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What the Hell Happened to...Ed Pinckney?
Take that Brad! |
Ed was drafted with the 10th pick in the 1985 draft by the Suns. After 2 years with Phoenix, he was shipped to the Kings for Eddie Johnson (a trade that really helped out those Suns teams with KJ, Chambers, Hornacek and Majerle). After 1.5 seasons in Sacramento, he made his way to the C's.
At the time the Celtics acquired Pinckney along with Joe Kleine it was shock to me since they had to give up Danny Ainge (and Brad Lohaus). I suppose it made sense to allow Reggie Lewis to blossom (which he certainly did). But Ainge was one of my favorite players at the time, and remember, he was an All Star just the season before. The Celtics desperately needed front court help for the Big 3 and after guys like Mark Acres, Lohaus, Fred Roberts, and Artis Gilmore didn't fit the bill, Red rolled the dice with Pinckney and Kleine.
Looking back, Ed played 5.5 seasons with the Celts. He had his moments where he had some spectacular nights with points and rebounds. But for the most part, it was an anomaly, and he'd return to his average self. I remember reading about how polite he was and if you recall, he always used to cover his mouth to cough while he was on the floor. That image of him checking into the game coughing with his fist to his mouth, is what I remember most about him.
1991 and 1992, Ed averaged 2.2 and 3.1 offensive rebounds, translating to a very-impressive 4.7 and 4.8 per 36 minutes. I actually think he would probably have been a bit of a better fit on the 2010 Celtics in place of Glen Davis. He certainly wouldn't have gotten his shot blocked as many times and was bigger than Davis. I'm not saying he's a better player than Davis; just that he may have been a better fit this year.
However in looking back on it, I still think the Celts could've gotten someone more talented than Pinckney and Kleine for a 1 year removed All Star.
Ed would go onto play for the Bucks, Raptors, 76ers and Heat before retiring after the 1997 season. For his career he averaged 6.8 ppg, 5 rpg in about 20 minutes per night.
You may remember Ed's nickname was "E-Z Ed" which I found to be an interesting spelling of it (maybe not to be confused with Easy Ed Macauley?) Many people in the Northeast area of the United States are familiar with E-Z Pass, the computerized toll system on bridges and tunnels. When it started become prevalent I couldn't think of the spelling of it and wonder if somehow Ed Pinckney was involved in its nomenclature. Ed was from the Bronx and it originated right here in New York.
Today Ed is the TV color guy for the Philadelphia 76ers. From my experience, he's one of the more tolerable ones to listen to. And you all know how much I love broadcasting around the league.
Addendum: September 13, 2010- Ed Pinckney was named Assistant Coach for this upcoming season with the Chicago Bulls.
For a list of all the "What the Hell Happened To" Series please click here.


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Hobby super computer building isn't something you hear about every day. This project is even more peculiar due to the fact that it is a supercomputer built with BASIC Stamps. [humanoido] posted some great pictures and detailed info about his project. We're not completely sure what definition of supercomputer he's using, but he states that it beats out the others in 10 categories. Those categories are: smaller, lighter, portable, field operable, runs on batteries, has greatest number of input/output, has greatest number of sensors/variety, lowest power consumption, lowest unit cost, and easiest to program. Those sound a little more like features than supercomputing categories to us, but that doesn't detract from the fact that this is one cool jumble of wires.
You may be wondering what it does. Well, so are we. From what he says, it talks in Chinese and English and has a plethora of other input and output devices. It also displays status of its internal communications. Catch a video after the break.
[thanks Jeff]

subset: commoncrawl


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Home » Full Catalogue » SUN RA: Lone Star Roadhouse; Africa Street Festival
SUN RA: Lone Star Roadhouse; Africa Street Festival
This is for the rather more hard core fans. Picture quality of Lone Star is pretty dire and the concert doesn't add anything to what is on other DVDs. Africa Street is better in quality but there is nothing of special note- except for the many dancers, giant puppet, extended percussion sections and generally accessible programme. Both from 1989. Information consists of four poems by Ra. 124 Minutes.
Code: Transparency0174
Price: £17.00


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MILAGRO Instruments
Scientists working on the MILAGRO project are using lots of special equipment that they set up on the ground near Mexico City. Here are some examples:Radiosondes: These balloons are similar to the ones that you see at birthday parties but much larger. They rise into the sky with scientific instruments attached to their cords. The instruments measure things like how hot or cold the air is. Also, the scientists can figure out where the wind is blowing and how hard by watching where the balloons go in the sky. During MILAGRO, scientists will launch these balloons near Mexico City.
Tethersonde: A tethersonde is the same idea as the radiosonde, except that the balloon that is attached to the ground with a cord. The cord keeps the balloon from rising high into the sky. It's best for when scientists just want to measure the air near Earth.
Wind profilers: Wind profilers are shaped like big boxes. They measure how fast the wind is blowing and in what direction. The scientists are setting wind profilers up near Mexico City to figure out where the wind blows the air pollution.
Mobile laboratories: These are science labs on wheels! The scientists keep their equipment in vans and trailers that they can drive anywhere to make measurements and do experiments. During the project, they'll be driving the labs around the Mexico City area to test the air for pollution.
Satellites: MILAGRO researchers will also use data retrieved by satellites. Satellites circle Earth from space. They show scientists where air pollution and chemicals are above Earth. One satellite the scientists in Mexico City are using is called MOPITT. MOPITT can take pictures of air pollution in the sky.
Other instruments on airplanes will also be used during the campaign.


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EC: iVu Bar Code Reader
Hardware HMI - bar code and ID readers: Banner Engineering, iVu Bar Code Reader. The iVu Bar Code Reader reads 11 industry-standard bar codes and allows users to efficiently configure, monitor and modify an inspection on-site through its integrated touch screen. This is a Control Engineering 2011 Engineers' Choice (EC) Honorable Mention.
As the first industrial touch screen bar code reader, the iVu Bar Code Reader (BCR) reads 11 industry-standard bar codes to facilitate advanced traceability, a critical strategy for ensuring highest product quality in packaging, material handling, pharmaceutical and many industrial applications. The iVu BCR deciphers bar codes of varying types to verify correct content at production speeds of hundreds of parts per minute, all within a single compact, rugged package.
Sharing the same integrated touch screen design as the first iVu series model, the iVu TG Image Sensor, the iVu BCR allows users to efficiently configure, monitor and modify an inspection on-site. This innovative machine vision solution is both easy to install and support, right on the factory floor. The iVu BCR's intuitive interface reduces operator training time and allows first-time users to set up complex applications without a PC or external controller. It additionally features a software emulator that lets users perfect their application and preload parameters offline.
The iVu BCR's compact, rugged IP67-rated housing is available with an optional integrated ring light, offered in red, white or infrared, to optimize contrast in machine vision inspections. Exposure times as fast as 0.1 ms ensure the product's reliable performance on high-speed assembly lines.
The iVu BCR is also available as a Remote Series Sensor, an arrangement in which the sensor's integrated touch screen is replaced with a separate iVu Remote Touch Screen Display. This arrangement allows users to program multiple iVu Remote Series Sensors through a single display and change inspection parameters remotely, ideal for vision inspections in hard-to-access areas.
Banner Engineering
For more, see www.controleng.com/awards.
Do you have experience and expertise with the topics mentioned in this content? You should consider contributing to our CFE Media editorial team and getting the recognition you and your company deserve. Click here to start this process.


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"Thank you for the quick repair you did on my iPad screen, I am very pleased with the service and will certainly recommend you."
Your iPad is an essential tool to help you both at work and leisure. You probably use it to store all sorts of personal and sensitive information, such as bank details, phone numbers, photos, and appointments – all the day to day essentials of life. But imagine if it was not working properly – maybe the screen has been damaged, or it has frozen up, what would you do then? The answer is simple - get it fixed. You can get a speedy repair by doing a quick search on iTechnician to find a local expert to repair your iPad in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire. You could have your iPad fixed quickly and affordably, in a manner that suits you, through the iTechnician network.
The choice of service is yours – a repair visit can be arranged to your home or your place of work without the need for posting off your iPad. Alternatively, you can visit an iTechnician repair centre in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire. Whatever the problem, there is an iPad repair service to suit you and a repair appointment need not last any more than 20 - 60 minutes. Quick, affordable, professional repairs. There's no better solution to your iPad problems.
Your local iPad repair service in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire can quickly find reasonably priced solutions to many problems, including:
iTechnicians in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire are fully trained in iPad diagnostics and repairs, and will be able to find out the cause of your iPad problem and solve it quickly.
No need to concern yourself about the mail - a visit to the iTechnician in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire might be the best option for you, and you can be sure that your iPad will be quickly fixed and you will soon be reconnected. However, if you prefer to send your iPad away, there is a secure and reliable service available for that too. For a quick and professional iPad repair from a reputable iTechnician just complete the simple to use repair quote form with the following details:
Get reconnected quickly to your world. Find iPad repairs in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire with iTechnician.
iTechnician is a network of likeminded iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac and Apple Watch repairers covering England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. The technicians have a combined experience of over 400 years in repairing Apple devices. iTechnician was formed with one vision, to provide an affordable, reliable and honest Apple device repair service to private and commercial customers in the UK. Our technicians provide just what you need - professional, local repair service at low prices and a free smile on all jobs .
Whatever your needs, we have rapid and affordable iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac and Apple Watch repair services near you.
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With the iTechnician network covering the whole of the United Kingdom our trusted, local teams are able to repair or buy back your Apple device at the right price. Contact your local iTechnician for fast and cost-effective iPhone, iPad, iPod or Mac repairs.
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"Thank you for the quick repair you did on my iPad screen, I am very pleased with the service and will certainly recommend you."
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"So helpful and friendly when I took my iPad in, as far removed from the stereotypical stand-offish techy type as you can imagine."
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"I contacted iTechnician on my dad's recommendation, and I'm glad I did. Totally professional and would recommend!"
"Increased the memory on my Apple iMac, when I approached iTechnician they offered to do it without charge."


