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Dad: N.M. student deeply hurt by black Santa comment
The father of a black New Mexico high school student told by his teacher that Santa Claus is white says the teacher who made the remark should be fired.
In an interview with USA TODAY Network, Michael Rougier says his 15-year-old son, Christopher, was "extremely embarrassed" after Rougier says a V. Sue Cleveland High School teacher asked his son: "What are you doing wearing a Santa Clause outfit? Don't you know that Santa Claus is white?"
The teacher has been placed on paid administrative leave, Rio Rancho school district spokeswoman Kim Vesely confirmed in a statement Tuesday evening. She added that the investigation is ongoing and that the teacher made "a stupid mistake."
The teacher has apologized to Christopher, but Rougier says he wants the school district to go further.
"I don't think he needs to be teaching our kids," Rougier said.
The incident occurred during a classroom event where students were invited to dress up as Santa, an elf or a reindeer on Thursday.
Rougier and his wife, Lawanda, took custody of Christopher in 2011 when his mother, who is Lawanda's sister, died. They are now his legal guardians.
Because his son is autistic, Rougier says he took the teacher's words to heart, and felt as if he had done something wrong by wearing the Santa beard and hat.
The incident came the same week Fox News Channel's Megyn Kelly sparked controversy by saying both Santa Claus and Jesus were white.
Rougier says he has not received an apology from school administrators but says Christopher was taken out of the teacher's class after Rougier asked the school to do so.
Rougier says the impact of the incident on his normally outgoing son is evident.
Christopher is normally "very involved" with holiday activities like putting up a Christmas tree, Rougier says, but now he is "extremely quiet" and withdrawn.
"This is something that is going to be stuck with him for the rest of his life."
Follow @AshMWill on Twitter


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Skip to comments.Syrian Defector: Assad built 10-15 Mobile Chemical Labs a Year Ago
Posted on 12/21/2012 9:12:44 PM PST by drewh
Assad built 10-15 mobile chemical labs a year ago Syrian defector
Washington Post columnist David Ignatius quotes US intelligence sources on a revelation by a Syrian defector that in late 2011, the Syrian army started building special trucks able to transport and mix chemical weapons.
Inside the Mercedes or Volvos, which looked outwardly like refrigerator trucks, mobile labs were installed to combine and activate binary chemical weapons agents.
The defector said that, six weeks ago, the Syrian opposition secretly handed Lebanese officials a description of the trucks so that they could watch the border to make sure they did not cross over and reached Hizballah.
(Excerpt) Read more at debka.com ...
A 'defector' manufactured by the 0bama regime to enlist American support for troop involvement? I've seen this movie before.
It seems I've heard this story somewhere bethree...
Wag the Saddam's?
Is Colin Powell helping write this story?
I don't know what is worse: Assad sneaking these things across the border to Hezbollah before his regime falls, or Al Qaeda getting their hands on them after his regime falls.
Why do I suspect that the only country with mobile chemical weapons labs is this one...
Good. Hope he uses them. Just hope Israel isn't affected. As for all the other Muslim Rats, let them slaughter each other.
Muzzscum killing muzzscum.
Yes, our intelligence sources, CIA, NSA and the rest are now just more propaganda arms for Obama. There is nothing this Administration says that can be believed without independent corroboration and it is awfully hard to find any independent sources.
Full me once...
These are the 'non-existant' chemical weapons WMDs that Bush 'lied' about prior to the war in Iraq.
The 'other Hussein' just schlepped them across the border to his buddy in Syria, is all.
You are correct ... the line about them being built only a year ago is so that they don't look like liars when it comes out that we had to go in there and destroy WMDs that supposedly didn't exist.
Both of you are right on with your comments. The lefties and their mediots will never admit that these WMDs were the phantom WMDs that left Iraq before we started the removal of Hussein and his thugs.
"These are the non-existant chemical weapons WMDs that Bush lied about prior to the war in Iraq.
The other Hussein just schlepped them across the border to his buddy in Syria, is all.
13 posted on Saturday, December 22, 2012 5:53:23 AM by Flintlock (PARANOIA—means having all the facts.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies | Report Abuse]
To: Flintlock
You are correct ... the line about them being built only a year ago is so that they dont look like liars when it comes out that we had to go in there and destroy WMDs that supposedly didnt exist.
14 posted on Saturday, December 22, 2012 6:48:26 AM by willyd (Don't shoot, we're Republicans
Whom would you first trust: Assad or Obama...?
Disturbingly difficult choice, eh...?
The Rats sure can't have the country understanding...at last...that Sadaam's WMDs passed into Syria in the weeks before the war,just as Colon Bowel showed in his presentation to the UN.
Debka. That should be enough for anyone on this site to reserve judgement until it's confirmed by reputable sites. Why is this even allowed as a source on here, let alone allowed into sidebar? It's so much speculative fiction it can hardly be counted as a news source.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.


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Posted 6 years ago
(61 items)
This belonged to my grandmother .I haven't been able to find another lamp like this one and would love some info on it. On the brass fitting it says "Abco Nutmeg and I believe April 13 1876". I have found red minature Abco...but no others in this yellow.
If anyone has any info- I would love to hear about it.
It has a small chip on th top piece, but otherwise it is in perfect condition.


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Tamale with Rock Shrimp Ragoût
|Seafood, Vegetables, Dairy
|Day Part
|Dinner, Lunch
|Menu Part
|Cuisine Type
The rock shrimp topping adds a bit of elegance to these simple and comforting tamales. Served in the husk, these look nice on the plate.
1⁄2 cup milk
1 1⁄2 cup corn kernels, freshly roasted
2 cups masa harina
3⁄4 cup butter
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1 head roasted garlic, peeled
1 package dried corn husks, soaked
2 cups rock shrimp ragoût
1⁄4 cup cilantro, chopped
1. Briefly simmer milk and 1 cup corn; puree mixture.
2. Add corn mixture to masa harina. Whip together butter, baking powder, salt, and roasted garlic; add masa, 1⁄4 cup at a time, and beat about 10 min. Fold in remaining corn.
3. Divide dough on husks; roll and tie. Steam for 30 min.
4. To serve, open husks and divide ragoût evenly over each tamale; garnish with cilantro.


