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Welcome to the Game Day Fire Drill, for this, Calgary's 29th game of the season on Dec. 7, 2009.
As always, I'll give you the reason that I'm worried about this game: Anze Kopitar.
The reason, though, is a bit different from the last time the Kings and Flames played in LA and I was worried about Anze Kopitar. Where last time he was ridiculously hot, with 32 points from 23 games. And he added to that with another assist in that game, so that's 33 in 24. Really, really impressive, that. But now I worry because if you look at the point total, he's now sitting on 35 in 30. Two points in his last six. And no goals in his last 12. It got to the point that he had a lengthy meeting with Terry Murray about it just the other day. And so the fear, of course, is that this is the game he breaks out of the slump and hangs 12 on the Flames all by himself.
But even if he doesn't, there's still reason to worry. After Kopitar's team-leading 14, there are two guys with nine goals, two with eight, two with seven, two with six, and a whole bunch of guys after that. But the thing is, when Kopitar and Smyth were scoring their asses off, none of the secondary guys were scoring. Now that Smyth's hurt and Kopitar's slumping like crazy, it's nothing but secondary guys scoring. A sampling of the Kings' most recent goalscorers: Jones, Richardson, Jones, Williams, Parse, Simmonds, Simmonds, Frolov, Greene, Simmonds, Richardson, Parse, Stoll, Frolov. That's a crazy amount of different lines scoring.
And that's why I'm worried.
The Calgary Flames (18-7-3 for 39 points. Tied for second in the West, first in the Northwest) and the San Jose Sharks (17-10-3 for 37 points. Fifth in the West, second in the Pacific).
8:30 p.m. Mountain time and 10:30 p.m. Eastern time. All other time zones should prepare to have your mind blown by atrophysics.
Staples Center, Los Angeles, California.
Calgary is 11-2-3 on the road this year, and just handed a far better team than the Kings just their second home loss of the season. The Kings are 7-4-2 at home, and already lost to the Flames in LA this year.
What (to hate about the Kings)
Terry Murray — The only reason to hate him, I guess, is that he's got a team that can't defend and isn't getting any production from its top line running at 6-3-1 in its last 10 and only two points behind the Flames. But that's reason enough for me.
Drew Doughty — So precocious it's sickening. You want to talk about the future of Canadian defense, this is it right here. He played 81 games as a rookie and was very impressive in general (he should've won the Calder if not for Steve Mason's ridiculous numbers). And this year, he already has more goals than he scored last year and is on pace for a 60-point season. And the swing in his plus-minus is, so far, a ridiculous plus-26, which is especially impressive because the entire Kings team is only plus-1 on goal differential. Oh and he's 20 years old.
Wayne Simmonds — This kid has been on some kind of run in the absence of Smyth and Kopitar's ability to produce points. He's on a six-game point streak in which he has 4-4-8 and is a plus-8. It's been a hell of a couple weeks for him.
Because this game is starting awful late for me. Enjoy the game and take some pep pills in the comments section.


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Seeking information in massive unstructured spaces and delivering affordablepapers for you it to the right recipients, based on an imprecise or informal definition of their needs, is overall the most pervasively addressed problem in online activity, and a thriving business in many different application domains. Information search and retrieval through online tools is not only as common for most people today as making a phone call, but a critical technology for the productivity of many businesses, and a key enabler of an array of new online services. The Information Retrieval (IR) field has produced remarkable achievements since its early days, and has played a decisive part in the success of the World Wide Web. A large body of theories, methodologies, algorithms, systems, and toolkits has been developed since then, which are available today to scientists and practitioners.
After decades of research and tecnological development, the field is still under intense evolution, and keeps raising compelling challenges to the research community. The Information Retrieval Group at the Polytechnic School of the Autónoma University of Madrid conducts its research and development work in this field, with a particular focus on technologies in the personalization spectrum. Within this broad area, our activities are currently addressing the following topics:
- Personalized information search and retrieval
- Recommender systems
- IR in context
- Novelty and diversity in IR and recommender systems
- Interactive IR
- Performance prediction
- Social tags and folksonomies
- Semantics representation

subset: commoncrawl


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The proposed Minnesota Vikings stadium tax won't face a public vote in Ramsey County, but a report to be released Wednesday by the Metropolitan Council raised new questions about the viability of the Arden Hills site.
The report says the price tag and time line for clean-up of the site -- a former munitions plant -- will be greater than expected and that a county sales tax plan to help finance it would "compromise the county's and the region's ability to finance other projects."
The nearly 200-page report also identified $39 million in unfunded costs for the proposed $1.1 billion publicly subsidized stadium.
Vikings spokesman Lester Bagley said he was pleased that the Ramsey County Charter Commission decided against putting the sales tax to a public vote but said the Vikings were "surprised" that the report had been made public before Wednesday's formal release.
"We were supposed to be briefed," he said. But, he added: "We don't see anything [in the report] that prevents us from moving forward on this exciting project."
Not having to win public approval for the sales tax plan should make it easier for Ramsey County to come up with its $350 million share of the stadium financing plan, but several legislative leaders have indicated they would prefer such a vote be held. Hopes for a special legislative session this fall to vote on the Arden Hills site also could be complicated by the questions raised in the new report, which had been highly anticipated by the state's political leaders.
"It's not a black-and-white, do it [or] not do it," said Meredith Salsbery, a spokesperson for the Metropolitan Council. She confirmed key elements of the report, which casts the Vikings' plan to open the stadium by 2015 as having "an aggressive schedule that is unrealistic."
The report was ordered by Gov. Mark Dayton after the Legislature, having spent five months this year wrestling with a large budget deficit, had little appetite for considering public subsidies for a new stadium. A brief state government shutdown in July further dampened enthusiasm for the project.
Ramsey County Commissioner Tony Bennett, a key ally of the Vikings' plan, said the commission did the right thing. He said he couldn't comment on the report, saying he hasn't seen it yet. But from what he had heard, he said, "there's nothing insurmountable" in it.
"I think it's been a good night," Bennett said. "I think it keeps us going."
Public hearing
On Tuesday night, more than 200 people jammed the Charter Commission hearing before it voted 10-6 against putting the issue on the 2012 ballot, deciding that doing so meant the appointed commission would be making policy and usurping the authority of elected county commissioners.
In formalizing the vote, commissioner Rod Halvorson proposed a charter amendment to go on the ballot that would have prohibited the county from using any revenues to help build a professional baseball or football stadium. "I think it's clear from the testimony that people would like to exercise their right to vote," he said during the debate.
He added that the charter amendment he was proposing would help prevent the Legislature from overriding the people's wishes, and arm the county for a possible constitutional challenge.
Chair Richard Sonterre said that for him, it wasn't a decision about taxes or a public-private partnership. It was a decision on the role of representative democracy. An appointed body like the charter commission, he said, shouldn't be challenging the authority of elected county leaders.
Unlike a similar hearing two weeks ago in New Brighton that was packed with stadium opponents, Tuesday's hearing at the courthouse in downtown St. Paul was more evenly balanced.
Many stadium supporters were construction and trades workers in yellow vests, who urged commissioners to forgo a referendum and save the jobs the project promises to create.
"I would like to be afforded the opportunity to work in Ramsey County again," said Allen Ostertag, a longtime St. Paul electrician, who said he commutes 150 miles daily to work.
But as in New Brighton, many who testified wanted the chance to vote on the project. Most, if not all, spoke against the stadium, either because of the proposed public subsidies or because of the Arden Hills site.
"By not allowing a vote, you are preferring to serve special interests and not the people you were appointed to serve," said John Waldorf of North St. Paul.
In a letter released by the Vikings before Tuesday's hearing, Bagley wrote that a referendum in 2012 would delay the project for two years and add $110 million to the cost. Such a delay also would postpone thousands of jobs for construction workers and others, Bagley wrote.
"Neither the taxpayers nor the team can afford such a major delay caused by adding this referendum provision," he said.
Under legislation introduced but not acted on during the last session, the Vikings would contribute $407 million and the state would pay $300 million using a series of user-based taxes and fees. On Tuesday, Bagley said the Vikings' contribution would be more than $420 million.
In Los Angeles
As the stadium debate moved center stage again, a real estate magnate trying to build a NFL stadium in Los Angeles is sweetening the pot to teams considering relocation.
The Los Angeles Times reported that Ed Roski has dropped his demand for a no-cash minority share of a franchise and instead is offering to hand over the 600 acres he controls to any team that relocates there. The Vikings are one of several teams mentioned as being in the mix.
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In November 2007 we founded this international network against the racist tendecies on the terraces. We are Anti-racist Fans, as we fight on the streets so we also do it in the stadium. Everyday. Our network starts as an international group, bringing together different fanscenes of different parts of the world, united in solidarity and the struggle for a better situation. We are supporters, seeing ourselves as an integral part of our sports and not as customers, we are active and not just consuming, loud and not sleeping.
We are awake: We fight against the repression that tries to destroy our culture, the Xenophobia we see on the terraces and the whole wrong situation in the surroundings of football. We understand our network as an growing idea, a spirit and a movement, and so we are looking forward to more and more groups joining us in our fight.
See you on the barricades or on the terraces,