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Feb 25, 2024I Must WriteWriting is hard. This is a piece not about writing but about what one does when they are the monster they will teach their daughters to kill. I'll shoot straight. I now know my problem in relationships. But it's not feeling like the relief I hoped for. The women that…Love3 min readLove3 min read
Dec 25, 2023God Ain't LiedIt's Christmas Eve, really where I am from, it's Christmas. We will be talking about the eternity of knowledge and the finity of obedience. But First, a Pic for the Medium Let's start with some self loathing. I got fat. My recent love interests don't care about six packs but one. I'm finding that the more I…Knowledge7 min readKnowledge7 min read
Dec 12, 2023Go Act: An almost Case for Sharing Your Private JournalI will be attempting to encourage you to take that journal — that contains your deepest darkest secrets; — that contains coarse words about people you love; and share it with those you love. I am sure the initial expectation is that I am about to tell you to make…Culture7 min readCulture7 min read
Nov 11, 2023The Land of Identity: a Discourse on TribesI am a Yoruba man. I was born and raised in Nigeria. I was born and raised in a town called Ilorin. Ilorin was a Yoruba land. Infact it's name Ilorin, means a place where iron is grounded or formed. History says, years ago, the Yoruba people of Ilorin fought…Conflict7 min readConflict7 min read
Oct 24, 2023Transparency and ConsequencesI'm gonna be talking about the losses from transparency. In short, this medium has cost me but I don't want it any other way. When I started writing, I felt like God wanted me to. I felt like I was being obedient to Him. …Transparency5 min readTransparency5 min read
Oct 14, 2023When Grace became WorkThis topic flowed effortlessly and connected when I explained it to my *friend* and now that I want to write it. I don't know where to start but in summary it is about how I removed God from my purpose and started trying to sustain it myself. My purpose vision…Spirituality9 min readSpirituality9 min read
Oct 14, 2023A stream of ConsciousnessI have been sitting on 3 thoughts the past week or so. Not sure which one is gonna squeeze out but here they are. You don't need God to be good. How warming power made me blind to good women Why I got very little word done this week. Let's…8 min read8 min read
Sep 11, 2023Dear Ex FiancéA piece about normalizing love that didn't pan out but isn't dead. Yes, I just showered. And yes, I still love apple. I decided to go back to writing on my phone because somehow the thoughts flow better when it feels like I am just writing a text versus writing…Love7 min readLove7 min read
Sep 8, 2023What is Forbidden?Usually when I havent written for a while, its because I am scared of what keeps coming up. This time is no different. I am scared to define what I cannot have because it establishes what I can have. …Love6 min readLove6 min read
Jul 23, 2023A Naked Coward and a Kindergarten Trauma TaleFacts It is showing 1:54AM on my laptop but it is really 12:54AM. I just got out of the shower. In the shower, I got this revelation and decided on the title. The plan was to run out of the shower, sit on my chair with my clean ass, and pen…Love9 min readLove9 min read


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- Author: Olivia Pisano
Dr. Deborah Golino, Director of FPS since 1994, started her talk Red Blotch Status at FPS: Classic and Russell Ranch Foundation Vineyards with an anecdote about her recent experiences at grower meetings. She was out to lunch with some members of the viticulture community and asked how to best share information with them. They told her to "tell the news first, so they could relax and listen to the details."
So I'll follow suit and start with the news:
All the vines in the new Russell Ranch vineyard have tested free of Red Blotch. Of the 1,610 vines tested so far from the Classic Foundation, only 3 vines are infected; one vine each of Chardonnay 68, Thomcord 02, and Rudy Cabernet 02. Foundation testing information can be found on the FPS website on the left navigation pane under "Foundation Testing Data."
Now to the details:
Grapevine Red Blotch associated Virus (GRBaV) was discovered by USDA-ARS and UC Davis scientists (including FPS' own Dr. Maher Al Rwahnih!) using the Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) technique. This technique can detect a multitude of microbes using PCR (polymerase chain reaction). Thanks to this advanced technique, we will likely find many new viruses and microbes in the coming years, Golino cautions. However, and let me paraphrase Al Rwahnih here, just because a virus is detected in a vine that demonstrates disease symptoms, does not immediately prove causality.
Finding the virus in symptomatic vines only satisfies the first of Koch's postulates – which even he abandoned upon the discovery of asymptomatic carriers of infectious agents. There are three more postulates to satisfy before a causal relationship can be established. And that's where the research on Red Blotch will continue.
But enough with the science lesson.
Testing the two FPS vineyards was a very important step in learning about this virus. Important, and expensive. There are over 4,000 vines in the Classic Foundation and 1102 vines in Russell Ranch. It is thanks to the Grape User fees that all this testing is able to take place. And to date we have spent over $166,000 dollars – nearly one tenth of what it would take to finish our new building (more on the new building in a later blog post) – on testing our vineyards.
I titled this blog entry Finding the Silver Lining because the scientist in me sees one bright and clear. Let's go back to the news – all the vines in Russell Ranch have tested free of GRBaV. And you know what's so amazing about that? Vines planted in the Russell Ranch vineyard were sent through the 2010 protocol a therapy which uses micro-shoot tip culture to propagate material, before planting – this protocol was established before GRBaV was even on the radar! This is our success story; this is our silver lining. Micro-shoot tip culture can be used as a therapy for known and unknown pathogens and microbes.
There is more to this success story, of course.
Our next priority is to determine how the virus spreads. Because if the virus isn't at FPS, how is it getting into the vineyards?
For more information on Grapevine Red Blotch, please see the National Clean Plant Network for Grapes (NCPN-Grapes) fact sheet attached or visit the Integrated Viticulture website. NCPN-Grapes will be hosting a Special Webinar on Red Blotch on March 27, see the attached announcement. Remember that there are still vines to test in the Classic Foundation, so check the testing information on our website for progress.
Red Blotch Fact Sheet Feb 2013
Red Blotch Webinar Announcement


