours after personnel from the Commission for the Development of Indigenous People (CDI for its Spanish acronym) of the state of San Luis Potosí left the site of the ceremony.
It makes no sense that the PROFEPA, as a branch of the SEMARNAT (Secretary of the Environment and Natural Resources), harasses Tuapurie under environmental pretexts and norms which do not fall under the jurisdiction of the state police. This, while the extraction of peyote at the hands of drug traffickers is heightened and important regions of biodiversity are destroyed by multinational agroindustrial operations.
We cannot lose site of the fact that, since February of 2008, the community of Tuapurie has been resisting the imposition of the BolañosHuejuquilla paved road which has been stalled by strong mobilizations that have led the community to have diverse jurisdictional proceedings pertaining to environmental, penal and agrarian rights.
Among these is the injunction that stalled this mega project at a crucial moment after the Secretary of Urban Development (SEDEUR for its Spanish acronym) argued that it had 400 signatures from the community members in favor of the road construction. In the court injunction, the SEDEUR presented simple copies of said signatures on February 8, 2008 pointing out that the PROFEPA held the originals. The community proceeded to ask said agency to physically present the originals, the request was denied.
In reality these signatures did not exist since the assembly and supposed act of assembly were falsified. In the case that these signatures are presented, the signatures should be ruled false and if genuine it should be ruled that they were gathered by a government agency in an illegitimate manner. This situation unmasks the delinquent actions of both the federal and state level governments; furthermore this serious fraud was directly mediated by the CDI, the federal entity that proclaims to serve indigenous people.
The tension of the situation has only increased at the announcement by the state of Jalisco that the road would be completed before 2012 and by the decision by the general communal assembly of Tuapurie that the road will not be allowed to cross communal land, thus manifesting the same stance that they held when the tensions began in February 2008.
The Context of Wirikuta
Legal accords exist, based on biological, ecological, socioeconomic and anthropological studies and the number of goats, cattle and horses owned by the regions ejidatarios (members of rural land concessions) counted in the sacred land of Wirikuta. These studies that have cost sizable amounts of public money, have led to the decree that rules the area an Ecological and Cultural Reserve which does not recognize the ancient relations between the desert and its inhabitants with the Wixárika people and their right to pilgrimage.
This is in direct violation of the International Labor Organization's Convention 169 on indigenous and tribal peoples regarding psychotropic plants for ceremonial use, a supreme law in our country under the 2nd Article of the Mexican Constitution, and under the 9th Article of the State Constitution of San Luis Potosí.
All the laws of management under the Ecological and Cultural Reserve are based on the imposition of laws that pretend to regulate the ancestral Wixárika pilgrimage, a process that has continued alongside the imposition of neoliberal political economic ordinances.
In June of 2004, the municipal headquarters of Estación Catorce, San Luis Potosí in the presence of the CDI, the state of San Luis Potosí's Secretary of Ecological and Environmental Management, the State Agency for Attention to Indigenous Peoples, the Commission for Indigenous Matters of the state's congress, and the State Attorney for Indigenous Matters of Jalisco established a maximum quota for personal extraction of 100 peyote buttons. It was also ruled that "security, municipal and state authorities must be notified of annual definitive extraction" and that an annual calendar of visits be elaborated. It is worth mentioning that that same year the assembly of Tuapurie rejected the aforementioned accords.
This is all done under the auspices of preventing the excessive extraction of peyote and to "protect the species" leading to the situation in which Tuapurie finds itself today.
On the other hand, there exists an unprecedented pressure for the installation of large tomato farms belonging to the wealthy landowners of Cedral, San Luis Potosí (close to the state's governor) who bought 400 hectares of land from the Ejido Estación Catorce, parceled by the Program for the Certification of Ejido Rights (PROCEDE) to 15 ejidatarios for the installation of tomato agroindustry, Clearing a region that measures 5 kilometers by 3 kilometers and that is located in an area of high endemic biodiversity with large quantities of peyote.
This company dug deep wells, drying them by square kilometers, they have also detonated explosives into the air to disperse clouds in the region and prevent rain to protect the tomatoes, affecting thousands of peyote buttons.
Is this the environmental protection that the PROFEPA refers to? Is it the state police's duty to protect the National Commission for the Protection of Natural Areas (CONANP for its Spanish acronym)?
The State Plan for Urban Development of San Luis Potosi (2000-2020) intends to build highways, roads, and electric infrastructure to supply manufacturing facilities, mines and agroindustry in every municipality located along the sacred pilgrimage route.
The situation is delicate and the Wixárika people need for the general civil society and human rights organizations to be vigilant of the developments relevant to this traditional pilgrimage, as well as to the harassment that has systematically occurred against Tuapurie since February of 2008.