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Truth be told, we don't need another reason to love Jenny Yoo. Her gorgeous gowns have always been some of our faves, but when she paired her stunning 2018 Collections with the likes of Stephanie Williams and Blue Jasmine for a breathtaking shoot at Jardin de Buis, well... let's just say it took our obsession to an entirely new level. Scroll for classic silhouettes, beautiful prints and silky soft fabrics you are going to love.
With a nod to Hollywood glamour, Jenny Yoo's 2018 Collections are that ohmygosh beautiful we can't stop talking at. (Truly.) From the gorgeous details like glass-beaded fringe, chemical laces and hand-beaded embroidery to fabrics like stretch crepe and chiffon to the sophisticated silhouettes that are the perfect mix between classic and modern, Jenny Yoo's genius shines through each and every statement-making design. Plus, with two collections in total (Jenny Yoo Bridesmaids and Jenny Yoo Bridal), there's something for everyone in your wedding. (Guests, too!) Such a win-win.
We probably don't need to tell you that Jenny Yoo is THE place to go for your bridal gown + gowns for your besties, but here goes: run, don't walk to Jenny Yoo to check out the fab 2018 Collections. With high-low cuts, plunging necklines and classic looks that will never ever go out of style, you'll never feel so beautiful. Because, like Jenny herself said: "I envision a bride that is confident, bending the rules and creating a wedding that is truly one of a kind." She's awesome, you guys.


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In the end, only one thing was more concerning to Republican opponents of healthcare reform than blocking action by the Senate: the threat of an interruption in their travel plans.
After months of throwing every roadblock they could in the way of any reform, and weeks of specific action to scuttle Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's legislation, the "Party of No" said "yes" to an earlier than expected vote on the Senate bill because weather reports indicated that further delays might make it difficult to get home for Christmas.
And so the great moral struggle over "creeping socialism," "death panels" and all the other ills imagined by GOP senators came to a conclusion.
By a 60-39 margin the Senate approved Reid's compromise bill, which many progressives thought was too weak but which Republicans had suggested was a sort end-of-the-world disaster in the making.
But, disaster or not, the Grand Old Party had a grand old Christmas party to get to, so Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, dropped his party's pretenses and allowed a rushed vote Thursday morning so that senators could rush out of Washington.
McConnell's Republican colleague from Kentucky, Jim Bunning, didn't even show up for the vote — although 92-year-old Robert Byrd, D-West Virginia, did. The dignified Byrd, who had wagged his finger and grumbled "Shame! Shame!" at Republicans for their shenanigans during the debate, embraced the historic moment early Thursday.
Byrd is the only member of the current Senate who was there when Massachusetts Democrat Edward Kennedy joined the chamber in 1963. Kennedy, "the lion of the Senate" and its most ardent champion of healthcare reform, died during this year's battle. But his widow, Victoria Reggie Kennedy, was in the gallery for Thursday's vote.
Byrd was also the only member of the current Senate who participated in the chamber's previous Christmas Eve vote, a 1963 pre-Vietnam War debate.
It fell to Reid, who held together a fragile coalition is differing Democrats through sometimes bitter — and frequently disappointing — wrangling to "get to 60," get a vote and get the Senate on record for reform.


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BANDER SERI BEGAWAN, Brunei (AP) — With the Syria crisis shadowing his weeklong Asia tour, U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel is wrapping up talks on ways of deepening defense ties in southeast Asia.
At a news conference Thursday, Hagel reiterated that if military action were taken against Syria it would be an "international collaboration."
Hagel was flying later Thursday to the Philippines. Washington and Manila have begun negotiating a plan to increase rotational U.S. troop deployments to the Philippines.
The Pentagon chief has kept in touch with Washington by phone and other means as President Barack Obama contemplates a military strike on Syria, with orders that would flow through Hagel to U.S. commanders in the field.
Hagel is due back in Washington on Friday.


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Develop reading, writing and speaking skills in Spanish with a lively and engaging course, including workbooks and teacher's guides with accompanying CD, at four levels for ages 7-11. - Introduce children to Spanish with songs, activities and reinforcement activities. - Develop speaking and listening skills through the use of simple audio texts with visuals. - Consolidate learning with grammar boxes and new word boxes. - Use the course confidently regardless of your level of Spanish with only a basic knowledge of Spanish assumed on the part of the teachers.- Ensure affective use of the series with free teacher's notes available at www.hoddereducation.co.uk/chispas-teachers
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The joining of the Bruins' most effective line in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final was a long time in the making.
It took a couple days after he joined the Bruins in a 2009 trade from Tampa Bay for Mark Recchi to learn he shared an amazing amount of chemistry with center Patrice Bergeron. Those two stayed together for almost the entirety of Recchi's tenure with the Bruins.
Then last season Brad Marchand started the year on the fourth line next to Gregory Campbell and Shawn Thornton. That line was extremely effective, but by January head coach Claude Julien decided it was time to see what Marchand could do in a more prominent role. Marchand joined Recchi and Bergeron to give the Bruins a top-notch, two-way second line for most of the rest of the season. Their run culminated with a six-point, plus-10 performance in the Bruins' Cup-clinching win in Vancouver.
Now Recchi, barring a major change of mind, is retired. Marchand is still unsigned as a restricted free agent, but he's expected to get something done by the time the season ends. The Bruins, if they keep Marchand and Bergeron together, need a need a new right winger for their second line.
So I ask you, readers of TheBruinsBlog.net:
Who should replace Mark Recchi on the Bergeron Line?
- Tyler Seguin (52%, 182 Votes)
- Rich Peverley (27%, 95 Votes)
- Jordan Caron (18%, 62 Votes)
- Someone else (write in comments section) (3%, 9 Votes)
Total Voters: 348


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FLORENCE, Ariz. (AP) — Authorities along the Arizona border say a man accused of driving a car carrying 220 pounds of marijuana had been deported to Mexico 11 times.
The Pinal County Sheriff's Office says 21year-old Daniel Jupa-Fino was arrested Tuesday after he ran from the car after a deputy made a traffic stop on Interstate 8.
The agency says it later learned from federal authorities that Jupa-Fino had been deported 11 prior times during the past three years for illegal entry into the United States.
RecommendedThe Ever-Growing List Of Sketchy Donors Who Have Backed AZ Democrat Kyrsten Sinema
Matt Vespa
He's jailed in Florence on charges of possession and transportation of marijuana.
A second man who was a passenger in the car also was arrested on marijuana charges.


