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Sales Of Dog Language Interpreter Through The Woof
from the ah.--the-Japanese dept
Back in May we posted a story about a company that was working on a "bowlingual" product to translate a dog's bark into what they really mean. You might wonder who, in their right mind, would want such a thing? Apparently, though, there are quite a lot of people in Tokyo hoping for a technological leg up in understanding just what their dogs are saying. Retailers are saying that demand is very high, and they can't keep them in stock. The makers of the device say they may offer ones for other animals as well. Of course, we're still waiting for the device that will help humans understand one another, but perhaps that's hoping for too much.


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"America's Got Talent" easily won Wednesday night's ratings battle as the show reduced its number of contestants to 60 before heading from Las Vegas to New York.
The show's 9 p.m. broadcast on NBC, following an 8 p.m. encore, attracted an average of 11 million viewers, according to Nielsen, up 3% from last week.
The show, featuring judges Heidi Klum, Howard Stern, Howie Mandel and Mel B., also topped the key 18-49 demographic with an average rating of 2.8, matching last week's numbers.
PHOTOS: Hollywood Backlot moments
The broadcast helped NBC outpace other networks with an average of 7.7 million viewers and a rating of 2.0 in the key demo.
The network's Australian comedy/drama import "Camp," which followed "Talent," slipped from last week's premiere, hooking an average of 4.5 million viewers.
Fox's "MasterChef" cooking competition got 5.6 million viewers and a 2.1 in 18-49, making it the night's second-highest-rated show.
CBS's "Big Brother" was up 6% from last week with 6.3 million viewers. Its 18-49 rating grew 5% to 2.1.
The only other original Wednesday night show was ABC's "The Lookout," which held steady from last week.
Disney shakes up ABC Studios unit
Turner Broadcasting gets a Time Warner makeover
San Diego Comic-Con is a fantasy come true for aspiring superheroes
Follow on Twitter: @rfaughnder
ON LOCATION: People and places behind what's onscreen PHOTOS: Biggest box office flops of 2013 PHOTOS: Celebrity production companies
ON LOCATION: People and places behind what's onscreen
PHOTOS: Biggest box office flops of 2013
PHOTOS: Celebrity production companies

subset: commoncrawl


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* Jobless claims, ADP both stronger than expected
* Many unable to trade because of storm Sandy
* Pfizer, Exxon fall after results, JDA rallies
* Dow, Nasdaq both up 1 pct, S&P up 0.8 pct
NEW YORK, Nov 1 (Reuters) - U.S. stocks rallied in morning trading on Thursday after a pair of positive signs about the labor market pointed to improving conditions a day before the U.S. nonfarm payroll report.
Equities added to their gains throughout the morning session, though market participation remained low as investors continued to deal with the aftermath of the massive storm Sandy in the U.S. northeast, which had forced a historic two-day market closure earlier this week.
Weekly jobless claims unexpectedly fell in the latest week, dropping to 363,000 from a revised 372,000 in the previous week. Separately, the ADP National Employment report showed 158,000 private sector jobs were added in October, far more than had been expected. The ADP Report was based on a different methodology than previous months, which could impact comparisons.
``There is a general trend of things getting more positive, which should help stocks and the economy at large going forward,'' said Bruce McCain, chief investment strategist at Key Private Bank in Cleveland, Ohio.
Markets are still recovering from the aftermath of Sandy, a massive storm that wreaked havoc up and down the U.S. eastern seaboard and forced markets to close Monday and Tuesday. Trading could be volatile, with many market participants unable to reach their offices, or working from home amid persisting power outages and limited mass transit.
Still, some stocks saw heavy action.
JDA Software Group soared 17 percent to $44.79 after it agreed to be bought by privately held supply chain software maker RedPrairie Corp for about $1.9 billion in cash.
Pfizer Inc, which delayed the release of its results because of the storm, posted revenue that fell far short of expectations, sending shares down 1.4 percent to $24.52.
Exxon Mobil Corp, which along with Pfizer is a Dow component, was flat after posting a drop in its quarterly profit.
The Dow Jones industrial average was up 133.92 points, or 1.02 percent, at 13,230.38. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index was up 11.46 points, or 0.81 percent, at 1,423.62. The Nasdaq Composite Index was up 30.7 points, or 1 percent, at 3,007.93.
The S&P 500 fell 2 percent in the month of October, breaking a four-month streak of gains.
In other economic data, a read on October consumer confidence came in at 72.2, slightly under expectations, while construction spending rose 0.6 percent, as forecast. A survey of U.S. manufacturing conditions rose in September to hit its best levels since May.
Overseas markets were higher, with Europe boosted by strong results from such companies as Royal Dutch Shell and Chinese shares posting their strongest daily gains in more than three weeks on bullish data.
U.S. shares of Sony Corp rose 1 percent to $11.86 after posting a profit in its latest quarter and affirming its full-year view.


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I am a soup whore.
This is the best f-ing Split Pea Soup Recipe I have ever run across. I made it last week and ate the whole thing in 2 days. Pea Soup Anderson has nothing on this recipe. I'm going to make it again tomorrow. You'll need a crock pot...Enjoy!
Cook Time: 8 hours
1 (16 oz.) pkg. dried green split peas, rinsed
1 meaty hambone, 2 ham hocks, or 2 cups diced ham
3 carrots, peeled and sliced
1/2 cup chopped onion
2 ribs of celery plus leaves, chopped
1 or 2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 bay leaf
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped, or 2 teaspoons dried parsley flakes
1 tbsp. seasoned salt (or to taste)
1/2 tsp. fresh pepper
1 1/2 qts. hot water
Layer ingredients in slow cooker in the order given; pour in water. Do not stir ingredients. Cover and cook on HIGH 4 to 5 hours or on low 8 to 10 hours until peas are very soft and ham falls off bone. Remove bones and bay leaf. Mash peas to thicken more, if desired. Serve garnished with croutons. Freezes well.
Serves 8.


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Lawsuit targets Congress' health subsidy
January 07. 2014 8:43AM
WASHINGTON - U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wisconsin, filed a lawsuit Monday in an attempt to block the federal government from helping to pay for health care coverage for members of Congress and their staffs, a Milwaukee newspaper reported.
The suit against the U.S. Office of Personnel Management and its director, Katherine Archuleta, stems from a provision in the Affordable Care Act that requires members of Congress and their staffs to buy health insurance on the marketplaces set up through the law, according to the Milwaukee Jounal Sentinel.
A rule issued in October by the personnel office allowed the federal government to continue to contribute to pay the cost of health benefits for members of Congress and their staffs, as it does for other federal employees, even though they would be buying health insurance on a marketplace.
In an opinion piece posted on the Wall Street Journal's website on Sunday, Johnson wrote that he was bringing the lawsuit because he believes President Barack Obama's administration "has exceeded its legal authority."
"Allowing the federal government to make an employer contribution to help pay for insurance coverage was explicitly considered, debated and rejected" in passing the Affordable Care Act, Johnson wrote.
"In doing so, Congress established that the only subsidy available to them would be the same income-based subsidy available to every other eligible American accessing insurance through an exchange. This was the confidence-building covenant supporters of the law made to reassure skeptics that Obamacare would live up to its billing," he wrote
New Hampshire Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, a Democrat, backed the subsidy.
"Just like many other employees, Congressional staff receive an employer contribution toward their health care," said Shaheen spokesman Elizabeth Kenigsberg. "This isn't a practice unique to Congress, and existed long before the Affordable Care Act became law."
Jeff Grappone, spokesman for Sen. Kelly Ayotte, said Monday evening, "Senator Ayotte has voted numerous times to repeal Obamacare for everyone. She believes that the clearest way to stop the employer health insurance contribution is through legislation, and she has voted against the administration's ruling allowing health insurance contributions and will continue to do so.
"In accordance with the law, Sen. Ayotte and her staff have purchased health coverage through the Obamacare exchanges, and unless the law is changed, the employer insurance contribution continues," Grappone said.


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- Retirement
- Defined Benefit Plans (including Cash Balance)
- Defined Contribution and Participant Behavior
- Individual Accounts / IRAs
- Plan Trends and Participation
- Retirement Security Projection Model
- Saving for Retirement
- Wealth
- What's New at EBRI
- Fast Facts
- Issue Briefs
- Notes
- Press Releases
- President's Reports
- Testimony
- Resources
- Benefit Bibliography
- Benefit FAQs
- Links to Other Internet Resources
- Reference Shelf
- Special Issues of Periodicals
EBRI Center for Research on Retirement Income (EBRI CRI)
This center houses the EBRI IRA Database,™ which contains 14.85 million IRA accounts holding $1 trillion in assets. The database is being expanded to track owners' behavior over time within the accounts, including contributions, withdrawals, rollovers, and asset allocation changes. Our recent publications show account balance, rollover, and contribution activity within IRAs. Further results will include asset allocation and changes in accounts over time.
This center also houses the integrated EBRI defined contribution/IRA database, which allows EBRI to track individual defined contribution participants as they change jobs and/or retire and roll over their assets into IRAs. EBRI uses this information to track retirees' decumulation behavior as a function of individual characteristics and market dynamics.
EBRI Research on IRAs
EBRI Issue Briefs
- Copeland, Craig. "Individual Account Retirement Plans: An Analysis of the 2007 Survey of Consumer Finances, With Market Adjustments to June 2009," August 2009.
- Copeland, Craig. "How Are New Retirees Doing Financially in Retirement?" February 2007.
EBRI Notes
- Copeland, Craig. "More Detail on Lump-Sum Distributions of Workers Who Have Left a Job, 2006," July 2009.
- Copeland, Craig. "Lump-Sum Distributions at Job Change," January 2009
- Copeland, Craig. "IRA Assets and Contributions, 2007," September 2008
- Copeland, Craig. "Ownership of Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) and 401(k)-Type Plans," May 2008
- Copeland, Craig. "Total Individual Account Retirement Plan Assets, by Demographics, 2004," March 2008
- Copeland, Craig. "IRA Assets and Contributions, 2006," December 2007
- Copeland, Craig. "401(k)-Type Plans and Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs)," October 2007.
- Copeland, Craig. "IRA Assets, Contributions, and Market Share," January 2007.
EBRI Research Focusing on Decumulation:
- Copeland, Craig. "Retirement Income Adequacy for Today's Workers: How Certain, How Much Will It Cost, and How Does Eligibility for Participation in a Defined Contribution Plan Help?" EBRI Notes, September 2010.
- Copeland, Craig. "How Are New Retirees Doing Financially in Retirement?" EBRI Issue Brief, no. 302, February 2007
- Copeland, Craig. "Changes in Wealth for Americans Reaching or Just Past Normal Retirement Age." EBRI Issue Brief, no. 277, January 2005.
- 401(k) Valuations Published: October 1, 2018 401(k) Balances and Changes Due to Market Volatility
- President's Letter Published: February 20, 2018 Insights from EBRI's President and CEO