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The Los Angeles Times is on the verge of a sale that would take it from its Chicago-based parent company and put it in the hands of a local billionaire doctor.
Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong would pay Tronc Inc. $500 million for the newspaper and the San Diego Union-Tribune, a person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press on Tuesday.
The person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the sale hadn't been finalized, said the deal was coming together quickly, but cautioned it could still fall apart.
U.S. & World
Soon-Shiong is a major shareholder of Tronc. He's among the richest men in Los Angeles and according to Forbes is the nation's richest doctor, with a net worth of $7.8 billion. He is now working on a cure for cancer.
He would become the first local owner of the Times in 18 years, but would be buying the paper in a time of turmoil.
The top editor was replaced last week for the third time in six months and Publisher Ross Levinsohn is on unpaid leave after revelations he was a defendant in two sexual harassment lawsuits at other companies. Journalists voted last month to unionize for the first time in the paper's 136-year history.
Tronc, the company formerly known as Tribune Publishing, owns 10 U.S. newspapers, including the Chicago Tribune, Baltimore Sun and New York Daily News, which would not be part of the deal.
The potential sale, first reported by The Washington Post, would be in keeping with one of two trends in media ownership: big companies getting bigger and wealthy investors taking on newspapers as philanthropic endeavors, said Al Tompkins, a senior faculty member at the Poynter Institute.
In 2013, Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos bought The Washington Post for $250 million and Boston Red Sox owner John Henry bought the Boston Globe for $70 million.
"We find ourselves returning to where we were a century ago when a handful of wealthy owners controlled big influential newspapers," Tompkins said. "Here's the difference: The ownership today does not promise lucrative returns. You take it over knowing it isn't nearly as profitable as it might have been 20 or 50 years ago. Today it's a thinner margin and it gets thinner every day."
Tronc did not issue any public statement about the deal and a spokeswoman for Soon-Shiong did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Word of the possible sale was met with cheers in the Times newsroom, according to tweets from reporters.
Soon-Shiong's holdings include not only his Tronc stock but also a minority interest in the Los Angeles Lakers that he purchased in 2011 from Magic Johnson, the team's former superstar and current president of basketball operations.
In an interview with the Times last year, Soon-Shiong declined to say if he planned to buy the newspaper, although he acknowledged that as a major stockholder he was unhappy with the way it was being run and felt a need to ensure its survival.
"I am concerned there are other agendas, independent of the newspaper's needs or the fiduciary obligations to the viability of the organization," he said at the time. "My goal is to try and preserve the integrity and the viability of the newspaper."
If approved, the sale would come about a week after veteran Chicago journalist Jim Kirk was named editor in chief to replace Lewis D'Vorkin, whose short tenure was marked by clashes with staff.
Kirk, 52, had briefly served in the job during a management overhaul from August until November, when D'Vorkin joined the paper.
Reporters at the Times were alarmed by recent hiring of several news executives who reported to business executives and not to news editors. That sparked fears the business side would wield undue influence in editorial matters. Traditionally, the editorial and business sides of a paperwork separately to maintain journalistic credibility.
A return to local ownership would restore pride at the Times, said veteran media business analyst Ken Doctor.
The question is whether a new owner will do more than halt cutbacks by reinvesting, as Bezos and Henry did at their newspapers, to set the Times on a new path.
"Given the huge challenges still faced by news publishing in the age of Google/Facebook ad duopoly and still-onrushing digital disruption, even a billionaire has his work cut out for him," Doctor said.
John Rogers contributed to this report.


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Ever wanted to share the beautiful religion of Islam with someone, but did not know how to start the discussion? In-sha-Allah this Muslim wear will make things easier. It also links to IslamTaught.Me for more info.
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Motorola recently launched Flipout, another stylish smartphone in Indian market. This handset is powered by the Android 2.1 Operating System. Motorola Flipout is a stylishly square and compact smart phone specially targeted at tech-savvy women and girls.
Announcing the launch, Motorola Mobility India Country Head Faisal Siddiqui said, We further enhance our smartphone portfolio in India with a unique and trendy form factor for the young at heart with the Motorola Flipout. It merges Motorola's design heritage with Android capabilities to deliver a unique smartphone form factor.
Motorola Flipout features a 2.8 inch display with QVGA resolution, five row QWERTY keypad, Android 2.1 OS, 600MHz processor, 3 megapixel camera with digital zoom and Kodak Perfect Touch technology, 3.5mm audio jack, 256MB RAM, 512MB ROM, microSD card slot, 32GB expandable memory, Stereo FM radio with RDS, Wi-Fi, 3G Connectivity, Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP, A-GPS and 1130 mAh battery.
Motorola Flipout is available in wide range of colors including Licorice, Fairway Green, Raspberry Crush, Brilliant Blue, Poppy Red, Saffron or White. It comes with a price tag of Rs.15,990. Mortorola also offers free Gift Voucher worth Rs 1000 of Lakme Salon with this device.