text:
Dear Mr. Joshi ,
In my search of a good university in the US that provides a decent MS in Financial Engineering, I Found your name and its a bit shiny one "kudos to you" i am still reading in your website. Its pretty impressive and the answers that I am seeking through the web are for sur in your hands.
My Status:
I am an Electrical Engineer that Graduated in 2004 and since than I have been working as a Telecommunication System Engineer in Ericsson AB, i hold in my hands 5 years in technical and (PMP) Project experience.
Since last year i stumbled upon Forex Markets and I got really interested in the science and studies of such markets and all related knowledge like Fundamental analysis and Chart analysis and all the details that gives an expert opinion and a high percentage of accuracy in predicting the future of a stock, Currency or any other investment/trade.
My Questions:
1- What should i study as a master degree: MSF, MSFE, Quantitative Finance or Mathematical Finance or are they all almost similar?
2- What certificates should i be interested in the future?
3- Can you share with me a good CV example for a good quant?
4- With me not having any banking experience, will this affect my future career as a quant?


text:
MajorNelson Writes:
'On Tuesday May 21st, we'll mark the beginning of a new generation of games, TV and entertainment. On that day, we'll be holding a special press event on the Xbox campus and we invite you to join us via the live global stream that will be available on Xbox.com, Xbox LIVE and broadcast on Spike TV if you are in the US or Canada.'
It begins.
Now fanboys will have something to officially troll in several weeks.
ahgg finally an official announcement
and 'games' was listed first. I like that.
Sh!t is about to get hot in here! Especially for trolls and fanboys.
I couldn't care less and is just really excited. Problem is, it is a freaken month away!
@darthv72: Doesn't really mean anything, but "TV" was listed too so that pretty much confirms that the Nextbox is going to be about tv in part.
About friggin' time. People were kind of going insane over the vague rumors recently. Finally Microsoft will be putting an end to the trolling (and ironically, open the road for new ones).
I'm expecting to see some Alan Wake 2 footage myself. Yeah folks, you heard it here first.
I know its just the wording but they could have made it alphabetical:
"entertainment, games & TV"
View it that way if that suits your preference.
so this happened exactly as the rumors predicted it was going to
wonder what other rumors will be confirmed as well...
the fact that the are placing "games and TV" at all on the same sentence with "games" on a game console announcement is in itself cause for concern
@BlindGuardian - True, but the source that first leaked this date did also say that an internet connection was only required for certain apps. In any case, I'm just glad that MS has officially announced the event, but it feels very late IMO, because E3 is only a couple of weeks later.
That they put "Gaming" first doesn't mean anything. Now I'm a PC gamer but I have liked what the PS4 has shown so far (Since it will effect PC gaming positively). But what you probably can read into that "of games, TV and entertainment." Is that games will be sharing focus with entertainment and TV. Which would actually speak for it to be less about games than the PS4.
A box can do many things decently or one thing great! So I for one did not like that wording.
Hahah N4G, never change. This place is still ruled by the Sony fanboys.
Anyway, on topic, It's great to finally have an official announcement. I can't wait to see what they have in store for us.
@Donkey Kong 286,000 Points: "The fact that they chose to put "games" first speaks volumes about their priorities."
No it doesn't. If anything all it does is try to ease the potential backlash of "we've focused more on TV and Entertainment but look, it still plays games."
I can't believe people are reading into the order in which Major Nelson placed these mediums. Really?
Im not into marketing but isnt it generally that you lead with your strongest point?
So putting games first may not seem like much to those who dont care for MS but it could be the premise that it will be a focus like the other two.
i mean all of these consoles do more than games. They all offer tv features and other forms of entertainment. so what is really the harm in how they word it? If they word it in the order of importance or alphabetical or whatever....we all know that all three will be points of interest for someone.
how these points appeal to people will differ. What should matter most is if they will give a price and date of availability.
when it is officially announcd, I wonder how many comments will get greyed out from n4g for trolling
I'm having trouble figuring out to which rumors you are referring to. Are you talking about the new positive rumors supposedly corrected after getting more detailed info or the old misunderstood abused negative rumors based on the misunderstanding of the new info? *head explodes*
"First, I'll admit some things that I originally hinted at in the first pastebin are now not going to happen. the date, as you may know by now was pushed back back to May,"
http://www.vgleaks.com/rumo... So this is Vgleaks article about how a different source had the same info
"We have recieved new information about the latest Xbox Roadmap. Our source unveils new details for Durango, Xbox mini and the Microsoft Strategy"
First ones that came across the info independently from the PasteBin guy.
The dude that first reported on the leaked info and 720 reveal date, first corrected the reveal date, then weeks later corrected his misunderstanding of the xbox hardware as you most likely know due to the amount of stories that floated around the web two weeks ago(Not on N4G ;)
Just putting all the rumors out there since you were not clear on which ones you were talking about :)
BlindGaudian writes: "the fact that the are placing "games and TV" at all on the same sentence with "games" on a game console announcement is in itself cause for concern"
Multi Tasking Media Consoles are what made next gen, next gen! and has shaped the rest of the digital realm/industry. I doubt a envious hater's opinion is going to undo what consumers expect from electronics in this day in age, when the spend their hard earned cash. LMAO
I don't think they, nor Sony, deserve any extra credit for focusing on "gaming." They are videogame consoles, that is their primary function.
I think what most people are "afraid" of is the possibility that the other features could take away from the "gaming" part of "videogame console." They're concerned that MS, instead of focusing 100% on gaming is now split. A certain % goes to gaming focus, another goes to trying to work on deals with TV networks and Cable companies and making that work, another goes to Kinect tech. Their concern is that somewhere in this last gen MS saw the potential of the casual "gamer" and how well the Wii sold... and that MS is slowly moving away from strictly "gaming." Next Next gen could see the new X-Box as just having a feature to play games. It's a entertainment hub for the living room: It plays movies, streams movies, it has DVR functions, has apps... oh and you can play videogames.
Microsoft is a smart company, they've done the research. They know their is a limit to the gaming market audience. They're a company that lives to make money, what company doesn't. This gen could be a vision into the future of what the X-Box will ultimately become... A TV and Entertainment device that plays videogames...
There are some that would like that to happen, but it would be a shame if the videogame industry lost X-Box as a "game" console.
Good to finally have an official date. With any luck the naysayers can shut up about a console that hasn't even been announced yet.
Not really surprised TBH, Micro goes to use the word "home entertainment center" for the new xbox. It might only be ideal for those who don't want their entertainment room being cluttered by cable boxes, consoles, etc.
I guess it boils down to each company's business plan, if one just imitates another then you'll see the opposite fans may go ballistic over copying ideas. Like the old Apple slogan, 'Think Different'
Let Sony be Sony, and Micro be Micro. Not Sony be Micro, or the other way around.
good to see has stuck to their guns. This is how they always reveal (Just before E3). M$ marches to the beat of their own drum. They will continue as planed. No need to rush because the competition decided they needed to.
I look forward to see what they have to offer so I could compare the 2 offerings. I really what to see what Kinect 2 will be all about. I have already seen some of the new gestures illustrated on the PC, but I know there is much more. E3 is where the surprise game line-up will be shown. Console release are always exciting and the hype is going to build from here on.
"Ms marches to the beat of their own drums"
No need to rush just because the competition did?! Lmfao!!!! Oooh boy.. if you don't know why i'm laughing this hard then your lost too...
and co have been hard at work on! I'm excited to see what they offer, i dont care too much about the TV offerings, its the games that interest me!... I'll be watching it for sure!
"and 'games' was listed first. I like that"
It's easy to order your list to appease people. Let's see if they actually break their way of doing things from the last few years, though.
The only thing I am interested in May 21st is MS to confirm whether or not they will support used and rental games.
@DragonKnight - Why would other features take away from games?
I watch Netflix on my Xbox 360 and Halo 4 still plays the same. Do your PS3 games lose quality when you browse the web on it?
It's a stupid argument. Having more features built-in doesn't have to take away anything from how the games look or play.
I think he means the way Kinect took away from core gamers with x360. The amount of core games went way down compared to the first half of x360's lifecycle when Kinect arrived.
This event will be watched by the millions and we will see if MS is willing to put some effort and please the core gamer or if they will continue the casual line like they've been on for the last 3-4 years. There's no running away now. The truth shall set us free. LOL!
Word of caution though. Unless MS comes out banging with core games (exclusive new ips too) there will be a meltdown of the internet.
Forget fanboys, this is great for people that like games who don't care what system they play on.
I hope the hardware is as promising as the ps4 hardware seems to be.
epics and konamis tech demos look stunning
I meant kojimas FOX engine. But You're right, it's not really konami
Wow someone who actually gave a good comment? I never thought I'd see that on this website.
it's just before E3, I wonder how they'll handle it. They are going to have to do two big unveils in under a month, I hope they have enough content.
They have games and a bit more info to show at E3. They just don't want E3 to be all about the console being shown and have it overshadow the games.
hurrah so it is true after all...
Replied to the wrong post... see below.
TV and Entertainment? This is why the next box is going to suck. They are focusing way to much on non gaming related stuff. Hello pizza hut app! Yeah something i could do on my phone. Show forza Say halo is coming Kinect and boom tv on my xbox wait i have tv on my tv so now i have tv on my xbox that is on my tv.
Nah man, you can't just show games, you gotta innovate too, and MS is doing just that.
They're stretching the limits to what consoles can do and what consumers can expect from the next-gen.
Consider this: you could order a pizza on the phone, but that pizza is just a mental image. With the xbox, you can see your pizza in full 1080p 60fps as you're ordering it, so you know you're making the right choice.
your logic is terrible
"Hello pizza hut app! Yeah something i could do on my phone"
wait, you mean its okay for your phone to do anything else and still make calls but if your xbox does anything besides play games thats not okay????
im perfectly happy with a machine that does many many things and plays games as well. if my wii did more it might have been used more.
and before you talk about the xbox library "lacking exclusives, blah blah blah" and continue whining about that, xbla games ARE GAMES! third party games ARE GAMES! and it still has its handful of established exclusives, limited yes but they are there and when you combine all three, whether you fanboys want to admit it or not, xbox has plenty to play
If you think PS4 wont be focusing on this areas also, you are mistaken.
The dedicated game console era is gone. Consoles now are becoming a entertainment center. Whats wrong with having your game console doing other things, IMO the more features we get the better, this consoles aren't cheap you know.
Nice to see your going to watch the unveiling with an open mind!, ps3 and xbox are both excellent multimedia devices that also play games so whats the problem?
Actually, what we know is that the PS4 is going to be an excellent game console that also has multimedia capabilities. We shall see what Microsoft offers with the next Xbox. Although, from the RUMORS (and even from this announcement), I wouldn't be surprised if MS will be the multimedia device that also plays games as you described. Personally, I would rather have it the way Sony appears to be doing it with the focus on games at the forefront. Only time will tell and we shall see MS's plans unveiled on May 21st.
Exactly, it says something about what's important, even if it's only about mindset. Sony will do those things too, but they want us to know that it's not what's important. Cause let's face it, gamers buy gaming consoles, not movie enthusiast. And sure it is great to be able to watch Netflix on your Xbox or Playstation, but that's just a convenience really.
@Captain Qwark 9
but the question is are you happy if gaming is not the main focus of your gaming console?
the reality is most people have a ton of connected devices in their house already i for one have content shared between my phone, tablet, tv, pc and consoles...so do i need another device that is another jack of all trades but a master of none.
we mainly buy our consoles for gaming so gaming should be it's main focus. we buy our connected devices for their respective key features aka phone for all, computer for actual work stuff, tablet for mobile entertainment and gaming device for it's...gaming.
so again i put the question forward are you happy that gaming is not the core function of the next xbox?
@ducky. just what i wanted a 300-400 dollar gaming console to order a pizza.
there would not be a problem if xbo would put more focus into gaming and ips rather then multimedia features. i have x2 65 inch 3d smart tvs with all these features.