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Welcome to the home of Big Daddy's Hot Sauces. Located in the beautiful Heights neighborhood of Houston, TX, Big Daddy's is the child of Trevi and Becky Biles, capsaicin and music addicts. Not mind-blowingly-see-the-face-of-God hot, our award-winning, all natural sauces are a nice combination of heat and flavor that compliment food without overtaking the nature of what you're eating. Made with St. Arnold Lawnmower Beer, the sauces (except for Ass Burn) are named after bands who are friends of ours, us trying to catch the essence of the bands in the bottle. At the site you can find out about our products and the bands they're named after, purchase sauce and merch, locate a store with sauce close to you, post your favorite Big Daddy's recipes, and find the next festival we'll be at next. Please feel free to contact us at firstname.lastname@example.com with any comments. Thanks for your support and let it burn.
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Ass Burn Hot Sauce
Our original and most award winning, Big Daddy´s Ass Burn is made with cayenne peppers for a medium heat level and awesome flavor. Probably our most versatile sauce. Goes great with eggs, wings, and Mexican food.
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Here's where we'll be putting updates on new products, specials, and whatnot. Check back regularly.
Shop Now
Our new storefront, (managed by iBurn.com) is where you can pick up all Big Daddy's sauces. If you would like to buy merch please contact us at firstname.lastname@example.com


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Tanks V2
Tags: Strategy Games / Defense Games / Shooting Games / War Games / Tank Games / Military Games
Publisher: Freeonlinegames.com
Video Walkthrough
A turn-based strategy game of tactics and skill, similar to Worms. Blast away your rival tanks before they get you! Use various weapons such as the volcano bomb, small missile, and power-ups to gain the upper-hand. Carefully position yourself and aim your weapons just right. The environment is fully destructible, so use that to your advantage!
· Move Left/Right = Left/Right Arrow Key · Rotate Cannon Up/Down = Up/Down Arrow Key · Increase Power = Page Up Key · Decrease Power = Page Down Key · Next Weapon = W Key · Previous Weapon = Q Key · Fire = Space Bar
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JS© wrote:"I remember that [Joy Division producer] Martin Hannett once had an idea of making a record and burying it in his garden, so that one day someone would dig it up, like a time capsule. We just stuck our record in a cupboard. And now we've got it out."
columbia wrote:I just got rickets to see Thurston Moore's new band (Chelsea Light Moving) in March and there's a free Of Montreal show the next day.
Troy Loney wrote:columbia wrote:I just got rickets to see Thurston Moore's new band (Chelsea Light Moving) in March and there's a free Of Montreal show the next day.
Where is that?
columbia wrote:I think it's a little under 4 hours.
shafnutz05 wrote:columbia wrote:I think it's a little under 4 hours.
That is the longest four-hour drive you will ever make
MelicharSux wrote:The new A$AP Rocky album leaked last night/today. I'm sure no one cares but I'm pumped.
Gaucho wrote:Meat Puppets tonight, yes or no? Haven't heard any of the stuff they released in the last, erm, ... 20 years?
I'm probably too lazy to go.
FreeCandy44 wrote:Shannon Hoon didn't pee on you did he Digital?
THE RASCALS have returned to the stage to perform their first public show in more than 40 years as part of a series of gigs organised by STEVEN VAN ZANDT.
The E Street Band rocker has reunited the group's original line-up of Felix Cavaliere, Gene Cornish, Eddie Brigati and Dino Danelli for The Once Upon A Dream shows at the Capital Theatre in Port Chester, New York.
The Rascals performed the first of the theatrical concerts last Thursday (13Dec12) marking their first gig together in more than four decades.
The concert featured film clips and live narration as part of a career retrospective. Van Zandt previously launched a donation drive to encourage fans to help fund the project.
The shows started from 13-15 December and return for a second run from 20-22 December.
The Rascals formed in the mid-1960s and enjoyed a number of hits before disbanding in 1972.
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Declaration of Public Health Emergency for Control and
Disposition of Human Remains
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Louisiana Homeland Security and Emergency Assistance and Disaster Act, R.S. 29:721, et seq., a state of emergency was declared through Proclamation No. 48 KBB 2005, extended by Proclamation Nos. 54 KBB 2005, 61 KBB 2005, 68 KBB 2005, 75 KBB 2005, and 10 KBB 2006; and Proclamation No. 53 KBB 2005, extended by Proclamation Nos. 60 KBB 2005, 67 KBB 2005, 74 KBB 2005, and 9 KBB 2006;
WHEREAS, Hurricanes Katrina and Rita struck the state of Louisiana causing severe flooding and damage to the southern part of the state which threatened the safety, health, and security of the citizens of the state of Louisiana, along with private property and public facilities;
WHEREAS, as a consequence of the hurricanes and their aftermath, hundreds of people perished and many citizens suffered injuries and/or illnesses;
WHEREAS, in addition, hundreds of human remains have been disinterred by the flood and storm surges;
WHEREAS, R.S. 29:766(A) authorizes the governor to declare a state of public health emergency following consultation with the public health authority, and R.S. 29:769(D) authorizes the Office of Public Health in such times to exercise control over the disposition of human remains; and
WHEREAS, the secretary of the Department of Health and Hospitals and the state health officer have requested there be an appointment of an Office of Public Health, State Medical Examiner to exercise control over the disposition of human remains of people who died in or as a result of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and exercise control over identification and re‑casketing of disinterred remains;
NOW THEREFORE I, KATHLEEN BABINEAUX BLANCO, Governor of the state of Louisiana, by virtue of the authority vested by the Constitution and laws of the state of Louisiana, do hereby order and direct as follows:
SECTION 1: Pursuant to Louisiana Homeland Security and Emergency Assistance and Disaster Act, R.S. 29:724, et seq., and more specifically R.S. 29:769(D), a state of public health emergency is hereby declared for the purpose of the control and disposition of human remains.
SECTION 2: The secretary of the Department of Health and Hospitals is hereby authorized to appoint an Office of Public Health, State Medical Examiner, to exercise control over the disposal of human remains of individuals who died in or as a result of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
SECTION 3: Such appointee is authorized and empowered to set up, operate, and control a regional morgue and autopsy facility in Carville, Louisiana, to receive, identify, and process human remains of those who died in or as a result of Hurricane Katrina, collected from the parishes affected by Hurricane Katrina, and throughout the state, for coroners who are unable or unwilling to handle the remains themselves, including but not limited to the parishes of Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Tammany, and Washington. Such appointee shall coordinate and receive the cooperation of the coroners of the above parishes in the recovery, retrieval, identification, interment or cremation of hurricane related remains.
SECTION 4: Such appointee is authorized and empowered to order and obtain medical records, including hospital, nursing home, physicians, dental and other useful medical records of possible hurricane decedents to aid in their identification and in order to establish their cause of death.
SECTION 5: Such appointee is hereby authorized to sign death certificates, burial permits, and cremation permits for human remains whose death is related to Hurricane Katrina and Rita when the jurisdictional coroner is unidentified, unavailable, unable or unwilling to sign.
SECTION 6: Such appointee is further authorized to assist and coordinate the parishes of Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Tammany, and Washington for Hurricane Katrina and the parishes of Calcasieu, Cameron, Iberia, St. Mary, Terrebonne, Vermilion for Hurricane Rita and any other parish who asks for assistance with identification and re-casketing disinterred human remains as a result of the flooding and storm surges from either hurricane.
SECTION 8: This Order is effective upon signature and shall be applicable from Sunday, January 1, 2006, through Friday, June 30, 2006, unless amended, modified, terminated, or rescinded by the governor, or terminated by operation of law.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have set my hand officially and caused to be affixed the Great Seal of Louisiana, at the Capitol, in the city of Baton Rouge, on this 10th day of February, 2006.
Kathleen Babineaux Blanco
Al Ater
Secretary of State


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This story appears in the July 2013 issue of National Geographic magazine.
If you noticed them at all, they'd look like nothing more than tiny, windblown seeds floating amid the rushes at the edge of a lagoon in Brazil's remote interior. Wait until dark, when the vast conspiratorial hush of the wetlands gives way to a chorus of chirpings and rustlings, and those little specks begin to slip away, vanishing in the murk.
These tiny dots are the watchful eyes of baby yacare caimans, members of the crocodilian family, barely two weeks old and scarcely longer than a pencil. By day they hide among aquatic grasses, concealed from herons or storks who might swoop in for a quick snack. By night they slip away to feast on insects and snails, graduating to bigger fare as they grow bigger themselves. Given time and opportunity, they can reach eight feet and be powerful enough to capture a capybara, one of the area's giant rodents. But that's all in the future. For now they are near the bottom of the pecking order, just trying to keep out of sight.
Hundreds, possibly thousands, of these hatchling caimans lurk in this one lagoon. And there are many more such lagoons in the Pantanal. This enormous flowering wetland along the Paraguay River in southwestern Brazil is not only home to what is probably Earth's largest crocodilian population but also the setting for one of conservation's great comeback stories.
Thirty years ago the yacare caiman appeared to be heading for oblivion, ruthlessly hunted to supply a lucrative market for crocodilian leather. Their numbers dropped alarmingly.
"Nobody can say for sure how many yacares were slaughtered, but it would have run well into the millions," says Cleber Alho, a conservation biologist with Brazil's University Anhanguera-Uniderp in Mato Grosso do Sul, who did much of his fieldwork in the Pantanal during the height of the poaching era in the 1980s.
Armed gangs would invade during the dry season and shoot masses of yacares congregated around shrinking water holes. "They skinned them on the spot and left the rest to the vultures," Alho says. "I used to come upon piles of dead yacares rotting on the embankments. Fieldwork in those days wasn't just depressing, it was dangerous as well, since the coureiros—the leather men—could be extremely aggressive." A Brazilian government crackdown on poaching and a 1992 global ban on the trade of wild crocodilian skins eased the pressure on the beleaguered yacare population. The crocs themselves did the rest. After a string of intense rainy seasons—ideal for breeding—caiman numbers rebounded dramatically. As many as ten million yacare caimans are estimated to live in the wetlands today.
Even so, the yacare caiman is not yet out of the mire, warns Alho. "The thriving population in the Pantanal threatens to mask the problems the species is facing elsewhere in South America, where poaching continues and populations are vanishing." Within the Pantanal itself, threats still loom: deforestation, dams, tourism, mining, seaport development. But for now at least, in the steamy aftermath of another bountiful wet season, the kings of the Pantanal seem secure on their throne.


