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Obama takes on China as Romney shifts strategy
Mon., Sept. 17, 2012
CINCINNATI (AP) — Appealing to Rust Belt voters, President Barack Obama announced a new trade enforcement action against China on Monday, while Republican challenger Mitt Romney planned a greater emphasis on policy details that distinguish him from Obama to stop the incumbent's election momentum.
Romney's shift comes as Republicans openly fret about the state of their nominee's campaign and press him to give voters a clearer sense of how he would govern. In newly published polls, Romney has lost the edge he held over Obama as the candidate better able to handle the federal budget deficit and taxes.
Romney pollster Neil Newhouse attributed Obama's gains to the bump the president received overall after the Democratic National Convention in North Carolina this month. But on taxes, Newhouse acknowledged Romney's need to do more to distinguish his plans.
"I'm not sure that voters really understand the differences between the plans Mitt Romney has and Obama has," Newhouse said. "And I think that's one thing we're committed to trying to do in moving forward is defining the differences between the two candidates on taxes."
One recent line of criticism from Romney appears to have brought a quick response from Obama. The White House announced a move to stop Chinese subsidies of its auto industry — four days after Romney launched an advertising campaign accusing the president of allowing American manufacturing jobs to be lost to the Asian power.
The issue hits home among working class voters in manufacturing swing states such as Ohio, where Obama has gained recently in polls and touted his new action Monday. The White House says more than 850,000 jobs in the state are related to the auto industry.
Obama told thousands gathered at a pavilion in Cincinnati's leafy Eden Park that Romney made money from companies that outsourced jobs to China while running the private equity firm Bain Capital. The crowd jeered. Obama responded, "Don't boo. Vote!"
"You can't stand up to China when all you've done is send them our jobs," Obama said. "You can talk a good game. But I like to walk the walk, not just talk the talk. And my experience has been waking up every single day doing everything I can to make sure that American workers get a fair shot in the global economy."
Romney responded by accusing Obama of ignoring China for too long and promised to act from his first day in office to help U.S. businesses compete. "If I'd known all it took to get him to take action was to run an ad citing his inaction on China's cheating, I would have run one long ago," Romney said in a speech before the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in Los Angeles.
Romney went over the five steps of his plan that he says will create 12 million new jobs — achieve energy independence, give every child a quality education, reach new trade agreements while cracking down on countries that break the rules, cut the deficit and cut federal employment. "We can do better than this lackluster economy," Romney said.
The office of the U.S. Trade Representative announced Monday it has asked the World Trade Organization to intervene with China over illegal subsidies of exports in their autos and auto parts sectors. The U.S. says the practice puts American parts manufacturers at a competitive disadvantage and encourages the outsourcing of production to China.
Jobs in the U.S. auto parts sector dropped by roughly half between 2001 and 2010, while U.S. imports of auto parts from China have increased seven-fold, according to the Obama administration.
The administration is also escalating another case it brought against China at the WTO in July that accuses China of imposing unfair duties on more than $3 billion in exports of U.S. autos. The duties cover more than 80 percent of American auto exports to China, said the officials, who requested anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss publicly details of the trade action before the president announces it.
The cases stem from the Interagency Trade Enforcement Center Obama set up earlier this year to target unfair practices around the world, particularly in China.
Obama and Romney began trading barbs on China late last week.
Romney released a television advertisement Thursday accusing Obama of "failing American workers" and ignoring unfair trade practices by China. In his weekly podcast Saturday Romney said that "in 2008, candidate Obama promised to take China 'to the mat.' But since then, he's let China run all over us."
Obama countered with a TV spot focused on its claims that Romney outsourced jobs to China while working in the private sector. His campaign also released a new Web video Saturday in which Obama deputy campaign manager Stephanie Cutter said Romney holds investments in Chinese companies.
Romney's campaign piled on Monday with two new spots: one outlining his plan for job creation and the other assailing Obama for a growing national debt.
Pickler reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Ken Thomas in Los Angeles, Kasie Hunt in Washington and Thomas Beaumont in Iowa contributed to this report.
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All News Releases By Date
EPA Acting Administrator Bob Perciasepe, Testimony Before the House Appropriations Committee
Release Date: 05/08/2013
Contact Information: firstname.lastname@example.com
WASHINGTON -- As prepared for delivery.
Chairman Simpson, Ranking Member Moran, and members of the Committee, thank you for the opportunity to appear before you to discuss the Environmental Protection Agency's proposed Fiscal Year 2014 budget.
The President's Fiscal Year 2014 Budget demonstrates that we can make critical investments to strengthen the middle class, create jobs, and grow the economy while continuing to cut the deficit in a balanced way. EPA's budget request of $8.153 billion for the 2014 fiscal year reflects our ongoing efforts to change the way EPA does business –to invest in more efficient ways for the Agency to operate, to further reduce costs wherever possible all while we preserve and enhance our ability to carry out the Agency's core mission to protect human health and the environment.
It is the product of long discussions and difficult choices. In the end, we believe this budget will enable us to work toward the Agency's goals as effectively and efficiently as possible.
Let me run through just a few highlights from the President's FY 2014 budget request.
Despite the fiscal challenges we face, supporting our state and tribal partners, the primary implementers of environmental programs, remains a priority of the EPA. Funding for states and tribes through the State and Tribal Assistance Grants – or STAG – account is once again the largest percentage of the EPA's budget request – at nearly 40 percent in FY 2014.
We have requested a $60 million investment in a new project – what we call "E-Enterprise" – that would enable businesses to conduct environmental business transactions with regulators electronically through a single interactive portal. The paperwork and regulatory reporting burden would be reduced thanks to more efficient collection, reporting, and use of data, in addition to regulatory revisions to eliminate redundant or obsolete information requests. The initiative will encourage greater transparency and compliance, and the result will be widespread savings – for industry, for the states and tribes.
The FY 2014 request also includes $176.5 million to support the agency's work with partners and stakeholders to address greenhouse gas emissions and their impacts. These funds will help reduce emissions through careful, cost-effective rulemaking and incentive based and cost effective programs.
Some of this funding will support existing, successful approaches like ENERGY STAR, the Global Methane Initiative, the GHG Reporting program, Smart Way and others. $20 million will go towards research, so we can better understand the impacts of climate change on human health and vulnerable ecosystems.
Nutrient pollution in our waterways is one of the nation's most widespread and challenging environmental problems. To assist in tackling this challenge, EPA is requesting an increase of $15 million in Clean Water Act grant funding to support states, interstate agencies and tribes that commit to strengthening their nutrient management efforts.
Ensuring that federal dollars provided through the State Revolving Funds support effective and efficient system-wide planning remains a priority for EPA. The FY 2014 budget request includes $1.1 billion for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund and $817 million for the Drinking Water SRF. This money will also assist EPA efforts to expand and institutionalize the use of up-front planning that considers a full range of infrastructure alternatives like "green" infrastructure, so that the right investments are made at the right time, and at the lowest life-cycle cost.
In FY 2014, the agency is requesting over $1.34 billion for its land cleanup programs to continue to apply the most effective approaches to preserve and restore our country's land. This money will go towards developing and implementing prevention programs, improving response capabilities, and maximizing the effectiveness of response and cleanup actions. The agency is also renewing its request to reinstate the Superfund tax in order to provide a stable, dedicated source of revenue for the Superfund Trust Fund.
Ensuring the safety of new or existing chemicals in commerce to protect the American people is another top priority. Chemicals are used in the production of everything from our homes and cars to the cell phones we carry and the food we eat. The $686.2 million requested in FY 2014 will allow EPA to continue managing the potential risks of new chemicals entering commerce, without impacting progress in assessing and ensuring the safety of existing chemicals.
Finally, let me discuss some steps we are taking to ensure taxpayer dollars are going as far as they possibly can.
The budget includes $54 million in savings by eliminating several EPA programs that have either completed their goals or can be implemented through other federal or state efforts. Adding to these savings and demonstrating a willingness to make tough choices, more than 20 EPA programs, are being reduced by 10 percent or more in FY 2014.
We continue to look for opportunities to consolidate physical space and reduce operating costs at our facilities nationwide. On-going improvements in operating efficiency, combined with the use of advanced technologies and energy sources, have reduced energy utilization and saved nearly $6 million annually.
Mr. Chairman, thank you for the opportunity to testify today. I look forward answering your questions.
Search this collection of releases | or search all news releases
View selected historical press releases from 1970 to 1998 in the EPA History website.

