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The fight card for next week's UFC 116 summer blockbuster is complete with today's official addition of a Forrest Petz vs. Daniel Roberts preliminary-card bout.
UFC officials today announced the full lineup and the new prelim fight, which MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) first reported this past week.
UFC 116 takes place July 3 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
The pay-per-view main card features a heavyweight title-unification bout between champion Brock Lesnar and interim title-holder Shane Carwin.
Additionally, Spike TV airs a one-hour "UFC Prelims" special prior to the main card that features preliminary-card bouts.
Petz (18-7 MMA, 2-3 UFC), a former UFC fighter who returns to the UFC on the heels of a four-fight win streak in outside organizations, replaced injured Julio Paulino (17-3 MMA, 0-1 UFC). His opponent, Roberts (9-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC), is an NAIA All-American wrestler who signed with the UFC earlier this year. But at UFC on Versus 1, he served as an injury replacement for Anthony Johnson and suffered a TKO loss to John Howard, which marked his first career loss.
The full UFC 116 card includes:
- Champ Brock Lesnar vs. interim champ Shane Carwin (heavyweight
title-unification bout)
- Yoshihiro Akiyama vs. Wanderlei Silva
- Matt Brown vs. Chris Lytle
- Stephan Bonnar vs. Krzysztof Soszynski
- Kurt Pellegrino vs. George Sotiropoulos
PRELIMINARY CARD (Spike TV)
- Brendan Schaub vs. Chris Tuchscherer
- Kendall Grove vs. Goran Reljic
PRELIMINARY CARD (Un-aired)
- Seth Petruzelli vs. Ricardo Romero
- Dave Branch vs. Gerald Harris
- Forrest Petz vs. Daniel Roberts
- Jon Madsen vs. Karlos Vemola
For the latest on UFC 116, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of MMAjunkie.com.
(Pictured: Shane Carwin)


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For God and country, sir! While they fought for our freedom, who was fighting for theirs?
Even now, 59 years after he was mustered out of the U.S. Army, Howard "Hank" Allen still bristles when he remembers his experience during World War II. It wasn't the danger– even though he was in the fiercest war zones in Normandy and other parts of France, where, as he says, "We were getting our butts kicked by the Germans."
It was the insult.
Even with two years of college behind him when he was drafted, he was considered too dumb to serve in combat. Why? Because he's black.
This African American, considered not intelligent enough to fight for his country, eventually earned a doctorate in education, taught at the University of Virginia, and perhaps most proudly– chaired an organization that helped hasten desegregation.
"Even before I was drafted into the army in 1943, the secretaries of Defense and Navy issued declarations stating that we were too stupid to be in combat," Allen says. "I had two years of college at the time. White boys who didn't get past the eighth grade could fight, but I couldn't."
Instead, Allen was relegated to the quartermaster corps, where it was his job to transport fuel to trucks.
Allen related his story for the American Folklife Center of the Library of Congress– which in Central Virginia is organized by the Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society– and for the StoryCorps project, which is making audio tapes for the Library's archives.
Horace Boykin also related his story for the Society. His experience was not the same as Allen's. Boykin, now 80, recalls that while he was in Okinawa and Saipan, "When it got hot, we were ordered to fight in the front lines for short periods of time."
Horace and his wife, Maude, have a frayed yellow newspaper clipping reporting white and black soldiers in Saipan fighting side-by-side, an indication of how unusual the situation was. Boykin's all-black platoon's typical assignment was to load and unload ammunition from trucks behind the front lines.
"The white soldiers would often tell us we were lucky we weren't in the front," he says.
Allen, Boykin, and Mason Allen, who was also interviewed for the Society, served in segregated armed forces. Their reactions to that period of their lives are similar in some ways, different in many others.
Hank Allen
"First we were in Mississippi, and that was a shock for those of us from the North," recalls Howard "Hank" Allen, who served from 1943 to 1946. "From there we went to Illinois, where we thought we would be accepted, but it was worse.
"Then we shipped out on the Queen Elizabeth from Hoboken to Scotland. It was better in the British Isles; the English people treated us very well. We had more problems with the white soldiers."
His group was posted to Normandy. History has recorded the heavy fighting and casualties in those post D-Day battles. But blacks were not allowed to fight.
"We were getting our butts kicked," Allen says. "One evening, the captain came to the back lines and said anyone who wanted to could volunteer to be in combat.
"I went to the captain and told him, 'I don't feel very good about this. I wanted to be in combat, but I wasn't considered smart enough. Now that we're getting kicked, you want us to lose our lives. If you direct me, I'll go, but I will not volunteer.'
"And I did not volunteer. I have no guilt about that whatsoever. From that day to this, I resent that."
Allen and the other black American servicemen had left a segregated country. And after their serving their country, they returned to the same situation.
"We had sacrificed so much that that hurt deeply," Allen says. "That's why we got behind the civil rights movement." He participated in demonstrations and met Dr. Martin Luther King. But Allen's important role in ending segregation came later.
Allen was born 85 years ago in Dolphin, a bend in the road in Brunswick County, where his father was a farmer. His family moved to New Jersey in 1927, and he attended an integrated high school.
"I sat with white kids, rich kids, poor kids," he says. After high school he attended Hampton Institute in Norfolk (now Hampton University) for two years. Then he married Ruth, a woman he had met at Hampton. They had two daughters, one of whom died in childhood. He and Ruth were married for 60 years, until her death in 2001.
After his discharge from the army in 1943, Allen returned to his studies at Hampton and graduated in 1950 with a degree in physical education. After earning his master's degree at NYU, he moved to Danville and worked in the school system for the next 17 years.
In 1969, a friend who was a professor at the University of Virginia brought Allen to Charlottesville to work at the Consultative Resource Center on School Desegregation in the Curry School. The federal Department of Education had created 27 centers throughout the United States to help public schools desegregate. Allen was a group leader.
"In the South, for the most part, blacks and whites did not communicate," Allen says. "Now, with the desegregation of schools, we knew we were going to have problems."
But the biggest problems he encountered were not in the school. Grown-ups posed a huge stumbling block for integration. Getting the adults, black and white, to talk to and respect each other was a full-time undertaking.
"With the students, [one question was] who is going to be the student council president?," Allen says. "It can't be chosen by election, because the white kid would always win. So we decided on co-presidents.
"Life has improved since then, although we still have segregation," he notes. "By having advanced placement courses, we separate students. As an educator, I know that when you separate the best students you lose something the chance for students to teach other students.
"The first thing I would want for black children is to be well-educated so they can think and make decisions," says Allen, who received his doctorate from UVA in 1973. "Education is the only thing that's going to help us. Once you are educated, they can't take it away."
Allen was director of the center on desegregation from 1973 to 1980, when it closed, as well as a professor at the Curry School. He retired in 1986.
"Since then I've been doing what I want to do for a change," he says. "I'm very busy in my church and with the Masons." Allen and his wife have daughter, three grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
And his memories of the battles he was not allowed to fight.
Horace Boykin
Horace Boykin has a different reaction when he thinks about the war. He laughs. He and his wife, Maude, are laughing so hard they can hardly finish relating an incident about his homecoming.
After the war, troops were returning to the States.
"We were on a train coming through Alabama and decided to get off to celebrate," he says. "Well, the MPs came chasing us [the black servicemen], ordering us to get back on the train, hollering at us, asking what we thought we were doing! We were asking, 'Is this what we fought for? Is this what we're coming back to?'"
They also laugh when they remember when Boykin overstayed his leave and was thrown into the brig when he got back. "I was put in the brig several times," he says. "They were trying to discipline me, and I was being hard-headed."
Boykin enlisted in the Marine Corps before he finished high school, following his brother who had already signed up. "I wanted to do something for my country," he says. After training, he was sent to the Pacific theater. He was in Okinawa, Saipan, Tinian, and Guam.
While he was guarding an ammunition dump during a Japanese air raid, he was hit in the arm, either by shrapnel or a bullet. As he was being treated in a tent hospital, he looked up to see the sky through the holes caused by enemy fire.
"I looked at that and thought I'd be safer in my foxhole, so I got out of there as soon as I could," he says. Boykin is justifiably proud of his Purple Heart.
Back home after the war, he finished high school and then worked as a waiter before becoming a postman, a job he held for 25 years.
"I loved being a postman," he says more than once, "and the money was good." After his post office stint, he worked as a waiter at the Omni hotel until his retirement.
Horace and Maude married in 1946 and have three children. When the children were old enough for Maude to begin her career, she attended nursing school at UVA, and for 26 years she worked as a nurse specializing in oncology.
"When I think back on the war years, I just laugh," Boykin says. "They were hard on us, but it wasn't because of race. The officers were hard on all of us."
And when there was discrimination? "Well, that's how it was back then," he says philosophically, "and there's nothing to do but laugh."
Mason Allen
Mason Allen (no relation to Hank Allen) agrees with the Boykins– but he doesn't laugh.
"I was born in Newport News in 1921. I went to segregated schools, lived in a segregated city in a segregated state, and served in a segregated Army," he says. "I was used to it. I can imagine someone born up north would not be."
But there was a period that was so bad that even Allen, a man raised in the South, could not get used to and it was at the hands of civilians.
Drafted in 1943, Allen served until the end of the war in an Army amphibious transportation company. He trained first in Louisiana and then at a camp in Florida. While there, he experienced the worst direct discrimination he had ever known.
"In Charlottesville, no one talked to you the way they did in Florida," he says. "They called you names, and on public transportation you were harassed by the police." Eventually, Allen stopped taking public transportation and used only Army conveyances.
Then he was shipped to Hawaii for more training. "Hawaii then wasn't as it is now," he recalls. "It wasn't so built up, and it was beautiful." Allen was stationed on Oahu, and because the island had been taken over by the military, he didn't experience any discrimination there.
"While we were training for whatever we never got to do," he says, "the United States dropped two atomic bombs on Japan, and they gave up. It was the end of the war.
"We had a great big beer party."
While during the war the army had only white officers, six months later, when American troops were disposing of ammunition by dropping it into the ocean, he remembers seeing black officers on board the ship.
"When I left for the Army, I didn't know if I'd ever be back," Allen says. "Now that I was back, I knew that during that time, I had grown up."
Allen had worked on a farm before he was drafted, but back home, the veteran with a wife and two children set off to find a job. He found one immediately driving a truck for Charles King Wholesale Grocery.
"The president had remembered my grandfather," he says, "so I got the job. That was a miracle. I replaced a white man, which was unusual at the time."
Allen drove the truck for 16 years and then worked for 24 years for Peoples National Bank, eventually becoming supervisor of the maintenance crew.
"I can't say enough about how life has changed since the war," he says. "I've been to New Orleans, to the Bahamas, and even to Florida. Now I can use facilities the same as everyone else."
As Mason Allen says, he had "grown up" during the war. So had the nation. Shortly after V-J day, he saw the beginnings of integration– African Americans became part of the officer corps.
Hank Allen was a part of the new generation that would make the system work. Now, Mason Allen can travel freely in the part of the country where he once was most humiliated.
Even as Horace Boykin can laugh at the discrimination he was forced to endure, and Hank Allen still bristles remembering his experiences, they can all take pride in the roles they played not just to preserve freedom in the world, but to make life better at home– for themselves and for the generations that followed.
Bea Mook is a Charlottesville-based freelance writer.
Hank Allen
Mauric Boykin
Mason Allen

