text: Sour Mustard Green 'Phak Kard Dong' in Thai, or Gai Choy for Chinese, cooked with choice of your meat as pork, pork spare rib. Sour mustard Green also use as side dish with stewed pork leg over rice, or with traditional Thai noodles (Ka nom jean). Ingredients : Mustard, water, salt, sugar, spices, food colouring, sodium benzoate. Net Weight 10.5 oz. Product of Thailand.


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Tell your friends where you are going.
The Liaison Collaborative! - October 2021
Start Date:
Oct. 18th 2021
End Date:
Nov. 10th 2021
Starting at: 12 PM SLT
Each month, The Liaison Collaborative brings you the best in fashion, poses, home and garden – all brought together in an exclusive gathering of themed events.
With the ever-changing face of Second Life, the TLC team strives to make your shopping experience amazing and as well as cater to the creators in showing off their wonderful creations.
Our friends at: The Liaison Collaborative! - October 2021

subset: commoncrawl


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San Diego Wildfires Are Truly Frightening [VIDEO, PHOTOS]
The wildfires that have swept their way through San Diego are bad. Just how bad? See for yourself.
A resident of the city captured some intense footage of the inferno while driving.
The fires have wreaked havoc, to say the least. Eight homes, a condo facility and a pair of businesses have been ruined, while more than $20 million worth of damage has been estimates at this point.
You can see more of the fire's wrath in the photos below.


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Deep Creek Lake was constructed to provide water for the Deep Creek Hydroelectric Station. The power plant, which entered into service in 1925, and the associated lake eventually became a center for recreation and tourism in Western Maryland. The power company has retained ownership of the dam and outlet structures, while the State became the owner of the lake bed and buffer strip around the Lake in 2000. The only way for water to safely leave Deep Creek Lake is through the intake tunnel and hydroelectric plant. In 1968, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued a license for the power plant. In 1994, the FERC license was replaced by a State water appropriation permit. The current permit issued in September, 2020 by the Maryland Department of the Environment to Brookfield Power Piney & Deep Creek LLC regulates the release of water, and establishes an operating rule band to protect lake users' interests. In addition the Maryland Department of Natural Resources regulates recreational use on Deep Creek Lake.
The release of water from Deep Creek through the power plant has different impacts to different stakeholders. For the power plant it is a source of revenue, with greater revenue obtained for each release during peak electrical demands. Water releases during some years (particularly hot and dry years) result in some property owners being unable to use their boat docks during significant portions of the boating season. Downstream cold water fish benefit from the cold water releases, particularly when targeted to offset higher stream temperatures or low stream flow in the Youghiogheny River. Outfitters, recreational enthusiasts and downstream communities particularly benefit from scheduled full turbine releases for whitewater recreation during later spring and summer. The Maryland Department of the Environment's water appropriation permit attempts to balance all of these competing interests.
After receiving extensive input from the public and stakeholder representatives, and consideration of the application, the Water and Science Administration, Water Supply Program, has issued permit GA1992S009(09), effective on September 2, 2020. The Notice of Permit Decision, a Fact Sheet on Judicial Review, the Impact Analysis Summary, the Water Supply Program's response to comments received, and a copy of the Permit are linked here.
For More InformationPlease contact the Water Supply Program at firstname.lastname@example.com or 410-537-3702
We're available on the following channels.


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Study Abroad Programs in Central America
Study Abroad Programs in Central America
If embarking on tropical excursions, exploring natural wonders, and experiencing a rich and interesting culture are what you're looking for in a study abroad program, then look no further than the beautiful isthmus of Central America. For years, this small, North American subcontinent has been overlooked as a destination for tourists and students, but nowadays, it is quickly emerging as a new hotspot for travel.
Its many volcanoes, mountains, and rain forests, its miles of coastline, and its incredible historical landmarks make Central America a wonderful place for students to merge education with adventure. Every day there are more opportunities available for those looking to expand their horizons and immerse themselves in a culture totally different from their own.
Program Types
You'll have many different options when it comes to studying abroad in Central America. Whether you're constrained by time or have a specific area you'd like to study, you'll find a program you're sure to love!
Spanish Immersion Programs
If you really want to learn the language and the culture in Central America, consider a Spanish immersion program. You'll have better results in your learning, but it will definitely be more difficult. When there aren't many English speakers around, you'll have to start thinking in Spanish. Plus, you can go where ever you like -- these types of programs are all over Central America.
That said, Costa Rica is a popular destination for beginner Spanish speakers.
Ecology / Conservation Programs
Conservation and ecology programs are fantastic for students who want the opportunity to learn about the efects of globalization while making a difference. Students can help sustain environments damaged by the demands of the tourism industry and other negative impacts. If you have an interest in biodiversity and studying conservation or ecology, Central America is the perfect place to learn.
Direct Enrollment
Direct enrollment means enrolling at a Central American university like you would your home university. This will make it easier for you to gain credits toward graduating, and you can earn scholarships to help you cover the cost of tuition. Direct enrollment will take a little more planning, but it tends to be cheaper and you'll have much more control over your study abroad experience in Central America.
Service Learning Programs
Want to volunteer while learning at the same time? Then consider a service learning program. Your time will be divided between community service projects and time in the classroom. From community development to education, there's a wide variety of fields with service learning projects. Some may require a basic level of Spanish, but not all.
Summer Programs
If you don't have time for a program during the school year, don't worry! You can participate in a summer program. Often, summer programs may involve a combination of educational travel and faculty-led sessions or intensive courses at a local university or institute. Whether you focus on learning Spanish or take a few credits at one of the universities, you're sure to have a fulfilling summer.
Where to Go
Central America is the narrow strip of land that bridges the gap between the continents of North and South America. Most Central American countries boast warm, tropical climates abound with everything from mountains and volcanoes to oceans and rivers. It is home to some of the most diverse ecosystems in the world, housing more than 20,000 different species of plants and animals and accounting for more than 7% of the world's biodiversity. In fact, most of Central America is part of the Mesoamerican Biodiversity Hotspot, which spans from central Mexico down to the Panama Canal.
Major Universities in Central America
It hasn't been until recently that universities in Central American have been getting much notice. Many of these nations have struggled fiercely with poverty and insufficient access to education over the years, and many still continue to today. But as the economic and political situations of Central America have stabilized, so has the education system. Both the Universidad de Costa Rica and Universidad Nacional Costa Rica are popular and well-regarded universities. This is due, in part, to the booming tourist industry in Costa Rica and an increase in skilled labor positions.
Many foreign universities in the United States and Europe have begun offering school-sanctioned study abroad programs with universities in Central America. Check with your universities international studies or study abroad department to get more information about the available programs at your school.
Central America is an exciting place to study abroad. It offers students an opportunity to experience a fascinating new culture and surround themselves with breathtaking sights, all while enriching their academic studies. For the adventurous spirit, Central America is the ideal study abroad destination. With no lack of natural wonders and ancient ruins abound, students can embark on a journey like no other.
Planning Your Trip
What to Pack
When packing for your trip, make sure you're ready for Central America's climate. Rain jackets and warm layers are a must for those studying in higher elevations, but you'll also want to bring bugspray, sunscreen, and a bathing suit. For more details on what to bring, read the Ultimate Study Abroad Packing Guide.
The Spanish colonized much of Central America during their conquest in the 16th century. So it comes as no surprise that the predominant language spoken in Central America is Spanish. In fact, 6 out of 7 countries claim it as their official language. The exception to this is Belize, which was eventually colonized by the British and where the official language is English. You can still expect to hear Spanish in Belize, as 46% of the population speaks it as their first language. Also expect to hear bits of Kriol, an English-based Creole language with influences from various African languages, the native Miskito language, and Spanish.
Central America has a rich history of indigenous culture, as well. Dating back to the early Mayans, numerous indigenous languages have come out of this region, many of which are still spoken there today.
If you plan to study abroad in Central America, it is wise to brush up on your Spanish before your trip and/or enroll in Spanish classes once you arrive. Spanish classes in most Central American countries can be found at very reasonable prices and are well worth the time and money.
Culture and Customs in Central America
Although Central America is a technically a subcontinent of North America, its culture more closely echoes that of South America. The unique mix of European, indigenous and Afro-Caribbean traditions reflect both its native and colonial roots. Of course, the culture of all Central American countries is not exactly the same, but they do have many similarities.
Cultural customs are heavily based on the heritage of the Maya and other pre-Columbian civilizations, as well as the Spanish colonial era. Customs are often centered on religious or spiritual holidays. Central American countries are predominantly Catholic, but frequently blend aspects of Mayan and indigenous religions. It is not uncommon to see Catholic saints and Mayan gods next to one another.
In general, Central Americans are very warm and welcoming people, even upon meeting someone new. When conversing, they stand close to one another and take great interest in the family and personal life of the person their talking to. Even in a professional setting, personal conversation often takes precedent over business.
The food is similar to that of other Latin American countries. Rice, beans, and tortillas play a large role in the Central American diet. They also utilize the incredible diversity of fruits, vegetables and roots that grow in this tropical region. Typically, breakfast and lunch are the largest meals of the day, with dinner often being a light snack. In Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador, foods have been largely influenced by their Mayan and indigenous roots.
Cost of Living
Compared to the more affluent regions of the world, the cost of living in Central American nations is relatively low. Depending on which country you are looking to study in, one could expect to easily spend less than $900 USD per month (not including educational costs). Of course, this figure can vary based on how much you intend to travel or go out for meals or entertainment. If need be, it can be quite easy to live on a tight budget in Central America.
Belize is perhaps the most expensive Central American country to live in, where you can end up spending over $1,000 USD per month. The country with the lowest cost of living would be Nicaragua, where one could live quite well on around $600 USD per month. The other five nations of Central America fall somewhere in between. Always keep in mind that these figures depend heavily on your lifestyle.
Scholarships for Study in Central America
While studying in Central America may be more affordable than in many other regions of the world, studying abroad can still be expensive. Fortunately there are a multitude of scholarships available to help alleviate the financial pressure of studying overseas.
- The Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship is a great source of funding for international studies.
- Rotary is a large organization that offers scholarships for studying in various countries, including those in Central America.
- Similarly, National Security Education Program/Boren Scholarships site is another popular scholarship option.
- More Study Abroad Grants and Scholarships