subset: commoncrawl


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VIDEO DOWNLOAD - New Jack - Secret Stash
New Jack's Secret Stash
Stand Up Comedy
In April 2013, New Jack retired from professional wrestling and transitioned into his new life in the entertainment world. But in April 2011, New Jack was already plotting his escape. During the Wrestlemania weekend in Atlanta, the Highspots.com cameras followed New Jack around the ATL. From the "white part of town" to the ghetto, New Jack was in rare form and had a special guest along for the ride. After a full day of visiting some fine establishments in the ATL, New Jack took the stage at the world famous Punchline and delivered a unbelievable comedic performance. When everyone involved in the project parted ways that day,it was assumed that we hit a home run and everybody was anxious to show the world. However, due to irreconcilable differences, the release of the DVD was delayed for over 2 years! After time had passed and wounds have healed, this project is now ready to finally be appreciated for what it was intended, to make you laugh (and we mean hard belly laughs!). So sit back and get your rolling papers out, because its time to take a hit from New Jack's Secret Stash.
Aprox. Running Time: 2 hours
Average Customer Review: Not yet rated
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Pure Clear
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Karlsson Innate Silent Alarm Clock
Karlsson's Innate alarm clock, is the perfect stylish addition to any bedroom. The silent movement means this clock won't keep you up at night either!
- 12cm alarm clock
- Wooden casing
- Silent movement
- Karlsson world-renowned, high quality, Dutch clock brand
- 2 year warranty against manufacturing defects
Height: 12cm
Width: 10.5cm
Depth: 6cm
Power: 1 AA Battery (not included)
Display: Analogue
Free Standard Delivery
Standard delivery can take up to 3 working days
Normally all orders placed and paid for by 2pm Monday to Friday (excl Bank Holidays) are dispatched that day.
Next Working Day Delivery - £4.99
If placed before 2pm Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays), your order will be dispatched same day for next working day delivery
Northern Ireland, highlands and islands may take an additional day
Items are sent with DPD, Royal Mail or APC
Due to carrier limits we are unable to send curtain poles were the shortest dimension is over 150cm / 1.5m to Northern Ireland, Islands or the Highlands of Scotland
Extreme weather and other unseen circumstances may cause delivery delays - when possible we will provide updates either through the email address on your order or on this page.
Extended Returns
Any order placed on our website between 1st October 2020 and December 31st 2020 can be returned untill 31st January 2021*
*Please note our standard returns policy still applies
Covid-19 Update - Last updated 1/10/2020
We are working hard here at Aspen of Hereford to keep everything running as normally as possible while strictly adhering to all government guidelines.
Dispatch - Currently we are still dispatching orders as normal.
Delivery – Our standard delivery is back to 3 days, we have been working with our shipping partners closely and have found the majority of deliveries are now being made as normal.
All of our carriers have now switched to contactless delivery – they will sign scanners on your behalf and are requesting that if you see them arriving that you do not open the door and allow them to leave the parcel for you.
We are seeing delays of up to 2 weeks in a small number of areas with the Royal Mail, but this is only in a small number of cases - Royal Mail is not used on any upgraded delivery orders
Returns - We are offering extended returns this year for the Christmas period.
If you are self-isolating or in an area hit by a local lock down please let us know and we will be happy to extend the return period for you
Customer Service – We are still answering emails and the phone, however refunds make take an extra day to be processed.
Our Team – Where possible we have taken steps to allow as many of our team as possible to work from home and are reducing contact between team members still working on site.
We will provide updates as soon as we hear more from the government or anything else changes.
From everyone here as Aspen of Hereford we wish you the best through these tough and unprecedented times


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I just read "Do not be deceived! Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God" (1 Cor. 6:9 NKJV). How could that be right, since the word homosexual wasn't even used by that time?
Thank you for your question, and I rejoice at your desire to have a clear translation of God's Word.
Most modern translators are caught between giving a literal translation that might be misleading and using contemporary terminology. You are correct that the term homosexual was not in use at the time the NT was written. In fact, though the practice was known (and generally approved of in the Greek world), Paul is more graphic in his language than the general term homosexual indicates. You will note that the text you cited has both the fourth and fifth terms that refer to aspects of what we generally call homosexual. This is because the Greek, like many other languages, has different terms for the active and the passive roles in this sin. The first term is sometimes translated effeminate, and designates the passive/receptive partner in the relationship. The second term, translated as sodomites in the NKJV, specifies the active partner in the homosexual relationship.
Proper and polite English doesn't have the matching words for the two roles, so the English Standard Version (for example) gives only the word "homosexual" as the translation for both words. Paul's emphasis is that no one who is sexually immoral, whether as in the sexually immoral (pornea), adultery (married individual), or any homosexual role, can claim to be an inheritor of the Kingdom of God. This doesn't mean that a Christian never sins sexually, but that the work of the Spirit of God applying the salvation given us in Jesus Christ leads to repentance from all such sins to the extent that they do not mark the life of a believer.
I hope this is helpful. Thank you again for wanting to have a full understanding of God's Word; may he continue to bless you with that hunger!
"Questions and Answers" is a weekly feature of the OPC website. The answers come from individual ministers in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church expressing their own convictions and do not necessarily represent an "official" position of the Church, especially in areas where the Standards of the Church (the Scriptures and the Westminster Confession of Faith and Catechisms) are silent.
The questions come from individuals like yourself. If you have questions about biblical and theological matters, you are invited to send them by e-mail by using the "Pose a Question" link on the OPC home page or by clicking here.
At least one new question is posted each week, so there should always be something new here for you to read. (For those people who would like to look at previous questions and answers, they will continue to be available as well.)
The purpose of the OPC website's "Questions and Answers" is to respond to biblical and theological questions. Matters of church discipline, disputes, or debates go beyond the scope of our work. We recommend that you present your concerns in these areas to the appropriate judicatory. In most cases this will be to a local pastor, elder, or session. We do not want the website to replace personal involvement in, or commitment to, the local, visible church.
While we will respond to every serious questioner, we are not bound to give a substantive answer to every question, should we deem the question to be beyond the scope of our purpose or our own ability to answer.
You will receive an answer by e-mail. Please be patient as many of our respondents are busy pastors. The response to your question may take up to two (2) weeks. Some of the questions submitted will be chosen to be posted here, along with the corresponding answers.
Note that the "Questions and Answers" posted on the site have been editedall personal references are removed, Scripture references or from some source may be added, and sometimes portions are expandedto make the questions and answers more useful to a larger audience.
|© 2020 The Orthodox Presbyterian Church
Chaplains and Military Personnel


