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text:
What Is Facebook EdgeRank and Why Does It Matter?
The average Facebook user spends more than a quarter of his or her time on the site scrolling through the News Feed. For users, that means a lot of baby pictures and stale memes. For brands, it represents an opportunity.
See, Facebook brand pages don't attract consumers — far from it. Virtually every fan of a brand, such as Coke, will never return to its page after an initial Like (if they even visited at all). So where's the best place to reach that consumer?
You guessed it: News Feed. Brands are finally embracing social marketing in effective ways, but there's still a lot to learn about the strategies of the medium and the algorithms that keep it running.
That's where EdgeRank comes in. Whether you're a brand or an average user, it's helpful to understand what shows up in your News Feed and why.
Check out the infographic below, courtesy of Post Rocket, to educate yourself on EdgeRank.
Are you happy with what you see in your News Feed? Let us know in the comments.
Image via Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

subset: commoncrawl


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Details for Elizabeth City State University
Elizabeth City State University, an HBCU, was founded in 1891 to teach African-Americans to become teachers in North Carolina. Today, it is a constituent university of the UNC system.
Read more about Elizabeth City State University in articles from the Pope Center for Higher Education Policy.
|Public or Private: Public
|Average High School GPA: 3.00
|Average SAT Score (Out of 2400): 1150-1370
|ACT Score: 16-18
|6-Year Graduation Rate: 44%
|Acceptance Rate: 53%
|Student-Faculty Ratio: 15:1
|Undergraduate Enrollment: 2836
|HBCU: Yes
|Women's College: No
|Religious Affiliation: None
|Location: Rural
|Website: http://www.ecsu.edu/
|Academic Quality
|General Education Rating: B
|Shakespeare: Yes
|Academic Transparency: Somewhat Transparent
|Financial Matters
|In State Tuition: $4,427.63
|Out of State Tuition: $15,284.56
|Average Starting Salary of Graduates: N/A
|Average Student Debt of Graduates: $3,846.00
|Good Economic Value?: N/A
|Percentage of Funding Provided by Taxpayers: 68.00%
|Percentage of Alumni who Give: 14.00%
|FIRE's Free Speech Rating: Yellow
|Alternative Newspaper: No
|Student Political Involvement: Non-Political
|Faculty Political Balance: Very Unbalanced: Democratic
|Board of Trustees Political Balance: Very Unbalanced: Democratic
|Pope Center for Higher Education Policy Articles
These articles mention ECSU or the UNC system:
Partial Remedy: Even after a decade of decline in remedial education at UNC, problems remain. (March 31, 2013)
How Did Your School Do?: U.S. News and Forbes disagree about North Carolina's colleges, and we have another recommendation (September 29, 2011)
Out of School and Into the Red: Debt-to-salary ratios reveal which North Carolina schools give students a good payback. (September 2, 2011)
A New Era for the Board of Governors?: Fiscal realities, new members, and a national re-examination of the college experience suggest that change may occur. (August 14, 2011)
This Won't Hurt A Bit: The North Carolina state government is rapidly taking over health care in the state through its university system. (July 26, 2011)
The Money Pit: Despite the economy, the University of North Carolina still has plenty of building projects going forth. (July 17, 2011)
The Little Budget That Could (Avoid New Taxes): North Carolina's probable new higher education budget is a mixed bag with lots of questions yet to be answered. (June 12, 2011)
An Enrollment Cap at UNC?: Limiting the number of students at UNC would reduce costs and improve academic quality. (June 5, 2011)
A Common-Sense Look at UNC Faculty Workloads (June 2, 2011)
Community Colleges Show the Way: The UNC system could learn how to cut costs from our state's community colleges. (May 2, 2011)
Braking a Runaway Train: A budget proposal by a North Carolina legislative committee reverses the UNC system's longterm explosive growth trend. (April 17, 2011)
Hardly an Academic Sweatshop: A common-sense look at UNC faculty workloads indicates that professors teach less than the system claims. (April 10, 2011)
The Winners Are...Democrats!: The Pope Center's College Finder project reveals that the faculty at North Carolina colleges are mostly Democrats. (April 8, 2011)
Rainy Day Education Funding: North Carolina's new legislative majority may clean up some shaky financial practices in its higher education systems. (March 27, 2011)
How Does Your University Measure Up?: The Pope Center and ACTA examine the state of general education at colleges and universities in North Carolina. (February 24, 2011)
Starving the Academic Beast: Huge state deficits and a changing of the political guard mean that public university systems must downsize. (February 22, 2011)
Evangelists for Diversity: Offices of diversity are one thing the UNC system can do without. (February 16, 2011)
Should UNC Tuition Go Up?: Here's your chance to weigh in. (February 20, 2011)
Remediation: Still a Mystery: A Pope Center review of remedial education in the UNC system reveals that no one knows if it is helping the students who take it. (January 10,2011)
The Truth about Campus Crime: In spite of the headlines, campuses are generally safe; watch out for the neighborhood, though. (December 6, 2010)
How Much "Student" in Student-Athlete?: Academic progress rates suggest that many athletes are still falling behind and unlikely to graduate. (November 19, 2010)
The Potemkin Enrollment Policy: Like the infamous Russian village, UNC's newly proposed enrollment policy is all facade and no substance. (November 7, 2010)
Growing Pains: The difficult economy means that the UNC system's aggressive growth policy is likely to come to an abrupt halt. (October 10, 2010)
North Carolina's For-Profit Challenge: UNC's role in licensing nonpublic colleges (especially for-profits) may pose a conflict of interest. (September 12, 2010)
A Rule Made to Be Broken: Barely a month after the UNC system ignored its own self-imposed tuition cap, it is proposing another one. (September 5, 2010)
In With the In-Crowd: Bowles' replacement as president of the UNC system shares his insider status (August 27, 2010)
UNC's Middle Class Squeeze: UNC officials and the state legislature decide to empty the pockets of students who pay their own way instead of cutting waste. (July 25, 2010)
UNC's 2010 Budget: It's All Greek to Me: North Carolina's legislators ignored the hard lessons forced on Greece due to fiscal irresponsibility in the 2010-11 higher education budget. (July 11, 2010)
Open Checkbook for Unchecked Growth: An attempt to limit enrollment growth in North Carolina state universities was shot down by legislators. (July 2, 2010)
Reforming the Academic Core: The Board of Governors should select a president who will revitalize student learning at the University of North Carolina. (June 1, 2010)
North Carolina Bucks the Trend: While commencement speakers across the nation talked politics, North Carolina's choices were more restrained. (May 27, 2010)
The Three-Day Wonder: The North Carolina Senate rams through a $19 billion budget that shores up UNC finances with taxpayer funds. (May 21, 2010)
"Will Work for State Appropriations": Governor Perdue's budget proposal kicks off the start of the serious higher education lobbying season in North Carolina. (April 25, 2010)