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How much do you know about responsible drinking? Are you curious about the ingredients in different alcoholic beverages? Are you interested in learning how to reduce drunk driving, underage drinking, and other forms of alcohol misuse? At Diageo's DRINKiQ website, you can learn about all of these things and more. You will find guides for educators, law enforcement, parents, and retailers - and you will also get tips on how to enjoy drinking alcoholic beverages and have a good time without putting yourself or others in danger.
Available in more than a dozen languages, with content targeted to specific cultures, DRINKiQ makes it easy to find smart ideas for managing alcohol intake, whether you're running an establishment or simply hosting a party. DRINKiQ users can learn at what times they should avoid alcohol, how to keep track of their own drinking patterns and which mixers speed up the absorption rate of alcohol.
DRINKiQ is interactive. Users can watch videos about a wide range of responsible drinking topics from respected sources such as the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. They can also contribute their own content in the form of articles and videos.
For Diageo, responsible drinking is a top priority. The company's mandatory Marketing Code requires that its products are marketed in a responsible manner only to adults of legal drinking age in all advertising and marketing material from television commercials to sponsorships. All Diageo employees take the DRINKiQ training course and are encouraged to be ambassadors for safe drinking.
Alcohol can be a fun part of celebrations of all kinds, but it's up to you to enjoy alcoholic beverages safely and responsibly.
Learn more about alcohol responsibility at DRINKiQ.com.


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Education Division
Student FAQ
General Information
Continuing Education
General Information
What are the education requirements for licensure?
Do I schedule the licensing test with the Arizona Department of Real Estate?
What is the application process once the Real Estate license examination has been successful
passed? What are the application fees?
For more information:
Required Documentation for Application:
Can I apply for my Original Salesperson License through the Online Licensing & Renewal System?
Can I apply for my broker or salesperson license through the Online Licensing and Renewal System if I have a disciplinary action disclosure?
As a current salesperson licensee, can I apply for my broker's license through the Online Licensing & Renewal System?
Where are the instructions to apply for my license through the Online Licensing & Renewal System?
How can I avoid a duplicate fee when applying through the Online Licensing & Renewal System?
Once I have submitted my application, how do I pay the fee?
How do I activate my license once the license is approved?
Where are the new Broker Management Clinic (BMC) guidelines published?
Continuing Education
What Continuing Education Credits do I need?
24 hours of ADRE-approved Continuing Education (CE) courses must be completed and uploaded at az.gov/webapp/dre every two years to renew a real estate license.
Of the 24 hours required for renewal, you must obtain credit hours as indicated in EACH of the following subjects:
30 hours of ADRE-approved Continuing Education (CE) courses must be completed and uploaded at az.gov/webapp/dre every two years to renew a real estate license.
Of the 30 hours required for renewal, the designated broker or delegated associate broker licensee must obtain credit hours as indicated in EACH of the following categories:
* Broker Management Clinic courses are required for active status designated brokers (which includes self-employed brokers) or delegated associate brokers with written authorization to act on behalf of the designated broker by reviewing and initialing contracts and similar instruments pursuant to A.R.S. § 32-2151.01(G).
** If claiming Fair Housing course substitute, attach a statement of substitution and certificate for substitute class. An additional class in the Real Estate Legal Issues category that has been approved for a minimum of three credit hours in place of the mandatory Fair Housing category and must be pre-approved by the Department.
Cemetery and membership camping licenses do not require continuing education credit for renewal.
Where can I attend Continuing Education classes?
Can I take online classes in one day and complete all the required classes?
Where can a list of accredited real estate schools be found?
How do I report my Continuing Education Courses to the Department?
The course number and dates appear on CE certificates issued by licensed real estate schools upon completion of each ADRE-approved course. If the system returns an error message and information entered matches what is on the certificate, contact the issuing school to verify the course number and credit category.
Please note the following:
I only do commercial business. Do I need to take a Fair Housing class?
When the internet-based ethics training conducted by the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS at
REALTOR.org has been completed, does the Arizona Department of Real Estate recognize this course toward continuing
Can I use my broker pre-license education for renewal CE?
The salesperson cannot renew online and must submit a renewal packet with either the course completion certificate or the letter with attachments from the school.
I took a "segmented" course that covers more than one category. Can I enter
it twice?
What is a "CE period?"
How and when to report CE credits completion to the Department.
What do I need to enter my CE credits?
After I enter my CE credits online do I need to keep the Course Completion Certificates?
What happens if a mistake is made while entering information course information?
I entered more than 24 credits but when I go to "Check Status" I only see 24 credits
reflected. Why?
What if I enter information for a class I did not really attend?
After I complete my CE for one period can I start classes for the next CE period?
Can I renew my license without submitting my CE credits?
Now that I have entered my CE credits is my license renewed?
Can I have some of my Continuing Education credits waived for other education I attended?
I am a licensee in another state, can any of my education I have already completed
for my out of state licensure be applied to either a new license or renewal of a license?
What if I am unable to timely complete my Continuing Education classes but want to renew my license?
Will my classes appear in the Public Database information on the website?
Can I get an extension on my license renewal?
I am less than one year past my expiration date, what are the requirements to get my license reinstated?
Applying for renewal during the one (1) year grace period:
** The License Fee Schedule may be obtained by clicking on the Fee Schedule link on the left navigation menu. (Subject to change without notice as statutes or rules change.)
I have gone more than one year past my expiration date. What can I do to get my license reinstated?
What is the effective date for the new Broker Management Clinic (BMC) requirement?
Is there a quick reference to determine which real estate brokers are required to complete the nine (9)
hour Broker Management Clinic?
What is a Delegated Associate Broker?
Who must take the 9-hour BMC?
Who is not required to take the new BMC?
How are BMC courses delivered?
Will the new BMC courses be available for credit for any licensee who takes the course?
Is a test required to pass the 9-hour BMC?
How do the three BMC courses differ?
May I take BMC #1, #2 and #3 (i.e., each of the individual courses) from different schools, taught by
different instructors?
Are there BMCs that emphasize specific industry disciplines?
rev. 04/17