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Parking Regulations
According to the Cameron University student handbook (1.04 Awareness of Policies), it is your responsibility to know and understand the traffic regulations. We do not enjoy giving out traffic citations. They are easily avoidable by following these simple rules.
Office of Public Safety
Pursuant to Title 74, Oklahoma Statutes 1981, Section 360.11, et sequitur, the University of Oklahoma, Cameron University and Rogers State University Board of Regents, the governing board for Cameron University, has appointed necessary officers who are designated as campus police for the purpose of protecting personnel and property at Cameron University. These officers are assigned to the Office of Public Safety, which has the responsibility and authority for the administration and enforcement of the University's parking and traffic regulations.
A. Any student or eligible faculty or staff member of the University who operates a motor vehicle on the campus shall obtain a University permit before parking the vehicle on University property.
B. A fee will be assessed to those students operating a motor vehicle on the University campus who are enrolled in an on-campus course at Cameron University. This fee will be applicable for the fall, spring and summer semesters.
C. Applications for parking and operating a motor vehicle on the campus for each semester must be obtained during course registration for that semester.
D. No vehicle should display more than one University parking permit.
E. One parking permit will be issued free of charge to faculty/staff or contractors with a valid faculty/staff or contractor University ID card. The faculty/staff and contractor permit is valid for up to two registered vehicles. Additional faculty/staff or contractor parking permits may be purchased for $35. Adjunct faculty qualify for the free parking permit. Student workers do not qualify for the faculty/staff or contractor parking permits.
F. No parking permit shall be displayed on any vehicle other than that vehicle to which it is registered.
G. The parking permit does not ensure that a parking space will be available at all times.
H. Parking permit validation stickers are valid for the academic year (fall through summer semesters) and not the calendar year.
A valid parking permit is shown in the picture below:
I. Temporary Handicapped Permits may be issued to any person upon proper certification of temporary need. Permits will allow parking in any area designated as Handicapped or any non-reserved area. The permit will be valid only for the duration of the handicap or a semester, whichever is less. This permit will be in addition to the current semester's vehicle parking permit. Permits issued by the State of Oklahoma will be honored for handicapped parking if properly displayed.
J. Temporary Parking Permits are available in the Office of Public Safety. These are provided without cost to persons having a vehicle currently registered with the University but facing a situation causing them to temporarily bring an unregistered vehicle on campus. Temporary parking permits are issued for a period not to exceed seven (7) calendar days.
Required Display of University Parking Permit
A. THE PERMIT SHALL BE HUNG SO THAT THE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER CAN BE SEEN THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. Where this placement is not possible because of vehicle design, arrangements shall be made with the Director of the Office of Public Safety to place the permit in an alternate location.
B. Upon sale or transfer of vehicle ownership, the parking permit must be returned to the Office of Public Safety.
C. Damaged or defaced parking permits can be replaced at the Office of Public Safety at no charge.
D. Failure to display a permit shall be subject to a grace period at the beginning of each semester until two weeks after the university's first class. All other regulations are still enforceable during the "No Permit" grace period.
Moving Vehicle Regulations
A. The speed limit on campus is 15 miles per hour and 5 miles per hour in parking lots.
B. No vehicle will be driven after dark without the headlights illuminated.
C. Moving vehicles shall yield to pedestrians.
D. No vehicle shall be operated at any time upon the sidewalks, lawns or any other place not specifically designed for vehicular traffic. These rules shall not apply to authorized emergency vehicles or grounds and maintenance vehicles of the university.
E. All motor vehicles shall be muffled so as to effectively prevent loud and/or unusual noises or smoke discharge from the exhaust of such a vehicle. Neither shall vehicles emit loud noises such as radios or anti-theft devices which disrupt university operations or disturb the peace of others.
F. No person shall drive a vehicle from a stopped position at such a rate of acceleration so as to leave marks upon the street or drive or create a screeching or shrill noise.
G. No person shall remove or in any way tamper with any traffic control device whether permanently affixed or temporarily located to regulate vehicular or pedestrian traffic.
H. In addition to the traffic regulations covered herein, rules and regulations contained in Oklahoma State Statutes, TITLE 47, Motor Vehicle Laws, shall also apply to motor vehicles operated on university property.
A. Where parallel parking is indicated, the vehicle shall be parked with passenger-side wheels parallel to and not more than one foot away from the curb.
B. Vehicles shall park within the marked boundaries of a designated parking space.
C. Vehicles shall be parked so the parking permit identification number faces forward through the windshield.
D. No person shall park or stop a vehicle in a street, drive or roadway so as to obstruct or impede the normal flow of traffic.
E. No person shall park or stop a vehicle adjacent or perpendicular to a legally parked vehicle so as to prevent that vehicle from exiting its parking space (double parking).
F. No person shall alter, deface or forge a parking permit.
G. No person shall park a vehicle in any of the following places unless authorized:
1. Any space marked 'handicapped.'
2. Any gold-lined space marked 'visitor.' (STUDENTS AND UNIVERSITY PERSONNEL ARE NOT CONSIDERED VISITORS).
3. Any gold-lined space for a period of time longer than that designated on the 'timed parking' signs.
4. Loading zones or service areas.
5. On any lawn, curb, sidewalk, wheelchair ramp or crosswalk.
6. Areas marked in red.
7. Within fifteen (15) feet of a fire hydrant.
8. Any place that is not identified by parking space boundary lines.
9. Specifically marked spaces or areas (i.e. Head Resident, Police, Maintenance, etc.)
10. Spaces lined in blue are reserved for faculty and staff. NOTE: Reserved parking is not enforced Saturdays, Sundays, holidays and between the hours of 5:30 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., Monday through Friday.
11. Spaces lined in white are 'open parking' for students, faculty, staff and contractors (a parking permit is required).
12. Spaces lined in gold are designated for visitors or timed parking. The football stadium parking lot is also designated as a visitor parking area. (Students, faculty/staff and contractors are not considered visitors. [V,2.])
13. Cameron Village parking permits or Faculty and Staff permits are required for parking in Cameron Village. Cameron Village permit holders are not allowed to park in the McMahon Centennial Complex parking lot (north of Cameron Village).
H. No person shall stop or park a vehicle for any purpose except the loading or unloading of passengers or materials in a right-of-way for longer than five (5) minutes. At no time will the vehicle be left unattended.
I. Motorcycles and mopeds are required to display a university parking permit. The parking permit (decal) will be affixed to the front fork or windshield. Motorcycles and mopeds may park at the end of any parking row, provided that the area has been lined off or designated for motorcycle or moped parking.
J. Any commissioned police officer of the Office of Public Safety is authorized to immobilize (boot) or remove (tow) a vehicle from university property to an appropriate garage or place of storage at the owner's expense under any of the following:
1. When any vehicle is left unattended and such vehicle constitutes an obstruction to traffic.
2. When any vehicle is illegally parked and blocks the entrance to any driveway or blocks the free movement by pedestrians on any sidewalk, wheelchair ramp or crosswalk.
3. When any vehicle is parked in a marked Handicapped Parking or Fire Zone without authorization.
4. When an officer arrests any person driving or in control of a vehicle and the officer is, by law, required to take the person arrested before a magistrate immediately.
5. When any vehicle has MORE THAN THREE (3) DELINQUENT TRAFFIC CITATIONS (VI,B) or parking privileges were previously revoked.
6. When an inoperable motor vehicle is on University property for more than seventy-two (72) hours. An inoperable motor vehicle is one which has been wrecked, vandalized, dismantled, partially dismantled or abandoned.
Penalties for Violations
A. Fines are as follows:
1. Parking without a permit (II,A).................................$50.00
2. Improper display of parking permit (III,A)............$50.00
3. Altered/forged permit (V,F)....................................$75.00
4. Invalid permit (II,H)....................................................$50.00
5. Unauthorized parking in Handicapped(V,J,3)....$75.00
6. Unauthorized red zone parking (V,J,3) ................$75.00
7. Parking in Reserved (V,G,11)..................................$50.00
8. Driving or parking on lawn (V,G,5)........................$50.00
9. Parking on sidewalk or crosswalk (V,G,5)............$50.00
10. Parking in loading zone (V,G,4)...........................$50.00
11. Failure to park within a marked space (V,B)......$50.00
12. Failure to yield to pedestrian (IV,C) ....................$50.00
13. All moving violations (IV) .......................................*$75.00
14. Vehicle Immobilization (V,J) ..................................$75.00
15. Double Parking/Obstructing Traffic (IV, G) .....$50.00
16. Overtime parking (V,G,3) .....................................$50.00
17. Altering or Damaging traffic sign (IV,G) ............*$50.00
18. Violation of State Statute (IV,H) ...........................*$75.00
19. Misuse of Faculty/Staff permit (V,G,11) ...........$50.00
*These rules shall not apply to authorized emergency vehicles or university owned vehicles.
B. An additional five dollars ($5.00) fine will be assessed for each violation if the fine is not paid within thirty (30) calendar days from the date of issue. All fees must be paid before enrollment in a new semester is permitted or release of transcripts or grades is granted.
C. If you're issued a ticket:
1. Pay ticket(s) at the Business Office or One Stop within thirty (30) calendar days. Parking or traffic fines may be mailed provided that One Stop is contacted to determine the exact amount of the fine. Ticket numbers (located at the top of the ticket) must be included on all payments made by mail. If the ticket number is unknown, contact One Stop at 581-2393.
2. Reserved for future text.
3. To contest a ticket: Persons wishing to contest a ticket may appeal the ticket through the Student Government Traffic Appeals Board within ten (10) calendar days from the date the ticket was issued. Forms and procedures are available in the Student Government Office in the McMahon Centennial Complex.
4. Repeated citations will result in the loss of campus parking privileges.
5. Tickets are issued to the vehicle, not the operator and are the responsibility of the person who registered the vehicle with the university. Students and employees are responsible for any unregistered vehicle operated by them regardless of vehicle ownership.
A. Student shall be defined as a person enrolled in any credit and/or non-credit hour course(s) and is not a salaried employee of the University.
B. Visitor shall be defined as a person who has NO formal affiliation, association or relationship with the university as student, faculty or staff, but is conducting business on campus.
C. Loading Zone shall be defined as any space used for the expeditious loading of persons, equipment or material by the regular occupants, caretakers or commercial carriers providing service to that location.
D. Holiday shall be defined as those days, coinciding with Academic Calendar holidays (e.g. between semesters, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Spring Break, etc.) as published in the class schedule.
E. Vehicle shall be defined as any device by which any person or property is, or may be, transported or driven on a thoroughfare excluding devices propelled by human power.
General Information
A. All thefts, accidents, assaults or any other offense that occurs on university property should be reported immediately to the Office of Public Safety of the officer on duty.
B. A record of all serial numbers on valuables should be kept and auto accessories marked for identification. (Contact the Office of Public Safety for use of an engraving tool). Write your name and address in all textbooks.
C. Keys or valuables should not be left in vehicles and vehicles should be locked at all times.
D. University Public Safety Officers are duly certified and commissioned peace officers of the State of Oklahoma with the same authority and responsibility as any other state police officers.
E. Any person on university property is required to produce proper identification upon demand by any University Public Safety Officer or any other administrative representative of the university.
F. All of the general, traffic and criminal laws of the State of Oklahoma are declared to be in full force and effect within the areas under the control and jurisdiction of Cameron University. Enforcement of these laws shall be the duty of the Public Safety Officers assigned to the Office of Public Safety.
G. A parked vehicle may receive repeated citations for the same offense at the rate of one citation for each twenty-four (24) hour period per location.
H. As a courtesy, the Office of Public Safety gives assistance in retrieving keys locked in vehicles and "dead battery" starts on campus provided the vehicle owner signs a "Release of Liability" form.
I. Lost & Found Property: The Office of Public Safety is the repository for all lost and found property. Found property should be brought to the office as soon as possible.
J. No person shall willfully fail or refuse to comply with any lawful order or direction of a Public Safety Officer, any university administrator or interfere with a Student Security Officer in the performance of his/her duties.
K. Parking areas striping codes (see paragraph V, G, 2, 3, 6, 11 and 12 above, for details):
Blue: Reserved for Faculty and Staff Red: Fire Zone - Loading White: "Open" Parking - Permit Required Yellow: Visitor or "Timed" Parking


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A long-expected bantamweight bout between Marlon Moraes (9-4-1) and Tyson Nam (12-4) finally has a date: March 23.
The 135-pounders will meet at World Series of Fighting's sophomore show. Sources close to the event, WSOF 2, told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) bout agreements have been signed.
The Las Vegas-based promotion hasn't made a formal announcement about the event or a location. The organization's debut show took place in Las Vegas back in November and aired on NBC Sports Network.
The organization initially planned to host its second event this past month, but the date ultimately was pushed back.
The Moraes vs. Nam bout was solidified after that debut show on Nov. 3. In an upset, Moraes scored a split-decision victory over former WEC champion Miguel Torres. He out-struck Torres, landed cleaner punches, mixed in stinging low kicks and even showed some flash with spinning back kicks. It marked the Florida-based fighter's third straight win.
He now fights Nam, who was expected to fight Torres at WSOF 1 before a brief contract dispute with Bellator ultimately scrapped the bout. But now free from any Bellator ties, Nam makes his WSOF debut off an August upset of Bellator bantamweight champion Eduardo Dantas at Shooto Brazil 33. The big victory pushed the Oregonian fighter's current win streak to four.
For more on WSOF 2, stay tuned to the MMA Rumors section of the site.
(Pictured: Tyson Nam)


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Festivals and Holidays in BurmaAndrew Mason
Here is a list of some of the most prominent festivals with details of what you can expect to experience.
Independence Day
This national holiday is celebrated on January 4th. Most businesses close for the day and foreigners are not permitted to join the ceremonies.
Ananda Pagoda Festival
Held between January 10th and February 1st in the city of Bagan, this lively festival features singing, dancing, plays, and film screenings. A large number of stalls set up and this is a good time to purchase local produce.
Mahamuni Ceremony
Celebrated in Mandalay in the second week of February, monks gather here to chant and the festival is also full of singing, dancing and traditional theatre.
Union Day
On February 12th people gather and the hill tribes dance in their traditional dress.
Shwe Saryan Pagoda Festival
Take a boat along the river from Mandalay to witness this colourful festival and buy traditional products such as toys, boxes, baskets and mats.
Pindaya Cave Festival
Held on March 16th in Pindaya, this two day festival features much singing and dancing.
Water Festival
Similar to Songkran is Laos and Thailand, people throw water during this festival in mid April and most things are closed as everyone joins in the fun.
Sand Stupa Festival
In Mandalay in the middle of April intriguing sand stupas are built in different parts of the city using traditional techniques.
Waso Full Moon Day
Buddhist Lent begins in the middle of July and people gather at the temples and stupas to donate good to the monks.
Martyr's Day
On July 19th ceremonies are held to mark the assassination of General Aung San.
Taung Byone Festival
Travel to the village of Matara near Mandalay on August 8th to witness the traditional Nat dance.
Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda Festival
During this 2 week festival Buddhist images are placed in decorated barges and floated on Lake Inle.
Elephant Dance Festival
This vibrant festival is held on October 9th and 1oth near Mandalay.
Tadingyut Festival
On October 11th the whole country celebrates the end of Buddhist Lent
Fire Balloon Festival
This special three-day festival starts on November 16th in Taunggyi. Taunggyi the festival is celebrated with competitions of decorated hot-air balloons in different shapes and forms of animals such as elephants, cattle, the mythical Hintha bird and hens as well as with fireworks and firecrackers in the evening.
Robe Weaving Contest
Held in all major cities on November 7th, teams of women compete against each other to gain recognition as the best robe weavers.