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Weeknote #30
This week I have been mostly…
Attending Online Educa Berlin 2010
You can read my write up of my time in Berlin this week on my conference blog. The short version? Frustrating and expensive, but with some elements I enjoyed. It's the system, not the people, that's the problem. I've got an allegory in mind that I need to work on that I think highlights some of the ridiculousness.
Pondering the temporary, fragile nature of things
Almost everyone has had, at some point, the experience of an airline losing their luggage. And if you haven't, your time will come! What it did for me this week, coupled with having to rely on hotel lobby wifi for connectivity and reading Three Cups of Tea, is force me to realise how much of my continued successful existence is built upon systems. These systems are oiled with money in a way that poses little problem for those inside the system playing the game, but huge barriers to entry for those outside the system.
A bit disappointed with myself
Although sometimes not completely consciously, I've allowed myself to be dragged into the subtle swamp of self-aggrandisement this week. I've concentrated on the journey instead of the destination and the surface of the water without realising it was a puddle. It's time to re-energise, re-think and re-focus.


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Kate Everts, Vegetable Pathologist, University of Delaware and University of Maryland; email@example.com
I have received several questions about timber rot caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, leaf mold caused by Fulvia fulva, and gray mold caused by Botrytis cinerea over the past week for greenhouse and high tunnel tomatoes in Maryland and Delaware.
Timber rot is common where tomatoes (or another susceptible host) have been planted in ground beds in the past. The fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum causes disease on hundreds of plant species. Therefore rotation is difficult. Even when a high tunnel is moved between seasons, the disease can be severe because the fungus overwinters both in and around the tunnels. Usually the primary source of inoculum is outside of a high tunnel. In the spring when the soil is moist, the fungal fruiting bodies emerge and spores (ascospores) are released. These ascospores will be released continually throughout the spring and are carried on wind into the doors or raised sides of nearby high tunnels. Ascospores are usually carried or dispersed less than 330 feet. Therefore it is important to use sanitation within 330 feet of a high tunnel. No plants, leaf clippings, potting mix, or soil from the tunnels should be discarded within this area.
There are some practices that will help reduce timber rot pressure, such as minimizing the length of time that the soil stays wet. The biocontrol, Contans has been effective in managing Sclerotinia diseases in the field. Contans, which is a formulation of the fungus Coniothyrium minitans, parasitizes the survival structures of S. sclerotiorum. If it is sprayed on the area around the high tunnel and watered into the soil, it may help reduce ascospore formation in future years. Because the product is a live organism, it must be handled carefully to preserve its effectiveness. Contans would be a good choice for fields or areas around high tunnels, which are used repeatedly for a susceptible crop. See the Contans label for additional information. Other products labeled for Sclerotinia timber rot are Endura, which is labeled for field use, and Botran, which is labeled for greenhouse use.
Leaf mold and gray mold are both favored by high humidity and therefore improving air flow can reduce the extent of disease spread. There are several fungicides that are labeled for greenhouse use that will help reduce disease. These include Scala for leaf mold, Mycostop and Decree for suppressing gray mold, mancozeb products such as Dithane F-45, and copper. In addition to timber rot, Botran has activity on gray mold.


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Apps mainly consist of two things: the user interface and the visual layout. When you make apps using certain app creation software, be sure to make and run the app via an emulator that enables testing your app without having an actual device besides yourself. That said, let's "swipe" through the various steps behind making the next ground-breaking mobile application.
Some statistics
A research conducted by comScore shows that the majority of U.S. consumers spend their hard earned money on digital entertainment apps, comparing last years' 52 percent versus this years' 60 percent goods spent on the entertainment industry. The same report also shows the smartphone user on average downloads up to three apps per one month, which is incidentally quite staggering. But the numbers come in as a surprise, for nearly the first 7 percent of users make nearly half the downloads when it comes to apps made by an app creation software, or independent developers. It's also interesting how users get more and more addicted to their own computer programs with every passing year, which closely resembles a future where the movie "Her" will become, well, the real future. Also, you can download the whitepaper data if you desire to do so, by heading out to the official site, or choose to spend your precious time more wisely and make an app with Appsbar instead.
The present of apps
Slowly but surely, mobile application software has taken control over the world of media and free speech, offering more than the classic one-way reporting as seen in today's mass media, mostly television news. Apps top even older entertainment products, like movies, music and books in all formats, with the distribution service often stretching far beyond the initial projected reach. Let's take app creation software as an example: the same is available at any given place where app devices are also available, in turn meaning that the availability now becomes even more widespread than before.
The future of apps
In most ways, apps represent the future of entertainment, and business for that matter, in spite being a media constituent most of the times. The apps are also taking control over the e-book phenomena, with most selling books being full mobile applications, and not just your regular black & white words onto paper. Similar paradigm comes from Appsbar, which is currently the best at what it does, i.e. mobile apps for free. And there you have it, the future of mobile apps.
Next in the world of apps
Being the witnesses of the near future and technological progress, what's up in the long run? Well, for starters, we can expect app creation software boom in the entertainment industry, as well as every other major industry that's in one way or another connected with electricity, so basically all life as we know it. With the restrictions traditional media is imposing these days, the far future may become the present, and the masses will make every detail count as we approach future times, e-banking and everything. So, the next time you cross the street, remember those traffic lights as being controlled by what was previously incepted as mobile apps, in your town, in front of your doorstep.
A conclusion
Whatever we tell you the conclusion is, you can accept it, or choose to ignore it and made up your own reality, but the truth is – you cannot escape from the world of mobile applications and app creation software, one of them being Appsbar. So hurry up folks, and make your app as soon as possible, for another one may realize your dream before you do.


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This October beauty companies across the world are launching bold campaigns to bring awareness to breast cancer. Check out these amazing new products and help support this fantastic cause!
Arcona is introducing a limited editon pink version of their Magic White Ice; they are calling it Magic Pink Ice! This lightweight daily hydrating gel moisturizes without clogging the pores and keeps the skin fresh and glowing. For each bottle sold two dollars will go to support Cancer and Careers!
Thierry Mugler will be donating all the proceeds from the sale of the Womanity Bath and Body Collection to benefit Look Good Feel Better, a free support group that helps people with cancer improve their appearance and self-esteem so that they can manage their treatment and recovery with greater confidence. The collection includes perfumed shower gel, body milk, and body cream.
Lauren Merkin is partnering with the Young Survival Coalition to support Breast Cancer Awareness and together they have designed an exclusive edition of their popular Diana clutch. The clutch is made from a pink studded lambskin with Swarovski crystals and could not be more stunning! Fifty percent of the proceeds from this bag will be donated to the YSC, a group that works with cancer survivors and communities to help increase the quality of life for young women diagnosed with breast cancer.
Polo Ralph Lauren will mark the 10th anniversary of the Pink Pony, the company's global enterprise to raise awareness and fund in support of breast cancer. To kickoff the awareness campaign Polo Ralph Lauren will announce the first global Pink Pony Online Auction partnering with charitybuzz. The auction with showcase over two hundred unique items and experiences, and one hundred percent of the proceeds will go to the Pink Pony Fund of Polo Ralph Lauren. They will also be selling limited edition luxury pieces such as an alligator Ricky handbag, an alligator Cooper Check Book Wallet, an alligator cuff with Cooper Lock, and the Ralph Lauren Stirrup Timepiece, also benefiting the Pink Pony Fund. Also being launched this month is the "Text to Give" campaign that will allow everyone to join this worldwide initiative; by texting PINKPNY to 501501, ten dollars with be donated to benefit the Pink Pony Fund.
Tory Burch is definitely doing her part to help find a cure this month by donating fifteen percent from every purchase of her limited edition umbrella and rain boots. These fun accessories are so bright and delightful, the perfect thing for the start of fall!
The Amazingly Gentle Scrub is an extremely mellow exfoliant that purifies and moisturizes all areas of the body, ideal for those rough hands, elbows, and feet. Therapy Systems will donate twenty percent of the product's net profits to the Tennessee Breast Cancer Coalition, a non profit that works towards increasing breast cancer awareness in Tennessee.
The Pink Pro Brushes are absolutely adorable, not to mention super convenient! They fit into all makeup bags and come in a series of shapes and styles for all your makeup needs. The flat edged Pro Liner is perfect for highlighting along the lash line. The Pro Detailer can be used for precise touch ups. The Pro Blush is the classic blush brush, necessary for providing that natural flush. The Pro Brow Groomer is great for keeping unruly brows in check! Twenty percent of the net proceeds with also go to the Tennessee Breast Cancer Coalition.
This Red Carpet Primer by EmerginC allows you to be red carpet ready every day of the year. It keeps the skin hydrated with Vitamin C, reduces the appearance of fine lines, and is a flawless base for any type of make-up. Twenty percent of the sales of this item will go to Living Beyond Breast Cancer, a national non-profit that aids those affected by the disease.
The Estée Lauder Company's 2010 Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign is launching a sensational campaign theme entitled: Connect. Communicate. Conquer. Prevent Breast Cancer. One Woman at a Time. Wear It. Share It. The Pink Ribbon. To raise money for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, Estée Lauder brands will be selling twenty incredible products this October covering all beauty categories such as skin care, makeup, fragrance and hair care. It will include products from brands like La Mer, Bobbi Brown, Clinique, Jo Malone, Aveda, Bumble + Bumble, Lab Series, Origins and many more. We chose to highlight just a few:
Aveda Hand Relief is a fabulously rich moisturizer that soothes dry hands, leaving them softer and smoother. After each use they visibly diminish signs of aging and provide optimal relief. Their limited edition tube features the pink ribbon design.
This exclusive Pink Shimmer Brick Compact by Bobbi Brown is deliciously alluring. Hand-made in Italy, each compact contains five blocks of radiant color, perfect for creating a fresh pink glow.
Bumble and Bumble Spray De Mode Hairspray is the perfect styling tool for all hair types. It is versatile and strong, with the ability to take added heat and repeated brushing.
In honor of Breast cancer awareness month, Clinique is selling a limited edition bottle of its Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion. This year's bottle features a collectible Clinique key ring with a Clinique "C" charm and pink ribbon heart charm.
Clinique will also be releasing a limited edition lip trio key ring, including the Clinique "C" charm, the pink heart ribbon charm and three mini lip must-haves: Superbalm Moisturizing Gloss in Grapefruit, Different Lipstick in Glazed Berry, and Long Last Glosswear SPF 15 in Clearly Pink. Super dazzling and extra portable, this key ring is just the thing for on the go touch ups.
Gentle, non-irritating, silky smooth. What could be better? Darphin's Intral Soothing Cream is perfect for skin that is easily irritated and super sensitive. It protects against harmful environmental agents and replenishes the skin with essential moisture.
-Claire Schmidt
Subscribe to Fashion Pulse Daily's Newsletter