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Consensus Report
Letter Report to Review the International Epidemiology Public Health Institute's Evaluation of Radiofrequency Energy from the PAVE PAWS Radar (2006)Nuclear and Radiation Studies Board
Each report is produced by a committee of experts selected by the Academy to address a particular statement of task and is subject to a rigorous, independent peer review; while the reports represent views of the committee, they also are endorsed by the Academy. Learn more on our expert consensus reports.
The U.S. PAVE PAWS radar system located at the Cape Cod Air Force Station in Cape Cod, Massachusetts began operating in 1979 with the main purpose of detecting and tracking sea-launched and intercontinental ballistic missiles. Residents of Cape Cod have raised concerns about the possibility of health effects from exposure to the radiofrequency energy from the radar, in part because of the fact that incidence rates for some cancers, including colorectal, breast, prostate, and lung cancers, are elevated in Cape Cod compared to other parts of Massachusetts. In response to public concerns, the U.S. Air Force funded a study by the National Research Council to address the effects, if any, of the PAVE PAWS radar over its two-plus decades of operation. In light of the available scientific evidence, the report concluded that there is no expectation of adverse health effects to the population from continuing or long-term exposure to the U.S. PAVE PAWS radar system in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and in particular, no evidence for an increase in total cancers or cancers of the prostate, breast, lung or colon. The conclusions and recommendations of that report remain unchanged following a review of an epidemiological study released by the International Epidemiology Institute in 2005.
About this Report
Primary Board:Nuclear and Radiation Studies Board
Other Report(s) in this series:An Assessment of Potential Health Effects from Exposure to PAVE PAWS Low-Level Phased-Array Radiofrequency Energy (2005)
Letter Report to the Department of the Air Force from the Committee to Assess Potential Health Effects from Exposure to PAVE PAWS Low-level Phased-array Radiofrequency Energy (2002)


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A while back, I compared John Kerry's candidacy to that of Robert Dole in 1996. I arguied that Kerry was similar to Dole in that he was a safe candidate from the mainstream of his party who wouldl win essentially all of the votes that a Democrat should win, given the president's standing, but no more. I still view Kerry that way, but now believe that this number of votes might carry him to victory. I also think that Kerry will make a somewhat better candidate than Dole did.
You may recall that Dole, a World War II hero, offered to serve as "a bridge to the past." Unfortunately, the public wasn't particularly interested. As this piece by Byron York shows, Kerry is also quite the backward looking candidate. However, he adds an element of narcissism that Dole did not exhibit. For example, having restaged and filmed the skirmish through which he won the Silver Star shortly after it occurred, Kerry apparently often watches the film on his fancy home entertainment center. Rumor has it that he used to show the film to his dates. As York concludes, "This man is living in a time warp. No wonder Kerry sees any conflict
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"Arise and take our stand for freedom as in the olden time." Winston Churchill
"Proclaim Liberty throughout All the land unto All the Inhabitants Thereof." Inscription on the Liberty Bell


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Barry Lane (Silver Streak #1, Lev Gleason, 1939)
Steve Dahlman was a Golden Age comic book artist, who worked through the Funnnies Inc. shop from the late 1930s into the early 1940s. He illustrated 'Larry Kane' and 'Randall Ross the Master Sleuth' for Centaur's Amazing Mystery Funnies and The Arrow. He was present in Lev Gleason's Silver Streak Comics with 'Barry Lane', and he drew 'Dynaman' and 'Electro' for Timely's Marvel Mystery Comics.
Electro (Marvel Mystery Comics #4, February 1940)


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Jennifer Aniston & Justin Theroux: Kissing Cabo Couple!
Jennifer Aniston shows off her flat tummy in a bikini while soaking up the sun with her shirtless fiance Justin Theroux on Friday (December 28) in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
The 43-year-old actress and the 41-year-old actor were seen showing each other love with a kiss.
PHOTOS: Check out the latest pics of Jennifer Aniston
Jennifer and Justin were joined by their friends Jimmy Kimmel, Molly McNearney, and Emily Blunt.
The day before, Jennifer and Justin were spotted chatting with Emily, her husband John Kraskinki, Jimmy, and Molly on the balcony of their hotel suite.
10+ pictures inside of Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux on a vacation in Mexico…


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SOURCE: http://plasticsmakeitpossible.com/2011/10/the-recycling-journey-of-the-plastic-beverage-bottle/
You probably know that recycling a plastic beverage bottle recaptures its value and keeps it out of the local landfill. You may also know that the bottle can live a second life in a container, carpeting, and even clothing.
But have you ever wondered exactly how the plastic bottle that you toss in the recycling bin becomes a new T-shirt or rug?
The transformation from beverage bottle to new product begins at a recycling facility that receives large bales of used plastic bottles. The bottles are compressed into bales to reduce transportation costs and energy use – bales can weigh up to 1,200 pounds and contain up to 7,200 bottles. These bottles already have been pre-sorted, so each bale should contain only one type of plastic: polyethylene teraphthalate (PET), the type of plastic most commonly used to make soda, water, juice, sport drink and other beverage bottles.
At the recycling facility, the bales are torn apart by a machine called a bale breaker. The separated bottles then are run under a magnet that attracts any metal pieces that may have mistakenly come along for the ride. After that, the bottles are run through a washing machine that works just like the home version – only it's many times larger, of course. The soapy water removes the labels from the bottles as well as dirt and debris.
The next step: separating the bottles from the bottle caps that typically are made of polypropylene and can be recycled separately. But if you're imagining hundreds of workers endlessly unscrewing caps from bottles, don't worry—there's a much more efficient method. First, the bottles and caps are ground into small flakes that are placed in a large tank of water. Since PET and polypropylene have different densities, the bottle flakes sink in water while the cap flakes float. This makes it possible to separate the two plastics for recycling.
After the PET flakes head through another wash cycle to remove any leftover dirt, they pass through an extruder. This machine heats up the flakes until they combine and become gooey… and then pushes the plastic through screens to create long, tubular strands of plastic, kind of like that soft clay "spaghetti" press you used as a kid. The strands are cooled and hardened in water, chopped into pellets… and then shipped to companies that make a variety of plastic products, including new bottles.
If the recycled PET is going to be made into fabric, the pellets will be melted down and pushed through an extruder once again – but this time the strands will be stretched into a very fine, soft thread (fiber). This thread then can be woven into versatile fabrics that you'd never guess were made from recycled plastic bottles.
The demand for recycled plastics continues to grow, which makes collecting these bottles more and more important. And people have responded – Americans now recycle more than one and a half billion pounds of plastic each year from soda bottles alone! You can do your part: replace bottle caps after use, recycle at home, hang on to empty bottles until there's a recycling bin handy, and encourage your friends to do the same.


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Featured News - Current News - Archived News - News Categories
Leadership Niagara board of directors, alumni, and friends will gather at the Four Points by Sheraton, 7001 Buffalo Ave., Niagara Falls, at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 27, for a special reception to honor an individual who has helped the organization achieve excellence.
Frank P. Mergl, Leadership Niagara Class of 2006, and chair of Leadership Niagara's board of directors, will present the Chairman's Award for Excellence to Tim Widjaja, principal and founder of Kingdom Hearts Group, a leadership expert who joined the organization as a lead consultant in 2010.
"Excellence is not just a word, but a core value of Leadership Niagara, and a word that carries much weight," Mergl said. "(We) are honoring Tim Widjaja as an individual who demands excellence and has guided us to provide the level of excellence we always knew we could."
Widjaja has worked with multi-national and Fortune 100 companies as well as World Bank, Unicef, Gates Foundation and Ford. He developed and facilitates the organization's graduate level curriculum on leadership concepts, principles, change and transformation, creativity and innovation, as well as the coaching and mentoring program, which is now in its third year.
"We are grateful beyond words to Tim Widjaja for his contributions to Leadership Niagara," said Molly Anderson, executive director of Leadership Niagara. "He has empowered each of us to make a lasting impact in all that we do."
Leadership Niagara is the longest-running community leadership development organization in New York. It recently rebranded to provide graduate-level programming, coaching and mentoring, regional and binational collaboration, and world-class leadership development. The class meets one day per month for professional development, personal growth and community impact.
Leadership Niagara will soon kick off its 30th year and recruitment for "Leadership Niagara's Class of 2014: One Year That Will Change Your Life" (which begins in January 2014). More than 1,200 Western New York leaders have graduated from LN since 1984.
For more information contact Anderson at 716-949-3223 or visit www.leadershipniagara.org.


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Nicotine molecule
F004/7231 Royalty Free
Please login to use the price calculator
Credit: LAGUNA DESIGN/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY
Release details: Model release not required. Property release not required.
Keywords: alkaloid, artwork, atomic, chemical, chemistry, compound, cut out, cut outs, cut-out, cut-outs, cutout, cutouts, illustration, molecular model, molecular structure, molecule, nicotine, nightshade, plant, scientific, shape, space-fill, space-filled, spacefill, spacefilled, structure, white background
Licence fees: A licence fee will be charged for any media (low or high resolution) used in your project.