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Your Opinion Matters - Screencast Techniques Survey RESULTS
One month ago I asked you, Dear Reader, to participate in a survey about Screencasts in order to help me, and indirectly Microsoft, improve our screencast techniques. I got 1000 responses in just a few hours and I thank you for it!
You also wrote a lot in the free form comments field with 319 of the 1000 responses including typed feedback. These comments were read by not only myself, but (surprisingly) my boss and ScottGu, so that's cool. It's also cool that 1/3 of you felt compelled to offer more feedback. Thanks!
Here's the feedback we received.
|Answer Options
|Strongly Disagree
|Strongly Agree
|Rating Average
|Response Count
|Seeing a PIP (Picture in Picture) of the presenter is more engaging than no video at all
|Panning and Zooming to key areas enhances the experience
|Screencasts should include high quality audio
|Mouse clicks should be called out visibly
|I wish I could watch a screencast on my portable device
|Screencasts should have minimal visual clutter
|Too much PIP (Picture in Picture) video of the presenter is distracting
|Screencasts should only include audio and a full-screen capture
It's hard to see the patterns, of course, as it's tabular data, but here's how I interpret it and a few other ways to think about the results.
UPDATE: Here's a much better visualization above from Dylan Beattie. Thanks Dylan!
UPDATE: Here's another visualization from Brian Boatright. Thanks Brian!
First, if someone says Agree or Strongly Agree, let's call that AGREE.
Ah, now this is more useful. Looks like folks really agree on these points.
- 82% agree - Screencasts should include high quality audio
- 82% agree - Screencasts should have minimal visual clutter
- 74% agree - Panning and Zooming to key areas enhances the experience
Which is expected. Screencasts should sound good, only show you what you need to see, and some amount of pan/zoom (which is arguably an extension of the "minimal visual clutter" rule) is useful.
Now these are more on the fence, but I did include 1000 results so I consider them fairly valid.
- 58% agree - Too much PIP (Picture in Picture) video of the presenter is distracting
- 58% agree - Mouse clicks should be called out visibly
Seems that two much of a good thing (i.e. my (or anyone's) fat head) is distracting. This was confirmed in the comments. Basically, if you're showing something within the interface, or if you're just typing, don't show your head/PIP.
As for the mouse clicks issue, this is a tough one. I think I'll keep the effect, but I'll speed it up and make it smaller, so that we can find a "best of both worlds" option to please the most people.
These were interesting to me. Basically half of folks think that PIP is interesting, but it's clear that it's not necessary. According to the comments those that like PIP feel it "helps one engage with the presenter" and "keeps my attention." Others said "it seemed like you were talking to me" and "I'd be more likely to watch a screencast all the way through if it had PIP at some points."
- 53% agree - Seeing a PIP (Picture in Picture) of the presenter is more engaging than no video at all
- 46% agree - I wish I could watch a screencast on my portable device
- 21% agree - Screencasts should only include audio and a full-screen capture
I was surprised that 46% of people wanted to watch on their portable device. Depending on your point of view this may seem like a small number or a large one. However, it's a significant number of people, in my opinion, if over 460 folks out of 1000 would like to watch a technical screencast on their portable device. This requires less effort on the part of the publisher than you'd think. I'll post about this issue later and what you can do as a creator of screencasts to make them usable on Zunes and iPods and other PMPs.
Finally, 1/5 of folks feel that screencasts (perhaps they are screencast purists?) should include only audio and the full screeen.
Also, as with most surveys, this one was arguably biased towards a specific point of view, namely, mine. One could say it was poorly written and two people did in fact say just that. However, I'm not hiding the fact that I believe judicious and reasonable use of these small techniques can make for a better screencast, but I'll be more careful with future surveys to include both sides of the perspective.
Written Comments
As with my blog, it was with this survey. The interesting content is in the comments. There were 319 comments, but here's a slice:
- "Would like transcripts of screen casts so that the material can be searched." and "For foreign users who do not speak English as a native language, it is easier to understand the screencast, if there are subtitles in English"
- This was a common request, as were subtitles for the deaf and folks for whom English was not their first language. I'm looking into ways to do this without breaking the bank. (There's less money for these than you think.)
- "I'd also like for a lot of the screencasts to be fairly short, so that I can watch them without investing too much time at once on them"
- Agreed. I talk a lot and I personally like the 45 minute format. However, I think 8 to 15 minute might be a better length.
- "why not a close up of the text being typed" or "use keyjedi"
- These were interesting, and I'll look into it. I agree that it's hard to see what's happening with hotkeys and quick cuts.
- "I really like to see presenter one side, content on the other, clear separation"
- Interesting idea. I'll try it.
- "I really think the content is key. If the topic and execution are solid, the presentational stuff is only window dressing" and "Script work and rehearsal go a long way."
- I agree 100%.
- "I think Microsoft Webcasts are of poor quality and should be replaced with screen casts. Often issues arrise during a web cast and it is much more transparent to us if they are produced instead of thrown together. No Web Casts more SCREEN CASTS!"
- Interesting perspective. I see your point, but sometimes Live is better.
- "Proper support of standard codecs." and "I want to watch this on my Xbox360."
- I totally agree. If we do an MP4 version, it should work everywhere.
- "Too much panning and zooming will make me sea sick. Your MVP screencast is very good but it borders on the unbearable. Slower pans are better, one axis only pans are better. Avoid pans & zooms at the same time and get yourself a cinema book for beginners (seriously)."
- This was one of two comments where the reader was ill from watching the screencast. I think the one-axis pan idea is really interesting and I'll try it out.
- "Please support wide-screen format."
- I was very surprised but out of 1000 folks, there was only ONE comment that I use Widescreen (16:9) ratio. I'd have expected a lot more.
Also, I received this one: "there... i filled out your survey... motherf******! ( lets see how anonymous this really is) :)" Note that I've alerted your mom and your boss about your naughty language, Mr. Anonymous. ;)
And finally, "No beards! Beards are distracting!" Hm. I don't think you want to see me without a beard, I look 12. Seriously. More importantly, what are we going to do about this guy?
About Scott
Scott Hanselman is a former professor, former Chief Architect in finance, now speaker, consultant, father, diabetic, and Microsoft employee. He is a failed stand-up comic, a cornrower, and a book author.
About Newsletter
Comments are closed.


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Days before his arrest on federal fraud charges, Nicholas Cosmo held a conference call to tell nearly 200 Agape World investors that his business wasn't a Ponzi scheme.
On the Jan. 23 call, Cosmo assured his clients that everyone would get their money back despite a few loans that went bad. However, that did little to dispel the growing ire from investors who wanted immediate access to their money. Later that day, one angry investor punched Cosmo in the head and the Agape chief had to be escorted from his Hauppauge offices by Suffolk County police.
Cosmo was arrested the following Monday, accused of operating a $380 million Ponzi scheme.
The following is a short selection from the call where Cosmo blames "defaults" for the payment holdup and decries the rumor he is running a Ponzi scheme, despite the accusations that were flowing out of a fatwallet.com message board that focused on Agape.
Here's the entire clip. At one point Cosmo denies a claim from fatwallet.com that Agape had wired money to the islands of Turks and Caicos under the name Hubert Humphrey.


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* Previous pot use cut to 1 year from 3 years
* New rule follows state legalizing recreational pot use
By Jonathan Kaminsky
OLYMPIA, Wash., Dec 19 (Reuters) - A month after Washington became the first state in the nation to legalize marijuana for adult recreational use, the Seattle Police Department has relaxed its rules on previous pot use for job seekers.
Going forward, applicants must not have used marijuana for at least a year before joining the force, police officials said. Previously, the rule was no pot use for three years.
The change was spurred by Washington state's groundbreaking vote last month to legalize the recreational use of marijuana, Assistant Chief Jim Pugel said.
"We have to do a good job protecting the city, but we have to have a group of people who resemble the people we protect," Pugel said.
Statewide, marijuana legalization passed by 56 percent to 44 percent. In King County, where Seattle is located, it pulled nearly 64 percent support.
Pugel said the Department was considering a change before the new law passed, after a pair of otherwise strong applicants who had used marijuana within three years but not within the past 12 months had been automatically disqualified.
One was a veteran of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars who had briefly been prescribed marijuana by a doctor for pain. Another was a former high-level college athlete who had smoked marijuana 20 months before applying.
Pugel said he is not aware of other Washington state police departments that have taken similar action.
Seattle police officers are still prohibited from using marijuana, whether on or off duty.
However, Washington state law prohibits random workplace drug tests, meaning that the department must have reasonable suspicion that an officer has used marijuana in order to have him or her tested.
"That goes for any controlled substance, whether it's legally allowed through a prescription or it's illegal," Pugel said. "We have to look at behavior and performance."
Whether the new rules will attract more applicants, Pugel said he doesn't know.
Pugel said the Department will hire between 85 and 100 new officers in 2013, from an expected pool of up to 4,500 applicants. The starting salary is $66,000, plus benefits.
"Plus you get to drive a fast car," Pugel added (Editing by Dan Whitcomb; Editing by Bob Burgdorfer)
How to vote
Register by: Varies by state
Your vote is your voice! It is your right and your responsibility. For your voice to be heard, in most states you must register before you can vote. Visit the state elections siteRegister to Vote
Vote-by-mail ballot request deadline: Varies by state
For the Nov 3 election: States are making it easier for citizens to vote absentee by mail this year due to the coronavirus. Each state has its own rules for mail-in absentee voting. Visit your state election office website to find out if you can vote by mail.Get more information
In-person early voting dates: Varies by state
Sometimes circumstances make it hard or impossible for you to vote on Election Day. But your state may let you vote during a designated early voting period. You don't need an excuse to vote early. Visit your state election office website to find out whether they offer early voting.My Election Office
General Election: Nov 3, 2020
Polling hours on Election Day: Varies by state/localityMy Polling Place