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- Popular for lighter riders up to 90kg, the Drive offers a narrower outline for efficient glide and improved tracking as the rider can hold the paddle closer to the board.
- We use inverted EVA deck pads to avoid waste, thus every second board will have a reverse color combination from what is featured.
- Available in Zen and Deluxe Technologies.
Lightest Technology
All the layers are fused in a single, glue-less process.
Stiffest Technology
The rails are reinforced by a 3k Carbon laminated apex band.
Cleanest Technology
The lamination process is free of glue and solvent using stricter rules in plasticizer. Packing of the board is free of plastic.
Faster board inflation, with less effort.
The benchmark V8 flow valve gets you to 15–18 PSI faster and with less effort.
Added Features:
• Neoprene paddle holder and carry strap on the tail.
• Center board carry handle.
• Integrated towing D-ring on bottom of the nose.
• Leash ring on the deck at the tail.
• 3mm square groove EVA deck pad with croc skin texture.
• FCS II SUP Touring 9" fin included on Racers,
Deluxe Touring, Atlas, Blend and all Serenity models.
• FCS II Connect 8" fin included on Whopper, Wide Point,
Drive and Explorer.
• Supplied with Magic Suit Case and Double Action pump.
*Recommended to inflate boards between 15-18 PSI for optimum stiffness and performance.


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WASHINGTON – Americans are buying more homes in every region of the country, the latest indication that the housing market could be on the mend.
An increasing portion of those sales are from first-time buyers, who are critical to a housing recovery.
Sales of previously occupied rose 3.4 percent in April from March to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.62 million, the National Association of Realtors said Tuesday. That nearly matches January's pace of 4.63 million — the best in two years. It is still well below the nearly 6 million that most economists equate with healthy markets.
A pickup in hiring and cheaper mortgages, combined with lower home prices in most markets, has made home buying more attractive. While many economists acknowledged that the market has a long way to go, most said the April sales report was encouraging.
"The trend in sales is upward, and we think it has a good deal further to go over the next few months as payrolls pick up further and mortgage availability improves," said Ian Shepherdson, chief U.S. economist for High Frequency Economics.
Sales rose last month from March in all regions of the country. They increased 5.1 percent rise in the Northeast, 3.5 percent in the South, 4.4 percent in the West and 1 percent in the Midwest.
And more first-time buyers entered the market. In April, they made up 35 percent of sales. That's up from 32 percent in March.
"First-time homebuyers are slowly making their way back," said Jennifer Lee, an economist at BMO Capital Markets. "That is still below the 40 percent-to-45 percent range during healthy times, but the highest in almost half a year."
The report measures completed sales. A sale typically closes a month or two after a buyer signs a contract to buy a home. But a growing number of buyers in recent months have been investors who pay cash, which speeds up the process.
The number of buyers who signed contracts to buy homes in April rose to the highest level since April 2010, when buyers could qualify for a federal home-buying tax credit.
The increase suggests sales could keep rising in May and June.
"People believe that interest rates are as low as they are going to get and that prices have hit rock bottom. So they are getting off the fence," said Tony Geraci, the owner of Century21 Homestar, a real estate firm in Cleveland.
Geraci said sales at his firm are up about 15 percent over last year. He credited that to a milder winter this year, better housing conditions and an improving economy.
Homes at risk of foreclosure accounted for 28 percent of sales last month. That's roughly in line with March sales but down from 37 percent of sales in April 2011.
The decrease in foreclosures helped boost the year-over-year median sales price in April. It rose to $177,400, which is 10.1 percent higher from the same month last year.
Rising home sales is the latest sign that the market could be starting to turn around nearly five years after the housing bubble burst.
Builders are more confident and are starting to builder more homes. Mortgage rates have never been cheaper. And the job market is improving, which has made more people open to buying a home.
Employers have added 1 million jobs in the past five months. And unemployment has dropped a full percentage point since August, from 9.1 percent to 8.1 percent in April.
Still, many would-be buyers are having difficulty qualifying for home loans or can't afford the larger down payments being required by banks.
Even some would-be home buyers are holding off because they fear that home prices could keep falling.
Previously occupied homes represent 80 percent of the overall home market.
Builders have grown more confident since last fall, in part because more people have expressed an interest in buying a home. In May, builder optimism rose to the highest level in five years, according to the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo builder sentiment index.
Last week, the Commerce Department reported that builders started work on more homes and apartments in April, pushing housing construction to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 717,000 homes. That was near a rate of 720,000 homes and apartments being built in January, which had been a three-year high. But even with the recent strength, housing starts remains at roughly half the pace that economists consider healthy.
Many economists believe that 2012 could be the year that housing finally makes a positive contribution to overall economic growth. That hasn't happened since 2005, shortly before the housing boom went bust.


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A private landholder will today, Wednesday 18 June, 2014, weather permitting, conduct an agricultural burn at Lanyon Homestead, Tharwa Drive, Tharwa.
The burn of piles of vegetation is expected to continue through the day.
Temporary smoke cover may occur.
The Health Directorate advises that people with asthma, other chronic respiratory and/or chronic cardiac diseases should not perform vigorous exercise and should stay inside if affected by the smoke. People with asthma in particular should continue their medication and consult their general practitioner if they have any difficulties.
(ESA Media Release)