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Panasonic's i-Pro Megapixel Fixed Network Camera
The i-Pro WV-NP502 Megapixel Fixed Network Camera features a 2.6 megapixel progressive scan CCD with Panasonic's innovative Mega Super Dynamic (MegaSD) imaging technology plus H.264 / MPEG-4 and JPEG compression streams. The unique combination of superior imaging and multi-compression delivers unparalleled performance and systems versatility. MegaSD provides 128x dynamic range plus intelligent technology features like Adaptive Black Stretch providing excellent image reproduction in the most challenging lighting conditions; PoE capability simplifies installation and system scalability.
Visit www.panasonic.com/i-Pro
ISC West Booth No. 20007
Product Category:


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Elle Fanning does some incredible work as a teenager caught up in the anti-nukes activism of 1960s London in the new coming-of age drama "Ginger & Rosa."
This latest, greatest performance is part of a career she's carved out for herself at only age 14, with previous impressive roles in films including "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," "Super 8" and "Somewhere." (Must be in the DNA: Her older sister, Dakota Fanning, is also talented and experienced well beyond her 19 years with an eclectic mix of films ranging from "War of the Worlds" and the "Twilight" movies to "Hounddog" and "The Runaways.")
So in a year in which "Beasts of the Southern Wild" star Quvenzhane Wallis became the youngest-ever best-actress nominee at the Academy Awards at only 9, here's a look at five great child actresses:
- Shirley Temple: The original. What precocious little girl hasn't watched Temple singing and dancing to "On the Good Ship Lollipop" and thought to herself: "That looks like fun - I want to do that too"? Of course, we all couldn't do it because she had that rare "thing" - that spark, that zest, that glow. She also worked her butt off perfecting her craft at a very young age - she started dancing and appearing in short films at 3 and making features at 5 - but she made childlike charm and enthusiasm look effortless. By 6, she'd already won an Academy Award - a special juvenile honor, but still. She then went on to make dozens of films over a three-decade career and remains arguably the greatest child star ever. What has your kid done today?
- Elizabeth Taylor: In her early, family-friendly films such as "Lassie Come Home" and especially "National Velvet," Taylor had a startling and mature beauty for someone her age. Something about her aura radiated a grace and sophistication well beyond her years. Those mesmerizing eyes, that luxurious dark hair and flawless skin. It was as if she never went through the sort of awkward pre-adolescent stage the rest of us endured. She made her first film, "There's One Born Every Minute," at age 10. You guys know what happened from there: triumph, heartache, three Academy Awards, multiple marriage, superstardom.
- Jodie Foster: As she said in her rambling speech at this year's Golden Globes, she's been in the public eye since age 3. Now at 50, the two-time Oscar winner is a great example of remaining strong and vital throughout the transition from child stardom to adulthood. Foster had confidence and swagger from her earliest days - it's evident even in something silly like a guest appearance on "The Partridge Family." In 1976 alone, in a demonstration of her great range, she played two very different kinds of kids: Iris, the world-weary prostitute, opposite Robert De Niro in Martin Scorsese's brilliant and disturbing "Taxi Driver," and Annabel, the quick-witted tomboy who finds she's magically switched bodies with her mother in the Disney comedy "Freaky Friday."
- Kirsten Dunst: She started modeling and appearing in commercials when she was only a few years old, but her breakout role at age 12 was playing the adorably creepy vampire Claudia opposite Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt in "Interview With the Vampire." Great choices from there have included Sofia Coppola's "The Virgin Suicides" and "Marie Antoinette," Michel Gondry's dreamlike "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" and the kitschy cheerleader comedy "Bring It On." Playing Mary-Jane in the "Spider-Man" trilogy probably didn't hurt. But she was excellent - and deserved an Oscar nomination - for her haunting work as a depressed bride in Lars Von Trier's "Melancholia." (She also has a movie opening this weekend, the sci-fi romance "Upside Down.")
- Abigail Breslin: She was one of the youngest-ever Oscar nominees at age 10 for her charming, vulnerable and ultimately inspiring performance as awkward pageant contestant Olive in the crowd-pleasing indie "Little Miss Sunshine." But she made an impression even earlier than that when she made her film debut at just 5 in M. Night Shyamalan's "Signs." Her varied work has ranged from the star-studded romantic comedy "Definitely, Maybe" to the heart-tugging "My Sister's Keeper" to the horror comedy "Zombieland" to the musical drama "Janie Jones," which showed off her singing and guitar-playing talents. (Like Fanning and Dunst, Breslin has a new movie in theaters this weekend, too: the thriller "The Call.") And she's only 16 now - it's all out there in front of her.
Think of any others? Share them with AP Movie Critic Christy Lemire through Twitter: https://twitter.com/christylemire


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Known phenomena