A Healthy University Needs Surgical Cuts: Legislative budget cuts can improve the UNC system by forcing sensible cuts to extravagant programs. (April 15, 2010)
Ed Schools, Leave Those Teachers Alone: A new study by the University of North Carolina could lead to major reform of education schools. (April 11, 2010)
Other People's Money: Government officials try to get creative with UNC tuition hikes instead of using proper fiscal restraint. (March 7, 2010)
Do North Carolina Students Have Free Speech? (February 7, 2010)
Requiem for a Heavyweight: A conservative writer offers his take on UNC president Erskine Bowles, perhaps North Carolina's best known Democrat. (February 16, 2010)
What Are Faculty Paid, and Why?:The Pope Center's effort to make the UNC system more transparent to the public reveals a lot but raises more questions. (February 5, 2010)
Equalizing Outcomes Through Program Proliferation: The UNC system hopes to improve graduation rates by expanding expensive programs. (January 18, 2010)
In the Rearview Mirror: 2009: The Pope Center staff takes a look back at some of the big events and trends of the last year. (December 29, 2009)
How UNC Spends Its Money: We report on how much the university system spends on actual teaching as opposed to non-student expenditures. (December 17, 2009)
Apart No More? Part II: The transition by some of the nation's historically black colleges into the mainstream raises questions about their future roles and identities. (December 14, 2009)
Putting the Scholar Back in Scholarships: The University of North Carolina's scholarship program can be crafted to make the state's entire education system more competitive. (December 4, 2009)
The Treaty of Chapel Hill: Formalizing the collaboration between the military and the University of North Carolina system makes sense for the entire state (and possibly the whole nation). (November 15, 2009)
What's In Store: Erskine Bowles has laid out his intentions for the UNC system for the upcoming school year. (September 27, 2009)
Do North Carolina Students Have Freedom of Speech? (February 17, 2010)
No Detours on the Big Government Highway, Part II: Despite lots of rhetoric about cuts to the UNC budget, the university system's expansionary agenda keeps rolling along. (August 16, 2009)
No Detours on the Big Government Highway, Part I: Despite lots of rhetoric about cuts to the UNC budget, the university system's expansionary agenda keeps rolling along. (August 13, 2009)
A Common Sense Way to Save Education Dollars: Shifting students and resources from universities to community colleges is cost-effective and academically sensible. (July 5, 2009)
The Privileged Class: The commotion about the university job of a former North Carolina governor's wife reveals a larger pattern of undue influence throughout the UNC system. (May 26, 2009)
No Time to Subsidize Silliness: UNC's leadership should regard the budgetary process in lean times as a reason to cut waste. (April 12, 2009)
Behind Closed Doors: The N.C. Senate's secretive method for electing Board of Governors members screams for greater transparency—and maybe some new people in charge. (March 26, 2009)
Who Pays the Piper Calls the Tune: UNC's low-tuition policy has some unexpected downsides. (January 12, 2009)
Big Spending, Little Results: A new study suggests that North Carolina's big investment in higher education might not be paying off as expected. (June 29, 2008)
Global Waste: The North Carolina in the World program is an unproductive use of taxpayers' money, at best. (June 22, 2008)
Required to Graduate: Mandatory Volunteering: A North Carolina Senate bill will add a community service requirement for graduation for almost every college in the state. (June 7, 2008)
A Tale of Two State University Systems: One proposes central control and rapid expansion; the other, better education at lower costs. (May 27, 2008)
Big Changes Bring Big Questions for UNC: Two growing programs illustrate the university system's changing role in North Carolina. (May 16, 2008)
Chancellor Search Should Be Transparent: North Carolina state universities have the most secretive hiring practices for top university officials in the nation. (March 27, 2008)
Ignoring the Ideological Elephant in the Room: Sometimes the most important questions are the ones never asked. (February 15, 2008)
A Broader Role for the University on Its Way?: Why K-12 and UNC need each other. (February 1, 2008)
Something for Everyone Might Mean Less for All: The UNC Tomorrow Commision's final report lacks focus. (January 25, 2008)
Deconstructing America by Decree: Should North Carolina enroll illegal immigrants in colleges? (December 26, 2007)
Another Battle in the Student Fees War: Activity fees are often used for general expenses as if they were extra tuition. (December 5, 2007)
To Be or Not To Be: Shakespeare in the English Department (September 27, 2007)
Things We Could Do Without in the State Budget: Wasteful spending can be found in higher education package (July 31, 2007)
Summer Reading Selections: A list of summer reading offerings at campuses across the state (July 20, 2007)
UNC Tomorrow Commission: Making the University "Demand Driven": An interview with BOG member Peter Han (May 30, 2007)
The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly: A look at the recently-passed House budget (May 14, 2007)
Faculty Compensation in the University of North Carolina System: How UNC schools compare with their national peers (May 9, 2007)
Paying the Profs -- How Much is Enough?: UNC claims "brain drain," but does it exist? (May 8, 2007)
Legislature Should View "EARN" Scholarships with Caution: Easley wants to spend $150 million over two years on new program (February 23, 2007)
Glimmers of Good Ideas from "Emerging Issues" Conference: Few bright spots exist from higher education forum (February 15, 2007)
A Closer Look at the UNC Budget Request: System wants $299 million in new funding (November 30, 2006)
Textbook Prices Add Costs to Students: UNC looking at ways to reduce prices (September 14, 2006)
Two Studies Agree -- UNC Governance Should Be Changed: New report backs up earlier findings made by ACTA, Pope Center (August 31, 2006)
Bowles Makes Cuts to Streamline Administration: Move would eliminate 12.5 positions (August 10, 2006)
From the Home Office in Chapel Hill, the Top 15 Pork Barrel Higher Education Projects: NCWC Study among the biggest pork projects in budget (July 6, 2006)
Does UNC Need to Expand?: Why UNC-Rocky Mount is a Bad Idea (May 25, 2006)
UNC Can Run More Efficiently: Comparison Shows State Could Spend Less (February 2, 2006)
UNC Should Pay Closer Attention to the First Amendment: Universities have policies that limit freedom of speech (January 12, 2006)
Budget Increases UNC Spending by 11 Percent: $2.08 billion budget approved (August 11, 2005)
Study Recommends Major Changes in UNC Governance: ACTA report recommends reduction in BOG members (June 10, 2005)
What UNC Needs in a President: System starting the process of replacing Broad (May 20, 2005)
How Much Does a State University Have to Cost?: Schools could save costs, find more private sources (May 13, 2005)
Show Us the Money: UNC officials seek more funds (March 4, 2005)
Easley Lays Out Higher Education Budget: Proposes $16.9 billion total budget (February 25, 2005)
UNC releases "focus growth" report: Six of seven schools have reached 20 percent growth mandate (February 3, 2005)