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The following businesses were inspected by the Lake Cumberland District Health Department using the scale below.
• 85 to 100, pass inspection.
• 70 to 84, business must be re-inspected within 30 days.
• Less than 70, a suspension of permit notice is sent to owner; if owner doesn't reply within 10 days, the permit will be revoked and the business will be closed.
• • •
If you currently subscribe or have subscribed in the past to the Central Kentucky News-Journal, then simply find your account number on your mailing label and enter it below.
Click the question mark below to see where your account ID appears on your mailing label.
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(May 1, 2012) -John Sloan and Jess Griffith of Shreveport weighed in a two-redfish limit that totaled 13.95 pounds to take home first prize at the Louisiana Saltwater Series tournament in Lake Charles on Saturday.
To win the tournament, which operated out of Calcasieu Point Landing, the duo anchored on a western jetty by a break in the rocks where the current was coming through and remained in the spot through the morning. "After pre-fishing the marsh on Friday and only catching a couple of redfish, we decided we would fish the jetties, no matter how hard the wind was blowing," explained Sloan.
The anglers took home a $2,300 cash prize for their winning fish.
Hosted by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Foundation, the 2012 Louisiana Saltwater Series is comprised of 13 fishing events and targets the tag and release of redfish, speckled trout, yellowfin tuna and tarpon. With low entry fees, the tournaments allow anglers to fish close to home and compete for cash prizes while simultaneously giving back to the resource through tag and release fishing.
The LASS has seen a significant surge in participation this year, with the number of teams nearly doubling for the Lake Charles tournament. This increase in participation is also reflected in the number of fish tagged. Thus far, the Department has safely tagged and released 266 redfish caught during its first two tournaments. The results of the tagging will aid conservation efforts for redfish in the future, helping to ensure healthy populations and a successful recreational fishing industry.
For redfish tournaments, teams may consist of one, two, three or four members. For teams consisting of three or more members, only two of the members may be 16 or older. There is a $200 entry fee per team for each event. There is a 90 percent payout for the first six events with 10 percent retained for the championship. Payout is determined separately for each event based upon the total number of boats entered.
For complete information, including rules, regulations and registration go to www.lasaltwaterseries.com [4], and be sure to mark your calendars for our trout tournament on May 5 in Slidell at The Dock/Dockside Bait and Tackle.
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is charged with managing and protecting Louisiana's abundant natural resources. For more information, visit us at www.wlf.louisiana.gov [5]on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ldwffb [6]or follow us on Twitter @LDWF.
For more information, contact Ashley Wethey at firstname.lastname@example.com [7](225) 765-2396.


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Hi everyone!
Just noticed that eToys and KB Toys have a sale going on for pre-orders of the Tamagotchi Connection. Their current price is just $12.99!
You can click here for KB Toys or eToys
NOTE - Clicking on the links above and then ordering will result in TamaTalk receiving a small commission. Please help support this community by clicking and pre-ordering your new Tamagotchi Connection for a really great price!
Pre-Order Tamagotchi Connection for just $12.99!!
Started by Admin , Aug 04 2004 08:39 AM


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PERRYSBURG, Ohio (AP) -- A northwest Ohio woman accused of stealing more than $95,000 from two school parent groups and a baseball team has been charged with theft.
Court records show 35-year-old Kiki Lorann was charged with felony theft Tuesday in Perrysburg, near Toledo.
The Blade in Toledo (http://bit.ly/KR10PK ) reports Lorann was treasurer for the parent groups and the traveling baseball team. Police declined to further explain how the money was taken in recent months, citing the ongoing investigation.
Perrysburg Schools Superintendent Tom Hosler says the allegedly stolen funds amount to what he calls a "staggering loss" for the organizations. A group that fundraises for several elementary schools triggered the investigation by contacting police about a discrepancy in financial records.
Court records did not list an attorney for Lorann.
Information from: The Blade, http://www.toledoblade.com/


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City of GlendoraHome Menu
Budgeting, Purchasing & Accounts Payable
Click here to view Finance Reports
Budgeting and Financial Planning
The City's short- and long-term financial planning is spearheaded in the Finance Department. Our intention is provide a consistent flow of timely and relevant information to decision makers.
On an annual basis, the Department plays the central role in the compilation and publication of the budget that the City Manager's proposes for adoption by the City Council. The budgeting process generally spans a five-month timeframe beginning in January, and involves extensive coordination with all City departments. It is common for the City Council to hold budgetary review meetings in June each year in order to adopt the budget before the July 1st start of the fiscal year.
The City of Glendora's FY 2009 expenditure budget, inclusive of the Community Redevelopment Agency and all capital improvements, is $75.7 million.
Each year, in February, the Department publishes a midyear financial review for the City Council. The midyear review summarizes estimated financial position for the current year and seeks to identify issues of financial importance on a go-forward basis.
Eight times each year, the Department publishes a monthly financial report for the City Council.
The midyear and monthly reports intend to satisfy Chapter 2.20.030 of the Municipal Code, wherein it is stipulated that the Director of Finance shall prepare and present to the City Council, a quarterly (or more frequently) financial report in sufficient detail to show the exact financial condition of the City.
With regard to its internal customers – City departments -- the Finance Department obligates itself to the distribution of detailed financial information to all City departments by the 12th day of each month.
The City of Glendora's Purchasing Ordinance establishes an informal purchasing policy for the acquisition of supplies, equipment and services with an estimated value of less than $25,000, and a formal purchasing policy for acquisitions valued at or above $25,000.
Each department is responsible for purchasing the supplies and services necessary for their functions, with the Finance Department operating as the gate keeper.
The informal purchasing procedure requires the solicitation of informal bids. The lowest responsible bid is accepted. If the purchase has a value of less than $1,000, the purchase can be made without the issuance of a purchase requisition through the City's Pentamation accounting system.
For purchases exceeding $1,000, but less than $25,000, the department is responsible for processing a requisition using Pentamation. The requisition is approved by authorized personnel within each department then forwarded to the Finance Department. In the Finance Department, each requisition is reviewed for proper use of budget codes and availability of budgeted funds. Upon Finance Department approval, a Purchase Order is issued and mailed to the vendor, and a copy sent to the originating department.
The formal purchasing procedure requires formal bidding for each good or service when the amount of each is $25,000 or above. This process involves inviting (by public notice) and obtaining formal, sealed written bids from vendors. To ensure confidentiality, these bids are handled by the City Clerk's Office, and all bids submitted by the deadline are opened at the time and place stated in the public notice. Awards of these contracts are made by the City Council at a public meeting to the lowest responsible bidder.
Once the City Council has awarded the contract, the department processes a requisition using Pentamation. The requisition is approved within the department and forwarded to Finance. Finance reviews these requisitions for proper use of budget codes, availability of budgeted funds, as well as formal award of contract by City Council. Upon Finance Department approval, a purchase order is issued and mailed to the vendor.
Accounts Payable
Accounts Payable is responsible for the processing of payments to all the City's vendors for goods and services. This process is cyclical and in constant motion. The process involves the collection and sorting of incoming US mail, invoice distribution to responsible department for approval, computer processing of each payment request, weekly issuance of checks for vendor payment, bi-weekly publication of the "warrant register" (the proposed list of vendor payments necessitating City Council approval) to the City Council, and the mailing of checks.
At the end of each calendar year, Accounts Payable processes approximately 200 1099 statements for distribution by US mail to independent contractors.
Accounts Payable processes approximately 13,000 invoices and 7,280 vendor payments each year. In Fiscal Year 2008, Accounts Payable made payments totaling $36.6 million.


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Kurt Nimmo
February 10, 2010
On February 9, 2010, MSNBC's Chris Matthews attacked Debra Medina, who is running for Governor in Texas against Rick Perry and Kay Bailey Hutchinson. Matthews denounced Medina as a Southern racist and compared her to former vice president John C. Calhoun, a vocal defender of slavery, state's rights and nullification. In order to make his point, Matthews quoted Martin Luther King on nullification.
Matthews' remark is not surprising. The corporate media attack dog continually characterizes Obama's critics, members of the Tea Party, and advocates of states' rights as racists.
During the debate between Medina, Perry and Hutchinson, Medina clarified her stand on secession. Medina said she does not support secession and made it clear she does support nullification. In other words, she believes Texas has the right to nullify, or invalidate, any federal law which the state has deemed unconstitutional.
Medina also supports interposition or a state's right to protect individual interests from federal violation or any abridgment of states' rights deemed by a state to be dangerous or unconstitutional (as established by the Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions authored by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison in opposition to the federal Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798).
It is Chris Matthews' assigned task to slander by innuendo and characterize Medina as a racist little different than supporters of Jim Crow laws and the Black Codes of an earlier Southern era. It was no mistake Matthews dragged out an old Martin Luther King quote that dredges up painful memories of segregation and vicious racism. The exercise was intended to portray Medina as a political throwback or even a closet member of the Ku Klux Klan.
Matthews' message (or that of his controllers) is obvious: support the Constitution and you are no different than a racist.
According to one of Matthews' guests, nullification and interposition must be rejected out of hand because they are "freighted" with racist and nativist connotation. In other words, political correctness is more important than the Constitution.
Matthews naturally opposes the right — or as Madison declared, the duty — to resist unconstitutional federal acts. His handlers are a gaggle of elite authoritarian banksters determined to shred the last vestiges of the Constitution and impose world government on the people of the United States.
The viciousness toward defenders of the Constitution (in this instance, the Tenth Amendment) and mischaracterizations of U.S. history are now particularly hysterical because millions of Americans are finally waking up to the growing and apparently limitless predation of the federal government.
Matthews and the "liberals" (who are the flip-side to the "conservative" statists) have a pressing assignment and that is to slander and libel and portray as dangerous racist radicals defenders of the Constitution.
Meanwhile, the Republicans are assigned with the task of subverting the libertarian Tea Party movement from within by taking it over and pushing the likes of the neocon warmonger Sarah Palin into its leadership.


