text:
BAY RONQUILLE, La. — The marsh is soaked with oil and the grass is dying. It's a common sight on the Gulf coast these days, and it's nothing new for Robert Nailon.
The BP-hired environmental consultant kneels as he has done many times on the Louisiana coast, assessing the damage in a task now taking on new importance as the world's attention turns from the ubiquitous images of gushing oil to the daunting task of restoration.
He dips his hand, covered in a blue rubber glove, into the muddy ground. It comes up streaked brown with crude. "You've got sheen throughout," he says, and calls out his findings to a government scientist: Oil covers about 95 percent of the grass, reaching about 15 feet inland.
Both men nod, agreeing to add this stretch to the growing and painstaking census of the dead from the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. About 40 BP-government teams are cataloguing seemingly everything touched by the oil, from poisoned plankton and fish to lost marshes and stained beaches.
BP PLC will eventually be given two options: Restore everything itself, or pay the government to do it. Before a final bill is written, however, those tallying the damage must still account for things they can't see – from contaminated fish eggs that never hatch to impacts that may take years to show.
Some experts worry BP could exploit the uncertainty to minimize its responsibility.
"If you end up with a bunch of dead fish five years from now, it becomes very hard to prove BP killed them," said Mark Davis, director of Tulane University's Institute on Water Resources Law and Policy.
BP spokesman John Curry declined to detail any potential challenges his company might make regarding wildlife and habitat claims.
"We're not trying to run and hide from the situation," he said. "Bottom line is we want to know exactly what the impact is, too."
So far, about 4,000 birds, more than 700 sea turtles, dozens of dolphins and one whale have been found dead, or alive but oiled. Oil has hit some 600 miles of shoreline and at least 44,000 square miles of the Gulf. The count doesn't include the hundreds of oiled birds left in the wild to avoid disturbing their nesting grounds.
Pinpointing damage beneath the Gulf's surface, however, is turning into an even bigger problem.
"It's a 3-D challenge," said Tom Brosnan, chief of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's assessment and restoration division. "It's not just on the shoreline, it's at depth, down to 5,000 feet in the Gulf."
The government is deploying remotely operated submarines to get snapshots of what is happening in the deep, as well as collecting water samples to assess the populations of plankton and other small organisms.
Computers will use the information gathered to produce estimates of how many plankton, fish or shrimp are killed based in part on how much habitat is ruined.
Gauging the consequences could take years and require some calculated guesswork to account for wildlife that dies or suffers unseen.
Federal officials haven't said whether they've assigned a cost to everything.
In some cases, however, arriving at a cost can be as straightforward as similar efforts during the 11 million-gallon Exxon Valdez spill in 1989 in Alaska. The state priced each seagull at $167, eagles at $22,000, harbor seals at $700 and killer whales at $300,000.
The scope of the latest census is enormous – the Gulf spill has so far unleashed between 91 and 179 million gallons of oil – and the cost of that tally will likely prove expensive in itself.
In the case of the Valdez, $125 million has been spent on scientific research since the spill in Prince William Sound, said Stan Senner, Alaska's restoration program manager following the spill and now director of science for the Ocean Conservancy.
Exxon settled with the government for its restoration costs in 1991, for $900 million. Another request 15 years later for $92 million more is pending.
In what could be a cautionary note for those working the BP spill, the settlement with Exxon never addressed a major impact tied to the Valdez by some scientists – the collapse of the Pacific herring population. That's in large part because the collapse came two years after the settlement.
BP executives have pledged to "make things right." But they have disputed some scientific findings, including claims that plumes of oil stretch for miles in the deep waters around the site of the Deepwater Horizon rig, which blew up April 20 and unleashed the nearly three-month-long oil geyser.
The issue of the plumes first arose in late May, when BP chief executive Tony Hayward was asked about them in an Associated Press interview. His reply: "What plumes?"
Acknowledging the plumes would have amounted to an admission of responsibility, said Larry McKinney, director of the Harte Research Institute at Texas A&M University.
And the company's advantage increases as more time passes, said Tulane's Davis. "We may all be in this together, but we're not in this for the same reasons. (BP's) duty to their shareholders is to make money."
Once the field teams collect their information, BP and the government will analyze the data separately and reach their own conclusions on damages.
Even if BP disputes scientists' findings, the 1990 Oil Spill Pollution act puts the burden of proof on the company in any disputes over liability and how harm is calculated. BP's obligations go beyond wildlife and habitat to include what's lost to humans: each visit to the beach denied by oily sands, all the Gulf fishing trips that will never be taken.
Back along the coast, where a steady parade of boats were being loaded with cleanup workers, Venice, La., charter boat fisherman Peter Young scoffed at the effort to track the damage.
"They're basically spitting in the wind," he said.


text:
Jump to navigation
CPCU Society
Please Sign In
CPCU Society
CPCU Society Chapter
About This Chapter
Chapter Bylaws
Meetings & Events
CPCU Society Education & Events
Event Archive
Photo Gallery
Get Involved
Chapter Benefits
CPCU Society Membership
Mentor Program
Become a Champion
Local Opportunities
Local Associations
Find a Job
New Designees
Gamma Iota Sigma
Industry News
Contact Us
Industry News
Industry News
Best's Reviews
Erie Insurance CEO: Combined Ratio Worsened on Severe Spring Storm Losses
Jul 26, 2019
Losses from an extremely active spring storm season led to a 15.5 point worsening of the second-quarter combined ratio at Erie Insurance,...
Aflac CEO: No Evidence Japan Post Investigation Will Affect Company's Business
Jul 26, 2019
Aflac Inc. reported slightly lower revenue and earnings for the second quarter, as the medical insurer's chief executive officer said...
Kuvare US Holdings to Acquire Lincoln Benefit Life
Jul 26, 2019
Kuvare US Holdings' affiliate Guaranty Income Life Insurance Co. is acquiring Lincoln Benefit Life Co. and its affiliates and all subsidiaries of its parent, RL...
Arthur J. Gallagher Takes $7.2 Million Charge as Restructuring Triggers Layoffs
Jul 26, 2019
Arthur J. Gallagher is terminating hundreds of employees as a part of a restructuring intended to increase efficiency and...
Insurance Journal
Gaspar Insurance Acquires Elden Insurance in Southern California
Jul 26, 2019
Gaspar Insurance Services has acquired Elden Insurance Services Inc. in Canoga Park, Calif. Plans call for Elden Insurance owner Dennis Helio to retire. Elden...
Canadian Firm Sues Oklahoma Marijuana Dispensary for Copyright Infringement
Jul 26, 2019
A Canadian children's entertainment company is suing an Oklahoma medical cannabis dispensary chain accusing it of copyright infringement....
Iowa Insurance Agent Charged with Fraud
Jul 26, 2019
The Iowa Insurance Division reported that insurance agent Christine Wilson, age 43, of Moravia, has been charged with two counts of Fraudulent Submissions (Class D Felony). The charges...
Wisconsin's McDonald Insurance Agency Joins Keystone Insurers Group
Jul 26, 2019
Keystone Insurers Group (Keystone) has added McDonald Insurance Agency of Hudson to its list of Wisconsin partners. McDonald Insurance Agency has been serving...
Claims Journal
Hurricane Victims Frustrated with Slow Housing Recovery
Jul 26, 2019
SPRING LAKE, N.C. — The heating and air conditioning in Carrie Johnson's home — damaged by Hurricane Matthew in 2016 — still wasn't fixed...
Fire No Longer Threatens Key Idaho Nuclear Facilities
Jul 26, 2019
BOISE, Idaho — The nation's primary nuclear research facility planned to go back to regular operations on Thursday after a change in wind direction pushed a wildfire...
New Auto Safety Technology Leaves Insurers in the Dark
Jul 26, 2019
Automakers are accelerating the rollout of technology designed to avoid crashes, but insurance companies are waving a caution flag at consumers eyeing discounts for buying...
Drones Do Deadly Work So You Don't Have To
Jul 26, 2019
Here's a job any worker would be happy to pass off to a drone: Imagine crawling down a ladder into the vast darkness of a 20-story-high storage tank filled with toxic chemical...

subset: commoncrawl


text:
The B.C. government is moving 53 daycares across the province to the $10-a-day model as it tests the NDP government's promise of universal childcare.
Roughly 2,500 parents who are those daycares' existing clients will now pay a maximum of $200 per month, Minister of State for Childcare Katrina Chen told reporters in Vancouver.
Operators will be receiving government funding to cover their operational and administration costs, and in return give feedback to the province as it works towards province-wide implementation in the future, Chen said.
To note: 300 operators applied (deadline was back in June) https://t.co/EnEg9Iuxol
— Ashley Wadhwani (@ashwadhwani) November 9, 2018
"Prototype sites give us a glimpse of what the future of universal childcare in B.C. can be, and are critical as we design and refine our program moving forward," she added.
READ MORE: B.C. to create 3,800 childcare spaces within two years
READ MORE: Affordable daycare left out of NDP budget disappoints advocate
The program began earlier this month, funded through a $60-million investment from the federal government.
The daycares taking part were selected based on more than 300 applications sent in June.
The pilot will run until the end of March 2020.
Parents who won't have access to the low-cost sites can still apply for funds through the provincial childcare benefit.
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.