what do i need this crap for. I paid for a gaming console which xbox seems to lack the games part just to watch TV? TV is dull these days and netflix is loaded with old crap movies. Other then my massive bluray collection the 360 never even offered a bluray player
What we actually know is pretty much nothing until the consoles and games are released, you can say this is better than that because its got better or more ram or whatever but until we actually get our hands on them we wont know, i personally am getting both new consoles as i did with the last gen and a few years in i'll make my own informed decision on actual performance not rumours, i hope both machines do really well competition is good it drives both companies to try and outdo each other, Next gen cant come soon enough for me
you know nothing about the console support from third party devs, first party titles, or even indie devs. you havent the faintest clue how its being supported with games, nobody does.
and on that note, the announcement says "we'll mark the beginning of a new generation of games, TV and entertainment".........so games is the first thing listed. another quote, "Then, 19-days later at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in Los Angeles, we'll continue the conversation and showcase our full lineup of blockbuster games." again, another mention of games.
and yet somehow, you two are claiming its not focused on gaming lol? wtf, did we read something different?
and yes it mentions its other features because it has too, why? because everyone is already well aware that the ps4 is coming and it can do more as well. you wouldnt want to word it so you sound like an inferior product not capable of doing as much as its direct competitor.
i say bring on the games, bring on the extra features, show me what is replacing my 360 which remains my most played console. if they play their cards right, ill buy this too. always online is a def deal breaker though.
and lastly, yes i have many devices that are a jack of all trades but you know what, i still use my 360 and tv for almost all of my netflix and movies, streaming from my computer, etc so yes, this is every bit as important to me as the games and no i didnt get the console just for the games because i like everything else it can do as well
I think highlifes point is Sony are concentrating on games first and everything else like TV and entertainment is second. MS are once again proving games are not a priority and are just a third of the consoles priority. When the 360 came out the consoles priority was games and thats why it was so damn popular. In recent years worldwide sales have declined thanks to less games and more apps. Seems the new xbox is going this way to from day 1.
This is worrying and xbox gamers have to realise this and the fact PS4 will have more exclusives than xbox. Then again the only people who dont realise the ps4 will have more exclusives is the xbox fanboys thanks to sonys superior amount of first and second party studios.
If you only want shooters like Halo though and don't care about quality games like Journey and Guacamelee! then Xbox is a no brainier I guess. As the nextbox will be once again a shooter box no doubt.
yes the ps3 has more exclusives in total but saying all the 360 has is shooters is dead wrong.
i can play halo, gears, fable, forza, ( their main titles ), older exclusives such as halo wars, banjo kazooie, lost odessy and alan wake, and since you named journey and guac, xbla has an enormous list of exclusive and great arcade games like minecraft ( i know its on pc but its only on 1 console ) and battleblock theater, also shadow complex, trials, etc. so again i ask, what are you talking about lol??
and tell me again how you know that games are the same priority as the other features? please list out the announced games that has led you to believe this, also list out the dev support that apparently has been confirmed, and last show me all these new confirmed features that are taking priority over gaming???
you speak of xbox fanboys not realizing what the xbox isnt bringing to the table yet you rant about things that you cant even say with any certainty are true or not
UPDATE* one last thing, you call it a shooterbox yet you do realize that ps3 has just as many if not more shooters than 360? socom, mag, resistance, cod, killzone, uncharted, haze, etc..... shooters are just the most popular genre on 360 because its a very social platform. last i checked though, mortal combat, castlevania, tomb raider, rayman legends, sonic, assasins creed, etc..... all those games are playable on 360 too. if yor going to argue about the 360 at least get your facts straight and stop twisting the truth to support your argument
You do realise that the full corporate name of the ps3 (and no doubt ps4) is Sony Playstation 3 computer entertainment system ? Not a games console. You should really be aware of this before you troll the.xbox brand.
Btw one of the first things sony said at the ps4 reveal was to brag how they have the most popular device for netflix. A tv and films app.
And the addition of things that can be done on other hardware/software isn't called "innovation".
I have nothing against being able to order pizza from your console, I think it's cool. I just think people need to know what they're saying.
@Captain Qwark 9
Yeah so I do know how it works bro...
Devs and pubs...they make games so a console built for multimedia driven focus with gaming as just one of those features dont really benefit unless it kills in the sales department because it opens up the chance of selling more units.
Putting gaming 1st is a reaction to 2 things 1st is that Sonys conference made a big deal that they are a gaming console first and the 2nd is that everyone in the press has branded it already as a media device first gaming second.
So you didnt get your gaming console for gaming you got it for media...yeah made it clear your not a real gamer. Hell my TV has netflix built in by your logic if you had my TV you wouldnt even need a console...right
Its clear after your 9th account that are here for different reasons than the rest of us real gamers...we buy our media devices for media and our gaming devices for gaming its cool they can do other things but we dont say that we bought our consoles for anything other than gaming
I want my phone to only be capable of making phone calls, its a phone, not some fangled pocket pc.
"Devs and pubs...they make games so a console built for multimedia driven focus with gaming as just one of those features dont really benefit unless it kills in the sales department because it opens up the chance of selling more units."
first, the 360 has an incredible software attach rate last i checked and i doubt that has changed much so devs will look at that before they look at what the console is focusing on. if the platform sells games, it sells games. end of the day thats all that matters.
"Putting gaming 1st is a reaction to 2 things 1st is that Sonys conference made a big deal that they are a gaming console first and the 2nd is that everyone in the press has branded it already as a media device first gaming second."
well gaming was the first thing mentioned in the announcement, and the second thing mentioned was how they are going to show off blockbuster games at E3. not once in the announcement did they say they are going to focus on all its multimedia capabilities. the press has already made a big deal about its "always online" too but the reality is, nobody knows including you, so if its making a huge deal about its focus on multimedia, again, nobody knows. your arguing over speculation.
"So you didnt get your gaming console for gaming you got it for media...yeah made it clear your not a real gamer. Hell my TV has netflix built in by your logic if you had my TV you wouldnt even need a console...right"
you dont even know what a real gamer is lol ive been playing games since i was 4, i have every console released since then ( NES and up ), i have all three current gen systems and over 150 games for 360, 25+ for ps3, and about 20 for wii. personally attacking me during an argument just shows that you have no valid counter arguments and have to resort to childish techniques such as that. i bought my console for gaming first and since ive had it, its become an amazing multimedia device and i use it as both often because its easy and convenient.
"Its clear after your 9th account that are here for different reasons than the rest of us real gamers...we buy our media devices for media and our gaming devices for gaming its cool they can do other things but we dont say that we bought our consoles for anything other than gaming"
again with the personal attacks. 1. ive had this account and only this account. its the same name on here as it is on my ps3 and 360 so just stop. 2. im happy for you that you like to have 400 devices because each one is only allowed to serve one function at a time but i will continue using mine for as many things as they can do simply because an all in one machine makes way more sense.
@Captain Qwark 9
So let's itemize this because I think you missed what I'm saying...
1)No one was talking about 360 or PS3
2)Attach rate for 360 is only killer on a handful of IP's...2 exclusives and to multiplats
3)I guess you didn't read it because the 2nd thing listed is TV...so yeah
4)Nor did I say they would only focus on only multimedia...I stated that they were clear to emphasize it's TV and other multimedia features.
5)My point is that while both consoles will play games and do multimedia PS4's main focus is Games 1st which is clear by the reveal presentation...no mention of multimedia features unlike the next XBOX which they made sure to point those features out...reading is fun right.
6)So now you contradict what you actually wrote let's take a look before - "no i didnt get the console just for the games because" and after - "i bought my console for gaming first" so yeah which is it? I think once I called you out you got mighty upset and didn't reread what you put because now you can't take it back...cat's out of the bag so to speak :)
7)Don't need 400 devices my Samsung Note is my phone but I read the internet, comics and play games on it as well. My Samsung Note 10.1 is my mobile media device which includes watching movies, reading the internet/comics, playing games and doing work. My TV is well my TV but I can play games on it, read the internet hell even read my comics...so yeah they may have a specific function but I use them for other stuff as well.
8)See point 7 because it highlights the whole flaw you have in your logic. We buy our gaming consoles for their gaming abilities and also enjoy their other robust feature sets. With the standing rumors and the way the announcement came out it would appear that MS is spreading it's focus out. That is fine but the thing Sony did great with it's reveal is say hey we have a gaming console built for gamers by gamers. MS is saying yeah we have a console that plays games, tv, movies and other media stuff.
Those are two very different messages being sent to gamers...for the life of me I can't seem to see why don't understand this...well maybe it's in your comments "360 has an incredible software attach rate" or "150 games for 360, 25+ for ps3, and about 20 for wii"...are you biased or bitter that some feel the way they do?
FINALLY. cant wait to put those rumors to rest and finally get it like it is
Lol.... you do understand it was the same sources that out did the blocking of used games, they also leaked this very same date.
so how can we dispute rumors when the same damn sites leak this very same date weeks ago? the very same site also leaked out PlayStation 4 specs in those are confirmed to be true.
the fact that it is May 21st in that everyone knew this weeks ago only reconfirm that those leaks are most likely true how could you doubt that when this date is confirmed? lol remember who told you about this date several times and remember when it was confirmed there's an obvious link that somebody is right and I'm sorry but it doesn't sound like it's going to be a good thing.
yea... except they are still rumours... and you're being a downer.
Blaze makes a good point, you're a pessimist.
Why even post?
I truly hope they show some quality games and some new IPs for you guys since MS has quite some catching up to do...
is a subjective term, the appeal of the games will differ for each person.
I'm just stoked that they will be making the official reveal and no matter what they show in the form of games, TV and entertainment....I'm buying one regardless.
As a gamer/collector, I usually do that sort of thing.
PS4...check (when it comes out)
xbox 720...check (when it comes out)
All previous consoles released since pong...check
Hope so. But i doubt it. Even people here are not excited. When sony put that teaser even though no one was sure it was the ps4 everyone was soo excited. Everyone was like ''OMG, Can't wait!!!'' but now i don't see it. Negative toward it :. and it's a normal thing in my point of view because of microsoft history.
I would love to see an exciting game like gears of war ..
What are we excited for then ?. Tell me, Xbox is not for exclusives because almost all the exclusives are in pc. What we will get ?. Another feature like cross chat that we must pay for it to use it ?.. Or the next generation of kinect games?. Or always online ?. Or making the console a tv and social console ?.
I dont see anything excited about it except for the games they will reveal which most will be multi platform...
I'm not trolling. I'm just expecting this because of ms history and i would be glad to see i'm wrong..
How much you wanna bet Sony actually shows their new console (not just the controller) shortly before or after the 21st of May?
I was getting one anyway when it comes out but to actually see it before E3 is what many would like as well.
Be it to steal thunder from MS or just to show it...just make it happen.
Why? If some of these rumours are credible, if I was Sony, I'd just let Microsoft potentially shoot themselves in the foot with my feet up, beer in one hand and popcorn in the other.
@aiBreeze --- Nah, I think Sony is going to operate under the thought that Microsoft will bring their absolute best and only Sony's best will top it. That's the kind of generation and competition I'm looking forward to. --- 12
I don't want an interference. Sony has sealed the deal and am getting a PS4 day one. Now I want to see what MS has to offer . They will either sell a good product or sink. It's not PS4 vs Xbox, its Xbox vs my wallet, time and attention.
IGN have already said Sony are rumoured to also be doing a show in May showing form factor and a few details such as price. The reason for this is so they can leave E3 for all the games.