text:
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text:
Knight Capital Group Inc. capped its biggest rally in nine years after getting takeover offers from Getco LLC and Virtu Financial LLC, setting up a bidding war that may end its 17-year history as an independent company.
Getco's cash and stock offer values Knight at $3.50 a share, an 18 percent premium from the Nov. 27 close, and retains its public listing, according to a filing yesterday from the Chicago-based high-frequency trader. Virtu submitted a bid to buy Knight for about $3 a share, a person with direct knowledge of the matter said. Another person familiar said the company's offer was made yesterday. Knight was bailed out by six financial companies in August after losing more than $450 million in a trading malfunction.
The offers represent divergent structures for the surviving company and will force Knight's board to choose between immediate cash and a value ascribed in part by the stock market's view of Getco. Shares of the Jersey City, New Jersey-based market maker rose 15 percent to $3.42 yesterday, bringing its three-day rally to 37 percent, the most since July 2003.
"If you're involved in a share deal, then you're betting that their market is going to continue to grow and there is an upside after the deal, whereas in a cash-only deal the upside is you're taking cash, and cash now," said Sang Lee, managing partner at Boston-based Aite Group LLC, in a phone interview. "It really depends on how the shareholders look at the market that all these firms are in."
Market Makers
Virtu, Getco and Knight are automated market makers. While Getco and Virtu operate across asset classes mainly on exchanges and similar platforms around the world, Knight focuses on U.S. equities. It's also a wholesale market maker that services hundreds of retail brokers including Fidelity Investments and TD Ameritrade Holding Corp. by executing buy and sell orders for individuals. Neither Getco nor New York-based Virtu is in that business.
Knight's volume yesterday was 47.3 million shares, more than 18 times its three-month daily average of 2.58 million shares through Nov. 23, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.
Knight declined to comment on Getco's proposal, citing a policy to not discuss shareholder activities, according to a statement from the company. Doug Cifu, president and chief operating officer of New York-based Virtu, declined to comment.
Under Getco's proposal, its chief executive officer, Daniel Coleman, would head the new company and Knight CEO Thomas Joyce would be non-executive chairman. The offer is a 41 percent premium to the stock's closing price on Nov. 23, the filing said.
Copyright 2014 Bloomberg. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Copyright 2014 Bloomberg. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.


text:
The nights are pulling in, our tops are getting thicker; Autumn is now in full swing. Reiss are the latest brand to reveal their Autumn/Winter collection, showing off their late-season suits under the heading "The Great Tailoring Movement".
Taking its cues from the continued retro-renaissance, Reiss are getting in early on The Great Gatsby style-shift that's sure to follow Baz Luhrmann's big-screen adaptation of the flapper-filled flick.
As a result, expect to see plenty of tie pins, cufflinks, silk scarves and pocket squares, as well as modern roll necks and bold print shirts. Colours invade the jacket too, with prune shades and mohair blends alongside your regular charcoal greys.
"No longer will suits be stuffed in a garment bag at the back of the wardrobe waiting for 'good reasons' to be worn," say Reiss.
"Instead, they can be worn on a daily basis in the smartest of all guises (three-piece, double-breasted, and with distinct styling), without the batting of an eyelid.
"There are various reasons for this. Firstly, there's a shift in attitude towards the suit. Men are more at ease viewing it as an everyday piece, or at least they are more willing to wear it than before. It has broken its 'stuffed suit' reputation; basically dressing up is cool again. Furthermore, they look better. No longer is a simple style, cut and colour acceptable. This season the suit has moved on, and it offers so much more."
For more on Reiss's latest collection, click here.


text:
So....are you coming, or what?
Amy M. Wilson 8/29/2008 6:26:49 AMThis is adorable, Connie! Great subject, colors and lighting! #988464
Lynn M. Whitt 8/29/2008 6:30:21 AMLove it, great capture.... #6384470
Jennifer L. Alder 8/29/2008 6:34:14 AMlol- love the title!
Anne M. Young 8/29/2008 6:54:14 AMOh wow - love this! Love pose,colours and processing!! #6384613
Dominick M. Dimacale 8/29/2008 7:12:48 AMLove this image and presentation, Connie, loly effects too.
Dominick #6384676
Jeff Robinson 8/29/2008 7:35:12 AMFantastic capture Connie!! Jeff #6384762
Cary Rogers 8/29/2008 10:19:17 AMWONDERFUL image and treatment, Connie! Great contrast, lighting, detail, and soft BG colors! #6385263
Georgeina M. Mckinney 8/29/2008 3:59:37 PMThis is great ...... he is so checking u out. :) #6386116
Teresa P.Pelaez 8/29/2008 4:03:25 PMGreat pose and tone Connie.
http://tpp2.zenfolio.com/p948137160/ #6386123
Jane Hirst 8/29/2008 5:42:15 PMWonderful cow---I love the expression you caught! Thanx for sharing. #6386269
Colleen Farrell 8/29/2008 6:24:40 PMFabulous capture and treatment, Connie--with a perfect title! I never see cows like that out here in California. #6386374
Tamara K. Walker 8/29/2008 7:34:42 PMWow, awesome job. #6386645
Leslie McLain 8/31/2008 4:06:26 PMTerrific image. #6392495
Dianna Murphy 9/1/2008 7:29:30 AMWow, please tell me how you accomplished this. I love the treatment. Excellent image! #6395025
Connie J. Bagot 9/1/2008 8:50:46 AMThanks all. Dianna, basically I just blurred the background a little and toned down the contrast in the background so that the cow pops a little. #6395426
Tammy D. Ferren 9/6/2008 6:49:09 AMThis is soooo beautiful, Connie! His pose and your treatment and the colors....it's perfect! #6418764
Stefania Barbier 9/22/2008 9:36:09 AManother spectacular finalist Connie, congrats!!! #6488680
Mike D. Perez 9/22/2008 10:03:59 AMCongratulations on this great Finalist, Connie! #6489007
Amy M. Wilson 9/22/2008 10:33:38 AMCongratulations on this well deserved finalist, Connie! #6489402
Susie Peek-Swint 9/22/2008 10:44:32 AMI love this one Connie ~ great title too .. many congrats!! #6489569
Joannie Bertucci 9/22/2008 11:16:56 AMWow Connie, it's amazing to see a cow "pop"! :-) Outstanding image and excellent treatment!
Guy D. Biechele 9/22/2008 11:55:06 AMNice work Connie!! Congrats and Good Luck! #6490616
Jeana Clark 9/22/2008 12:25:13 PM
Irene Colling 9/22/2008 1:19:58 PMThis is perfect Connie. I love everything about it. The composition is perfect and the lovely grass, shadows, fence make a great background. #6491363
Karen Slagle 9/22/2008 3:52:49 PMCongrats, Connie, on your gorgeous finalist. #6492502
Anne M. Young 9/22/2008 4:23:01 PMCongratulations - love this! #6492770
Patrick Rouzes 9/22/2008 4:44:36 PMCongratulations on another amazing finalist,Connie!!! #6492986
Sam Britt 9/22/2008 5:14:36 PMCongratulations, Connie! #6493314
Jennifer L. Alder 9/22/2008 8:28:21 PMCongrats, Connie- so happy to see this wonderful image recognized again :) #6495341
Deb Koskovich 9/23/2008 3:57:14 AMWay to go, Connie -- congrats on a very successful month! #6497271
Jeff Robinson 9/23/2008 4:38:38 AMCongrats Connie on your Excellent Finalist!! Jeff #6497498
Carol Teal 9/23/2008 5:42:14 AMWow, this makes me feel as if I am in Texas! Awesome image, the cow does pop! I love how this looks like a painting! Congrats on your finalist! #6497787
Carol Teal 9/23/2008 5:47:25 AMI forgot to mention that this one is going in my favs! #6497805
RC Fritz 9/23/2008 10:53:25 AMFantastic effects and POV. Congrats! #6499250
Cyn Valentine 9/23/2008 10:56:27 AMCongratulations Connie!! #6499262
Daniella Puente 9/23/2008 1:18:16 PMThis is great :))) congrats and good luck! #6499882
Donna La Mattino Pagakis 9/23/2008 2:35:17 PMCongratulations on your finalist, awesome Connie! #6500244
Linda Blair 9/27/2008 4:22:28 PMSuperb capture....congratulations!!!! #6521202
Amy JACKSON 11/14/2008 6:11:17 PMExcellent image, Connie! Congratulations on your finalist! #6756392
f5.6, 1/350th, iso 100, 28-135mm lens @50mm
Early morning. Background blurred and contrast lowered in the background so the cow would pop.
Exif: F Number: 5.6, Exposure Bias Value: 0.00, ExposureTime: 1/350 seconds, Flash: did not fire., ISO: 100, FocalLength: 50.00 mm, Model: Canon EOS D60
Uploaded on 8/29/2008 6:24:41 AM
Camera: Canon EOS D60 Digital SLR Camera
Copyright for this gallery photo belongs solely to Connie J. Bagot. Images may not be copied, downloaded, or used in any way without the expressed, written permission of the photographer.
Log in to follow or message this photographer or report this photo.