Cases of electromagnetic fields from solar activity-induced geomagnetic storms disrupting and damaging power grids have been known for a long time. Another type of electromagnetic field known as HEMP (high-altitude electromagnetic pulse) was discovered when nuclear devices were detonated at high altitudes in the 1950s and 1960s. To develop environmental, protection and test standards for commercial equipment that might be exposed to HEMP, in 1992 the IEC created a SC (Subcommittee) under TC 77: Electromagnetic compatibility in 1992. Nowadays its work is proving ever more relevant.
Unwelcome results
In the late 1950s and early 1960s the US and the USSR carried out nuclear tests at high altitudes to study the possibility of using nuclear devices to defeat incoming ballistic missiles and to understand the effects on radio communications. However these HANEs (high-altitude nuclear explosions), besides indiscriminately knocking out the few satellites in orbit in 1962, had unexpected consequences on the ground by disrupting and even damaging a few telecommunication and electric installations, including portions of the power and communications infrastructures. While these effects were not widespread, it is clear that the electromagnetic sensitivities of the electronics controlling today's infrastructures are much higher than they were 50 years ago.
Different parameters for the US and Soviet HANEs (altitudes, weapons' yields and locations –- over water in the Pacific Ocean for US tests, over land for Soviet tests) meant different results.
HEMP from the July 1962 Starfish US test (400 km altitude, 1,4 megaton device) caused burglar alarms and air raid sirens, street lights and telecom systems to malfunction or fail in Hawaii, some 1 400 km away from the burst.
HEMP from several October 1962 Soviet HANEs (300 km, 150 km, and 60 km altitudes, each with a 300 kiloton device) carried out over Kazakhstan in what was then the USSR, fused at least 570 km of overhead telephone lines, overloaded a 1 000 km shallow-buried shielded communications cable and damaged power line insulators, according to information made public by former Soviet scientists in 1994 during the EUROEM 1994 Conference in Bordeaux.
IEC involvement
IEC SC 77C Chairman Dr William Radasky traces back the IEC's involvement in the field to 1989 (as a Working Group of TC 77) when it began the development of environment, protection and test standards for commercial equipment that might be exposed to HEMP.
When the pace of the work on HEMP accelerated in 1992, he says, it was assigned to the newly created IEC SC 77C: Immunity to High Altitude Nuclear Electromagnetic Pulse (HEMP). In 1999 the National Committees in SC 77C decided that it was important to extend this work to include high power electromagnetic transients created by electromagnetic weapons producing IEMI (intentional electromagnetic interference), based on concerns raised by URSI (International Union of Radio Science). The new (and current title) of SC 77C is: High power transient phenomena.
SC 77C's scope is to prepare "standardization in the field of electromagnetic compatibility to protect civilian equipment, systems and installations from threats by man-made high power transient phenomena including the electromagnetic fields produced by nuclear detonations at high altitude."
SC 77C has 18 participating member nations and 15 observing member nations that prepare publications within the IEC 61000 series, many of which are basic standards that need to be applied to specific products and industries.
The 20 publications available thus far in the series are divided into 5 major parts covering: general, environment, testing and measurement techniques, installation and mitigation guidelines, and generic standards. Each part is further subdivided into several subparts or sections, and these are published as International Standards, Technical Specifications or Technical Reports.
Radasky says that the basic work covering both HEMP and electromagnetic weapons that have the capability to produce IEMI is now complete. He adds that future work is planned that will use the existing basic publications as a "tool box" to solve more complex problems – for example, dealing with the distributed civil infrastructure. In a further example, the Chairman of IEC TC 13 recently asked for support from SC 77C to help develop an immunity test method that would allow Smart Meters (electronics based) to be protected from attacks from stun guns.
Governments, other organizations relying on SC 77C work
As a growing number of countries or non-state actors may gain access to nuclear weapons, and criminals may obtain the ability to inflict IEMI (which is a much more accessible technology), IEC SC 77C work is seen as absolutely essential by governments and organizations that seek to protect infrastructures from high power EM threats.
Recent confirmation of this can be found in evidence, documents and references provided to the UK House of Commons Defence Committee by IEC SC 77C Chairman Radasky and Secretary Dr Richard Hoad, which figure prominently in the Committee's 10th Report of Session 2010–12: "Developing Threats: Electro-Magnetic Pulses (EMP)". In addition, earlier work by the US Congressional EMP Commission included contributions from IEC SC 77C. Their work is published in two reports available at www.empcommission.org.
As regards standardization and other organizations, IEC SC 77C publications have been adapted in recent years to the needs of the telecommunications industry by the ITU (International Telecommunication Union) in ITU T Recommendations K.78, and K.81, and to the needs of the international power industry in Cigré (International Council on Large Electric Systems) WG C4.206 where work is underway.
SC 77C International Standards, Technical Specifications and Technical Reports are also extensively referenced in countless specialist reports and documents