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In a move I didn't see coming, though I'm pleased it did, the district attorney has referred the almost 31-year-old investigation of Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka's role in Nancy Argentino's death to the Lehigh County (Pennsylvania) grand jury. This latest development in the long-dormant cold case — I call it pro wrestling's Chappaquiddick because Snuka's lack of accountability so closely parallels Ted Kennedy's — made international news. On Thursday I spoke at length with a producer for a network television news magazine program.
Before analyzing what might happen next, let me first remind everyone that grand jury proceedings are secret. The following is not based on any inside information. Like all of you, I don't know what actually will happen next.
Also, my views here probably don't perfectly overlap those of Nancy Argentino's sisters Louise and Lorraine, whose work with me on a 30th anniversary ebook about the case — along with excellent fresh reporting by the Allentown Morning Call — was so instrumental in upgrading "justice denied" to "justice delayed."
But, really, how could anyone else feel exactly the way the family does? None of us has "walked two moons," much less three decades, in Louise and Lorraine's moccasins. We didn't get blown off by the authorities after a loved one was taken from us under circumstances far less ambiguous than their original public pronouncements claimed. We didn't watch Snuka walk away, without ever paying a dime, from a $500,000 default judgment against him in a civil case. (At the time of the 1983 incident, Snuka was at the peak of his earning power. Girlfriend Nancy more or less expired, in the motel room they were sharing, while Snuka was off performing at the then-WWF syndicated TV taping in Allentown.)
Now that district attorney James Martin has implicitly acknowledged the flaws in the original investigation coordinated by predecessor William Platt (today a senior judge in the Pennsylvania court system), what's to be done? I have a theory.
There is no statute of limitations for first- or second-degree murder or voluntary manslaughter. However, there is a statute of limitations for involuntary manslaughter, and it has expired here. And a finding of involuntary manslaughter would be completely consistent with all that is known about the fatal Snuka-Argentino incident.
Snuka's meandering story about Nancy supposedly taking a unilateral spill when they stopped for her to urinate along the roadside on the way to Allentown is an insult to the intelligence. It's not even a story, but multiple stories, given the failure of Snuka for 31 years to tell it with the same fundamental details twice in a row. The latest versions were in his 2012 autobiography, which were followed by still additional contradictions in promotional radio interviews, during which ghostwriters and handlers held his hand and tripped over themselves to help fill in the Superfly's own obvious and painful gaps in testimony. (The Snuka book infuriated the Argentino sisters and catalyzed recent developments.)
What remains is circumstantial evidence without reasonable doubt. The only serious question is the degrees of agency for the fall in which Nancy struck her head against a blunt and stationary object, either on the roadside or, much more likely, in Room 427 of the George Washington Motor Lodge in Whitehall.
From the police incident four months earlier at the Howard Johnson's motel in Elmira, New York, we can glean that Snuka and Nancy had a stormy, violent relationship. Most would conclude that she was a battered woman. If you prefer, conclude that she was an active participant in a wild 1980s road party scene, full of alcohol and cocaine and other drugs. But even if Nancy made a poor choice of a companion, and poorer choices in her activities with him, there is no legal or moral standard by which she deserved to pay for them with her life, as a result of a discrete episode putting her on the receiving end of violence on the part of a 235-pound professional athlete.
The softest plausible explanation is that Snuka shoved the 23-year-old woman more forcefully than he intended, with tragic consequences. That would be classic involuntary manslaughter.
Would justice, in the largest possible sense, be served by trying a 71-year-old man for a 31-year-old case (assuming the grand jury might proceed to find voluntary rather than involuntary manslaughter)? I am sympathetic to the argument that, sans prosecution, Snuka has paid a heavy and direct price in the last year, even if he never did before. For one thing, the story by Randy Miller, then of the South Jersey Courier-Post (for which Snuka first agreed to an interview but then reneged), has raised awareness in Snuka's own current home community of this awful and covered-up incident from his past. He has suffered well-deserved reputational damage, and his few remaining opportunities for commercial exploitation of his wrestling fame have dwindled.
A grand jury finding that there are grounds for prosecuting Snuka only for involuntary manslaughter — a process barred by the statute of limitations — would serve the function of providing some closure while also amounting to a way out of this mess for the district attorney.
It is that mess — the accountability of law enforcement officials — that matters more to me at this point than watching Superfly Snuka continue to twist in the wind. In chronological order, the public needs to know what informed the decision not to indict in 1983, and why Whitehall police detective Gerry Procanyn (now an investigator in the district attorney's office) lied to me about Snuka's credibility and consistency when I made a 1992 reporting trip to Allentown. (To me, Procanyn not only stated his confidence in Snuka's peed-by-the-road scenario, but also promoted the blatant falsehood that that was his only explanation, when there were actually many contradictory accounts — to the hospital staff who attended to Nancy, and to the police themselves and Procanyn personally.)
Snuka's autobiography recounted the rearrival of Vince McMahon in Allentown in 1983, and the promoter carrying a "briefcase" into a climactic meeting with authorities. In a 2008 email to me, mostly about Chris Benoit and other matters, WWE lawyer Jerry McDevitt complained about my reporting others' recollections of McMahon's role during the police investigation, and specifically his acting as a mouthpiece for the mostly silent Snuka. McDevitt called it "an odious lie" to "insinuate" anything from that. In light of this week's grand jury news, objective observers would have to agree that McDevitt's choice of words was carny bluster, rather than careful argument.
Whatever happens from here, one consequence is rising awareness of domestic violence — a very good thing. SLAM! Wrestling readers are invited to order my ebook collaboration with the Argentinos, JUSTICE DENIED: The Untold Story of Nancy Argentino's Death in Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka's Motel Room, available for $2.99 on Amazon Kindle. Those of you without Kindle-compatible devices can get a PDF copy on email with a $2.99 payment, through PayPal, to from direct email PDF orders, also available for $2.99 payment via PayPal to email@example.com. One hundred percent of the proceeds benefit the My Sisters' Place women's shelter and resource center in Westchester County, New York.
The larger lessons of this case are not confined to Jimmy Snuka or pro wrestling. We have confirmation of the devaluing of non-celebrity life, throughout sports culture, in the ESPN commentator job of retired football star Ray Lewis, who paid a six-figure civil settlement after deceiving police in his arguable accessory role in a murder.
We have special confirmation of shabby and backward attitudes toward women in the rape allegations against Jameis Winston (whose investigation was an inconvenient pit stop en route to the Heisman Trophy award ceremony) and Notre Dame and University of Missouri football players (whose alleged victims would commit suicide).
Getting to the root of this issue is one of the goals of my current investigative journalism, in collaboration with Tim Joyce, on the Catholic Church-level problem of youth coach sex abuse in USA Swimming — now the subject of probes by Congress and other federal agencies.
- Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka story archive
- Revisiting Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka and the death of Nancy Argentino
- Irv Muchnick's CONCUSSION INC. website
- Irv Muchnick on Twitter: @irvmuch
Visit Amazon
Last year SLAM! Wrestling republished Irvin Muchnick's original 1992 article on the Snuka-Argentino case: Revisiting Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka and the death of Nancy Argentino. Complete chronological links to Muchnick's coverage of the Snuka case are at concussioninc.net/?p=8577.