UNC Tuition -- Too Sweet a Deal for Nonresidents: Nonresidents pay less at UNC than at other institutions (December 16, 2004)
What Do Students Have to Learn to Graduate?: Students can graduate without learning anything (September 23, 2004)
Study: UNC's general-education core is weak: NAS reviews 11 institution's core requirements (September 22, 2004)
University Projects Included in Proposal: Leaders reach compromise on bond plan (July 16, 2004)
General Assembly Considers Bills Affecting UNC System: Bond package, cap bill highlight session (June 25, 2004)
2004 Short Session Features a Slate of Higher Education Bills: Several bills focused on appropriation items (June 4, 2004)
Legislators Ponder $64 Million Increase in UNC: UNC to get big increase despite being "cut to the bone" (May 9, 2004)
UNC's five-step process to carp about budget 'cuts': For the UNC system a struggling economy means budget cuts. (March 17, 2004)
Inquiry #16: General Education Requirements at NC Public Universities: What Do Students Get in the Core Curriculum? (September 15, 2003)
UNC schools promise strong general education, but do they deliver?: Parents should take a look at college curriculum (August 27, 2003)
Policymakers mull proposals that would cut NC citizens' access to UNC: Plans would make it more difficult for illegals to enter UNC institutions (July 12, 2003)
UNC's Federal 'Overhead' Left Untouched -- For Now: Lobbyists claim money is vital to system (May 23, 2003)
Study Finds Tuition Low, Higher-Education Appropriations High in N.C.: Numbers should alleviate concern over budget (November 1, 2002)
State budget crisis brings UNC 'overhead receipts' under scrutiny: Legislature concerned about duplicating funds (August 9, 2002)
UNC board votes to increase student group's budget by 6,600 percent: BOG's first systemwide increase ever (March 8, 2002)
Student fee increases are being overlooked in tuition discussions: UNC Association of Student Governments seeks fee increase (February 22, 2002)
Tuition and fees grow faster at UNC schools, remain among lowest nationally: Tuition at UNC schools still lower than the U.S. averages (December 14, 2001)
UNC students protest proposed budget cuts (June 1, 2001)
UNC Benefactor Sues To End Race/Sex Quotas: Walter R. Davis claims UNC Board of Governors uses an illegal quota system (May 22, 2001)
UNC Students Protest Budget Cut: 2000 students participate in march (May 4, 2001)
Inquiry #5: A New Model for the Financing of Higher Education in North Carolina (March 1, 2001)
New Report on Higher Ed Unduly Praises, Criticizes UNC (January 15, 2001)
UNC Leaders, Legislators Discuss Faculty Salary Increases: Say campuses would suffer loss of top faculty if pay is not approved (September 1, 2000)
Flexibility May Hamstring UNC Capital Needs: Legislation may divert funds from capital requests (August 18, 2000)
"Tax Increases from UNC Bonds a Virtual Certainty," According to New Report: Proponents have downplayed possibility of tax increases (July 22, 2000)
Widespread Opposition to Broad's Plan, Little Talk of Spending Priorities: Traditional supporters raise questions (January 20, 2000)
The 'unthinkable' and Molly Broad: Spending and Floyd (January 13, 2000)
Study Rates N.C. Public Universities Second-Least Rigorous in Country: S.C. only state with a poorer ranking (September 23, 1999)
Will Spending on University Campuses Cause Prosperity?: Bond supporters pull out all the stops (July 8, 1999)
The Real Cost of University Bonds: Burden for Higher Education Falls on Taxpayers, not Students (July 1, 1999)
Study Urges UNC to Slow Down on Bond: Can't the necessary capital dollars come from existing growth in funding? (June 24, 1999)
Supreme Court case has implications for N.C. universities: Court agrees to hear cases on distribution of student fees (April 2, 1999)


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Switch on Strings in C++
How many times have you written code like this:
if (!strcmp(pszValue, "Value X")) DoThis(); else if (!strcmp(pszValue, "Value Y")) DoThat(); else if (!strcmp(pszValue, "Value Z")) DoSomethingElse(); else DontKnowWhatToDo();
Too many! And those of you who had the chance to take a look at C# might think 'Why can't I code something similar in C++ like this:
switch(strValue) { case "Value X": DoThis(); break; case "Value Y": DoThat(); break; case "Value Z"; DoSomethingElse(); break; default: DontKnowWhatToDo(); break; }
(This code is legal C#. You can switch on strings in C#.)
In this article I will show you a way to implement a switch on strings using pure standard C++.
The Bad News
I can't give you a solution to do exactly what you can do in C#.
The Good News
The Standard Template Library (STL), part of the ANSI/ISO C++ Standard, offers everything needed to get really close to the C# sample. The solution is very simple. You need an enumeration and a std::map, and that's it. The enumeration defines the numeric values use in the switch statement. The std::map contains the link between the valid string values you want to compare some runtime data against, and the numeric enum values you can make a switch on. The string is the key of the map, the enumerator the value.
Here We Go
After thinking about the problem a little bit, there is only one place where to put the enum definition and the std::map definition: The .cpp file. Both, the enum and the std::map, should be declared as static to make them visible only to the code of this particular .cpp file, which helps to avoid global namespace pollution (for more on this see John Lakos, Large Scale C++ Software Design, Addison-Wesley). There is no need to declare them as members of any class since normally the connection between a string value and the action to be taken is very specific to the respective code.
And here comes a sample Switch On String implementation I will use for later discussion:
#include <map> #include <string> #include <iostream.h> // Value-Defintions of the different String values static enum StringValue { evNotDefined, evStringValue1, evStringValue2, evStringValue3, evEnd }; // Map to associate the strings with the enum values static std::map<std::string, StringValue> s_mapStringValues; // User input static char szInput[_MAX_PATH]; // Intialization static void Initialize(); int main(int argc, char* argv[]) { // Init the string map Initialize(); // Loop until the user stops the program while(1) { // Get the user's input cout << "Please enter a string (end to terminate): "; cout.flush(); cin.getline(szInput, _MAX_PATH); // Switch on the value switch(s_mapStringValues[szInput]) { case evStringValue1: cout << "Detected the first valid string." << endl; break; case evStringValue2: cout << "Detected the second valid string." << endl; break; case evStringValue3: cout << "Detected the third valid string." << endl; break; case evEnd: cout << "Detected program end command. " << "Programm will be stopped." << endl; return(0); default: cout << "'" << szInput << "' is an invalid string. s_mapStringValues now contains " << s_mapStringValues.size() << " entries." << endl; break; } } return 0; } void Initialize() { s_mapStringValues["First Value"] = evStringValue1; s_mapStringValues["Second Value"] = evStringValue2; s_mapStringValues["Third Value"] = evStringValue3; s_mapStringValues["end"] = evEnd; cout << "s_mapStringValues contains " << s_mapStringValues.size() << " entries." << endl; }
In looking at the enum definition, you see that the first
value is evNotDefined (ev means 'enum value'). Why this?