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Digging into the dynamics of Greater Minnesota's economy
50 great American towns. 25 best colleges. 10 top restaurants.
Everybody seems to love lists. But are they useful? The authors of a recent study by the University of Minnesota Center for Urban and Regional Affairs (CURA) believe theirs is.
The study, "Trade Center Hierarchy in Greater Minnesota," by Bruce Schwartau, Extension educator, and Will Craig, CURA's associate director, classifies medium-sized Minnesota cities outside the seven-county Twin Cities metro area into a hierarchy.
Most of the cities on the list have populations over 5,000, although a handful with smaller populations made the cut because the Minnesota Department of Revenue had relevant data on them. Thus, the 48 cities on the list range from modest Grand Marais (population 1,351) to robust Rochester, with a population of 106,769.
The hierarchy incorporates several kinds of data and seeks to measure and rank the economic vitality of Greater Minnesota communities. The list—and study behind it—are also intended to help public and private policymakers at the state and local level set priorities and decide where to invest resources for the benefit of Greater Minnesota towns.
The study looks at goods and services available to consumers outside the metro area. "Most products can be purchased close to home, but rural Minnesota residents will need to take trips to larger communities to get some of the things they need," Schwartau says. "We wanted to examine all that and compile the data in a way that would be helpful to anyone interested in the economic health of non-metro communities."
In this case, "anyone" might include state highway planners who could use data like this to set priorities for state road projects. And local communities could use this data to develop business retention and expansion strategies.
Schwartau issues a caution before diving into the numbers, though. "Communities shouldn't fixate on the list, or get discouraged or smug about their ranking. The idea is to provide information that local communities can tap as they decide how to sustain or improve their economies."
Simplifying the complex
The first CURA study of Greater Minnesota cities in the 1960s relied on a complex system of counting the number and types of retail and wholesale businesses. CURA updated that study in 1989 and again in 1999—still relying on business counts, but expanding beyond the wholesale and retail trade to include construction, manufacturing, services, and other industrial categories.
The 1989 study also introduced the current naming convention for trade centers: Level 1, primary regional, is the highest, while Level 7, hamlet, is the lowest. Data from Dun & Bradstreet were used in both the 1989 and 1999 studies to count businesses. Population counts were added to sharpen the classification system. Businesses were located by zip code. This analysis was time consuming and costly, and the details were complex and sometimes confusing to readers.
That's why, for the recent study, Schwartau and Craig moved to a simpler approach based on sales-tax data. First they tested the comparability of sales-tax results with those of the earlier studies as a method for determining the trade-center level. Then they applied the most recent sales-tax data (from the Minnesota Department of Revenue) to determine what changes had taken place in the trade-center hierarchy.
The authors chose sales-tax data as a measure of economic vitality despite the exemption of some items from the Minnesota sales tax, such as clothing and groceries. Those exemptions were just one reason Schwartau and Craig did such a careful analysis of the relationships between earlier trade center classes and taxable sales—both observational and statistical.
"The results were robust, and we found that taxable retail and services were good measures of trade-center level," Craig says. In addition, the authors believe their system is easy to understand and adjust for many uses.
Mankato moves up; others move down
The new system demonstrated a few changes since the 1999 study, with the most notable being the addition of Mankato as a Level 1 trade center — joining Rochester, Duluth, and St. Cloud in that category. Mankato experienced a 45 percent growth in sales over approximately 10 years — from $623 million in 1998 to $904 million in 2009. This makes Mankato the major shopping destination for all of south-central Minnesota.
During that same 10-year period, Worthington dropped from Level 2 (secondary regional) to Level 3 (complete shopping), while four Level 3 cities (Ely, St. Peter, Litchfield, and Glencoe) had dropped to Level 4 (partial shopping) by 2009.
Key findings
Some of the authors' findings describe the effect of demographics and geography on evolving trade patterns. They are:
- Size was a major determinant of growth rate. Bigger cities have momentum and are growing faster than other cities—at least during the period from 1990 to 2009. They offer goods and services not available in smaller places — justifying a longer trip for area residents — and can also provide lower prices and wider shopping experiences.
- A recreation base helps. Alexandria and Brainerd benefit from being in the state's lakeshore area. Ely benefits from being on the edge of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. These places are experiencing high growth in sales within their trade-center level.
- Proximity to larger centers hurts smaller centers. People in Fairmont, St. Peter, and Waseca may be likely to drive to Mankato because it offers more choices in many different retail categories, such as building materials and clothing. Worthington and Luverne are hurt by easy interstate access to Sioux Falls, S.D. Moorhead residents shop across the North Dakota border in Fargo. Litchfield shoppers have more choices in nearby Willmar.
- Regional population changes affect city sales. Western and southern Minnesota regions are losing population, which affects sales in Fairmont, Montevideo, and Pipestone. Population losses on the Iron Range have affected Virginia, Eveleth, and Chisholm.
Other findings offer new information or are contrary to some stereotypes. These are:
- The Minnesota trade-center level system is top-heavy. The four Level 1 cities (Duluth, Mankato, Rochester, and St. Cloud) account for 28 percent of all sales in Greater Minnesota. As a further illustration, the lowest Level 1 city, Mankato, had more than twice the 2009 sales of Brainerd, the highest Level 2 city ($904 million versus $421 million).
- The system is dynamic. Individual cities move up and down the spectrum. In recent years (2003-2009), smaller cities have regained their momentum. Sales have grown faster than in the Level 1 cities.
- The future is not preordained. Cities of similar size and location often experience different outcomes. Some of these differences are due to outside factors, such as proximity to major highways, but they also stem from conscious decisions and investments by local policymakers, such as the recruitment of several large retailers to fill in known retail market gaps. The expansion of a local manufacturer brings more employees into the city and with it, more consumers.
Intriguing details
The study also reveals some intriguing details, such as the effect of big box stores on small-town economies. The common perception is that big-box stores destroy a small town's retail economy, but Schwartau believes the opposite might be true.
"A big box store will change the way local stores do things — they may need to change their product mix, for example," he says. "But for a town's economy as a whole, a big box store doesn't have to be a death knell."
To the contrary, a big-box store can increase a town's "pull factor" — its ability to attract consumers based on its population and statewide average expenditures. For example, Fairmont's pull factor has increased since a Wal-Mart opened there in 2007.
On the other hand, Fairmont loses some local sales because it doesn't have a building materials supplier, and people leave town to buy building materials at the Home Depot in Mankato. Once they get there, they're more likely to shop for other things as well.
Good advice
Because of their findings, Schwartau and Craig are expanding their analysis to include more Greater Minnesota communities with populations between 2,000 and 5,000, at levels 4 and 5. They expect to release that study later this year. Before moving on, however, they offered some key advice.
"We believe that individual cities can use our data and analyses to take charge of their own futures," Schwartau says. "Just because a city is positioned at Level 4 where the long-term trend is downward, it is not doomed to oblivion. Cities need to take the lead themselves, but help is available from a number of sources."
Craig offers a similar message to Greater Minnesota cities: "You control your own destiny, so get busy. If you want your town to go someplace, there are tools to do that.
For assistance
For help improving local economies, Schwartau and Craig recommend several resources, including:
- Regional analysis experts at the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development; and
- The Downtown Market Analysis Toolbox, a web-based resource for small cities developed by three Midwestern universities, including the University of Minnesota
The study authors also recommend the community economics programs available through Extension, including:
|Trade-center level name
|Number of cities analyzed*
|Mean population of sales level city, 2010
|Pct. of cities in sales level w/increased sales, 1990-2009
|Pct. of cities in sales level w/increased sales, 2003-2009
|1 - Primary Regional
|2 - Secondary Regional
|3 - Complete Shopping
|4 - Partial Shopping
|5 - Full Convenience
* Many cities are missing from levels 3 to 5 because of a lack of data. Many more cities are at these levels.
Learn more
For more details, including Schwartau and Craig's recommendations, read the CURA Report article (page 19), "Trade-Center Hierarchy in Greater Minnesota."
Reviewed in 2012


