text:
Artikel in het Antilliaans dagblad van 16 maart 2013. Pagina 1 2
(foto: Max Martina) Op 19 sept 2009 werd Software Freedom Day voor het eerst op Curacao gevierd.
Suares was in Nederland vanaf 1992 aktief, maar op 1 januari 2006 alle aktiviteiten overgedragen aan Jan Veuger Internetdiensten.
Vanaf 2002 aktief in de Nederlandse Antillen (Curacao, Bonaire).
Suares & Co levert de service voor 725 domeinnamen, 30 statische websites, meer dan 200 database driven websites (incl. QwikZites), 70 mailinglijsten (samen meer dan 10.000 unieke abonnees) en ruim 1100 email-gebruikers (281 unieke email-domeinen), in de Antillen en in Nederland.
Suares & Co werkt samen met Kuki & Ko in Curaçao en met Jan Veuger Internetdiensten in Nederland.
Kunnen wij ook iets voor U doen !? Neem dan via e-mail contact met ons op, of bel +5999 678 00 60.
I wanted to authenticate my Ubuntu desktop to the users defined in Zentyal LDAP. Of course, I would still be able to login with a local user and as root.
Zentyal versions may differ, and I am using a pretty old version (3.0), but here is what worked for me:
* Go to 'Users and Groups' and create some users. Let's say user1 and user2. Make sure these users don't exist on your Ubuntu desktop.
* Go the the 'LDAP Settings' and take note of the DN's and passwords it provides.
It looks like this:
|Base DN:
|Root DN:
|Read-only root DN:
|Read-only password:
|Users DN:
|Groups DN:
You will need this info later.
I followed this link: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/LDAPClientAuthentication
I did these steps:
* sudo apt-get install ldap-auth-client nscd
During install a screen comes up. Fill in the details. If you make a mistake, just finish the installation. Afterwards, you can use
dpkg-reconfigure ldap-auth-config
to fill in the correct values. I used the following:
Should debconf manage LDAP configuration? YES
LDAP server Uniform Resource Identifier: ldap://192.168.0.1.:390 (My Zentyal Server IP and the port is 390 instead of 389 !)
Distinguished name of the search base: dc=example,dc=com (Base DN form Zentyal LDAP settings, see above)
LDAP version to use: 3
Make local root Database admin: YES
Does the LDAP database require login? NO (Default is NO )
LDAP account for root: cn=zentyal,dc=example,dc=com (Root DN from LDAP settings).
LDAP root account password: h8ZCV2J4NhErN234878f/eee (Password from settings)
Local crypt to use when changing passwords: md5 (md5 is the default)
Edit /etc/hosts AND /etc/hostname and add 'example.com'.
If your host was 'mydesktop' then change it to mydesktop.example.com in both files.
Check if it was successful by doing:
It should list 'example.com' (that's just an example!).
Reboot just to be sure and check again. It won't work if the dnsdomainname of your desktop doesn't match with Zentyal's settings!
auth-client-config -t nss -p lac_ldap pam-auth-update * Don't check the 'automatically create homedirs if you are using NFS! /etc/init.d/nscd restart
That's all. I didn't do any of the other steps.
Now try
id user1
It should give you uid, gid and groups as defined on the Zentyal Server.
Next, het ALT-CTRL-F2 to open a console terminal and try to login as user1 and user2. It should work, but they don't have a homedir yet.
On the OLPC running Sugar 'Browse' or 'Webactivity', the browser throws an error: Browse failed to start.
- Go to the Activities screen (normally a circle or spiral with apps) and in the right upper corner, click the hamburger icon to change to list view
- now type 'log' into the search pane. You will find the 'Log' Activity.
- In the log activity, go to org.laptop.Webactivity and you might see the error, in my case it was 'Database disk image is malformed'. This is an sqlite error.
- Now, in the Activities screen, search for 'term' and you will find the Terminal activity. Open it and do this:
cd .sugar/default/org.laptop.Webactivity/data
ls -la
- You should find a file called 'places.db'. Delete it or rename it:
mv places.db places--old.db
Now start the Browse activity from the Activities screen and hopefully it will start!
Vagrant is a tool for building and distributing working environments, see http://www.vagrantup.com
It has many advantages, but I had some trouble with it and tried to solve these issues.
First of all, use version 1.2.2 or higher. Older versions had a nasty bug in the 'private_network' option in the Vagrantfile. Took me a loooong time to find that out.
My goal was to write a Vagrantfile and some extra configuration information, so I could quickly construct a virtual machine with certain properties, that could communicatie over a private network with other virtual machines, that was possibly publicly accessible by a public IP number, that was safe (in regard to the SSH key) and easily reproducable.
# -*- mode: ruby -*-
# vi: set ft=ruby :
Vagrant.configure("2") do |config|
config.vm.box = "precise64"
config.vm.box_url = "http://files.vagrantup.com/precise64.box"
config.vm.provider :virtualbox do |vb|
vb.customize ["modifyvm", :id, "--memory", "1024", "--cpus", "4"]
config.vm.hostname = 'YOUR.VIRTUAL.HOSTNAME.HERE'
config.vm.network :private_network, :auto_config => false, :ip => "10.0.0.1"
config.vm.network :public_network, :bridge => "br0", :auto_config => false
config.vm.provision :shell, :path => "secure-the-box.sh"
config.vm.provision :shell, :path => "install-software.sh"
config.vm.provision :shell, :path => "network-setup.sh"
config.ssh.timeout = 30
config.ssh.max_tries = 3
require './SafeSSH'
config.vm.network :private_network
, :auto_config => false, :ip => "10.0.0.1"
We want to establish a private network. But we don't want to configure it automatically (we will do that later in a script), but we have to specify the ip number or else vagrant will not start. The ip number is totally random and not used at all, see https://github.com/mitchellh/vagrant/issues/1788
config.vm.network :public_network, :bridge => "br0", :auto_config => false
We want a public network so the machine is reachable. Again, we are not auto configuring this interface.
config.vm.provision :shell, :path => "secure-the-box.sh"
config.vm.provision :shell, :path => "install-software.sh"
config.vm.provision :shell, :path => "network-setup.sh"
These three script will be explained later, they do what they say they do...
require './SafeSSH'
This require is needed to read in a file that sets the SSH key (the default one is not safe).
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 0 Jun 3 18:25 box_secured_by_shell_provisioner
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 46 Jun 3 01:01 install-list
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 341 Jun 3 00:27 install-software.sh
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 143 Jun 2 22:47 network.conf
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 0 Jun 3 18:26 network_configured_by_shell_provisioner
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1413 Jun 3 01:07 network-setup.sh
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 100 Jun 3 18:25 SafeSSH.rb
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1473 Jun 3 00:23 secure-the-box.sh
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 0 Jun 3 18:26 software_installed_by_shell_provisioner
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 153 Jun 3 00:27 vagrant-destroy
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 816 Jun 3 18:24 Vagrantfile
This file is created by the secure-the-box.sh script. It prevents the script from running then next time vagrant up or vagrant reload is run. It is deleted by the vagrant-destroy script.
Install list contains a list of packages, one per line, that will be installed when vagrant up is run. Example:
if [ ! -f /vagrant/software_installed_by_shell_provisioner ]
echo 'Installing software...'
for i in `cat /vagrant/install-list`
sudo DEBIAN_FRONTEND='noninteractive' apt-get -y install $i
sudo touch /vagrant/software_installed_by_shell_provisioner
echo 'Software already installed...'
This script simpy installs the packages listed in the install-list. It doesn't run if the file
software_installed_by_shell_provisioner is present.
This is a bash script that is sourced in network-setup.sh. the HOST_IP is the IP of the host where the Virtual Machine runs on.
The GUEST_IP is the PUBLIC IP for the Virtual Machine (and may be very different from the HOST_IP).
The PRIVATE_IP is a private IP address for the different VM's to connect to eachother (i.e. 10.33.0.1, 10.33.0.2 etc).
The NAMESERVERS are a bunch of nameservers that your Virtual Machine is going to use. Set them to the host if your host is a resolving nameserver.
The way the public IP is configured, is described here in detail:
- http://wiki.hetzner.de/index.php/KVM_mit_Nutzung_aller_IPs_-_the_easy_way/en
- http://wiki.hetzner.de/index.php/KVM_mit_Nutzung_aller_IPs_aus_Subnetz/en
The above links are specific for one specific provider, but after some trying, reading and comparing one can figure out how to configure the host. This is quite important. My /etc/network/intefaces on the host looks like this:
auto br0
iface br0 inet static
address X.X.X.X
netmask 255.255.255.255
bridge_ports none
bridge_stp off
bridge_fd 0
bridge_maxwait 0
pre-up brctl addbr br0
up route add -host Y.Y.Y.144 dev br0
up route add -host Y.Y.Y.145 dev br0
# ...
up route add -host Y.Y.Y.151 dev br0
Please also read this: http://docs.vagrantup.com/v2/networking/public_network.html
This file is created by the network-setup.sh script, and prevents the script from running. It is removed by the vagrant-destroy script.
source /vagrant/network.conf
if [ ! -f /vagrant/network_configured_by_shell_provisioner ]
echo 'Configuring network...'
sudo cat > /etc/network/interfaces <<NETCONF
# The loopback network interface
auto lo
iface lo inet loopback
# The primary network interface
# This is 10.0.2.15 by default for Virtualbox.
# It is assigned with DHCP but that also introduces new default routes.
# So it is declared static here, with the IP of the host as gateway.
# You need to do one vagrant reload after the first vagrant up to activate this. A simple networking restart won't work.
auto eth0
iface eth0 inet static
address 10.0.2.15
netmask 255.255.255.0
gateway $HOST_IP
# this one is for the 'private' or 'hostonly' network.
auto eth1
iface eth1 inet static
address $PRIVATE_IP
netmask 255.255.255.0
# This your bridged interface. The nameserver is set too...
auto eth2
iface eth2 inet static
address $GUEST_IP
netmask 255.255.255.255
gateway $HOST_IP
pointopoint $HOST_IP
dns-nameservers $NAMESERVERS
# don't ask me why but the dhcp client keeps asking for an IP even when disabled in /etc/network/interfaces
sudo rm -rf /var/lib/dhcp
sudo apt-get -y --purge remove isc-dhcp-client
sudo touch /vagrant/network_configured_by_shell_provisioner
echo "Please run vagrant reload now!"
echo 'Network already configured...'
route -n
What this script does is:
- replace /etc/network/interfaces on the guest with a static version of this configuration file; it totally discards all autoconfigured information.
- remove the dhcp client, because when leaving it in place, even disabled, it adds new routes to the routing table, and that needs to be avoided.
The only problem is that a vagrant reload is needed, and that can't be done from this script. You need to do it manually after the first vagant up.
Vagrant.configure("2") do |config|
config.ssh.private_key_path = "/root/.ssh/vagrant/id_rsa"
This file needs to be present at all times because it is required in the Vagrantfile; but the first time vagrant up is run, it should be empty. The secure-the-box.sh script writes some configuration directieves to it. The vagrant-destroy script truncates this file and makes it empty.
# do this before the network is provisoned!
if [ ! -f /vagrant/box_secured_by_shell_provisioner ]
echo 'Securing the box...'
sudo mkdir -p /root/.ssh
sudo echo "ssh-rsa AAAA-YOUR-SSH-PUBLIC-KEY your@email" > /root/.ssh/authorized_keys
sudo echo "ssh-rsa AAAA-YOUR-HOST-PUBLIC-KEY root@host" > /home/vagrant/.ssh/authorized_keys
sudo passwd -l vagrant
sudo passwd -l root
sudo cat >> /vagrant/SafeSSH.rb <<SEU
Vagrant.configure("2") do |config|
config.ssh.private_key_path = "/root/.ssh/vagrant/id_rsa"
sudo touch /vagrant/box_secured_by_shell_provisioner
echo "Done..."
echo 'Box already secured...'
This script relies on you configuring your ssh-keys properly. vagrant uses a well publicized key-pair, so using the default key is inherently insecure. Since your goal is to have a public facing virtual machine, you could just as well remove all password protection. This is why this script needs to run before the network is configured. Of course you are at liberty to setup the keys in any way you want but in this case, I used my public key to access root @ the virtual machine, and I used the ssh-key of root @ the host to access the vagrant account @ the virtual machine. The latter is important since vagrant up, reload, halt and destroy all attempt to ssh into the virtual machine!
Then the paswords are removed from the root and the vagrant account, so now ONLY ssh-keys can be used to access the virtual machine.
The script doens't run if the file
box_secured_by_shell_provisioner is present.
This file is created by the install-software.sh script and removed by the vagant-destroy script.
rm box_secured_by_shell_provisioner
rm network_configured_by_shell_provisioner
rm software_installed_by_shell_provisioner
echo '' > SafeSSH.rb
vagrant destroy
When trying to destroy the VM with 'vagrant destroy', the next vagrant up will not work as expected. Most prominently, the Vagrantfile will read SafeSSH.rb and use the wrong ssh keys. This will fail any vagrant up. This script properly destroys the files that are created by the various provisioners. and then destroy the VM, for a sparkling fresh start.
One last thing that took an enormous amount of time before I found the solution. The standard images, http://files.vagrantup.com/precise64.box for instance, have an 'option' in GRUB so that it will wait forever for you to press a key when the last shutdown wasn't completed normally. For some reason this (always) happens after the second reload of the VM. So, the very first time, 'vagrant up' creates the machine, then my script asks you to do a 'vagrant reload' which works fiine, the machine works fine, and can run forever :-) But when you try for some reason to do a reload or a halt and then up, the machine will never recover. Vagrant will display the dreaded Waiting for VM to boot. This can take a few minutes message and if you start Googling for that, you will search in the wrong direction. For a better description of the problem and a solution, see https://github.com/mitchellh/vagrant/issues/1792
At the moment, you have to fix this yourself or hope the providers of the box will have it fixed in the next release.
After upgrading (apt-get update && apt-get dist-upgrade) three things happenned:
- the modifications in /etc/grub/00header triggered a debconf question, and I choose to keep my own configuration. But in the newer configuration file, there is now a driective that can be used in /etc/default/grub called GRUB_RECORDFAIL_TIMEOUT that can be set, and if it is not set it will default to -1. So in future versions, just set this variable in /etc/default/grub and run update-grub
- the update process wants to update-grub and complains about a disk that isn't there anymore, and offers three choices. I choose the first one, /dev/sda (VBOX_HARDDISK).
- and after a vagranr reload, the following problem occured:
The following SSH command responded with a non-zero exit status. Vagrant assumes that this means the command failed! mount -t vboxsf -o uid=`id -u vagrant`,gid=`id -g vagrant` v-root /vagrant The solution is to rebuild the kernel modules, as mentioned inhttp://docs-v1.vagrantup.com/v1/docs/troubleshooting.html
However, that didn't work for me. To the rescue, the Vbguest plugin. http://kvz.io/blog/2013/01/16/vagrant-tip-keep-virtualbox-guest-additions-in-sync/, https://github.com/dotless-de/vagrant-vbguest
What I had to do to get it working was:
vagrant plugin install vagrant-vbguest
./vagrant-destroy # to totally remove the virtual machine
vagrant up # this will also update the guest additions!
vagrant reload # because my script asks for it...
vagant ssh
sudo joe /etc/grub.d/00header # and change the timeout from -1 to 10
sudo update-grub
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get dist-upgrade
# when asked to use new grub 00header, say no
# when asked to install gtub on a disk, choose the first one (the Virtual Box Harddisk)
# exit the machine
vagrant reload
Quite a lot of stuff to get it all working, but it is working!
I hope these musings are useful for someone. I post them here to not forget my own briddling. It took me quite a while to get this going.