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SAMJ: South African Medical Journal
On-line version ISSN 2078-5135
Print version ISSN 0256-9574
SAMJ, S. Afr. med. j. vol.101 n.8 Pretoria Aug. 2011
Part VIII. Future directions for GARP
H Gelband; A G Duse
Underlying the creation of the Global Antibiotic Resistance Partnership (GARP) as a global alliance was the recognition that antibiotic resistance is a global problem, that some of the tools needed to understand and manage it could be shared globally, but that actions to control it and to ensure access to antibiotics when they are needed must take place at the national level. South Africa is fortunate in having a well-developed cadre of health care professionals already addressing antibiotic use, evident from the wealth of programmes and information included in this report but, even so, resistance is a growing problem. In countries that lack a strong medical system, the challenges are even greater.
Even in South Africa, information is not generally known across sectors, e.g. there has been little awareness of the details of agricultural antibiotic use and resistance among hospital professionals and vice versa, and the knowledge base needed for policy making has large gaps. During this first stage, a GARP South Africa Working Group was established (see Part I), including the range of relevant sectors and interests, and the current situation was analysed, resulting in this report and a desire to follow on with policy recommendations.
In the second phase of GARP's global agenda, work will continue in the four GARP phase 1 countries (India, Kenya and Vietnam, in addition to South Africa), with the Working Groups leading in honing the recommendations and developing 'critical paths' for implementation. This includes commissioning demonstration projects and gap-filling research, where those are part of the critical paths. (The information generated in these small studies will either support or halt the continued progress of recommendations.)
At the same time, a new set of GARP countries will be identified, and work will begin to assess the existing information and ongoing programmes, and to recruit multidisciplinary Working Groups to lead these, as has been the case in GARP phase 1 countries. South Africa is a model for new GARP countries, because it has had relatively lesser direct involvement from the Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics & Policy (CDDEP) than have India and Kenya, and fewer resource inputs than Vietnam. GARP is sustainable only to the extent that work is conducted locally with minimal (but not zero) external funding.
The other force that will drive the continued existence and progress of GARP country efforts is the global network that is evolving. Over the past 3 years, connections have been made among the 4 Working Groups, and lessons have been shared among countries. We anticipate that this network will strengthen over the years, including the formal GARP country efforts, international organisations (especially the World Health Organization), groups like ReAct-Action on Antibiotic Resistance (http://www.reactgroup.org/), and the many individual programmes and researchers involved in antibiotic-related work.
The First Global Forum on Bacterial Infections: Balancing Treatment Access and Antibiotic Resistance (www.globalbacteria. org) will cap GARP phase 1. This major international scientific meeting for scientists, clinicians and policy makers from all over the world - mainly from low- and middle-income countries - takes place in New Delhi on 3 - 5 October 2011. At the Global Forum, the GARP Working Groups will discuss their recommendations and plans to move forward, as well as exchange information and ideas on persistent challenges. The Global Forum is attracting policy makers as well as those of us who produce evidence toward policy change, as a step toward bringing these threads together.
Future directions
Finally, it is important to identify future challenges regarding antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in South Africa that must be addressed going forward. All the individual steps identified here build toward placing AMR on the public health policy agenda, stressing the health consequences of antibiotic resistance and its current and rising economic costs. The evidence provided through GARP should support a stepwise response that is co-ordinated and achievable, given the current South African realities. If this report and the GARP effort are to have any significance, they must be translated into policy changes that will conserve the usefulness of antimicrobials going forward into the future.
Some of the specific challenges and information needs are to:
determine the true economic impact of antibiotic use and misuse and AMR on our population, a task that requires global collaboration on methods and local data
conduct a careful analysis of the appropriateness of antibiotic-prescribing patterns in various health care delivery settings. This will be facilitated by developing ready mechanisms to access antibiotic-prescribing information via hospital and community pharmacies, health care funders and others, and providing incentives for data to be analysed.
calculate the costs and benefits of vaccination v. antibiotics for infectious disease prevention, including the 'antibiotic-sparing' effect of a lesser infectious disease burden
strengthen the current AMR surveillance systems and fix identified weaknesses. This involves adding surveillance capacity in regional, district and primary (including rural) health care facilities that are not currently represented in the system, which is dominated by academic centres and private pathology microbiology laboratories.
pay greater attention to hospital-acquired infections, firstly determining the national prevalence and, secondly, tracking the incidence of these infections. Enhanced AMR surveillance of the most dangerous organisms is a priority.
updates of standard treatment guidelines and the essential drugs list with relevant AMR data
collaborate more closely, participate in joint research projects, and share data on antibiotic consumption, supply chain and resistance - clinicians and veterinarians - not just for AMR, but for a broader set of zoonotic diseases
support the Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) programme through training, specialist registration with the South African Nursing Council, clear job descriptions and allocation of relevant responsibilities. We need to build and empower a cadre of current and future IPC practitioners.
It is envisaged that many of these challenges will form part of research activities that will be more clearly defined for eager young researchers in the AMR field. Together with the strong GARP South Africa Working Group, we will be able to advance the process systematically, working through these issues.


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Apple selling half a million Apple TVs per quarter but no update planned for Q3
The latest update to Apple's $99 streaming media box arrived last fall and within just a few months went on to sell a million units. Since then, Apple has provided no update on sales of the device, but Concord Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo tells AppleInsider that his industry checks indicate the company shipped 480,000 units during the second calendar quarter of the year, representing more than 70% year-over-year growth.
Although Apple continues to see Internet television devices as a nascent category, frequently referring to the Apple TV as a "hobby," when sales of the device are pit against its peers, the Apple TV appears to be a runaway success.
For instance, Logitech said this week that "very modest sales" of its $249 Google TV-based Revue set-top-box were exceeded by returns of the product from unhappy customers, prompting the company to slash pricing by 66% to match Apple TV's $99 price point.
The move will reportedly cost the device maker some $34 million in one-time charges as it hopes to âremove price as a barrier to broad consumer adoption.â The failed partnership with Google also contributed to a $29.6 million loss for Logitech during its fiscal first quarter, prompting the exit of chief executive Gerald P. Quindlen.
Looking ahead to the second half of the year, Kuo said his industry checks have turned up no evidence that Apple plans to push a hardware revision to the Apple TV into production during the third quarter. Instead, the Cupertino-based company will reportedly take a more measured approach to advancing the platform in 2011, relying instead on an Apple TV Software Update this fall that will allow devices such as the iPad 2 and upcoming iPhone 5 to beam their content to the big-screen.
The technology, dubbed AirPlay, essentially allows devices equipped with Apple's A5 processor and the forthcoming iOS 5.0 update to mirror their video content from supporting applications to HDTVs hooked up to an Apple TV. While ideal for sharing video with friends and family, the feature is even more significant for Apple's encroachment on the gaming market, as it will allow any iOS game developer to offer console-style gaming (demos below) by which the the iPhone or iPad transforms into a wireless controller, equipped with gyro sensors and touch-screen controls.
Caught in the crosshairs is troubled console maker Nintendo, which now plans to race to market with a competitive product called the Wii U — a 6.2-inch touchscreen wireless controller with similar capabilities — such as a gyro and camera — that it claims was under development long before Apple introduced the iPad.
The world's largest video game maker revealed Thursday that it continues to bleed cash, posting a net loss of 25.5 billion yen ($324 million) for the three-month period ended June and prompting the company to slash the price of its 3DS handheld to $169.99 from $249.99 beginning August 12. And the outlook for the Kyoto, Japan-based firm's fiscal year doesn't fare much better. It's guiding net profit of 20 billion yen, down 82 percent from its previous outlook, on sales of 900 billion yen — blaming the skid on a shortage of hit titles for the Wii and 3DS.
Meanwhile, Apple continues to struggle with the second prong of its Apple TV strategy: HD video content. Unlike the inaugural Apple TV that offered a trove of archived television content priced between $2 and $3 an episode, the company continues to face opposition from networks who feel the new Apple TV's $0.99 per episode HD rental model devalues their content, according to people familiar with the matter.
Over the past year, Apple has failed to reach licensing agreements with content producers that would have them join Fox and partner Disney, for which Apple chief executive Steve Jobs is a director and largest individual shareholder, in providing their television content to Apple TV users. As such, Apple is now reportedly in talks to grow its streaming video business through a potential acquisition of Hulu, an ad-supported streaming service that offers video content from NBC, ABC, USA, Bravo, FX, A&E, and numerous other television networks.
"[W]e love the product. It's clear that customers love the product," Apple chief operating office Tim Cook said this month of the Apple TV. "We really guided right when we went to the new Apple TV just last fall. But right now, it's still a hobby status that we're continuing to invest in it because we think that there is something there."


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Department of Pesticide Regulation Announces Work Group to Identify Ways to Grow Strawberries without Fumigants
916-445-3974 | firstname.lastname@example.com
SACRAMENTO – The Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) is convening a diverse work group of scientists and other specialists to develop a five-year action plan to accelerate the development of management tools and practices to control soil-borne pests in strawberry fields without fumigants, Director Brian R. Leahy announced today.
"California's strawberry industry urgently needs practical and cost-effective ways to grow strawberries without soil fumigants," Leahy said. "Our Nonfumigant Strawberry Production Work Group has a tall task. We want a full spectrum of production methods that control soil-borne diseases, weeds and other pests while protecting human health and the environment. This group can also help us develop a strategy on how to best use available fumigant tools going forward."
The 10-member work group is charged with producing a plan by late fall under the guidance of a professional facilitator. Leahy credited California Environmental Protection Agency Secretary Matt Rodriguez for suggesting a work group to tackle the complex issue of maintaining the viability of the state's $2.3 billion strawberry industry in the face of increasing restrictions on fumigant use and the phase-out of the fumigant methyl bromide.
California grows 88 percent of the nation's strawberries. Fumigants are gaseous pesticides injected into the soil of agricultural fields prior to planting.
"We applaud the strawberry industry for its long history of looking for and implementing farming practices that reduce pesticide use," Leahy said. "It's imperative we speed up the timetable for more production tools in the face of tougher fumigation restrictions and urban development near agricultural land."
The urgency for nonfumigant methods is underscored by:
- Methyl bromide, the primary fumigant used in strawberry production, was technically phased out by 2005 under an international treaty to protect the earth's ozone layer. However, its limited use is allowed under "critical-use exemptions" through 2014.
- Strawberry growers are replacing methyl bromide with other fumigants, but their use is limited by health-protective measures.
- Growers face increasing costs and loss of land available for production due to buffer zone requirements and other restrictions to protect farm workers and people living near fields. Additional state and federal restrictions on fumigants are expected by the end of the year that will further affect production costs.
- Methyl iodide, a fumigant touted as a replacement for methyl bromide, was pulled from the California marketplace by its manufacturer, Arysta LifeScience, in March.
The work group will complement DPR's research partnership with the California Strawberry Commission. The focus of the $500,000, three-year research project announced in March is growing strawberries in peat or substances other than soil.
In addition, the Brown Administration's proposed budget includes $500,000 annually for grants that DPR would award for researching nonfumigant production practices. If approved, the first funding cycle for this program would be fiscal year 2013-14. Up to 10 research projects could be funded for up to three years.
The work group, research partnership and grant program are paid for out of the special fund generated by fees that support DPR's programs. The group includes the following individuals:
Brian R. Leahy, director, Department of Pesticide Regulation
Greg Browne, U.S. Department of Agriculture plant pathologist and chair of USDA's methyl bromide area-wide program in Davis
Bill Chism, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency biologist, Washington D.C.
Steve Fennimore, University of California, Davis Extension weed specialist, Salinas
Anne Katten, California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation, Sacramento
Karen Klonsky, University of California, Davis Extension economist
Rod Koda, Strawberry grower, Watsonville
Dan Legard, California Strawberry Commission research director, Watsonville
Pam Marrone, Founder and chief executive officer, Marrone Bio Innovations, Davis
Gary Obenauf, Agricultural consultant and chair of methyl bromide alternatives conference, Fresno
Carol Shennan, University of California professor of agroecology and director at the Center for Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems, Santa Cruz
The work group will hold its first meeting this summer; the date has not yet been scheduled.
One of five departments and boards within the California Environmental Protection Agency, DPR regulates the registration, sale and use of pesticides and fosters reduced-risk pest management to protect people and the environment. More information about DPR is posted at www.cdpr.ca.gov.
For more information about the California Strawberry Commission, a state government agency that represents 500 growers, please visit: www.calstrawberry.com/.