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When its Mall at University Town Center debuts in October 2014, co-developer Taubman Centers Inc. will operate one of the most technologically advanced retail spots in the nation.
The company plans to use the retail hub as a testing ground for new digital, interactive tools aimed at combating online shopping and "showrooming," where shoppers use brick-and-mortar stores to try out products before buying them online.
With new smartphone technology and a Wi-Fi network that will be installed throughout the planned $315 million mall, University Town Center shoppers will receive special discounts via apps developed in conjunction with retailers.
"Unlike our older properties that were designed and built before Wi-Fi was available, UTC will have interactive features built in, giving shoppers a whole new kind of experience," Stephen Kieras, Taubman's senior vice president of development, said at the International Council of Shopping Centers' annual ReCon convention. "They will set the mall apart from any other shopping center in the country," Kieras said.
Eventually, the technology will be installed in every new mall Taubman builds, as well as existing centers, he said.
Although the specific technology that Taubman and co-developer Benderson Development Co. will employ at the 880,000-square-foot mall is still in early stages of development, Kieras said shoppers who register through a smartphone app or online with the mall will get personalized offers influenced by previous purchases.
"So if you bought a pair of jeans at The Gap, the next time you come into the mall we'll be able to offer you personalized sales based on what it was you bought at a retailer in the mall before," he said.
Retail relevance
Traditional brick-and-mortar stores have struggled in recent years to compete with aggressively expanding online retail merchants like Amazon and eBay.
In response, some chains have turned to so-called "hybrid shopping," which blends the convenience of online buying with the tactile satisfaction of being able to sample a product before committing to a purchase.
During the 2012 holiday season, Sarasota-area Best Buy stores allowed customers to scan price codes on all merchandise to compare prices elsewhere via the chain's mobile app.
Chains like Walmart, Target and Toys R Us, too, have begun matching competitors' prices. This, in turn, has further encouraged more shoppers to use their phones within stores stores.
Taubman's efforts to draw shoppers to its malls may also have received a boost earlier this month when the Senate passed a bill that would make it easier for states to collect sales tax from online purchases.
To date, most Web-based retailers have not collected tax, and many customers have ignored requirements to do so in the few states where the practice applies.
Florida failed to collect an estimated $455 million in sales tax in 2012 stemming from online sales, according to a study by Alliance for Main Street Fairness, an industry group comprising brick-and- mortar merchants.
Retail analyst Jeff Green, who also is attending the ICSC event, said that the budding interest in blending new technology with traditional retail development shows that physical stores -- and malls themselves -- won't become dinosaurs anytime soon.
Green added that attendance at the ICSC event, where retailers and developers gather to ink leases or commitments for new centers and malls, also bodes well for traditional shopping centers.
"It tells me that ecommerce is not having as great of an impact on brick-and-mortar as feared, otherwise there wouldn't be so many people looking to do brick-and-mortar leases and deals," he said.
Same-day satisfaction
Taubman's Kieras said the interactive features for the University Town Center mall are being developed now to be ready when the project opens.
The Michigan-based developer is also working with retailers to come up with best practices for same-day shipping, which would allow shoppers to try items in stores and have them shipped to them directly if a size, color or model is not on the shelves or racks at a given site.
Anchored by Saks Fifth Avenue, Macy's and Dillard's department stores, University Town Center is the only new enclosed mall scheduled to open next year in the U.S.
But its technological impact could spread throughout Taubman's portfolio of properties nationwide.
That is because after University Town Center opens, the interactive program will likely be installed in other Taubman centers, which, in this region, include Tampa's International Plaza and Orlando's Mall at Millenia.
It also will be a part of future Taubman projects.
In all, Taubman is developing nine new malls worldwide, though only University Town Center and a property in San Juan, Puerto Rico, are under construction.
Mall will give shoppers new digital tools
When its Mall at University Town Center debuts in October 2014, co-developer Taubman Centers Inc. will operate one of the most technologically advanced retail spots in the nation.


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Browse by CV
|Up a level
LI, Xiaohong, PRICE, Ilfryn and CLARK, Liz (2011). A five-year profile of employee satisfaction for UK local government buildings. Working Paper. CFMD Working Papers. (Unpublished)
PRICE, I., CLARK, E., HOLLAND, M. R., EMERTON, C. and WOLSTENHOLME, C. (2009). Condition matters: pupil voices on the design and condition of secondary schools. Project Report. Reading, CfBT Education Trust.
PRICE, Ilfryn and CLARK, Liz (2009). An output approach to property portfolio performance measurement. Property management, 27 (1), 6-15.
MAY, D. and CLARK, L. (2009). Achieving patient-focused maintenance services/systems. Journal of facilities management, 7 (2), 128-141.


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Rachel Sterne, previously a consultant and entrepreneur, aims to make the city more transparent and accessible.
To improve communication with residents and businesses, New York City hired its very first Chief Digital Officer, a role that aims to enhance transparency through digital media. Though only in the position for a few weeks, Rachel Sterne already has started gathering feedback to create a 90-day report that details the city's online strategies. The report ultimately will look at ways the city can enhance its digital footprint, streamline its existing social media mechanisms and explore public-private partnerships.
Sterne says her first weeks have been very exciting, noting that New Yorkers are eager to access government services and important information online. "Across the city, many agencies are already active online and have a genuine interest in innovation and connecting digitally with citizens," she said. In an e-mail interview, the Big Apple's first Chief Digital Officer discussed her background as it relates to her new post, her viewpoints on transparency and social media, and her vision for open government.
In what ways has your background, both education and career-wise, prepared you for this position?
Prior to this role I was an entrepreneur and a consultant in the digital media industry. I founded GroundReport, a citizen journalism platform that crowdsources news and opinion from around the world, following my internship with the State Department's U.S. Mission to the United Nations in New York. In addition to issues like platform development and content partnerships, I had to address challenges inherent to crowdsourcing and social media, such as cultivating a user community, maintaining a respectful tone of discourse, designing editorial workflows, and scaling verification systems. This experience is relevant to initiatives that encourage input and ideas from the public via digital platforms.
As a consultant, I have worked with startups and nonprofits to establish goals, develop timelines, and execute a results-based digital media strategy that increases visibility and aligned with business goals. This aligns with the need expressed by city agencies for internal social media coordination, best practices training and measurement.
Finally, throughout my career I have helped create business partnerships in the digital media space; this dovetails with the role's focus on public-private partnerships that help the city innovate and launch new initiatives at no cost to taxpayers.
I know you're just beginning your 90-day report detailing the city's online strategies, but can you tell me what your thoughts are going into this? Do you already have some idea as to what you'll find and what your recommendations will be?
We are starting the 90-day report with no preconceptions. We've already begun to gather feedback from city agencies and citizens through both face-to-face meetings and online platforms such as Twitter, Quora, Tumblr and Facebook. To create the report, we will continue to work with stakeholders and gather metrics to provide a comprehensive look at what the city is currently doing and opportunities to build on these achievements. Regarding suggestions, we hope to leverage the resources we have to serve more citizens, and develop public-private partnerships that help us meet goals without expending funds.
What sorts of public-private partnerships do you think are valuable?
Public-private partnerships are valuable because they allow the city to work with established and emerging industry leaders to launch innovative initiatives at no cost to taxpayers. Building on the success of the efforts of the Economic Development Corporation, we see great potential in public-private partnerships with digital media startups, technology corporations, educational programs, incubators, and entrepreneur community organizations, and we will be exploring all of these avenues and more.
As Chief Digital Officer, what is your vision for New York City in terms of openness and transparency?
New York City already has a number of successful transparency initiatives underway, and has made it clear that supporting openness and transparency are high-priority goals. The city has made over 350 datasets available to the public through the NYC DataMine, and has encouraged independent developers to build applications through its celebrated NYC Big Apps competition. Working with the Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications and the Economic Development Corporation, I hope to support these existing initiatives and continue to help developers and city agencies work together. Openness and transparency initiatives such as Big Apps not only support innovation, but also create useful city applications without using taxpayer funds.
You've said that your goal is to help New York City become the world's most innovative city through technologies that help citizens and enhance the quality of services -- can you tell me what that looks like?
Successful technological innovation is simple and easy to use by everyone, regardless of level of access or digital literacy. Our goal is to simplify and improve the lives of New Yorkers and city agencies through coordination and elegant, lightweight solutions.
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Quick View
Website: www.shakespeare100.org.uk
Distance: 100km
Major climbs: Saintbury Hill
Terrain: Rolling Warwickshire countryside
Participants: 570
Number of finishers: 550
Best: Well-marked, accessible terrain
Worst: Last mile through Stratford
For a long time, the Shakespeare Spring 100 seemed just a nice, mild trawl through rolling Warwickshire countryside.
Taking off through the sleepy streets of Stratford, we crossed the A46 and escaped to the countryside for the day, keen types driving off the front in pursuit of the clock. For us mere mortals, with little wind and a weak sun peeping shyly through the clouds, it was the precursor to a pleasant and unchallenging ride through quiet lanes and little villages – for over an hour, we chatted amiably and enjoyed the views.
Approaching the 18-mile mark, however, whichever benevolent soul had been marking out the course dozed off and someone with a malicious sense of humour took the helm. Rolling out of Willersey, the road meandered under the shadow of Broadway Hill before the markers turned us right and pointed us straight up.
>> Get an extra 5% off the discounted price of a magazine subscription this weekend with the code SPOOKY5. Enjoy the luxury of home delivery and never miss an issue <<
Time to climb
Strava says that Saintbury Hill is 1.6 miles long, climbing 625 feet with an average gradient of 7.3 per cent, and I wouldn't dispute that – the gradient peaked around 15.5 per cent less than half a mile in, but that meant that you had a long way to go once you'd gone past the worst of it, and wooded as it was, it was impossible to tell how far it was to the summit. It was a good climb.
The best thing about going up is coming back down again, and the long, straight descent into Chipping Camden provided welcome respite. The route became less punishing until we hit the food stop at Little Compton, 34 miles in – all of the supplies had a modest fund-raising fee, with a broad range of rolls and cakes, and 'endless' hot drinks.
Sitting on the grass with a bacon roll and a cup of tea in hand made a welcome change from trying to not inhale an energy bar on the move.
It soon got chilly sitting around, so it wasn't long before we set off. The climb up Butlers Road came as a nasty shock to the system, peaking at 15 per cent after just half a mile. Thankfully that was to be the last real obstacle, and the remaining 27 miles passed by in enjoyable fashion through the quiet lanes leading back to Stratford.
It had been a good ride. The course was very well marked, the large majority on quiet, accessible country lanes, and while the sweeping byways didn't offer a stern challenge, there were a couple of standout climbs to redline yourself on.
Cheerfully run and well organised, Macride events are staffed entirely by volunteers and have raised in the region of £350,000 since they began organising cycling fund-raisers back in 2005, all in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support – it adds something to know that every penny of your money goes to a great cause.
Missed it? Try this…
Missed this? Try this…. The Shakespeare Autumn 100 offers 100-mile and 100km routes on September 8 – go to macride-events_pg_Inspire.org.uk for more details
This article was first published in the April 25 issue of Cycling Weekly. Read Cycling Weekly magazine on the day of release where ever you are in the world International digital edition, UK digital edition. And if you like us, rate us!