std::map::operator[] can be used for two things: To set a value of a
key (as you can see in Initialize()) and to retrieve the value
associated with it (look at the switch statement in the main()
function). The most important sentence of its description is: 'If this
element (key the value [author]) does not exist, it is inserted.'. In
relation to our sample above this means, any time we go thru the switch
and the value of szInput is new to s_mapStringValues, it is
inserted (this is why I added the print out of the map's size) and the value of
the new element is set to the initial value of an integral type, which is 0 by
default. And as long as there is no special value assigned to the first
enumerator of an enumeration, its value is zero too (please refer to the C++
Standard for more on this). That means, if you start the enumeration with a valid
value (here: evStringValue1), any unknown (and so unexpected) string
value would lead to a valid case of the switch, but to an
invalid program behaviour. That's why evNotDefined is the first
In case you have to use a given enumeration where an enumerator with value zero is defined, you should call std::map::find() before the switch statement to check if the string value is valid.
The rest of the sample is quite simple. The switch is not made on the string itself but on the numeric value associated to it by the std::map. So there's not really magic in there.
When to InitializeIn this sample, the answer is easy: When the program starts. But unfortunately real life applications aren't as simple as all these samples. So when to initialize in real life?
There are two scenarios we have to cover: The switch is part of a non-static member function, and the switch is part of a static method or global function.
If it is part of a non-static member function, the class' constructor should do initialization, as long as you do not have to care about the runtime behaviour of the ctor. (See comment on 'lazy' init below.) To avoid useless multiple initialization, one should check the size of the map before setting the value. If it is zero, no initialization has been made before, otherwise there is no more need for it.
In case of a static method or global function, you would prefer something similar to C#'s static constructor. But there is nothing like this in C++ (as far as I know). So you do have two choices: 'Lazy' or 'As-soon-as-possible' initialization.
- 'Lazy' initialization means just before the map is used, a check is done to see if it is filled correctly (again, check its size), and, if not, you will do so.
- 'As-soon-as-possible' init needs an additional Init method the (class) user has to call in order make sure the switch will work correctly.
Both solutions have their pros and cons. The 'lazy' way leads to additional code before every switch that is using the map and so has an impact on the runtime behaviour. (You can't tell exactly how long the call will take since you do not know whether the string map will be initialized or not.) But the user can't forget to initialize the map. The 'As-soon-as-possible' implies the risk the user has forgotten to call the Init method (but this will be noticed very soon as long as you do some testing on you app), but saves some code when using the map and guaranties runtime behaviour. So it's up to you which way to go. I do prefer the latter one.
Case In-Sensitive
As long as you do not have to use special characters like umlaute (d, |, ...) or whatever, you just have to fill the map with upper- or lower-case-only strings and use _strupr or _strlwr in the switch statement.
A solution for special characters might be a good exercise for the ambitioned reader.
I think this solution is a good sample to show the power of the STL. Hopefully it was able to convince you of the simplicity and elegance of switch statements on string values. Use the STL as much as you can.
I hope you do believe me when I say that I worked this out without knowing about the discussions on this topic at comp.lang.c++.moderated or any other discussion group. I have to confess that I did not read thru this discussions since I'm really happy with the solution demonstrated, which has proven its usability in real life. But I do not want to give the impression that I was the first and only one who had the idea of using a map to implement switch on strings in C++.
About the Author
Stefan is Principal Developer at NEW LINE Software Development GmbH in Germany, focused on the development of Windows DNA and Microsoft .NET Web applications. He has published several articles about OS/2 programming and the implementation of the Singleton Design Pattern at EDM/2, and has written the doc and ppt of the chapter 'DNA to .NET Design Path' of the Microsoft .NET Readiness Kit.


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Tough Tech: 10 Rugged Gadgets That Will Go the Distance
If you're looking for gadgetry that can withstand the rigors of the outdoors or just the chaos of everyday life, there are some great options out there, from waterproof cameras to fireproof data protection.
Our selection of gadgets will take whatever you can throw at it (or in some cases throw it at) and keep on going, ideal for anyone who lives life to the fullest and expects their kit to keep up with them.
Have a look through our tough top 10 below and let us know in the comments which of these rugged, tough-tested gadgets you'd pack in your bag.
1. Olympus Stylus Tough-8010
Waterproof down to 33 feet, shockproof to drops of up to 6.6 feet, freezeproof to -10 degrees Celsius and crushproof up to 220 pounds of pressure, the Stylus Tough-8010 is built to endure. Along with all that durability you get a 14-megapixel, 5x zoom, 2.7-inch LCD display camera with the ability to capture all your adventures in 720p HD video.
Cost: $379.99
2. Motorola Defy
Most tough handsets offer very basic functionality, but not the Defy from Motorola, which is loaded with Android 2.1 and a full feature set. There's a 5-megapixel camera with video capture, media playback, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS. The fact that it's water resistant and dust proof is a bonus for anyone who doesn't want to have to wrap their phone up in cotton wool.
Cost: Varies
3. Kodak Playsport Zx3
These teeny handheld camcorders can record 1080p video footage in up to 10 feet of water. Other outdoorsy features include an LCD Glare Shield to improve viewing the display in bright conditions and built-in electronic image stabilization to help cut out blur. Oh, and it knows how to survive a hit or a drop.
Cost: $149.95
4. LaCie XtremKey
This USB flash drive is "10-ton truck" resistant — as tested by a real truck driving over the key. If you want data storage that's as hard as nails, this is a great option. The XtremKey's "zamac" outer will help protect from up to 100 meters of water, 5-meter drops and temperature extremes.
Cost: From $49.99 to $249.99
5. Sony Heavy Duty CD Radio
Built for workshops and job sites, Sony's heavy duty radio can take some punishment and keep pumping out the tunes. The radio is water and dust resistance thanks to rubber gaskets, bushings and waterproof seals. Other tough stuff includes a safe guard bar and protective speaker grills.
Cost: $129.95
6. Garmin Dakota 20
Anyone who likes to hit the trail on the weekend will know the importance of having a durable kit. The entry-level Dakota range from Garmin offers satellite navigation, a barometric altimeter and a 3-axis electronic compass in a durable shell designed to survive all that the elements can throw at it.