text:
This article is more than 1 year old
Admin password security 'abysmal'
Static passwords expose 'keys to the kingdom' says survey
Half of all enterprises have more administrative passwords than those attached to ordinary user accounts. Many (42 per cent) of these privileged passwords are never changed, according to a survey.
Cyber-Ark Software's Enterprise Privileged Password Survey looked at the use of privileged or administrative (super-user) passwords that exist within most computer systems or software applications. Examples include the root on a Unix server, administrator accounts on a Windows workstation, and Cisco Enable on a Cisco networking device. The survey of 140 IT pros shows that such passwords are more common in enterprises than previously thought and poorly administered, an oversight that creates a ready means for malicious hackers to commandeer vulnerable systems.
Weak admin password security represents a well-understood hacker risk but many firms are failing to take the threat into account in their operations despite reports of widespread security breaches and concern over the issue. Six out of 10 IT pros quizzed in the survey said that their organization has been hacked. It's not as if IT admins are unaware of the problem either - half of all IT professionals are often or always concerned about passing audits.
Cyber-Ark Software markets products that manage, log and update privileged passwords so it has a vested interested in highlighting the threat perceived by weak password security. Self-interest doesn't necessarily invalidate the survey's findings, however.
The survey suggests that changing administrative passwords is still a labour-intensive process that is too much of a chore for many firms to bother with.
"Manually changing thousands of passwords across hundreds of databases is simply impractical," an IT Executive from a Fortune 500-sized company told researchers working on the poll.
The survey concludes that privileged passwords are more powerful but less likely to be changed, a factor which exposes enterprises to heightened risk of hacker attack. Survey respondents reported that 99 per cent of individual passwords are updated, however for privileged passwords the picture is markedly different.
Privileged routers are never changed in 13 per cent of cases. The survey found that computer passwords are even less likely to be changed. Local workstation privileged passwords are never changed in 21 per cent of cases, servers (13 per cent) and enterprise software app admin passwords (42 per cent) are also never altered.
"Privileged passwords come pre-loaded onto virtually every piece of hardware and software in an enterprise. Simply put, these super-user passwords are the keys to your kingdom, and yet they are often left unguarded," said Adam Bosnian, vice president of products, strategy and sales for Cyber-Ark Software. ®


text:
At St. Philip Early Learning Center (SPELC), we are dedicated to providing high quality, developmentally appropriate preschool education in a safe, healthy, nurturing Christian environment.
Our programs start for children 1 year of age and independently walking, to 6 years. We offer 1, 2, or 3 day options in our Parent's Day Out classes and 2, 3, 4, or 5 day options in our Preschool and Pre-Kindergarten classes. We also have an Enrichment Program for our Pre-K children.
SPELC is an outreach ministry of St. Philip Lutheran Church in Littleton, CO since 1984. SPELC is a state licensed center operating from last week of August through mid-May. We offer a 4 hour program, Monday thru Friday.
We welcome children and families of all denominations to our Preschool.
NOTE: SPELC is not a peanut-free facility. Due to classroom use by other groups within the church and potential of cross contamination, we cannot guarantee the absence of peanut allergens. Please know that every precaution is taken to protect our children with allergies.
Please call the SPELC office for more information at 303.972.9774.
Monday through Friday
9:30 am – 1:30 pm
7531 S. Kendall Blvd.
Littleton, CO 80128
St. Philip Lutheran Church (click here)
A community where all people may come to know Jesus Christ; become faithful followers, empowered by the Holy Spirit, and sent with Christ's love into the world.
Grant me the things that I will need to do my job and always succeed.
Help me to know what to do and to say to help those few students who refuse to obey.
Teach me how to love every child, those who are busy and those who are mild.
Show me the gifts you've placed in each one. Help me to mold them to be like your Son.
Give me your eyes to see all their fears, give me the words to bring them good cheer.
Make me Your servant and help me to serve. Allow me to give them all they deserve.
Keep my heart humble in all that I do and help me to teach them to be just like You.
Thank you for caring and hearing my prayer and thank you for always being right there.
Kim Lutherbeck


text:
California's law against violence in video games was thrown out this week by the US Supreme Court as a violation of the First Amendment. That's good news for California companies that have 41 percent of a $20 billion industry. Is it bad news for parents who worry, not just about what their kids are exposed to but what they're participating in? Does anybody really know the impact of virtual violence? Also, federal agencies are ordered to protect 40 endangered species in California national forests. On our rebroadcast of today's To the Point, American infrastructure and Chinese competitiveness.
Banner image: Joe Raedle/Getty Images


text:
Walking routes » Finland » Finland » Tammela » Walking routes
Show all routes
Choose from more than 40 activities:
Route search
Route planner
Try this feature for free with a RouteYou Plus trial subscription.
If you already have such an account, then log in now.
Kerkstraat 108
9050 Gentbrugge, Belgium
Marketing, sales, etc.: email@example.com
General questions: firstname.lastname@example.com
© 2006-2024 RouteYou - www.routeyou.com


text:
Any question? Please contact us
Get in touch with us
Description:- Material: Copper, Gold Filled- Size: 18x13 mm- Quantity: 1 piece- Color: Gold- Stones : Gemstone
Other color/design selection and more findings, tools & supplies are available in our store!
We carry the highest quality of loose crystals, semiprecious gemstones, beads, charms and pendants in sterling silver, gold filled, stainless steel and various other jewelry findings, supplies and tools. Please contact us if you're looking for some items that are not listed in our store.
Need larger or bulk quantities? Please contact us and we will gladly work with you to find what you need!


text:
"It was important to all of us to design a bass that would feel right as well as sound amazing in the hands of all players, not just me," Sixx says.
Hollywood, CA (January 18, 2013) -- Schecter is proud to announce the partnership with a true modern-day rock icon by signing Mötley Crüe / Sixx: A.M. bassist, NY Times bestselling author and radio host Nikki Sixx, adding even more fire power to its roster.
"It was an exciting and creative process to work with Schecter on the new Schecter Sixx Signature Series Bass," states Sixx, "It was important to all of us to design a bass that would feel right as well as sound amazing in the hands of all players, not just me. Every detail about the new Schecter Sixx comes from all of our collective experiences – whether it's my 30 years of playing live and recording or Schecter's unprecedented standards for making quality instruments for players of all genres. Simply said, this bass rocks!" Schecter's Executive Vice President, Marc LaCorte adds, "I really felt as if we instantly gelled and were looking to accomplish the same goal with this project. Above all, it was so refreshing to see an artist of Nikki's stature be so involved and genuinely concerned about every detail in the creation of this instrument."
- Construction: Neck-Thru with Ultra Access
- Body: Mahogany
- Neck: 5-ply Maple/Walnut
- Scale: 34"
- Fingerboard: Rosewood
- Nut: Graph Tech Black TUSQ XL 42mm
- Frets: 24 X-Jumbo
- Inlays: Dots
- Pickups: EMG P/J
- Electronics: Vol/Vol/Tone/"Kill" Switch
- Bridge: Schecter Custom String Thru Body (or Top-Load)
- Tuners: Grover
- Hardware: Black Chrome
- Colors: Satin Black (SBK) or Vintage Sunburst (VSB)
- Left-Hand Availability: Satin Black (SBK)
- Case: SGR-21-NS
For more information:


text:
In Genuine Men: Journeys in Stories and Stills, Nancy Bruno has done more than catalog the lives of a few men in pictures. Looking through her book, you immediately get a sense of the time she spent in selecting not only the photographs that make up this book, but also the men themselves.
The photographs making up Genuine Men are black-and-white portraits. Bruno's experience as an architectural and interior design photographer is evident throughout: where some photographers would have focused more closely on the titular men, Bruno has brought in elements of their surroundings. That addition provides a context that a stricter approach to portraiture would have reduced.
The context is particulary necessary with this project. Without Bruno's subtle hints — and not-so-subtle text — this project would be little more than pictures of men standing around. Perhaps interesting, but not so intriguing as the idea that each man that Bruno photographed was so carefully selected. Furthermore, not every image in this book is technically perfect. Small flaws, however, juxtapose the idea that these are normal, everyday men. More refined images, whether through technical ability or computer correction, would change the nature of the characterization we find in these photos.
Bruno's Genuine Men project grew out of a portrait project she completed in 2006, Beautiful Women. Both projects focused on everyday people — no celebrities, but instead folks of all ages and backgrounds. With Beautiful Women, Bruno worked to convery a healthier image of feminine beauty. With Genuine Men, Bruno focused on role models with an element of finding men that her young sons can look up to.
Bruno's medium of choice is black-and-white 35mm photography. While she has done extensive architectural and interior design photography, Bruno has made a career of documentary projects, starting in 1996 with an examination of Canadian life during the long winter.


text:
The untreated wastewater contains pollutants and pathogenic organisms that are unsafe for people, animals, and aquatic life-forms. The wastewater is treated to a purification level set by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) before it is released to the Fox River. Our facility's treatment exceeds the level set by the IEPA. This in turn further reduces the impact on the Fox River and downstream users.
Show All Answers
The solids or Bio-solids are reused to treat the incoming wastewater. As the bio-solids increase a small portion is removed for "Digestion" and referred to as Sludge. The sludge is digested to further stabilize the organic matter to prevent rapid decomposition which creates odor, pathogenic organisms, and attracts bugs and vermin. Once the sludge is stabilized as much excess water as possible is removed and the sludge "cake" is hauled away to use as fertilizer on crops such as corn, soybean, and wheat.