text:
Sensing that the seventh edition of the Fast & Furious franchise could use a little extra dignity, and after a failed experiment with giving all the cars mustaches, Universal has entered talks with Kurt Russell about joining the ensemble cast. Variety reports that the as-yet-undisclosed role is the same one that was previously offered to Denzel Washington, suggesting it's likely some sort of veteran cop or agent or something whose methods may be a little askew, but damn if they don't get results and also show these young guys a thing or two about a thing or two. Should Russell sign on, it would be his first major film role since starring in Quentin Tarantino's Death Proof, a movie in which he also worked with cars that go very fast. So, that should really give him an "in" during his job interview. "I also have experience with computers that wear tennis shoes," Russell probably noted on his résumé, ha ha, it's fun being silly about things we have no actual information on.
More from The A.V. Club

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Cloud Computing's Vendor Lock-In ConundrumBy Alexander Pasik, PhD
Cloud Computing's Pros and Cons: IEEE CIO Weighs In
According to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), cloud computing is a model for enabling on-demand access to a pool of computing resources that can be provisioned and released with minimal effort.
Furthermore, NIST categorizes cloud computing into three service models: Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Software as a Service (SaaS). Each has distinct advantages and disadvantages that impact the information technology (IT) efforts of an enterprise as well as its business practices and finances.
As the CIO's role evolves from pure IT service provider toward full partner in defining and executing enterprise strategies, you'll find yourself navigating those pros and cons of cloud computing.
The Service Models
The spectrum of cloud computing service models ranges from IaaS to PaaS to SaaS, with subtle variations in between. These models can be understood according to the increasing levels of IT services that each provides, along with the concomitant increasing levels of control that the enterprise must relinquish to the cloud provider.
IaaS providers deliver virtual server environments to the enterprise, upon which the IT department deploys all of the software layers it chooses.
PaaS providers deliver similar virtual server environments, but preloaded with specific operating systems, database systems, and development environments, thus decreasing the amount of effort needed by the IT department in setting up and maintaining those layers, but restricting the environments' use to development and deployment upon those layers.
SaaS providers deliver fully functional applications that are accessed by end users via thin clients like web browsers; they do not expose the underlying layers to the customers.
The spectrum of cloud computing service models offers an increasing collection of managed IT services with concomitant decreasing control and flexibility.
The three cloud computing service models all provide varying levels of economies of scale, impose varying degrees of vendor lock-in, and have their own issues with regard to systems integration among the various on-premise and cloud systems that are deployed. Furthermore, the suitability of cloud computing varies with regard to IT and business maturity.
Cloud Computing's Varied Economies of Scale
The value proposition for IT has always been economies of scale. IT enabled the growth of businesses by allowing for massive transaction speeds and volumes. In computing's early years, the expense associated with data centers resulted in time-sharing -- a few businesses investing in mainframes, and others buying processing and storage from them.
Microprocessors and storage in the 1980s resulted in a backlash against centralized data centers; since hardware was so cheap, why not localize IT and ignore any savings from reuse? However, by the 1990s it was clear that despite low-cost processing and storage, IT costs escalated dramatically due to the management and maintenance associated with highly distributed, unshared, and under-leveraged resources.
Cloud computing represents a return to time-sharing, but leveraging the advances of the last 30 years. All of the service models enable some economies of scale. In IaaS, the data center (real estate, power, cooling), the processing and storage hardware, and the firewalls and networks, are all shared among the cloud provider's clients. Fixed costs are distributed, resulting in savings that can be shared among the provider and clients. At the opposite end of the spectrum, SaaS providers run complete software applications designed for multitenancy -- adding a client to Google Apps does not require Google to roll out new servers, databases, and software specifically for that client. The economies of scale for such multitenant SaaS solutions can be enormous, often in excess of ten-fold savings.
As the spectrum of these economic benefits is large, it is important that CIOs considering cloud solutions realize that those economic benefits will be less (and perhaps non-existent) for IaaS. That is, whereas there are compelling non-economic arguments for IaaS, economies of scale are best realized via SaaS.
Cloud Computing's Vendor Lock-In Conundrum
As economies of scale improve, vendor lock-in issues are increasingly cumbersome. In IaaS environments, since the client maintains complete control of the software layers deployed on the provider's servers, it should be a straightforward exercise to migrate those virtual environments. However, the migration of an enterprise's financial systems running in a SaaS environment presents a substantial challenge. Nevertheless, it is important to note that this disadvantage of SaaS stickiness is no more onerous that the stickiness of equivalent on-premise solutions. Therefore, the vendor-lock-in spectrum should not be considered either an advantage for IaaS or disadvantage for SaaS based on their cloud nature.
Cloud Computing's Systems-Integration Challenges
Systems integration has always been a challenge for IT organizations. A proper implementation of a cloud solution should neither ease nor exacerbate this challenge. For IaaS, the burden on IT is to implement a hybrid cloud. That is, by implementing virtual environments on premise similar to the cloud provider's, the integration of systems should be handled similarly to traditional integration tasks.
For enterprises prepared to commit to a single development platform, PaaS solutions offer streamlined integration within the offered platform; however, integrating those systems with others involves not only traditional integration challenges, but also new ones involving the transformations between the on-premise and cloud environments.
With SaaS solutions, the cloud provider wholly controls each system. In some cases, they cannot be integrated with others at all. But, increasingly, SaaS providers are offering application programmer interfaces to enable integration. At a minimum, CIOs should insist on identity integration capability so that SaaS and on-premise systems can share single-sign-on features.
Overall, cloud-to-premise integration presents a growing challenge for hybrid environments and an emerging requirement for mature tools. There are some existing vendor offerings available, but the costs of these tools must be factored into the decisions.
Cloud Computing's Inertia Dilemma
An enterprise's size and maturity, or enterprise inertia, has a profound effect on its ability to exploit cloud computing. As enterprise inertia increases from infancy (start up) to mature (large enterprise with well developed IT exploiting virtualization), the ability to leverage the benefits of cloud computing starts high, then decreases, and then increases again.
Infant companies with no IT investment are ideally suited to forgo on-premise IT, immediately implementing cloud solutions. SaaS solutions can be selected for well-defined applications with PaaS or IaaS leveraged for custom systems.
On the other end of the inertia spectrum, mature enterprises having implemented a private cloud can easily extend into the public cloud for managing load requirements, data center expansion, or specific SaaS offerings.
The most difficult situation is encountered with adolescent enterprises invested in on-premise non-virtualized data centers with custom enterprise systems. These CIOs face the most daunting challenges with cloud solutions due to systems integration issues.
Cloud Computing's Security Questions
Finally, no conversation about the pitfalls of cloud computing is complete without discussing security. "How can you expect me to house my precious data in the cloud? It can't be as secure as in my data center under my control!"
The argument is powerful, despite its core flaw: an effective cloud provider, whose business is managing a multitenant data center, invests far more in security that an enterprise whose business is not data center management.
Indeed, it is akin to your money being safer in a bank than in your mattress. But, the psychological barrier still exists in the illusion of security within an enterprise's walls. Perhaps that fear can be mitigated with cloud insurance in which insurance against security breaches is available at discounted rates over similar insurance for on-premise data security. Such discounted rates should be available based on the level of investment in security technologies that the cloud provider maintains.
However, even if these barriers are overcome, satisfying security concerns, a remaining issue is the lag between reality and law. Specifically, even if it becomes obvious that data are more secure with a cloud provider than within an enterprise, archaic laws may demand on-premise data. Eventually, laws should reflect reality, but it will take time.
Cloud Computing's Future
Darwin's theory of natural selection works in technology markets. Although there are fluctuations in adoptions that lead to temporal suboptimality, eventually the market will select solutions that best fit the requirements of society.
The economic benefits of cloud computing will overwhelm the obstacles, demanding solutions that overcome them. There are pitfalls and caveats that CIOs and CEOs alike must beware of in adopting cloud computing, but the biggest mistake of all is to be left behind as competitors take advantage of this inevitable future of the IT industry.
About the Author
Alexander Pasik, PhD is CIO of the IEEE and Adjunct Associate Professor of Computer Science at Columbia University in New York City. You can reach him at email@example.com