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I just got an email from Moldover's email list and thought I'd pass it along. Modover's work was one the inspirations behind my 9 Box Method by the way.
Good news! I have finished assembling two NEW Social x Instruments. I call them The SyncoMasher and The MiniMasher. I'm taking these two and the reliable old Octamasher on tour with me for the month of March!
MultiMasher Tour – North-East US
I need YOUR help to make this tour a success. If you have a friend in any of these cities who might enjoy my work, please let them know when I'll be coming through their area. Full details and more are on my events page.
03/07 Providence, RI – Live show
03/08 Boston, MA – Live show
03/10 Madison, WI – PlayShop & live show
03/11 Chicago, IL – Live show
03/14 Austin, TX – Live show
03/18 Columbus, OH – Live show
03/19 New York City, NY – DJ set
03/20 Ithaca, NY – Live show
03/19 New York City, NY – PlayShop
03/25 Boston, MA – DJ set & PlayShop
The SyncoMasher
Using techniques I learned building The Mojo, I created a five-sided instrument called The SyncoMasher. I like to play it together with my controllerist friends in an amorphous group I call "The SyncoMasher Quintet". This 'Masher is loaded with songs from my album and it is tremendous fun to perform with.
The MiniMasher
Sometimes less is more. The MiniMasher is easy to setup, it's transparent so you can see all the inner workings, and it's got lots of blinkie lights. This 'Masher will feature original, selectable sounds-sets from my music-producing friends. Adults love it. Kids love it. Cats love it. Makes a great coffee table.
The Octamasher
Now in its' fifth year of service, the good 'ol Octamasher is still bringing sample-mashing fun to thousands of people each year at festivals and colleges. OCTAGONAL DRUM CIRCLE FROM THE FUTURE! Who would've thunk it?
Moldover Links:
Mark Mosher
Electronic Music Artist, Boulder, CO


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Visit www.fantasymasquerades.com to see a full line of accessories to go with your costume!
Custom made black stretch mermaid skirt with black feather trim. Elastic band waist for a comfortable adjustable fit.
Small:24-27" waist
Medium:28-30" waist
Large: 30-32" waist
I have been in business since 1999 designing custom made costumes. I sell to several costume shops around the world and have won several design awards for my designs. My costumes have been featured in many Vegas Casinos, Canadian Casinos, and theater events. I I do offer options to have your very own design made. Please contact me with your requests.
INTERNATIONAL bidders, I do ship World Wide! Costumes must go Priority or Express USPS with tracking. Please be aware of your import policies. You may be responsible to PAY A DUTY if your country requires it on imported items.
The fine print: I want to ensure you are thrilled with your purchase. If you find the costume is not for you, doesn't fit right, damaged, etc. Please contact me after receiving your item within 7 days. I will be happy to exchange for another size or you may receive a store credit towards another costume for any unused costume. Since costumes are generally occasion specific I won't accept returns to prevent one time use returns but I will work with you to ensure you are satisfied with your purchase. Thank you for stopping by. I look forward to working with you!
All costumes designs are copyright Fantasy Masquerades/Denim & Diamonds 1999-2020
Please note I cannot guarantee any shipping time unless prior arrangements have been made and Express Mail is paid for. Express is the only shipping option that is guaranteed through USPS, we have no control over shipping time. If you pay for Express Mail please allow for the normal production time before shipped which is 1-14 business days. Please make note of your individual listing estimated production time. Each listing will have production estimates, not all have the same production time. I will do my best to accommodate your timing needs. Please contact me if you need something faster than listed otherwise it will be produced as usual. Rush fees may apply. INTERNATIONAL buyers, Express is different than Express Guaranteed. Express is not guaranteed like it is within the US. If you want Express Guaranteed please contact me to receive a proper invoice.
Just contact me within: 7 days of delivery
Ship items back to me within: 14 days of delivery
But please contact me if you have any problems with your order.
Because of the nature of these items, unless they arrive damaged or defective, I can't accept returns for:
No returns are allowed. Any new unused costume can be exchanged for another size or store credit within 14 days of receiving. Please contact me if there are any concerns or questions about your order during this time. In the event you receive an item damaged your item will be exchanged promptly, but no refund will be given. Buyer is responsible for shipping on an exchanged item.
Any refused packages or unauthorized returns going against our Return/Exchange Polices will be charged a 20% restocking fee and shipping is not refunded.


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Thousands say farewell to Israel's Ariel Sharon
- Sharon%27s body lies in state at the Knesset
- World leaders are expected at a state memorial Monday
- Sharon%27s body will later be taken to his ranch for burial
JERUSALEM – Tens of thousands of Israelis came to Israel's parliament, the Knesset, on Sunday to say farewell to former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, who died Saturday, eight years after he was felled by a massive stroke.
Following a memorial service at the Knesset on Monday morning, which will be attended by foreign dignitaries including U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, Sharon will be buried at his beloved ranch in southern Israel, next to his late wife, Lily.
At the Knesset Sunday, dark clouds hovered over the plaza, where Sharon's coffin, covered with a crisp blue-and-while flag, lay in state. The coffin, below which colorful flowered wreaths sat, was flanked by an honor guard. Flags flew in the cold wind at half staff. Some of the mourners lit memorial candles placed on the ground.
The steady stream of visitors, though respectable, was much smaller than the huge numbers who stood for hours in line after the assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. That murder, committed in 1995 by an Orthodox Jew who wanted to stop the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, shocked the nation.
Sharon's death, in contrast, was due to the stroke, and had been expected for more than a week.
Still, visitors at the Knesset were visibly moved by Sharon's death and legacy. They included older Israelis who personally remembered Sharon's many military victories in wars they had fought; and younger Israelis who recalled his fateful decision to evacuate settlers and troops from Gaza.
Though Sharon was proudly secular, many who came to say their goodbyes were Orthodox Jews, some of whom recited psalms in his memory. High school classes, youth groups and soldiers came, as well.
The crowd parted when a contingent of Ethiopian Orthodox Christian clergymen dressed in flowing black robes and carrying a wreath came to pay their respects.
Tonie Moushowitz, who immigrated to Israel from South Africa in 1969, said she was impressed with Sharon's military prowess from the start.
"He was a great warrior. He saved us during the 1973 Yom Kippur War" by surrounding the Egyptian army and pushing it into retreat. "He was a man who didn't always follow orders and thank God for that. I don't know where Israel would be today if he had."
Shuki Cohen, a veteran of the Yom Kippur War who had personal encounters with Sharon during the war and as his sometimes-driver later in life, said Sharon "was a good man, inside and out. "
Cohen, now in his 70s, recalled how, when he and other Israeli troops were stationed in Egypt, "Sharon always made sure that the troops had food to eat. He cared about his soldiers."
Carmella Schachar, 69, of Jerusalem, grew emotional when talking about Sharon, whom she called "a hero. He was a member of the founding generation, a father of the country."
Schachar expressed understanding for the many Israelis who criticized Sharon for quitting Gaza, where nearly 10,000 Jews lost their homes and livelihoods. "Despite government promises, many of the settlers lived in makeshift dwellings for years and never recovered financially or emotionally," she said.
Had Sharon not become ill, "I'm sure he would have taken care of the residents," Schachar added.
Calvin Speigel, an Orthodox American Jew studying at an Israeli university, called Sharon "a political maverick" who "will leave a great void. When he was leading the country other nations knew that Israel would fight for its survival and stand up to its enemies."
Some of the people paying their respects were tourists.
"I'm here because it seemed like the right thing to do," said Reuven Zahavy, an Orthodox Jew from New York who is visiting the country. "I'm moved to see that there are people saying psalms in accordance with Jewish custom. There is no better way of paying respect."
Not all Israelis respected Sharon, however.
Zimra Siegman Schlessinger, who did not travel to the parliament building, said Sharon's decision tore her and her family from their home in the Jewish settlement of Neveh Dekalim in Gaza.
"Now terrorists sit atop the rubble that was once our home and shoot rockets onto Israeli civilians. I'd like to thank Ariel Sharon for all he has done for the nation of Israel," Schlessinger said.