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Microsoft's alleged strategy of forcing Android partners into intellectual property licensing deals with threats of legal action is once again under fire. In a report released on Friday, intellectual property management firm M-CAM offered a no-holds-barred analysis of Microsoft's "license or we sue" strategy. The firm said Microsoft is offsetting its own failures in the mobile space by forcing more successful companies to pay royalties on Android device sales, and it likened Microsoft's strategy to that of "a deranged Easter Bunny." Read on for more.
Microsoft "has entered into more than 700 licensing agreements and continues to develop programs that make it possible for customers, partners and competitors to access its growing, broad patent and IP portfolio," the company notes on its website, but M-CAM calls this assessment a deranged marketing ploy.
"It's like a creepy dude in an Easter bunny suit offering eggs, and them throwing them if the passerby refuses to take one," M-CAM wrote in its report. "This strategy of 'license or we sue' is working for them though, since Microsoft's likely 'received five times more income from Android than from Windows Phone' – and this just from HTC phone sales!"
It has been estimated in the past that Microsoft at one point earned five times more money from Android licensing deals than from its own mobile platform, and the Redmond, Washington-based software giant has announced numerous licensing deals since that estimate was made.
M-CAM curiously suggests that the success of Microsoft's patent licensing strategy is due at least in part to a lack of licensees' willingness to to comb through Microsoft's massive patent portfolio. "This strategy is working because, really, how many manufacturers are going to look through not only Microsoft's 10,000 plus patents, but their own sizeable [sic] portfolios as well, just to determine which patents they may or may not be infringing? We doubt even Microsoft's patent lawyers know what's in their own portfolio, let alone what's in their competitors'."
Microsoft on Sunday announced a new licensing deal with ODM Compal that covers Android and Chrome devices. It already had a similar deal in place with Quanta, and M-CAM ponders whether or not Amazon should be worried. BGR reported last month that Microsoft's prior deals with Amazon will not cover the retailer's upcoming Kindle Fire tablet, but that it would likely pursue a new licensing agreement.


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Are any of these thoughts keeping you up at night?
- I am getting tired. I have been running my company for many years. Maybe it is time to think about selling the business.
- I started this business with a plan to get my family involved, but the kids have other interests. Maybe it is time to think about getting others involved.
- I see my competitors raising capital and expanding quickly. Maybe it's time for someone with fresh ideas and capital to take it over.
- I built a solid company with the potential to be much larger; a great time for new management and capital to scale the business.
It is not time for a fire sale, but time to develop a well-thought-out plan to achieve the best deal for you, any other investors, and your employees.
Businesses are generally bought, not sold since the purchaser writes the check.
Your opportunity is to position and prepare your company for the best outcome by considering the following steps in your planning.
You will undertake a company sale process with the assistance of a lawyer and an accountant. Depending upon the size and complexity of your company as well as your own skills, you might engage other professionals to assist. The definitions of small, medium, and large are very fluid. Whichever path you select, the basic tasks are the same, just a matter of who is strategizing and who is executing which parts of the plan.
- If you have a small company, you will probably sell it yourself.
- If you have a small to medium size company, you might engage a business broker
- If you have a medium to a large company, you will probably have an investment banker.
Take an external perspective--figure out who might be interested in buying your business and what they look for in an acquisition
- Determine what types of businesses might be interested in buying your company, rather than specific company names. For example, are there direct competitors wanting to grow larger; companies with similar products/services desiring to enter your market territory or channels; companies with associated products needing to expand their product lines; companies wanting your customer list, your technology, your employees; or other possibilities?
- Develop a list of a few specific companies in each of the categories you have just identified.
- Get to know the companies on your list. Do a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis, research their plans and aspirations, get to know their customers, learn about their history in making acquisitions, etc. According to David Krauskopf, Entrepreneur/Investor/Expert in early-stage startups/former SCORE mentor, "For each potential buyer, put yourself in their shoes, understand what they look for and what they could do with the combined companies."
Identify the decision-makers; determine which associations/organizations they are involved with. If you are not already a member of those groups, consider joining as a speaker/exhibitor at their meetings, trade shows, etc.
Consider becoming a customer or supplier to the companies on your list. Bottom line: you want these decision-makers to know you in the normal course of business and, of course, you want them to think highly of your business. You want them to recognize the value your business can bring to theirs.
- Have "your number" in mind. If you receive a surprise telephone call with an offer to buy the company, know in advance what range of value will be of interest to explore. This number will change over time as your business changes and your eagerness to sell changes. If there are other company investors/owners, you might want to initiate a discussion about "the number," so the people who will eventually vote on a company sale will have common expectations.
- Build a list of three to five CEOs who might be interested in buying your company. If/when you receive an offer to purchase your company, you or your banker/broker, can call them and essentially say, "We recently received an interesting offer to buy our company (never mention the offeror's name). Are you interested in making a bid?" To get the best price and terms, it is helpful to encourage a bidding competition.
Take an internal perspective—look at your business to ensure it is attractive to yourself and a potential buyer and is ready for a sale
- Make your business attractive to yourself as well as a potential buyer. A company sale might never occur so you need to have a business to support your goals. This includes having a growing group of customers who pay on time. It could also include developing customer/business attributes that you have identified to be of interest to potential acquirers. Elma Levy, coach/entrepreneur/SCORE mentor who sold her systems business says, "This is critical. An acquisition process is very disruptive, and your team might hear about it and begin looking for a new job. You have to run your business as if nothing will happen."
- Get your company financials in good shape—both accounting policies & practices and preparing monthly/quarterly financial statements (income statement, balance sheet, cash flow statement), as well as A/R status, sales pipeline, financial models, tax returns, etc. It is best that you show positive performance, be it sales growth, margins, backlog, or other metrics used in your industry. A sound financial reporting and forecasting pipeline reports create a professional and mature look for a potential buyer. David Krauskopf further advises, "Know on what basis your type of company is sold; service businesses are usually sold on a multiple of cash flow, while a fast-growing product business might be on a multiple of revenues. Each industry has its own multiple averages."
Do you have a financial audit or review? Think about it, while it might be pricey, if the results are good, the fees will be recovered in the sales price as an audit reduces buyer's risk. If your financial and business information is not already in electric form, think about converting to make the buyer's due diligence much easier.
- Update your company governance processes. If you have a board of directors, do you have board meetings and record minutes? Are your licenses/registrations/bylaws current? Have you documented your employees' compensation and benefit plans, and employee agreements including retention and non-compete agreements?
- If you do not already announce big "wins" like new contracts, partnerships, and hires of key employees, you might consider doing so in press releases, newsletters, LinkedIn notices, etc. that potential acquirers are likely to see. Of course, some "news" might be confidential or there might be concerns about having competitors know about your progress. Deciding whether or not to broadcast these wins might be a balancing act.
- Update your business plan and have a financial model that projects company performance three years hence. Use it with your team to track actual performance. Maybe even start working on a "pitch deck"—a 20-page PowerPoint presentation that tells your story and its attractiveness to a potential buyer.
- If you do not already have advisors, consider engaging a few, especially those with industry experience who can provide contacts with the company CEOs on your list of potential acquirers, and maybe someone with experience buying or selling businesses.
- Ensure you have sufficient cash resources including a line of credit. If you receive an inquiry to buy the business, it often takes several months to close the transaction. You do not want to be in a situation where cash is tight and you need to take whatever terms are offered. Having sufficient cash, or access to cash gives you the ability to negotiate the best terms.
- Elma Levy also recommends, "Talk to your customers and make sure they are happy with your company because you want them to be ongoing customers and to provide positive feedback when a buyer inquires as part of the due diligence process."
Nicole Geller, board member/angel investor/entrepreneur sold her large government contracting business. She summarizes the sales process with the following thoughts:
- "Getting ready for an exit requires a good strategic plan and execution to drive value to your business in ways that appeal to buyers."
- "It is a good practice to meet with an investment banker or two in your space to gauge current buying activity."
- "If there was an opportunity to do things over, I would have had an exit timeline from the beginning to make better business decisions for an eventual sale."
- "Buyers are buying your executive team, so hire the best you can; it helps drive your business value in an exit."
We have discussed positioning your company to be acquired, not the transaction terms. These important terms might include:
- The purchase price
- If the purchase will be for cash or equity in the acquiring company
- If the purchase payment will occur entirely at closing or some will be paid upfront and some over the next few years upon certain agreed-upon milestones
- If you and your employees will continue to be employed by the acquirer
- What representations and warranties you might have to provide, etc.
Companies are bought, not sold. You can position your company so it is noticed and structure/operate your business so it will be attractive and ready for a sale. Company sales are not a frequent event, so surround yourself with advisors and a lawyer who can share their experiences and knowledge to get the best outcome for yourself, your other investors, and your employees. If your business is of size or complexity, consider engaging a business broker or investment banker.
Copyright © 2023 SCORE Association, SCORE.org
Funded, in part, through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. All opinions, and/or recommendations expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA.