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Each year, eWEEK Labs singles out the products that stood out in our testing in the past 12 months. We focus on the offerings that had the biggest impact in their spaces and that did the most to move enterprise technology forward.
Product of the Year: Apple iPad
It was the hottest thing in computing since the original Apple Macintosh. It was an evergreen topic of conversation, from its unveiling in the first week of January 2010 to holiday dinners at year's end. It is already changing the landscape of mobile computing and inspiring numerous imitators.
It, as you may have guessed, is the Apple iPad. It is our Product of the Year.
Although this first iPad model has been the butt of jokes about being "the iPod Touch that doesn't fit in a pocket," it feels polished and even mature. Apple, realizing that simply scaling up an iPhone wouldn't do, has instead turned the tablet market on its ear.
We've kicked the tires on a number of tablet concepts; many of these used a Windows variant for tablets, but despite a commanding lead in the field, Microsoft and its allied system builders could never figure out how to make tablets attractive to businesses and consumers, beyond some niche use cases.
But Apple has this sort of thing in its DNA: Its customers confirm that good physical design and an instinctual user interface are what attract them to the Mac, then to the iPod, to the iPhone and now to the iPad. The handful of things that Apple can do better in the next iPad are actually pretty simple: Adding built-in cameras, replacing the now-blocky screen with a larger version of the iPhone 4's Retina display and giving customers a choice of carrier for mobile data services all come to mind.
Compared with what competitors must do to catch up with the original iPad, to say nothing of the forthcoming iPad 2, Apple's challenges are more about keeping momentum than gaining it. Even though Apple will lose its lock on the tablet market in 2011, cheap tablets won't make many inroads among the company's target customers, and Apple's leverage in the mobile market sets it-and the iPad-apart from everyone else in this game.
Cisco CleanAir
Cisco CleanAir, a spectrum analysis feature set comprising recent-generation Aironet 3500 series access points and Version 7.x Unified Wireless Network software on the APs and Wireless LAN Controllers, delivers outstanding RF (radio frequency) reporting, tracking and assessment capabilities to help wireless administrators build robust wireless networks to host mission-critical applications and dense endpoint deployments.
I gave Cisco and CleanAir eWEEK's Analyst's Choice award when I reviewed the products back in August, as I was blown away by CleanAir's interferer detection and fingerprinting, as well as the network's automated self-healing capabilities and the integration with Cisco's desktop RF analysis software. But I was most impressed with CleanAir's ability to distill the findings into an understandable and actionable framework, allowing wireless administrators and senior executives alike to get a better understanding of the deleterious effects of radio interference without requiring them to get lost in the weeds of spectrograms, fast Fourier diagrams and the like. Unless they want to.
One can certainly argue the value of Cisco CleanAir, given the massive hardware upgrade requirements needed both at the network edge and in the network core, as CleanAir requires deploying brand new Cisco APs and it really needs a Mobility Services Engine at the network core to provide optimal functionality. Indeed, integrated (albeit excellent) spectrum analysis probably should not be at the top of the feature wish list when considering a new WiFi solution, as questions of network architecture, airtime fairness and client density should be paramount.
Despite all that, CleanAir is one of the best conceived and best executed wireless LAN features I've seen in years, and Cisco deserves commendation for leveraging its acquired Cognio technology in such a thoughtful and groundbreaking way.
Cisco FabricPath; Office for Mac
Cisco FabricPath
In 2010 Cisco turned on yet another new feature in the Nexus 7000 platform that basically eliminates the ancient and universally deployed spanning tree protocol from network designs, thus enabling much larger Layer 2 networking domains within the data center. The FabricPath Switching System is the foundation of a push by Cisco to combine NX-OS software features with the hardware capabilities of the Nexus 7000 F1 series module to build the next generation of high-performance network systems.
Make no mistake, unlike incremental feature changes Cisco previously released for the Nexus 7000 platform including OTV (Overlay Transport Virtualization), FabricPath is a much bigger jump up in terms of bandwidth, network performance and virtualization feature support. At the same time, Cisco went out of its way to ensure that FabricPath-enabled Nexus devices and software features wouldn't interfere with existing network implementations. Thus, while FabricPath is a radical departure from network designs built around the spanning tree protocol, it should be on the "evaluate now" track for large data center managers.
When used together, FabricPath-enabled modules will benefit organizations that want to implement workload mobility such as VMware vMotion in a much larger resource pool, while also gaining significant bandwidth and N+1 redundancy and fast network convergence after a link failure.
I did not test this particular feature but saw it play out in Cisco-related reviews that I wrote in 2010. During prerelease conversations with Cisco engineers that included a demonstration of the first-generation release, I noticed the performance numbers were pretty astounding. FabricPath-enabled modules use active-active links between devices-losing the line blocking that spanning tree required-and instead use ECMP (equal-cost multipath) to direct traffic.
Taking on the legacy limitations of spanning tree earned FabricPath a place among the best products of 2010.
Microsoft Office for Mac
Microsoft Office for Mac took a wrong turn with the 2008 release. I remember looking at that version of MacOffice and deciding that I was going to live without it. I don't regret my choice, and my inner 3-year-old's temper tantrum was rewarded this year, when the company released Office for Mac 2011, with a Mac version of Outlook and the return of VBA (Visual Basic for Applications) support to Apple desktops and notebooks.
The core applications of the suite-Excel, PowerPoint and Word-are almost completely gotcha-free when it comes to sharing files with colleagues who use Office for Windows, and are such solid tools at this stage of their maturity that Microsoft will have to do something pretty spectacular in the next release. Outlook still needs some work in areas such as mailbox import and export, but it's a vast improvement on the Entourage mail client from preceding releases of Office for Mac.
Although Office for Mac is supposed to take its feature cues from the Windows release, Office 2011 went beyond that boundary to take advantage of some of the Mac platform's 3D visualization tools and media support functions. Perhaps the most notable of these are the 3D layer views of PowerPoint slides and Word documents, but the developers on Microsoft's Mac team outdid themselves in a number of areas by understanding the Mac interface and leveraging it rather than imposing their will upon it.
PowerPivot; RHEL 6
Microsoft PowerPivot
One of my favorite products of the year was Microsoft's free add-in for Excel 2010, PowerPivot. The tool, which adds a new sort of spreadsheet option to Excel, first grabbed my attention for the way it enables users to work with much larger sets of data than is possible with Excel alone. In one case, I used PowerPivot to load and browse through a data set that ran 3.9 million rows-about four times Excel's existing upper limit-and I had no more trouble scrolling around in the set than I would with a spreadsheet of only several hundred rows.
Typically, bumping up against the row limitations of your spreadsheet application indicates that a database is probably a better tool for the job. But PowerPivot provides users with a great way to take care of business without surrendering the familiarity of their favored tool. I used the product to tap data in Access databases, in flat files and in MySQL databases, through an ODBC driver, and in all cases the tool performed excellently.
What's more, the tool's SharePoint integration element gives users an easy way to share their work with others in their organizations.
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
Linux and open-source software is looming larger than ever in the enterprise space, and no product casts a longer shadow in these quarters than Red Hat Enterprise Linux. Whether it's consumed directly from Red Hat or in the form of one of its downstream incarnations, such as the freely available CentOS or Oracle's Unbreakable Linux, the innovations and enhancements that go into RHEL have a major impact on the IT world.
RHEL 6, which began shipping last month, stands out for its core improvements around scalability, resource management and virtualization, highlighting Linux features such as Control Groups and the KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) capabilities now baked into the kernel.
What's more, the system ships with a slate of updated open-source software components that stand to make life easier for developers and system administrators who wish to take advantage of recent features without leaving Red Hat's support and certification umbrella to do so. And even for those operating outside of Red Hat's service umbrella, the 10-year support term that Red Hat has pledged for RHEL-and the nature of open-source licensing-offers a strong assurance that products and projects can count on these components for some time to come.
Rove Mobile Admin; Chatter; VMware View
Rove Mobile Admin
Rove Mobile Admin proved to be an excellent way for data center administrators to extend enterprise network oversight and controls outside of the office, providing a mobile presentation layer for various enterprise applications and systems that can be accessed via most popular modern smartphone operating systems. The Mobile Admin presentation layer is enabled by a middleware server brokering connections from mobile devices on one side, while on the other side accessing the native APIs and instrumentations used by a variety of enterprise systems.
In my May review of Mobile Admin 5.1 Professional, I was impressed by the integrations provided to remotely manage our VMware vSphere and Hyper-V virtual infrastructure stacks, as well as our Microsoft Exchange and BlackBerry Enterprise Server implementations. On the client side at that time, Rove worked great with Windows Mobile, Apple iPhone and BlackBerry devices.
In the months since that review, Rove has updated Mobile Admin to Version 6.0, adding support for CA Service Desk Manager in addition to the already existing support for management and alerting platforms such as Nagios, BMC Remedy and Microsoft System Center Operations Manager. Version 6.0 also adds a dashboard that aggregates alarms and notifications from all of those management systems. And on the client side, Rove now counts Android among the supported mobile operating systems.
Rove offers a few versions of Mobile Admin. The aforementioned Professional ($595 per user) lights up connectivity to all Rove-supported enterprise servers and platforms, while Professional Plus ($795 per user) adds access to the management dashboard. Basics, which costs $295 per user account, offers remote access via SSH (Secure Shell) and RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol), plus various Microsoft server management and monitoring capabilities such as access to event log or File Explorer, or to reboot machines or restart services.
Lastly, Rove now offers single application-specific licenses via Rove Gateway + Apps, which allow a single user to manage either Windows event logs, virtual infrastructures or Exchange servers from an iPhone or iPad, with licenses ranging from free to $40 each.
Salesforce Chatter
At the beginning of 2010, I talked about the importance and difficulties of maintaining a personal and corporate identity online. Many of my concerns were addressed when Salesforce.com in the Winter '11 release of its Chatter social media tool included the ability to filter the Chatter stream according to groups, opportunities and cases while also adding Facebook-like recommendations for people and groups to follow in the social media platform. And in a nod to knowledge workers who may not be up on how to use social media, a newly minted "What to do Next" box has now appeared prominently at the top right of the Chatter screen.
In my test use of the Chatter, which is included in the Winter '11 release of all Salesforce.com editions, it became clear that Chatter fulfills my requirements for a business-class communication tool that can be securely and reliably used to promote social interaction without losing control of the business opportunities that are the subject of conversation. Winter '11 was released to Salesforce.com customers on Oct. 22. The feature is available at no extra subscription charge for all editions. Organizations can add Chatter-only users for $15 per month per user.
Advances made during 2010 to Chatter set the stage for enterprise-class social collaboration.
VMware View 4.5
Virtual desktop infrastructure products have a harder row to hoe when compared with their server counterparts. VMware View 4.5, however, stepped up in September with enterprise features that enable local mode and workload customization features for $250 per concurrent user. The View Enterprise regular edition without local mode costs $150 per concurrent user.
While VMware View 4 played with a feature that was called "Offline Desktop," View 4.5 fully embraces disconnected desktop operation through what is now called Local Mode. I was able to install a VMware View Client with Local Mode on a laptop, and log on and check out a virtual machine that I was then able to use while disconnected from the View infrastructure. This new local mode makes it possible for employees to take their work on the road while still enabling IT to have control over the desktop configuration.
I'm recognizing VMware View 4.5 as a "best of" product in 2010, but I expect even more progress in the coming year. Among other factors, license costs need to continue their downward trend to bring overall acquisition costs below those associated with traditional desktop systems. This is true for desktop virtualization tools in general, including those from Microsoft and Citrix. In part this is because desktop virtualization still requires some type of physical host and, in the case of local mode systems, a physical host that is already encumbered with an operating system license and associated maintenance costs.
Desktop virtualization tools in general, as foreshadowed in VMware View 4.5, are poised to handle workloads including full motion video and telephony applications. VMware uses the PCoIP protocol and special hardware to handle intense graphics workloads. Regardless of any future trajectory, VMware View 4.5 showed that it is possible to operate a secure, manageable and scalable virtual desktop infrastructure in 2010.


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ldapscripts(5) | File Formats Manual | ldapscripts(5) |
ldapscripts - Scripts to manage POSIX accounts in your LDAP directory.
The ldapscripts are a set of shell (sh) scripts designed to manage POSIX accounts in an OpenLDAP directory. They can be used as standalone tools or within Samba 3.x's smb.conf file.
The main requirements are the OpenLDAP client tools (ldapadd, ldapsearch, ldapdelete, ...). Other commands are called in the scripts but should come with your OS (sed, grep, cut, ...).
The main configuration of the ldapscripts is usually the file /etc/ldapscripts/ldapscripts.conf (or /usr/local/etc/ldapscripts/ldapscripts.conf, depending on your system). Modify it to fit your needs before using the scripts. You can override that default path by defining the LDAPSCRIPTS_CONF environment variable.
Each script also uses a "runtime" file, usually /usr/lib/ldapscripts/runtime (or /usr/local/lib/ldapscripts/runtime). You don't need to modify this file.
Each script that adds information to the directory uses a template. Templates are directly embedded at the end of the scripts but it is also possible to use external template files (see GTEMPLATE, UTEMPLATE and MTEMPLATE variables in the configuration file). Each template consists of a preformatted LDIF file using special keywords that will be replaced on-the-fly. Sample files are provided for your convenience : ldapaddgroup.template.sample, ldapadduser.template.sample and ldapaddmachine.template.sample. It is strongly advised to use those files instead of modifying the embedded (default) templates in the scripts.
Sample templates include every keyword you can use. One special additional keyword is the <ask> keyword that will trigger user input to get the attribute value interactively.
Each script can be used as a standard command-line tool. Check their man pages to get help.
USING WITH SAMBA 3.x¶
Each Samba 3.x smb.conf "xxx script" option has a matching script. Modify you smb.conf file this way to call them :
# [...] add machine script = /usr/local/sbin/ldapaddmachine '%u' sambamachines add user script = /usr/local/sbin/ldapadduser '%u' sambausers add group script = /usr/local/sbin/ldapaddgroup '%g' add user to group script = /usr/local/sbin/ldapaddusertogroup '%u' '%g' delete user script = /usr/local/sbin/ldapdeleteuser '%u' delete group script = /usr/local/sbin/ldapdeletegroup '%g' delete user from group script = /usr/local/sbin/ldapdeleteuserfromgroup '%u' '%g' set primary group script = /usr/local/sbin/ldapsetprimarygroup '%u' '%g' rename user script = /usr/local/sbin/ldaprenameuser '%uold' '%unew' # [...]
ldapdeletemachine(1), ldapmodifymachine(1), ldaprenamemachine(1), ldapadduser(1), ldapdeleteuserfromgroup(1), ldapfinger(1), ldapid(1), ldapmodifyuser(1), lsldap(1), ldapaddusertogroup(1), ldaprenameuser(1), ldapinit(1), ldapsetpasswd(1), ldapaddgroup(1), ldapdeletegroup(1), ldapsetprimarygroup(1), ldapmodifygroup(1), ldaprenamegroup(1), ldapaddmachine(1), ldapdeleteuser(1).
The ldapscripts are provided under the GNU General Public License v2 (see COPYING for more details). The latest version of the ldapscripts is available on : http://contribs.martymac.org
Sometimes, that kind of message may appear in the log file : Additional information: value does not conform to assertion syntax . Setting slapd's debug level to 32 shows additional details : get_ava: illegal value for attributeType uidNumber . This is *not* a bug : the ldapscripts tend to use the power of LDAP filters to easily find users (or groups) using either a uidNumber (numerical value) or a uid (string value). The following filter (used by ldapfinger(1)) will generate the above message if $_USER is a login : "(|(&(objectClass=posixAccount)(|(uid=$_USER)(uidNumber=$_USER))) (&(objectClass=posixGroup)(|(cn=$_USER)(gidNumber=$_USER))))" because filter part "(uidNumber=$_USER)" requires an integer but gets a string. You can mostly ignore those warnings.
January 1, 2006 |


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Cashless made effortless.
Apple Pay is easy and works with the Apple devices you use every day. You can make secure purchases in stores, in apps, and on the web. And now you can send and receive money from friends and family right in Messages. Apple Pay is even simpler than using your physical card, and safer too.