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|Charter to Acquire Optimum West from Cablevision
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"With this transaction, Charter will acquire some of the fastest growing cable assets in
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The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approval. We expect closing to occur in the third quarter of 2013.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:Barbara Hersh: (785) 296-0901
The Kansas Department of Labor will post data online concurrently with the releases listed at www.dol.ks.gov under "Labor Market Information Services"
TOPEKA, Kan. — The Kansas Department of Labor reported the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 5.9 percent, unchanged from July and up from 5.8 percent in August 2012.
"There were 103,521 continued claims in August, down from 131,851 the previous month and down from 140,058 in August 2012," said Lana Gordon, Secretary of Labor. "This is indicative of an improving labor market."
Kansas gained 20,800 not seasonally adjusted private sector jobs and 15,400 nonfarm jobs since August 2012. Kansas gained 1,500 not seasonally adjusted nonfarm jobs, a 0.1 percent increase and private sector jobs decreased by 1,100 jobs or 0.1 percent since July.
Kansas gained 19,200 seasonally adjusted private sector jobs and 13,800 nonfarm jobs since August 2012. Kansas lost 200 seasonally adjusted nonfarm jobs, a 0.0 percent change and private sector jobs increased by 2,100 jobs or 0.2 percent since July.
Six of the 11 major industries in Kansas reported over-the-month job gains. Gains were greatest in government with 2,600 jobs, with the largest increase at the local level. Professional and business services gained 500 jobs and education and health services grew by 300 jobs.
Four major industries reported statewide over-the-month job losses. Losses were greatest in leisure and hospitality losing 1,300 jobs throughout the sector. Financial activities lost 600 jobs with losses in finance and insurance. Trade, transportation and utilities lost 300 jobs in both wholesale and retail trade.
Eight of the 11 major industries in Kansas reported gains over the last 12 months. Gains were greatest in professional and business services with 9,300 jobs and leisure and hospitality gaining 2,600 jobs. Financial activities rose by 2,500 jobs with gains in the entire sector.
Two major industries reported statewide losses over the last 12 months. Losses were greatest in government losing 5,400 jobs and construction losing 400 jobs. The losses in construction were in heavy and civil engineering construction and specialty trade contractors.
"Private sector job growth picked up in August after seasonal adjustment, although there were some indications of softness in the labor market," Tyler Tenbrink, Senior Economist. "Trends in average weekly hours worked and average weekly earnings leveled from increases earlier in the year."
The unemployment figures are based largely on a survey of households in Kansas and measure the unemployment status of people who live in the state. Unemployment rates prior to 1976 are not recognized by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics as official since the methodology used at that time is not comparable to today's methods. The establishment jobs figures are derived from a survey of businesses in Kansas and measure the number of jobs in the state.
Additional information on procedures for producing Current Employment Statistics (CES) estimates is available on the BLS website at