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Slow progress, but progresson February 3, 2014 at 11:41 am
Posted In: Comic
Hi all,
I'm trying to keep the site updated as much as possible, but my company, Fat Loot Games, is in the process of releasing its first game and it's been a LOT of work.
Good news though is my art is slowly getting better! The last few days I've managed to draw about an hour a day, although today I need to rest. Here's a bit of Prydwen 2 work from one of those sessions.


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2019 Medium Functional Weekly Agenda Refill - Complete
The 2019 Agenda Refill collection celebrates a House icon – the Alzer trunk – as it turns up in a different international destination each month. The artistic gouache illustrations and colorful travel stickers are an invitation to record one's personal adventures, from city to city and day to day. This full-featured model includes a world map and contact book.
Detailed Features
17 x 17.0 x 9.5 cm
( length x height x width )
( length x height x width )
- Dimensions: 3.5 x 6.7 inches
- 216 pages
- Perforated
- Format designed to fit our Agenda covers
- Color-coded for striking visual identity


text:
For more than 35 years, QAI (founded as the Quality Assurance Institute) has supported the IT, QA, and Testing communities with a range of workforce development and consulting services. QAI Canada, a division of QAI Global Institute, the workforce development division of QAI, specializes in providing individuals and organizations in Canada with expert-led training solutions, internationally-recognized software certifications, leading-edge professional conferences, and engaging networking opportunities. It is this unique blend of services that makes QAI the service provider of choice for knowledge-intensive organizations around the world. Discover how QAI Canada can help you and your organization to achieve impressive results!
QAI Global Institute has trained over 140,000 working professionals in the areas of software quality management, project management, agile method testing, test automation, estimation, software reviews, CMMI®, six sigma and soft skills. Learn more about available training opportunities.
QAI Global Institute is the global program administrator for the International Software Certification Board (ISCB). Software Certifications has become recognized worldwide as the standard for information technology quality professionals – having certified over 53,000 professionals. ISCB covers five major domains and provides ten Professional Certifications. Read more about software certifications to find the right one for you.
Our international and regional conferences around the world bring the opportunity to learn from thought leaders and the experience of fellow practitioners about software quality, software testing, and project management. Take advantage of professional development opportunities and join colleagues at an upcoming conference.
The QAI Global Community is composed of quality assurance organizations throughout the United States and in many countries worldwide. Find your local chapter and connect with other software quality testing professionals.


text:
Yahoo has ended Scott Thompson's four-month stint as its CEO without giving him a severance package, according to documents filed.
Thompson, 54, left on Sunday in a management shake-up triggered by inaccurate information in his official biography. He would have been entitled to a severance package if Yahoo had terminated him "without cause," according to the contract he signed in January.
When Yahoo fired Carol Bartz as CEO eight months ago, the company paid her $US3 million ($A3.01 million) in severance. Bartz stands to make even more money from the nearly 386,000 shares of restricted stock and nearly 416,000 stock options that vested upon her ouster.
Thompson kept a $US1.5 million bonus and restricted stock valued at $US5.5 million that Yahoo paid him when he joined. Those sums were intended to compensate him for benefits he gave up by leaving his job running PayPal, the online payment service owned by eBay Inc.
But Yahoo Inc is requiring Thompson to surrender unvested stock awards valued at $US16 million.
Thompson was getting an annual salary of $US1 million at Yahoo and could have gotten a bonus of up to $US2 million this year.
Yahoo parted ways with Thompson because of the recent revelation that his bio included a college degree in computer science that he never received. Thompson received an accounting degree from Stonehill College, a small school near Boston, in 1979.
Citing unnamed people familiar with the matter, The Wall Street Journal reported that Thompson had recently told Yahoo's board that he has been diagnosed with thyroid cancer. The disease contributed to Thompson's decision to leave Yahoo, according to the Journal.


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Safety for a family that fled war in Sudan only to end up in Syria
Monday 26, August 2013 TIMISOARA, Romania, 26 August (UNHCR) – After escaping war in Sudan only to get caught up in the Syrian conflict, Mohamed* exudes relief and celebration as he pushes his two children on swings in the playground of their refuge in Romania. Although the Emergency Transit Center […]
Monday 26, August 2013
TIMISOARA, Romania, 26 August (UNHCR) – After escaping war in Sudan only to get caught up in the Syrian conflict, Mohamed* exudes relief and celebration as he pushes his two children on swings in the playground of their refuge in Romania.
Although the Emergency Transit Center (ETC) in Timisoara, Romania is only a temporary shelter before a permanent move to a new life in the Netherlands, it has provided the safety they urgently needed. Mohamed looks content as daughters Wjud, 7, and Walla, almost 2, laugh. Their mother Muna makes her way through the green courtyard with a bowl of pasta for lunch.
They arrived at the ETC on July 3, after UNHCR identified them as urgently needing protection, and, with assistance from the IOM, helped facilitate the family's transfer to the Timisoara centre.
They may stay for up to six months before resettling in the Netherlands, which has offered them sanctuary. During that time, the family will undergo medical checks, sit interviews with Dutch officials, and complete all formalities needed for the move.
They are even taking classes of the Dutch language, culture and traditions. "We are learning about the country little by little," said Mohamed, pulling from his pocket a tiny mp3 player with Dutch lessons for beginners.
Mohamed and Muna still feel joy at arriving at the ETC, which serves as a gateway for placement in a host of countries accepting refugees. They are far from any war zone, and the prospect of moving to a peaceful country means that they can build a new future.
But the family must struggle with harsh memories of the long journey that brought them to Timisoara. Mohamed escaped from detention in Sudan, and fled to Syria in 2008 where Muna and three-year-old Wjud joined him a year later.
"We came from Darfur, in Sudan," said Muna. "We were in a war zone there. We fled one war just to find ourselves in another." The conflict in Syria started in 2011, the same year she became pregnant with Walla.
At the time, the family was living in a house on the outskirts of Damascus. When bombs exploded in their neighbourhood and the dead began to collect in the streets, they fled into Damascus where Syrian authorities placed them in a converted sports hall with about 750 other refugees.
Muna says life in Syria was terrifying, particularly for the children. Each time a bomb landed, the noise would send Wjud into a state of shock, making her sick. "To this day, when we hear a door being slammed we jump, thinking there is a shell falling," said Muna with tears in her eyes.
On another occasion, Mohamed, Muna and the children were in a taxi at a Syrian military checkpoint when two motorcyclists were shot dead. "Our car got caught in the crossfire and was riddled with bullets," said Muna. "It's a miracle we escaped. Unfortunately, our oldest child witnessed all this…"
After the violence in their past, the family is looking forward to a leap into an unknown but peaceful future. "I don't want them to go through the hardships we've been through," Mohamed said. "For us the most important thing now is to get them into school."
Mohamed, who was a chauffeur in Sudan, would like to become a plumber. Muna, a former teacher of Arabic and religion, hopes to get work in the refugee community in the Netherlands. Their exact future may still be uncertain but they are now safe and from their haven at Romania's ETC, they can see endless possibilities.
*Full name withheld for protection reasons
By Andreea Anca in Timisoara, Romania
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What is Pertussis?
Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is a highly contagious respiratory disease. It is caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis.
Pertussis is known for uncontrollable, violent coughing which often makes it hard to breathe. After fits of many coughs, someone with pertussis often needs to take deep breathes which result in a "whooping" sound. Pertussis most commonly affects infants and young children and can be fatal, especially in babies less than 1 year of age.
How do you detect it?
Pertussis (whooping cough) can be diagnosed by taking into consideration if you have been exposed to pertussis and by doing a:
- History of typical signs & symptoms (View video example of someone with pertussis)
- Physical examination
- Laboratory test which involves taking a sample of secretions (with a swab or syringe filled with saline) from the back of the throat through the nose see Figure 1 and video demonstrations.
- Blood test
How do you prevent it?
While pertussis vaccines are the most effective tool we have to prevent this disease, no vaccine is 100% effective. If pertussis is circulating in the community, there is a chance that a fully vaccinated person, of any age, can catch this very contagious disease. If you have been vaccinated, the infection is usually less severe. If you or your child develops a cold that includes a severe cough or a cough that lasts for a long time, it may be pertussis. The best way to know is to contact your doctor.
Information taken from The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention


text: I just got back from a road trip and just wondering if anyone else has this problem. I have always done the driving or at least the last ten years because my husband gets sleepy when he drives, he is 9 years older than me. The last few road trips now I get sleepy even when I have enough sleep. I drank coffee, etc. This is really upsetting because I love road trips but don't want to be a danger. I remember a few years ago reading that people being sleepy is more dangerous than drunk drivers or just as many accidents etc. Is this a 50+ issue? Maybe I am more tired since I help so much with the twins I don't know but it sucks I plan on taking my granddaughters all kinds of places but not if its dangerous.