Cost: $349.99
7. BlueAnt T1 Rugged Bluetooth Headset
The beauty of a rugged headset is that it means you can keep your more delicate phone tucked away safely in your pocket. The T1 is highly durable — able to cope with knocks, drops, dust and moisture. BlueAnt's "Wind Armour Technology" also boasts clear audio in winds of up to 35 kph, so you should be sure of being heard, even if it's blowing a gale.
Cost: $79.99
8. ioSafe Solo
Described as a "virtual fortress for your data," the ioSafe Solo is built to survive both fire and flood. Even if the worst happens to your home or office, your vital information and digital content will be saved. In addition, it can be bolted down to protect against theft.
Cost: From $149
9. Getac 9213
Designed to "survive all types of travel-related mishandlings," the 9213 is not as toughed up as some fully rugged laptops, but it can take a few knocks and keep on going. It's drop-safe to 45 cm, and the keyboard is water resistant too so its ideal for any clumsy computer users who need to accident-proof their portable PC.
Cost: Varies
10. Casio G-Shock Watches
There are tons of tough tech in Casio's ever-popular G-Shock timepiece. The watches are waterproof, shockproof and can withstand icy temperatures. With a wide range of designs and colors, for men and women, if you're a bit of an action hero in your spare time, you can't go wrong with one of these strapped to your wrist.
Cost: Varies
More Gadget Resources from Mashable:
- 6 Great Gloves for Touchscreen Gadget Lovers - 10 Crazy Gadgets for Cats and Dogs - 5 Stylish Computer Mice for the Design Aficionado - Especially For You: 8 Great Gadgets You Can Personalize - 10 Useful Gadgets for Connected Teens


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Soothe the savage East.
Ask a hardcore gamer who they think was responsible for Mario, The Sims, or Civilization, and they'll probably lob back a volley of Miyamoto, Wright, and Meier. These men are considered gaming gods, development geniuses who have changed the face of the industry by virtue of their art and vision.
But ask any of them who deserves the credit, and they'll quickly point to their teams, the throngs of unknown programmers, artists and producers who make their machines go. In their world, it's the team that matters. And when it comes to a great team, you'd have to be a Red Sox fan to bet against Bioware.
Led by Drs. Ray and Greg, the Bioware gang has managed to enthrall critics and consumers alike by repeatedly blowing the lid off the RPG pot with revolutionary game after revolutionary game. Their recent track record is a who's who of role-playing marvels, from the riveting Baldur's Gate series to the compelling Neverwinter Nights line to their most recent slam dunk, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. Everyone knows these games, and slowly but surely, everyone is getting to know Bioware.
But it's not in our interest to wax rhapsodic about their past accomplishments when we are staring their latest dead in its third eye. Jade Empire is here, and it's about time we dealt with it.
Unsurprisingly, it's been my pleasure. Their latest is another good one, a gorgeous, unique RPG replete with interesting gameplay in a vivid, imaginative world. Some notable, fundamental flaws keep it from ascending to the throne of gaming immortality, but consider Bioware's excellent track record still intact.
The ancient world of Jade Empire is in a state of upheaval. The land has recently recovered from a twenty-year drought, but strange events have led to widespread fear and anxiety among the populace. Ghosts have risen from their graves, restlessly wandering the countryside. Meanwhile, the beloved emperor has been consulting with an enigmatic figure named Death's Hand.
Much of this is lost on you, however. As the star student of Master Li, you long for nothing more than further training and a quiet existence. Of course, that would make for a crappy game, and soon enough you set off to discover your role in this mess, perhaps even saving or destroying a universe or two along the way. The story features some great twists and turns, a rollercoaster of a plot.
Borrowing bits and pieces from various Eastern mythologies but subscribing to none, the entire project bubbles with imagination. It's a world in which the celestial order is overseen by dragons and demons, government is dictated by ancestral birthright and magic mixes freely with technology. Just to give you an idea of how much Bioware has cared for their baby, they even invented a new language, dubbed Tho-Fan, spoken by some of the older residents. It's a fully-realized, completely new mythological backdrop, a rarity in this age of sequels and licensed material and a breath of fresh air in the oft-stale RPG scene.
Perhaps due to the game's emphasis on story, you don't see much in the way of character creation. You choose from one of six pre-built skins that fall into one of three basic archetypes, although there is no strict class system; you can pretty much play any character any way you'd like. This departure from the classic role-playing game tenet of character creation is a bummer, though it's just the first sign that Jade Empire strays from the depth of past Bioware efforts.
However, it sticks pretty close to its guns with a fairly open story that unfolds via tons and tons of classic dialogue trees. These do a marvelous job fleshing out the world; you can talk to so many characters over the course of the game, it's almost silly. I'd hate to be the script supervisor because this is a BIG one.
All the same, that very size comes at the cost of pacing. The first several hours of the game sort of crawl by as you learn the ropes and absorb as much story as you can take. This winds up being the case for much of the game, as lengthy bits of dialogue occupy a good portion of your time. Ultimately, though, the exorbitant dialogue works by helping push along the game's morality system.
Your responses affect your moral standing as you follow either the Way of the Open Palm or the Way of the Closed Fist, Jade Empire's version of KOTOR's Force. While both are roughly equivalent in terms of power, the shiny path works a bit better with the framework of the overall plot and the darker path is clearly more enticing. Some of the responses for the Closed Fist player are hilarious, ripped right out of classic kung-fu films. "Your impudence is laughable! Now I shall break your head in half!" Cool.
Sticking with one path has benefits in the form of exclusive side-quests, styles and gems, although you never get nailed down to one or the other. At first it's fairly transparent which dialogue choices lead to which outcomes, but as you progress you'll have to make tougher calls. Such choices give the game an open-ended feel despite the fact that the main plot is actually quite linear.
When you're not wading through dialogue, you're probably fighting. Equal parts innovation and devolution, Jade Empire's combat system represents its greatest departure from the rest of the Bioware flock.
Upon entering combat, an invisible ring-shaped barrier goes up around you and your foes, so there's no running away " it's either win or reload. Mostly a twitch affair, Jade Empire has you scurrying about these small, impromptu arenas, locking-on to enemies and whacking away at them using any of about thirty styles you can learn over the course of the game. There are five overarching types, including basic weapons and magic styles, impressive demonic transformations, and the more commonly-used martial and support styles. You can neatly hotkey four of them using the D-Pad or press Back to pause the action and switch without fear of getting cheaply swatted.
All styles have three moves: a basic attack, a power attack, and an area attack. The first is done by mashing A, the second is required to break an enemy block, and the third clears some space. You also have to manage three stat lines: health, magic (chi) and focus. The latter is slowly drained when using weapons, but its main use is to activate a ubiquitous but effective slow-down bullet-time effect.