text:
A week of DiS, as a playlist...you should probably have the gist of what this weekly digest is by now. So I shan't bore you with an explanation, simply bash your mouse here to open the playlist in Spotify and amongst the blathering below you'll find links to the best bits of this week...
SBTRKT 'Ready Set Loop'
He's still everywhere... like, H&M on Regents St was blasting the record last time I was in there. And with year-end-listageddon underway, his name is cropping up a lot, so it's little surprise he's been confirmed for Primavera 2012.
D/R/U/G/S 'Connected'
Not quite as hyper-hyped but his Manc' has got a single out this week, as reviewed by our Wendy in her weekly column about seven inches, love, loss, tea, cycling and life in general.
Factory Floor 'Two Different Ways (Original)'
If DiS was a pub, they'd be our house band and we'd lock them in the cellar at night and only let leave out when they've finished their album. They're predictably one of our must-see acts at Trans Musicales.
Blondes 'Spanish Fly'
If FF are our house band locked in our cellar, Blondes would be tied up in the attic beside our stuffed Wild Beasts and most fucked Fuck Buttons. However, with confirmation that their album is due in February, we'll let them out to play.
Tim Hecker 'The Piano Drop'
Easily the finest 'ambient' (for wont of a better word) album of the year. So graceful and gut-wrenching and generally really fuckin' good. Don't believe me? Look how many of our readers have already voted it one of the albums of year in the annual DiS Readers poll!
Can 'Bring Me Coffee or Tea'
10/10's don't get handed out willy-nilly. Read the 10/10 review.
AA Bondy 'The Twist'
Whilst not perfect, Believers received much praise from DiS' Al Horner in this 8/10 review, in which he named 'The Twist' one of the highlights.
Lykke Li 'Love Out Of Lust'
After all the fuss about her drizzly-dance debut album and her featuring on some huge ad campaigns for jeans, you'd think the return of Lykke Li woulda been not unlike the second coming. 'Difficult' second album syndrome, mixed with "we've got new toys to play with" idiocy has seemingly seen Wounded Rhymes oddly overlooked. But as anyone whose seen her live lately will attest, this lady has done some serious growing and the record rewards more and more with every listen. The folks at the Nordic Music Prize know wots-wut and have nominated Wounded Rhymes as one of their contenders for Nordic album of the year, and she's in great company...
R.E.M. 'Orange Crush'
DiS reviews editor Andrzej Lukowski is a big REM fan, yet he didn't award their parting shot 10/10. Why?.
Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks 'Senator'
Single of the Week! Single of the Week! Single of the Week!
Drake 'Headlines - Explicit Version'
Album of the year... is it? Isn't it?
Apparat Organ Quartet 'Konami'
Did you see their absolutely amazing guide to their gear? Like, proper nerdy but actually really enlightening. Go have a squizz if you missed it.
Seekae 'Two'
This lot toured with Mount Kimbie in their homeland of Australia earlier this year. Then they came over to the UK to play the DiS stage at Great Escape, supporting Luke Abbott. We rather like them, and with the record finally out in the UK, Jazz gave it a listen and wrote this 7/10 review.
Josh T. Pearson 'Sorry With A Song'
His record may have received 10/10 from one of our writers but will it be DiS' album of the year? We really couldn't say but if there was a prize for beard of the year, these photos from last week's show at the Barbican certainly seem as if we've found our winner...
Listen to this week on DiS as a playlist HERE and you'll find all our previous playlists compiled here. Speaking of which, what did everyone make of the new Spotify apps stuff? We thought about making one but didn't have the same resources to build something in time for the launch...especially as we're busy rebuilding the site for a 2012 relaunch...


text:
Giants' Cruz On New Deal: 'From What I Hear, They've Just Agreed On The Structure'
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- It seems Victor Cruz may soon get that much-desired -- and much-deserved -- bump in pay.
The Giants receiver made headlines last week when he told WFAN's Mike Francesa he wanted to sign a contract extension this season. On Tuesday, Cruz said everything was "moving in the right direction."
That may be an understatement.
"From what I hear, they've just agreed on the structure right now," Cruz told Francesa. "And that's all I'm at liberty to say."
LISTEN: Cruz talks contract with Mike
The Giants owe a total of $540,000 to Cruz for his services this season, after which the star wide receiver would become a restricted free agent. Cruz said he's been getting good news from his agent regarding negotiations.
"Hopefully this leads to the right track and we'll get it done sooner than later. ... I'm happy so far, so I can just relax and play some football," he said.
The 25-year-old Paterson, N.J., native set a franchise record with 1,536 receiving yards in last year's championship campaign. He has 52 receptions for 650 yards and seven touchdowns in eight games this season.
Last week, NFL analyst and ex-offensive lineman Ross Tucker said Cruz should consider a midseason holdout until his new deal is done. That was met with a firm "never" from the popular wideout.
Cruz, who voiced his desire for a new deal in February, vowed not to hold out of training camp, and sure enough he showed up on time in July. But he seemed to crack a bit for the first time Tuesday regarding future team activities.
"I want to just get it done now and like I said, not have it be a distraction in the offseason where I'm not showing up to minicamp and things like that," Cruz said. "I don't want that to become an issue. So I just want to get it done early, as early as possible, and just put it behind."
Cruz said he wants to spend "a large majority, if not all" of his career in New York.
A raise from Big Blue would be the first step.
"I just love it here," Cruz told Francesa. "It's home, the people have embraced me. I just love this place so much. I don't want to go anywhere, I don't want to play for any other organization at this point in my life. I want to be a New York Giant for a very long time."
How much should the Giants dole out to Mr. Salsa? Be heard in the comments below...
for more features.


text:
There comes a time in everyone's life when they should pull on a pair of pantalones festivos and that time is now. Last season the runway offered up various styles of pyjama pants, but fall's tailored take on the trend is definitely more sophisticated and something we think you should go buy now.
Last month Ashley Olsen provided us with an exemplary illustration of how chic fancy pants can look when she wore a high-waisted pair of black pleated trousers to the CFDA Fashion Awards. She wore the pants with a slim white shirt and a peplum jacket (all from Calvin Klein Collection Resort 2009) and, in doing so, gave us an interesting alternative to the cocktail or black tie frock.
Of course, you can also look to the fall runways for more ideas on how to style this excellent evening option. Yves Saint Laurent, Nina Ricci, and Costume National all sent out variations of the fancy pant, all of which were femmed up with skinny stiletto super heels and Gucci sunglasses —the key accessory for this look. While we like the pant in the new slouchy slack shape (which resembles a champagne flute, no?), traditionalists can opt for a classic slim fit trouser. Either way, just make sure the hem hits at the right place. We like the seven-eighths/ankle bone grazing length ourselves.
- Hengst Mission Pant ($303)
These ash-colored silk pants are by San Francisco designer Susan Hengst and we very much approve of the high waist, tapered leg, and cropped length. We don't see how it would be possible to wear them and not feel elegant.
- Mayle Nori Pant ($558)
We can't get over all the lovely details incorporated into these silk trousers. We adore all the subtle chinoiserie elements, especially the frog closures at the ankle and traditional tone-on-tone floral print.
- Philosophy di Alberta Ferretti Skinny Satin Pants ($545)
There's something very femme fatale about these super slim cigarette pants—we could totally see Charlize Theron slinking around in them. They're also quite flattering on the body, thanks to a pressed front seam (it helps to elongate your legs).
- Topshop Tapered Leg Trouser ($70)
The shape of these super affordable fancy trousers reminds us of the slouchy slacks on Isabel Marant's fall runway. The deep charcoal color is softer than black but just as chic.
- Diesel Sinsity Pants ($200)
We were also delighted to find that Diesel is offering an excellent fancy pant this season. Their pant has cool leather details and will be available in their New York store on Lexington, as well as on the Diesel website, starting on September 15th!


text:
To: The Caltech Community
From: Fiona Harrison, Benjamin M. Rosen Professor of Physics and Astronomy, and Chair, Faculty Search Committee; and David Lee, Chair, Board of Trustees, and Chair, Trustee Selection Committee
Today it is our great privilege to announce the appointment of Thomas F. Rosenbaum as the ninth president of the California Institute of Technology.
Dr. Rosenbaum, 58, is currently the John T. Wilson Distinguished Service Professor of Physics at the University of Chicago, where he has served as the university's provost for the past seven years. As a distinguished physicist and expert on condensed matter physics, Dr. Rosenbaum has explored the quantum mechanical nature of materials, making major contributions to the understanding of matter near absolute zero, where such quantum mechanical effects dominate. His experiments in quantum phase transitions in matter are recognized as having played a key role in placing these transitions on a theoretical level equivalent to that which has been developed for classical systems.
But Dr. Rosenbaum's scientific achievements were not solely what captured and held the attention of those involved in the presidential search. We on the search committee were impressed by Dr. Rosenbaum's deep dedication, as Chicago's provost, to both undergraduate and graduate education—both critical parts of Caltech's mission. He has had responsibility for an unusually broad range of institutions and intellectual endeavors. Among his achievements as provost was the establishment of the Institute for Molecular Engineering in 2011, the University of Chicago's very first engineering program, in collaboration with Argonne National Lab.
We also believe that Dr. Rosenbaum's focus on strengthening the intellectual ties between the University of Chicago and Argonne National Lab will serve him well in furthering the Caltech-JPL relationship.
As provost, Dr. Rosenbaum was also instrumental in establishing collaborative educational programs serving communities around Chicago's Hyde Park campus, including the university's founding of a four-campus charter school that was originally designed to further fundamental research in education but which has also achieved extraordinary college placement results for disadvantaged Chicago youths.
This successful conclusion to our eight-month presidential search was result of the hard work of the nine-member Faculty Search Committee, chaired by Fiona Harrison, and the 10-member Trustee Selection Committee, chaired by David Lee. We are grateful both to the trustees and faculty on our two committees who made our job so very easy as well as to those faculty, students, staff, and alumni who provided us with input and wisdom as we scoured the country for just the right person for our Caltech.
"Tom embodies all the qualities the faculty committee hoped to find in our next president," Harrison says. "He is a first-rate scholar and someone who understands at a deep level the commitment to fundamental inquiry that characterizes Caltech. He is also the kind of ambitious leader who will develop the faculty's ideas into the sorts of innovative ventures that will maintain Caltech's position of prominence in the next generation of science and technology."
"The combination of deep management experience and visionary leadership Tom brings will serve Caltech extremely well in the coming years," Lee adds. "The Board is excited about collaborating closely with Tom to propel the Institute to new levels of scientific leadership."
"The Caltech community's palpable and deep commitment to the Institute came through in all my conversations, and it forms the basis for Caltech's and JPL's lasting impact," Dr. Rosenbaum says. "It will be a privilege to work closely with faculty, students, staff, and trustees to explore new opportunities, building on Caltech's storied accomplishments."
Dr. Rosenbaum received his bachelor's degree in physics with honors from Harvard University in 1977, and both an MA and PhD in physics from Princeton University in 1979 and 1982, respectively. He did research at Bell Laboratories and at IBM Watson Research Center before joining the University of Chicago's faculty in 1983. Dr. Rosenbaum directed the university's Materials Research Laboratory from 1991 to 1994 and its interdisciplinary James Franck Institute from 1995 to 2001 before serving as vice president for research and for Argonne National Laboratory from 2002 to 2006. He was named the university's provost in 2007. His honors include an Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellowship, a Presidential Young Investigator Award, and the William McMillan Award for "outstanding contributions to condensed matter physics." Dr. Rosenbaum is an elected fellow of the American Physical Society, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
Joining the Caltech faculty will be Dr. Rosenbaum's spouse, Katherine T. Faber, the Walter P. Murphy Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at Northwestern University. Dr. Faber's research focuses on understanding stress fractures in ceramics, as well as on the fabrication of ceramic materials with controlled porosity, which are important as thermal and environmental barrier coatings for engine components. Dr. Faber is also the codirector of the Northwestern University-Art Institute of Chicago Center for Scientific Studies in the Arts (NU-ACCESS), which employs advanced materials science techniques for art history and restoration. Dr. Rosenbaum and Dr. Faber have two sons, Daniel, who graduated from the University of Chicago in 2012, and Michael, who is currently a junior there.
Dr. Rosenbaum will succeed Jean-Lou Chameau, who served the Institute from 2006 to 2013, and will take over the helm from interim president and provost Ed Stolper on July 1, 2014. The board, the search committee, and, indeed, the entire Institute owes Dr. Stolper a debt of gratitude for his unwavering commitment to Caltech, and for seamlessly continuing the Institute's forward momentum through his interim presidency.
As you meet Dr. Rosenbaum today and over the coming months, and learn more about his vision for Caltech's future, we believe that you will quickly come to see why he is so well suited to guide Caltech as we continue to pursue bold investigations in science and engineering, to ready the next generation of scientific and thought leaders, and to benefit humankind through research that is integrated with education.