subset: commoncrawl


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DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) Iowa opened the Big Ten season on New Year's Eve with a close loss to No. 5 Indiana, which was ranked first for much of the season.
Next up for the young Hawkeyes?
A weekend trip to Michigan, which is currently ranked second.
The league's schedule makers certainly didn't do any favors for an Iowa team with three freshman starters. But Iowa coach Fran McCaffery says the only way to approach the tough week is to approach it like any other week.
The Hawkeyes (11-3, 0-1 Big Ten) and Wolverines (14-0, 1-0) - who routed Northwestern 94-66 Thursday - face off Sunday in Ann Arbor.
``We lock in to what we need to do to get better,'' McCaffery said. ``We lock in to what we think we need to do to beat that team. In my estimation, there's no other way to do it.''
The developing Hawkeyes are coming off their first exposure to an elite team. They fell to Indiana 69-65 at home on Monday before a sellout crowd that believed Iowa was primed to pull off the upset.
The Hawkeyes nearly did it. But then again, they also showed that - at least for now - they remain on the other side of that thin line that separates aspiring contenders from true ones.
``When you have a young team, confidence is important. And what effects confidence are mistakes. Fortunately, we have a pretty resilient group,'' McCaffery said.
Iowa held Hoosiers guard Jordan Hulls scoreless on 10 shots, forced Indiana into 15 turnovers and were within a 3 of tying the game in the final minute.
But the Hawkeyes shot also just 33 percent from the floor against one of the nation's best defenses, and leading scorer Devyn Marble was an abysmal 1 of 14 from the field.
Still, McCaffery was encouraged by the way the Hawkeyes hung around even though they committed a number of Indiana-induced miscues and hoisted brick after brick.
``I was really impressed with our ability to consistently stay in the game when we were struggling on offense in the first half,'' McCaffery said. ``It was frustrating because we had a number of opportunities to take the lead and would make a mistake. But when we were making mistakes, they were kind of aggressive mistakes. We were attacking, and I'm obviously more comfortable with those kinds of mistakes. But you've got to eliminate those if you're going to beat the fifth-ranked team in the country.''
The matchup Sunday in Ann Arbor will be the first trip outside of Iowa since late November for the Hawkeyes, who are leaning on many players with scant experience in the Big Ten.
Freshman guard Mike Gesell scored 13 points against Indiana to bump his average near 10 a game as he transitions from point to shooting guard because of the emergence of fellow freshman Anthony Clemmons.
For freshman Adam Woodbury, facing the Hoosiers meant facing Indiana center Cody Zeller - the player the Hawkeyes hope the 7-foot-1 Woodbury might resemble someday.
Woodbury helped keep Zeller in check in the first half, but he fouled out for the first time after 18 minutes with four points and eight rebounds.
The Indiana game should serve as a measuring stick for Woodbury, who has slowly improved since early December.
``You have to let experience take its course,'' McCaffery said. ``You can't rush that. You've just got to go through it. And that was his first Big Ten game. That was his first game going against a consensus first-team All-American.
``So, he'll learn from that. He'll benefit from that tremendously. Now we've got to go on the road and do it in an environment where it's not going to be easy.''
Follow Luke Meredith on Twitter: www.twitter.com/LukeMeredithAP


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Extension Dairy Team to Offer One-Day Precision Feeding Conference
Posted: April 2, 2013
Proper feed management is essential to good health, good production and good profitability on dairy farms. To help producers examine current topics related to the precision feeding of dairy cattle, the Penn State Extension Dairy Team will hold a one-day conference on May 9 at the Farm and Home Center, 1383 Arcadia Road, Lancaster, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
The program is designed for producers, nutritionists and certified feed management plan writers, all of whom can benefit from advanced and current information in feed management.
Speakers include:
* Gabriella A. Varga, Ph. D., distinguished professor of animal science at Penn State, whose research focuses on the impact of forage sources on nitrogen balance, ammonia emission from manure, dry matter intake, nitrogen efficiency, and milk production in lactating dairy cows.
* Larry Chase, Ph.D., professor of dairy cattle nutrition and extension specialist in the Animal Science Department at Cornell University, whose current research program has three primary components: relationships between nutrition, herd management and milk components; examining the efficiency of nitrogen use in dairy cattle; and evaluating the impact of fiber digestibility in corn silage on dry matter intake and milk production in dairy cows.
* Jamie Jarrett, Ph.D., dairy marketing nutritionist, Land O'Lakes Purine Dairy Feed Team, whose research in dairy cattle nutrition focused on improving estimations of phosphorus bio-availability in lactating dairy cows.
* Dan Ludwig, grazing specialist with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) who works with livestock producers who wish to better utilize their pastures through grazing management.
* Rebecca White, dairy program manager with the Penn State Extension Dairy Team since 2010, working in the areas of dairy profitability and nutrient management, conducting educational and hands-on workshops for dairy operators and agribusiness professionals.
Registration fee for the conference is $30 per person and may be done online at http://extension.psu.edu/animals/dairy/events/advanced-topics-in-feed-management-conference. A form can be downloaded from the site and mailed to Penn State Extension Dairy Team, 324 Henning Bldg., University Park, PA 16802 along with a personal check. A full agenda for the day is also available at the website.
Registration deadline is May 1, 2013.
For more information, call toll-free 888-373-7232.


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Review and Pictures of Diane von Furstenberg 2012 Fall New York Fashion Week Runway Show
2012 Fall New York Fashion Week: Diane von Furstenberg
2012 Fall New York Fashion Week: Diane von Furstenberg
Designers have been sticking to a more neutral palette for Winter but not Diane von Furstenberg and Yvan Mispelaere. Showing to a celebrity-filled crowd at Lincoln Center — we spotted Solange, Molly Sims, Coco Rocha, and Barbara Walters in the crowd — the duo filled the runway with gorgeous colour combos in every jewel tone imaginable. The theme of the collection was "rendezvous," further explained in the show notes as "glamorous at a moment's notice." The outcome was sexy, effortless French-inspired dressing in the way of formfitting wool jersey dresses, wrap skirts, office-appropriate separates, and drapey asymmetric jumpsuits. A pink rendition of the latter, paired with an oversized dark burgundy coat, was one of the highlights of the collection. Whimsical prints — puzzle pieces, quotation marks, and keyholes, were splayed across an array of wrap skirts, oversized coats, and blouses, emoting a sense of mysterious quirk. Whether you're a working woman or just looking to paint the town red, DVF has you covered.
- Trends: Sheer insets, thingh high slits, halter and racerback details.
- Colours: Raspberry, seafoam green, scarlet red, dark teal, black, mustard yellow.
- Key Piece: We loved the asymmetric pink jumpsuit paired with a gorgeous dark burgundy coat.
- Accessories: Oversized clutches, box clutches, printed satchel bags, leather opera length gloves, ankle-strap pumps.
- Who Would Wear It: Girls who crave effortless, sexy silhouettes and bright hues like Zoe Saldana and front row attendees Molly Sims and Solange.