The game also includes Harmonic Combos, which boil down to using a power attack with a support or magic style followed by a power attack with a martial style. These result in some brutal one-hit kills, like turning a guy into a statue and shattering him into a million pieces. It packs a great punch the first few times, but soon enough you'll just wipe out legions of common bad guys by simply one-hit killing them all. Everybody must get stoned!
You also can evade like the dickens by rolling and flipping about, which is handy despite the fact that enemies, from the first level dummies to the later level bosses, exhibit little in the way of interesting A.I. " the way you kill the first few guys is pretty much the same way you'll kill the last few. The bosses look imposing, but often fight with little more thought than the grunts.
Still, bouncing between styles at the flick of a button leads to tons of very cinematic fighting sequences. You'll use Paralyzing Palm to freeze two guys, then flip over another attacker, switch to Legendary Strike for a few kicks, then backflip out of there in order to hurl some rocks using Stone Immortal. If things get hairy, you might just transform into, say, a Jade Golem and regulate like a god. You have to give Bioware tremendous credit for the imaginative design of the styles and the ease with which you can use them.
Unfortunately, that very ease is merely the silver lining to the combat system's lack of depth. Since they all use the same three moves, the styles don't feel distinct. It doesn't matter if you hurl iceballs or fireballs at a bad guy " they do the same thing. Leveling up lets you upgrade styles using a few basic parameters, but so long as you have one moderately upgraded style in each of the five domains, you'll be able to handle anything.
Though you'll find new styles as late as twenty hours into the game, you'll hardly care since the ones you learned at the beginning still kick plenty of ass, and the new ones play identically. Plus, an upgraded attack looks the same as a basic one, so you won't get the kinetic kick of lobbing ever-larger fireballs at bad guys. The real-time combat system is a fine idea, but the game doesn't give you enough reason to explore the styles. You'll have to self-motivate on that one.
Jade Empire tries to compensate for this by giving you a collection of followers. You can only have one with you at any time and they offer support by either attacking enemies or providing some boost while meditating in the corner. Which tactic they take is up to you, but that's all the control you have over them. This is another decent idea that feels more like an extraneous band-aid slapped on the somewhat shallow fighting due to its utter simplicity.
This streamlined approach extends to the stats and inventory. You can add points to boost your health, chi and focus after leveling and can learn one-time "techniques" that permanently tweak these scores. There are no items, however, just gems that can be equipped to further boost your stats. It's a little weird not having any inventory at all, especially when you realize eighteen hours in that your guy looks exactly as he did when you first started since you can't even change his shirt, or pants, or anything. The only things to even spend money on are gems, styles and techniques, and often you don't need any of them. If you want a new floppy hat, you'll have to buy it in the real world.
Some will argue that Jade Empire has effectively simplified the occasionally cumbersome task of micromanaging an inventory, and there's merit to that line of thought. Jade Empire's system – or lack thereof – is user-friendly and enables the game to focus more on getting you back into the action. But considering the action itself isn't so thrilling, more management would have added greatly to the strategy and longevity.
No one, though, can argue with the game's stellar vision. Bathed in a soft glow, the myriad environments are bright, inventive and filled with color. While you can't interact with them at all, the set pieces are dramatic and epic. The combat animations are fluid and realistic, lending visceral punch to the fights. And though the character models aren't the most complicated, the costumes are summarily gorgeous. Jade Empire serves as a reminder that with a little time and energy, it's still possible to create beautiful new worlds without ripping off Tolkien.
But while the game is an artistic giant, it suffers from a few technical issues. In addition to some forgivable framerate dips and unpolished areas, Jade Empire is saddled with frequent load breaks, which become a nuisance when you start running side-quest errands. None of the maps are very large and the game doesn't stream data, so you'll have to sit through load screens just to get from one end of town to the other. It's a bit jarring, especially considering a game like Morrowind can stream an entire world without load times.
Where it trips technically, it soars audibly. Like KOTOR, every single character you can interact with in the game is voiced. It's awesome. The quality of the voice-acting is generally good, with a few cheeseballs thrown in alongside some genuinely great talent, including a few well-known character actors and even a cameo by a Monty Pythoner. Between the voices and the rousing score, Jade Empire is a testament to great sound production.
On top of everything else, the game serves up three endings predicated on your path and end-game choices. Couple that with some styles, gems and side-quests exclusive to each path and you get an experience worth playing through at least twice, despite its overall linearity. You can also play a mini-game modeled after the old shooter 1942, although it's really just a diversion during the main story and won't keep you occupied for long.
Jade Empire will, however. Despite its generally underwhelming fighting system and lack of depth, this is a solid, satisfying action epic that Xbox owners shouldn't hesitate to try. It's great to see a developer fully embrace their craft by building such a thorough world and adventure from scratch. I hope others will take the cue and get jaded themselves.


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French in a Flash (Super Bowl): Hotdog Vol-au-Vent Recipe
Are pigs in a blanket French? Not really. And are these really vol-au-vents? Not exactly. But since the Super Bowl isn't French either, I thought we could take a few liberties.
These are really mini versions of something called Saucisson en Croûte, or sausage in a pastry crust—very similar to the UK's sausage roll. For this version, I slice up all-American hot dogs (a personal favorite) and roll them up, along with a homemade sweet onion Dijon mustard, inside a blanket of puff pastry. Sprinkle with poppy seeds, bake, and you have a flavorful and delicious, but unpretentious, little combination of French and American standbys. While you could go out and buy a bunch of frozen pigs, I like that slightly glam touch of making your own—they look homemade and cozy. I can also choose all-beef or organic hot dogs that get so crisp around their cut edges—a definite step up from the little cocktail sausages in the frozen variety. And that sweet onion mustard is so spicy, soft, and, of course, sweet that everyone will know you made them.
I could eat these everyday. To me, a party isn't a party without pigs in a blanket.
- Yield:makes 12
- Active time: 15 minutes
- Total time:40 minutes
- 1 sheet (1/2 box) frozen puff pastry, thawed but cold
- 1 tablespoon canola oil
- 1 1/2 yellow onions, finely sliced on a mandoline
- 3/8 teaspoon granulated sugar
- Kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 4 hot dogs, cut into thirds
- 1 egg, beaten with a splash of water
- Poppy seeds (optional)
- Fleur de sel
Thaw the puff pastry in the refrigerator overnight. Preheat the oven to 400°F. Heat the canola oil in a wide sauté pan over medium heat, and add the onions, sugar, and salt. Sauté, stirring often, until the onions are golden and soft, 7 to 8 minutes. While they are cooking, add 1 tablespoon of water whenever the bottom of the pot gets brown. Drain the onions of extra oil or liquid in a paper towel. Stir the dry onions with the mustard in a small bowl.