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NZASIA 23rd Biennial Conference 2019
- The 22nd Biennial conference, Otago in 2017
- The 21st Biennial conferenceUniversity of Canterbury, 2015.
- The 20th Biennial International Conference, University of Auckland in 2013.
- The 19th Biennial International Conference , Massey University in 2011.
- The 18th Biennial International Conference , Victoria University in Wellington in 2009.
- The 17th Biennial International Conference, University of Otago in 2007.
- The 16th Biennal Conference, University of Waikato in 2005
- The 15th Biennial Conference, University of Auckland in 2003
New Zealand Journal of Asia Studies
See the contents of the latest issue of NZJAS.
NZASIA Executive Committee and Council
A new NZASIA Excutive Committee and Council is now in place. Names and contact details of all office holders are listed on the Office Holders page.
Directories of Asia Specialists
We now have two directories that list New Zealand's Asia specialists who are doing research on Asia-related topics. Go to the Directories Page to access each Directory.
Welcome to NZASIA
The New Zealand Asian Studies Society (NZASIA) is a wholly independent body that since its establishment in 1974 has sought to encourage the spread of knowledge about Asia, its history, its culture and its role in international affairs.
Professor Nicholas Tarling (1931-2017) was the driving force behind the creation of the New Zealand Asian Studies Society. At our biennial conferences, we honour his vision and commitment to the promotion of Asian Studies with the Nicholas Tarling Lecture.
The key objectives of NZASIA and its activities are listed here. For contact details and a list of NZASIA office holders, go to the NZASIA Executive and Council page.
Why join NZASIA? An answer to this question, and membership application instructions are provided here.
The New Zealand Journal of Asian Studies is the NZASIA Society's journal, published twice yearly. The Journal pages list the contents of current and back issues, and include abstracts of articles in the last two issues.
The most recent and all back issues of the Newsletter can be downloaded from the Newsletter page.
Knowing Asia
Knowing Asia: The Challenge for New Zealand's Tertiary Education Sector was published by NZASIA in September 2004. It analyses the national survey of Asian Studies conducted in 2003, and makes a set of 23 proposals about how the study of Asia can be strengthened in New Zealand's universities and tertiary colleges.


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Mendoza adjusting to role in Royals' bullpen
CLEVELAND -- Right-hander Luis Mendoza, who was in the Royals' rotation as the fifth starter for the first half of the season, is gradually getting re-accustomed to life in the bullpen as a long reliever.
"It's my fifth day and I've been feeling good. I'm waiting for the opportunity," Mendoza said. "Of course, I don't want to come in early because I want the starters to go longer. But just keep working and go back to how I felt before the last two starts."
Mendoza had back-to-back subpar starts which led to his switch of roles with Bruce Chen, the left-hander that he beat out for the last rotation spot in Spring Training. Although manager Ned Yost thought that Mendoza was showing signs of being tired after pitching in winter ball and the World Baseball Classic, the pitcher disagreed.
"I don't feel that way," Mendoza said. "Mentally, I feel strong. I've been working hard and my body feels great, but maybe my body feels different than my mind."
Mendoza is eager to make a strong impression in relief because he wants another shot at starting.
"That's in my mind, to come back to the rotation," he said.


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Abstractions For Binary Search, Part 10: Putting It All Together
We shall begin by writing code to implement the strategy for choosing test cases that we discussed a few weeks ago. In order to verify that our code searches an n-element array correctly, we must create every possible n-element array in which each element other than the first differs from its predecessor by either 0 or 2. Once we have chosen an element's value, the following element has two possible values. Therefore, there are 2n-1 possible relevant n-element arrays to test.
We shall assume that an
unsigned long has at least n bits, and leave it as an exercise to generalize this code to arrays with more bits than will fit in an
unsigned long. With that assumption, we can count through every possible n-1-bit number and use each bit in these numbers to cover all the possibilities for relevant arrays. If we assume that
array has at least n elements, we can start by writing
unsigned long bits = (n == 0)? 1UL: 1UL << (n-1);
Here, we have made bits equal to 2n-1 except in the case where n is zero; we shall count down from there to zero. The loop looks like this:
do { --bits; unsigned i = 1; for (unsigned j = 0; j != n; ++j) { array[j] = i; if (bits & (1UL << j)) i += 2; } for (unsigned x = 0; x <= i+1; ++x) { assert(binary_search(x, array, n) == linear_search(x, array, n)); } } while (bits != 0);
We decrement
bits at the beginning of the loop because the first time through, all the bits we care about are zero. Each time through the outer loop, we create a new n-element array by starting with 1, then making each subsequent array element equal to either the previous element or that element plus 2, depending on the value of one of the bits in
Once we have this array, we search for every value in the array, as well as for a value smaller than the smallest array element, one larger than the largest element, and one in between every pair of unequal adjacent elements. Because adjacent pairs of elements differ either by 0 or by 2, we can find the appropriate range by starting with 0 and ending with (and including) a value one greater than the last element of the array. So, for example, if we are testing four-element arrays, and the array that we are currently using is
1 1 3 3, it is sufficient to search for
0, 1, 2, 3, and
We have already seen the code for
linear_search and the instrumented code for
binary_search, so we're pretty much done. However, this code leaves open several general questions about testing that deserve careful consideration:
- Are
assertstatements really appropriate here? What's nice about an
assertstatement is that if it fails, most C++ implementations produce a diagnostic message that makes it clear precisely where the failure is. If you are expecting the code to work correctly under ordinary circumstances, this behavior of
assertstatements makes it unnecessary to figure out a comprehensible diagnostic message on one's own. What's not so nice is that if the preprocessor variable
NDEBUGis set to zero,
assertstatements have no effect. This property of assert statements means that they are not a reliable way of ensuring that tests are actually run; the tester must ensure that
NDEBUGis not set.
- We made several assumptions while we were writing this code. For example, we did not show any tests for the code that we just developed. Of course, we can inspect how it behaves in simple test cases and ensure that it does what we expect. Moreover, if all of our test cases do work, and they consist of performing what we expect to be the same computation in two different ways, then we are more confident that the code does what we expect than we would be if we did not test it. Nevertheless, I think that it is easy not to pay enough attention to the question of how to test code that we write for testing purposes.
- We did not add code to the
binary_searchfunction to verify that its input array is correctly sorted. Our rationale is that the arrays are constructed that way, so it should not be necessary to test. But suppose we stay skeptical — suppose we take the view that even though we may have thought we constructed a properly sorted test case, we might not have done so. In that case, why are we willing to accept uncritically that choosing arrays that consist only of odd integers is good enough? Perhaps we should be testing our code on arrays of other types as well, or on other integer values as well. In general, it's hard to know how much time we should spend devising tests for conditions that "can't happen."
- How far should we go toward testing the underlying implementation? I once had a piece of code fail horribly because a C++ implementation did not implement unsigned integer multiplication correctly: Instead of yielding a result that was correct modulo the word size, whenever an unsigned integer multiplication overflowed, the result would be zero. As another example, consider the hardware floating-point division bug that caused certain processors to give ever so slightly wrong answers to certain floating-point division problems. Or the bug that caused one processor I encountered to compute 2256+2-256 as zero. Or, for that matter, the computer I once encountered that occasionally yielded double-precision floating-point results in which the low-order 32 bits were all zero — because the contacts on the circuit board that computed those bits had become corroded. If you assume that your implementation is always correct, you will get into trouble sooner or later. But if you can't assume that your implementation is correct, how do you test anything?
Part of the reason that testing is so tricky is that it is one of at least three interlocking parts of writing software that works. The first part is deciding what problem you are trying to solve. This decision sounds easy, but even people who are paying for software to be written do not always know exactly what they want. For example, in reviewing specifications for one system, I encountered a client who said that a particular variable would always have one of two values. I asked what the system should do if it has neither of those values, and she said that she didn't care: That state of affairs was impossible. But when I offered to make the code delete the entire customer database if that variable had an "impossible" value, she protested. Apparently the "impossible" state of affairs wasn't all that impossible. Being human, we do not always anticipate perfectly everything that might happen.
Once we know what problem to solve, the next problem is to state that knowledge precisely. Such statements are harder than they look. For example, an innocent-sounding phrase such as "the largest element in a sequence" can fail in several ways: The sequence might be empty, or its elements might have a type without a well-defined order relation, or it might contain some elements with values, such as floating-point NaN (not a number), that defy comparison even when ordinary values can be compared just fine.
Once we have a precise statement of the problem, we can translate that statement into code. And again we have problems, because there might be errors in the translation. Much of the thought behind software testing concentrates on this third part of writing software. However, I think that the first two parts are at least as important.
All three of these parts have one thing in common: They are abstractions. Remember that an abstraction is always a form of selective ignorance: We are ignoring certain parts of whatever it is we're thinking about in order to be able to reduce what's left to a form about which we can reason clearly. Every time we form an abstraction, we run the risk of ignoring something important. Perhaps the most important part of creating abstractions, therefore, is to understand what we are abstracting well enough that we can be sure that the abstraction that results is one that captures the parts of the whole that we actually care about at the moment.
It is time for me to bid you farewell. This is my last article for Dr. Dobb's, which is ceasing publication at the end of 2014. I've had great fun writing these articles, and interacting with readers.
I have every intention to continue writing: I have several ideas for future projects, which I shall announce in due course. Meanwhile, I would like to invite you to follow me on Facebook or Twitter.


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Media Overview Media Overview
Media Overview
Freedom of expression, including freedom of the media and a mixed economy, providing for public, private and joint venture ownership are guaranteed in the Namibian Constitution.
The National News Agency of Namibia (NAMPA) was established as a national news agency responsible for the distribution of local, regional and international news.
With its relatively small population, Namibia boasts eleven regular newspapers, of which five appear daily (New Era, The Namibian, Allgemeine Zeitung, Namibian Sun and Die Republikein), and six weekly (Namibia Economist, Informanté, Namibia Today, Windhoek Observer and The Southern Times).
New Era is the government subsidised newspaper, established after independence to assist with the task of nation building, socio-economic development, popularising the country's national symbols and giving a voice to the previously neglected rural communities.
The Southern Times, published by NamZim Newspapers Pty (Ltd) is a regional Sunday newspaper, established as a joint venture between the New Era Publications Corporation of Namibia and its Zimbabwean counterpart to cover news in Southern Africa from an African perspective.
Except for Namibia Today, which is the mouthpiece of the ruling SWAPO Party, the remaining newspapers are all privately owned.
The public broadcaster, the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) offers nine radio language services (National Radio, Afrikaans Service, Damara/Nama Service, German Service, Oshiwambo Service, Otjiherero Service, Rukavango Service, Tirelo Ya Setswana Service and San Service), and one television channel (NBC TV).
The liberalisation of the broadcasting sector in Namibia led to the mushrooming of commercial radio stations (e.g., Radio 99, Radio Energy, Kosmos Digital Namibia, Radion Wave, Radio Kudu, Omulunga Radio, West Coast FM and Flamink Waves) and community radio stations (e.g., Katutura Community Radio, Ohangwena Regional Council Community Radio, Media for Christ (Channel 7), Radio Eclesia Namibia, Unam Hit Radio and Live FM Rehoboth) in the country.
Five commercial television stations (MultiChoice Namibia, Downlink Namibia, One Africa Television, Paragon Investment Holdings: Channel 4, and Digital Cable Television) and three community television stations (Tsumeb Municipality, Trinity Broadcasting Namibia and WUM Properties) operate in Namibia.