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Aqua Polka Dot Oilcloth
Wipe clean oilcloth tablecloth, hard wearing, no need to wash or iron. Our tablecloths can easily be cut to size as they do not fray.
Tablecloth material: PVC coated cotton.
Colour: Polka dots on an aqua background.
Fabric width: 1.3m (51″)
Choose your size from the drop down menu including round, 10m and 20m wholesale rolls.
Check the Calculator below to find the perfect size!


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Artist Zalo was kept busy creating this commemorative group caricature in black and white for a groom and his groomsmen.
The frame was added to this picture to give an idea of the finished product.
A custom artwork like this, delivered digitally allowing the image to be reprinted a number of times is a great keepsake.
Browse or website for other group caricature ideas (even for family groups) or look at our wedding page. If there are more than six in your group (remembering that discounts start from the second person) contact us to get a quote.


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Everyone who got them as gifts loved them! Can not wait to get more!
Thank you for your business! If you have any questions or need more information, please contact me using the "Contact this seller" button. I am happy to assist you.
After 2 weeks your items will automatically renewed for another 60 days and $0.23 per item will be added to your billing ledger.
While you were away our TOU was updated,
read the terms of use here.
*No action is required on your part.


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Items where Author is "Wallen, A"
|Up a level
Group by: Item Type | No Grouping
Jump to: Article
Number of items: 1.
Jesson, DA, Le Page, BH, Mulheron, MJ, Smith, PA, Wallen, A, Cocks, R, Farrow, J and Whiter, JT (2010) Thermally induced strains and stresses in cast iron water distribution pipes: an experimental investigation Journal of Water Supply Research and Technology-Aqua, 59. pp. 221-229.
Information about this web site
© The University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, GU2 7XH, United Kingdom.
+44 (0)1483 300800
+44 (0)1483 300800