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Educators celebrate victories for California students and working families
WASHINGTON - November 07, 2012 -
Following is a statement by National Education Association (NEA) President Dennis Van Roekel on the election of veteran educator Mark Takano, the passage of Proposition 30, and voters' defeat of Proposition 32.
"We're proud to join Golden State voters in celebrating three important victories. The race to represent the newly created 41st congressional district of California was one of most watched and most important in this election cycle. We're pleased and excited that Mark Takano, a life-long educator, has been elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. Mark knows from personal experience the challenges we face in schools and classrooms across the country. We look forward to working with him in Congress to ensure educational opportunities that really do improve student learning and success and help to strengthen the middle class.
"Another positive outcome of Tuesday's election is the passage of Proposition 30 in California. Voters banded together to avert drastic cuts to the state's education system by increasing personal income taxes on high-income taxpayers for seven years and increasing sales tax by a quarter cent (excluding food and gas) for four years. After years of cuts in education funding, Proposition 30 will make a positive difference in California's education landscape by providing billions in needed funding. The measure also will help to guarantee local public safety and balance the state budget.
"California voters also rejected Proposition 32, the initiative that was an outright attack on workers' rights and organized labor. These are big wins for students, public education, and working families."
Why Are Educators Involved in Elections?
NEA members' top priority is ensuring that every student has access to a quality public school. That responsibility extends beyond the classroom, and means speaking up about decisions that take place outside of school yet affect their ability to educate their students. Local, state, and national politics have a direct impact on the quality of our public schools; speaking up for students requires speaking up in the political process.
Highlights on NEA in California
• There are more than 325,000 NEA members in California
• In the last three days NEA members contacted more than 145,000 voters and volunteers distributed more than 1 million door hangers.
Facts on NEA's Election Activity Nationally
• One out of every 100 Americans is an NEA member
. • In 2008, 1 in every 50 votes cast came from an NEA member. One in every 34 votes cast came from an NEA household.
• Our members live in every state, in every Congressional district, and in every precinct. • Nearly 500,000 NEA members signed up in some way to be involved in the Obama For America campaign, including direct action such as phone banking, canvassing and conducting voter registration
. • NEA was the first union to move to endorse President Obama for a second term. We did so in 2011, meaning we could gear up and start educating and organizing our members.
• Educators are highly reliable voters. On average, NEA members turn out 15% higher than the general public in Presidential elections.
• When it comes to political action, NEA members are involved. Almost half a million educators, NEA members, have been involved in some way in the presidential election. • The vast majority of teachers are women. In fact, 74 percent of NEA members are women—a critical constituency in Decision 2012.
• NEA has produced online ads that have been seen by dozens of people.
For more information, visit nea.org www.educationvotes.nea.org Follow us on twitter at www.twitter.com/NEAMedia ###
CONTACT: Staci Maiers, email@example.com 202-822-7823


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Q&A With "Ever Present Danger" Author Kathy Herman
- Staff Christianbook.com
- 2007 17 Apr
Kathy Herman never set out to write suspense fiction. In fact, this one-time bookstore owner thought she would be writing books for children after she retired. But when she couldn't find the words and started getting depressed, her husband encouraged her to try writing something else - anything else. Soon after, she wrote the prologue to "Tested by Fire," and she hasn't stopped writing novels since.
In this interview, Kathy shares how she got her start as a fiction writer, what kind of challenges she faces in her work and what it took to complete her most recent title for Multnomah Fiction, "Ever Present Danger" (book #1 in the "Phantom Hollow Series"). …
What led you to become a CBA author?
I had worked in the Christian book industry for many years. I started out working on staff at the Christian Booksellers Association in Colorado Springs for five years, and then married a retailer and moved to Texas, where I ran the children's department in our family-owned Christian bookstore for ten years. I retired due to some joint problems, and thought it would be the perfect opportunity to try my hand at writing children's books. But I sat at my laptop and stared at a blank screen for days at a time. I wanted to write children's books. I understood the market and knew these books inside and out. I knew how to age grade them, how to judge their effectiveness, and how to market them. Unfortunately, I couldn't write them. My husband knew I was getting depressed. He said, "Honey, write something, anything. It doesn't have to be a children's book!" So that's what I did. I wrote a random scene, which led to my writing the prologue to "Tested by Fire." And I've never stopped writing novels since. I didn't realize all these stories were inside me.
How did you come up with the concept for "Ever Present Danger"?
This is one of those stories that came to me out of nowhere. I had promised my publisher a book based on I Corinthians 15:33: "Do not be misled: bad company corrupts good character." But I had no preconceived idea about the characters or the plot. I just focused on it for several hours and had the whole thing figured out. That doesn't happen with most of my books. I was engaged with these characters from the beginning, even though the drugs and the lies are not something I've personally had to deal with. What I related to – and what I think my readers will relate to – is the danger of being influenced into compromising our values.
In today's culture where moral absolutes are rapidly disintegrating, it's not always easy for believers to keep both feet planted on a biblical foundation, especially when we're continually exposed to people and situations in direct conflict with God's Word. It's so important that we remain keenly aware of the ever-present danger of compromise, because the enemy of our souls knows only too well where each of us is most vulnerable.
Is any part of "Ever Present Danger" factual?
Not a word – and every word. The characters are fictional and not based on anyone I know, but their struggles are universal. The setting IS factual, however – at least the San Juan Mountains and the western slope of Colorado. Phantom Hollow itself is fictional.
How closely is "Ever Present Danger" based on your life?
This is totally a work of fiction. The story is not based on my personal experiences or those of anyone I know. But even though I haven't struggled with drug addiction, I've certainly struggled with moral compromise and the consequences that followed. And that's what this story is really about. And it's everybody's story.
How long did "Ever Present Danger" take you to complete?
About four months. I worked with overlapping deadlines because I write two books a year. Four months is a comfortable pace.
What is the symbolism for the title "Ever Present Danger"?
It's two-fold. The story is filled with dangerous situations that keep the pace moving and the reader turning the pages. But the true ever-present danger is moral compromise.
Do you have a favorite character? Why?
I loved Ivy's seven-year-old son, Montana. It was fun creating a sensitive, lovable little boy that would ask all the right questions in such an endearing way that the reader would actually anticipate the answers and not feel preached to.
How much research did "Ever Present Danger" take?
I have two very reliable research people (a private investigator and an assistant DA) that helped me with crime investigation, forensics, and issues pertaining to the law. I think I taxed them both pretty hard on this story. Some of the research was done on the Internet – such as researching drug addiction, rehab, the effects of drugs, etc.
How many titles will be in the "Phantom Hollow" series?
Three: #1 "Ever Present Danger," #2 "Never Look Back" (October 2007), and #3 "The Grand Scheme" (April 2008).
What is your favorite verse from the Bible?
I Corinthians 1:18: "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God."
Do you prefer to write suspense fiction?
That's all I've written so far, and it's been fun. I will say that it gets increasingly difficult to come up with a suspense plot that is unique. My stories tend to involve equal measures of suspense, inspiration, and characterization. As long as I feel satisfied with those components in my suspense stories, I'll probably continue to write it.
What are some of the challenges you face as an author?
Balancing my time is the greatest. By nature, I'm a closure person. But because I have back-to-back deadlines, I'm never really DONE. The Lord uses this challenge to keep me disciplined. Also, I have to deal with occasional bouts of writer's block – which are exceedingly inconvenient when I'm on deadline. And then there's the inevitable spiritual attack that will hit sometime during the writing of each book. I have learned to recognize it. And I have a team of prayer warriors who help me fight it.
Are there any other new projects on the horizon?
I'm mulling over an idea for another series set in the Smoky Mountains. But it's not on paper yet. I still have two more books to complete in the "Phantom Hollow Series" first.
Who was the person who influenced you the most with your writing?
I can't honestly say I was influenced by anyone prior to writing my first novel. I know that seems strange, but I never aspired be a novelist. The idea never entered my mind until I couldn't seem to write a children's book . I will say that my editor, Rod Morris, who worked with me on my first eleven books, including "Ever Present Danger," was a wonderful mentor.
What advice would you give to a person trying to become a fiction writer?
Stay teachable! If you have a passion for storytelling, don't stop trying to get published. But don't stop writing in the meantime! Keep those fingers moving and those ideas flowing. Your writing muscle can only be developed by using it.
What message would you like your readers to take away from "Ever Present Danger"?
I want my readers to close the cover on "Ever Present Danger" with a clear picture of the fragile territory believers enter when we build close relationships with individuals whose values are in serious conflict with our own. I want them to see that it's easier to get sucked into the darkness than to walk in the light. And that the best way to avoid the trap of compromise is never to take that first step over the line.
What is your goal or mission as a writer?
God's Word tells us what we should do, and I believe story shows us how. My goal is to create believable and unforgettable characters that struggle to live out their faith in a world that fights them at every turn.
© 2007 Christianbook.com. All rights reserved. Used with permission. Find what you're looking for at Christianbook.com. Shop for books, Bibles, videos, music, homeschooling resources, software, clothing, gifts and more. Daily discounts, too!


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Welcome to the Mayfield Village Racquet Club Web Site!
MVRC is a private indoor tennis club located in Mayfield Village, Ohio. It offers 12 newly renovated air-conditioned tennis hard courts, with a state-of-the art tennis court lighting system added in 2017, in addition to a full-service pro shop, locker rooms, lounge and viewing areas, and a nursery. This web site is an excellent source of information about a variety of topics including:
Mayfield Village Racquet Club is a proud member of the United States Tennis Association. Please click on the links below for more information on the USTA, the Midwest Section of the USTA, and the NEOTA, the local chapter. If you need more information on USTA's Northeast Ohio Adult Tennis Leagues, please click on the appropriate logo.