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We realize that returns and exchanges are a part of the purchasing process and we do our best to make it as easy as possible. If you are not 100% satisfied with your purchase, you can return your order within 30 DAYS from receiving your item.


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Sonic State Studio / Audio Software / |
Arboretum Systems, Inc. Hyperprism 2.5 (Stand Alone) At a Glance Arboretum News(2) |
Released: Feb 3, 2000 Version: 2.50 | |
Rated: Not Reviewed Add review: (0) | ||
Audio Software LinksSubmit a link | ||
Software: Win XP, Mac, OSX, |
Pierre Ickovic writes: |
Hyperprism 2.5 is a set of dozens of high-quality audio signal processing tools, including startingly realistic reverbs, rich resonant filters, fat analog-sounding vocoding, pitch change and ring modulation, ear-tingling stereo effects and many more. Hyperprism 2.5 software effects can respond instantly to every touch and Hyperprism's Blue Window remembers your every move. You can create sounds which incorporate dynamic, evolving parameter changes, effects that change and grow in real-time. You can actually play your effects with as much nuance, complexity and dynamics as any instrumental performance. The effects remember and recreate every movement and adjustment, just as it happened. Hyperprism 2.5 features path automation editing for total control over parameter movement. Try our geometric automation tools, direct waveform selection in the effect display and the non-destructive file editing, signal processing and multi-effect functions. Real-time play-through mode allows you to use Hyperprism 2.5 like a stand-alone hardware device in any performance or studio setting. No file acquisition and no hard drive space is needed. Hyperprism 2.5 is widely used for sound design, music production, live performance and multimedia audio. Technical Specifications: A Power Macintosh computer 120 MHz minimum, 200 MHz or faster suggested, with MacOS 7.6 or later, 16 MB of free RAM and 22MB of hard disk space. Hyperprism 2.5 handles Sound Designer II and AIFF files, imports and exports WAV and many other file types through QuickTime support. No additional hardware or software required. Includes special direct driver support for the Digidesign Audiomedia II and III cards, the Korg 1212 I/O card and the Apple Sound Manager. |
Good Points The complete Real-time dynamic sound design software. |
Arboretum Systems, Inc. Hyperprism 2.5 (Stand Alone) Specifications: |
Digital IOs: |
Hardware supported: HyperEngine |
Hyperprism 2.5 (Stand Alone) Links |
Try the Audio Software links page for more.. |


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When was the last time you left something in the oven for too long?
Something where timing really matters, that is. I don't mean slow-roasted shoulder of pork or a melt-in-the-mouth stew – dishes which work well with the odd inattentive slurp and stir every half hour or so – I'm talking food that is measured in minutes, where 'too long' can result in a complete catastrophe and clouds of smoke billowing from the cremated contents of your oven. Cakes and cookies, biscuits and bread – let's face it, pretty much all baked goods – fall within this category; just a few minutes too many can mean the difference between a feather light sponge and piece of cardboard, a lovely loaf and a lump of lead.
The best example I've ever seen of something being left to bake for too long involves my Mum and a (now infamous in my family) hot cross bun. When I was little, we'd often have rolls for breakfast on the weekend. Rather than putting them in the toaster we'd warm them in the oven; the bread stayed soft but the butter would melt instantly on impact, making a simple yet indulgent change from the usual toast of the working week. Sometimes we'd branch out – croissants from the local bakery if we were feeling fancy or special seasonal produce such as hot cross buns, but only a few weeks either side of Easter. You might see where I'm going with this story when I tell you that the hot cross bun in question was discovered at some point during the Christmas holidays . . .
I'm not sure why it took so long for us to find, or why we hadn't smelt the scent of singeing dough in the months that passed, but the hot cross bun remained undiscovered for a very long time. When we finally found it, hidden away at the back of the oven, this little Easter treat was completely black but perfectly preserved, Pompei-style; a charcoal replica of itself complete with the neatly piped cross still intact on its top. Every time we turned the oven on it must have baked just that little bit more, slowly enough to solidify rather than disintegrate or burst into flames, and retaining its exact original structure. It looked quite cool. In fact my Mum thought it was wonderful in such a strange way that she kept this funny little specimen for years and years; it's only fairly recently that the blackened bun has been relegated to that big bread basket in the sky.
What happened to me this weekend isn't quite up there with that bun on the cremation scale, but it was a real reminder of how important careful timing in the kitchen can be. I tend not to rely on a timer when baking, using my eyes, nose and our oven's built-in clock to guide me through the process, but I'm starting to recognise that sometimes a few insistent beeps could be exactly what I need to bring me back to reality and keep my timing on track.
I made these buns for a BBQ on Saturday – I've already expressed my thoughts on the importance of bread at BBQs here – and decided to make them in mini form so we could have some fun with different flavoured sliders. Adapting a Dan Lepard recipe, I made and proved my dough before sliding two trays of beautiful sesame-seeded buns into the oven. It was then time to turn my attention to the rest of the meal – beef mince flavoured with two different rubs, coriander and cumin spiced lamb burgers, salads, sides and all the exciting accompaniments required to enhance the various flavour combinations on offer (homemade mayonnaise, garlicky raita, a spicy salsa etc etc). It was only half an hour later – burgers on the grill, drinks and crisps on the go – that I suddenly remembered my buns. That's right. My fifteen-minutes-in-the-oven-if-they-were-twice-the-size-that-I-made-them mini slider buns.
A fair amount of drama ensued, mostly involving me declaring the buns to be ruined and threatening to throw them all in the bin. Luckily sense (aka Carnivorous Boyfriend) prevailed, and we split one (surprisingly good to look at, and luckily not burnt) bun open to reveal a lovely soft middle. Flecked with pieces of melt-in-the-mouth onion, the dough had proved remarkably resilient, and athough the outside was a lot darker and crispier than I'd intended for my lighter-than-air burger buns, they actually tasted good. Really good. Against the melting meat and punchy sauces, their crispy crusts held their own, the centres still soft enough for that fluffy burger bun experience but with a little added texture.
I'm aware that I began this post with a word of warning about cooking times, only to bulldoze in with a batch of buns which were baked for double the suggested time and still tasted delicious. Perhaps not the best way to prove my point. But nobody's perfect, and neither were these buns. I loved them, they were delicious, but I think in their intended form and if you halved the baking time they could potentially be twice as nice. Unless you're Heston, there's always going to be room for improvement, and sometimes making mistakes is the only way to truly learn.
Next time I bake these buns I'll be sticking on my brand new digital timer. I'll probably still rely on my nose, give them a few minutes more or take them out just before the timer pings (if I remember), but at least I'll have that safety net to rely on, to remind me of what's going on in the kitchen if I'm otherwise distracted and help me get that one step closer to the perfect burger bun.
What's the biggest baking catastrophe you've ever had? Did you manage to salvage it? And do you always rely on a kitchen timer?
Sesame-topped Slider Buns (adapted from a Dan Lepard recipe here)
(makes 16 small – or 24 tiny – slider buns)
250g finely chopped white onion
40ml sunflower oil
75g low-fat yoghurt
2 tsp runny honey
1 medium free range egg
7g dried yeast
75g wholemeal flour
425g strong white flour, plus more for shaping
2 tsp salt
Sesame seeds
Sweat the onion in the oil over a medium heat until very soft, translucent and tender, with all of the moisture gone. Set aside to cool.
Mix together the yoghurt, honey and egg. Add the cooled onions then pour in 125ml warm water and the yeast, mixing well. Add both flours and the salt then start mixing to form a dough.
You'll need to add a little more water at this stage – around 50ml but slightly depends on how soft your onions are and how much water they have retained so add a little at a time until you achieve a workable texture.
Set the dough aside for 10 minutes, covered with a tea towel. When the time is up, slide your dough onto a clean worksurface and give it a quick 10-second knead. Return it to the bowl, cover and leave for another 10 minutes. Repeat this knead-and-leave sequence twice more, before finally leaving the dough to rise undisturbed for an hour.
Divide the dough into sixteen equal pieces for fairly small buns, 24 if you're going for canape-style sliders. Shape each into balls, tucking the edges into the middle, then flatten slightly. Brush the tops with water, roll in a plateful of sesame seeds so they stick well, then place on a couple of baking trays lined with nonstick baking paper (making sure to leave a little room in between each to allow for their increase in size as they rise). Cover and leave to rise for about an hour and a half, or until risen by half.
Bake at 220 degrees C for 10-15 minutes, until just brown on top. Trust your eyes and nose, but maybe set a timer as well, just to be safe . . .