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I don't know with any certainty the truth in the Manti Te'o hoax. Only he does. I am not thrilled ESPN supposedly interviewed him, but there is no video. How does a network make that concession.
Let us give him the benefit of doubt for a moment and Te'o is a victim and was duped. Then that makes the Mets' Single-A Brooklyn Cyclones' promotion lame on so many levels. It would be capitalizing on someone's misfortune. But, if Te'o were in on it, then why would they want to associate themselves with such a sick thing?
The Cyclones announced June 21 will be Fictitious Friday and with Sidd Finch taking on Roy Hobbs and the New York Knights. The team also said the Beatles will perform a pre-game concert. There will also be a petting zoo for the kiddies, with a unicorn, Minotaur and mermaid.
Just one contrived thing after another. Not so much funny and clever as it is forced. You can't force humor.
In explaining the promotion, Cyclones GM Steve Cohen said: "Everywhere you look, there seems to be another story about an athlete that was covering up something.
"People don't know who, or what, to believe any more. That got us thinking, we should have a night where our fans don't have to worry about what's real and what's not, we'll just tell them everything planned for that night is a hoax.''
The event seems forced and by the time June rolls around, the Te'o thing could be forgotten. But, what if it's true? What if he were duped? That would be capitalizing on someone's misfortune which is extraordinarily weak.
It will come off like a bombed skit on Saturday Night Live. A clever idea gone sour.
By the way, if the Cyclones really wanted to make a point about a hoax, they should have a steroid night with character athletes playing Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa, Mark McGwire and Roger Clemens. And, if they did that, somebody will be sure to ask about Mike Piazza, only that hits too close to home.
This idea is weak from the start and the sooner it is abandoned the better.