text: Michelle Orange's articles and fiction have appeared in the New York Times, The Nation and McSweeney's. (She's also a founding literary editor of The Rumpus.) Her latest collection, "This Is Running For Your Life," artfully blends personal essay and her love of pop culture, especially film. We overhear an excerpt from "Do I Know You?" which analyzes an identity crisis, of sorts.


text:
Montreal artist and fabricator Ian Langohr is a multi-talented maker. He sculpts surreal and humorous over-the head masks — you may have seen his Zombie Cat Mask that I posted on Craft the other day. He also works on films and music videos building props, directing, animating, and illustrating (and he's a musician himself). He's done some rad wood carvings. And he's even made some simple mechanical devices, like fingers tapping on the table, and a head banging against the wall. Find out more about Ian in the 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 interview below!
One Project You Are Particularly Proud Of
1. Factory Face was a mask I worked on for most of 2011 while taking French lessons and working on contracts. There were so many times during the process that I wanted to give up because I thought it was too bizarre or unpolished. It is based on an old abandoned malting plant in my neighbourhood in Montreal that has been left to ruin. What makes it so interesting to me is the amount of graffiti and destruction it has endured over the decades. I didn't feel like this was translating well on the mask so I would take long breaks from it, but in its final months I put in a lot of hours painting and adding details to it until I was satisfied. I think at present it stands as my favorite piece I've created.
Two Mistakes You've Made in the Past
1. Trying to work on multiple projects and commissions at once instead of focusing on one and seeing it through.
2. Being a horrible salesperson. This still reigns true. If people inquire about a purchase I feel like I unintentionally try to talk them out of it.
Three Things That Make Your Work Unique
1. The techniques used to make the masks. I spent almost two years working at a mascot production company in Toronto. We did some really cool projects there, but most of the time it was generic sports and product mascots. When I started designing my own masks, I wanted to use the same techniques I learned there, but make the subjects more twisted and surreal.
2. The functionality of the masks. I've displayed them at shows as sculptures as well as used them for performances and events. I also play drums in a Montreal based band, Trips and Falls, and we used some of them to make a music video.
3. Accessibility. My work can be dark, but at the same time playful and humorous. I often get positive responses from audiences of all generations.
Four Tools You Love to Use
1. Carving knives. From my Lee Valley whittling knife for wood to X-Acto blades used for foam.
2. Airbrush. It is still a relatively new tool for me, and I have in no sense mastered it, but its use on the masks really gives them a dynamic effect and brings them to life.
3. Curved sewing needle. I've only learned one way of stitching, but it's been vital to making my masks. And one of the most satisfying feelings in the process is closing up those seams.
4. Lepage Pres-Tite Green Contact Cement. More of a product than a tool, but it's almost odourless and I can use it without proper ventilation.
Five Inspirations
1. Shows and photography focused on animals and nature. Especially BBC's Planet Earth series.
2. Abandoned factories. Montreal has some great ones. I would love to do a series of masks similar to Factory Face.
3. Horror/fantasy novels and films.
4. Instructors throughout my life. There are too many to list, but I've had some great ones in high school, university and throughout my working career.
5. Those close to me. My supportive family, friends, girlfriend, and two cats.
2 thoughts on "5, 4, 3, 2, 1 Things About Ian Langohr"
love it…you are an amazing young man wish you all the best on your arts
Comments are closed.
Join Make: Community Today


text:
Flexhub Beta 0.2 svn 1469 - Synology NAS DSM 6.0 | ||
flexhub-1469-x86-DSM6-3.spk | ||
Filesize: 7.67MB Views: (20766) Downloads (16559) Last Download: Yesterday at 22:32:36 | ||
Previous Download | Next Download | ||
Description: FlexHub package for Synology NAS devices running DiskStation DSM 6.0 or higher, with x86 Cedarview, Bromolow or Braswell Intel processors. WARNING: Before uninstalling an existing FlexHub package, make a backup of the entire shared flexhub folder (usually on volume1) BEFORE uninstalling the package! Due to a bug in the previous uninstall script all settings and the shared folder are removed even when you choose to 'Keep files and shared folder'. To be able to install the package you may have to change the trustlevel to 'Any publisher' in Package Center settings. This package is suitable for the following models (all containing an Intel x86 processor): DS114+, DS214play, DS411+, DS411+ II, DS412+, DS710+, DS712+, DS713+, DS714, DS1010+, DS1511+, DS1512+, DS1513+, DS1812+, DS1813+, DS2411+, DS2413+, DS3611xs, DS3612xs, RS810+/RS810RP+, RS812+/RS812RP+, RS2211+/RS2211RP+, RS2212+/RS2212RP+, RS3411xs/RS3411RPxs, RS3412xs/RS3412RPxs. Update 2016-05-04: Braswell processor also supported now, for models DS216+ and DS716+ Update 2016-09-12: Rangeley processor also supported now, for models RS815+ and DS1815+ We haven't been able to test them all ofcourse, so if you encounter any problems on any of the systems above, please let me know. The package installation asks for a loginname and password, those will be set as hubowner account and with those details you can login using a DC client, ApexDC++ is recommended. Installation will then ask to choose a port, choose a free port (for example 411) and make sure that port is properly forwarded to your NAS IP. If you want to use settings from a backup, after installing the package stop the hub first, then copy the files to the shared flexhub folder, then start the hub again. September 12, 2016, 00:29:55 Linking Codes
Comments |
Powered by: Download System by CreateAForum.com


text:
The Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement and the Canadian Patient Safety Institute are now amalgamated as a new organization, Healthcare Excellence Canada.CFHI and CPSI are now amalgamated as a new organization, Healthcare Excellence Canada.
From webinars and workshops to fellowships, leadership development and shared learning programs, we offer a range of ways you can learn by doing. Here are the current programs, events, webinars and employment opportunities. Join us to make change happen.
We are a core group of dedicated staff, coaches, faculty and partners spread across the country, on a mission to collaborate with you to improve healthcare. We believe in our collective power for change.
In March 2021, Healthcare Excellence Canada launched, bringing together the Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement and Canadian Patient Safety Institute. Essential Together content can now be found on HEC's new website.
Check it out


text:
Apple today said it sold more iPads on Saturday than it sold first-generation iPhones in 2007 over a two-day period.
The 300,000 number that Apple touted included deliveries of pre-ordered iPads, sales at Apple's retail stores and shipments to its partners, the company said. The only other retail outlet selling iPads on Saturday was Best Buy.
In 2007, Apple reported selling 270,000 iPhones during the new smartphone's first two days of availability. Apple did not accept pre-orders for the iPhone before its June 29, 2007 launch. Instead, thousands lined up outside the company's retail stores, some waiting for days, to get their hands on the smartphone.
"The iPad did pretty much what I expected," said Ezra Gottheil, an analyst with Technology Business Research, as he compared the 300,000 iPads sold on Saturday to the iPhone launch three years ago.
Brian Marshall of BroadPoint AmTech estimated that Apple sold closer to half a million iPads over the weekend. Before Apple's sales announcement, Marshall had issued a research note to clients that put total iPad sales at 525,000 for Saturday and Sunday.
Today, he defended that number. "I still feel comfortable with my estimate," he said, explaining that earlier he had figured Apple would sell two-thirds of the 525,000 on Saturday, one-third the next day. He had projected lower sales for Sunday because some Apple and Best Buy stores were closed yesterday for the Easter holiday.
By that calculation, his estimate for Saturday alone -- 346,000 -- was about 15% above Apple's stated sales number. Using Marshall's two-thirds Saturday, one-third Sunday formula, Apple would have sold approximately 450,000 iPads total.
"In other words, the launch was great," said Marshall.
During the run-up to Saturday's launch, investment blogger Daniel Tello used iPad order numbers submitted by volunteers at Investor Village's AAPL Sanity message board to estimate pre-sales . Tello's last estimate, made on March 26, was that Apple had taken 240,000 pre-orders, a number that did not account for in-store reservations or bulk orders by businesses, schools and other organizations.
According to Marshall, Apple sold more iPads at its retail stores and through Best Buy over the weekend than it did in the three weeks of pre-orders, which were delivered to most customers Saturday.
However, unlike during the launch of the first-generation iPhone, Apple didn't exhaust its inventory of iPads. "Based on our spot checks, only a couple stores (San Francisco, Boston) were out completely or had very limited supply of the 16/32GB models, while the 64GB model was still plentiful," Marshall said in his note. "In general, it appears supply has not been an issue over the weekend."
Marshall's earnings model assumes Apple will sell about four million iPads this year, but as he had previously, today he said that number was conservative. "I think they'll sell closer to seven million," he said.
"I see the implications of the iPad as much more grandiose than the [first-generation] iPhone," Marshall concluded today in a telephone interview. "Its Apple's stepping stone into the living room, and key to its plan to ultimately integrate the home office and the living room."
Apple's online store continues to show a ship date for the WiFi-only iPad of April 12, while the model that also includes 3G connectivity is to launch later this month.