text:
- 1 Data
- 2 Broadband Providers
- 3 State Network Information
- 4 State-Level Broadband Report
- 5 Karen's Report
- 6 Columbia Focus Group
- 7 Teleconference Focus Group
- 8 Additional Resources
- 9 Missouri State Library Staff Interview
Public Libraries and the Internet
By Metropolitan Status
We are waiting for data on E-Rate discounts in this state.
Funding Commitments, by year
Internet2 SPEGs
|Connected 2k6
|% of possible
|K20 < 1.5 Mbps
|K20 => 1.5Mbps
ORS Survey Data
|How Libraries Connect...
|% of Libraries w/ Broadband
|Teleco Company
|School District
|Local Gov't
|Regional Telecom Network
|Regional Library Network
|State Telecomm Network
|State Library Telecom Network
|Comm Capacity
|Too Many Companies
|High Cost
|State Policy
|Lack of Local Expertise
|# of Vulnerable Libraries
|Library Conn'y (Draft - circ'd by Rick W. (J. Bertot)
|Receives Fed'l High-Cost Funding
|State Adv. Services, BBd or Tech Fund
|State USF High-Cost
|State USF Schools & Lib
|State USF Low-Income(in add'n to fed'l)
|Provides state support for Fed'l Lifeline/Linkup
|Statewide Network (SEGP)
|Statewide Video Franchise
|60-79% of libraries with connectivity speeds of 769kbps or higher
|States receiving greater than $5 per line in high cost support
|bills introduced in 06; died
FCC Data
Providers of High Speed Lines by Technology
|Power Line
and Other
|Data withheld to maintain firm confidentiality
|Data withheld to maintain firm confidentiality
|Data withheld to maintain firm confidentiality
High-Speed Lines by State (Over 200 kbps in at least one direction)
Universal Service Fund
|State or Jurisdiction
|Payments from USF to Service Providers
|Estimated Net
Dollar Flow
|High Cost
|Schools &
|Rural Health
|% of Total
|% of Total
Broadband Providers
State Network Information
|Network Org.
|Funding Source
|Control Body
MOREnet – The Missouri Research and Education Network
3212A LeMone Industrial Blvd
Columbia, MO 65201
(573) 884-7200
Fax: (573) 884-6673
|Original MOREnet consortium connected via NSF grants. On going funding provided by: state appropriations member dues, member service fees, port fees, direct network fees and one time start up cost
|Provides Internet connectivity access to Internet2, technical support, videoconferencing services and training to Missouri K-12 schools colleges and universities and public libraries, health care and state gov't and other affiliated organization
|University of Missouri System a MOU with the University created the MOREnet council that provides planning and budgetary oversight. Additional information council can be found at
|975 member connections. 1Gbps backbone, 4G Internet access and OC12 connection to GPN for I2 access. H.323 video conferencing support.
State-Level Broadband Report
Karen's Report
State Library
Structure: The Missouri State Library is a state agency in the Office of the Secretary of State, currently Robin Carnahan. The Secretary of State appoints a state librarian who administers the affairs of the Missouri State Library. The librarian serves at the pleasure of the Secretary.
The Secretary of State creates the Council on Library Development to advise her office and the State Library on matters that relate to the state's libraries and library service to Missouri citizens, to recommend policies and programs relating to libraries in the state, and to communicate the value of libraries.
The Secretary appoints Council members who serve three-year terms on a rotating basis. Members include representatives from the House of Representatives, the State Senate, public, academic, school, and special libraries, trustees, and library users. The Council meets quarterly. Current members are:
|Melissa Carr, Chair
(Director, Daniel Boone Regional Library
(573) 817-7015. firstname.lastname@example.com)
Shirley K. Baker, Academic Libraries
Sen. Joan Bray, Legislature
Sharla Buthod, School Libraries
Tracy Byerly, Library Services
Valerie Darst, Academic Libraries
Rep. Kathlyn Fares, Legislature
Mary Fridley, School Libraries
Martha Hogerty, Citizen
Rep. Paul LeVota, Legislature
|Martha Maxwell, Citizen
Sen. Robert Mayer, Legislature
Kia Moore, Citizen
Patricia Morrow, Citizen/Users of Wolfner Library
Peggy Mullaly-Quijas, Special Libraries
Tom Shaw, Library Trustees
Linda Walker, Citizen
Sue Wilke, Library Trustees
Vacant: Public Libraries
Vacant: State Employees
State Library Contacts:
Margaret M. Conroy, Missouri State Librarian
(573) 751-2751 -or- (800) 325-0131 ext. 2
Barbara Reading, Division Director
(573) 751-2679 -or- (800) 325-0131 ext. 4
Debbie Musselman, Library Consultant, Technology
(573) 522-6734 - or - (800) 325-0131, ext. 14
Carl Wingo, Library Consultant, Technology and Digitization Services
(573) 751-1822 -or- (800) 325-0131 ext. 9
Missouri's Public Libraries
Structure. Missouri reports 166 tax-supported, public library jurisdictions and 359 library buildings. 55 public libraries are not tax supported.
Over 90 percent of Missouri residents live in tax-supported public library districts (separate political subdivisions), with fewer than 10 percent of residents living in areas without library service. Although the percentage of people who live outside of tax-supported library districts is relatively small, they equal a population of nearly one-half million located in 32 of Missouri's 114 counties.
Only four counties have no tax-supported public library service—three in the extreme southern portion of the state, and the fourth located on the state's east-central border. An additional 28 counties have at least one tax-supported public library, but the library's taxing district does not encompass the entire county. These counties are located throughout the state, but most are in the northern and southeastern counties.
E-rate. Approximately 340 public libraries received e-rate funding during FY2006. Most of these were through the MOREnet application.
Internet Filtering. In 2002, the Missouri Assembly passed laws that imposed obligations on public libraries with public access computers to restrict minors from gaining access to material that is pornographic. To comply, libraries may use either filters or adopt polices which establish how the library will restrict such access or both. According to data from the State Library, 12 libraries do not filter, two do not have Internet access, and 135 libraries filter.
Internet Connections. All but two of Missouri's tax-supported public libraries have Internet connections. 118 libraries belong to a statewide network, MOREnet, and have at least a T-I connection. These libraries serve 5,058,463 Missouri residents.
Non-MOREnet libraries have a variety of connections. Four libraries have DSL lines; seven have 56K connections; one has a free T1 connection; two have 384k connections; and two libraries do not report their connection speed.
When asked some libraries do not belong to MOREnet, Debbie Musselman, State Library Technology Consultant, said that some non-member libraries already have Internet access through another source, either funded by the city or free. Musselman also said that the size of the staff, the number of hours of service, and MOREnet membership responsibilities, such as submitting technology plans, might discourage membership.
Background: MOREnet was established in 1991 at the University of Missouri, Columbia, and operates as a separate unit within the University of Missouri System. MOREnet encouraged the state's telecommunications providers to construct an advanced, high-speed, high-bandwidth network throughout Missouri.
A Memorandum of Understanding between the Curators of the University of Missouri, the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, the Missouri Department of Higher Education, and the Missouri Secretary of State formed the MOREnet Council (Council) in 2003. The Council consists of representatives from the Secretary of State, Department of Higher Education, Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, the University of Missouri, the Office of Administration, local schools, libraries, and higher education institutions.
|MOREnet Council Members
|Cheryl Bielema
University of Missouri - St. Louis
|Russell Helm
University of Central Missouri
|Rita Gulstad
Central Methodist University
|Robert Stein
Department of Higher Education
|Jeremy Kintzel
Department of Higher Education
|Annie Busch (417.874.8120 x5 firstname.lastname@example.com)
Springfield-Greene County Library
|Karen Hicklin (660-747-1699 x103 email@example.com)
Trails Regional Library
|Glenda Hunt
Adair County Public Library
|Margaret Conroy
Missouri State Library
|Barbara Reading
Missouri State Library
|Jeanie Gordon
New Franklin R-I School District
|Debbie Hughes
Jefferson City Public Schools
|Deborah Sutton
Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
|Bert Schulte
Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
|Dan Ross
State of Missouri
|Tom Stokes
State of Missouri
|Gary Allen
University of Missouri System
|Jim Tom
University of Missouri - St. Louis
|Bill Mitchell
|David Byland
MOREnet Contacts:
William "Bill" Mitchell
Executive Director, MOREnet
Associate Vice President for Telecommunications, University of Missouri System
Bill Giddings
Director, Education and Library Programs, MOREnet
Funding. In addition to House Bill 3 funding (Missouri's general appropriations bill) for MOREnet, separate funding from the Secretary of State (House Bill 12) supports public library connections and shared electronic databases. Through collaboration between the MOREnet Council members and the State Library, shared electronic resources funded by House Bill 12 are available to all members of MOREnet.
MOREnet Budget at a Glance
(from http://www.more.net/about/legislative/pub_good-070205-04.pdf)
Services. MOREnet provides Internet connectivity, access to Internet2, technical support, videoconferencing services and training to K-12 schools, colleges and universities, public libraries, health care, state government and other affiliated organizations. In addition to Internet connectivity, MOREnet provides training and technical support, access to online reference resources, technical and topical discussion lists, security education and assistance, and videoconferencing.
MOREnet provides fee-based services at a cost not included in a membership fee and include conferences and special events, Centra e-Conferencing, live video streaming, remote conference management, e-mail virus and spam filtering, Internet content filtering, and remote vulnerability assessment.
Internet2. In 2001, MOREnet became one of the first five state education networks admitted to the Internet2 Sponsored Educational Group Participants Program. This program seeks to introduce the broader educational community to Internet2, an advanced national education and research network, created to avoid the crowded pathways of the current Internet. Previously available only to member universities, Internet2's high-performance network is available to MOREnet members.
MOREnet's Backbone. MOREnet has five hub locations: Columbia, Jefferson City, Kansas City, Springfield and St. Louis. The hubs are connected together as a ring with a spoke across the middle. The network backbone is ATM, with one OC12 on each leg. Circuits to Internet providers are Packet-Over-Sonet. Each member is connected to the nearest hub via pure ATM or ATM to Frame Relay interworking.
Core equipment. MOREnet uses Stratacom BPX ATM switches to run the ATM backbone. Each hub has a Cisco 10000-series router to aggregate customer circuits and a Cisco 12000-series router to provide backbone routing. Each hub also has a Sun Solaris server for DNS services.
Local MOREnet equipment. Customer routers range from Cisco 1005 LAN extenders to Cisco 7507 routers depending on requirements.
External Connectivity Providers. MOREnet currently has two Internet providers: Qwest and Sprint, each that provide two OC12s (622Mbps), one in St. Louis and one in Kansas City. Two of the providers offer tiered pricing and MOREnet only uses a part of their circuits at present. MOREnet also has an OC3 to the Great Plains Network through which is available through their Internet2 access.
MOREnet's Library Program – REAL. The Remote Electronic Access for Libraries (REAL) Program provides Missourians the opportunity to use the Internet at their local libraries. 118 Public Libraries are members of MORENET. REAL is sponsored by the State Library that also funds the online resources available to all MOREnet customers. All libraries using MORENET have a T-I or higher connection to the Internet.
Eligibility Requirements. Any tax-supported public library is eligible to participate in the General Assembly-funded portions of the program. Tax supported libraries also must meet the requirements for state aid. In addition, participants must meet the following qualifications.
• Provide at a minimum two computer workstations. The computer workstations must be at least a Pentium 3 with 128 MB RAM, and have at least 2 GB of available hard disk space. Machines must have Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition or greater.
• The workstations must be connected.
• Commit to providing public access within six months of receiving the connection.
• Designate up to four library staff members as MOREnet contacts. Contacts are designated to request services from MOREnet and are the channel for communications regarding program-related information.
• Adopt a Technology Plan
Application Process: Libraries must complete an application form.
Participation Fees. FY07 (July 1, 2006 – June 30, 2007)
|Library Tax Revenue
|Local Cost Share
|Less than $24,999
|$24,999 - $74,998
|$74,999 - $124,998
|$124,999 - $249,998
|$249,999 - $399,998
|$399,999 - $599,998
|$599,999 - $799,998
|$799,999 - $999,998
|$999,999 - $2,999,998
|$2,999,999 or greater
MOREnet in the 2007 General Assembly
Senate SB 121 would require every state public governmental body, including MOREnet, to begin a migration strategy to the fiber optic network currently owned by Missouri's Department of Transportation for all telecommunications, video and data services by January 1, 2010. SB 121 is in the Senate Financial and Governmental Organizations and Elections Committee, which has not yet scheduled a hearing on the bill.
This bill is similar to SB 1115, introduced in 2006. This bill was heard in a Senate committee in April 2006, but no other action is recorded.
MOREnet submitted fiscal impact information for both bills. In the note for SB1115, MOREnet estimates an impact of four million dollars in 2009. This year, MORENet also submitted a fiscal note, available at http://www.more.net/about/legislative/.
House/Senate Joint Report on MOREnet Performance Measures. The House Appropriations staff and the Senate Appropriations staff performed a joint review of MOREnet's performance measures and released their findings on December 1, 2006. This review concluded that "MOREnet has a well developed, targeted, and consistent method of evaluating and measuring its performance. Its inclusive decision-making and policy-setting model appears to be effectively incorporating the wide variety of entities using the service. In addition, its customer service feedback survey provides timely and specific feedback on its performance." The report is available at http://www.more.net/about/legislative/morenet_performance_measures.pdf.
Funding Requests for 2008. MOREnet requested one-time additional funding for equipment upgrades to the network backbone and recurring funding to increase bandwidth to public K-12 schools and public higher education institutions. The Governor recommended flat funding for MOREnet, but included in his recommendations:
• $2.9 million one-time increase to fund 100 new eMINTS classrooms, (eMINTS is a professional development program for Missouri's teachers)
• $2.6 million increase in ongoing funding for the Missouri Virtual School,
• $840,000 to continue the Missouri Telehealth Network,
• $150,000 increase to the REAL program to fund additional online resources, and