Cut the puff pastry in 1 1/2-inch strips. Then cut each strip in half the short way. Spread some of the onion-mustard mixture on each strip, and roll each strip around 1 piece of hot dog. Place seam-side-down on a rimmed baking sheet, leaving space for the pastry to puff. Repeat with the remaining pastry, onion mixture, and hot dogs.
Use a pastry brush to lightly brush each pig in a blanket with eggwash. Top with poppy seeds and a touch of fleur de sel. Bake until puffed, golden, and crisp: 22 to 25 minutes. Serve right out of the oven. You could easily make as many multiples of this recipe as your want. I would budget 3 per person.
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Here's what doesn't worry John Grisham about the release of his 18th book: Whether it will instantly go to number one on the New York Times bestseller list.
"I wouldn't be upset," says the Charlottesville-based author who's sold more books than just about anyone. "We'd scratch our heads."
That's because after 15 consecutive years of releasing at least one new book a year, publishing a Grisham novel is practically a science. The January 11 release of The Broker, an international espionage thriller, is the earliest his annual tome has ever come out. March used to be the release month, but Doubleday wanted to try earlier. For one, no one else is publishing then.
"January used to be the slowest month," says Grisham. "That's changed with gift cards from Borders and Barnes & Noble."
One thing does worry Grisham a little about this year's release: He's appearing on Jon Stewart's Daily Show. "I'm a little nervous about that," he confesses on the eve of The Broker's release. "I've never done that before."
While other authors have to beg their publishers to even give them a book tour, Grisham has whittled it down to what suits his fancy and convenience– testimony to his weight as the best-selling author of all time– at least until that upstart Harry Potter appeared on the scene.
"I hesitate to even call it a book tour," says Grisham. He goes to six bookstores, and they're the same ones every year: New Dominion here and five in Mississippi.
The latter "are the ones who helped me out over the years," he says. "I go back and the same people come and we have a party."
Once upon a time Grisham would sign books for 15 hours. "Four thousand was not unusual," he says. One bookstore brought in a massage therapist, and another had a chiropractor come in to give him an adjustment.
Those days of writer's cramp are long gone. Alone and in private, he can sign 600 books an hour. "When you have a line, it takes an hour to do 50 people" because of the personalizing.
Now if you want a book personalized, you have to special order it. "New Dominion is the only place you can get a personalized autograph," advises Grisham. He goes there throughout the year to sign books that have been ordered in advance.
Publicity for The Broker includes a few days in New York to do a handful of media interviews. "I just got canceled by CNN because they're all in Thailand," he says without dismay.
Interviews he doesn't do? Jay Leno has been trying to get him on the show for 12 years, but there's one big problem: "He's on the other coast and I don't want to go out there," he explains. "And I don't want to do Letterman," he adds without elaboration.
Grisham isn't averse to all travel, however. The Broker is set in Italy, a country he's very fond of, and he did what he loosely refers to as his "research" in Bologna with a friend who knows all the best chefs in the city.
And he came back from Bologna with more than a setting for his novel. Writes Grisham about the book, "In the course of our tedious work, I put on about 10 pounds."
Robert DeNiro and Renee Zellweger would understand.
Age: Three weeks away from 50
Why here? Because we didn't know anyone. Then we fell in love with Central Virginia.
Worst about living here? Eastern Standard Time
Favorite hangout? Cove Creek Park
Most overrated virtue? Can't think of one.
People would be surprised to know: I live a normal life.
What would you change about yourself? I'd find the energy to clean my garage once a month.
Proudest accomplishment? Hanging on to Number Two behind Harry Potter.
People find most annoying about you: My lousy Virginia accent. I say "house" instead of "hoose" and "about" instead of "aboot."
Whom do you admire? Dead– William Faulkner. Alive– William Styron.
Favorite book? The Grapes of Wrath
Subject that causes you to rant? Sprawl, slash and burn development, loss of open spaces.
Biggest 21st-century thrill? Both kids doing well in college.
Biggest 21st-century creep out? Cardinals losing four straight to the Red Sox. (At least it wasn't the Yankees.)
What do you drive? Chevy Trail Blazer
In your car CD player right now: Van Morrison's Greatest Hits
Next journey? A quick book tour, then Costa Rica
Most trouble you've ever gotten in? It's one of those old college stories I'd rather my kids never hear about.
Regret: Another old college story.
Favorite comfort food: Nothing in particular– all food is comforting. Everything!
Always in your refrigerator: At least 10 different cheeses.
Must-see TV: ESPN Sports Center
Favorite cartoon: The Far Side
Describe a perfect day. Sleep until 7, write two pages before 10, a long run, a long nap, no phone calls, never leave the farm.
Walter Mitty fantasy: Playing centerfield for the St. Louis Cardinals. Or right field. Or left.
Who'd play you in the movie? Hugh Wilson
Most embarrassing moment? It's a long story that involves the passing of gas in a crowded church service. Not by me (I swear) but I nonetheless got blamed for it.
Best advice you ever got? Write at least one page every day– no exceptions.
Favorite bumper sticker? I hear voices (and they don't like you)


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Become a News Bulletin subscriber for just $25 a year. You may choose to receive the newsletter via email or in printed form, and the cost will be prorated based on when you subscribe.
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Note: PSATS sends one free copy of this monthly newsletter to each township secretary.
For more information, contact PSATS at (717) 763-0930 or download the subscription form.


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Pink Flower Garden Tin
Filled with an assortment of Hand-Made Chocolates.
100 grams of a selection of Truffles, Pralines, Ganaches and Creams.
Sold OutWe are working on getting our gifts to you during these current times. Please call 9331 5468 to discuss any orders for delivery. Collection from the store available during our open hours.
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March 26, 2013
Dear Readers,
Hey all, it's been about a year since we've made updates to BBQ. Here's the scoop:
- Shaina is doing Teach for China! This is super awesome.
- I got a job! Also awesome, but really only for me.
This mostly means that there will probably be no new updates to the comic, as you may already know.
I'm going to be making some website cleanups to sort of bring this site into a usable state for all those interested in what's already been accomplished. This will probably entail shuffling a lot of files around and rewriting in a way that will break pretty much every permalink.
If something stops working, please feel free to contact me.
March 19, 2012
Dear Readers,
Happy Reading! I'm on spring break, hurrah, hurrah!
Without Wax,
Webcomic created by
Shaina Lu
Website by Benson Khau.