text:
The federal government has refused to give the final green light to the $2.2 billion Tamar Valley pulp mill.
In a shock development, federal environment minister Peter Garrett announced in Sydney early this afternoon that he had knocked back three of the required 12 environmental permits for the Gunns pulp mill.
Mr Garrett said federal environmental approval for the proposed Tasmanian pulp mill would not be granted until detailed studies on the potential marine impacts have been completed.
More here.


text:
Buying a home is definitely a large investment. There are a lot of things that should be thought about, but what if renting your home is actually a better investment for you and your family? And what if buying your next home is clearly the better and wiser choice?
We bought our house when we were very young. We were 20 and had rented a house for a little over 2 years before, but knew we were ready. Buying a house was nearly the same amount as renting an apartment, and it was actually CHEAPER than renting an actual house in the area. Luckily our house is worth nearly the same amount of what we bought it for a couple of years ago and hasn't bit hurt too badly by the housing market.
However, it did hurt some areas of our lives in that dreams of traveling constantly were definitely put on hold. We do wish we would have waited a little longer, just to find the perfect house instead of being rushed by our lease being up.
Here are some factors which should be considered:
How long do you expect to live there?
How long do you think you will stay at this residence? If you are going to buy a house, it is generally said that you should try and live there for around 5 years or longer in order to make it valuable and worthy as an investment. If you are only going to live somewhere for a couple of months or even just one year, then renting is probably a better bet. This is because the cost of buying and selling would be too high if you don't live i n a house long enough.
If you buy a house and don't expect to live in that city long, it can also hurt or delay your plans. There is a lot less flexibility if you want to switch jobs or anything else. If you want to travel the world, then a house might hold you back because you will always have that mortgage to pay (which means you would have two residences to pay for at once).
Where I live (the Midwest), the cost of buying your own house and renting an apartment are nearly the same. The cost of living and housing is very cheap in the Midwest, which makes buying your house almost always a better bet.
Of course there are cheap apartments, but when you are comparing buying versus renting a home that are similar, then that's where you might be able to see the value in buying instead of renting.
However, as we all know, there are many areas in the world where the cost of housing is very high. A house here in the Midwest might be very nice and big and only cost $250,000. Whereas this same house might cost $800,000 or more in a different area such as Los Angeles.
All costs should be thought about when you decide to buy a house. Will you be able to afford it still if something goes wrong? Something such as a furnace might cost over $5,000 to fix. Then there is also the roof, mowing the lawn, fixing broken windows, repairing driveways, and so on. The list of possible maintenance is endless.
The other costs included are home insurance and property taxes as well. Our property taxes are over $200 per month (we pay it annually though), so it definitely adds up quickly.
If you rented instead, then most of these costs and maintenance would just transfer to your landlord and the worries of something breaking would not be yours.


text: LAST 2 DAYS!!! CFP: Smart Sensor Protocols and Algorithms (SSPA2013) - Dalian, China, December 11-13, 2013 [Please accept our apologies if you receive multiple copies of this email] *********************** CFP ******************************* Smart Sensor Protocols and Algorithms (SSPA2013) http://jlloret.webs.upv.es/sspa2013/index.html in conjunction with The 9th International Conference on Mobile Ad-hoc and Sensor Networks (MSN2013) Dalian, China, December 11-13, 2013. http://ncc.dlut.edu.cn/msn2013/ SCOPE: Smart Sensor protocols and algorithms make use of several methods and techniques (such as machine learning techniques, decision making techniques, knowledge representation, network optimization, problem solution techniques, and so on), to establish communication between network devices. They can be used to perceive the network conditions, or the user behavior, in order to dynamically plan, adapt, decide, take the appropriate actions, and learn from the consequences of their actions. The algorithms can make use of the information gathered from the protocol in order to sense the environment, plan actions according to the input, take consciousness of what is happening in the environment, and take the appropriate decisions using a reasoning engine. Goals such as decide which scenario fits best its end-to-end purpose, or environment prediction, can be achieved with smart protocols and algorithms. Moreover, they could learn from the past and use this knowledge to improve future decisions. In this workshop, researchers are encouraged to submit papers focused on the design, development, analysis or optimization of smart sensor protocols or algorithms at any communication layer. Algorithms and protocols based on artificial intelligence techniques for network management, network monitoring, quality of service enhancement, performance optimization and network secure are included in the workshop. This conference edition once again targets to gather researchers from academia and industrial sectors to present anal ytical research, simulations, practical results, position papers addressing the pros and cons of specific proposals, and advances in sensor protocols and algorithms. The topics suggested by the conference can be discussed in term of concepts, state of the art, standards, deployments, implementations, running experiments and applications. TOPICS OF INTEREST: Authors are invited to submit complete unpublished papers, which are not under review in any other conference or journal, including, but are not limited to, the following topic areas: Reasoning and learning techniques for sensing environment pollution Smart route prediction in vehicular sensor networks Smart data aggregation in vehicular sensor networks Smart multimedia network protocols and algorithms for WSNs Application layer, transport layer and network layer cognitive protocols Cognitive radio network protocols and algorithms Automatic protocols and algorithms for environment prediction Algorithms and protocols to predict data network states Intel ligent synchronization techniques for sensor network protocols and algorithms Smart sensor protocols and algorithms for e-health Software applications for smart algorithms design and development in WSNs Dynamic protocols based on the perception of their performance Smart protocols and algorithms for Smartgrids Protocols and algorithms focused on building conclusions for taking the appropriate actions Smart Automatic and self-autonomous WSNs Artificial intelligence applied in protocols and algorithms for WSNs Smart security protocols and algorithms in WSNs Smart cryptographic algorithms for communication in WSNs Artificial intelligence applied to power efficiency and energy saving protocols and algorithms Smart routing and switching protocols and algorithms in WSNs Cognitive protocol and algorithm models for saving communication costs Any kind of intelligent technique applied to QoS, content delivery, network Monitoring and network mobility management Smart cooperative protocols and algorithms WSNs Problem re cognition and problem solving protocols for WSNs Genetic algorithms, fuzzy logic and neural networks applied to WSNs IMPORTANT DATES: Submission deadline: 15th of September 2013 Author notification: 12th of October 2013 Camera-ready version: 27th of October Registration Deadline: 16th of November 2013 Workshop Dates: 11-13th of December 2013 SUBMISSION GUIDELINES: Authors are invited to submit original and unpublished papers. Papers presenting original and unpublished work are invited and will be evaluated based on originality, significance, technical soundness, and clarity of exposition. Submitted papers should be in PDF format and uploaded on easychair. The submission website is https://www.easychair.org/conferences/?conf=sspa2013. The submitted paper should not exceed eight single-spaced, double-column pages in IEEE style format. Detailed formatting and submission guidelines is available on the conference website. Submissions imply the willingness of at least one author to register, attend the conferen ce, and present the paper. SPECIAL ISSUES: Network Protocols and Algorithms COMMITTEES: General Chairs Jaime Lloret Mauri, Universitat Politècnica València, Spain Kayhan Zrar Ghafoor, University of Koya, Kurdistan Region-Iraq TPC Chairs Miguel Garcia Pineda, Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, Spain Ali Safa, Universiti of Teknologi Malaysia, Malaysia Panel & Tutorial Chairs Sandra Sendra compte, Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, Spain Rashid Khokhar, Charles Sturt University, Australia Web Chair Alejandro Cánovas Solbes, Universitat Politècnica València, Spain