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I used to believe that the true character of international soccer could be found in the fake-injury phenomenon.
You know what I'm talking about -- a player gets knocked down, writhes in pain, appears to be in need of last rites and then, a few minutes later, miraculously gets to his feet and returns to action.
Happens about five times a game.
But something has changed during the current World Cup. If a snapshot could be taken to sum up the tournament, it would be of a player with a horrified look on his face. The look would seem to indicate he had just witnessed an airplane exploding in the air. The discerning observer would know that, in reality, the player had just been whistled for a minor infraction.
The theatrical feigned injury and the mix of facial expressions worthy of a Greek tragedy get very old, very fast, especially when the score is 0-0 and in no hurry to change.
To read the rest of this article, visit SunTimes.com
The pursuit of excellence is a tired phrase in America, applied to everything from funeral directors to luxury cars.
But how else to describe the exhausted Americans sprinting forward in those final seconds of that incredible U.S. victory in theWorld Cup on Wednesday?
They were spent after sprinting mile after mile for 92 minutes on that South African field, needing a goal to win or be sent home.
They were reeling, lungs bursting, time running out and still a pack of them ran forward. Not one or two, but four and more behind, sprinting desperately on dead legs.
They were in pursuit of excellence.
And they caught it.
By defeating the Algerians 1-0 on a goal by American star Landon Donovan, the U.S. soccer team gave its fans one of the most dramatic wins in history. When ESPN caught up with Donovan, he was weeping, hands covering his face.
He was asked about amazingly bad calls that cost the U.S. two goals in the past two games.
"You know what? Like I said last week, we embody what Americans are about," Donovan said. "We can moan about it or we can get on with it, and we kept going. We believe, man. We're alive."
When he talked about Americans never giving up, I knew it was true. And I bit my lip so the guys in my office watching the game wouldn't see my reaction.
Joining me in my workspace, watching TV, was Tony the Albanian Guy, my new soccer friend, and Tribune cartoonist Scott Stantis, just coming to the game.
To read the rest of this article visit ChicagoTribune.com


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More than half of all parents use Facebook to snoop on their kids and 11 percent joined the social network specifically to check up on their children, a recent study reported.
The online graphic by OnlineSchools.com, shows that 55 percent of parents snoop on Facebook and they don't stop there. (However, 5 percent of parents said they would check up on their kids if only they knew how to use Facebook.) OnlineSchools used the Bullguard Internet Security Survey, which surveyed 2,000 Internet users across the United Kingdom, to create an infographic on parental spying which shows most parents poring over status updates, wall postings and tagged photos. But parents don't limit their snooping to Facebook -- 76 percent browse their kids' Internet history, 23 percent look at sent e-mail and 21 percent peruse instant messages.
Some parents are trying to snoop legitimately. Sixteen percent of parents attempt to friend their child on Facebook, but about a third are rejected. Those kids are grounded!
U.S. & World
News from around the country and around the globe
So, kids, if you think Mom is looking over your shoulder trying to decipher your password or read your news feed -- you're probably right.


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University Member Activity Tracking and Reporting
SEDONA is a self-service web database application that allows members to maintain their teaching, research, service, experience, development, credentials, and assessment records. Members can create a public site, automatically updated by SEDONA. Administrators may use SEDONA to automatically update school web pages, support accreditation, build rubrics to assess learning objectives, customize reports (including CVs), create database queries, web surveys, ePortfolios, evaluations, and benchmark faculty productivity using scorecards.
"... After spending hundreds of hours developing and maintaining a number of EXCEL-based spreadsheets to tabulate research, workloads, and teaching, I discovered SEDONA. Now I have all the data at my fingertips in a single database and can formulate specialized reports that were not before possible. In the first two months of use, its purchase price has been recovered many times over. I heartily recommend this product."
- Colin Read, State University of New York - Plattsburg
The SEDONA System
Tracking and Reporting
SEDONA was designed as a self-service application. Such a design allows the significant task of entering and validating member teaching, research, and service activities to be spread out to and ultimately made the responsibility of those who are most concerned that the data be there and that it be right, which in this case is faculty members.
Through a newly designed, user-friendly interface, members can enter (or cut/paste from another document) activity data into various web forms and submit this data to the school's database. SEDONA then aggregates this data into meaningful reports that can be used to support accreditation, provide information to media outlets, or document assurance of learning.
Data Centralization and Mobility
Because SEDONA is a web application, connection to the institutional database is supported wherever there is Internet access. So members can update their CVs from anywhere in the world, and these updates are immediately reflected in the various reports aggregated by SEDONA.
Your data is YOUR data, and SEDONA has no rights to it. At the college level, there is a download feature that allows you to download your entire database, including tables and relationships, whenever and as often as you want. You can use this data set to drive any of your other internal applications that rely on CV data, and then periodically refresh the data set from SEDONA.
Personnel Training and Support
Included in the first year's subscription is a full day of on-campus training. Schools are only responsible for covering the travel expenses of the SEDONA representative.
After implementation, questions are handled by calling or emailing SEDONA. Your questions and requests are handled in a friendly and efficient manner, usually the same day (depending on the complexity).
Browser Compatibility- current versions of:
- Microsoft Edge
- Mozilla Firefox
- Apple Safari
- Google Chrome
Who is Using SEDONA?
SEDONA Features
- Multi-Level Access
- User-Friendly Design
- Customize Reports - Template Builder
- Design Web Surveys - Survey Builder
- Evaluate - Evaluation Builder
- Benchmark/Score - Scorecard Builder
- Query Database - Query Builder
- Assess Learning - Assurance Builder
- Link university pages - Web Services
- Maintain Central File Repository
- Upload/Manage Teaching Schedules
- Track Member Research Activities
- Track Member Service Activities
- Track Member Teaching Activities
- Track Grants and Awards
- Manage Committees; Search Minutes
Try the Demo
If you want to "test drive" SEDONA you can gain full access to SEDONA by clicking on the Login button in the top, right corner of this page. Then, on the login page, simply click on "Demo" and choose the level or account type from which you wish to view SEDONA.
There are three levels: the member level, the department level, and the college level. Each of these levels allows you to browse through every screen in the application, including input screens and reports appropriate for that level.