text:
Social Security retirement benefits help provide lifetime, inflation-adjusted income. Combined with your retirement savings, plus any pension benefits you may receive, Social Security may serve as an important component of your overall plan for retirement income.
Eligibility for Social Security begins "early", at age 62. However, claiming early will reduce your monthly check - permanently. There are many issues to consider when deciding to claim benefits.
Your Primary Insurance Amount, or PIA, is the amount of monthly income you will receive at your normal retirement age, also known as your Full Retirement Age (FRA). Depending upon when you were born, your FRA will range from age 65 to age 67. People born between 1943 and 1954 have an FRA of 66. Click here to see your FRA.
Your PIA, which is based upon your lifetime earnings, may be reduced or increased, depending upon when you decide to claim retirement benefits. You may claim benefits before reaching your FRA, as early as age 62, and you may delay claiming until after your FRA, as late as age 70.
Claiming after you've reached your FRA offers benefits. Your monthly check will be increased by 8% for each year that you delay, up to age 70. For example, if your FRA is 66, and you delay four years until you're 70, your monthly check will be 32% higher than at age 66, and 75% higher than at age 62. Over time, one might receive significantly more dollars depending upon when benefits are claimed.
You may benefit from seeking the advice of a financial advisor that focuses on retirement income planning, one who can help incorporate your Social Security claiming options into an overall retirement income plan.
Have you ever thought about how many years you might spend in retirement? While we can't know for certain, we should think about how life expectancy has increased in the decades since Social Security began.
In 1935, life expectancy in the U.S. was 61.7 years.
By 2016 it had increased to 78.6 years. *
Consider a married couple age 65. There's a 72% chance that one spouse will live to age 85. And a 45% chance that one spouse will live to age 90. **
As of December 2017 ***, 5.7 million Social Security beneficiaries were at least age 85. Some much older. But collecting Social security benefits well into old age is nothing new.
Source: * Data Brief 293, 12/17
Source: ** Calculation based on mortality data from Society of Actuaries Retirement Participants 2000 table
Source: *** Social Security Administration Facts and Figures about Social Security, 2017
The very first person to collect Social Security retirement benefits was named Ida May Fuller.
A resident of Vermont, Ida May retired in 1939 after paying into Social Security for just three years. Ida May received her first Social Security payment on January 31, 1940. She then went on to collect from Social Security for thirty-five years.
Ida May passed away in 1975... at the age of one hundred.
Let's assume that your age 66 projected monthly retirement benefit is $2,482. Claiming benefits at age 62 reduces the monthly check from $2,482, to $1,800.
That's a reduction of $8,184 per year. Again, that reduction is not for a year, or a few years. It's PERMANENT.
Over the 38 years from age 62 until age 100, this means giving up one-hundred-seventy-six-thousand-nine-hundred-sixty-four-dollars.
Now, you may feel that living to age 100 is unrealistic. If so, then back that up by 20 years. If you were to live to age 80, the loss in retirement income is still $13,284.
Don't automatically think that claiming Social Security benefits early is your best decision.
It may have been the right choice for your parents, but it could be the wrong choice for you.
In fact, if you feel that you are likely to live to age 80, or, 85, you should think carefully about delaying benefits until even after your full retirement age. This is because for every year that you wait beyond full retirement age, your monthly check will be increased by an additional 8%.
Waiting until age 70 means receiving 32% more retirement income versus age 66, and 75% more income compared to age 62. That's $1,800 per month at age 62, versus $3,168 at age 70.
Although the difference in these two numbers is dramatic, it's only one factor in choosing the Social Security claiming strategy that's best for you.
The opportunity to receive a higher monthly income helps explain why proper retirement income planning is important. It also points out why a well-designed retirement income plan shouldn't overlook how to maximize Social Security benefits.
Your need for income and views about life expectancy are just two of many important factors in determining when to receive benefits.
Did you know that Social Security lets you see your benefits online? Visit My Social Security to learn how much retirement income you will receive.
The case studies below illustrate how a wise claiming strategy can help you get the most from Social Security.
The scenario is hypothetical and implementing the strategy discussed below may not result in increased total benefits. Individual results may vary from the example shown.
Married for 30 years, Hank and Susan are quickly approaching retirement. They plan to claim social security as soon as they are eligible. For Hank, that means collecting a reduced benefit of $1,415/month beginning at age 62. In three years, when Susan is 62, she intends to file a claim for her own benefits of $828/month.
If Hank lives until age 83 and Susan until age 87, they will collect a combined $823,788. But this simple approach might cost Hank and Susan a great deal of money.
By working with a financial professional who focuses on retirement income planning, Hank and Susan were better equipped to understand all of the available Social Security claiming options. As a result they adopted a different strategy.
With the switch strategy it's possible for Hank and Susan to gain in two key ways. First, they can take advantage of Social Security spousal benefits, and second, they can delay claiming until a later age when monthly benefits may be much higher.
* Anyone who is 62 or older by 01/01/2016 retains the right to claim spousal benefits only when they turn 66, allowing their own benefits to accrue delayed retirement credits of 8% per year up to age 70. Source: The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015
Here's how it works. Upon reaching age 62, Susan files for worker benefits of $828/month (75% of her PIA amount). Once he reaches his Full Retirement Age of 66, Hank files a claim for spousal benefits of $569/month.
When Hank turns age 70, he will file on his work record and receive $2,858/month By delaying, Hank's age 70 monthly income was increased 8% each year...an increase of 32%.
* Total income assumes annual 2% inflation adjustment
The scenario is hypothetical and implementing the strategy discussed below may not result in increased total benefits. Individual results may vary from the example shown.
Claudia has been divorced for 12 years. She is planning to retire at age 66. At that time she will be entitled to collect $1,897/month. If Claudia lives until age 87, she will receive a total of $478,044.
Claudia sought the assistance of a financial professional who focuses on retirement income planning. She was surprised to learn that, although divorced, she can still claim Social Security benefits on her ex-spouse's work record.
Claudia decided to claim spousal benefits at age 66. She will receive $1,213/month. Then, at age 70, Claudia files for benefits in her own work record, and will receive $2,765/month - that's 132% of her PIA.
* Anyone who is 62 or older by 01/01/2016 retains the right to claim spousal benefits only when they turn 66, allowing their own benefits to accrue delayed retirement credits of 8% per year up to age 70. Source: The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015
Please use my contact form
Matt Haffemann
100 Harborview Plz, Ste. C-4
La Crosse, WI 54601
Telephone: (608) 782-5293
Fax: (608) 782-4464
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Website: www.mhaffemann.sswise.com


text:
Top of the world – How I've achieved true happiness (let's talk about mental health)
Why climbing Mount Everest did not change my life, but about what did. And why true happiness always involves pain.Read the LinkedIn article
At BCG, we believe that innovation can only thrive in an organizational culture of openness, flexibility, and mutual respect—where all ideas are heard regardless of tenure and where people are supported to pursue a path that's right for them.
It's important to focus on one's own mental health and wellbeing to live a happy and successful life. Hear from BCGers on how they manage stress and anxiety while finding happiness in their work and personal lives.
Why climbing Mount Everest did not change my life, but about what did. And why true happiness always involves pain.Read the LinkedIn article
I imagine we've all heard that familiar refrain at some point in our lives. It's the kind of phrase that tends to get offered up when we're dealing with a difficult situation.Read the LinkedIn article
Working at BCG means working differently. We seek a better way to manage case work, and helping our consultants sustain longer, more satisfying careers is a constant objective.
To reach this goal, we created a global program we call PTO (Predictability, Teaming, and Open Communication).
Led by an experienced BCG facilitator, PTO provides a forum for sharing each team member's progress and needs and establishes a detailed roadmap—from launch to completion—for every project. The roadmap includes transparent working norms, priorities, and a collectively agreed-on time-off goal for each team member, so that low-value work doesn't consume your high-value personal and professional time.
PTO helps you:
BCGers report exceptional improvements in both personal satisfaction and project performance after adopting PTO:
Over the past decade, we've continued to evolve the program. Hear from PTO's founder, Leslie Perlow, on how PTO has improved the way BCG's teams work, learn, and drive client value—and learn from BCGers about strategies toward career sustainability