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Introduction to the Application Compatibility Toolkit (ACT) Version 5.6
Applies To: Windows 7, Windows Vista
The Microsoft® Application Compatibility Toolkit (ACT) 5.6 enables software developers, independent software vendors (ISVs), and IT professionals who work in a corporate environment to determine, before deployment within the organization, whether their applications are compatible with a new version of the Windows® operating system. ACT also enables such individuals to determine how an update to the new version will affect their applications.
You can use the ACT features to:
Verify your application's, device's, and computer's compatibility with a new version of the Windows operating system, including determining your risk assessment.
Verify a Windows update's compatibility, including determining your risk assessment.
Become involved in the ACT Community, including sharing your application assessment with other ACT users.
Test your applications for issues related to User Account Control (UAC) by using the Standard User Analyzer (SUA) tool.
Test your Web applications and Web sites for compatibility with new releases and security updates to Windows Internet Explorer®, by using the Internet Explorer Compatibility Test Tool.
In This Release
Topic Name | Description |
Includes in-depth information and procedures for use with the ACT, including configuring the ACT, collecting your data, analyzing your data, and testing and mitigating your compatibility issues. This section also includes walkthrough topics that provide step-by-step guidance for the top three ACT scenarios. These scenarios show you how to deploy a new operating system, apply a Windows update, and test and mitigate your issues by using the included development tools. |
Includes in-depth technical reference topics, written for the compatibility evaluators, the Microsoft® Application Compatibility Toolkit Data Collector (ACT-DC), the Microsoft Compatibility Exchange, the ACT Community, the Internet Explorer Compatibility Test Tool (IECTT), and the Standard User Analyzer (SUA) tool. |
Includes references to additional product and documentation resources, such as applicable Web sites and product pages. It also includes customer support information, including Web sites and phone numbers for assistance. |
Includes topics that can help you solve issues that occur during ACT setup, and to help you solve possible issues due to running the User Account Control Compatibility Evaluator (UACCE), the Windows Compatibility Evaluator (WCE), and the Update Compatibility Evaluator (UCE). |
Includes information about the supported software and hardware required to run the Application Compatibility Toolkit (ACT) in your environment. This also includes special considerations that are required if you intend to use the UCE or the Compatibility Administrator tools. |
In This Section
Topic Name |
Description |
Includes information about the new features, functionality, and updated documentation included in the ACT 5.6 release. |
Includes information about the various icons and screens available within the Application Compatibility Manager (ACM). |
Includes information about each of the available compatibility evaluators. |
Includes definitions for each of the available assessment ratings, including the associated icons. |
Includes information about labeling your applications, including guidance and methodology. |
Provides instructions for printing the online Help documentation. |


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Village Capital Partner: Growth Africa
Prior to becoming a Frontier Market Scout, the anonymous blogger Indie Service Officer, was a planner at the NYC Office of Emergency Management's Human Services Unit where he coordinated with nonprofit organizations to develop emergency plans to meet the needs of New Yorkers affected by disasters. Previously he worked at the U.S. Department of Justice's International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program (ICITAP). He has had internships at the United Nations, New York City Police Department, the National Defense University, and Foreign Affairs Magazine. He has an International Diploma in Humanitarian Assistance from Fordham University, a MIA from Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs and a BA from New York University's Gallatin School of Individualized Study.


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Danny Roberts of England celebrates his victory over Bobby Nash in their welterweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event at the SSE Hydro Arena Glasgow on July 16, 2017 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)" align="center" />
Danny Roberts is not the same person he was during his early years in London, his teenage years in Bristol or even his early adult years in Liverpool. At 30, he's a father, he's matured, and he looks at life differently than he did back then.
That's the ideal situation for anyone hitting the big 3-0, but not everyone hits it. Some mature later, some not at all. But as Roberts prepares to return home to his birthplace for Saturday's bout with Oliver Enkamp, he's in as perfect a place as he can be in before his sixth UFC fight.
"With fighters, a lot of your personal attributes also play into your career, as far as how settled you are in your outside life and how well things are playing out," he said. "And for me right now, that's something that I've finally got in tune. So it's not necessary to say 2018, a new start or anything like that. It's been a continuous development and a process, and we're getting better. My mind's becoming clearer, my tools are becoming sharper, and I just turned 30, so I feel this is the time where I needed to be this wise man for this game that we're in, and I'm just starting to touch that now."
Physically, he may be entering his prime. But it's mentally where he needs to be point if he wants to succeed in one of the UFC's toughest weight classes, and with his personal life settled and his outlook an optimistic one, the stage is set for the best version of him to date.
"People think at 30 you're finished," he said. "It's far from it. It's only just begun. They don't feel how I feel inside, they don't feel as fresh as I do, mentally or physically. I'm in tune, in harmony, and ready to just go out and show the world what I've got and perform."
A win over Enkamp would make him 4-2 in the UFC and allow him to erase the memory of his most recent bout, a first-round knockout at the hands of Nordine Taleb in December. It's the kind of loss that eats at him, because every loss eats at him. Yet whether Roberts wins or loses, he is one of those fighters to be embraced because he always shows up ready to take the risks necessary to not only win, but to entertain. And to beat him, you have to finish him.
That's a badge of honor he wears proudly, and if one thing has remained unchanged in him over the years, it's that tenacity, that willingness to lay it all on the line when he's in a fight.
"I'm not necessarily this guy that comes in saying, 'I want to fight, I want to compete, I want to get paid and go home in the best condition to my family,'" he explains. "I understand that it's the fight game. And there's a certain mentality that's been embedded since I was a kid and it's that ruthlessness of being able to know that we are in an industry that when the cage door shuts, it's all about violence. There are millions of people watching, so not only is it about being calculated and skilled. It's who I am. I've had certain things from my past that molded that anger and aggression and that soulful root that I have in my body and I can't hold it back, so sometimes I just have to let it go."
That mindset has made "Hot Chocolate" a favorite among fans and a respected warrior among his peers. It also causes his coaches some hair and gives them sleepless nights as they try to get it across to Roberts that occasionally he could make life easier for himself on fight night.
"They tell me that on a regular basis," he laughs. "But they know Danny Roberts and I'm all fire and flames. At certain times, it's cool (to be more tactical). But if I feel that you're hurt, if I feel that you're weak, I'm still gonna come at you like the hunter does to his prey and there's no other way about it."
Even his coaches at Combat Club in South Florida have to respect that, and they've let him know that his effort in good and bad times is always set to maximum, and that's something that can't be taught. In other words, if you can choose to be locked in an Octagon with anyone, Danny Roberts is probably not that guy you want to pick.
"My past has fueled a flame and a fire where I never want to feel vulnerable," he said. "So if I'm ever in a fight, this is something that people who have grown up with me and seen the life that I've lived and what I've gone through know about me. They know the tenacity and the fire that I have burning deep down inside me. So when they see me in a troubled position or see me scramble, 'Wow, that's Danny.' They know the substance that I've got."
UFC Performance Institute
Dana White On The Opening Of UFC PI Mexico


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Next Episode of 't Zal je maar gebeuren is
A series of poignant stories about people, which convincingly demonstrates the relevance of the Christian faith.
Looks like something went completely wrong!
But don't worry - it can happen to the best of us,
- and it just happened to you.
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Pack of 6 High Quality 23" x 31" Aluminum Screen Frames Stretched With 110 mesh.
6 screens per pack, BIG SAVINGS!
Our frames are built to last. Best aluminum alloy used, Water tight, rigid!
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Locomobile History: John B. Walker started the Locomobile Company of America in 1899 in Watertown, Massachusetts. Locomobiles started as small mid-priced steam driven cars with engines designed by the Stanley brothers. They made about 4,000 steam engine cars until 1903 when the company turned to the internal combustion engine and added luxury items. The 1904 Locomobile was a touring car that carried six people and sold for $4,500. The Locomobile company started racing their cars in 1905 and they won the Vanderbilt Cup in 1908; the first U.S. car company to win an international race.
The most famous Locomobile was the 1919 Model 48 but it's price, $10,000 compared to the $300 Model T Ford Phaeton, resulted in limited sales. William Durant bought the Locomobile company in 1922 and continued to use the Locomotive marque until 1929.