• $1.5 million one-time funds to purchase equipment upgrades for the Office of Administration's Next Generation Network.
At the Senate Appropriations Committee on January 29, 2007, Monica Beglau, Director of the eMINTS National Center; Jeanie Gordon, Superintendent of New Franklin R-I school district; and Bill Rogers, Director of Missouri River Regional Library, (573 634-2464 or 573 634-6064) testified on behalf of MOREnet and supported the Governor's budget recommendation, and expressed their concerns over bandwidth issues. The committee asked questions relating to the member fee increases. All witnesses responded that their fees had increased significantly and additional fees would require cutting something else at their organizations.
At the House Appropriations, Education Committee meeting on February 5, 2007, Joyce Herzing, email@example.com, and Jim Snider, UM Governmental Relations, testified on behalf of MOREnet, supporting the Governor's recommendation. Testimony pointed out the current bandwidth growth trends and future concerns over the projected cost to support future bandwidth demands. This information is summarized from the reports on MOREnet's Legislative Resources Web Page, http://www.more.net/about/legislative.
Video Franchising in Missouri. The General Assembly is considering a video franchising bill that died in the 2006 session, due to the efforts of the state's dominant cable providers. However, cable firms in Missouri have now embraced Senator John Griesheimer's latest proposal, S.B. 284, because the bill would let them abrogate their existing contracts to seek statewide deals.
Missouri Cable Telecommunications Association Executive Director Greg Harrison told AP earlier this month that Griesheimer's revised proposal "provides a level playing field for all video service providers in the state of Missouri."
With the cable industry on board, the main opposition to Griesheimer's proposal now is comprised of various municipal groups, including the Missouri Municipal League. The league has argued that streamlining franchising rules with a statewide law would undercut the authority of localities. It also has expressed concern about whether the bill does enough to guarantee that video providers will not "cherry pick" by only operating in the state's wealthy neighborhoods.
In a white paper written for the league last year, Kansas City assistant attorney William Geary said it would be dangerous to trust private firms to expand into rural and low-income areas. "Understanding the goals of each and the needs of each will go a long way toward that time," he wrote. "When its businesses are healthy cities can thrive. Finding the balance is the key."
Edited from the January 31, 2007 posting to the National Journals' Telecom Update. http://njtelecomupdate.com/lenya/telco/live/tb-PUNE1170168545700.html
State Government information technology consolidation
Governor Matt Blunt began consolidation of information technology resources after taking office in 2005. The Governor appointed Dan Ross, a 36-year employee of Missouri State Government, as the state's Chief Information Officer (CIO). As of July 1, 2006, all information technology staff, with the exception of elected official agencies, such as the Secretary of State, those agencies governed by commissions, and the Highway Patrol, are under the direction of the Chief Information Officer and the Office of Administration-Information Technology Services Division.
This consolidation of personnel and resources fundamentally changed the CIO position from a cooperative, decision and policy-making role with the departments to a full budget authority role.
In an interview with GovernmentVAR, a magazine for government and education integrators and developers, a reporter asked Mr. Ross about his greatest challenge. Mr. Ross answered, "IT consolidation has been a huge challenge to identify and organize, and an untried change in state government. Missouri is one of the first states to actually consolidate both the IT staff and budgets across the majority of departments into one organization. Besides the complexity of identifying budgets and staff to be transferred, the human aspect of it enters the picture as well. People are often fearful or resistant to change, and many meetings were held and information updates made available to staff to help alleviate their fears."
The rest of the interview with Mr. Ross is available at http://www.varbusiness.com/sections/governmentvar/govt.jhtml;jsessionid=RE3ZTSCOPQ544QSNDLRCKH0CJUNN2JVN?articleId=193501316&pgno=2&queryText=
Columbia Focus Group
Columbia, Missouri - March 2, 2007
Focus Group
1. Describe your current network. How is it configured? How much bandwidth do you have? How do you get it? What does it cost? How is it funded? Is it scalable?
All the libraries are on MOREnet
All the libraries and their branches have a minimum T-1 line.
Some have of T-3
Paid for based on a formula of:
• Part state money (REAL) (pays for local routers, some local connections, and databases)
• Part local money on a formula ranging from $600 - $20,000
• E-rate
Main problems are with local phone companies who may not have the same quality as MOREnet.
Is it scalable? If you experience slow down in response rate-does MOREnet catch or do you? MOREnet notices it before the library—during high traffic the library does notice/cost goes up if need to add bandwidth/may give fraction of a t1 if need to increase bandwidth, don't have to get a full t1—if doing something to maximize pipeline there is not additional cost.
2. What do you use your bandwidth for?
Internet connectivity – describe uses
Internal operations – describe uses
ILS/PAC – describe
Current Uses
• Streaming media – audio visual
• Public access computers
• Video conferencing and programming (Legislative updates)
• Gaming and social networking – flash animation eats up bandwidth
• Databases
• Remote usage (database access, reserves)
• VPN with Branches
• Security
• Downloadable video and audio
3. What would you like to do with your Internet Connection that you cannot do with your current environment?
Future Uses
• Library online, more of a community center, a virtual library
• Book clubs on line
• Federated and visual search
• Customized web interface based on electronic profiling based on informatin on the library card
• Automatic notification of books or programs based on profiling
• Podcasting of book reviews, children's story hour
• Downloadable audio and visual
• Gaming for teens
• Second life and other social networking
• More databases so people don't have to come to the library
4. Is your bandwidth sufficient? If no, what problems does the insufficient bandwidth cause for your staff and patrons?
They don't really have any problems because MOREnet anticipates their bandwidth needs and provides them with increased bandwidth as they need it.
Some slow down in the middle of the afternoon due to student use but nothing major.
5. What would you consider sufficient bandwidth? How did you arrive at that amount?
MOREnet does all the planning for them.
6.If you had more bandwidth, what would you use if for? What is your vision for your library's connectivity?
See above
7. What are the barriers to getting more bandwidth?
They don't have any barriers. MOREnet does it all.
Most barriers have to do with weather impact on cooper wires, loss of city power, different phone companies. MOREnet negotiates for repairs or restoration of service.
8. E-rate: What role does e-rate play in high speed access for public libraries?
Who applies for the E-rate funds?
How does CIPA impact?
• MOREnet applies for all the telecommunication e-rate funds for them. They just have to do the technology plan for MOREnet.
• Some apply for their own erate funds for POTS and internal connections.
• Erate is complicated and for some not worth the effort
• For others, it brings in needed dollars.
• MOREnet provides the filtering as well. Only Columbia does not filter and they pay extra to be off the filtering.
9. Who at the regional or state level provides you assistance in analyzing your needs and getting you more bandwidth?
For the MOREnet services, MOREnet provides everything. Other than MOREnet, assistance comes from:
• MOREnet training
• MLNC training
• Contract
• Own staff
• MORE technic peer assistance via email
• MOREnet conferences
• KCMLIN – Training on applications
• WebJunction
Some have done studies to see how much their internet services would cost without MOREnet. Some said they would have no computers for the public at all.
10. If the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation were to offer assistance in getting more of US public libraries with higher bandwidth, what would be most helpful?
• Support MOREnet
• Tell other states about MOREnet
• Encourage multi-state networks
• Support REAL
• Advocate lighting dark fiber. Management of issues relating to this.
• Training
• Equipment and software and routers and switchs.
Why/How MOREnet
Why and how did MOREnet get established from their point of view.
• There were equal partners between school, public, and academic libraries
• They showed the efficiencies of aggregation
• The State Library set up a committee to figure out how to get internet to rural parts of the state. They established REAL which initially stood for Rural Electronic Access to Libraries and then became Remote electronic Access to Libraries
• Bill Mitchell was instrumental. He had vision and provided leadership of what could be done with internet access
• He delivered an inspiring message of what the internet could do for rural communities
• They held a conference (MOREnet Conferences) to see what others were doing. Demonstration of uses. Sent the message "If we can do it, so can you."
• Rural public libraries and school districts got computers at the same time. This showed true equality.
• They gave out 20 grants: 10 for 56k lines and 10 for dial up. This was the REAL appropriation from the legislature.
• Wrote letters to politicians about how important REAL was.
• MOREnet provided email to legislators for free
• This aggregation created a market for telecom companies
• The library community are good advocates
• There are topnotch tech people at MOREnet
• MOREnet supported local ISPs at the beginning. Often, MOREnet provided the only internet access in town.
Teleconference Focus Group
Missouri Focus Group
March 1, 2007
Note: This was a slightly abbreviated focus group. Not all of the questions were asked
1. Describe your current network. How is it configured? How much bandwidth do you have? How do you get it? What does it cost? How is it funded? Is it scalable?
Rolling Hills: Use MOREnet and also Cable companies
T3 into one library and cable access at all four libraries.
Internet goes through T3.
Usage: MOREnet comes to them and tells them they need more
Mid-Continent: MOREnet 20meg connection, used to be ATM
Buy separately from AT&T Frame relay. T-1s some bandwidth problems
Springfield: ½ through MOREnet
10 meg at main facility.
City utilities connections
T-1 connections
Moving to MOREnet for those facilities
St. Louis: Main at central, was 10meg and at 96% capacity. From MOREnet
Now have 20 meg and now at 75% of that line.
17 locations about the city and that comes from AT&T but get bottled up. Funding: Comes out of normal operation
2. What do you use your bandwidth for?
Internet connectivity – describe uses
Internal operations – describe uses
ILS/PAC – describe
• Streaming video and audio
• Blogs
• Wireless.
• Social networking
• Subscription databases, Rosetta Stone
• Downloaded video from recorded books
• Video conferencing
• Limited bandwidth at some places but limited.
• Prioritizing traffic. Hold out putting out new computers until have bandwidth.
• Prioritizing traffic. Video is low priority.
• Library automation traffic is only 6% of traffic.
• VOIP prioritize voice to ensure quality.
3. What would you like to do with your Internet Connection that you cannot do with your current environment?
• More video conference at all of the facilities
• Share interesting programs at multiple locations
• Have computer wants around system
• More public computers. One branch wants 10 more computers and waiting for bandwidth to install.
• YA department wants gaming.
• Remove restrictions on wireless connections.
4. Is your bandwidth sufficient? If no, what problems does the insufficient bandwidth cause for your staff and patrons?
• Sufficient bandwidth between main trunks.
• Between main and branches is the bottleneck.
• Need bandwidth to put out more computers.
• Turned sound on had a huge impact. Can watch news, or music videos. Did damage to data connections.
• Every time free up a bottleneck another one occurs
5. What would you consider sufficient bandwidth? How did you arrive at that amount?
• MOREnet does a good job of planning.
• How much depends on philosophy and what they allow patrons to do. Not a numbers game.
• Not say that a certain number of computers means certain bandwidth.
• 30 or 40 PCs at a branch. Process of trying to figure out what they allow to go on the PCs.
• 10 years ago ½ T-1 might be ok. With 15 computers T1 is the lowest to consider.
• 50 PCs 2 T1s
• T1 is minimum for even small connection.
• Rely on MOREnet to anticipate growth.
• Next generation network is scaled to meet long range goals.
6. If you had more bandwidth, what would you use if for?
7. What is your vision for your library's connectivity?
8. What are the barriers to getting more bandwidth?
• Communication on what MOREnet provides.
• Not sure what MOREnet provides. Only one connection to the library or more??
• In rural areas, infrastructure limits build out
• MOREnet bidding those in bulk. If doing it alone, could not do it.
• Aggregation makes it work so have to serve rural as well as urban.
8. E-rate: What role does e-rate play in high speed access for public libraries?
Who applies for the E-rate funds?
How does CIPA impact?
• MOREnet does erate for internet. Does own internal connections.
• Rules are always changing
• Yearly time constraints.
• After to apply for following year.
• Between aug and jan may be tracking 3 years at one time
• MOREnet does the filtering for some.
• Check out the MOREnet solution
• Worth the money
9. Who at the regional or state level provides you assistance in analyzing your needs and getting you more bandwidth?
• In house network so talk to AT&T.
• Talk with vendors from who got routers
• City
• MOREnet for internet connections
• For smaller libraries, depend on MOREnet for all support. Could not do it without MOREnet. MOREnet tracks usage, problems, etc.
• Gates gives money. Problem isn't bandwidth (St. Louis) but maintenance of computers. Gates has helped.
10. If the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation were to offer assistance in getting more of US public libraries with higher bandwidth, what would be most helpful?
• Fund MOREnet.
• Help with misc equipment inside the library like switches and firewall. Want to isolate public computers from private network.
• Funding for telecom/networking fee.
• Just the Gates name brings positive attention.
• The fact that he supports, believes in and supports libraries makes a big difference.
In Missouri, we know about roads. What happens when you don't maintain the roads? What happens to citizens when they buy nice cars and try to run them on gravel roads? Broadband is needed not just from Gates but state and federal government. We need an Eisenhower initiative to build the network. We can prolong the life of a computer but need the high speed highways to drive on.
It is a public issue the state should understand that they need to maintain the state highways and not take private money to do this. This is a state and federal necessity.
Additional Resources
MOREnet Branch Connection Policy http://www.more.net/programs/real/branch.html
Campus Connction Poliy http://www.more.net/programs/real/librarycampusconnection01.html
Missouri State Library Staff Interview
==Interview with Carl Fuchs, Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Director of new Virtual School Initiative==