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As outstanding student loan debt has now reached $1 trillion, surpassing the debt consumers hold in credit cards and car loans, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has just completed a Financial Aid Shopping Sheet to help students and parents better compare the costs of different colleges and understand their payment options.
Schools that accept tuition assistance and GI Bill money will be required to provide the shopping sheet to military students, and colleges representing more than 1 million students have pledged to use the form, the CFPB said in a statement.
In testimony before the Senate Banking Committee Tuesday, Rohit Chopra, student loan ombudsman for the CFPB, said that while college is "still a good investment," it doesn't come without risk.
Student loans, Chopra said, are now "the largest form of unsecured household debt, and the CFPB will play an active role in contributing to a properly functioning student loan marketplace."
Higher education, he said, "remains the surest path to a good career and job security," as the unemployment rate for workers with college degrees is 4.1%, compared with 8.4% for those with just a high school diploma. For younger workers, he continued, the unemployment rate for those with college degrees is 8.9% compared with more than 13% for those with just a high school diploma.
But, he stressed, there is "another side to this story. Much attention has been paid to the growing 'college wage premium'—the difference between wages for those with a college degree versus those without."
Over the past decade, wages for young college graduates have actually declined by 5.4% when adjusting for inflation, Chopra told lawmakers. Between 1990 and 2010, wages for workers with only a high school diploma declined by 12%, when adjusted for inflation.
"This growing 'premium' is largely explained by declining wages for young people without a degree," he said. "Put another way, the growing gap is not due to a college degree becoming more valuable—it's that the wages of non-degree holders are falling."
However, he continued, "the cost of attendance at our nation's colleges and universities has not been falling. In the past decade, the cost of attendance at public schools increased 42%, and prices at private not-for-profit schools increased 31%, when adjusting for inflation. Tough economic times have led state governments to slash higher education budgets, exacerbating this trend. The cost of tuition and fees has risen more than tenfold since 1979, vastly outpacing inflation, wage growth and health care costs." The beta version of the CFPB's shopping sheet, part of the bureau's "Know Before You Owe" initiative—which was developed in collaboration with the Department of Education—was originally unveiled by CFPB Director Richard Cordray on a visit to South Dakota with Senate Banking Committee Chairman Tim Johnson, D-S.D., in April.
A recent report found that South Dakota has the largest percentage of students leaving college with debt—an average of more than $23,000 per student.
Chopra said during his testimony that the financial aid shopping sheet helps "schools provide better information on student loans and grants," and pointed to other online tools that the CFPB has developed—which have been used by "tens of thousands of consumers"—on how to navigate their student loan repayment options, avoid default, and protect their credit history. Said Chopra: "We've also begun to supervise the nation's largest banks, where much of today's private student loan origination takes place, for compliance with federal consumer financial laws and to detect and assess risks to consumers."


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Holy Hoth, this cake version of a Star Wars Star Destroyer is glorious. Look at it, with its icing, and its gorgeous stand that makes it look like it's floating — it even lights up! This cake is too beautiful to eat. We should all just tenderly stroke the grey icing with respect and awe.
It was created by Lorenzo Wood, who has a step-by-step photo collection on his Flickr page along with this video that shows how the cake lights up. Brilliant!
[via Geekologie]


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If rumors are to believed, a Facebook-branded browser might not be far off.
Independent UK technology blog Pocket-lint first reported last week that, according to "trusted sources," Facebook was engaged in acquisition talks with Norwegian web developer Opera Software. Both companies have thus far declined to comment.
Focus has remained primarily on the 17-year-old Opera Software's flagship browser, and the possibility that Facebook could be planning to leverage the Opera Mini browser for a strengthened mobile push. There are more reports that the social network is, once again, developing its own branded smartphone and mobile operating system.
However, there is another more important part of Facebook's post-IPO plans that an Opera acquisition could solve—monetization and mobile ads.
Opera Software's first quarter 2012 financial report reveals a great deal about the company's current mobile strengths beyond browsing, especially where advertising and mobile revenue are concerned. In 2010, for example, Opera acquired advertising publishing platform AdMarvel. This was followed by the acquisition of advertising suppliers Mobile Theory and 4th Screen Advertising earlier this year. Combined, Opera now claims to offer "the leading global mobile advertising platform," with a reach of 140 million mobile consumers globally—330 million when Opera's own browsing software is included.
That is still far less than the 425 million people that access Facebook from a mobile device each month, but the difference is that Opera is actually making money. Mobile advertising revenue growth is up 303% when compared with the same period last year, according to Opera's first quarter results.
As reported earlier this month, Facebook users spend more time interacting with the social network via their mobile phones than the desktop site, according to data from digital analytics firm comScore—where there has been very little advertising revenue. In the company's February IPO filing, founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg admitted that "if users increasingly access mobile products as a substitute for access through personal computers, and if we are unable to successfully implement monetization strategies for our mobile users, our financial performance and ability to grow revenue would be negatively affected."
According to Reuters, news of the potential acquisition caused Opera's stock to jump as high as 26 percent Tuesday on the Oslo Stock Exchange. Facebook stock, meanwhile, fell below $30 for the first time Tuesday, down almost 25 percent from its IPO price.
Opera also earns revenue from a variety of less obvious sources, including deals with manufacturers of cellphones and Smart TVs where Opera software comes preinstalled, in addition to extensive deals with Google to monetize search. In 2012, the company is planning a big push into mobile payments using Opera Mini and an initiative called the Opera Payment Exchange.
It is likely that, were Facebook truly interested in acquiring Opera Software, it would be on the strength of these mobile advertising acquisitions and licensing initiatives as revenue generators, rather than its browser technology. Despite its claim of 270 million users each month, Opera's slice of the browser market share is relatively small when compared with Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox and even Microsoft's Internet Explorer—a mere 2.39 percent of combined browser marketshare. For context, Internet Explorer still dominates half of the web.
Here at Ars, the results are similar. Opera users account for just over two percent of all visitors—1.83 percent from the company's desktop browser, and 0.35 percent from Opera Mini. The company claims 168.8 million mobile users browsed the internet with its Opera Mini software in March.
That isn't to say there aren't certain aspects of the Opera browser that potential Facebook suitors wouldn't find attractive. Opera Mini is hugely popular on feature phones and less-powerful smartphones primarily sold in emerging markets, where Facebook is working hard to establish a stronger foothold. Opera uses compression technology that is said to shrink the size of a webpage by up to 90 percent, something that could make the delivery of the social network's rich and interactive feature-set easier.
But these qualities alone aren't worth the supposed $1 billion asking price that media outlets such as Reuters have been reporting—not when Facebook could build its own branded browser around the free, open source WebKit engine instead. If Facebook is to acquire Opera, it's not the browser itself that matters, but the browser's ability to satisfy Facebook's pressing mobile monetization and advertising needs.


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TUSCALOOSA | Authorities are searching for a teenager who escaped from a state detention center and is considered armed and dangerous.
Brandon Kyle Evans, 16, is one of three teens who attacked staff members at the Mount Meigs youth facility on Saturday night. One worker was beaten and lost a thumb and some teeth in the attack, according to the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office.
The teenagers took keys from a staff member, crashed a vehicle through a gate and escaped.
"If you see him, do not take action on your own," said Tuscaloosa County Sheriff Ted Sexton. "We feel he is a threat to the public."
Investigators believe that Evans was the ringleader in the escape, and have not issued warrants against the other two teens, both 16. Their names and photos have not been released because they are still being treated as juvenile offenders.
"Based on the evidence, we know he is the most violent," Sexton said.
Mysti Maddox, Evans' mother, said that her son was being held on charges of escaping another juvenile facility and initiating a fistfight with a guard there. He has struggled with depression, she said, and with controlling his impulses.
"I love him more than anything and I wish for him to peacefully turn himself in, or come home and we'll do it together," she said. "I'm extremely concerned. I want him off the streets. I don't want him hurt, and I don't want anyone else hurt."
Maddox doesn't condone her son's past actions or the escape.
"He should be captured, and he should face the consequences. But I want people to know that he's not the big, bad wolf. He's just a kid and he has a big heart," she said.
Evans, who is from Tuscaloosa County, was spotted in the Alabama Highway 69 South area on Monday, he said. Sexton did not say whether he was in a vehicle or on foot, and said that the other two suspects may have been with him.
He is a suspect in a burglary Monday in which guns valued at $4,000 were reported stolen some time between 7:30 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Five rifles and a shotgun were reported stolen from a home on Big Sandy Valley Road, the same street where his mother lives. The stolen items included a Golden State Arms rifle, a Mossberg shotgun, a Springfield M1903 rifle, a Henry .22-caliber lever action rifle, a Savage 270 bolt action rifle, a Ruger mini rifle and two scopes.
Evans has a shaved head, hazel eyes, is 5 feet, 11 inches tall and weighs 215 pounds. He is wanted for first-degree escape, first-degree assault and conspiracy to commit first-degree escape.
"Dial 911. Be a good witness so we can get this person off the street," said Sgt. Andy Norris, a Sheriff's Office spokesman.
Evans' criminal records are not public record because he is a juvenile. He will be charged as an adult in relation to the new escape and assault charge.
The other two teens who escaped, from Huntsville and Franklin County, have not been captured.


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2013 is turning out to be one of the craziest years of my life. Lots of ups and downs, weird side trips, endings and new beginnings. Long story short living life like all of us and taking things one day at a time. Lately that's meant neglecting the wonderful world wide web, in particular Branded in the 80s, twitter and facebook specifically. But I think I've managed to right the ship enough to get this thing sailing again. So no, I'm not dead, frozen in carbonite, trapped in the grid, spending time in 1955, flying up into space in a converted amusement part ride car, or sucked into the world of Dungeons and Dragons with a bunch of friends and a precocious red-headed kid with a proclivity for clubbing things and a love of tiny unicorns voiced by Frank Welker.
So, something that I've been meaning to write about for the past six months or so is an awesome retro inspired iPad case that was designed and built by a really cool gentleman that goes by the name Dust! Hailing from Australia, Dust is a child of the 80s who has focused his considerable creative manufacturing and design skills into a series of awe-inspiring retro themed projects, from General Lee scooters to working TMNT T-Phones, to custom Real Ghostbusters dress shirts and custom upholstered pillows.
Dust hooked me up with a seriously awesome retro wood-paneled-TV themed iPad case that's been getting a lot of use in the house of Branded…
One of the things about the iPad that's really bugged me is that it's not the easiest thing to use while lying in bed. Sure, it's relatively light weight, but to lay down and watch a movie or a couple episodes of Airwolf it can be a real pain to try and keep upright without getting hand or elbow cramps. I even have one of those newfangled folding magnetic covers, but unless it's resting on a hard surface it's pretty useless. Well, Dust's TV box case was the perfect solution. It's light and wide enough to provide the perfect amount of self-sustaining stability in my lap while lying in bed. Also, it looks super rad!
Constructed from plexiglass and a beautiful custom sticker wrap, the TV box case consists of two components, the outer case and the iPad holder inset…
The insert is designed to fit very snugly into the case and holds the tablet securely so it's easy to use while inserted. The best part? Now you can store your iPad on a shelf and have it look pretty darn wicked cool when not in use.
If you like what you see, do yourself a favor and hit up Dust on Twitter. He's a really great guy and he's producing some really rad stuff that I think the world needs to take a gander at for sure! Tell him Branded sent ya!