text:
In this scenario, a company has separate Oracle Database servers,
sales.acme.com and
warehouse.acme.com. As users insert sales records into the
sales database, associated records are being updated at the
warehouse database.
This case study of distributed processing illustrates:
The definition of a session tree
How a commit point site is determined
When prepare messages are sent
When a transaction actually commits
What information is stored locally about the transaction
At the Sales department, a salesperson uses SQL*Plus to enter a sales order and then commit it. The application issues a number of SQL statements to enter the order into the
sales database and update the inventory in the
warehouse database:
CONNECT email@example.com ...; INSERT INTO orders ...; UPDATE firstname.lastname@example.com ...; INSERT INTO orders ...; UPDATE firstname.lastname@example.com ...; COMMIT;
These SQL statements are part of a single distributed transaction, guaranteeing that all issued SQL statements succeed or fail as a unit. Treating the statements as a unit prevents the possibility of an order being placed and then inventory not being updated to reflect the order. In effect, the transaction guarantees the consistency of data in the global database.
As each of the SQL statements in the transaction executes, the session tree is defined, as shown in Figure 32-7.
Figure 32-7 Defining the Session Tree
Note the following aspects of the transaction:
An order entry application running on the
sales database initiates the transaction. Therefore,
sales.acme.com is the global coordinator for the distributed transaction.
The order entry application inserts a new sales record into the
sales database and updates the inventory at the warehouse. Therefore, the nodes
sales.acme.com and
warehouse.acme.com are both database servers.
sales.acme.com updates the inventory, it is a client of
This stage completes the definition of the session tree for this distributed transaction. Each node in the tree has acquired the necessary data locks to execute the SQL statements that reference local data. These locks remain even after the SQL statements have been executed until the two-phase commit is completed.
The database determines the commit point site immediately following the
COMMIT statement.
sales.acme.com, the global coordinator, is determined to be the commit point site, as shown in Figure 32-8.
See Also:"Commit Point Strength" for more information about how the commit point site is determined
Figure 32-8 Determining the Commit Point Site
The prepare stage involves the following steps:
After the database determines the commit point site, the global coordinator sends the prepare message to all directly referenced nodes of the session tree, excluding the commit point site. In this example,
warehouse.acme.com is the only node asked to prepare.
warehouse.acme.com tries to prepare. If a node can guarantee that it can commit the locally dependent part of the transaction and can record the commit information in its local redo log, then the node can successfully prepare. In this example, only
warehouse.acme.com receives a prepare message because
sales.acme.com is the commit point site.
warehouse.acme.com responds to
sales.acme.com with a prepared message.
As each node prepares, it sends a message back to the node that asked it to prepare. Depending on the responses, one of the following can happen:
If any of the nodes asked to prepare responds with an abort message to the global coordinator, then the global coordinator tells all nodes to roll back the transaction, and the operation is completed.
If all nodes asked to prepare respond with a prepared or a read-only message to the global coordinator, that is, they have successfully prepared, then the global coordinator asks the commit point site to commit the transaction.
Figure 32-9 Sending and Acknowledging the Prepare Message
The committing of the transaction by the commit point site involves the following steps:
sales.acme.com, receiving acknowledgment that
warehouse.acme.com is prepared, instructs the commit point site to commit the transaction.
The commit point site now commits the transaction locally and records this fact in its local redo log.
Even if
warehouse.acme.com has not yet committed, the outcome of this transaction is predetermined. In other words, the transaction will be committed at all nodes even if the ability of a given node to commit is delayed.
This stage involves the following steps:
The commit point site tells the global coordinator that the transaction has committed. Because the commit point site and global coordinator are the same node in this example, no operation is required. The commit point site knows that the transaction is committed because it recorded this fact in its online log.
The global coordinator confirms that the transaction has been committed on all other nodes involved in the distributed transaction.
The committing of the transaction by all the nodes in the transaction involves the following steps:
After the global coordinator has been informed of the commit at the commit point site, it tells all other directly referenced nodes to commit.
In turn, any local coordinators instruct their servers to commit, and so on.
Each node, including the global coordinator, commits the transaction and records appropriate redo log entries locally. As each node commits, the resource locks that were being held locally for that transaction are released.
In Figure 32-10,
sales.acme.com, which is both the commit point site and the global coordinator, has already committed the transaction locally.
sales now instructs
warehouse.acme.com to commit the transaction.
Figure 32-10 Instructing Nodes to Commit
The completion of the commit of the transaction occurs in the following steps:
After all referenced nodes and the global coordinator have committed the transaction, the global coordinator informs the commit point site of this fact.
The commit point site, which has been waiting for this message, erases the status information about this distributed transaction.
The commit point site informs the global coordinator that it is finished. In other words, the commit point site forgets about committing the distributed transaction. This action is permissible because all nodes involved in the two-phase commit have committed the transaction successfully, so they will never have to determine its status in the future.
The global coordinator finalizes the transaction by forgetting about the transaction itself.
After the completion of the
COMMIT phase, the distributed transaction is itself complete. The steps described are accomplished automatically and in a fraction of a second.


text:
Ms. Allmer has taught special education for 10 years. She is a member of the North Dakota Council for Exceptional Children and was a recipient of their Special Educator of the Year award in 2015. She is also a member of NDU/NEA.
Ms. Allmer can be reached by calling Wing school's front office at 701-943-2319.


text:
Perhaps wary of our weariness with "stuff built out of Minecraft blocks", reader MOZONE sent this video in almost apologetically. Which, it turns out, was an entirely unwarranted emotion. Because MOZONE, this is amazing.
He's gone and rebuilt Battlefield 3's famous Caspain Border map, brick for brick, then gone and made a sexy trailer for it.
About the only thing missing is a blocky rush for the tanks and buggys.
You can download the map yourself below.
Caspian Bored Release Trailer [YouTube]


text:
TORONTO – San Jose Earthquakes forward Chris Wondolowski scored a late equalizer with three minutes remaining to cancel out a first-half strike from Toronto FC's Eric Avila in a 1-1 draw on Saturday night that did little for either team's playoff hopes.
The 23-year-old Avila netted his first goal in a Toronto FC uniform on an opportunistic maneuver in the 32nd minute, firing home a precise shot after picking up a loose ball outside the box. But just when it looked like TFC would hold on for an important win, San Jose equalized in the 87th minute off a long throw-in, with Bobby Burling flicking on to Wondolowski, who put in a right-footed shot from close range to the right corner.
With just six matches remaining in the season for Toronto (4-12-12), the draw lifted TFC out of the basement of the Eastern Conference and with 24 points but they stand eight points out of the final wild card spot occupied by the New York Red Bulls. San Jose (5-10-11), meanwhile, extend their club-record winless streak to 13 matches and remain stuck on 26 points, good for 8th place in the West and just six from a postseason berth.
San Jose enjoyed the better of the possession in the early going but failed to capitalize on two half-chances. Wondolowski could not put a Joey Gjertsen shot on frame after five minutes and seven minutes later Simon Dawkins' shot from the top of the box was deflected over the bar by a last-minute lunge from TFC left back Ashtone Morgan.
Despite failing to connect passes in the midfield, Toronto FC used a stroke of genius from Avila to take the lead in the 32nd minute. He was the first to pounce on a loose ball following a sliding tackle by San Jose captain Ramiro Corrales on Peri Marosevic. Avila penetrated the right side of the area and tucked a right-footed shot inside the far left post for a 1-0 advantage.
Toronto nearly doubled their lead on a Morgan diagonal shot before halftime and then on two Torsten Frings left-footed shots in the opening minutes of the second half which were stopped by goalkeeper Jon Busch.
While TFC played for the counterattack in the second half, San Jose controlled the play but continued to miss the target. Midfielder Bobby Convey missed the target on two long distance shots, Bobby Burling's header off a corner kick finished high and a left-footed Wondolowski blast was saved by goalkeeper Milos Kocic.
Toronto FC thought they had put the game away on a breakout with 15 minutes remaining. Ex-Quake Ryan Johnson sent a through pass into João Plata, who replays showed beating the Earthquakes offside trap. But the referee called back the goal scored by the Ecuadorean, ruling that Plata had started in an offside position before rounding Busch and slotting the ball into the back of the net.
But the Earthquakes still had life left with Wondolowski delivering a left-footed drive in the 85th minute which was stopped by Kocic in a play which proved to be a prelude to the tying goal two minutes later.
A throw-in from the left side by second half substitute Jacob Peterson was flicked on by Burling to the far post, where Wondolowski was wide open to bundle it home for his team-leading ninth goal of the campaign.
San Jose manager fielded a lineup with just two changes from last week's 2-0 loss in LA. Chris Leitch came in at right back for the suspended Steven Beitashour while Dawkins started in place of Khari Stephenson at withdrawn forward. New forward signing, Ecuadorean Edmundo Zura, did not travel.
Despite the fact that regular starting goalkeeper Stefan Frei was available after sitting out with a knee bruise since August 6, TFC manager Aron Winter stuck with Kocic in goal against San Jose. The 4-3-3 lineup featured a few changes from last week's 2-0 loss in Chicago. Morgan made his third start at left back and Avila came into midfield after sitting out last week with a hamstring injury.
Meanwhile TFC designated player Danny Koevermans missed his second straight league match with a tight left hamstring.
Both teams off next Labor Day weekend and return to league action on Saturday, September 10. The Earthquakes host the Chicago Fire (10:30 p.m. ET) and Toronto travel to Ohio to face the Columbus Crew (7:30 p.m. ET).
Scoring Summary:
TOR -- Eric Avila 2 (unassisted) 33
SJ -- Chris Wondolowski 9 (Bobby Burling 1) 87
San Jose Earthquakes -- Jon Busch, Chris Leitch, Bobby Burling, Jason Hernandez, Justin Morrow, Joey Gjertsen (Jacob Peterson 66), Rafael Baca (Matt Luzunaris 83), Ramiro Corrales, Bobby Convey, Simon Dawkins (Khari Stephenson 66), Chris Wondolowski.
Substitutes Not Used: Nana Attakora, Sam Cronin, Ellis McLoughlin, David Bingham.
Toronto FC -- Milos Kocic, Richard Eckersley, Ty Harden, Andy Iro, Ashtone Morgan, Julian de Guzman, Torsten Frings, Eric Avila (Eddy Viator 84), Peri Marosevic (Matt Stinson 58), Ryan Johnson, Joao Plata (Danleigh Borman 88).
Substitutes Not Used: Terry Dunfield, Leandre Griffit, Demitrius Omphroy, Stefan Frei.
Misconduct Summary:
SJ -- Bobby Burling (caution; Reckless Tackle) 31
SJ -- Bobby Convey (caution; Reckless Foul) 37
Referee: Terry Vaughn
Referee's Assistants: George Gansner, Eric Boria
4th Official: Geoff Gamble
Attendance: 21,117
Time of Game: 1:52
Weather: Clear and 77 degrees


text:
Obamas celebrate 20th wedding anniversary
President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama are getting their anniversary date night after all - just a few days late during a busy re-election campaign.
The Obamas arrived at Bourbon Steak in the Georgetown section of Washington, D.C., on Saturday night for a dinner to celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary. The couple hit the milestone on Wednesday, the day of the first presidential debate in Denver.
During the debate, the president wished his wife a happy anniversary and reminded her "a year from now" they wouldn't be marking the occasion in front of millions of viewers. Republican nominee Mitt Romney congratulated Obama, joking that the debate stage was "the most romantic place you could imagine - here with me."