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© Ted Williams/CORBIS
The drum world was deeply saddened to lose one of its most influential stars at the weekend as Joe Morello passed away, aged 82. In March 2010 Rhythm writer Geoff Nicholls spoke to the drum icon for a feature in the magazine. Here, in tribute to the great Mr Morello, is that interview in full...
Joe Morello's extraordinary flair with odd time signatures gave the Dave Brubeck Quartet its signature and passport to history. Geoff Nicholls chats with his childhood hero
Scaling the American charts in 1961, 'Take Five' was the first jazz single to sell over a million. Even more remarkable, 'Take Five' is in 5/4 time and climaxes with a drum solo. The drummer was Joe Morello, a man of immense musicality and technical finesse. Pianist Dave Brubeck's quartet married classical melodicism and odd time signatures with cool chamber jazz improvisation. Like Buddy Rich, Joe inspired rock drummers as much as jazzers, most tellingly that special British generation who would soon invent prog rock. They related to Joe's slamming 22" Ludwig bass drum, fat toms and pin sharp SuperSensitive snare as much as to his innovative rhythms. Anyone who's not heard Brubeck's live At Carnegie Hall, 1963 should order it today. On Joe's spectacular solo, 'Castilian Drums', you will recognise the hand drumming licks that John Bonham later used in his 'Moby Dick' solos.
Born in Massachusetts in 1928, Joe abandoned a promising career as a classical violinist (he was a soloist with the Boston Symphony Orchestra aged nine) when he turned to drumming at 15. His classical sense of touch, form, dynamics and subtlety informed all his drumming. Think Max Roach with Buddy's chops. On coming to New York he was head-hunted by Brubeck in 1956, elevating the quartet to massive worldwide popularity over the next decade.
Joe dominated drumming awards throughout the '60s, but his diminishing eyesight curtailed his later touring so that his profile is perhaps not as high today as it should have been. He's become a renowned teacher, adored by his many pupils who include Danny Gottlieb, Max Weinberg and John Riley. His books and DVDs are classics. Still active at 81, Joe retains his famous, self-deprecating wit, remarkable modesty and is gracious in praise of his contemporaries.
Joe, is it true you were initially reluctant to join the Brubeck Quartet?
"When I joined, Dave wanted me to sign a contract and I said no, not right now. I'd seen them at Birdland and you'd just see Dave and Paul [Desmond, alto saxophone] with two spotlights. I said, 'I don't want to sit in the dark.' I was friends with Joe Dodge, the previous drummer, and he said, 'I haven't played a four-bar break in three years, Paul just wants me to play railroad tracks… straight!' I said, 'Good grief, these two clowns were expressing themselves and they got these two guys in the dark.' Dave said, 'I'll put your name on the marquee.' I said, 'You should put everyone's name on it.' So he said, 'We're doing a two month tour,' and I said, 'Okay, I'll do that and if you like what I do… but I want to be able to play, not sit there like a mummy.' 'Oh, he said, I'll feature you, we're opening up on a TV show in Chicago, join me there.'
"Anyway, the opening night was crowded and Dave says, 'Do you want to do a little drum thing?' I said, 'Sure.' Now the place goes crazy and Desmond and (bassist) Norman Bates stamp off the bandstand. So Dave went backstage and said, 'What did you guys leave for?' 'Well, we left because people were standing up and applauding the damn drum solo.' Paul said, 'Either Morello goes or I go, make up your mind.' So Dave said, 'Morello is not going…' Paul made a fool of himself."
Dave obviously recognised you were the next step in the band's evolution?
"That's what Dave told me, we needed a stronger drummer. I said to Paul, 'It's not my fault if people clap, I'm just playing.' He was so jealous. Every time I did a drum thing and got a standing ovation he just couldn't deal with it. He was the big star in the quartet, he didn't really speak to me for two months! We'd be driving for a couple of hundred miles and it was crazy."
But you stuck it out?
"Oh yeah, I said, 'You don't have to talk. I'm not working for you, I'm working for Dave.' It's the way I play and people enjoy it I guess."
In the end Paul wrote 'Take Five' for you and you eventually became friends?
"It's true, towards the end. There was nothing he could do. I started to win all the polls. I never expected that, I never even thought about it. The Playboy poll [seven successive years] and Downbeat, and even in your country, the Melody Maker. 'Take Five' sold quite well, about five million copies. It did a lot for the group."
Where did the 5/4 groove come from?
"It came from me. When Dave approached me he said do you think jazz can be played in any other tempo? I said sure, why not? And so Desmond came up with this tune. Dave wasn't used to playing that tempo, he just had vamps. It wasn't too long that he got right into it though and started to improvise over it. And the drum solo was really out, I just felt like doing that. It doesn't have any (obvious) form, although there is a form. I just move it all around, that's what made it interesting. People called me and said, 'How long did it take?' I said, 'Not that long [laughs]!'"
At the time, playing jazz in fives, sevens and nines, etc, was seriously radical.
"I'd done it at home in Springfield. I used to play things in 5/4 and 7/4 on my own. We had sessions and I'd say, 'Let's do this in sevens.' That would be a bar of four and a bar of three. You played in 3/4, 4/4 and then five was for cheese! Off balance. People thought I was nuts. They'd say, 'What do you want to do that for?' I said, 'Because it's different.' In classical music it's been done, so why not in jazz?"
And of course, you grew up playing classical music?
"Yeah, playing violin, and my family thought I was going to be the next Heifetz. I could play, but I just fell in love with the drums. I found good teachers. I studied with Joe Sefcik for about three years then went to Mr [George Lawrence] Stone in Boston, another great percussionist. I was very fortunate. And then Billy Gladstone, at Radio City Music Hall."
Gladstone has an almost mythical reputation.
"He was very, very good. I studied with him for quite a while. He'd say, 'You really want this, don't you?' I said, 'Yes, because I love the sound you're getting, the relaxation.' That was his whole thing. He could get a good sound on the drum, not like he was slamming."
Where did he get it from?
"He never talked about it much. He figured a lot of things for himself, the way he would hit the drum just like a melody. The drummers I studied with were all very good players, the techniques they were showing were good. They didn't play jazz, I could do my own thing, but I wanted to know how the instrument worked. That's why I studied with classical people. Over the years I developed this kind of finger control thing with the left and right hand and that is how I could get more speed, with the fingers closer to the drum. I listened to different drummers all over, of course. We went to many places, an amazing experience. We went where all that trouble is now - to Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan. The people were pretty nice. And in India, the tabla drummers were doing phenomenal things. One professor over there said, 'You pick up tabla music easily,' but I was just emulating the sounds they made, using sticks. I could memorise stuff, but I didn't know what I was doing."
"You played in 3/4, 4/4 and then five was for cheese! Off balance. People thought I was nuts. They'd say, 'What do you want to do that for?' I said, 'Because it's different.'"
On your 'Castilian Drums' solo you played beautifully with your hands. John Bonham copped some of that.
"That's what they say. He was a very fine and musical player."
Also on 'Castilian Drums' you rub your thumb across the snare batter, like a conguero.
"The inspiration came basically from the Indian things, with the fingers and the edges of the drums. I saw a lot of tabla players. The musicians sat there, nobody would play until the drummer arrived - everybody was bowing to this guy. We deliberately wanted to see music that was so different from our things, you know?"
You also did some legendary clinics in Britain.
"We travelled all over the world. We would play the Royal Festival Hall, and all through England and Scotland. I loved your country, the people were great, I had such good times, I loved those old railway hotels. You have some good drummers. Mr Ronnie Verrell. Phil Seamen was a legend, a character, a very good drummer. When we were doing the clinics, Ivor Arbiter said to me one time, 'A drummer friend wants to know if you could play together,' and I said, 'Certainly, why not?' That was Kenny Clare and he was a real nice human being and a great drummer. He used to come here [to the USA] with vocalists Cleo Laine and Tony Bennett. We would hang out till four in the morning drinking beers."
You met some of the rock guys too?
"Ringo came one time to see us and said hello and we exchanged some sticks. He made that group sound great, he did what he had to do and he did it well. He sure made a lot of noise, his groove was incredible. Everybody does their own thing and he had some good rhythm concepts, you could tell right away."
You also had a major influence on gear. Jazz guys had played White Pearl kits, but you made Silver Sparkle Ludwigs fashionable.
"Bill Ludwig used to say you and Ringo are keeping the company going. We sold them a lot of drums. Joe Sefcik had a Slingerland in Sparkle Silver and I said, 'I'd like to get myself a set like that.' Bill said, 'Why, we use that for parade drums?' But later he told me that in six months they sold more of those damn sparkle things…"
Do you still have those drums?
"There was a drummer called Dennis Neil who worked at the Talk Of The Town, he loved the kit and when I left England I gave him a set. He'd put in a sub so he could be with me on the road to check each concert. He'd say, 'Last night you did that and tonight you didn't…' Me, I didn't remember what I did!"
You and Buddy Rich touched rock drummers just as much as jazz drummers.
"Buddy became a dear friend and we were going to do something together. I'd see him at the Blue Note and between sets he'd go sit in the bus. He said, 'How would you like to do a thing with my band like Louie [Bellson] does?' I said, 'I'd love it, but that would be the best lesson I ever had!' He said, 'Oh come on!' I saw him once or twice after, but then he got sick and was in hospital."
Both you and Buddy achieved phenomenal left hand speed and control.
"I try to relax, not get tight. People say, 'It looks like you're doing nothing, you make it look so easy.' I say, 'Of course it is, I wouldn't be able to do it if it was difficult [laughs]!' Some drummers overdo everything for show, I never really got into that. Krupa was good at twirling sticks. I said, 'Gene, I tried your thing, I threw 'em up and they never came back!'"


text: District courts in Tucker are the general trial courts of the United States federal court system. Both civil and criminal cases are filed in the district court, which is a court of law, equity and admiralty. The district courts exercise original jurisdiction over- that is, they are empowered to conduct trials in the following types of cases: civil actions arising under the Constitution, laws and treaties of the United States; certain civil actions between citizens of different states; civil actions within the admiralty or maritime jurisdiction of the United States; criminal prosecutions brought by the United States; civil actions in which the United States is a party, and many other types of cases and controversies.