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The second Ghost Rider movie, Spirit of Vengeancem is almost out. But before you spend your hard cash on yet another comic book movie, take a look at these clips and decide for yourself: Is Nic Cage vomiting hellfire worth your hard-earned cash? I think you know what the answer to that is.
The Deal
Moreau Car Chase
Ghost Rider & Blackout Road Fight


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Register Now for Mashable's SXSWi House 2012
With only a few days before SXSW, one of the most memorable festivals in tech, now's the time to populate your calendar with every event, panel and party you want to attend while visting Austin, TX.
By popular demand, Mashable is bringing back one of the biggest parties in Austin: the Mashable SXSWi House, plus a few other fun surprises that we'll be announcing soon.
Join Mashable and our sponsors Dice.com, 3M and Nature Valley on Sunday, March 11 from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. for an exciting evening of music and networking, with an open bar.
Joining us will be San Francisco-based DJ duo A Plus D of Bootie, who will be spinning their world famous mashups at the Mashable SXSWi House. Think Lady Gaga meets Bob Marley or Will Smith meets Daft Punk, mixed together under one roof. A Plus D, creators of Bootie, the biggest mashup bootleg party in the world, will rock the party with their musical concoctions and creative song combinations.
A Plus D will be taking requests via Twitter at the Mashable SXSWi House. Follow @Bootiemashup so you can request your favorite mashups live, or tweet your favorite artists or songs, and Bootie's A Plus D will mash it up whenever possible.
This week we'll be announcing special surprises we've planned for the SXSWi community, and we'll share where to find Mashable and its editorial team in Austin, so stay tuned!
Date: Sunday, March 11, 2012 Time: 9 p.m. - 2 a.m. Location: Buffalo Billiards, 201 6th Street, Austin, TX Socialize: Follow #MashSXSW on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, Plancast and Instagram
RSVP Policy The event is open to all 21+ SXSWi badge holders. Please RSVP on Eventbrite.


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Variable Scheduling Timeouts
The Linux kernel relies on periodic timer interrupts to allow the kernel:
- to keep the current time and date up to date,
- to do accounting,
- to check if a different task should be dispatched, and
- to see if software timer service routines should be called.
Even when the processor is otherwise idle, these interrupts occur and cause the processor to be brought out of a power savings mode even though there may not be anything for it to do other than update the time and go back to sleep. The Variable Scheduling Timeouts (VST) feature modifies the kernel to avoid unnecessary timer interrupts, allowing the processor to stay in a power saving mode for longer periods.
A kernel SHOULD disable periodic timer interrupt while CPU is idle and there is no scheduled timer. The length of the time interval during which periodic timer interrupt is disabled SHOULD not be more than a value which SHOULD be configurable.
More information on VST is available at the community site http://sourceforge.net/projects/high-res-timers/


text:
- Silk Pillowcases
- Women
- Jewelry
- Home & Travel
- Men
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- Outlet
At Fishers Finery we take silk seriously. Our Silk Therapeutic Sleep Eye Mask is made of 100% silk charmeuse on the exterior and 100% silk filling on the inside, making it lightweight for comfort around the eyes and smooth for comfort on the skin.
Attached is an elastic strap wrapped in silk too. Our silk contains no synthetic materials and has a hand feel that is unparalleled. Enjoy the benefits of 100% silk and sleep in luxury!
Dry Clean or Hand Wash are the best methods.
If Machine Washing use gentle cycle. Lay Flat to Dry.
We suggest using a Mesh Wash Bag for longevity.
For even more care details visit our Fabric Care Page


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The Audi A6 has morphed from a rather nondescript sedan into something that has significant curb appeal.
The bolder lines and LED daytime running lights aside, it is the optional LED headlights that are the defining touch. These jewelled illuminators not only add to the look during the day, they are masterpieces when driving at night — what you see with them on a dark highway is only eclipsed by the detail the optional night vision system reveals.
The A6 also benefits from its stretched wheelbase — there's now 2,912 millimetres between the wheels — and a hybrid aluminum body. When compared with a regular steel body, the A6's structure is 15% lighter. This pays dividends in all areas, not the least of which is making it easier for the new engine to deliver the desired alacrity.
In this instance, the A6 is powered by a 3.0-litre direct-injection six that uses a supercharger to deliver its goods. It puts out 310 horsepower and, more importantly, 325 pound-feet of torque at a low 2,900 rpm. This engine loves to rev and it does so while retaining the sort of refinement expected of something motivating a luxury car. Step on the gas and the riders are whisked to 100 kilometres an hour in a scant 5.5 seconds. The flip side is the newfound fuel economy. When compared with the out-going V8 engine, the six sips 1.8 litres per 100 km less on the highway and 1.4 L/100 km less in the city — power and economy from one honey of an engine.
The power is relayed to the road through a slick-shifting eight-speed manumatic transmission and Audi's quattro all-wheel-drive system. In the A6's application, the quattro system sends 40% of the power to the front wheels and 60% to the rear. It can, however, send as much as 70% to the front wheels and up to 85% to the rear. The advantage is the driving feel of a rear-drive car but with the sure-footed road manners only all-wheel drive can deliver. Factor in the P255/35R20 tires, which are part of the S-line package, and the grip level basically banishes all of the usual understeer/oversteer vices.
The technology that really defines the new A6 is the ability to adjust it to suit the tone of the drive. Pushing the "car" button in multi-media interface allows the driver to pick one of a number of driving modes — comfort, automatic and dynamic modes as well as individual. The latter allows the driver to tweak the suspension and steering and/or the engine and transmission. The changes are immediately noticeable.
Logic dictates that a full-bodied sedan should not dance its way through a corner, but dance the A6 does. It belies its size, from a dynamic perspective, as well or better than any of its peers. In the comfort mode, the damping is cossetting and the steering nice and light — just the ticket for an urban cruise. Switching up to the dynamic mode firms everything. There is less body roll, the steering delivers the required feedback and the response from the throttle and transmission is more immediate. It all comes together so that the A6 more than qualifies as a true sports sedan.
Interior design has come a long way in a very short time — the finish in the A6 takes everything to a new level. Not only are the materials — everything from the buttery leather to the brushed aluminum accents — a step above some of the most opulent rides, it's laid out in an ergonomically friendly manner. Obviously, the all-encompassing controller is part of the makeup, but, here again, it is taken to a new level. Not only is it easy to navigate through the various menus, the inclusion of a touch-sensitive pad (it also doubles as the audio presets) allows the driver to scribe the letters in an address or the number in a phone number. It does not get much simpler.
As for the technology along for the ride, well, there is a ton including an adaptive cruise control system that works at any speed. Once set, it will track the car ahead at a driver-selectable distance. If it slows, so does the A6; if it speeds up, the same again. In fact, the system is advanced enough to bring the car to a halt if that's what the vehicle ahead does. I tried it and found it a positively freaky experience — a car that drives all by itself, and it does so anywhere from a stop to 250 km/h!
I liked the previous A6 for many very reasons — the new car is so much more focused and significantly better for it. The improvements to the powertrain, quattro all-wheel-drive system and the cabin will be enough to satisfy most potential punters. The ability to have two cars for the price of one sold me. The A6 is both luxury car and sporting sedan at the same time. The inevitable S6 makes my mouth water.
Type of vehicle: All-wheel-drive mid-sized sedan
Engine: 3.0L supercharged V6
Power: 310 hp @ 5,500 rpm; 325 lb-ft of torque @ 2,900 rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed manumatic
Brakes: Four-wheel vented disc with ABS
Tires: P255/35R20 (optional)
Price, base/as tested: $67,500/$78,300
Destination charge: $1,995
Transport Canada fuel economy L/100 km: 11.3 city, 7.4 hwy.
Standard features: Four-zone climate control, power locks, windows, mirrors and sunroof, cruise control, leather upholstery, 12-way power driver seat, tilt and telescopic steering, heated front and rear seats, AM/FM stereo with six-disc CD/MP3, auxiliary input and 10 speakers, rain-sensing wipers, MMI controller, navigation, Bluetooth, smart key with push-button start
Options: Bose Audio ($1,000); driver assistance package ($2,300), includes adaptive cruise control, blind-spot assist, lane assist; Vision package ($4,000), includes heads-up display, night vision; S Line package ($2,700), includes 20-inch wheels, sport suspension, heated steering wheel


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Custom Metal
-- Custom sizes & finishes available
-- D'style, Inc. is a well known manufacturer of custom metal with quantities starting as low as 1 piece and a variety in tops, materials, and finishes.
Some of D'style's most popular materials include stainless steel, aluminum, wrought iron and more. Tops include glass, engineered stones, granites, laminates
and others. D'style Finishes include powder coats, wet paints, plated and polished or brushed metallics. The company not only creates beautiful custom tables, but a wide selection of other metal products, such as lighting, vanities, mirrors, seating, grills and more.
Images on this website MAY NOT represent exact colors.