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40 Mixed Twitter Reactions To Drake's 'Worst Behaviour' Video
Drake's long-awaited "Worst Behaviour" video features the following things: his pops in the freshest pimp threads you'll ever see, amazing shots of Memphis, a random dude in hair rollers and a mid-video skit starring Drake's OVO crew. As many Twitter fans observed, Drizzy has come along way from his "Best I Ever Had" days. Rememba?? (sorry). Check out Twitter's first impression of the track off Nothing Was The Same.


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May 24. 2013 1:40AM
The casino vote: The House did its duty
This was to be the year that a casino passed the New Hampshire House of Representatives. The governor campaigned on expanded gambling, included it in her budget, and lobbied legislators aggressively. The bad economy turned some previous opponents into supporters. The conditions were more favorable than they had been in 15 years. And still, on Wednesday only 41 percent of the state's 400 House members (164) voted for the casino bill. Opponents garnered 199 votes, a margin of victory of 35, not that close.
Not even the governor's 15 minute speech inside the House Democratic caucus — a rare move for a governor — could save the bill, and the governor's budget. Ninety-two Demcorats voted against the casino bill, and against their governor.
Immediately after the vote, Las-Vegas-based casino company Millenium Gaming, which has an option to build a casino at Rockingham Park, issued a statement claiming that "the House chose today to stand against the people of New Hampshire and their 2-to-1 support for casino gambling in our state."
Whose state?
When Hillary Clinton won the 2008 New Hampshire primary after Barack Obama had led in the polls for months, pundits wondered for months how that could happen. The polls, they figured, were the accurate reflection of the will of the people of New Hampshire, not the actual vote results. Millenium and other gambling supporters make a similar mistake year after year.
How can casino bills keep being defeated in a state in which polls show strong public support for expanded gambling? The best answer is that people support expanded gambling in the abstract, but legislation is concrete. When House members — elected from among the people who generally support gambling — review detailed gambling bills, most of them conclude that the revenue is lower than they assumed and the costs are greater.
It is one thing to imagine a swanky luxury casino luring tourists to the state; it is another to review the data and realize that the casino would not be so swanky, most of its revenue would come from inside the state, and serious negative consequences would follow in its wake.
The House did not "stand against the people of New Hampshire." It did its duty to the people by studying a complex issue and reaching the only responsible conclusion, as it always has on this issue.