text:
AKA Caesar Titus Aelius Hadrianus Antoninus Augustus Pius
Born: 19-Sep-86 ADBirthplace: Lanuvium, LatiumDied: 7-Mar-161 ADLocation of death: Lorium, EtruriaCause of death: FeverRemains: Buried, Castel Sant'Angelo, Rome, Italy
Gender: MaleRace or Ethnicity: WhiteSexual orientation: StraightOccupation: Royalty
Nationality: Ancient RomeExecutive summary: Roman Emperor, 138-161 AD
Roman emperor during 131 to 161 AD, the son of Aurelius Fulvus, a Roman consul whose family had originally belonged to Nemausus (Nimes), was born near Lanuvium on the 19th of September 86. After the death of his father, he was brought up under the care of Arrius Antoninus, his maternal grandfather, a man of integrity and culture, and on terms of friendship with the younger Pliny. Having filled with more than usual success the offices of quaestor and praetor, he obtained the consulship in 120; he was next chosen one of the four consulars for Italy, and greatly increased his reputation by his conduct as proconsul of Asia. He acquired much influence with the emperor Hadrian, who adopted him as his son and successor on the 25th of February 138, after the death of his first adopted son Aelius Verus, on condition that he himself adopted Marcus Annius Verus, his wife's brother's son, and Lucius, son of Aelius Verus, afterwards the emperors Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus (colleague of Marcus Aurelius). A few months afterwards, on Hadrian's death, he was enthusiastically welcomed to the throne by the Roman people, who, for once, were not disappointed in their anticipation of a happy reign. For Antoninus came to his new office with simple tastes, kindly disposition, extensive experience, a well-trained intelligence and the sincerest desire for the welfare of his subjects. Instead of plundering to support his prodigality, he emptied his private treasury to assist distressed provinces and cities, and everywhere exercised rigid economy (hence the nickname "cummin-splitter"). Instead of exaggerating into treason whatever was susceptible of unfavorable interpretation, he turned the very conspiracies that were formed against him into opportunities of signalizing his clemency. Instead of stirring up persecution against the Christians, he extended to them the strong hand of his protection throughout the empire. Rather than give occasion to that oppression which he regarded as inseparable from an emperor's progress through his dominions, he was content to spend all the years of his reign in Rome, or its neighborhood. Under his patronage the science of jurisprudence was cultivated by men of high ability, and a number of humane and equitable enactments were passed in his name. Of the public transactions of this period we have but scant information, but, to judge by what we possess, those twenty-two years were not remarkably eventful. One of his first acts was to persuade the senate to grant divine honors to Hadrian, which they had at first refused; this gained him the title of Pius (dutiful in affection). He built temples, theaters, and mausoleums, promoted the arts and sciences, and bestowed honors and salaries upon the teachers of rhetoric and philosophy. His reign was comparatively peaceful. Insurrections amongst the Moors, Jews, and Brigantes in Britain were easily put down. The one military result which is of interest to us now is the building in Britain of the wall of Antoninus from the Forth to the Clyde. In his domestic relations Antoninus was not so fortunate. His wife, Faustina, has almost become a byword for her lack of womanly virtue; but she seems to have kept her hold on his affections to the last. On her death he honored her memory by the foundation of a charity for orphan girls, who bore the name of Alimentariae Faustinianae. He had by her two sons and two daughters; but they all died before his elevation to the throne, except Annia Faustina, who became the wife of Marcus Aurelius. Antoninus died of fever at Lorium in Etruria, about 12 miles from Rome, on the 7th of March 161, giving the keynote to his life in the last word that he uttered when the tribune of the night-watch came to ask the password -- aequanimitas.
Father: Aurelius Fulvus (Roman consul)Father: Hadrian (Emperor, adopted as his successor)Wife: Faustina (d. 140 AD)Son: Marcus Aurelius (adopted, later Emperor)Son: Lucius Verus (adopted, later Emperor)Daughter: Faustina the Younger (m. Marcus Aurelius)
Roman Emperor 138-161 AD
Do you know something we don't? Submit a correction or make a comment about this profile
Copyright ©2019 Soylent Communications


text:
February 9, 2012
Chase County brothers establish scholarship at K-State in honor of family
In a world where many high school students are unsure of what their future holds beyond high school, those who make the jump to college find themselves facing some of the toughest challenges they've ever met. Imagine growing up in a small rural community, graduating from high school in a class of 44 students and transitioning into one of 15,000.
To say the experience is overwhelming is an understatement.
In the case of Mike and Mark Brown, brothers from Cottonwood Falls, Kan., it was the welcoming spirit of the K-State community — many of whom also come from rural backgrounds — that made the shift into college life easier and had a profound effect on their personal and professional lives.
Mike Brown lives in Hockessin, Del., with his wife Pam, and Mark Brown lives in Gilbert, Ariz., with his wife Brenda. Graduates of the K-State College of Engineering, the Brown brothers attribute their success to their upbringing in Chase County — where their parents still live — and their K-State education. As a result, they've established the Brown Family Scholarship to provide students from Chase County with the same opportunity to attend K-State.
"The values I developed growing up in Kansas and Chase County are reflected in all aspects of K-State; the students, faculty and administration," Mark Brown said. "That someone from Chase County will have the same opportunity to attend K-State is exciting."
"Pam and I are proud of being born and raised in Kansas and educated at K-State, where we first met," Mike Brown said. "We want to provide support and encouragement to new students so they too may have the 'K-State experience' that has provided us with 32-year careers and a wonderful 32-year marriage."
The brothers hope the teachers in Chase County can use the scholarship as a tool as they counsel and guide students from the area to Manhattan — and that the recipients will use their K-State degrees and Kansas values to leave their own legacy for future generations. To them, it's all about honoring the sacrifices their parents made to support them financially while they attended K-State — a gift that not every student has the opportunity to receive. They both firmly believe in the power of philanthropy and its potential to make a true difference in people's lives.
"Philanthropy is supporting, through whatever means possible, those organizations, individuals or causes which you value the most," Mark Brown said. "It's putting into action our teachings of helping our fellow man. Brenda and I have been blessed with good fortunes, but we were not fortunate to have children, so we support two great organizations with time and funding, that serve children and young adults."
"For us, philanthropy is about giving and sharing so that others can have a chance at the opportunities that K-State offered us through an education, careers and friendship. We feel blessed and owe a great deal of thanks to K-State, and this gift as a way of showing our gratitude," Mike Brown said.
"I think there are a lot of kids in small towns that sometimes struggle with envisioning their future outside of where they grew up. We want to give them a tool to help them expand their horizons — to be able to use their hometown as a springboard to their future. We want them to know that 'you can get there from here," he said.


text:
Darkfield MicroscopyThe Intel QX3 microscope is designed exclusively for work using brightfield illumination in which the specimen is illuminated either with transmitted or reflected light. This mode of illumination is perfectly adequate for examining transparent stained specimens with transmitted light or for reflected light observation of opaque specimens such as insects, integrated circuits, plants, and other dense objects. An alternative to standard brightfield illumination, commonly used in optical microscopy, is darkfield illumination, which is a simple and popular method for making unstained objects clearly visible. Many specimens, including living cells and small aquatic organisms such as algae and protozoans, are difficult to visualize with brightfield microscopy because their refractive index is very close to water, the surrounding medium. Other specimens difficult to detect with brightfield transmitted light are diatoms, fibers, hair and fur, mineral thin sections, and small insects. These are ideal candidates for illumination with a darkfield microscope. Darkfield illumination requires blocking out of the central light that ordinarily passes through and around the specimen, allowing only those rays converging at oblique angles to strike the specimen. This results in a brightly illuminated specimen appearing on a very dark background, which greatly increases contrast and visibility of the specimen. Ordinary laboratory or teaching microscopes are equipped with a substage condenser that can be easily modified for darkfield illumination as described in our microscopy primer. The Intel QX3 microscope can also be modified for darkfield microscopy using the reflected light illuminator that is housed in the microscope body. Figure 1 illustrates such a microscope configuration for darkfield illumination. In order to prepare the Intel QX3 for darkfield microscopy, a 2-inch square section of black paper is cut and taped over the diffusion filter screen to block stray light passing from the light mixing chamber. Next, the object to be observed in darkfield is placed on top of the black paper and illuminated with the lamp that resides in the microscope body, or with the aid of external oblique illumination from a second source. Choose a paper that is very course and will not reflect light very efficiently. Black construction paper is ideal for this purpose. This form of darkfield illumination does not conform to the classic conditions for either transmitted or reflected darkfield microscopy, but is actually a hybrid method taking advantage of reflected light illumination phenomena of miniature specimens on a dark background. The basic principles of this method are illustrated in Figure 2. Illuminating white light from oblique sources (including the QX3 body lamp) is directed at a microscopic specimen on a dark background. Much of the light strikes the backgound and is absorbed, but some light strikes the specimen and is scattered, refracted, and reflected back into the objective. Through the microscope, the specimen appears brightly illuminated on a dark background as illustrated in Figures 4 through 6. This serves to enhance contrast of specimens that would otherwise be very difficult to detect in brightfield illumination. Specimen illumination intensity is a critical factor in reflected darkfield microscopy using the Intel QX3 computer microscope. Without some type of auxiliary oblique illumination, the QX3 body lamp is inadequate in providing the necessary illumination to capture images of the quality displayed in Figures 4 through 6. To assist this lamp in specimen illumination, we suggest the use of external auxiliary light sources similar to the one illustrated in Figure 3. The microscope configuration in Figure 3 capitalizes on additional lighting from a 150-watt quartz halogen illuminator, which funnels light into two quartz fiber optics light guides that can be directed at the specimen. Lamp intensity is controlled by a potentiometer knob on the faceplate of the housing, and this gives the lamp quite a bit of latitiude when adjusting specimen illumination. Lighting angles are also adjustable over a wide range due to the flexibility of the light guides. If a high-intensity quartz halogen illuminator is not available, there are a variety of high-intensity "Tensor"-style desk lamps commercially available at department stores nationwide. When choosing a desk lamp for use the with QX3, pick the models that have the greatest degree of latitude in positioning the lamp. Models with flexible arms are the ideal choice. A good alternative to the high-intensity desk lamp is the "Snakelight"-style flashlight, which has a flexible arm connecting the battery pack to the lamp. This light source is not as intense as the desk lamps, but it should provide adequate illumination. To test the microscope configuration, some of the best specimens are the minute organisms found in ponds and lakes. Collect the samples from areas that have decaying vegetation and are rich in these tiny aquatic organisms. A good sampling of pond water will contain an abundance of plant matter, silica from sand and small rocks, and a variety of algae, protozoans, diatoms, rotifers, crustaceans, larve and other creatures. Place a small Petri dish full of the pond water on the stand just below the microscope body and focus the microscope. Look for movement and increase the magnification until the creatures become visible. Two small plastic Petri dishes included with the Intel QX3 microscope are ideal for this experiment. If clean glass or plastic microscope slides and coverslips are available, it is perferable to place a drop or two of pond water directly on the slide and carefully cover it with a coverslip. This minimizes reflections from the top of the pond water, a problem when viewing microorganisms in a Petri dish. Specimens will appear much sharper and it is possible to record better digital images when the microscope slides and coverslips are used. Illustrated in Figure 4 is a digital image of a planaria taken with an Intel QX3 microscope operating in reflected darkfield mode using the 60x objective. Note the tiny light-sensitive eye spots that appear as two small dark ellipses on the "head" of the organism. The planaria is winding its way through some sediment in the water and is trying to avoid light from the microscope. There are an abundance of creatures that can be seen and photographed in the pond water including the fly nymph illustrated in Figure 5 below. These immature flies can maneuver very quickly so you will have to be fast to capture an image of them. Several chemical agents that act to slow down the movements of protozoa and other pond creatures are commercially available. One of the most popular is Boreal Quieting Solution that is available from the educational science supply distributor Boreal Laboratories. A couple of drops of this solution will retard the movements and relax microorganisms such as Paramecium, Euglena and Stentor. A 100 milliliter bottle of Boreal costs about 12 to 15 dollars. Chemical motion retardants are available from most science supply houses, so check catalogs from other manufacturers to find an alternative to Boreal. The science supply resellers also offer culture kits and an "Instant Protozoa Dry Pond Mix" for people who do not have access to fresh water ponds. As we mentioned above, there are a wide variety of other specimens that are difficult to image with brightfield illumination, but which yield excellent images in darkfield microscopy. Several examples are fibers and hairs, similar to the image of Chinese Goat hair illustrated in Figure 6 below. The image was taken using the highest-power 200x objective, which is the most difficult Intel QX3 microscope objective to focus. Part of the fun surrounding this incredible computer microscope is the hunt for exciting specimens to image. Small insects such as ants, mites, aphids, and fleas make excellent candidates for imaging in darkfield illumination. Live insects can be immobilized by placing them on double-sided sticky tape and transferring the tape to a microscope slide. Other interesting specimens include carpet fibers, butterfly and moth wings, sawdust, soap bubbles, ground spices, and many other things found around the house and in the garden. Adding darkfield illumination to the Intel QX3 toolkit expands the capabilities of the microscope and increases the number of interesting specimens that can be digitally imaged. BACK TO INTEL QX3 SPECIALIZED TECHNIQUES Questions or comments? Send us an email.© 1995-2022 by Michael W. Davidson and The Florida State University. All Rights Reserved. No images, graphics, software, scripts, or applets may be reproduced or used in any manner without permission from the copyright holders. Use of this website means you agree to all of the Legal Terms and Conditions set forth by the owners.
This website is maintained by our