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Indicative Rate * AU$190 to AU$285
Henderson Park, a fifth generation family run working cattle property, is uniquely positioned just 10 minutes off the East Coast Highway and 30 minutes north of Rockhampton, Central Queensland.
Join an educational property tour, simply unwind or take a break from travelling. Go on a bush walk, see wildlife and cattle in their natural environment, go canoeing, swimming, fishing (creek is stocked with Barramundi!) and admire the stunning sunset and evening bird song.
There are three styles of fully self contained accommodation available. Luxurious accommodation is provided in an intimate setting at Hedlow Lodge, which boasts 180 degree views over the property and water from the spacious communal deck. Four queen ensuited rooms are available in Hedlow Lodge.
Their Pioneer Style Cabins are cosy and timber lined with private verandahs also overlooking beautiful Hedlow Creek. Two cabins are available each with different bedding configuration.
Their heritage style Barrett House is the original homestead on Henderson Park, which as been recently renovated. This house can sleep up to eight people and is perfect for large families or groups travelling together.
Hosts Annika and Ryan and the Henderson Park team are waiting to welcome you to their little piece of paradise!
Two well presented fully self contained timber cabins. Cabin One sleeps five people with a separate queen bedroom and a fold out sofa and a single bed in the main living room. Cabin Two sleeps four people in an open plan with a queen bed and double fold out sofa. Both cabins overlook Hedlow Creek which is a beautiful nine kilometre waterway, with spectacular views of volcanic plugs of a bygone era.
Four immaculate, spacious modern en suite rooms that sleep four people in a queen and two king single beds. The lodge has wheel chair accessible accommodation and facilities. The rooms have a ceiling fan and have been designed to utilise air flow and are fully insulated, with extensive views over the gardens and water. Bar fridge and tea/coffee facilities supplied in each room.
Note: Information on listed products and services are provided by the operator and were correct at the time of publishing. Rates are indicative based on the minimum and maximum available prices of products and services. Please visit the operator's website for further information. All prices quoted are in Australian dollars (AUD).


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Belle & Co.
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Projects To Date
LIVE Webinar: Role of Social Creative Hubs during Crisis
Creative Campus #2 goes online in Sudan
East African Creative Music Campus
CREATIVE HUBS ACADEMY: Connect.hubs.2.0
DIVE 3: ZERO to ONE is bigger than 1 to N: INTERNATIONAL SE CONFERENCE
Strengthening Citizens of Sudan
SMITHSONIAN Research Mission
FUNDAMENTALS OF DESIGN THINKING – refresher course
SOCIAL ENTERPRISE STUDY TOUR Cape Town
DESIGN THINKING WITH CODERS – LifeChoices Academy
AU's Great Museum of Africa – Belle and Co. Update
IMPACT Makers and Creators launches in Cape Town
Building projects and partners in Greece!
Music Crossroads Creative Campus in Malawi
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Opinion: When Governments Default
Assistant editorial page editor James Freeman and Americas columnist Mary O'Grady debate the Argentinian government's debt repayment evasion, and what it means for other nations facing similar troubles. Photos: Associated Press
This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.
I ... welcome back to Opinion Journal I'd in two thousand won Argentina defaulted on its sovereign debt to creditors who had wanted money ... and the editorial pages James Freeman and Mary O'Grady don't quite agree on who should expect to get their money back ... James why don't you start by explaining note is the ocean state ... it's really about that what happens when governments to fall the as we watched in Europe ... this can happen to ... be connected in United States and they look so hot but to ... basically what happened isn't he doesn't want it to said Argentina defaulted so they have ... been reached an agreement with most of their creditors to take about a third of the money they wrote ... a few low holdout so these are generally a hedge fund so boom all the dead after was already distressed say no ... contract is contracting in pays on reserves on the dollar ... and if you're to pay anyone yet available according to this particular bar contract so I ... I think that ... as much as ... we understand the idea that you are you people breathing room when they when the ... in the consultancy ... contract is a contracted end of this was done in the United States under our laws were enforced in Spain litigated him in ... the United States ... our heels and your that's right is censored Court of Appeals recently ruled against Argentina and Spain litigated and Argentina's losing to this point the other hoping that the U S Freeport will give them another ... hearing him and ... while I disagree with I chains and and and the idea that God this is the last ... time there's nothing that the bondholders are doing better outside the law ... but I think it's worth I'm thinking about ... you know what happens when the their company and individual our country cannot pay ... and generally speaking I mean in civil society we started to accept the fact that at some point someone can pay we don't have debtors prisons anymore we don't train blood and some when we actually tried to make an arrangement so that ... you know ... that creditors who were taking a premium for lending to a you know a less than ... of ... you know ... of rich country and bought were taking risk and they were getting paid a premium and now they have to take a haircut and so you know you have this up ... a large number of creditors who did take a haircut and I think it's a mistake to frame these people are holdouts in some kind of you know widows and orphans who had these bond that they are in the Senate ... I guess one question here is whether you think the Argentine government is negotiating in good faith I mean ... you know of are you ever going to get your money back from them we had a lot of Asian defaults back in the seventies and that was worked through Mexico the same thing but Argentina ... the thing to cure their government is going to the bench would pay off well when you have to understand here is that the but the bondholders who scooped up the haircut ... having getting paid and so forth the what's the hold outs actually do this as a profession what they do as they look for contacts where it says my contacts that there is an equal payment provision as a technicality but they find that technicality ... they buy and the bonds precisely because they wanted use the law for this is not a problem in capital markets to James WatchESPN last minute trying to ... to lose and is this is not argue whether the people who bought the bonds are nice guys you know it's really about the big larger rule of law and we yet there's not a ... world bankruptcy court ... that's a good thing we don't want another layer of world government but in the absence of that I think the second best option is to ... enforce contract was in the United States the US ... is a financial center in New York specifically in a big part of that is because ... people trust or loss either they think they can come here they cannot sign on to an agreement they can lend or borrow in the terms will be in for one thing to happen ... well they were to happen next to eventually Argentina is either going have to fold or they're going to find ... a much longer period before they can return to international markets because they're basically what ... they're doing now is trying to get around to U S court order ... I don't think the investors who agreed to take haircuts ... are going to want purchase paid in Makena scheme ... or even a bed and so ... I


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Former Maine resident gets life in prison for drug-related killing of couple in California
LAKEPORT, Calif. (AP) � A 32-year-old man has been sentenced to life in prison without parole in the slaying of a Maine couple in Northern California.
A Lake County judge issued the sentence against Robby Alan Beasley on Tuesday, saying the manner in which Frank Maddox and his wife, Yvette, were shot three years ago indicated a high degree of viciousness.
Prosecutors say Beasley shot the couple on a rural road turnout and left their bodies at the bottom of an embankment after suspecting they stole marijuana from his apartment.
Beasley, formerly of Augusta, Maine, was convicted of first-degree murder in December.
The Lake County Record-Bee (http://bit.ly/U2lXv5) reports that his attorney has filed a notice of appeal.
Meanwhile, Beasley's alleged accomplice, Elijah Bae McKay, pleaded guilty to being an accessory after the fact and was granted release from jail.


text: Volkswagen Launches GRC Beetle at the 2014 Chicago Auto Show February 6, 2014 01:30 PM MEDIA INFORMATION Contact: Mark Bilek Director of Communications and Technology Chicago Automobile Trade Association Office: (630) 424-6082 Cell: (847) 652-0632 Email: firstname.lastname@example.com Contact: Jennifer Morand Senior Public Relations and Social Media Manager Chicago Automobile Trade Association Office: (630) 424-6084 Cell: (630) 391-1986 Email: email@example.com FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CHICAGO (February 6, 2014) – Volkswagen introduced the all-new 2014 Global RallyCross Beetle, during the Media Preview of the 2014 Chicago Auto Show. Volkswagen was excited to announce that they are teaming up with Andretti Autosport and will enter the Red Bull Global Rallycross Series as the Volkswagen-Andretti Rally Cross Team beginning in May. This newly launched racing version of the Beetle will be driven by Tanner Foust and Scott Speed. "We always stressed that we would continually freshen the Beetle through its life cycle with new models and special editions," said Vinay Shahani, vice president of marketing for Volkswagen. "And we made good on that promise." The 2014 GRC Beetle features all-wheel drive to handle the difficult tracks, 560 horsepower and a turbocharged racing engine. To watch complete coverage of the 2014 Chicago Auto Show Media Preview press conferences, please visit http://www.ustream.tv/channel/chicago-auto-show-2011. The manufacturer press conferences are also available at www.youtube.com/chicagoautoshow. For more information about the Chicago Auto Show, please visit www.chicagoautoshow.com. ### About the Chicago Auto Show The Chicago Auto Show is the largest on the continent, spanning more than 1 million square feet of production, concept, and exotic vehicle exhibit space. In addition to hosting multiple world and North American vehicle debuts, the Chicago Auto Show's First Look for Charity raises more than $2 million annually for 18 worthy Chicago organizations in a single night. The 2014 public show will be February 8-17. For more information, visit ChicagoAutoShow.com or Facebook.com/ChicagoAutoShow. Media can register for the Chicago Auto Show Media Preview at chicagoautoshow.com/media/. About The Chicago Automobile Trade Association Founded in 1904, the Chicago Automobile Trade Association is the nation's oldest and largest metropolitan dealer organization. It is comprised of more than 400 franchised new-car dealers and an additional 150 allied members. The group's dealer members employ nearly 20,000 people in the metropolitan area. The association has produced the Chicago Auto Show since 1935. For more information, visit CATA.info. Back to News


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Reviewed By Derek H (TACOMA, WA) Reviewed for a 2014 Hyundai Accent —1/19/2016 8:15 PM
Sounds great. May have lost mpg slightly. Feels a bit more powerful Than stock with k&n air filter
There are no customer reviews for this product
Reviewed By William W (PRINCETON, TX) Reviewed for a 2013 Hyundai Accent —4/1/2014 6:22 AM
I did not get the black curvy intake. It made my Accent engines a lot more noticeable and that's been the only modification. Got a lot less miles per gallon but that's from a heavy foot. Testing to see where I can get optimal mileage now that power test is done. You will have to remove the bumper so heads up. Other than that pretty easy install.