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It was a grand opportunity for stargazing and buffet-grazing Tuesday night (Jan. 22) as key players from Nashville's music industry convened at Loews Vanderbilt Plaza Hotel to celebrate the town's current crop of Grammy nominees.
By now, the event has become ritualized: arriving nominees inch from one TV crew to another along the red carpet as their managers and publicists hover solicitously nearby. While this is going on, most of the partygoers head directly to an adjacent room where plentiful food and drink await them.
Four members from the 11-member band the Time Jumpers were among the earliest arrivals. That delegation included Vince Gill , fiddler Kenny Sears, vocalist Dawn Sears and guitarist Andy Reiss. Not far behind them came the bluegrass duo Dailey & Vincent .
Then the traffic heated up as Dierks Bentley , Ronnie Dunn , Janis Ian, gospel artist Toby Mac, Hunter Hayes , Carrie Underwood , Little Big Town and the Grascals ' Terry Eldredge and Jamie Johnson all took their turn before the cameras.
Several nominated songwriters also made appearances, including Eric Paslay ("Even if It Breaks Your Heart" ) and Josh Kear ("Blown Away" ).
Nashville boasts nominees in 23 different Grammy categories.
The food was as noteworthy as the musical talent: One table alone featured pimento cheese beef sliders, brie-and-fig grilled cheese, pickled fried chicken biscuits, smoked beef tenderloin with poached quail egg and kale slaw, duck "tater tots" with peach ketchup, smoked bacon deviled eggs with tarragon oil, white bean hummus on crusted corn bread and a variety of "Southern cured" meats.
Those with heartier appetites could sashay over to a grill and avail themselves of Jack Daniel's hanger steak with charred asparagus, sweet potato fries and raspberry jalapeno jam.
The dessert table groaned under the alluring weight of crème brulee, custard fruit pie, sweet potato mousse cake, strawberry shortcake, cheesecake, banana pudding, peanut butter and chocolate mousse pie, chess pie and chocolate bread pudding.
And there were two industrial-strength bars at which one could linger and gossip as the Birdsong jazz trio spun out such ageless melodies as "All the Things You Are" and "Take the A Train."
Self-congratulation never felt better.
The Grammy awards show will be broadcast Feb. 10 from the Staples Center in Los Angeles on CBS-TV.View photos from the Grammy nominees party.


text: Remember video games on discs? Forget 'em. These slides come from mega-publisher EA (Madden, The Sims, Battlefield, Need for Speed) and if you dig into them you'll see that EA is making a LOT of money off of what they call "digital". That's selling games for download, selling DLC, subscriptions, microtransactions. You name it. It appears to be the future. You can see the whole presentation here. It's a PDF.


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Wall Street was in for yet another round of lackluster trading sessions last week, as investor concerns over a pullback and looming Fed taper fears weighed heavily on U.S. equities. In economic news, initial jobless claims fell for the week, while the Federal Reserve Bank of New York's Empire State Manufacturing Survey showed a sharp improvement in labor conditions. Meanwhile bond markets across the globe saw yields skyrocket, pushing 10-year Treasury notes yields to levels not seen since 2011 [see also How To Take Profits And Cut Losses When Trading ETFs]:
1. China Large-Cap ETF (FXI, A)
Why FXI Will Be In Focus: This ETF measures the Chinese stock market with a large cap spin, making it one of the more popular emerging market funds. Its place in the spotlight will come on Wednesday as China's HSBC Flash Manufacturing PMI data is released. In the previous recording, manufacturing PMI came in at 7.7 versus the expected 48.6. Analyst are expecting the metric to come in slightly higher at 48.3 (a reading below 50 indicates industry contraction). [see Single Country ETFs: Everything Investors Need To Know].
2. Barclays 20 Year Treasury Bond Fund (TLT, B)
Why TLT Will Be In Focus: This fund is designed to measure the performance of U.S. Treasury securities that have a remaining maturity of at least 20 years. TLT will come into focus on Wednesday as the FOMC minutes from the last meeting are released. While in his last commentary Bernanke announced that the central bank's current bond-buying program will remain unchanged, investors will be looking for any hints of Fed tapering in the latest minutes.
3. FTSE Europe ETF (VGK, A)
Why VGK Will Be In Focus: This ETF offers broad-based exposure to the developed economies of Europe, spreading holdings across more than a dozen markets. Its place in the spotlight will come on Thursday as French and German Flash Manufacturing PMI data are reported. Both metrics are expected to come in slightly higher from the previous recording [see also How To Pick The Right ETF Every Time].
Follow me on Twitter @DPylypczak.
Disclosure: No positions at time of writing.


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An incident from 2008, brought to light recently by the Washington Post, reveals just how discombobulated our nation's cybersecurity efforts actually are. A terrorist-tracking forum, created by the CIA and Saudi government, was shut down by the National Security Agency.
The message board was started by the CIA and Saudi government as a "honey pot" for gathering intelligence on extremist activities in the area. By all accounts, the strategy was working—the website saw significant terrorist traffic and provided a wealth of intelligence to both nations.
But according to the National Security Agency the site was a little too well-trafficked, and in 2008 it determined that the site was being used by terrorists to facilitate attacks against American forces in Iraq. A task force of officials convened and, despite the CIA's objections and one official's claim that the the NSA had no authority to do so, the plan to shut down the site went forward.
Taking down sites is tricky business, and along with the forum the Pentagon unit that was carrying out the operation accidentally took out 300 servers in Saudi Arabia, Germany and Texas. The Germans, as well as the Saudi officials who had lost a valuable intelligence resource, were not pleased with the disruption.
Cyberspace is a new, complex front that officials are still figuring out to defend. If the CIA's website was in fact contributing to the death of American soldiers, then it makes sense that it was dismantled. But, as one researcher noted, "you can't really shut down this process for more than 24 or 48 hours"—on the internet, where there's a will there's a way—and the CIA maintains that the NSA only managed to drive the terrorist activity into the shadows of the net, where it can't be as easily monitored.
Cybersecurity will only become more important going forward, so it's good that we're working out these kinks now. The internet is fundamentally a different kind of battlefield and securing it is a daunting task. But I'd imagine a good first step, for government agencies, would be getting on the same page. [Washington Post]


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Mobile Accessories
Harness the power of the sun! The new Juicebar Pocket Solar Charger means that as long as there is a reasonable amount of sunlight, you can be charging any number of things, including:
- Most mobile phones
- iPhones / iPods / other mp3 players
- Bluetooth headsets
- Blackberriess
- PSPs
It is absolutely ideal for festival goers, people planning on travelling, holidays, road trips and camping!
The Juicebar Pocket Solar Universal Charger does not even need the sun! It also takes its charge from moonlight or a lightbulb if indoors. Magic!