text:
TechRadar Verdict
Its built-in recorder is the highlight of this good all-round Full HD plasma
- +
Built in recorder
- +
Impressive picture quality
- +
Good standard-def upscaling
- +
Looks good
- -
- -
Lacklustre black levels
Why you can trust TechRadar
Plasma TVs with built-in hard disk drives for making recordings are a rare breed.
To our mind there are only a few other flatscreens TVs in existence that offer the same capabilities – LG's Freeview Playback LT75 LCD TVs and Loewe's rather expensive Individual Compose 40.
Not that Hitachi's first stab at this emerging market, the 50in P50XR01, could be called a bargain. At a cool £2,300 (although we spotted it for as little as £1,600 online), the P50XR01 builds-in a massive 250GB hard drive (around 100 hours) behind a panel that's pixel-packed, all atop a motorised swivel stand.
The TV's 1920 x 1080 resolution ensures that 1080p pictures available on PS3 or Xbox360 games and Blu-ray discs have the best platform.
Superior spec plasma
A matt and acrylic bezel lends some style to proceedings, but the real beauty lies under its hood: a 250GB hard disk drive and three HDMI v1.3 inputs, meaning improved colours. Hitachi's own Picture Master processing engine also ramps up the image.
Other connectivity of note includes a PC input, digital audio output, an SD card reader, and USB slots for getting your digital photos onto the screen – from a PC or direct from a camera – with the minimum of fuss.
There's also a set of component video inputs, which makes it possible to connect four high definition sources to the P50XR01. As most Xbox 360s feed HD games into a TV this way, component video is still an vital feature, despite the ubiquity of HDMI.
But, Hitachi's first Full HD plasma is not all about high definition, though, despite its enormous resolution. The P50XR01's chief boast – and what almost makes it unique, is the combination of hard disk drive and two digital TV tuners.
Record TV
Five picture quality settings are supplied, but we would advise you use the TS mode – recordings from the built-in digital tuner (though you can record from any source attached) are immaculate.
There's no Freeview Playback compatibility, so series links can't be set, but the ability to pause, rewind and chase live playback will be irresistible to some – as well as recording one channel while you watch another.
All built-in, this kind of capability does comes at an aesthetic cost, however. The P50XR01 is pretty bulky, though it's worth bearing in mind that its special skills do save you the hassle of attaching an external digibox or DVD/HDD recorder.
Disappointing black levels
Using our test disc of Spider-Man 3 on Blu-ray, it's obvious from the outset that the P50XR01 is a smooth operator. Quick pans across NYC are fluid and motion handling in general is superb.
If you are upgrading from a CRT TV, you'll probably notice that this set's blacks are less-than-perfect.
Unfortunately, that's a downside of all but the most expensive plasma TVs, although the problem is much worse on LCD TVs. Spidey's black suit might not look perfect, but blacks are deep enough to allow the fabulous colours of Spider-Man 3 to shine through.
Nasties begone
High definition pictures contain a delicious mix of high detail and colour, but the P50XR01 is no slouch when it comes to standard-def either upscaling it to snugly fit the screen without any video nasties creeping into the equation.
There are better picture performers out there, but not many – and certainly none with as much functionality as the P50XR01. Expensive, but just about worth it.
The TechRadar hive mind. The Megazord. The Voltron. When our powers combine, we become 'TECHRADAR TEAM'. You'll usually see this author name when the entire team has collaborated on a project or an article, whether that's a run-down ranking of our favorite Marvel films, or a round-up of all the coolest things we've collectively seen at annual tech shows like CES and MWC. We are one.


text:
Fredric Baur dreamed up the original Pringles can. Now he's buried in one.
In 1966, Baur came up with a clever way for Procter & Gamble to stack chips uniformly rather than tossing them in a bag. He was so proud of the achievement, he wanted to go to his grave with it. So when Baur died last month, his children buried the 89-year-old's ashes in one of his iconic cans.
"When my dad first raised the burial idea in the 1980s, I chuckled about it," Baur's eldest son Larry, 49, told TIME. Larry Baur quickly realized his father was serious. Family jokes circulated about the Pringles plan, but no one questioned the elder Baur's decision. So when Frederic Baur died after a battle with Alzheimer's, Larry and his siblings stopped at Walgreen's for a burial can of Pringles on their way to the funeral home. "My siblings and I briefly debated what flavor to use," Baur says, "but I said, 'Look, we need to use the original.'"
If there were a junk food hall of fame, the original Pringles can would stand proudly next to a Toblerone pyramid in the exhibit on ingenious packaging shapes. Baur's canister has become a treasured symbol of snack culture around the globe, as recognizable as a Hershey bar or Coke can from Argentina to Zambia.
"It's all about the inherent beauty and power of uniformity," says Eric Spitznagle, author of The Junk Food Companion. "Every chip looks the same, acts the same."
Not everyone liked the Pringles can when it first hit the market. "People resented it," says Phil Lempert, founder of supermarketguru.com. Uniform chips didn't jell with 1960s-era individualism, he says. "You gave up the fun of eating potato chips, looking for the big ones, the small ones, the ones shaped liked Elvis." Lempert said it took consumers years to appreciate Pringles' uniform size, shape and color. "The Pringles can was a revolution within the realm of snack food," says Baur.
Although Fredric Baur earned a Ph.D. in organic chemistry and served in the Navy as an aviation physiologist, the Pringles can proved his biggest hit. At one point Baur engineered a freeze-dried, just-add-milk ice-cream product called Coldsnap. Despite a product team that included a young Steve Ballmer, now Microsoft's CEO, the elder Baur achieved more success with his can than the cone.
Baur's Pringles can helped inspire a burst of innovation in supermarket product packaging. In the tradition of the culinary pioneers who transformed Toblerone into a pyramid, cheese into string and doughnut holes into round Munchkins, here are a few post-Baur supermarket design triumphs.
Design Innovation: Reimagined flat, drab soap dispensers as sleek, rounded objects of translucent elegance and refinement.
Design Innovation: Stuffed a mop into a box.
Design Innovation: Fixed the stuck-ketchup problem by following the lead of toothpaste and shampoo containers. In other words, Heinz finally turned the bottle upside down.
Design Innovation: Rebranded mints with an identifiable sound, a catchy name and a clear, pocket-fitting rectangular box. The same marketers who brought Nutella to the U.S. made these miniature pill-shaped breath fresheners the candy world's cutest icons.


text:
In this revised volume, Gleason Archer's original study is updated by author Dillon Burroughs. It approaches the study of the Old Testament from both a general and specific point of view.
Dealing first with issues over which many scholars debate, Archer offers evidence to support the conservative view of canonicity, historicity, inspiration, textual problems, and higher criticism. The second section dissects each book of the Old Testament individually. Archer thoroughly covers issues like biblical creationism; Noah's Ark and the flood; authorship; chronology; and alleged language, style, and theme differences.
A Survey of Old Testament Introduction is invaluable to students and laymen who want to understand the conservative position of Old Testament issues and are not afraid to examine critical views.