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Our Perspectives
Why should you care about public procurement reform?
15 Dec 2016 by Doyeun Kim, Communications Focal Point, UN Development Business
Public procurement reforms have been rolling out since the 1990s in Africa. Targeting better efficiency – but also more accountability and integrity – in the management of public resources, these reforms can shape procurement into a powerful agent for development.
In the past year, Cote d'Ivoire, Uganda, Somalia, Malawi and Zimbabwe have benefited from projects financed by the World Bank and the African Development Bank in which procurement reforms were part and parcel of larger public sector management goals.
Internal efforts, as well as assistance from international development agencies, are focusing on professionalizing and building capacity in national procurement systems. These efforts are consistent with the goals of good governance and prevention of corruption in the use of public funds, and they are also increasingly being linked to the Sustainable Development Goals, because public procurement can be used as a tool for achieving and sharing prosperity.
What is public procurement?
Public procurement, or the purchase of goods, works or services by public institutions, accounts for more than 30 percent of GDP in developing countries and 10 percent to 15 percent in developed countries, according to the International Trade Centre. It also accounts for a large percentage of government expenditures, in some countries covering more than half of government spending. Its economic significance is evident.
The processes involved in procurement can reveal more about its significance as a means of economic empowerment and an agent for development.
Procurement starts with the assessment of needs and identification of projects. Once the planning and budgeting is done, the tendering phase opens opportunities for companies and individuals to submit bids to supply the needed goods, works or services. Bids are evaluated, and contracts are awarded. Contracts must then be executed and payments are made.
As winning a government contract can be an enormous opportunity for any business, every step of this process is vulnerable to integrity risks where undue influence, conflicts of interest and fraud may occur. The volume of financial flows involved makes this system one of the most important places to watch for those integrity risks.
For this reason, institutions like the World Bank set procurement requirements as a condition for development aid. Transparency in the tendering and contract award process is crucial to ensure efficient and accountable use of taxpayers' money. Equally, it paves the way toward fair and better competition, which ultimately contributes to the best value for money for public projects.
Procurement reform in Africa
Prior to reforms, many governments lacked thorough codes by which decisions surrounding contract awards could be regulated and accounted for. This provided opportunities for abuse and inefficiencies, and weakened trust in public institutions.
A 1998 conference in Abidjan on public procurement in Africa was a key moment of recognition, and institutions like the African Development Bank have been leading procurement reform projects in the continent. Its technical assistance projects cover different stages ranging from procurement system assessments to identification of reform measures, training of procurement professionals and evaluation of outcomes.
In 2013, the Government of Kenya began to use procurement as a tool for the economic empowerment of women, youth and persons with disabilities, instituting legal provisions for a 30 percent allocation of public contracts to businesses led by those groups. Still in its earliest years of implementation, however, lack of capacity and training, as well as inadequate information for target groups, hindered progress around the well-intentioned initiative.
Those challenges echo the voices of companies around the world that compete in public procurement markets. Access to timely information on opportunities and organisational capacity to participate in cumbersome and costly bidding processes are major obstacles, according to a 2014 survey by UN Development Business.
These are some of the hurdles that e-procurement, or electronic procurement, may be able to address. E-procurement simplifies information exchange and transactions through streamlined communications on the Internet and other networking systems, and can facilitate timely and equitable access to tenders. Mauritania and Uganda, among others, are moving to implement this in their national procurement systems.
As reforms continue, lessons such as those learned in Kenya become important in shaping public procurement as an effective mechanism for sustainable and inclusive growth. Ongoing impact assessments can show the way toward wider and more effective participation of individuals and businesses in public contracts, and this would hold great promise for public trust and investment.
Doyeun Kim Blog post Africa Sustainable development Development Finance Development Effectiveness International aid transparency initiative Accountability Open government Public service delivery


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Spot of Tea: Choice Organic Masala Chai
My favorite chai is steeped loose, with whole spices, but at my desk in the morning, I often reach for the easy way out. This blend from Choice Organic teas smells so amazing that I don't feel bad at all: sweet ginger, cinnamon, and clove waft up like freshly baked gingerbread.
The flavor is nicely balanced, too, with a backbone of smooth black tea that's not at all overpowered by spices, and a little black pepper to perk it up. (Chai can so easily feel like sucking on ground spices, but this one has enough rich tea flavor and body to keep things in perspective.) It can handle milk (and sugar, if you're into that) but really doesn't need it, and each sip brings out another flavor: cinnamon sticks are out front, with cardamom in a supporting role.
Are you a chai drinker? Have a favorite brand to recommend?
Available online, around $5 for 16 tea bags.
All products linked here have been independently selected by our editors. We may earn a commission on purchases, as described in our affiliate policy.


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Knitting patterns to download and print
Free knitting pattern
Join our newsletter to be among the first to know when new knitting patterns are released.
The knitting patterns are delivered by download to your computer, tablet, ipad or iphone in PDF format. Anyone, anywhere can open a PDF file. All you need is PDF reader software. This is available free from the Adobe website.
The patterns become available for download as soon as the payment service notifies us the funds have arrived in our account. We send an e-mail when that happens. You can check the progress of your order by signing in to your Road to Knitting account. If you don't have a Road to Knitting account this will be created during the order process.
If you have any problems with our shopping system please contact us for assistance.


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Dear YS. Would like to seek your advice on trekking in the first half of September. Am debating between the Gokyo Trek (with/ without EBC), and the hotly discussed Manaslu (with without Tsum valley) circuit. I will be landing in KTM on the 31st Aug and leaving on the 14th Sept thereby giving me 10-12 days on the trail. I've been to the EBC and the ABC in the past and am looking at coming on my own once again, and hire a guide cum porter to carry my back pack, and stay in teahouses. Yup, that's the plan. Any suggestions keeping the rains in mind?
Kindly do revert with your thoughts. You may send me an e-mail at firstname.lastname@example.com
Thank you very much.
Best wishes and regards.
I Richard,
Great to hear you had a good time in Nepal! Things with me, I got caught up in a number of work issues, plus my second daughter's wedding etc, more than ever... I kinda dropped off because of this. Everything is fine, family is good, plus I have an Anthology or Romanian poetry, which I have translated into English, being published by a couple of big publishing houses, which I am very happy about. Some of this stuff meant I have dropped off a bit from trekinfo, but I believe it is only a temporary thing...
Hey Daniel, who's Keith? As Julia says we got back from a short trip to Nepal recently. It was fantastic as usual, especially Chitwan. Been before but found the whole experience quite overwhelming and intense. Currently caught the cycling bug big time. Doing a few hundred miles a week. There's always something that's got my gander up. I'll get some photos up soon.
How's things with you. Rich
Hi buzzz,
In which forum is your post? I could not see it in the more recent Trekking Companion postings... If you point the approx location to me, I can delete it.
Sorry if I'm breaking protocol but I can't see how to remove a posting - mustang sept/oct 2011. My plans have changed and I hate to see it there wasting space. In fact I know of 2 other 'dead' postings that should be removed. I'm getting a little frustrated and if I can't clear this posting I will have to try deleting my entire profile.
Not a problem. That is fine with me if it shows like I am doing advertising. I just put my link at the bottom because my site has some good information about Nepal if the visitors are interested in other adventures or destinations other than trekking.


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- Description
Narrow-band spacing and superior signal filtering combine to provide
exceptionally clear, interference-free reception and
amazingly smooth, accurate control.
Perfect for Park or Slow Flyers.
Range of approximately 650 feet (200m)
One R114F 4-Channel 72MHz FM Receiver without Short Crystal
One FUTL63** "Short" Crystal
If utilizing all 4 channels a Y-harness is needed HCAM2500.
Narrow Band: 20kHz
Power Requirements: 4.8 to 6.0V (shared with servos)
Current Drain: 10mA
Length: 1-1/4" (31.75mm)
Width: 1/2" (.02mm)
Height: 7/8" (.28mm)
Weight: 0.35 oz (9.9g)
Special Notice about Frequency Changes-
*72MHz- Low band channels 16 to 35; High band channels 36 to 60.
Receiver crystal channels (16-35 or 36-60) Within Each Band
Can Be Changed, and Do Not Require a retuning of the receiver.
*72MHz Frequency Band (Low or High) for the receiver Can Not Be
Changed from Low to High band, OR from High to Low band without
sending it into Futaba Services for retuning.
*50MHz, 72MHz, 27MHz and 75MHz Frequency Bands Can Not under any
circumstances be interchanged with each other. The receiver Must
be sent in for retuning to the appropriate band.
*50MHz, 27MHz and 75MHz receiver crystals Can be changed anywhere
within the respective bands. There are no High or Low bands such
as the 72MHz band has.
*Transmitter Crystals Can Not be changed to another channel except
by a licensed service center. It is against FCC regulations, and
illegal for the user to change a frequency determining component
of a transmitter. If a radio is not retuned, it can be a hazard to
spectators, modelers or property, and void AMA insurance coverage.
*Check with the local R/C club for the frequencies used in your area.
updt jxs 11/05/03
updated jpg 7/21/05


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Gracie Barra offers Kids Jiu Jitsu classes with a unique and individualized curriculum so your child gets the training and attention they need to succeed.
Gracie Barra's Brazilian Jiu Jitsu classes offer a tremendous self defense workout emphasizing aerobic and anaerobic conditioning, making it an enjoyable workout for women, men and children regardless of athletic ability.
What comes after mastering the fundamentals? Our Advanced Program classes are based on a defined class structure and curriculum that take a broad and open-minded approach, incorporating techniques from different grappling styles like wrestling, judo, sambo, and, of course, Gracie Barra Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.