text:
countfast said:Good to see that everyone has opinions and personal success stories. I've been reading SSR's and Bojack's comments since 2003 and take them for a grain of salt. I've been around a few times and possess the drive, motivation, patience, and knowledge to achieve goals. My past includes starting, building and selling large three companies, in addition to being an Aide to the past Senator John Heinz when he was on the James Commission during the S&L scandal.
I have a question for you and Bojack. Why, if card counting systems could win , are there so many new books on card counting? It's been over 40 years since Thorpe started the ball rolling and how many new systems can there be? I know the game changed and how Wong, Snyder,etc. testified for the casinos about bogus systems during the Atlantic City case on card counting. I think they used their real names during the case. I even think Rubin has a say at the trial. Hell, Snyder was a mail carrier when he started selling bogus gaming systems (on the side) in California. Aside from both of your forum success stories, how many documented wins have the both of you had in the arena? Hell, either one of you could be Renzy,etc. helping promote another one of his never ending new books.
countfast said:No sense telling the truth in this or any forum because they are all run by the snake oil salesmen who publish books and software.
countfast said:I have a question for you and Bojack. Why, if card counting systems could win, are there so many new books on card counting?
countfast said:Hell, Snyder was a mail carrier when he started selling bogus gaming systems (on the side) in California.
countfast said:The game today can't be beat. I do believe you can break even with comps...
countfast said:Like one poster said attempting to achieve a positive count is an 8D game is almost impossible today.
countfast said:Recently I was wonging at a local casino and backcounted 8 tables before I found a count worth entering.
Sonny said:Were you counting the whole shoe or were you abandoning the "hopeless" shoes after counting the first two decks? What is your optimal departure point? Optimal entry point? Were you counting two tables at once like most skilled counters? Were you backcounting full tables as well (to take advantage of Wong's backline strategy)? I have a feeling you may not have been trying as hard as you could have been...but don't try to blame your failure on the system. The system works just fine for the rest of us.
Knox said:Sonny, I think you mean well but I wonder about your comments. It is hard to pick up on the tone from this type of communication, but it seems condescending. Sorry if I am wrong.
About those rating cards and getting comps. I signed up for one at the Hilton as part of my "act". I figured a counter would never sign up for one of those, so it could be part of my cover. Also starting off the 6D show with a medium-sized bet, then letting it ride until I lost seemed to be a good cover play. Once it loses, I would go down to the $10 minimum unless the count was really good, which is doubtful that early in the deck. I would appreciate the lowdown on rating cards, I figure they are just a way to track players, and are only useful to big losers earning comps.
With regard to exit stategies, I think you need to stick it out for at least 2 decks in a 6D shoe, because the count can change quickly. Early exit does not make sense to me unless the count is just horrid. I use KO but I start at zero so I can avoid most negative counts.
countfast said:Sonny, you're no Grifter, SSR or Bojack...you just think you are. You get your rocks off in a forum, not on the green.
countfast said:Look how Bogata has taken over AC with their favorable games. They are one of the only couple of casinos offering S17 for $10 games.
Knox said:Sonny, I think you mean well but I wonder about your comments. It is hard to pick up on the tone from this type of communication, but it seems condescending.
countfast said:Sonny, you're no Grifter, SSR or Bojack...you just think you are. You get your rocks off in a forum, not on the green.
Andee said:When did you become a believer in SSR and Bojack. I mean you already stated you respected grifter, and I'm sure thats because back when you were Alex he constantly put you in your place. But to put the others in with Grifter you must have had a change of heart. Does that mean you are going to change your name again too. I suggest maybe Bill Gates, I know its already taken but with that incredible resume of yours I'm sure he would be honored to share a name with the likes of you.
And I guess Sonny is on your tantrum list now because he categorically beat the hell out of yours-and Alex's disillusioned ideas on blackjack and some of its key players.
And what of that ridiculous rant about you're so called professional life. I'd be very surprised that someone of your alleged stature would get rattled that easily by just another poster on a message board. I know the people I work for wouldn't, and you know why, they're real! Stop with all the crap Alex/countfast, and come back as someone who believes that playing blackjack is not a lost cause. That way you might make more friends while posting on a board ABOUT BLACKJACK!
AlexD30 said:First, I find it amazing that someone like yourself that would resort to libel, malicious libel, false allegations, nonsensical
references calls himself intelligent and capable playing BJ for profit.
AlexD30 said:My God man, read your post! You sound like a raving lunatic!
Sonny said:It seems hypocritical to claim that all blackjack games are unbeatable yet refuse to look for any good ones, and refuse to learn more powerful techniques designed to beat them. He either needs to learn a few advanced techniques (zone tracking, cutoff tracking, cutting/steering, front loading, side bets, backline strategy, team play, sequencing, couponomy, comp counting, etc.)
Knox said:Can you direct me some sources for information on the topics you mentioned?
Knox said:Sonny: that is a lot of info. What order would you recommend adding these additional "modules" to my arsenal? I can play error-free KO now, but I am not quite ready to bankroll $100 bets. I want to slowly build a bankroll with $50 max bets. I clobbered the LV Hilton for several hunderd $ last week but I had a bad 8-deck session over at the Venetian that ruined it. I lost two $100 bets with the count in the +30s (I start KO at zero). On the last one, I had an 11 but no more $ to double! So the guy next to me pulls out $100, an obvious scavenge attempt. We both lost, but I guess I was lucky I didn't have the extra $100!! LOL.
Knox said:Sonny: that is a lot of info. What order would you recommend adding these additional "modules" to my arsenal?
jimpenn said:Sonny, that was great information you gave Knox concerning the fellow who purchased his double. Is there any hand interactions that wouldn't hurt the player who run out of money?
Knox said:Surely only a moron would fund half of an 8-split against a 10?
Sonny said:If youre going to play shoe games, the next step will be to learn about cutoff tracking which is a simplified version of shuffle tracking. The two links I gave are articles that I wrote that will give you a basic understanding of how it works as well as some of the math behind it. There is also a link in the Shuffle Tracking section to an article I wrote about recognizing trackable shuffles. Those will give you most of what you need to know to start scouting actual casinos.
Renzey said:I also get in on quite a few doubles with 11 against a 10 or Ace. 11 against an Ace is generally not a proper double, but it still wins 53% of the time in a six deck game.
learningtocount said:If you play blackjack with a payout of 6-5 it is not a profitable game no matter how good the rest of the rules are!!
Knox said:I don't care for the 6:5 game either. However, I think the "cost" of a 6:5 game is 60% * the penalty for even money of 2.32%, or about 1.4%. You can construct a basic strategy game that will advantage the player .15% fairly easily. Sometimes the rules may be even more favorable, such as double on any number of cards. Either way, you can gain about 2% expectation using KO preferred and a 1-10 spread. So as you can see 2%-1.4%+0.15%=0.75% advantage. I figure anything between 0.50% and 1% is playable.
That assumes 65% penetration and no wonging. Each card less than 65% pen costs you $, so that is a critical variable. When there are a lot of players at a single-deck game, the dealer is likely to deal a preset number of hands, regardless of the number of cards dealt. This number will probably be conservative, so the resulting pen often may barely exceed 50%.
If you can get some head-up play, you are more likely to get the 65% pen and the game becomes playable. It may even be more fun because you can use more index plays to deviate from basic strat. But you will not be able to wong in and out.
It's pretty easy to find a six-deck game with 0.50% expected return using only a 1-5 spread. Then you can wong out to the bathroom 2-3 decks into an unfavorable count and have them hold your spot, timing it to return at the start of the next shoe. I have had pretty good luck using this tactic, but it is a slow process that still has ups and downs.
stainless steel rat said:I'd like to see a game where a 1:5 spread (6 deck) gets you a 1/2 percent EV. If you can give me the rules you are talking about and I can run a CVCX sim. But I really doubt that 1:5 will cut it in a shoe assuming reasonable penetration (1.5 decks cut off, 1 deck in a _really_ good game). General wisdom suggests at least a 1:12 spread for 6 deck, with a 1:20 being better...
Knox said:How about 6-deck, 75% penetration, S17, rsa, lsr, DAS, double any two cards? You are about 0.36% disadvantage without counting. With KO, the 1-5 spread would yield 80-90 basis points gain in play.
I am all for huge spreads, if you can get away with them and your bankroll supports it.
It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!


text:
Recipe from Jamie Terhaar of Williamsburg, Ind.
1 family size can cream chicken soup
1 family size cream celery soup
3 small cans diced green chilis
1 chicken
15 tortillas( flour)
2 bags shredded chedder/jack cheese
1 clove garlic
salt and pepper to taste
1. Boil chicken in big stock pot until cooked through. Set aside and let cool.
2. In another pan pour in both cans of soup, 1 can of diced chilis, let it cook down for approximately 15 minutes. Taste if not hot enough, add more chilis. Turn off and set aside.
3. Take chicken and pick off the bone, take half of your soup mixture and pour into chicken and stir all together.
4. Get a large casserole dish and ladle some of your remaining soup mixture onto bottom. Place your tortilla down and get a good spoonful of chicken mixture and lay on tortilla, then wrap and lay in bottom of dish.
5. Repeat this until pan is full. Pour your remaining soup on top of tortillas, cover with your cheese, pop in oven at 325 degrees for 25 minutes.
6. Take out of oven when golden brown, top with your favorite toppings: sour cream, lettuce, tomatoes.
*DISCLAIMER*: The information contained in or provided through this site section is intended for general consumer understanding and education only and is not intended to be and is not a substitute for professional advice. Use of this site section and any information contained on or provided through this site section is at your own risk and any information contained on or provided through this site section is provided on an "as is" basis without any representations or warranties.