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Grow Your Own: Be Sure Giveaway
A few weeks ago I showed you the fabulous vintage victory garden poster I received for Christmas from a friend. After many people asked where she got it, I found out: Zazzle. There is also a great collection of Victory Garden Poster Collection over at Amazon.
You can also find find hi-res copies of these posters at the Library on Congress website which you can have printed out yourself since they're in the public domain. Here are a few I've found over the years.
Lucky for you, my friend happened to receive an extra copy of the Grow Your Own: Be Sure Poster because of a shipping problem. She gave it to me to give away here on the blog (everyone thank Missy). So my friends,
all you have to do to have a chance to win is to comment below. If you want extra chances to win: like Chiot's Run on facebook, Share this contest on your facebook page, or Tweet this contest. We have a winner – see image below – congrats to Chicago Mike.
Which poster shown above is your favorite?
Filed under Miscellaneous | Comments (71)
71 Comments to "Grow Your Own: Be Sure Giveaway"
I like the National Garden Commission posters. I also like Chiots Run on FB.
to holly's comment
I've always loved WWII era art, especially Victory Garden posters!
to Wendy Buss's comment
Some of those would make terrific t-shirts.
to stefaneener's comment
What a great poster! Thank you for sharing them with us.
to Deairdre Miller's comment
They're all so cute, but I think the mother and daughter canning together is my favorite! Thanks for this great give away (ans to your friend too).
to Kathi Cook's comment
Fun! I like the mother daughter one too- and the one beneath it.
to Kirsten's comment
I love the mother and daughter canning. I do all my canning (LOTS of canning) with my mom. We have the best conversations in the steaming, fragrant kitchen. I am proud of my heritage as a canner, and I cherish each moment doing that with my mom. We also love to teach my friends how to safely can. Our canning cupboard looks like the one in that poster.
to Corrie's comment
I like the We Eat Because We Work poster.
to stacy's comment
I am a fb fan.
to stacy's comment
I would be so glad to have this to display in my office.
to Chicago Mike's comment
I love these posters. So motivational. If only the government was still as behind the local, grow your own food movement as they were then.
to Andres's comment
Thank you for sharing- I would love this in my kitchen!
to cynthia's comment
Love them all, but Dig for Plenty is my fav. Thanks Missy!
to Hailey in MT's comment
Also a FB liker ;)
to Hailey in MT's comment
I just love them all. I often think of these posters when I read in the news that yet another gardener has been threatened, fined or even arrested for having the nerve to have a garden in their yard. "Are you a Victory Canner?" is my fave.
to Grace's comment
Wow! I want to frame ALL of them!
to Julie Kosker's comment
I agree, some of these would make great tshirts, I'm loving them! May have to start making my own collection of posters!!
to mandie's comment
I wish I had enough wall space in my apartment to display those, they look awesome. I would totally buy t-shirts with these prints, are the posters copyrighted or can we make our own shirts on cafepress or something…
Also shared the contest on facebook, thanks for the cool contest :)
to Cindy's comment
It's a tie between "grow your own, can your own" and "dig for plenty", but they're all pretty amazing. I wish there was a campaign like this now to get more people to grow their own! I moved last year, and my yard is shaded in the back, so I planted my garden in side yard, very visible from the street. I got so many comments from the neighbors about how they wish they had the time or the talent, and I just keep encouraging them to try; they'll never know until they start.
to Diana Holly's comment


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Here's a late addition of Video Friday.
I know you'll all watching the Sochi Olympics waiting for something like this to happen:
There's nothing like watching an opening ceremony of an Olympic event and see a host countries history depicted through Cirque du Soleil looking performers in unitards.
Perhaps we will feel the unity and the world coming together with Russian Police hoping to "Get Lucky.
I dunno, seems a little flamboyant to me…especially with Russia so particular about sexual preference.
We did get introduced to this year's Olympic mascots:
(left to right) Fabulous Bunny, Stray(f) the Dog and Pussy Cat Tiger Riot.
In case you've missed the action here is a 2 hour special of pre-event coverage by Russian TV.
I know, poor Russia is getting picked on, but I really like the take on Gawker's sports site Deadspin:
The Haters Guide to the Sochi Games.
If your not interested in obscure winter sports festival hosted by a corrupt country with an abysmal record on human rights…then let's watch bike videos.
Here is some better sports competition: American Style!!
(seen on: Urban Cyclist Worldwide.
Ok, the bike videos:
Title: State Bicycle Shockwave Video
Seen on: Urban Velo.
Description: Fixed gear freestyle isn't as visible as it was just a few years back, but there are still plenty of riders out there getting rad. State Bicycle has long had one of the more affordable FGFS complete bikes out there, with this being the latest incarnation, the $579 Shockwave. We reviewed the similar Massacre from State back in May 2012.
Title:CX Hairs: #SVENNESS 2.17
Seen on: Prolly
Description: This is it, the final race of the year for #SVENNESS. This one takes place in Hoogerheide, Netherlands for the 2014 UCI Cyclocross World Championship. Surely by now you've seen how brutal this course was, so sit back and enjoy!
Excellent job this year, CX Hairs!
Joe The Ripper Fixed Gear Freestyle Edit
Seen on: Urban Cyclist Worldwide.
Description: Fixed Gear Freestyle Rider Joseph Montano
Aka Joe The Ripper
Two Strap Krew NYC
Song-Ten Cent Pistol- The Black Keys
Shayquan Greenidge
Joey M Rojas
Shayquan Greenidge
Title: Luke Binder #leadthepack
Seen on: TRACKO
Title: A Day in the Life-Budapest
Seen on: TRACKO
Title: A Day in the Life-Overdrive London
Seen on: TRACKO
Continue reading Friday Night Videos…from Russia with…Bike Videos.


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Trust is Built on Security
Trust is a currency whose purchasing power cannot be overestimated. Also: "Anyone who creates trust creates stable values," says Dr. Wolfram Seidemann, the CEO of Giesecke+Devrient Currency Technology. A conversation about the inspiring powers of stability in times of change.
In 1919, the industrialist Robert Bosch said, "Better to lose money than to lose trust" – is that still valid today?
More than ever. Particularly these days, in a world that is constantly changing, trust has an almost incalculable worth. Trust is a vital foundation for every functioning economy. Only if people trust in their political, financial and judicial systems will they be willing and able to enter into any transaction.
What do you need to create an environment of trust?
Looking at our specific business, I would say reliability, transparency, honest eye-to-eye communication; and the aspiration of getting the right solution for each individual problem. Besides investing in technologies, investing in company culture, in processes, and in communication, including the way we work together, will be crucial for competition in the future.
All forms of payment have to be reliable, secure and efficient, be they analog or digital.«
Does your claim "creating confidence" also means "creating values"?
Yes. And in order to create value, you must question existing ideas and concepts. That takes courage, which is why we need an open and transparent culture. Only then can we optimize and redesign ourselves, our products, our ideas, our markets. Whether it's in the family, in the company, or in the global economy, trust is built on security. You need to feel secure in the knowledge that even if you fail when you try something new, not all is lost.
On the frontline where systems become smarter and more productive
No change without stability?
Let me put it this way: the biggest changes happen, for better or for worse, when stability is under threat. Usually, at this point, changes are for the worse and spin out of control. Intended changes, innovation in our field, happen when you work within a controlled environment. Stability is key. And we are lucky in that respect because central banks the world over have done an admirable job in providing stable currencies which equals stable economies.
What does this mean in a world where the digital is displacing the analog?
Well, security is at the heart of stability, both in the digital and in the analog realm. It is therefore at the top of our agenda and a natural part of our strategy, in accordance with the motto "security by design." All forms of payment have to be reliable, secure and efficient, be they analog or digital. Looking at the cash cycle as a whole, efficiency gains are high because of increasing automation. We are the frontrunners for an automated cash cycle. Systems are becoming faster, smarter and more productive. Plus, they are increasingly designed to collect and analyze data in the cash cycle.
Which kind of data?
We have been using digital track and trace applications in production for a long time to ensure that every banknote is being accounted for. The potential to gather and use data has grown exponentially. Every banknote collects data during its life cycle – anonymized of course – on durability, environment, distribution. Today, we are increasingly able to analyze these data and use them to optimize the cash cycle. Big data is a buzzword, however, it is driving corresponding technologies.
Read the complete interview
Giesecke+Devrient Currency Technology America, Inc
+1 703 4802113


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Are you going to deny that you didn't notice his hand on her thigh while he's taking a picture of her? Fine. I'll admit it for all of us.
Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez have been in Mexico together the last few days. They were photographed yesterday admiring each other in the sun. Allow me please to appreciate the relative modesty of her bikini, if there is such a thing. I feel confident in saying that her bikini top is supportive enough so as to eliminate almost any chance of an accident or a slip and the bottom is so full I don't actually know what her ass crack looks like. Come on. In some circles this would be considered straight up conservative.
But I'm most curious about what else is on that camera. When they break up, will it be leaked? Oh I hope so. And, errrm, are they officially sharing a room or unofficially sharing a room? It's funny I was talking to a colleague who's going to her boyfriend's parents' to spend the holidays. She's 30, he's 35. And they have to stay in separate bedrooms. Don't get me wrong. I get it, I totally do. It's their house, it's their rules. I'm just saying I rather enjoy the juxtaposition of the Justin Biebers of the world, 17, cohabitating in hotel rooms with his gf while proper adults have to wait until well after lights out before sneaking down the hall to cuddle up in a single bed.
What else is on that camera?
Are you going to deny that you didn't notice his hand on her thigh while he's taking a picture of her? Fine. I'll admit it for all of us.