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So, hey, remember how sometimes I periodically mention Broken Age, the Double Fine Adventure Kickstarter that funded March of 2012? And how I listed it on my Top 5 Games I'm Really Looking Forward To In The New Year? I mentioned how I wasn't even sure Broken Age was going to be dropping in 2014. Being almost 2 years since it funded, you can see how I would be worried.
Well, the good people at Double Fine yesterday released an update and posted a date for the beta of Broken Age: Act 1 to start: Today. TODAY?! Well, this is certainly a surprise. I, like a great number of others, will be jumping in head first as soon as I get home. This is great timing as I've been on an adventure style gaming kick lately, from the old-school Gabriel Knight to the new indie UnEpic. Putting down one of them isn't going to be the easiest of feats, but this certainly qualifies as "the new shiny".
But, see, I hate betas. Most times when I've played in a beta, I find I come to dislike whatever game it's for. For example, I played in the Rift beta and haven't played Rift since because of it's beta flaws. I remember the graphics having been terrible, the combat lackluster, and the rifts annoyingly got in the way of the questing! Blargh! But this doesn't feel like a beta that we've come to understand. There are no server load tests. There aren't any character wipes. They aren't giving us fake cash to use in the game's store. They aren't making it feel like we're working for them but not getting paid for it. This, instead, feels like the product is complete, and the primary tests will just be for system compatibility. The ins and outs of playing the game itself should be good to go. This feels like a real complete game (or at least Act 1) and so doesn't feel like I'm just donating my time to them.
Of course, I can't tell you anything about the game yet. They are releasing a press release today (Though the trailer was posted to YouTube yesterday, having since been rescinded. We all know when you want to keep something secret, posting it to YouTube is the best thing to do. In case it's still down, here's an older trailer.), to announce the public ship date of the game.
A "formal review" embargo, though, is also being placed until January 27th, so I won't be able to tell you any thoughts until then. I don't consider this post anything even close to a review, so I'm assuming this is hunky-dory. [Update] Strike that. They've changed their minds and according to the last update, they've lifted the embargo entirely. According to the update:
'The decision to set this originally was not made with any sort of malicious or controlling intent, but rather to keep spoilers to a minimum and give press time to enjoy the game, reflect on it, and write a review without feeling rushed to get it out first."
I didn't see it as overly controlling personally, but I'm guessing others did. I agree with keeping spoilers to a minimum, though. I guess the only thing that's stopping me now is just playing it!
So, anyway, YAY! A new adventure game to prove the world still likes adventure games! Or… at least us older gamers who like to read and explore do, anyway.
I do wonder, though, what the point of truly fiendish puzzles are in this age of Google? Will people appreciate the challenge, when the answers are literally a couple of keystrokes away? Will they make the puzzles so easy that people don't feel compelled to cheat? If they make it too easy, then what will be the draw to play? Is this why the adventure game is considered "dead" in the first place? I hope not. Not all of us cheat first and play later. This is going to be either the first step in a resurgence, or the last breath of a dead genre.
I may be a little on the old school side, but I hope the adventure game never dies.
P.S. – Update: It looks like Broken Age, Act 1 will be releasing on January 28th fully
(not a long time to post reviews), is currently available for pre-order on Steam, and the trailer has been put back up. Can't wait to start kicking some ass with Vella!