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DURHAM, N.C., May 1, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Heart IT, the global leader that pioneered the first FDA approved zero footprint medical imaging workstation, WebPAX®, announced today the award of its sixth patent covering "zero-footprint" medical image viewing technologies. "Zero-footprint" technologies allow health care professionals to view medical images using any computing platform with a standard Internet web browser.
This includes Microsoft's Internet Explorer, Mozilla's Firefox, Apple's Safari, and Google's Chrome on Windows-based desktop and laptop PCs in addition to Macintosh-based desktops and laptops. Further, WebPAX® enables users of mobile devices to access medical images through standard browsers on Apple's iPad and iPhone, as well as all Google Android tablets and cell phones. Without "zero-footprint" technologies, medical images can only be viewed by installing proprietary software that is different for each web browser, each operating system, and each hardware device.
U.S. Patent Number 8166381 issued on April 24, 2012. Heart IT's "zero footprint" intellectual property portfolio also includes five previously-issued U.S. Patents: 6934698, 7457656, 7668835, 7958100, and 8055636. HeartIT's intellectual property coverage for its issued patents extends through the year 2025. Additional related patents are pending review by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
About Heart IT:
Founded in 2000 and headquartered near North Carolina's Research Triangle Park, Heart IT is a global leader in the medical image web enablement field. Their flagship product, WebPAX®, was the world's first FDA approved zero footprint medical image workstation. It provides web-based medical image management technology and services to health care systems, large hospitals and private clinics as well as drug and device companies sponsoring multi-center clinical trials. Worldwide, WebPAX® systems currently provide secure web browser access to over one billion medical images. For more information visit our website at www.heartit.com.
"WebPAX" is a registered trademark of Heart Imaging Technologies, LLC. All other trademarks acknowledged.
* 300dpi image download for media: Send2Press.com/mediaboom/12-0501-heartit_300dpi.jpg
This release was issued on behalf of the above organization by Send2Press(R), a unit of Neotrope(R). http://www.Send2Press.com
|SOURCE Heart Imaging Technologies
Copyright©2010 PR Newswire.
All rights reserved


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A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Intervention for Men Living With HIV
|The safety and scientific validity of this study is the responsibility of the study sponsor and investigators. Listing a study does not mean it has been evaluated by the U.S. Federal Government. Read our disclaimer for details.
|ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00529971
Recruitment Status : Completed
First Posted : September 14, 2007
Last Update Posted : October 3, 2007
- Study Details
- Tabular View
- No Results Posted
- Disclaimer
- How to Read a Study Record
This study will examine the effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) in helping men living with HIV cope with negative emotions and stresses in their life. MBSR is an approach to reducing stress for patients with chronic medical conditions. It involves systematic training in mindfulness meditation practices to increase quality of life and to reduce general stress, anxiety, depression or pain. The effectiveness of MBSR will be evaluated by looking at changes in participants' experience of stress, anxiety associated with pain management and psychosocial functioning before and after they receive the MBSR compared with participants who do not receive the MBSR treatment.
In order to participate, individuals must be: male, living with HIV, age 18-70 years, live within one hour of participating centre, and have a good understanding of the English language. Questionnaires will be completed before individuals begin the program, at the end of the intensive phase (8 weeks) and at 6 months after the start of the group program. The primary program evaluation outcome will be a reduction in stress; secondary evaluation outcomes will include the improvements in the physical and emotional experience of pain as well as general psychosocial functioning and self-esteem.
|Condition or disease
|HIV Infections
|Behavioral: MBSR group Other: Control
|Phase 3
In most health care settings, psychosocial interventions that target stress and distress states that are integrated into routine HIV care will need to serve a large number of patients. Due to their time- and cost- efficiency, group approaches are being used increasingly in medical settings to address this need. One approach that has been used successfully in cancer and other chronic diseases is mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), an 8-week manualized treatment program that provides mood management techniques based on training in mindfulness, a metacognitive skill. A recent randomized controlled trial in cancer demonstrated that this brief intervention significantly reduced anxiety and depression symptoms and that these gains were maintained at a six-month follow-up. Similar results have been obtained in a heterogeneous sample of medical patients. Although research in this area is in its infancy, it does appear that MBSR may be effective in the management of anxiety and mood symptoms that are common across various medical conditions and thus may be a good treatment option in men living with HIV.
Preliminary evidence, gathered from a pilot assessment of an MBSR program for HIV positive men, demonstrated significant pre- to post-intervention reductions in anxiety and depression, as well as overall mood disturbance scores on standardized measures, and thus, MBSR has promise in this population. A randomized controlled trial is clearly needed however before can be recommended as a psychosocial treatment for men with HIV. It is predicted that MBSR will be effective in mitigating anxiety and depressive symptoms, as well as HIV-related distress, among HIV patients (Hypothesis #1).
MBSR appears to be particularly well suited for anxiety- and depression- spectrum symptoms because it targets cognitive processes that contribute to and maintains them. Current cognitive models emphasize the central role of worry and rumination in the onset and maintenance of anxiety and depression, respectively. Worry can perpetuate an upward spiral of increased emotional arousal and intrusive thoughts heightening anxiety symptoms. Similarly, rumination can escalate a spiraling cycle of dysphoric affect and associated negative thinking that can lead eventually to a major depressive episode. (MBSR utilizes training in attention regulation that is thought to provide patients with a skill that enables them to disengage from patterns of worry and rumination that otherwise would perpetuate negative affect. Consistent with this prediction, Dr. Bishop (co-investigator) has found evidence from a recently completed pilot study that mindfulness training results in decreased frequency of worry and rumination. Although preliminary, MBSR may be associated with decreases in both worry and rumination (Hypothesis #2) and that, consistent with current cognitive models, decreases in worry and rumination would moderate the reductions in anxiety and depression, respectively (Hypothesis #3).
We are also interested in whether this approach is effective for the management of pain, which is prevalent in this population. There is substantial evidence that anxiety, and particularly pain-related fear, can heighten the perception of the intensity and unpleasantness of pain and that anxiety management can lessen pain. Since we anticipate that MBSR will reduce anxiety in this study, we would further expect that it would also reduce the subjective experience of pain (Hypothesis #4). There is some evidence from an uncontrolled trial suggesting that MBSR may be highly effective for managing chronic pain. If MBSR can be used to effectively mitigate pain, then this too would have a recursive effect on mood. Pain in medical populations is a significant factor in emotional distress and psychiatric morbidity.
|Study Type :
|Interventional (Clinical Trial)
|Actual Enrollment :
|117 participants
|Intervention Model:
|Parallel Assignment
|None (Open Label)
|Primary Purpose:
|Official Title:
|A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Intervention for Men Living With HIV
|Study Start Date :
|December 2003
|Actual Study Completion Date :
|December 2006
Experimental: 1
Participants in the first arm participate in an 8-week MBSR group
Behavioral: MBSR group
8-week MBSR group, 3 hours per week plus one all day retreat
Active Comparator: 2
Participants assigned to the control arm do not receive the MBSR program but may or may not be receiving current psychotherapy or counselling
Other: Control
Treatment as usual, which could include medications or psychotherapy
- Subjects in the MBSR group will have greater improvement in measures of psychosocial functioning (i.e. anxiety, depression, HIV-related distress, affectivity) at 8 weeks and 6-months post-intervention [ Time Frame: 8 weeks and 6 months after start of intervention ]
- Subjects in the MBSR group will demonstrate significantly greater improvement on measures of worry and rumination at 8 weeks and 6-months post-intervention [ Time Frame: 8 weeks and 6 months after start of intervention ]
- MBSR will result in greater improvement in pain compared to the control arm [ Time Frame: 8 weeks and 6 months after start of intervention ]
- Reductions in anxiety and depression during MBSR will be moderated by reductions in worry and ruminations, respectively [ Time Frame: 8 weeks and 6 months after start of intervention ]
Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study. To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contacts provided below. For general information, Learn About Clinical Studies.
|Ages Eligible for Study:
|18 Years to 70 Years (Adult, Older Adult)
|Sexes Eligible for Study:
|Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
Inclusion Criteria:
- Male
- Living with HIV
- 18-70 years of age
- Fluent in English
- Lives within one hour of the hospital
Exclusion Criteria:
- Severe depression
- Current suicide ideation
- Substance abuse
- Impaired cognitive function
To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT00529971
|Canada, Ontario
|Mount Sinai Hospital
|Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5G 1X5
|Principal Investigator:
|Bill Gayner, M.S.W.
|Principal Investigator:
|Mary Jane Esplen, Ph.D.
|University Health Network, Toronto
|ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
|Other Study ID Numbers:
|First Posted:
|September 14, 2007 Key Record Dates
|Last Update Posted:
|October 3, 2007
|Last Verified:
|September 2007
Living with HIV
18-70 years of age
live within one hour of hospital
fluent in English
Complementary Therapies
HIV Therapeutic Vaccine
HIV Infections
Lentivirus Infections
Retroviridae Infections
RNA Virus Infections
Virus Diseases
Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Viral
Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes
Immune System Diseases