text:
- Nonstick vegetable oil spray
- 1 pound large carrots (about 4), peeled, cut diagonally into 1/4-inch-thick slices
- 1 pound large parsnips (about 5), peeled, cut diagonally into 1/8-inch-thick slices
- 20 large garlic cloves, peeled
- 1 Meyer lemon, halved lengthwise, cut crosswise into 1/8-inch-thick slices, seeds removed
- 6 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 2 teaspoons coarse kosher salt, divided
- 1
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
Recipe Preparation
Spray 2 large rimmed baking sheets with nonstick spray. Position 1 rack in top third and 1 rack in bottom third of oven and preheat to 375°F. Combine carrots, parsnips, garlic, lemon slices, and 4 tablespoons oil in large bowl. Sprinkle with 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and toss to coat evenly. Divide mixture between prepared sheets, spreading in single layer. Roast vegetables 20 minutes. Stir vegetables; reverse positions of sheets. Roast until vegetables are tender and brown at edges, about 20 minutes longer.
Transfer vegetables to platter. Drizzle with remaining 2 tablespoons oil; sprinkle with parsley. Season with pepper and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Serve warm or at room temperature.


text:
Shyslily Blue Flower Pattern Mini Dress | Mini Dresses pqx7VkTj
Codice Prodotto: pqx7VkTj
Disponibilità: In Magazzino
Occasion: Causal,Day
Material: Polyester
Composition: 100% Polyester
Silhouette: A-Line
Dresses Length: Mini
Neckline: Round Collar
Sleeve Length: Short Sleeves
Pattern Type: Floral
With Belt: No
Season: Summer
Weight: 0.480kg
Package Contents: 1 x Dressf18">Washing Instructions
1.Use the recommended amount of a premium detergent for delicate articles.
2.Silk articles need to be washed separately because they have a lower colorfastness than other fabrics.
3.Hand washing is recommended for delicate items such as lace, lingerie, wool, silk or very dark colors that may run. Using lukewarm or cold water under 30°C and squeeze gently. Turn inside out when hanging up and do not dry clothes in full sunlight.
4.The clothes should be at least 3 quarters dry before ironing. Ironing temperature recommended from 100°C to 180°C depending on the fabric.
5.The steam setting should be on high since ironing silk requires a lot of moisture. After the silk is lightly misted with water, it is placed face down on the ironing board and covered with a press cloth.
6.Avoid washing or bleaching for leather articles. Dry Cleaning is recommended for them.
Shyslily Blue Flower Pattern Mini Dress | Mini Dresses pqx7VkTj


text:
Does anyone know of a GREAT short "story" of the impact and significance of web 2.0 in the business workplace, specifically for the new generation of workers?
Why am I asking this? - I would like to quickly "sell" an executive on web 2.0.
The Director of HR for the company I work for is finally ready to seriously take web 2.0 seriously and start implementing new technologies for collaboration, communication and learning, specifically targeting the millennial generation. I am the lucky one to present it to him, and my supervisor suggested presenting a short, 2-3 minute story of why corporate executives need to care about web 2.0.
***Here is one source I found online, but I feel the focus of negatives outweights the positive: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages
Any help you have would be greatly appreciated.


text:
G'day everyone. Newbie here, with a big question, and hopefully to contribute in the future.
So I've got a Chinese Cnc router (x61500gt) and works great. Does what it needs to with limitations. I've got a FLSUN Delta 3D printer. Same thing - works great for what I want it for though with limitations.
And now it's time for a laser cutter/engraver.
Purpose: engrave timber, cut thin timber (let's say 6mm max - pretty much things too small for the cnc router. And maybe cut Perspex.
So at first I was almost going to buy one of those $100 NEJE 1w laser etchers. But it's working area is 38x38mm. So while it would do what I want it for, I feel I may as well get something a bit bigger. So...here two examples of what I'm considering.
Has anyone used a similar laser cutter? Can you give your experience? I have seen videos where the 5.5w laser cuts ply with multiple passes. So I assume it's possible. But I've heard these diodes are overclocked to get that rating of power therefore shortening its life considerably. Would the 10-15w diodes be the same story? And I noticed the smaller diode sizes state they have adjustable focus where as the 10-15w diodes don't. Does that mean I have to adjust the height of the working piece rather than turn a focal knob?
Not too keen on getting a co2 laser. I'd rather stick with a small diode setup.
But over to you. Experiences? Thoughts? Suggestions? Slander? Lol


text:
Khloe Kardashian, 27, on a shopping trip with letter sisters Kendall Jenner, 15, and Kiley Jenner, 14, in Beverly Hills, CA yesterday Saturday (October 29).
Sisterly bonding!
Posted by Alisa on Sunday, October 30, 2011 / Comments: (0)
Jess's gorgeous crew!
Latina bombshell and Actress Jessica Alba, 30, and her hunky hubby Cash Warren, 32, took their two beautiful daughters, Honor, 3 and Haven, 2 months, to the park in Los Angeles, CA yesterday Saturday (October 29).
Violet's sweet ride!
Singer/Actress Christina Milian, 30, and her daughter Violet,1, were seen at the zoo in Los Angeles, CA on Friday (October 28).


text:
The Secret Garden (Knickerbocker Children?s Classics) by Frances Hodgson Burnett (2015-02-27)
Book Description
The Secret Garden (Knickerbocker Children?s Classics) by Frances Hodgson Burnett (2015-02-27) was written by Frances Hodgson Burnett. The Secret Garden (Knickerbocker Children?s Classics) by Frances Hodgson Burnett (2015-02-27) was published by Race Point Publishing.
Book Information
|Race Point Publishing
|Hardcover (501 editions)
|Reading Level
|# of Pages
|Publication Date
Read the First Chapter of The Secret Garden for Free
The Creators
Frances Hodgson Burnett (Author) : Frances Hodgson Burnett, (November 24, 1849 - October 29, 1924) was an English–American playwright and author. She is best known for her children's stories, in particular The Secret Garden, A Little... more
View Frances Hodgson Burnett's profile
View Frances Hodgson Burnett's profile
Reader Comments
Carolyn M (Lyn) Johnson tagged as: I recommend
Bridget Weldon tagged as: Inspired me, I read
Jodie Waller tagged as: I read
C.K. Volnek tagged as: I recommend
Shirley Franklin said: I've read this several times, and it never gets old.
barbara g
Alice Kim tagged as: I recommend, I read
Annette K tagged as: I read
Samantha Parson said:
tags: I read, I recommend, Inspired me
This is my favorite book of all time. I have always loved gardens and the thought of exploring my yard and finding something magical. This book gives the reader all of that and more. The plot is truly meaningful to me and can help anyone see the simplistic beauty in life that is consistently surroun... more
tags: I read, I recommend, Inspired me
Rachel Newman tagged as: Inspired me, I recommend, I read
julia b tagged as: I recommend, I read
Ali B tagged as: classic literature
Angela Mann said: 1735302
tags: classic
tags: classic
Shelley HW tagged as: I read
Ash Lane
Tricotgirl F
Tricotgirl F
Meg Rose said: I am reading this with my children a girl, 10 and a boy, 7. They love it!
tags: I'm reading
tags: I'm reading
Jennifer Darlington tagged as: One of my all time faves
Tracy O'Daniel
Amazon US ReviewsWrite a review on Amazon.com for this book
Amazon UK ReviewsWrite a review on Amazon.co.uk for this book
Barnes & Noble ReviewsWrite a review on Barnes & Noble for this book
Goodreads ReviewsWrite a review on Goodreads for this book


text:
After a senior season at UCLA where along with Ed O'Bannon and Toby Bailey he helped lead the Bruins to the NCAA Championship in 1995, Edney was selected by the Kings in the second round with the 47th overall pick. He'd actually make All NBA rookie second team that season after 10.8 ppg and 6 apg in 30 minutes a night. He'd start 60 of the 80 games he played.
the Evil Emperor's reign didn't help his cause to stick in Boston long. He'd play that one season for the Celtics wearing #20 and starting in 7 of the 52 total games he played. I actually got to see Edney start one of those 7 games. It was November 28th, the day after Thanksgiving, against the Suns. And I have the ticket stub to prove it (uh-oh flashbacks to Eric Riley) below, on the right.
Edney actually had the chance to win the game in regulation but missed a floater at the buzzer. The Celtics lost to the Suns in overtime, 112-108. A couple of other interesting things from that game: Celtics guard Chauncey Billups played for a total of 5 minutes off the Celtics' bench (way to start Edney over Chauncey, Evil Emperor). Steve Nash played 11 minutes off Phoenix's bench and had 3 points and 2 assists. Of course he was backing up Jason Kidd who played 45 minutes that night.
|The man, the myth, the legend...and of course Tyus!
Today, Tyus is the Director of Men's Basketball Operations at UCLA.
For a list of all the "What the Hell Happened To" Series please click here. tb727 10/03/2010 12:01:00 AM Tweet Edit


text:
Click to Quote
We're happy to provide you with further information on this itinerary by email.
Please fill in as much relevant information as possible below, then we will be in touch to answer any queries you might have and help you book your next cruise holiday.
*Required Only English characters (or numbers) are accepted


text:
PRINCE RUPERT, B.C. - Questions about an oil-spill plan during a worst-case scenario involving a proposed pipeline are at the centre of federal review hearings in Prince Rupert, B.C.
The province of British Columbia is asking a panel of Enbridge (TSX:ENB) experts about how they've calculated their marine oil spill plan.
The B.C. government says a world-class plan is a condition of approval, but the panel is hearing that world class is in the eye of the beholder.
Enbridge consultant Owen McHugh says the best possible plan is one put together for the specific project and terrain — and that's what the company has done for the proposed Northern Gateway pipeline.
He says Enbridge has gone well beyond the requirements under Canadian law in promising a trained spill response team.
The pipeline would deliver crude from the Alberta oil sands to a tanker port in Kitimat.