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Versatile, Lightweight And Breathable
Babywearing has loads of benefits for both moms and their little ones. Your child feels safe and warm, and babywearing allows you to go about your day while keeping her close. Stokke has recently added to their line of baby carriers with the MyCarrier Cool, which combines their ergonomic carrier with light and breathable material.
Features of the MyCarrier Cool
The Stokke MyCarrier Cool (Stokke, $220) comes in cream or black, and boasts breathable and water-resistant material fashioned from soft 3D mesh fabric that is designed to draw heat and moisture away from the parent and baby.
The MyCarrier includes three components, which consist of the main harness with integrated hip belt, front carrier, and back carrier. Secured by double locking carabiners, it's made with safe, soft, breathable organic cotton textiles, and all materials are free from harmful substances.
Like their other carriers, the MyCarrier Cool is designed with comfort in mind. When facing inward, the carrier cradles the child's hips in the best position, and we found that when facing outwards, the carrier offers more support than other mainstream forward-facing baby carriers. The sturdy ergonomic back plate helps ensure comfort for adults, too.
Our take
I had my friend Sarah test the carrier out for me, as she has a 7-month-old baby girl. We both loved the material and how soft and flexible it is. She enlisted the help of her husband to put it together, and as a team they got it together and holding her baby in less time than I'd pictured.
"I really like the Stokke carrier," she tells me. "My first impression was that it was pretty fiddly, and it would take a while to sort through all the latches and clasps. There is a bit of a learning curve, but it's no worse than other structured carriers. What I really like most is the metal brace that slides into the back of the harness. It takes the pressure off my back and redistributes it to my hips... very comfortable!"
While it was a bit complicated at first, with repeated use Sarah shares that it's super easy to use, and loves how cool it keeps them both.
Note: Stokke sent a free carrier for review, but the recommendations are my own and those of my tester.
More awesome products
Essentials for Earth Day: PlanetBox reusable containers
Bellini shares nursery tips for small spaces
NurturMe continues to change the way we feed our babies


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Spa Solid for Michael Miller
44/45" wide. 100% cotton
PLEASE NOTE: Fabric and price is based by the 1/2 yard. If you would like to purchase 1 yard, enter 2 in the quantity box, for 1.5 yards, enter 3 in the quantity box, etc.
Yardage is cut as a continuous piece.
This product hasn't received any reviews yet. Be the first to review this product!


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Welcome to the Mason City Utility Billing Department!
Mission Statement
To serve the citizens of Mason City and all employees with courtesy, respect, and professionalism through cooperation, fairness, and positive "TEAMWORK" in our performance of public services.
The Mason City Public Utility Department provide billing, payment processing, collection and customer service for the following:
• Water
• Sewer
• Storm Sewer
• Curbside Recycling
• Garbage collection
The Mason City Public Utility Department accepts applications for new service, processes customer requests to disconnect and /or transfer existing service, and collects accurate water meter readings.
Our hours of operation are Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. For your convenience, a utility billing drive up drop box is located on the southwest side of City Hall. On the day of disconnection, the outside drop box is picked up only at 8:00 a.m. CASH ONLY TO BE RECONNECTED.
To contact the Water Utility Department between the hours of operation Monday-Friday 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, call (641) 421-3610.
For after hour emergency water breaks or sewer backups, please contact the Mason City Police Department at (641) 421-3636.
Mason City Utility Billing customers may pay their utility bills as listed:
Pay by Check - If you pay by personal check, checks must be made out to Mason City Public Utility and mailed to 10 1st Street N.W. Mason City, IA 50401.
Direct Pay - If you wish to be a direct pay customers, you will need to sign an authorization form with the Mason City Public Utility. This is a convenient and easy automatic payment service that saves you time, effort, and postage. This electronic bank transfer ensures that your water bill is paid in a timely, efficient manner. Please call for form to be mailed or stop in to fill out. A voided check is needed for verification of routing and account numbers.
Bill Pay - If your bank writes a check and mails it for you, payments should be made out to Mason City Public Utility and mailed to 10 1st Street N.W. Mason City, IA 50401.
In Person - You can pay utility bills in person at City Hall, first floor, 10 1st Street N.W. during normal business hours, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.


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In Part II, I showed that, contrary to what we've been taught, Isaac Newton did not believe that a body in motion remains in motion for no reason. I also railed against the concept of continuity, which I compared to the flat earth hypothesis. In this article, I argue that a thorough understanding of the nature of motion inevitably leads to the conclusion that the visible matter of the universe is moving in an immense lattice of energetic particles. Understanding the properties of these particles and how they interact with normal matter will unleash an age of unlimited free energy and super fast travel. In this post, I write about the futility of trying to convince the physics community that their understanding of motion is flawed. I also argue that, at the microscopic level, there is only one type of motion: acceleration.
Either Or
Is it possible to prove Aristotle's motion hypothesis? I think it's an either-or situation. It all depends on whether or not you believe in causality. If you do believe in causality, then there should be absolutely no doubt in your mind that Aristotle was right for insisting that nothing can move unless it is caused to move. If you don't believe in causality, it is because you believe in hocus-pocus and you should not even be reading my blog. Sorry.
Lost Cause
Unfortunately, using simple causal logic that anybody can understand is not nearly enough to persuade the physics community to suddenly confess that they were all a bunch of morons for believing in magic. It's just not going to happen. The only way to pull it off might be to wait for all the old timers to croak, fire every physicist over twenty-five and then silently float a 50,000-ton cruise liner above the Eiffel tower. And that still would not convince them because you neglected to submit a paper for
Is it really worth it to try to convince the physics community that Aristotle was right about motion? Are they really that important in the greater scheme of things? I don't think so. If you could float a goat five feet above the White House lawn, then you wouldn't need the approval of the physics community. They would be forced to kiss your ass whether they agreed with your theory or not. In my opinion, any real progress in humanity's understanding of motion will have to come from outside the physics community. Besides, waiting centuries for them to finally see the light is not particularly appealing.
The Causality of Motion
What does it mean to say that motion is causal? All it means is that no particle can move unless it is caused to move during the entire duration of the particle's motion. Remove the cause (or causes) and the particle will come to an immediate halt. "But this is not observed", vehemently objects the nearest clueless physicist. True, but so what? Neither are virtual particles, quarks, spacetime, space, etc. Rightly or wrongly, these things were all inferred on the basis of what is observed. Likewise, we can logically infer that there is a cause that keeps a moving particle in motion. What follows below assumes that the reader understands and accepts that the universe is discrete, that the relative is abstract and that only the absolute exists.
Acceleration Is All There Is
Inertial motion is a macroscopic phenomenon that consists of a series of jumps of equal magnitude (actually, given that the universe is probabilistic, this definition is not entirely correct but it will do for now). At the microscopic level, there is no such thing as inertial motion. It is all acceleration. The reason is that a particle moves by making a jump from one discrete position to an adjacent one. A jump consists of two things: a positive acceleration away from the position of origin and a negative acceleration toward the destination. The cause of each jump is an imbalance in nature, i.e., a violation of some conservation principle. Nature uses jumps to rectify the imbalances. Two particles having equal positions and one or more similar properties will produce an imbalance. The ensuing interaction is manifested as a change in position by both particles. The magnitude of the interaction (how fast they react to the imbalance) depends on the energies involved.
Wall-to-Wall Particles
As can be seen in the previous paragraph, a sustained sequence of interactions is necessary to keep a particle in motion. The consequence of this is obvious. The particle must be moving in what I call a wall-to-wall sea of other particles. The primary purpose of the sea is to provide a causal substrate for motion. No sea = no motion. The amount of energy contained in the sea is so huge as to defy description. In Part IV, I will argue that the sea particles are organized as a 4-D lattice. My claim is that there is a way to use the properties of the lattice particles for propulsion and energy generation. Unlimited free energy for the whole world is there for the taking, if only we can figure out how.
See Also:
More Nasty Little Truths About Physics


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Boxing legend Sugar Ray Leonard met his match on Tuesday's "Dancing with the Stars," sparing Kendra Wilkinson and Kirstie Alley an early exit.
The former boxing champ and sports broadcaster became the third celebrity voted off ABC's hit dancing competition. His follows "Psycho" Mike Catherwood and Wendy Williams' eliminations.
"Dancing" host Tom Bergeron said head judge Len Goodman remarked Leonard was the "heart of the season."
U.S. & World
The day's top national and international news.
Still, the athlete had landed second to last on the leaderboard for his Viennese waltz on Monday.
"That's life," Leonard said after learning his fate. "I will cherish this moment."
Earlier, it seemed reality star Kendra Wikinson might be the one sent packing. The former "Girl Next Door" had the worst score of the pack and had been chided by her dance partner for telling the judges, "I just don't care" after listening to Carrie Ann Inaba's critique.
"I'm so embarrassed," Wilkinson was showing saying afterward. "I just want to go hide."
Emmy-winner Kirstie Alley was also shown in backstage footage from Monday night wrestling with her performance.
"You can't do this two weeks in a row," she said of losing a shoe during her routine, just one week after taking a tumble on the ballroom. "I'm psyching myself out."
"Dancing" producers also introduced an element of drama by keeping this week's leaderboard leader, Chelsea King, in jeopardy until the final moments.
The Disney star will join NFL-er Hines Ward, wrestler Chris Jericho, actor Ralph Macchio, model Petra Nemcova and musician Romeo back on the ballroom next week.