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- Nonstick vegetable oil spray
- 1 1/2 pounds butternut squash, peeled, cut into 3x1/2-inch wedges
- 1 1/2 pounds rutabagas, peeled, cut into 1/2-inch-thick wedges
- 1 1/4 pounds red-skinned sweet potatoes (yams), cut into 2x3/4-inch wedges
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1/2 cup finely chopped red onion
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh chives
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
Recipe Preparation
Preheat oven to 350° Spray large rimmed baking sheet with nonstick spray. Combine squash, rutabagas, and sweet potatoes in large bowl. Add oil and cayenne and toss to coat. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Spread vegetable mixture on prepared baking sheet. Roast until vegetables are tender, stirring and turning occasionally, about 1 hour. DO AHEAD: Vegetables can be prepared 4 hours ahead. Let stand on baking sheet at room temperature. Rewarm in 350° oven until heated through, about 15 minutes.
Transfer vegetable mixture to bowl. Add red onion, chives, and vinegar; toss to blend. Season with salt and pepper.


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So, how about that Takashi Miike-directed Phoenix Wright film? Excited? Nervous? In the meantime, why not enjoy some catchy show tunes based on everyone's favorite courtroom drama game series?
I don't know how we missed this previously, but a gang of fans gathered back in 2007 to begin work on Turnabout Musical, a Broadway-style play that retells the events of the first Ace Attorney game. It has even been sanctioned by Capcom, because Capcom is cool like that!
The team's aim is to one day put on a full stage production, but in the meantime, you can download Highlights from Turnabout Musical, a collection of 15 of the play's 30 songs, right over here. It's a fun listen with a large cast of characters (including Matthew Taranto, creator of the awesome Nintendo-themed webcomic Brawl in the Family, as the voice of Phoenix), and it's all FREE! What have you got to lose?
Turnabout Musical: The Phoenix Wright Musical Project


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Department of Justice
For Immediate Release
Madison Firearms Dealer Sentenced
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Chad Eric Jones, 43, of Madison, Florida, was sentenced on April 29, 2014, to one year in federal prison by U.S. District Court Judge Robert Hinkle following acceptance of his guilty plea in November of last year. Jones, a federally licensed firearms dealer, pleaded guilty to multiple counts of selling firearms to a convicted felon and a single count of selling a handgun to a person under 21 years of age.
In September of last year, agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, with the assistance of the Madison County Sheriff's Office and the Madison Police Department, executed a search warrant at Jones' residence and place of business, Gunslingers Pawn and Gun on Duval Street in Madison.
While executing the search warrant at Gunslingers Pawn and Gun, agents seized 67 firearms not listed in the Gunslingers acquisition and disposition book. Jones ultimately forfeited all of these firearms to the government and surrendered his federal firearms license.
During the course of the investigation, agents obtained an audio recording in which Jones admitted that he intentionally kept certain firearms out of his acquisition and disposition book to conceal the fact that he was selling firearms to prohibited persons. If a firearm was not in his acquisition and disposition book, Jones believed that government agents would be unable to determine that he had sold the firearm to a convicted felon.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Madison County Sheriff's Office, and the Madison Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jason S. Beaton.


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Which mobile devices are compatible with the IsaLife and IsaPulse?
IsaLife is available on iOS and Android phones only. The app is not supported using Blackberry, Windows Phone, or Kindle Fire. IsaLife is supported on iOS version 10.2 and above, and Android 5.1.1 (Lollipop) and above.
IsaPulse was designed for iPhone 5 (iOS version 8 and later) and Android version 4.0 and later, but the app can be used on these other mobile devices:
IsaLife was designed for iPhone 6 (iOS version 8 and later) and Android version 4.2 and later, but the app will also work on these other mobile devices:
You can install all three applications on as many supported mobile devices as you'd like but will only be able to sign into each application on one mobile device at a time. IsaLife and IsaPulse are not compatible with BlackBerry, Windows phones, or Kindle Fires.
Need more help? You can also email questions to firstname.lastname@example.com.


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This is the actual piano for sale in the video. Use headphones for the best audio experiance.Want to see more of this piano? Then lets talk.
New Yamaha Clavinova CLP 765GP in Polished White
Need some help? You can call us on: 01792 584 584
£POA Call us on: 01792 584 584 for a price
Additional information
White Polish
|Piano Type
Part ExchangeIf you would like to part-exchange your current piano, please submit your details via THIS FORM prior to purchasing this piano. We will contact you promptly, ensuring you receive a high-part exchange allowance and arrange a mutually convenient switch-over date.
Free after serviceThis piano comes with a free after-service and tuning. Please complete our tuning request form 4-6 weeks after receiving your piano by CLICKING HERE. If you have a piano tuner that you currently use and would like to continue using their services, please include their name in the comments box on the submission form.
Custom ToningThis piano comes with our bespoke voicing service to suit your environment and personal preferences. To ensure you achieve the optimum performance from your instrument our technicians will gladly assist in adjusting the tone – please inform a staff member or include in the comments box at the checkout which toning grade you would like this piano to be.
Insure Your PianoWe understand how much your instrument means to you. We highly recommend insuring this truly important investment with Allianz who are the UK's leading specialist insurer of musical instruments. We have no hesitation in assuring you that you are in safe hands and therefore have secured preferential rates for all our clients. Please CLICK HERE to ensure you receive the pre-negotiated lower-rate Coach House pricing.
Free DeliveryYour piano will be delivered by our competent, professional piano moving team. Delivery is free of charge to a ground floor location, mainland UK.
* Please note, free shipping does not apply to any accessories.
Non-Ground Floor DeliveryDelivery charges are applicable per flight of stairs/steps; the standard price is £100 + VAT (5-15 steps/stairs). Once your transaction is complete, you will be asked to provide photos of any stairs/steps or access that could potentially cause issues for the installation team. If a lift is available, information regarding dimensions of this would also be helpful for the piano installation team.
International DeliveryThis piano can be exported to any country around the world. We are experienced in transporting pianos worldwide, including installation in your home, please submit your details using THIS LINK for an accurate shipping quotation.
Secure Online CheckoutPlease use the 'add to cart' facility beside the main images of this piano. This is a secure platform providing assurance to the safe transfer of funds via your debit or credit card.
Debit/Credit card payment over the phonePlease call (01792 584584) or email (email@example.com) our Sales Support team to confirm your purchase of this piano. We will happily assist you making a payment over the phone via debit or credit card (except American Express). An invoice showing proof of payment will be immediately emailed to you.
Bank transferPlease call (01792 584584) or email (email@example.com) our Sales Support team to confirm your purchase of this piano. An invoice confirming your purchase will be immediately emailed to you and will outline our bank details to enable payment.
ChequePlease call (01792 584584) or email (email@example.com) our Sales Support team to confirm your purchase of this piano. An invoice confirming your purchase will be immediately emailed to you and a cheque can be posted to us by return.
FinanceApply online for finance using this quick and easy facility, brought to you by the established and trusted V12 Finance Company. The application method could not be simpler and will give you immediate confirmation if credit is available to you or not.
There are no reviews yet.


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La Garconne Moderne - In-House Clothing Line from LaGarconne.com
See E-Tailer La Garçonne's New In-House Collection
La Garçonne Moderne
>> La Garçonne is adding another facet to its ever-growing empire: a clothing line. Designed by the site's founder and creative director, Kris Kim, La Garçonne Moderne embodies the same aesthetic that fills much of the online store — colors are dark, silhouettes are streamlined, and the overall mood is one of androgynous ease. Made up of borrowed-from-the-boys basics — trenches, cardigans, blazers — cut long and lean in soft-worn fabrics like washed silk and brushed cotton, the 27-piece collection is priced from $295 to $1,450. Click through for a peek at the lookbook, modeled by Coco Young and available exclusively at
<product target="_blank" href="http://www.lagarconne.com/store/view_all.htm?sid=1306">La Garçonne</product>.