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I confess to the Lord my God before thee, reverend father, all my sins which I have committed up to the present day and hour, in deed, word and thought. Every day and every hour I sin through ingratitude to God for His great and numberless blessings to me and His most gracious providence and care for me, a sinner. I have sinned through:
I have sinned with all my senses, both spiritual and physical, wherefore I repent to the Lord and ask forgiveness. Absolve all my sins, reverend father, and bless me to partake of the Mysteries of Christ.
We confidently recommend our web service provider, Orthodox Internet Services: excellent personal customer service, a fast and reliable server, excellent spam filtering, and an easy to use comprehensive control panel.


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Copyright 2013 Gannett Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved USA TODAY |
September 25, 2013 Wednesday
SPORTS; Pg. 1C
464 words
NCAA wrong to ease up on Penn State |
Christine Brennan
The NCAA is telling us that Penn State is behaving better now. That's certainly good news, because, for many years, no college football program ever behaved worse. We all hope and believe that the despicable crimes that got Penn State in so much justifiable trouble are no longer happening there. Child rapist Jerry Sandusky is in prison, serving a 30- to 60-year sentence on 45 counts of child abuse, and all of the men who enabled him in an effort to protect the Penn State brand are long gone, with three of them still awaiting trial. So, yes, on that awful issue, we believe Penn State has cleaned up its act. Thank God. But the NCAA's appropriately severe sanctions dealt with more than the crimes against those young boys. They were meted out against a culture -- a way of life, actually -- that had put football far ahead of everything else, including the act of helping the most defenseless among us. The tough penalties were meant to teach Penn State, and any other institution that might go so far astray, that we might tolerate a lot from the game of college football, but not this. Not what Penn State had become. And if those left behind were punished, too, well, sadly, so be it. It might not be fair to them, but it was right for all. So now that the NCAA is starting to give Penn State a taste of its softer, gentler, Johnny Manziel-style punishment, there's a big question worth asking today: Has Penn State learned that larger lesson, that football must be put in its place? That this state-supported institution can no longer hold such an unseemly death grip on one sport? I hope so. We all hope so. But I'm not as convinced as the NCAA that it is so. There is a significant part of the population of Pennsylvania that just can't seem to live without football the way it was before. Just look at the lawsuits. In January, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett embarrassed the state by announcing he was suing the NCAA to overturn the sanctions on antitrust grounds. In June, a federal judge dismissed the suit. If the people of Pennsylvania complained about that ridiculous waste of time and money, I didn't hear it. There are two other active lawsuits brought by those who apparently just can't bring themselves to accept the school's punishment either. And then, of course, there's the shameful whining of the Paterno family, especially son Jay. Can't somebody tell them that for the sake of whatever is left of Joe Paterno's legacy, they should show some class and accept their fate? They want to be forgiven, to forget and to move on. That's understandable in most cases, but not in this one. The point of the groundbreaking NCAA sanctions was that Penn State -- and all of us -- would never forget. Moving on should be extremely difficult. The punishment was right the first time. |
September 25, 2013
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Here's the latest in my end-of-the-year "The Best…" lists. As usual, sites on this list must be available free-of-charge and student resources must be accessible to English Language Learners.
You might also be interested in:
The Best Science Sites Of 2011 — So Far
The Best Science Websites — 2010
The Best Science & Math Sites — 2009
The Best Science & Math Websites — 2008
The Best Science Websites For Students & Teachers — 2007
Here are my choices for The Best Science Sites Of 2011:
Number thirteen:
"San Diego Zoo Kids" has tons of accessible information and online games on…animals.
Number twelve:
The Kitchen Pantry Scientist is a neat site to get quick, easy, and inexpensive ideas for science experiments.
Number eleven:
Sizing Up The Universe is a neat interactive from the Smithsonian that does a very good job at helping users gain an understanding of how big planets and moons really are.
Number ten:
The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) has a site with a number of excellent science interactives which provide audio support for the text.
Number nine:
Evolution of renewable energy is a very useful interactive tracing renewable energy use from 8000 BC to the present.
Number eight:
The Exploratorium has reorganized all their interactives into one Explore page.
Number seven:
"Conversations With The Earth" is a new site from the Smithsonian. Here's how it describes itself:
This exhibition—the first of its kind devoted to indigenous science—provides a Native perspective on global climate change. Through photographs, video, and audio of tribal communities from the Arctic to Brazil, the environmental impact of pollution is found in the stories of imposed mitigation and its consequences on local livelihoods.
Conversations with the Earth offers the voices of the Earth's traditional stewards in the search for a viable response to the challenges of climate change. In the words of Inupiat leader Patricia Cochran, chair of the Indigenous Peoples Global summit on Climate Change, "We are a harbinger of what is to come, what the rest of the world can expect."
Without question, the best part of the site shows tons of video interviews with people from all over the world.
Number six:
"Science Of Everyday Life" is a neat interactive timeline of inventions, and comes from Discovery Education.
Number five:
A Journey Through Climate History is a very, very impressive interactive from ABC in Australia. It highlights key events affecting climate change over the past one hundred ten years.
Number four:
National Geographic unveiled a new site to support their extravaganza on "Great Migrations." It's an amazing site, filled with incredible videos, interactives, photos — the works — all on animal migrations.
Number three:
Curiosity is a website — and a new television series — from the Discovery Channel. People send in their questions — and there are some fascinating questions — and get accessible multimedia answers in return. You can also apply to become an expert to help answer questions, too.
Number two:
Earlier this year, Richard Byrne posted about a neat BBC interactive on rocks. I was pretty impressed, because it had subtitles and was relatively accessible to English Language Learners. So I explored the site a little further and found that the BBC Schools Bitesize KS3 site had a whole series of similarly accessible activities.
First, go to their main Science page. Next, click on any of the four primary categories:
Organisms, behaviour and health
Chemical and material behaviour
Energy, electricity and forces
The environment, the Earth and the universe
Each of these four sections has multiple "activities," which are animated exercises that have audio and subtitles.
Number one:
McDougal Littell's Class Zone site is on many of my Social Studies related "The Best…" lists — their interactives are incredible (the links I have in this post may, or may not, bring you directly to the interactives. If you get sent to a map, just click the subject you're interested in and click on California. That will lead you to different textbooks — then click on one of them. That will lead you to the interactives). However, I realize I've never written about their equally as impressive high school biology sites. It, too, has plenty of interactive, and most provide audio support for the text.
Feedback is welcome.
If you found this post useful, you might want to look at the 700 other "The Best…" lists and consider subscribing to this blog for free.


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As the world goes mobile, so does the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
Earlier this year, the Commission held a public workshop to hear and discuss ideas for updating its "Dot-Com Disclosures" guidelines (created in 2000) to fit the new world of digital marketing, including social media and mobile advertising. Proposed revisions are expected to be out for public comment before the end of the year. Meanwhile, in an interim attempt to respond to the marketing chaos surrounding the tsunami of "apps" now flooding mobile devices, the FTC recently published a guidance document for app developers entitled, "Marketing Your Mobile App: Getting It Right from the Start."
It's a primer on truth-in-advertising standards and basic privacy principles for a burgeoning industry of mostly 20-somethings who probably have thought as much about FTC compliance as they have about planning for retirement. While intended for the "uninitiated," it also could serve as a refresher on elementary FTC advertising and privacy standards for the more experienced direct response marketer. It's available at www.ftc.gov.
The publication offers the following advertising guidance:
- Tell the truth about what your app can do. An app developer needs to understand that just about anything it says about its product – whether on a website, in an app store, or within the app itself – is a claim, and anything it doesn't say that's material to a buying decision could be a misleading omission. Objective claims for an app require solid proof ("competent and reliable evidence") before they're made, and if it's a health or safety claim, it may need to be competent and reliable scientific evidence. Also, the meaning of a claim is what the "reasonable consumer" thinks. Look at your advertising from the perspective of "average users," not app experts. The FTC already has taken action against app developers who made unsubstantiated claims their apps could treat acne, and no doubt is already on the prowl for its next app targets.
- Disclose key information "clearly and conspicuously." The tight space constraints of mobile platforms present unique challenges in complying with this basic FTC requirement, and for the FTC itself in developing effective disclosure guidelines. Nevertheless, whatever new guidance the FTC gives to mobile advertisers in its revamped "Dot-Com Disclosures," undoubtedly it will be aimed at ensuring that material disclosures about an app or other product are big and clear enough for average users to notice and understand them.
On privacy, the publication tells apps developers to:
- Practice "privacy by design." Incorporate privacy protections into your practices and default settings by limiting data collection, securely storing data, and getting express user consent for non-apparent data collection or sharing.
- Be transparent. Be up front about your data collection and sharing practices.
- Honor your privacy promises. Whatever assurances your privacy policy provides about data security or use of personal information, live up to them. In the dozens of privacy cases already brought by the FTC, most have been for broken privacy promises or broad privacy statements that failed to disclose the extent of data collection/sharing. Avoid these pitfalls and you will decrease your odds of being the target of an FTC privacy action yourself.


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LNZNDRF - LNZNDRF: Driving music that captivates from the off
With each track edited from 30-minute sonic jams and the album recorded in a church in just over two days, there was more than a suspicion that this debut release may be unlistenable to anyone other than the biggest of fans.
However, with Beirut's Ben Lanz and The National's Scott and Bryan Devendorf on board, any concerns quickly dissipated.
This is a delightful rhythm-led slice of driving music that captivates from the off.
Although it does tail away slightly in the middle, Future You (reminiscent of Joy Division), Beneath The Black Sea and final track, Samarra, impress enough to make this a solid effort.