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Create a Website Account - Manage notification subscriptions, save form progress and more.
St. Croix County Highway Department works to mirror the guidelines noted for State highways in regards to the placement of signs. Any signs along roadways, including political/campaign signs, garage sale, for sale, etc. pose potential hazards.
Improperly placed signs can:
Show All Answers
To report a dead deer please call the St. Croix County Non-Emergency Dispatch at 715-386-4701.
Please visit the Employment Opportunities section on the St. Croix County website.
The Department strives to kill all noxious weeds within the County ROW upon discovery. Under Wisconsin §66.0407 - Noxious weeds are defined as Canada thistle, leafy spurge, field bindweed, any weed designated as a noxious weed by the department of natural resources by rule, and any other weed the governing body of any municipality or the county board of any county by ordinance or resolution declares to be noxious within its respective boundaries.
Various groups (WisDOT, WCHA, DNR, etc.) are developing "Best Management Practices" to guide local units of government in Wisconsin with identifying and controlling invasive plant species in the right-of-way as well as to educate and inform land owners. These practices will appear odd to the traveling public as there will be areas of the ROW that will be treated differently than the surrounding ROW with regard to mowing, cutting, and height of vegetation due to the preventative measures needed to accomplish these BMP goals.
St. Croix County has acknowledged a need to initiate a higher level of maintenance regarding rural roadside vegetation management, primarily the eradication of noxious invasive plant species.
Invasive species within the road right-of-way and adjacent properties can pose significant health risks to highway workers, utility workers, emergency responders, and anyone else utilizing the right-of-way. Staff has been trained and certified in applying EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) certified herbicides.Crews spray these areas to help control and eradicate Wild Parsnip and other harmful invasive weed species in late April or early May. The window of opportunity will be dictated by weather. These herbicides are plant specific and will not hurt native plants. This means that grasses, milkweed, and other native plants will flourish, helping our wildlife and pollinators. Our intention is to spray all County roads and State roads from State Highway 65 to the east. St. Croix County will also spray invasive vegetation at the request of the Towns.
Organic growers are encouraged to contact the St. Croix County Highway office with concerns and questions regarding this program.
If you have any questions, please contact the Highway Department at (715) 245-4200.
Herbicide formula to be used:
4 Oz/Acre
2.5 Oz/Acre
1.5 Pt/Acre
(Drift Control)
3.5 Oz/Acre
The St. Croix County Highway Department is not responsible for damage to vehicles caused by loose gravel or shoulder material kicked up by motorists. These are categorized as typical road hazards and are not reimbursable. Motorists that receive damage to vehicles while traveling need to report their loss to their insurance companies. Insurance is a requirement to drive on Wisconsin highways.
The Department erects temporary signs when normal or routine maintenance activities are occurring to warn motorists to take appropriate caution/action.
If you have any questions, please contact the St. Croix County Highway Department at 715-245-4200.
The St. Croix County Highway Department adopted a County Tourist Directional Sign (TODS) program in September 2017. Please click on the link for more information.
Learn about the County's TODS Program
Landowners need to be aware of the dangers that highway encroachments may present. An encroachment is any prohibited use or activity by property owners within the highway ROW restricting the full use or purpose for which the ROW was established. Encroachments may include, but are not limited to, improperly located mailboxes, trees, signs, crops, fences, driveway headwalls, etc. within highway ROW. Dangerous situations arise from signs and objects placed in vision triangles and along highways and may add unnecessary liability to the landowner. Decorative rocks and modifications to driveways also present a hazard in the clear zone and ditches of highways. Any excavation or activity within the ROW of any highway requires a permit from the agency that has jurisdiction of that highway.
Most recent is the encroachment of corn planted in the road Right-of-way. The height of the corn has caused the restriction of vision especially at intersections.
Refuse containers (including garbage and recycle containers) are not to be placed on the shoulder of roadways. They are best placed in the driveway to which they serve, off the shoulder line of the highway. Any encroachment should be brought to the attention of the local unit of government for corrective action. St. Croix County Highway Department does not issue written permits for the placement of containers within the public right-of-way.
Equipment operators are encouraged to drive in a courteous, law-abiding manner and respect local weight limits whenever possible. Non-agricultural vehicle operators are encouraged to respect agriculture's right to utilize roadways, follow safe passing signs and drive in a courteous and law-abiding manner. Farm-equipment signage for areas with the greatest use would be helpful in warning vehicles of possible slow-moving or parked equipment on highways.
Farmers are not exempt from highway weight restrictions except under certain circumstances during harvest time. In reference to Wisconsin §348.17(5) annually lifts weight limits on Class A highways from September 1 to November 30 to harvest corn, soybeans, potatoes, vegetables or cranberries. The law allows weight limits to be exceeded by up to 15 percent for transport from farm field to initial storage or initial processing point. Farmers must meet all other vehicle requirements for size, operation and driver qualifications, and cannot travel on roadways or bridges with special weight restrictions or on most interstates.
In reference to Wisconsin §86, also keep in mind, any person who injures/damages any highway shall be liable in triple damages, to be recovered by the political division in charge of the maintenance on said highway, and the amount recovered shall be credited to the highway maintenance fund.
From September 1 to December 31 of each year, no permit shall be required for the transportation of corn, soybeans, potatoes, vegetables, or cranberries from the field to storage on the grower's owned or leased land, from the field to initial storage at a location not owned or leased by the grower, or from the field to initial processing in a vehicle or combination of vehicles having a registered gross weight of 50,000 pounds or more or described in s. 340.01 (24) (b) that exceeds the weight limitations under s. 348.15 by not more than 15 percent. This subsection does not apply to the national system of interstate and defense highways, except for that portion of I 39 between USH 51 and I 90/94.
Mailboxes are the only structure that private owners are allowed to install within the right-of-way without a permit as a matter of convenience to the landowners and are not as a matter of right. Neither the St. Croix County Highway Department nor U.S Postal Service issue written permits for the placement of mailboxes within the public right-of-way. Rural mailboxes are allowed on highway right-of-way as a matter of convenience to the landowners or occupants and not as a matter of right. Encroachments of any kind on the highway are strictly forbidden by Wisconsin Statue which governs encroachments on highway right-of-way.
Mailboxes must meet minimum/maximum standards of support, setting and size. The issue of public safety will be the basis of the Department taking any action to have individuals repair, replace or relocate mailboxes.
Reimbursement may be considered if it is determined by the supervisor that Highway Department equipment came into direct contact with the property. Although the mailbox owner may have invested considerable time and material in the mailbox installation, including a special box, support or landscaping, any reimbursement will be limited to the "standard" post and/or box found at most home stores as well as possibly up to the Department's current manual labor rate for one (1) hour of time.
Please call 715-245-4200 if you have any questions or concerns.
Pushing snow or other materials onto or across highways from private driveways can cause accidents and injury, and is prohibited by Wisconsin §86.01, §86.07, §346.94(5), and/or §346.95.
Doing so may create potential safety concerns for the traveling public and may impede the snow and ice removal process. Snow shall not be stored in any manner, which will obstruct or limit vehicular or pedestrian vision, movement or access. Sections 17.60of the St. Croix County Code of Ordinances and Wisconsin §86.191 prohibit obstruction of vision clearance triangles at intersections.