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Derby champ California Chrome faces lighter load
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Before his workload and the scrutiny become heavier next week, California Chrome will enjoy a few light days.
The Kentucky Derby champion looked fresh following his 1¾-length victory at Churchill Downs on Saturday and seemed to be handling the ensuing fame quite well. After a Sunday morning walk and bath, the chestnut colt stood tall and proud like a runway model, making sure photographers got plenty of pictures.
With attention likely to increase as California Chrome heads to Pimlico for the Preakness on May 17, trainer Art Sherman wants his horse as relaxed as possible before returning to work. The horse will rest this week at Churchill Downs before flying to Baltimore next Monday to prepare for the Triple Crown's next jewel.
For the 77-year-old Sherman it means adjusting his training routine from several weeks between starts to just a few with the Preakness followed by the Belmont Stakes on June 7. Which is why California Chrome will remain at racing's most famous track instead of flying back home or arriving early to prepare for the 1 3/16-mile race at Pimlico.
"Rather than shift to different tracks, he likes it here, he likes his surroundings," said Sherman, who became the oldest trainer to win the Derby. "Let him freshen up for a few days and we'll get over there probably four or five days before just to school him like I always do."
Sherman's strategy certainly worked for California Chrome in the Derby, where the 5-2 favorite became the first California-bred champion since Decidedly in 1962.
Jockey Victor Espinoza's decision to lay off early in a slower-than-expected race also paid off, allowing California Chrome to save his best for the stretch in the 19-horse field. He went on to his fifth straight win and seventh in 11 starts. Commanding Curve was second and Danza third.
Despite the huge spotlight and expectations, California Chrome fulfilled them in racing's marquee event by remaining unfazed. He was just as laid back Sunday morning while soaking up attention from media and visitors.
"He's pretty good that way, just takes everything in stride," said Alan Sherman, who co-trains the horse with his father. "He got a little worked up Saturday on his way over to the paddock, but once he got in he was fine. He just loves to train and loves to run, that horse."
Stride is the operative word for California Chrome this week. Alan Sherman said the horse will walk for a few days before jogging and then traveling.
While Alan Sherman handles those duties, his dad will be back in Southern California tending to his other horses. Sherman figures to get a hero's reception and he welcomes the break after getting little sleep following his biggest victory, a whirlwind that included several rounds of interviews.
California Chrome's low maintenance has allowed Sherman the luxury of getting away.
"I don't really have to do too much with him, just keep him happy, keep him fresh," Sherman said. "He's coming back in two weeks, and I've never run horses back in two weeks as a rule. I'm more seven weeks, six weeks...
"I'll let the horse tell me. I'm not going to be no fancy-works, no fancy-this, just keep him fresh."