text:
Blueford v. Arkansas
|Docket No.
|Op. Below
|Ark. S. Ct.
Feb 22, 2012
|May 24, 2012
Holding: The Double Jeopardy Clause does not bar the state from retrying Blueford on charges of capital murder and first-degree murder after the jury in Blueford's original trial told the trial court that it had voted unanimously against those charges but was deadlocked on the manslaughter charge against him and eventually failed to reach a verdict, causing the court to declare a mistrial.
Plain English Summary: The defendant can be tried again on two serious charges even though the jury in the defendant's first trial unanimously agreed that the defendant was not guilty of those charges. Because the jury could not agree on the other charges in the case, the judge could properly declare a mistrial, requiring the defendant to face a second trial on all charges. The judge was not required to take a partial verdict acquitting the defendant on some of the charges.
Judgment: Affirmed, 6-3, in an opinion by Chief Justice Roberts on May 24, 2012. Justice Sotomayor filed a dissenting opinion, which was joined by Justices Ginsburg and Kagan.
SCOTUSblog Coverage
- Opinion analysis: Retrial does not violate Double Jeopardy Clause (Anne Bowen Poulin)
- Argument recap: Double jeopardy limits on state procedural choices? (Anne Bowen Poulin)
- Argument preview: Does double jeopardy require partial verdicts? (Anne Bowen Poulin)
- Plain English: Recent grants (Amy Howe)
- Petition of the day (Conor McEvily)
Briefs and Documents
Merits Briefs for the Petitioner
Amicus Briefs in Support of the Petitioner
- Brief for Constitutional Accountability Center
- Brief for Criminal Law Professors
- Brief for the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Merits Briefs for the Respondent
Amicus Briefs in Support of the Respondent


text:
DescriptionAmy, who is a picky eater, loves this nourishing lentil soup, made from her mom's favorite recipe. It's high in protein and fiber, and has a rich, satisfying flavor. (from Amy's)Claims
- Organic
- Vegetarian
- Gluten Free
- Dairy Free
- No Preservatives
- Soy Free
- Trans Fat Free
- Cholesterol Free
- Non GMO
- Lactose Free
- Nutrition
Filtered Water, Organic Lentils, Organic Celery, Organic Carrots, Organic Onions, Organic Potatoes, Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Sea Salt, Bay Leaves.
Amy's Organic Soup, Lentil


text:
Back to ProMedica.org
Our new and improved patient portal for easy, online access to key portions of your electronic health record. Click to login or enroll.
Looking for a different account? Visit our Help Center
Looking for a different account? Visit our Help Center
Receive up-to-date health content delivered directly to your inbox.
We're sorry, but the requested page could not be found. You may be seeing this message because the content has moved or no longer exists. We apologize for the inconvenience.
Let us help you find what you were looking for.
Are you looking for other resources? You can always try searching searching our site.
If you think you received this message in error, please double-check the URL and try to load the page again.


text:
Dave Kraft is the leadership development pastor with Mark Driscoll at Mars Hill Church in Seattle, Washington. Before his current role at Mars Hill, Kraft served with Navigators for thirty-eight years. In 2010 Kraft published his first book Leaders Who Last, and in some ways Mistakes Leaders Make could be seen as a sequel to this earlier book. Where Leaders Who Last focused on what leaders should do to finish well (drawing on the power of Jesus, having a purpose, living with passion, setting priorities, living and ministering at a healthy pace, and being clear about calling and gifts), Mistakes Leaders Make highlights subtle mistakes that continue for years in a leader's life and cause permanent derailment if not addressed.
Kraft explains, "It is not my intention to give some kind of formula in dealing with each of the mistakes addressed in this book. There is no 'four easy steps to deal with. . . .' But I do want to share some things I am learning about dealing with each of the mistakes leaders make" (p. 22). Kraft illustrates the main points of this book through a fictional story of Covenant Community Church, a "composite of churches I have worked with in forty-three years of ministry" (p. 14). Each chapter opens with a case study involving the staff and elders of this fictional church, illustrating the core concept of the chapter. The case studies themselves are probably the best aspect of the book.
The titles of the individual chapters are self-explanatory as to the topics they tackle: (1) allowing ministry to replace Jesus (letting ministry become idolatry); (2) allowing comparing to replace contentment (not trusting God's sovereignty in who a leader is or where he is or what he is doing); (3) allowing pride to replace humility (not having an appropriate and accurate estimate of oneself); (4) allowing pleasing people to replace pleasing God (desiring to be liked or appreciated or respected instead of fearing God); (5) allowing busyness to replace visioning (not taking time to be in God's presence to hear from Him); 6) allowing financial frugality to replace fearless faith (being afraid to take risks and trust God to do the impossible); (7) allowing artificial harmony to replace difficult conflict (not willing to make tough decisions and do the right thing, instead of the popular thing); (8) allowing perennially hurting people to replace potential hungry leaders (being overwhelmed with hurting people instead of nurturing future leaders); (9) allowing information to replace transformation (not embracing, responding to, and obeying the gospel for oneself); and (10) allowing control to replace trust (not empowering others but letting insecurity and fear control oneself). Each chapter ends with a personal prayer and reflective questions related to the chapter's topic.
To seasoned leaders probably nothing is new in this book. In some ways Mistakes Leaders Make feels more like a devotional book than a typical leadership book. The chapters seem a little uneven at times, but the book offers good reminders that every leader needs to hear repeatedly. Obviously the author has learned these lessons in the trenches of real-life ministry.
Book reviews are published online and in print every quarter in Bibliotheca Sacra. Subcribe Today


text:
Eliza O'Neill just learned to spell her name, a sweet victory her family is savoring because there are so many milestones the little girl might not reach. Their efforts to raise money to save her have gone viral, but time is short.
Eliza O'Neill just learned to spell her name, a sweet victory her family is savoring because there are so many milestones the little girl might not reach. Their efforts to raise money to save her life have gone viral, but they need a lot of money and they're running out of time. Eliza, 4, the daughter of Glenn and Cara O'Neill of Columbia, S.C., has Sanfilippo Syndrome Type-A. As a story on WLTX explains, "Children with this disease are missing an enzyme which is essential to breaking down certain sugar molecules. The body and mind begin failing at various stages and speed." That means Eliza will soon stop progressing. Then she will begin a slow backward decline. Children with the disease are not expected to live to adulthood; speech is usually lost by age 5. But there's a cure, and her family's trying to raise the money to fund a clinical trial in Ohio so that she has a chance. They've held fundraisers and lobbied. The story has garnered an extraordinary amount of attention because of the family's social media campaign, creation of a video and its pick-up by multiple news organizations. According to an article on Huffington Post, "The O'Neills are heartbroken, but hopeful. Though, as Cara notes, they need action more than hope. Nationwide Children's Hospital in Ohio could start a gene therapy trial at the end of this year, one that could cure Eliza and other children who participate - but it will cost $2.5 million to get off the ground." The O'Neills ask this question on on their website, SavingEliza.com. "What would you do if you knew that money was the only thing standing between your child and their chance at a full and happy life?" "The total amount needed in the next several months is $2.5 million and we are working day-in and day-out with other affected families. We have started our own non-profit 501c3 Cure Sanfilippo Syndrome (Tax ID: 46-4322131) with no paid employees. All donations here are tax-exempt. In several months, $250,000 total has been raised from running fundraising parties, 5K runs, golf tournaments and dance-a-thons ... and we continue to work non-stop....WE WILL NOT GIVE UP, but we can't do this without more help ... there just isn't enough time. Please become a part of this miracle with us," they plead on the website. They are also hoping that an online video will prompt strangers and friends alike to donate. The medication would "literally stop the disease in its tracks overnight," the O'Neills told Britain's Daily Mail. The Mail reports the O'Neills have made some great connections including filmmakers DL Cade and Benjamin Von Wong, who created the video. And the effort has been helped by Johnny Lee Miller, who plays the part of Sherlock Holmes in "Elementary." He's been campaigning for funding for research into the disease since learning that one of the crew has a child with the disease. According to the Mail report, "Miller has addressed a congressional caucus in Washington on behalf of rare disease organizations" and created a foundation called Jonah's Just Begun Foundation, which was named after that child. He also plans to run in a fundraising event in May.%3Cimg%20src%3D%22http%3A//beacon.deseretconnect.com/beacon.gif%3Fcid%3D160441%26pid%3D46%22%20/%3E


text:
Do you have a portable generator that you need installed? Look no further that SERVIZ, your one-stop-shop for every professional service in the city. We can arrange your professional generator installation in Los Angeles today and send one of our recommended Pros to your home within a few hours. It has never been easier to enjoy reliable and quality generator services than with us!
The possibility of losing your electricity during a storm is a big worry for many people in the United States. But, having a generator can make sure you are prepared and that everything in your home remains working during this kind of event. This means your refrigerator will stay on, as well as lights and other home comforts during a power outage. In order to prepare for all situations, we recommend our professional generator installation services. We can make it easy to have your generator up and running in no time. Now you don't have to struggle yourself; leave all the hard work to our professionals.
To enjoy our quick and easy installation, all you have to do is book the service you need. We can provide you with a free estimate for installing your emergency home generator the same day you book. We will provide you with a two-hour appointment window so you don't have to wait around all day or change your plans. We will make sure your appointment fits your schedule. In addition, our Pros can also provide generator repair if there is a problem that needs fixing. There is nothing our Pros can't deal with!