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by Thomas H. Fine, M.A. and Roderick Borrie, Ph.D.
Thomas H. Fine is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry of the Medical College of Ohio. He began his research and clinical work with Biofeedback in 1975, and, with John Turner, initiated the Restricted Environmental Stimulation Therapy research program at MCO in 1978.
Roderick A Borrie, Ph.D. is a Clinical Psychologist at South Oaks Hospital, Amityville, New York. He began his exploration of therapeutic uses of Restricted Environmental Stimulation Therapy at the University of British Columbia with Dr. Peter Suedfeld, and continues to use it in current work with patients suffering chronic pain and illness.
Restricted Environmental Stimulation Therapy (REST) has fascinated many researchers, clinicians, and explorers of consciousness, promising something special – a powerful transformation, a mystical peak experience, an intense change in biochemicals, improved performance, or a healing of our ills. Beyond the fascination, Flotation REST has established itself as a unique method in the field of applied psychophysiology. Flotation REST has proven to be a technique with predictable psychophysiological effects and powerful clinical and performance applications. This article will provide the reader with an introduction to the basic research into Flotation REST's psychophysiological effects, and a brief overview of the clinical and performance applications currently in use by REST clinicians and researchers. The article will examine in greater detail the use of Flotation REST as an intervention for chronic pain.
REST is an acronym for Restricted Environmental Stimulation Technique, a name developed in the late 1970s by Peter Suedfeld and Roderick Borrie for a technique that had previously been called Sensory Deprivation (SD) or Sensory Isolation. Since much of the early SD research had been misinterpreted, especially by writers of introductory psychology texts, a widely accepted myth developed that SD environments were highly stressful, even models for producing psychotic like experiences. This led to difficulties with the Sensory Deprivation concept. Ultimately Suedfeld and Borrie proposed that, since the process involves restricting the environmental stimulation that the patient or subject experiences, REST would be a more accurate and less provocative acronym.
Flotation REST is a special type of REST popularized by John C. Lilly, M.D. Lilly developed an immersion system in the late 1950s at that was used in early SD experiments. In the 1960s he developed a flotation system in which a person floats in a light free, sound reduced chamber in a highly concentrated solution of Epsom Salt and water maintained at a constant temperature of 9,4.5 F (Lilly, 1977, p. 118).
Both Wet and Dry REST systems have been utilized in research and practice. Wet-REST systems utilize flotation in salt water, and Dry-REST systems utilize a modified REST environment in which a pliable 15 mm. polymer membrane separated the floater from the fluid (Turner, Gerard, Hyland, Neilands, & Fine, 1993).
At the Medical College of Ohio, John Turner and I conducted a series of studies investigating the psychophysiological effects of brief sessions of Flotation REST. The REST environment used in all of these studies was a plastic or fiberglass chamber, approximately 1.1 m. x 1.3 m. x 2.5 m. filled to a 25 cm. depth with saturated epsom salts (Mg SO) solution having a specific gravity of 1.28 and temperature maintained at 34.5 C. The chamber was light-free and the sound level was less than 10 decibels, with further attenuation due to submersion of the ears in the solution. The general protocol consisted of 30-40 minute sessions repeated approximately every third day with a total number ranging from 4 to 20 sessions per study.
The first parameter we addressed was the subjective report of the REST experience. We utilized several indices of subjective reports including the Spielberger state anxiety scale, Zuckerman multiple affect adjective checklist (Turner & Fine, 1990a), profile of mood states (POMS) (Turner, Fine, Ewy, Sershon, & Frelich, 1989), and subjective rating scales of emotion and relaxation. All of the initial studies found marked pre-post and across-session changes indicating relaxation, an increase in positive emotion and a decrease in negative emotions. In addition, an analysis of well over 1,000 descriptions of the REST experience indicated that more than 90% of subjects found REST deeply relaxing.
Psychophysiological Effects of Flotation Rest
In choosing physiological parameters of the REST effect on relaxation, we examined the basic physiological and biochemical hormonal changes associated with stress responding. Physiological parameters measured included blood pressure (BP), muscle tension (EMG), and heart rate (HR). Hormonal parameters included both adrenal axis hormones such as ACTH, epinephrine, norepinephrine, cortisol and aldosterone, and hormones not mediating stress responding (luteinizing hormone and testosterone). Both within and across-session decreases have been observed in various hormones. Hormones directly associated with the stress response. Cortisol, ACTH and epinephrine showed decreases during REST sessions, whereas luteinizing hormone, which is not associated with the stress response, showed no change (Turner & Fine 1983). Likewise, across-session decreases were observed in adrenal-associated hormones (cortisol, aldosterone, renin activity), while a hormone unrelated to stress response (testosterone) did not shown across-session changes (Turner & Fine, 1990a). In a separate study, we examined the across-session effect on both mean cortisol values and their variability, observing a decrease in both parameters (Turner and Fine, 1991). This suggests the possibility of a resetting of the regulatory mechanism of cortisol across sessions. Furthermore, cortisol, which has received more attention than the other hormones, and Blood Pressure, have been shown to maintain the REST effect after cessation of repeated REST sessions (Turner & Fine, 1983). This phenomenon suggests that the REST effect may be more than a simple, immediately reversible response.
Interestingly, in comparing hormonal and BP changes in REST with these changes in another relaxation condition (biofeedback), REST consistently showed greater hormonal effects but similar BP effects to biofeedback assisted relaxation (McGrady, Turner, Fine, & Higgins. 1987). These results led us to consider that REST affects different mechanisms than the biofeedback (since it affected cortisol levels when other methods did not) or was simply more powerful (i.e. REST reached the threshold for cortisol change but biofeedback did not).
Clinical Applications of Flotation REST
These results provide strong support for the hypothesis that Flotation REST serves as a powerful relaxation inducer and has clinical potential in working with patients who have stress-related disorders. There have been several clinical studies that have employed REST as a treatment. The disorders treated include essential hypertension, muscle tension headache, anxiety disorders, chronic pain, psychophysiological insomnia, PMS, and rheumatoid arthritis (Fine and Turner, 1985; Rzewnicki, Alistair, Wallbaum, Steel, Suedfeld, 1990; Fine and Tumer, 1985; Goldstein and Jessen, 1990; Turner, DeLeon, Gibson, & Fine, 1993). The treatment paradigms used in these studies were similar, with REST serving as the primary method of relaxation induction and training. All of these studies demonstrated positive results from the use of REST. One of the unique effects of REST demonstrated in these studies was that chronic pain patients frequently experienced an absence of all pain during flotation, and that this spontaneous anesthesia could remain for up to several hours after the session. Unfortunately, as with many bio-behavioral treatment approaches, the large scale controlled trials have yet to be undertaken.
Flotation REST and Performance Enhancement
A separate, exciting area is the use of Flotation REST in the enhancement of human performance. Several studies, carried out primarily in the research programs of Peter Suedfeld at the University of British Columbia and Arreed Barabasz at Washington State University, have demonstrated enhancement of scientific creativity, instrument flight performance, and piano performance. Several studies of sports performance have had positive results including studies of basketball, tennis, skiing, rifle marksmanship, and dart throwing. In several of the studies the Flotation REST condition was varied with relaxation, or imagery training and always had a more powerful effect. Often, Flotation REST was used with imagery or without imagery, and no difference was, found. Flotation REST, either wet or dry, was sufficiently powerful to affect a change in performance. Barabasz suggests that because REST potentiates imagery while disrupting over learned psychological processes, the technique is especially suited not only for the acquisition of new im- proved skills but the unlearning of less adaptive ones.
Flotation Rest and Pain Management
An in depth examination of the role of Flotation REST in the management of pain can provide us with a clear picture of the psychophysiological nature of the treatment. Pain programs are generally used as a last referral resort for patients whose intractable pain has not responded to the traditional medical treatments. Biobehaviorally based pain management utilizes counseling and behavioral medicine techniques such as relaxation training, meditation. biofeedback, guided imagery, and self-hypnosis. The goals of such treatment are the development of pain avoidance skills, the establishment of routines for optimal fitness within the limitations of a disability, the reduction or elimination of pain, when possible, and/or the patients acceptance of some level of pain.
Flotation REST can have an important role at several stages of the pain management process. By reducing both muscle tension and pain in a relatively short time and without effort on the part of the patient, flotation provides a dramatic demonstration of the benefits of relaxation. Relief is immediate and, although temporary, offers promise of further relief from REST and other relaxation-based strategies. Symptom reduction gained from flotation can increase a patient's motivation and interest in the remainder of the therapy plan. Pain patients generally come into treatment feeling suspicious and skeptical, requiring a clear demonstration that they can be helped. Flotation can be the vehicle for that demonstration.
The relaxation following flotation can be used to facilitate relaxation training. In the treatment reported here, training in relaxation and other psychological pain control strategies occurred during the flotation REST sessions as well as in counseling sessions. Specially prepared audio programs introduced patients to breathing techniques, progressive muscle relaxation, autogenic training, guided imagery and hypnotic suggestions for pain reduction while they floated. Training and practice in those same techniques followed in counseling sessions and at home.
The most common etiologies of pain in this group of patients were from motor vehicle accidents, work accidents, or chronic illness. Most had endured their pain for longer than six months and had also suffered various levels of anxiety, anger, and depression. These emotional problems must be considered in the treatment of chronic pain patients. The first data are pre-post pain ratings from 16 patients who floated from one to 16 flotation sessions. Each patient reported on up to four body areas, providing a total of 253 pre-post , measures. The average percentage of relief, as measured in decrease from the pre-session value, was 31.3% for all sessions and all measures. To determine whether flotation REST provides more pain relief to some parts of the body as opposed to others, these measurements were examined by body area. Pain reduction in most body areas was close to the overall mean of 31%, except the upper back, which showed a 63.6% pain reduction, the arms which showed a 48.2% reduction, and the legs, which showed a 15.3% pain reduction. The duration of relief varied from two hours to seven days.
A second set of data came from a survey mailed to patients who had completed the program. The questionnaire asked patients to assess how much pain relief they received from the various components of the pain program (Flotation, relaxation training, and counseling) and from other treatments they had received medication (pills and shots), physical therapy, chiropractic, and surgery. Short-term pain relief, long-term pain relief, relief from anxiety or stress, and relief from depression were indicated separately. Additionally, they were asked whether each treatment improved their outlook and/or helped them cope with their pain.
All 27 respondents had received treatments other than those from this pain program: 81% had used pain medications; 56% had had some form of pain injections; 70% had received physical therapy; 59% had received chiropractic treatment; 22% had undergone surgery. These patients reported more short-term and long-term pain relief from flotation than from the other therapeutic modalities.
For non-pain symptoms, the comparisons were even more striking. Patients reported far more relief from anxiety and stress from flotation than any other modality. For depression, flotation was equal to counseling at near 70%, with relaxation training at 53% and physical therapy and medication at 20%. Patients also claimed to have reaped a variety of other benefits from flotation, reporting improvements in sleep (65%), mental concentration (77%), energy (46%), interpersonal relationships (54%), ability to work (35%), ability to cope with pain (88%), ability to cope with stress (92%), and feelings of well-being (65%) resulting from flotation REST.
In answering the question, "Did this treatment improve your outlook toward your pain?" 96% responded positively for flotation, 100% for counseling, 100% for relaxation training, 50% for physical therapy, 24% for pain pills, 17% for pain shots, 15% for chiropractic. To the question, "Did this treatment help you cope effectively with your pain?" 96% responded positively for flotation, 92% for both relaxation training and counseling, 50% for pain shots, 44% for pain injections, 38% for physical therapy, and 17% for chiropractic. It is clear that flotation was rated on average as more effective than other treatments with respect to pain, anxiety and depression relief.
Flotation REST and Chronic Illness
Summing up thus far, the data are supportive of flotation REST being useful in pain reduction, stress and tension abatement, and mood enhancement. Besides chronic pain, other patients treated at our facility were those with chronic physical illnesses, those with cancer, those with trauma to the nervous system, those with depression or bipolar mood disorder. anxiety disorders, and those suffering overwhelming stress.
Uniquely, Flotation REST provides an effortless introduction to deep mental and physical relaxation. The majority of our chronic illness patients suffered from autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, scleroderma, and Reiters syndrome. For these patients, discovering relaxation meant a dramatic reduction in symptoms, such as joint pain, headache, fatigue and depression. Several patients with lupus reported that regular flotation permitted them to reduce their dosage of prednisone while experiencing less frequency and severity of symptoms. Two patients with scleroderma reported relief from flotation. One reported relief from pain and stiffness that lasted almost a week after her third flotation session. As this patient continued she also experienced relief from her depression about the illness, a dramatic reduction in her use of steroids and other medications, a reduction in joint pain and swelling, and less frequent heartburn and headaches. After a three month course of treatment with flotation and counseling she was able to return to her job.
Flotation REST and Depression
When depression is in reaction to the circumstances of a physical injury or illness, Flotation REST can produce an immediate elevation in mood, probably due to the mood enhancing effects of deep relaxation as well as the optimism that occurs with the experience of physical relief. When depression is the primary diagnosis, flotation is best used as an adjunct to counseling and then only after the patient has gained a modicum of feeling in control. Caution is necessary in administering REST with depressed patients due to the often obsessive nature of negative thinking that will continue during the REST session. Once these patients have developed a better understanding of their disorder, flotation REST can be a mood elevator that speeds the course of therapy, especially when combined with positive guided imagery during the sessions.
REST and Applied Psychophysiology
The REST environment can be viewed, from a biofeedback perspective, as a system that enhances the connection between consciousness and physiology by reducing external information rather than amplifying internal information. We describe biofeedback as a process of amplifying and displaying information about processes that we normally do not attend to or are unable to discriminate from the wealth of informational noise always present. REST reduces environmental noise, and in a flotation environment one is able to be aware of all sorts of physiological information, (i.e. muscle tension, heart rate, etc.) that we are often not aware of in normal quiet environments.
REST is an ideal environment for the acquisition of biofeedback based learning. Many years ago Lloyd and Shurley published a paper demonstrating its effect on the acquisition of single motor unit control. Acquisition of single motor unit control was superior in the REST chamber (Lloyd & Shurley, 1976). Our investigations found the same advantage with heart rate control. Similarly Dry-REST environments might be exceptional environments for neurofeedback training. While we have learned much about REST in the last twenty years, its potential in applied psychophysiology has barely been exploited. In this age of cyberspeak, we might begin to think of expanding the clinical bandwidth of applied psychophysiology by taking another look at REST.
Fine, T.H., & Turner, J.W., Jr. (1983). The Use of Restricted Environmental Stimulation Therapy (REST) in the Treatment of Essential Hypertension, First International Conference on REST and Self-Regulation, 136-143.
Fine, T.H. & Turner, J.W., Jr. (1985). Rest-assisted relaxation and chronic pain. Health and Clinical Psychology, 4, 511-518.
Goldstein, D.D. & Jessen, W.E. (1987). Flotation Effect on Premenstrual Syndrome. Restricted Environmenntal Stimulation: Research and Commentary, 260-273.
Lilly, J.C. (1977). The deep self. New York: Simon & Schuster.
McGrady, A.V. Turner, J.W. Jr. Fine, T.H. & Higgins, J.T. (1987). Effects of biobehaviorally-assisted relaxation training on blood pressure, plasma renin, cortisol, and aldosterone levels in borderline essential hypertension. Clinical Biofeedback & Health, 10(1), 16-25.
Rzewnicki, R. Alistair, B.C. Wallbaum, Steel, H. & Suedfeld, P, (1990). REST for muscle contraction headaches: A comparison of two REST environments combined with progressive muscle relaxation training. Restricted Environmental Stimulation: Research and Commentary, 245-254.
Turner, J.W. Jr. DeLeon, A. Gibson, C. & Fine, T. (1993). Effects of Flotation REST on range of motion, grip strength and pain in rheumatoid arthritics. In A. Barabasz & M, Barabasz (Ed.), Clinical and experimental restricted environmental stimulation (pp. 297- 336). New York: Springer-Verlag.
Turner, J.W. Jr. Fine, T.H. (1983). Effects of relaxation associated with brief restricted environmental stimulation therapy (REST) on plasma cortisol, ACTH, and LH. Biofeedback and Self-Regulation, 9, 115-126.
Turner, J.W. Jr. & Fine, T.H. (1990a). Hormonal changes associated with restricted environmental stimulation therapy. In P. Suedfeld, J. Turner, & T. Fine (Eds.), Restricted environmental stimulation theoretical and empirical development in flotation REST (pp. 71-92). New York, NY: Springer-Verlag.
Turner, J.W. Jr. & Fine, T.H. (1991). Restricting environmental stimulation influences variability and levels of plasma cortisol. Journal of Applied Physiology, 70(5), 2010-2013.
Turner, J.W. Jr. Fine, T. Ewy, G. Sershon, P. & Frelich, T. (1989). The presence or absence of light during flotation restricted environmental stimulation: Effects on plasma cortisol, blood pressure and mood. Biofeedback and Self-Regulation, 14, 291-300.
Turner, J.W. Jr. Gerard, W. Hyland, J. Neilands, P. & Fine, T.H. (1993). Effects of wet and dry flotation REST on blood pressure and plasma cortisol, In A. Barabasz & M. Barabasz (Ed,), Clinical and experimental restricted environmental stimulation (pp. 239-248). New York: Springer-Verlag.
Author's address for information:
Thomas H. Fine, M.A.
Department of Psychiatry
Medical College of Ohio
Richard D. Ruppert Health Center
3120 Glendale Ave.
Toledo, OH 43614-5809
[email protected]