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Mayor's Office
With the City's first big snowstorm of the year possible, Mayor Beutler reminds residents that their cooperation is needed to remove vehicles from the streets to allow for snow removal efforts. Earlier today, the Mayor declared a snow emergency parking ban, effective at 8 p.m. tonight, and a residential parking ban, effective at 8 a.m. Thursday morning for the even numbered (north and east) sides of the streets.
In a snow emergency, parking is banned on both sides of emergency snow routes, arterial streets and City bus routes. Maps are available on the City website, lincoln.ne.gov (keyword: snow), and in the blue pages of the phone book).
A residential parking ban applies to streets that are not emergency snow routes, arterials or bus routes or included in a snow removal district (below). During a residential parking ban, parking is first banned on the even-numbered sides of the streets. Once the Mayor has terminated that ban, parking will be banned on the odd-numbered (south and west) sides of the streets, and parking is again permitted on the even sides.
Two years ago, the City created eight snow removal districts. In these areas, the snow is plowed into windrows, loaded into trucks and hauled out of the area between midnight and 8 a.m. To assist with snow removal, the Mayor may prohibit parking on both sides of the street in the districts, which include streets in Downtown; University Place; Havelock; Bethany; College View; 11th and "G"; 17th and Washington; and 25th and Sumner. Maps can be found at lincoln.ne.gov (keyword: snow).
To assist downtown residents during snow removal district parking bans, City Parking Services will offer free overnight parking at Center Park Garage, 1100 "N" St. The service is being offered in an effort to reduce citations and towed vehicles in the downtown area during parking bans. The service will be offered from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. when the City is under a snow removal district parking ban. Customers will be charged for any time beyond 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. at the posted garage rate. Vehicles that remain in the facility past 10 a.m. will be charged for the entire time the vehicle was in the facility.
The City Parks and Recreation Department also clears lots and facilities throughout the community for residents to use during parking bans. A list follows this release. Residents also may contact the nearest library or church to find out if any additional temporary parking facilities are available during snow operations.
Vehicles parked illegally during parking bans are subject to fines, towing and storage costs at the owners' expense. Vehicles parked in a way that does not allow emergency vehicles to pass may be ticketed for obstructing a public street.
Information on snow operations is available on the City website, lincoln.ne.gov, through local news media and government access cable channels 5 and 10. Residents can sign up on the City website to be notified of snow operations through RSS feeds. They also can sign up to be notified through Twitter at twitter.com/lincolnsnow. A Twitter account is not necessary to receive SMS alerts - text follow lincolnsnow to 40404 (standard text messaging rates apply).
The 2012-13 City snow removal budget is $3.5 million ($3,546,176), a 2.9 percent increase over the prior year. If needed, about $500,000 is available in carryover balances in the snow removal fund from the prior year, making the total available about $4.05 million
The City reminds residents that it is illegal to push or blow snow into or on any street, alley or sidewalk. When clearing sidewalks, residents should also clear wheelchair ramps, curb cuts and access to fire hydrants.
Volunteers are needed to shovel snow for those who are unable to clear their sidewalks and driveways. Individuals or organization wishing to volunteer for the Snow Angels program may sign up online at lincoln.ne.gov. Those who need the help can find volunteers near their home online or by calling the Snow Center 402-441-7644 during regular business hours. Aging Partners also has a program to provide snow removal for low-income elders. Funds from the Lincoln Cares donation program are used to pay the workers through the Aging Partners Home Handyman Program. For more information, visit aging.lincoln.ne.gov (click on "housing") or call 402-441-7030.
For more information on parking bans and snow removal operations, the public can call the Snow Center at 402-441-7644. The public should report street condition emergencies immediately by calling 402-441-7701. To report non-emergency situations and potholes, the public can call 402-441-7646.
The following lots are open for public parking during a residential parking ban:


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Still embroiled in his own personal scandal, is Tiger Woods helping the people of Haiti?
Hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons Tweeted on Wednesday that the embattled golfer, who has stayed out of the public eye since being rocked by a cheating scandal, is "doing something AMAZING!!!!"
"I heard tiger woods donating to send a cargo plane with a mobile hospital out there. Keep ur prayers high!" Russell Tweeted.
A rep for Russell confirmed the Tweets belonged to the hip-hop mogul.
Stars ranging from Wyclef Jean to George Clooney to Coldplay are speaking out and raising money for victims of the 7.0 earthquake that rocked the island nation earlier this week.
Tiger news has been scarce in recent weeks, though wife Elin Nordegren has been spotted out and about in Windermere, Florida. Last year, he was alleged to have conducted affairs with a number of women before admitting to "infidelity" and taking an indefinite leave of absence from golf.
Related Content from AccessHollywood.com:
VIEW THE PHOTOS: Celebs Who Give Back
PLAY IT NOW: Charles Barkley On Reaching Out To Tiger Woods: 'I Wanted Him To Know He Wasn't Alone'
PLAY IT NOW: Usher: Tiger Woods' Situation Is 'Very Unfortunate'
MORE ACCESS ON THESE TOPICS: Tiger Woods - Charities - Athletes - TV One - Celebrities


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This section has been written based on what parents tell us they would like to know. It includes practical advice, ideas and contacts for parents and families of children with vision impairment.
We know it is a worrying time - there's no "normal" response to finding out your child has a sight condition - people respond in different ways. Here you will find important contacts and information to guide and support you with those first steps.
Our information and advice for parents is also available in a downloadable booklet for those who prefer offline or hard copy material:
Information about vision impairment: Guide for parents
Starting Point is a leaflet for parents of babies and children who are newly diagnosed with an eye condition. It is published by Vision UK and introduces Sight Advice FAQ which you can use to ask particular questions about your child's diagnosis and the support and services available to you. Starting Point is given to families in eye clinics. You can also download it from the Vision UK website.
There are many ways you can encourage independence, and help your child to move around more confidently, begin to look after their own needs and feel more confident at mealtimes. Your child may need to be taught skills that others do by imitation, and we tell you about the people who can help with this.
Children with vision impairment are entitled to support for their learning from birth onwards by a specialist teacher called a QTVI. If your child has complex needs, they will usually be supported in a special school in your local authority – find out more on education and learning.
Your child may find the NHS website Eyesight really useful. Developed by Moorfields Hospital, this accessible and easy to understand site is written specifically for children. Eyesight contains age-specific patient information, activities and fact sheets on eye conditions, like childhood glaucoma, squint and myopia, for 3-19 year olds.
Find out about financial support, grants and allowances for families of children with a vision impairment.
We have advice and guidance for young people as they make the transition from school into further or higher education, employment and adult support services. See our Young People's section for more details.


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The Holy Mountain
Hand crafted earpieces in 925 silver with Lavender Quartz.
Please note that every stone is unique and hand selected. A slight variation in shape, colour and size will occur.
How to take care of your jewellery
Be the first to know
about exclusive offers and latest arrivals!


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A collection of scholarly works about individual liberty and free markets. A project of Liberty Fund, Inc.
1530 - 1563
Historical Period:
The Renaissance and the Reformation
Estienne de la Boétie (1530-1563) was a friend of Montaigne and made a name for himself with his poetry and translations of ancient Greek authors. He is perhaps better known today for his essay "Discourse of Voluntary Servitude" where he explores why the majority too often willingly capitulates to the demands of a tiny ruling minority.


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Tablet, phone use to jump for festive shopping
About 40 per cent of Australians are expected to use their smart phones and tablets to shop over Christmas - more than double last year's figure.
Google Australia research has found that there is a 20 per cent increase in shopping related searches year on year and that 40 per cent of all shopping searches now come from smart phones or tablets. "What we see is we're getting a growth of 20 per cent, year on year, for shopping related searches and mobile devices searches have more than doubled in the last 12 months," Google Australia leader for local and retail Ross McDonald said.
Mr McDonald said with the recent release of the iPhone5 and an increasing number of Australians buying iPads he expected the number of mobile searches to increase more rapidly this Christmas.
"We reckon there will be close to a million new devices turned on between now and Christmas when you think about the iPad launch and the new iPhone launch," he said.
"That means there will be more and more Australians using them to make decisions on what they're going to buy for Christmas.
"The last three years the highest number of searches we've had on mobiles have been in the week before Christmas and we estimate that in the week before Christmas this year we will get 50 per cent of our queries through mobile devices."
Mr McDonald said even people who were buying in store still did their research online and used their smart phones and devices to find relevant stores.
"On a big screen people do their product research, then they use a mobile to work out where they're going to go, when the store is open and what offers they have," he said.
He said while some retailers, especially smaller ones, may not be interested in selling online they should still have a mobile friendly website to advertise because that was where most shoppers looked for information about stores and products.
"What we measure is bounce rate and what we see is bounce rates are very, very high if the website is not optimised for a mobile screen," he said.
"If it's not accessible for a mobile, people will very quickly bounce off it and go and look up something else."
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