text:
USA Coin Album: Transitional Pairs - Part Four
Posted on 6/12/2013
In 1873 Congress finally terminated several denominations no longer considered necessary to commerce, and among these was the Seated Liberty silver dollar coined since 1840. It was discontinued in favor of a coin similar in size but having a higher silver content that would make it competitive in the Far East trade against the popular Mexican eight-reales coin.
The last Seated Liberty dollars were those coined early in 1873 at the Philadelphia and Carson City Mints (there's a mintage report of 700 San Francisco Mint dollars, too, but these are unknown today and may represent simply a bookkeeping entry of 1872-S dollars). The new trade dollar bore an entirely new design by Chief Engraver William Barber depicting Liberty seated upon bales of cotton and other American agricultural wealth, her outstretched hand beckoning to distant shores. The eagle is nearly a mirror image of that on the previous dollar, sans shield, but Barber repeated the mistake of the Mint's early years in placing the arrows of war in the eagle's dexter claw. To make no mistake about the coin's value, its exact weight and fineness was specified on the reverse.
The first pieces were coined July 11 and began to circulate in China by the fall of 1873. All three mints struck millions of trade dollars over the next several years, but 1873's production was modest by comparison. Collectors seeking to own examples of both silver dollar types dated 1873 should focus on the Philadelphia Mint Seated Liberty dollar, as the CC Mint coins are quite rare. For the trade dollar, the Philly and Frisco dollars are of about equal availability, though the S Mint pieces are more scarce unworn.
Coining of the trade dollar for circulation was suspended early in 1878 in favor of a new standard dollar and then terminated altogether shortly thereafter. Because the coins' domestic legal tender status had been revoked in 1876, holders of these coins could not redeem them for face value, and they quickly became a nuisance and a source of much resentment in commerce. Philadelphia struck proofs alone in 1878, while only the San Francisco Mint, as the main port of embarkation for Asia, struck large quantities. To assemble a transitional pair with the new standard silver dollar introduced that year, collectors will almost certainly acquire the 1878-S trade dollar. More than four million were coined, and this date is readily available in all grades through the lower range of Mint State (the 1878-CC trade dollar is an expensive rarity).
Fierce lobbying efforts by the silver mining interests of America's western states and territories forced passage of the Bland-Allison Act February 28, 1878, and this mandated the coining of millions of standard dollars annually. The resulting coin carried Special Engraver George T. Morgan's handsome bust of Liberty on its obverse and an eagle seemingly held at gunpoint on its reverse. In 1878 alone, the three active mints struck more than 22 million of these Morgan dollars. There are several distinctive varieties, particularly for the Philadelphia Mint coins, but pieces from any of the three mints are readily available in most grades and will make a fine display alongside the ill-fated trade dollar of 1878.
The Morgan dollar would again become half of a transitional pair in 1921. Though bullion purchases for silver dollar coinage were cut off in 1893, with the resulting metal finally running out eleven years later, those silver dollars dated 1904 would not be the last. The same powerful mining interests which forced the coining of unneeded and unwanted silver dollars in 1878 scored again with the Pittman Act of 1918. It called for the melting of several hundred million silver dollars to provide bullion for stabilizing that metal's price at a time of inflation, but it also specified that these coins were to be replaced after the crisis had passed with an equal number coined from newly purchased, domestically mined bullion. It was in 1921 that this massive recoinage began, and the first 86 million silver dollars struck that year bore a revival of Morgan's old design. The mints at Philadelphia, Denver and San Francisco all produced substantial numbers.
With the signing of a peace treaty between the United States and Germany that same year, a campaign arose to commemorate this event on the silver dollar. In a whirlwind design competition, Antonio de Francisci's entry was adopted with some minor revisions. The dies for this coin, however, were not ready until the final week of that year, and the Philadelphia Mint alone produced just over a million examples before the calendar turned. The new dollar featured a youthful, flowing haired Liberty reminiscent of the earliest USA coins, paired with a fierce eagle perched atop a mountain peak.
Examples of both the Morgan and Peace silver dollars of 1921 are readily available in all grades through the gem level, and they make for an especially popular pairing. The Peace dollars of that year are in much higher relief than the later pieces, and they represent a unique type coin in their own right.
David W. Lange's column, "USA Coin Album," appears monthly in the Numismatist, the official publication of the American Numismatic Association.
Stay Informed
Want news like this delivered to your inbox once a month? Subscribe to the free NGC eNewsletter today!


text:
Esther Farfel Award
Neuropsychologist awarded the University's highest faculty honor
H. Julia Hannay directed world-renowned clinical neuropsychology training program
H. Julia Hannay
Moores Professor of Psychology
H. Julia Hannay, Moores Professor of Psychology, has earned the 2012 Esther Farfel Award, a symbol of overall career excellence and the highest honor the University of Houston bestows on a faculty member. The annual award carries a cash prize of $10,000.
"The Farfel Award is a high honor recognizing the many roles that we may have as professionals, as mentors, teachers, scholar/researchers, clinicians and administrators reaching out to the local, national and international communities to different degrees in our varied careers," Hannay said. "The UH has afforded me the opportunity to strive for excellence in those roles in the multicultural environment that is so important to our future."
Dr. Hannay is the fifth woman to be recognized with the honor since it was first awarded in 1979. She is a clinical neuropsychologist and a pioneer in the field of experimental neuropsychology.
"What I have always found so remarkable about Julia as a scholar is the breadth of her scholarship," said David J. Francis, a Hugh Roy and Lillie Cranz Cullen Distinguished Professor, Chair of the Department of Psychology and the 2008 Farfel Award honoree. "She has leveraged her great intellect, curiosity, and mastery of basic and applied experimental methods in psychology to advance our understanding of the brain and its role in human cognition from consciousness to complex human abilities, and how these develop and become disordered by injury and disease across the lifespan. Julia is a truly unique and remarkable colleague and we are very fortunate to have her in the Department of Psychology at the University of Houston."
The author of a test of memory and a textbook on experimental psychology, Dr. Hannay is also the co-author of the latest release of a textbook used by many as the reference book on neuropsychological assessment. Her research includes studying the neuropsychological consequences of traumatic brain injuries of all types, including stroke, spina bifida, blunt trauma and penetrating injuries. She also has derived paradigms for studying cerebral specialization and assessing cognitive functions in normally developing children and adults.
"Dr. Hannay is a household name in our field. She has been one of the leaders of our field for the past three decades and has achieved all of the major successes – being elected president of the International Neuropsychological Society, leading the landmark workshop that established training credentials in our field (the Houston Conference in 1997) and contributing to the book that is the 'bible' in our field," said Daniel Tranel, a professor in the department of neurology at the University of Iowa. Hannay is also a fellow of the American Psychological Association.
Dr. Hannay recognizes mentoring as one of her greatest professional achievements, having chaired many master's theses and doctoral dissertations in the years she has been at UH.
"Dr. Hannay's program development and mentoring students stand out as two of her greatest legacies," said Linda Ewing-Cobbs, a UH graduate and professor in the department of pediatrics and director of the Dan L. Duncan Children's Neurodevelopmental Clinic in the Children's Learning Institute at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. "The highly nationally ranked clinical neuropsychology track of the clinical psychology program at the UH has benefited greatly from this legacy."
Associate chair of the Department of Psychology in the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, Dr. Hannay also has been adjunct professor at the Baylor College of Medicine with privileges at Ben Taub General Hospital in the Department of Neurosurgery since 1988.
Dr. Hannay directed the prestigious clinical neuropsychology training program at UH from 1987- 2010, widely identified as a model for specialty training in psychology," said Jack M. Fletcher, Hugh Roy and Lillie Cranz Cullen Distinguished Professor of Psychology. "Dr. Hannay's efforts at teaching and training could have reduced her research productivity, but she has not compromised in her pursuit of excellence. Dr. Hannay has brought major recognition to research and training at UH."
One of Dr. Hannay's former program students, Kimberly Andrews Epsy, now vice president for research and dean of the graduate school at the University of Oregon, said, "Julia is an outstanding scholar – the true 'triple threat' – an outstanding researcher, teacher and someone who is passionately engaged in the local, national and international communities.
"Julia recognized where clinical training trends were going, established relationships all across the Texas Medical Center for partnerships in research and training, and focused on scientific research as the base. Her international standing and dogged determination made these connections possible. Today, the UH program is world recognized as the premier program in clinical neuropsychological training. I am honored to have been a student in the program, and the excellent training I received is the basis for my own scientific accomplishments."
~ Melissa Carroll


text:
St. Patrick's Day celebrations kick off Saturday
Parades and pub crawls headline events in NWA and River Valley
St. Patrick's Day celebrations kick off early in our area with parades and and pub crawls planned Saturday; a day before the official holiday Sunday.
The "St. Patty's Day" parade runs at 3 p.m. through downtown Fort Smith. Floats will travel east along Garrison Ave.
The 21st annual St. Patrick's Day pub crawl starts at 6 p.m. Local bars said they see three to four times the crowds they see on non-holiday weekends.
"It promotes the business downtown with a lot of places opening up on the avenue. It really boosts business down here," Douglas Moe with Roosters Bar and Grill said.
In Fayetteville, "St. Patrick's Day on The Hill" runs for the second year at noon Saturday. The parade will circle the downtown square, run north on Block St. and turn left onto Dickson St.
"We've got about 50 units in there so far. That's a big jump from 20 from last year. I think the response has been so great that we're going to have a great turnout," event organizer Don Brown said.
The 7th annual Dickson Street and Entertainment District pub crawl starts Sunday. Registration opens at Common Grounds on Dickson St. at 6 p.m.


text:
Jewel Box Cluster
The Jewel Box Cluster, also known as the Kappa Crucis Cluster, is an open star cluster located in the southern constellation Crux. The cluster has an apparent magnitude of 4.2 and lies at an approximate distance of 6,440 light years from Earth. It has the designation NGC 4755 in the New General Catalogue. The Jewel … [Read more…]


text:
Hieromartyrs Akepsimas, Bishop in Persia, Presbyter Joseph, and Deacon Aithalas
Martyrs Akepsimas the Bishop, Joseph the Presbyter and Aethalas the Deacon of Persia were leaders of the Christian Church in the Persian city of Naesson. His flock devotedly loved their hierarch for his ascetic life and tireless pastoral work.
The emperor Sapor ordered his men to seek out and kill Christian clergy. Saint Akepsimas also was arrested, even though he was already an eighty-year-old man. They took him to the city of Arbela, where he came before the judge Ardarkh, a pagan priest of the sun god. The holy Elder refused to offer sacrifice to the Persian gods. For this he was fiercely beaten and thrown into prison, where on the following day the seventy-year-old priest Joseph and the deacon Aethalas were severely beaten and thrown into jail with him. For three years the saints were held in confinement, and suffered from hunger and thirst.
Emperor Sapor came to the temple of the god of fire, located not far from Arbela, and wanted to take a look at the three holy martyrs. Exhausted and covered with festering wounds, the saints were brought before the emperor. When he asked them to worship the pagan gods they firmly refused, confessing their faith in Christ instead.
The holy bishop was beheaded, but the presbyter and deacon were taken into the city to be stoned.
The execution of the presbyter Joseph was prolonged for several hours. A guard was placed near the place of execution, so that Christians would not take the body of the holy martyr. On the fourth night a strong windstorm raged near the city, lightning killed the guard, the wind tossed stones about, and the body of Saint Joseph disappeared.
Deacon Aethalas was taken to the village of Patrias, where he was stoned. Christians secretly buried his body. A tree grew on the saint's grave, and its fruit brought healings.