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Consider this an attempt to think outside the box. In this case, the mailbox. Our friends at the cash-starved U.S. Postal Service have their hands full these days, trying to figure out ways to escape from a tsunami of red ink.
Consider this an attempt to think outside the box. In this case, the mailbox. Our friends at the cash-starved U.S. Postal Service have their hands full these days, trying to figure out ways to escape from a tsunami of red ink.
Those keeping score report the organization that delivers our mail is staggering under an almost $16 billion loss in the past budget year.
Recent word of a planned cutback in Saturday mail delivery came as no big surprise. The same can't be said for their latest marketing idea.
Apparently, desperate times do call for desperate measures.
How else to explain the Postal Service's decision to venture into the world of fashion? Ever had the desire to dress like a mail carrier?
Me neither. We soon will be given that opportunity, thanks to a licensing agreement the quasi-government agency has reached with a Cleveland-based fashion apparel company.
The Wahconah Group is teaming up with USPS to launch the "Rain, Heat & Snow" line of clothing and accessory products.
The agreement will put the Postal Service on the "cutting edge of functional fashion" and their all-weather clothing line "will build on the rich American history of this iconic brand, delivering something new and exciting at affordable prices."
Plans call for the items of postal chic to include wearable electronics imbedded into clothing to give it a modern look.
The new Postal Service clothes line will be getting the fashion runway treatment. The Wahconah Group plans to open a showroom in New York City's garment district to display the array of "high-end" products. They will initially be available only to men. Women interested in making a postal fashion statement will have to wait a while longer. The goal is to offer the USPS-branded apparel in premier and specialty stores.
The Postal Service insists the arrangement does not mean a shift away from its appointed rounds to the apparel business. They're quick to remind us they get no tax dollars for day-to-day operating expenses and must rely on the sale of postage, products and services to fund their operations.
Since the deal doesn't cost them a dime, it's hoped royalties from net sales will bring in some badly needed revenue.
Provided Congress doesn't stand in the way, cutting Saturday mail delivery beginning in August will reportedly save the Postal Service about $2 billion a year. That doesn't figure to make much of an impact, what with projected annual deficits of $20 billion on the horizon.
Advances in technology aren't only to blame. The law requiring the USPS to pay billions for future retiree health benefits has pushed the agency closer to its own fiscal cliff.
I doubt we'll see a mail-handler fashion trend. But I could be wrong. All it could take is for someone to appear in "postal blues" at next year's Oscars.
Reach Tracy Baxter at email@example.com and see his NewsWatch program and online blog at recordonline.com


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Day33 Müsik Podcast Show
This show is all about nothing but House Music from a great city where Djs have made the difference in the club scene. Enjoy!
Podcast Episode 030 (House Affair Radio show 014)
March 2nd, 2019 |
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Day33 Music
In 80s Montreal, unbeknownst to each other, young lads Jeff and Rick were attracted to the sounds of Depeche Mode, Kraftwerk, Basement Jaxx, New Order and Canadian New Wave, among others. Both took their first steps into the world of music. At age 13, Jeff and Rick began to explore the universe of the DJ and music producer. Jeff discovered the tables and the mixer. Rick discovered the art of using his double cassette deck and turntable to develop his budding talent for mixing and sonic storytelling. In the 90s, Jeff entered the burgeoning field of internet radio, while also getting gigs spinning tables at bars and parties. Meanwhile, Rick turned to learning the arts of sound design and scoring. As the new millennium dawned, Rick and Jeff accepted their true calling: to serve the sounds and beats of house music. Jeff evolved into Mr. Daymus, getting crowds grooving on dancefloors across Quebec. Rick transformed into Super Agent 33, producing a plethora of original tracks and remixes, which caught the attention, among others, of a popular Nashville online radio station, whose listeners voted him one of the top producers of the year several times. When their worlds finally crossed, they discovered their syncopation and embarked on their first collaborative efforts. The burst of creativity that came from this encounter led them to burn bright and attract attention from various labels requesting their expertise, as A&R reps, to discover new talent. After this adventure, Jeff returned to the art of DJ-ing and hosting classic house music radio shows, while Rick continued to compose original material, produce remixes and construct numerous eclectic podcasts. Now that each has perfected his unique vibes, these clever guys have once again synchronized their styles, to bring you the sounds of Day33.
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FULLERTON, CA. – (April 24, 2012) Yokohama Tire Corporation-sponsored Cameron Steele won his first Lucas Oil Off-Road Racing Series event of the year, taking first in the Pro Buggy class at Lake Elsinore Motorsports Park in Lake Elsinore, California, April 21-22. Steele claimed victory riding on off-the-shelf Geolandar A/T-S+® tires.
"It was a tough race," said Steele, the 2010 Pro Buggy champ, "but the Yokohama Geolandars did their job and helped secure the win for the Stronghold Motorsports Monster Energy/Yokohama Pro Buggy. They really handled the course well. Thanks to the team and Yokohama tires for all the help."
"Great to see Cameron get his first win of the season," said Duane Sampson, Yokohama's motorsports manager. "He's a seasoned veteran, ran a smart race and our Geolandar A/T-S tires never let him down."
The next Lucas Oil race in the eight-event series, which combines the Midwest tradition of short course off-road racing with a West Coast influence, is May 19-20 at Speedworld Off-Road Park in Surprise, Arizona.
Yokohama Tire Corporation is the North American manufacturing and marketing arm of Tokyo, Japan-based The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., a global manufacturing and sales company of premium tires since 1917. Servicing a network of more than 4,500 points of sale in the U.S., Yokohama Tire Corporation is a leader in technology and innovation. The company's complete product line includes the all-new AVID Ascend® – the first mass-market tire using Yokohama's breakthrough orange oil technology – as well as tires for high-performance, light truck, passenger car, commercial truck and bus, and off-the-road mining and construction applications. For more information on Yokohama's extensive product line, visit www.yokohamatire.com.
Connect with Yokohama Tire Corporation:
Yokohama is a strong supporter of the tire care and safety guidelines established by the Rubber Manufacturers Association and the National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration. Details can be found at the "Tire Safety" section at www.yokohamatire.com.


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The Jaguar E-Pace is a compact SUV, and is based on a modified version of the JLR D8 platform as used by the Range Rover Evoque and the Land Rover Discovery Sport.
Use this control to limit the display of threads to those newer than the specified time frame.
Allows you to choose the data by which the thread list will be sorted.
Order threads in...
Note: when sorting by date, 'descending order' will show the newest results first.
Forum Rules


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Call to Arms
This story appears in the June 2001 issue of Entrepreneur. Subscribe »
This is for the do-it-yourselfers out there. We assume you've got a decent computer and the hankering to put your business Web site up for all to see. But you can't do that without building an arsenal of Web authoring software. Thankfully, the days of cooking up a Web page by slaving over a hot text document are over. The current crop of HTML editors provide page previews, tag shortcuts and more wizards than Dungeons and Dragons. There's a program out there for every type of entrepreneur, from rank amateur to technophile. Here's how to get started . . .
The Basics
First, how will users see your Web site? You've probably come down on one side or the other in the Browser Wars. Maybe you won't touch Microsoft Internet Explorer with a 10-foot cyberpole. Maybe you think Netscape Navigator is just so much Web wreckage on the shoulder of the Information Superhighway. Maybe you don't lose sleep over either one. Regardless, you need them both.
Because a lot of surfers don't upgrade their browsers regularly, you should also test with earlier versions (like Netscape 3.0 and Internet Explorer 4.0). You can visit www.netscape.com to download versions of Navigator and www.microsoft.com to download Internet Explorer.
Web Design
Fortunately, you don't have to memorize all the text tags in HTML 4.01 to put up your Web site. But if you want to take full advantage of programs like CoffeeCup HTML Editor (see "Hot Buy" on page 120), you can get a jump on things with the libraries of Web building resources and tutorials at Builder.com and WebMonkey.com.
Now we're ready to tackle the software that'll do most of the grunt work for you. Before we wander into the Microsoft camp, let's look at Macromedia Dreamweaver and NetObjects Fusion.
You know Macromedia for its high-octane Shockwave and Flash Web animation software. It also makes the popular Dreamweaver for Macintosh or Windows, a $299 (all prices street) HTML editing program that includes features like an integrated text editor for users who already know some HTML, Microsoft Office integration, and Flash buttons and text for adding spice to your site's appearance. Dreamweaver is especially good for integrating multimedia.
If you're not already somewhat familiar with HTML and Web site design, Dreamweaver's palette of advanced features may seem a bit overwhelming. NetObjects Fusion ($99.95) is a less expensive way to try your hand and is also specifically geared toward building sites for businesses. Available for Windows only, Fusion is designed with a drag-and-drop interface, various e-commerce wizards and pre-designed templates that can simplify the process even more.
Then, of course, there's Microsoft, which leaves no software stone unturned. Its HTML editor, FrontPage 2000 ($149), offers integration with Microsoft Office 2000 and comes with more than 60 business themes to give your site a consistent appearance. To get the most out of your investment, check with your Web hosting provider to see whether it supports FrontPage extensions. Also, visit OutFront.net, a "Microsoft FrontPage Learning Community," for its full stock of Web templates, tutorials, forums and links.
A good HTML editor will handle most of your Web site building, but sometimes extra programs add icing to the Web cake. Our "Hot Buy" (above) adds streaming media to your site. Or try Adobe LiveMotion ($299, www.adobe.com), which creates Web animations and interactive graphics. With a user interface styled after Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, LiveMotion is especially useful for those of you who have Adobe graphics backgrounds.
NetMechanic offers a host of tools for optimizing your site. Its HTML Toolbox searches pages for HTML coding, link and spelling errors. Try it free at NetMechanic.com. (The full version starts at $40 per year for up to 100 pages.) NetMechanic's GIFBot is a freeware program that compresses Web images for faster-loading pages. Never overestimate the patience of a Net surfer when it comes to slow-loading Web sites.
Most important, choose software that meets your HTML comfort level. Any of the programs we looked at can give your online business presence the room it needs to grow.


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I should like to congratulate Les Abend for once again producing a most informative article with focus on the evolving issues associated with UAV threats from the so called "small group of irresponsible idiots" to aircraft while arriving and departing our airports. Unfortunately, I believe there is a more sinister dimension quickly evolving which may, unintentionally, be overlooked - the utilization of drones by terrorist networks. I would be interested in Mr. Albend's thoughts on this subject.
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Here for enjoying from the comfort of your chair is a classic science demonstration: CrazyRussianHacker host Taras Kulakov, dipping two pounds of dry ice into a sink full of water to demonstrate the dynamics of warm and cold air.
Do not try this from your home or office — large volumes of carbon dioxide in an unventilated space is a decidedly awful idea.
Cool, right? Chase this with a little brain teaser: If heat rises, why does temperature drop at higher elevations?
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