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Montana Tops Preseason Polls
While I think a lot of this year's success is going to depend on the health of Mighty #5, it's nice to be considered the team to beat. Big Sky Conference Defensive Player of the Year Will Cherry and his fellow Montana Grizzlies have been selected first in the preseason men's basketball polls, announced today by the conference. Here's wishing Will a speedy recovery from a serious foot injury. The Griz received 8 of the 11 first place votes and 98 points in the coaches' poll and 24 of 32 first place votes and 344 points in the media poll. After Montana, the coaches went with: 2: Weber State, 3: Northen Colorado, 4: North Dakota, 5: Portland State, 6: Eastern Washington, 7: Sacramento State, 8: Montana State, 9: Idaho State, 10: Southern Utah, 11: Northern Arizona. The media poll had some minor differences, voting Eastern Washington third, dropping Northern Colorado, North Dakota and Portland State down one more notch, and flipping Montana State and Sacramento State in the #7/8 positions. So for what they're worth, there they are! Remember UM Maroon and Silver scrimmages (men's and women's) next Thursday night October 25th starting at 5:30 in the Adams Center. And Gooooooo Grrrrrrizzzz! DB


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All SEMARA members in good standing have the option to view the clubhouse webcam. This webcam is located near the electrical closet at the clubhouse.
View Webcam
You will be prompted for a username and password.
Note: Java Runtime Environment (JRE) is required.
Login Request
A username and password has been established for SEMARA members to share. To receive this login information, please send your request to technical [at] semara [dot] org. Be sure to include your name and call sign so that we can validate your identity. Your request should be processed within 24 hours and you will receive a return email containing the shared login.
Please note that since August 2011 via a membership vote, the SEMARA webcam has been restricted to SEMARA members only. All requests are replied to personally by a member of the technical committee and non-member requests will be discarded.
Who's In Charge?
The clubhouse webcam is maintained by the SEMARA Technical Committee.
Questions? Contact us – technical [at] semara [dot] org.


text:
Our friend Major Eric Egland has posted an eloquent 45-second YouTube video regarding Massachusetts Tenth District Rep. William Delahunt's disgraceful remarks to Cheney chief of staff David Addington. We wrote about Delahunt's remarks here, here, here, here, and here. Please check out the video and consider doing as requested.
To comment on this post go here.


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UK Court Says Sports Schedules Can Be Covered By Copyright
from the copyrighting-facts dept
Copycense points us to the news that a UK court has now said that football schedules are covered by copyright. Yes, you read that right. The dates and times of a football match are covered by copyright, and if a news outlet wants to list the schedule... they have to pay up.
Amusingly, the court tries to pretend that this is more than just "sweat of the brow":
"The process of preparing fixture lists involves very significant labor and skill in satisfying the multitude of often competing requirements of those involved," Judge Christopher Floyd said. "(It is) not mere sweat of the brow, by which I mean the application of rigid criteria to the processing of data. The quality of the solution depends in part on the skill of those involved."But that seems ridiculous no matter how you look at it. The end result is purely factual information, and preventing people from reporting on basic factual information seems like a huge restriction on basic speech and the press. Now, the UK may not recognize freedom of expression as being as big a deal as it is in the US, but it's hard to justify telling people they can't report when a football match is happening because they haven't paid up.


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Rare : Early 71 AMX 401 "Z" Code
Shares in a Racing Heritage. In 71' & 72'
The Trans Am /AMX's ,Won the Manufactures Cup &
Championship Title in SCCA Trans Am Road Racing .
71' Season - Won 7 out of the 9 Races . In 72' Season
finished 1st , 2nd and 3rd. in last race of season !
Some of the designers of the 71 AMX Roger Penske,
Mark Donohue , Chuck Mashigan, ,George Follmer
just to name a few. 71' is the Frist Year for the 401engine.
It is a split year for this model,
Only 745 - AMC - 71' - 401 AMX's were produced ,
unknown # of 4 spd made
unknown # of Early 71' 401's made
71 Vega with a 74 nose clip
565 BBC dart big M block
Canfield alumiun heads
Callies Mangum XL crank
JE pistons 15:1 compression
Alumiun rods
Profiler intake
1500 cfm Holley dominator custom built by S&S Racing
Jessel belt drive
Jessel shaft rockers
Dry sump system from over seas (ssshhhh)
moroso dry sump pan custom built by Moroso
BG 400 fuel pump
Denebear case powerglide
Pro tree trans brake
Dana 60 (5.88 pro gear set)
60" wheelie bars
Msd digital 7 ignition box
Hvc pro coil
Runs sub 5 second passes in the 1/8 mile
a true family affair
ENGINE : 401 - 0.030 over . Keith Black Custom Performance
Pistons w/ Thermal Conductive Ring, Chrome Moly Rings.
The 401 RODS, have been reconditioned Bushed for full floating
pins,with spiral locks. Mildon Bolts & Nuts installed.
The MAINS, have Mildon Studs & Nuts Installed
CRANKSHAFT: Has been Magged, Crossdrilled, Chamfered,
Nitrided & Polished. The assembly has been completely
Balanced Externally Front to Rear. The DECK has been O-
RINGED ( Stainless Steel). New Main,Rod, & Cam Bearings
installed. Hi-Perf. Camshaft 474 Lift - 288 Dur. New Guides,
Hi-Perf. Valve Job, Comp Cam Springs, 10 degree retainers &
locks. Intake is an AMC Elderbrok Torker II with a 4150 series
Holley.A Centerforce II Clutch assembly gets the Horses too
the factory 4.10's Assembled and installed 4/07 FRESH
Run's Like a Cat with it's Tail on FIRE !
565 ci
single carb
no power adders
powerglide /transbrake
dana 60 588 gear
Ealy 401 AMX " Z " Code
" GO - PACKAGE " T - 10 P 4 Speed w/ Hurst Comp Plus
Shifter, Twin Grip Locking Differential w/ Factory 4.10's
Front & Rear Spoilers, Functional Cowl - Air Induction Hood
Handling Package- HD Springs & Shocks, Heavy Duty Cooling
System, Hood T - Stripe, 15"x7" Factory Slots Style Wheels
Air Conditioning, Power Steering ( Eaton Pump ), Power Disc
Brakes, Light Group, Tinted Windows, Rally - Pac Instruments
w/ 140 Speedometer , Leather Front Bucket Seats, Extended
Console w/ Armrest, HD Front Anti-Roll Bar.
Dealersip option : Trendsetter Sidewinder Exhaust
|Points for The 401 Experience
|Total Votes
|Points for Dreamweaver


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Firmly establishing himself as the man to beat, Bode Miller was fastest Saturday in the final Olympic downhill training run on a tough course he acknowledged "could kill you."
Miller finished in 2 minutes, 6.09 seconds, one day before the first medal race on the Alpine schedule. The 36-year-old American also turned in the top time in Thursday's opening training session. He was sixth in Friday's training.
Asked what his objectives were Saturday, Miller said with a smile: "Um, not kill myself was primary."
He went on to explain that his "secondary" aim was to fix a mistake he made Friday in a particular section that comes right before a spot known as the Bear Jump. Miller was satisfied that he now knows the right way to approach that portion.
"I felt confident I could do it," Miller said, "but I hadn't done it in either of the training runs before, so I think that was important for me to nail that section and ski it really well."
He already owns a U.S.-record five Olympic Alpine medals, including three from the 2010 Winter Games. Another triple medalist in Vancouver, Aksel Lund Svindal of Norway, was second-fastest Saturday, 0.66 behind. A pair of Italians came next: Peter Fill and Werner Heel.
Ten of 55 starters failed to finish. The first racer, Rok Perko of Slovenia, bloodied his face in a crash and was taken to the athletes village to be examined for a possible broken nose.
"That was kind of brutal," Svindal said, while Miller called the course "very treacherous" with "teeth everywhere."
Given that this was training, with no medals at stake, Svindal said he skied a little less than 100 percent full-out.
Svindal was the downhill silver medalist four years ago, one spot ahead of Miller.
After Saturday's training, Svindal acknowledged Miller has looked good so far on the Rosa Khutor course.
"Is he the favorite? I think so. He's been the best skier on this mountain, so right now he looks like the favorite," said Svindal, like Miller a two-time overall World Cup champion. "But there is me, and I would say three, four other guys that could beat him. So we'll see what happens."
Svindal was the only racer who was less than a second slower than Miller on Saturday.
"Looking at Bode, he brings intensity, but it's really that he's skiing really well," Svindal said. "That's his biggest advantage right now. Especially the top part, it's impressive."
Miller also did not worry about staying in a tight tuck position Saturday, easing upright a bit at times to rest his legs.
But he made sure to put full effort into learning which line he wanted to follow Sunday, when it counts.
"Race day is always different. It's going to be hard to stay calm," said Miller, who grew up in New Hampshire and now lives in San Diego. "Some courses, if you get fired up or you get too much intensity, you go slower. This one, I don't think (that's) the case. But yeah, I'm going to be ready. I want to win."


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Celebrating illustration, design, cartoon and comic art of the mid-20th century.
Friday, January 21, 2011
James Dwyer, Part 4
* James Dwyer article in Illustration #5
* My James Dwyer Flickr set
4 comments:
Great art. I love the whole portrayal of an America that never quite was.ReplyDelete
His line quality and figure drawing are great. I think that the play back and forth between line and value add a lot of strength to the illustrations.
I think Les might be right about the faces, but, I don't think that's a bad quality, do you?ReplyDelete
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We would be interested in hosting a speed war tourney if we can get enough clans interested.
The hard part will be co ordinating times that opponents can be online at the same time to play their games.
If we can get some people interested, we can work out the details.