text:
PRETORIA, South Africa — Oscar Pistorius was not suffering from a mental illness when he killed girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp and was able to understand the wrongfulness of what he had done, according to psychiatric reports submitted Monday at the Olympic athlete's murder trial.
The conclusions by a panel of experts, read aloud by chief prosecutor Gerrie Nel, appeared to remove the possibility that the double-amputee runner could be declared not guilty because of a mental disorder, which would result in his being committed to a mental institution.
The court-ordered evaluation was conducted during a one-month break in the trial, after a psychiatrist testifying for the defense, Dr. Merryll Vorster, said that Pistorius had an anxiety disorder that may have contributed to the shooting in his home in the early hours of Feb. 14, 2013. Pistorius said he feels vulnerable because of his disability and long-held worry about crime, Vorster noted.
Nel had requested an independent inquiry into Pistorius' state of mind, suggesting that the defense might argue that the athlete was not guilty because of mental illness. The examination was conducted at a state psychiatric hospital by a psychologist and three psychiatrists.
On Monday, Nel announced the findings when the trial resumed. However, he quoted only briefly from the conclusions, and the entire reports were not publicly released, raising questions about what else they contained.
Pistorius has testified that he fired through a closed bathroom door, killing Steenkamp, in the mistaken belief there was a dangerous intruder in his home. The prosecution has alleged that Pistorius, 27, killed 29-year-old Steenkamp after a Valentine's Day argument.
Pistorius faces 25 years to life in prison if found guilty of premeditated murder, and could also face years in prison if convicted of murder without premeditation or negligent killing. He is free on bail.
Later Monday, defense lawyer Barry Roux called surgeon Gerald Versfeld, who amputated Pistorius' lower legs when he was 11 months old, to testify about the runner's disability and the difficulty and pain he endured while walking or standing on his stumps. Pistorius was born without fibulas, the slender bones that run from below the knee to the ankle.
At Roux's invitation, Judge Thokozile Masipa and her two legal assistants left the dais to closely inspect Pistorius' stumps.
The athlete was on his stumps when he killed Steenkamp, and his defense team has argued that he was more likely to try to confront a perceived danger than to flee because of his limited ability to move without prosthetic limbs. Versfeld testified that Pistorius' disability made him "vulnerable in a dangerous situation."
During cross-examination, Nel questioned the surgeon's objectivity and raised the possibility that Pistorius could have run away from a perceived danger on the night of the shooting. He also said Pistorius rushed back to his bedroom after the shooting and made other movements that indicated he was not as hampered as Versfeld was suggesting.
Roux, the chief defense lawyer, also called acoustics expert Ivan Lin to testify about the challenges of hearing something accurately from a distance.
Neighbors have said in court that they heard a woman screaming on the night Pistorius shot Steenkamp, which could bolster the prosecution's claim that the couple were arguing before Pistorius opened fire. The defense, however, has suggested the witnesses were actually hearing the high-pitched screams of a distraught Pistorius after he realized he had shot Steenkamp.
At times during the trial, Pistorius has sobbed and retched violently, prompting the judge to call adjournments. On Monday, Pistorius was calm and took notes during testimony.


text:
U.S. Navy cook Hosea Roundtree watched the 1983 shelling of Beirut from the deck of a ship, feelings of helplessness washing over him as people perished onshore. That memory haunted him, resurrected in flashbacks eight years later after a tour in the Gulf during Operation Desert Storm.
But when Roundtree's claim for disability compensation crossed Jamie Fox's desk at the Department of Veterans Affairs more than two decades later, it was slated for denial on the grounds that he had never seen combat. Fox, herself a Navy veteran, tried to straighten things out—and for that, she lost her job.
A lawsuit filed by the former VA disability claims representative provides a rare glimpse into what veterans' advocates call systemic problems in how the agency handles compensation claims filed by Americans wounded physically or mentally in the line of duty.
A Center for Investigative Reporting review of the VA's performance data reveals chronic errors—committed in up to one in three cases—and an emphasis on speed over accuracy that clogs the VA system with appeals, increasing delays for all veterans.
"When the VA makes a mistake processing a veteran's claim, then our veterans face another unacceptably long wait," said Paul Sullivan, a Gulf War veteran and former senior VA project manager who now works for the Washington, D.C.–area law firm Bergmann & Moore.
As of mid-October, appeals represented nearly a third of the more than 819,000 pending disability claims. Nationwide over the past year, the average time a veteran waits for a decision has increased by more than two months—to 260 days. Veterans who appeal wait an average of 3½ years, according to VA data obtained through the Freedom of Information Act.
In a deposition related to a federal discrimination complaint filed by Fox, the head of the Oakland VA regional office where Fox worked, Lynn Flint, said "it didn't matter if the decision [to deny Roundtree's claim] was right or wrong." In proceedings related to Fox's wrongful termination suit, Flint and Fox's supervisor, Kim Yarbrough, argued that Fox exceeded her authority by advocating for additional review of Roundtree's case, lowering her productivity to unacceptable levels.
If Roundtree disagreed with the denial, Yarbrough said, he could always appeal.
The VA declined to comment further on Fox's dismissal, citing the ongoing litigation.
Across the country, the VA's inability to stem a tide of errors has increasingly frustrated lawmakers from both political parties, who frequently hear from distraught constituents.
The Board of Veterans' Appeals found errors by VA staff in 35,000 of the nearly 50,000 appeals decided in 2011, according to the board's annual report. In 29 percent of cases, the board overturned the agency's initial decision and ruled in favor of the veteran.
"There is no benefit in pushing a determination out that is wrong because, in the end, it will be appealed, and it's going to make the record look even worse," said U.S. Rep. Jackie Speier, a California Democrat working to reform the VA's Oakland office.
The VA acknowledges it makes mistakes on 14 percent of disability claims—an error rate the agency considers unacceptable and has pledged to all but eliminate by 2015.
A CIR analysis of 18 audits published this year by the VA's inspector general shows the problem could be much worse, especially in high-profile cases. The analysis found a 38 percent average error rate for claims involving disabilities like traumatic brain injury and illnesses linked to the Vietnam-era defoliant Agent Orange.
VA officials say the inspector general's reports "do not present a true picture of the overall quality of the work performed" by VA employees because they sample "specific types of claims."
VA employee Fox was forced out in 2008, after she told her supervisor that the agency was poised to wrongfully deny benefits to Roundtree, a 17-year Navy veteran who claimed to have developed post-traumatic stress disorder and depression. The VA said it could find no evidence that Roundtree had experienced combat in Beirut, but through an Internet search Fox confirmed his ship, the USS Arthur W. Radford, had engaged in battle.
"It was a gut-wrenching story when I went through his file," Fox said.
Roundtree, she said, had "been a star in the Navy" but ended up homeless on the streets of Long Beach after a mental breakdown.
Fox wrote a four-page memo to her supervisor arguing that the VA should "wait to send out the award of denial" to allow further research. Five months later, the VA gave her a choice: resign or be fired. She opted to resign.
In Fox's termination letter, the head of the Oakland office, Flint, criticized Fox for "failure to follow instructions" and "misuse of time" for not immediately sending Roundtree a letter denying his benefits.
Two years earlier, when Roundtree filed his claim, he was living in a transitional housing program for homeless veterans on the VA's hospital complex in West Los Angeles. The former petty officer 1st class had been in and out of jail and lived on the streets for more than a decade following his tour in the Persian Gulf.
Roundtree, now 54, blames his service in the Gulf for triggering intense flashbacks of the shelling of Beirut. He received an honorable discharge from the Navy in 1989, but received a bad-conduct discharge for drug use after serving in the Gulf. Roundtree says he began using crack cocaine after he left the military.
"I lost it. I had a major breakdown," he said.
In 1993, he walked out on his wife and two daughters and buried himself in crack to blot out the intrusive thoughts of carnage along the Lebanese shore. "I couldn't shut my mind down," he said.
When he finally received a denial letter from the VA in 2008, he said its words came as a shock. It cited insufficient evidence "to confirm that you actually engaged in combat."
Today, Roundtree calls Fox "an angel" for catching an apparent error that might have cost him thousands of dollars in compensation for his war wounds, and he expresses outrage that she was forced out for speaking up on his behalf.
Productivity is priority
Four years after Fox left her job, she and the VA continue to battle in court. Government lawyers argue that it does not matter whether VA employees wrongly deny claims. What is important, officials said, is to be highly productive—as measured by the number of cases employees clear from the inventory.
Under questioning from an administrative law judge in 2010, Fox's supervisor, Yarbrough, said Fox should have immediately sent Roundtree a letter denying his claim despite her concerns because "it was a very old case."
Gordon Erspamer, a senior counsel based in San Francisco at the law firm Morrison & Foerster who has practiced veterans law for more than three decades, said the agency likely violated the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000 in Roundtree's case.
"The courts have held that the VA has a duty to assist the veteran in developing the facts and evidence to support his or her claim," Erspamer said.
Fox went on unemployment after she lost her job and moved in with her sister. Two years later, she found a new job—working at a VA health-care center in Santa Rosa.
Six months ago, she found Roundtree on Facebook.
"I was so nervous calling," she said.
What she hoped to hear was that his claim had been approved, she said, "or if it wasn't approved that he would have appealed it."
But Roundtree had never filed an appeal. The day he received his denial letter, he received a job offer. Roundtree now works as a cook at the VA Medical Center in Sacramento.
In June, Fox and Roundtree met for the first time. Because the time limit for Roundtree to appeal his denial had passed, Fox helped him file a new disability claim.
Five months later—and six years after he first sought compensation for the mental wounds he received in uniform—Roundtree is still waiting.
This story was edited by Amy Pyle and copy-edited by Nikki Frick and Christine Lee. It was produced by the nonprofit Center for Investigative Reporting, the country's largest investigative reporting team. Contact the reporter at email@example.com.


text:
Greek episkopos, meaning "overseer," an office or position of responsibility. Hence, Jesus is called the "Bishop of your souls" (1 Pet. 2:21–25). Judas is also spoken of as having a "bishoprick," reflecting the fact that the Twelve are overseers (Acts 1:20; D&C 114).
Bishop is also an ordained office in the Aaronic Priesthood (D&C 20:67), and a bishop is a common judge in Israel (D&C 107:74). The desirable qualifications of a bishop are listed in 1 Tim. 3:1–7; Titus 1:7–9. See also Ministry.