text:
I want my desire to be unbranded and untouched by Vodafone
Recently HTC pulled it off to be the 1st, after Google themselves, to publish Froyo (Android 2.2) shortly after it's official release for the Nexus One.
The Desire, HTC's current flagship, has proven itself to be a device well looked after by it's manufacturer. A touch of aftersales which isn't that common anymore, and which is indeed one of the things that made HTC the brand it is today.
The problem we do have is the currently Branded sets sold by Vodafone. As all the pro's mentioned in the top section, are turned into absolute shortcomings when it comes to the firmware maintained by this provider.
Not only are they not capable to keep up with the demand of the community. But, even worse, they force unwanted software onto the public. While selling their branded telephone-sets camouflaged as regular HTC Desire telephones. I myself was fooled. As the Cardboard box of the Phone I acquired via one of their many sales-points looked stock, but also the device and the installed OS didn't show any signs of branding... which I thought was a relieve. Even the sales-person in the shop, assured me that Vodafone didn't brand the device I held in my hand... which was the reason for purchasing the device in the first place.
To sum things up: Many of us have been fooled, and even more of us have been horribly misled by the last update pushed by Vodafone. In which, not only their shortcomings in regards to software development were redisplayed: But also, we were scammed to a point in which their unwanted software was pushed upon our devices... without any notification.
What we do want:
1.) Bring back the Desire to what it was: Not covered in apps and logos provided by Vodafone. That's not the product we've bought.
2.) Reprint the Cardboard boxes in order to WARN people about your branding. As this isn't transparent to anyone!
3.) Be more professional when it comes to the distribution and testing of your firmware. Or even better: Leave it to someone with experience and know-how... I.e. the OEM HTC!
With kind regards,
The Android User Community
[UPDATE! : Vodafone has announced that it will remove 360 apps/ debrand the Desire with the upcoming Android 2.2 update via OTA.]