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Spirituality and psychiatry
- on the face of it, they do not seem to have much in common. But
we are becoming increasingly aware of ways in which some aspects of
spirituality can offer real benefits for mental health.
This leaflet is for:
It looks at:
You don't need to hold a
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There is no one definition,
but in general, spirituality:
These experiences are part of being human - they are just as
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other conditions, such as dementia and head injury, as
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Spirituality often becomes
more important in times of emotional stress, physical and mental
illness, loss, bereavement and the approach of
All health care tries to
relieve pain and to cure - but good health care tries to do more.
Spirituality emphasises the healing of the person, not just the
disease. It views life as a journey, where good and bad experiences
can help you to learn, develop and mature.
Religious traditions
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each religion has its own distinct community-based worship,
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Spirituality is not
necessarily tied to any particular religious belief or
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spirituality, every person has their own unique experience of
spirituality - it can be a personal experience for anyone, with or
without a religious belief. It's there for everyone. Spirituality
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People with mental health
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Someone with a religious
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Patients say that they
This should be considered as
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example, can sometimes reflect a spiritual void in a person's life.
Mental health professionals also need to be able to distinguish
between a spiritual crisis and a mental illness, particularly when
these overlap.
A helpful way to begin is to
be asked "Would you say you are spiritual or religious in any way?
Please tell me how." Another useful question is, "What gives you
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this will usually reveal a person's main spiritual concerns and
Sometimes, a professional
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A gentle, unhurried approach
is important – at its best, exploring spiritual issues can be
therapeutic in itself.
What is your life all about?
Is there something that gives you a sense of meaning or
Emotional stress is often
caused by a loss, or the threat of loss. Have you had any major
losses or bereavements or suffered abuse? How has this affected
Do you feel that you belong
and that you are valued? Do you feel safe and respected? Are you
and other people able to communicate clearly and freely?
Do you feel that there is a
spiritual aspect to your current situation? Would it help to
involve a chaplain, or someone from your faith community? What
needs to be understood about your religious background?
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it? Is there someone caring for you with whom you can explore your
These span a wide range,
from the religious to non-religious. You may:
Over recent years there has been increasing interest in
treatments that include the spiritual dimension. In addition to
established 12-step programmes for alcohol and substance misuse,
new approaches such as mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for the
treatment of stress, anxiety and depression (MBCT),
compassion-focussed therapy and forgiveness therapy are now
being actively researched and supported.
Spiritual practices can help
us to develop the better parts of ourselves. They can help us to
become more creative, patient, persistent, honest, kind,
compassionate, wise, calm, hopeful and joyful. These are all part
of the best health care.
Spiritual skills
Spirituality emphasises our
connections to other people and the world, which creates the idea
of 'reciprocity'. This means that the giver and receiver both get
something from what happens, that if you help another person, you
help yourself. Many carers naturally develop spiritual skills and
values over time as a result of their commitment to those for whom
they care. Those being cared for, in turn, can often give help to
others in distress.
Spirituality is deeply personal. Try to
discover what works best for you. A three-part daily routine can be
You can find out about
spiritual practices and traditions from a wide range of religious
organisations. Secular spiritual activities are increasingly
available and popular. For example, many complementary therapies
have a spiritual or holistic element that is not part of any
particular religion. The internet, especially internet bookshops,
the local yellow pages, health food shops and bookstores are all
good places to look. There is also a wide range of papers about
spirituality and mental health that can be downloaded from the
publications archive of the Royal
College of Psychiatrists Spirituality and Psychiatry Special
Interest Group's website.
Times have changed. Hospital chaplaincy now
involves clergy and others from many faiths, denominations and
humanist organisations. Chaplains (also called spiritual advisors)
are increasingly part of the teams that provide care both in and
outside hospital.
A modern mental health chaplaincy or
department of spiritual care should:
There is evidence that people who belong
to a faith community, or who hold religious or spiritual beliefs,
have better mental health. So, the relevance of spirituality is
now being recognised in courses for mental health care
students and practitioners.
The Spirituality and Psychiatry Special
Interest Group of the Royal College of Psychiatrists was
founded in 1999 to:
The SPSIG has a membership of
around 3000 psychiatrists. It runs an active programme
of one-day events for members, and holds occasional
conferences open to the general public. Information about these
meetings (and the texts of all the talks given) can be found in the
SPSIG website.
This leaflet was produced by
the Royal College of Psychiatrists' Spirituality and Psychiatry
Special Interest Group Executive Committee.
Editor: Dr Philip Timms
Review: Dr Andrew Powell, Professor Chris Cook, Dr Larry
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Fab Equipment Spending up 23% in 2011— Still Highest on Record
Some Slowdown Observed, though Stronger Construction Spending in 2011
By Christian Gregor Dieseldorff, SEMI Industry Research and Statistics, San Jose, California (September 2, 2011).
Changes in the global economy affect the semiconductor industry, as the industry depends more on the consumer market. Economic developments in recent months decreased consumer confidence and spending, and the semiconductor industry has reacted to this slowdown.
The SEMI World Fab Forecast uses a bottom-up methodology, tracking over 250 on-going construction and equipping projects by fab and company. At the end of May 2011, the report predicted 31% growth for fab equipment spending for the year. The prediction is now revised downwards to 23%, as some companies have adjusted plans due to the broader economic conditions.
The Americas Lead Fab Equipment Spending for the First Time since 2002
The $41 billion in fab equipment spending in 2011 will be the highest on record. Although 2012 spending will decline, the total for 2012 may still be the second highest on record.
In 2011, SEMI counts 223 facilities spending on equipment. Of these, 77 projects are for LED dedicated facilities. Next year, 190 facilities will start or continue equipping, with 72 LED projects.
The highest spending in 2011 occurs in the Americas with about $10 billion, followed by Taiwan with about $9 billion. The Americas region last led spending in 2002. Although Intel spends the most, another key reason for America's lead is Samsung's spending of about $2.5 to $3 billion in their Austin fab, dubbed the "S2-line."
In 2012, Korea is predicted to step ahead of the Americas, with over $10 billion in fab equipment spending, followed by Taiwan at $9.2 billion.
Some Cut, while Some Still Plan to Increase Spending
Over the last few months, some companies announced cuts in capex for 2011, but for a number of companies whose capex plans remain unchanged. Some announced even slight increases, though caution is becoming more apparent in the market.
TSMC reduced its capex plan slightly, from $7.8 billion to $7.4 billion. SMIC cut capex from $1 billion to $800 million. Micron just closed their fiscal year with spending of $2.9 billion. Their new fiscal year 2012, beginning September 1st, includes capex plans of only $2 billion.
Intel increased capex plans by about $500 million to pave the way for the 7nm node, enhance its 14nm fabs under construction, and fuel its efforts in hot consumer areas such as servers, notebooks, tablets, and smart phones.
Samsung total capex remains unchanged. However, resources may be reallocated to increase semiconductor and reduce LCD business.
Infineon increased its capex twice this year from 550 million Euros (about US$ 770 million) to 850 million Euro (about $1.19 billion) in May 2011 and then again in July to be slightly above the 850 million Euro.
Winbond increased capex slightly from about $190 million to about $210 million. UMC capex remains unchanged. Hynix also plans to spend the same amount, but may reduce the speed of ramping capacity.
Worldwide Capacity: Steady as She Goes!
As the semiconductor industry adjusts to the market with some spending cuts, the SEMI World Fab Forecast report also predicts that the capacity ramp will slow. 2011 growth of 9.3% (predicted in May 2011) will slow to 6.8%.
In 2011, capacity for about 970-thousand wafers per month (in 200mm EQs) is expected to be added. More than half of this new capacity is for Memory (57%), 15% for Logic and 11% for Foundries. In 2012, SEMI predicts capacity increase for more than 1M wafers per month, a growth rate of about 7%. Currently, 2013 is also expected to show 7% growth in capacity.
Before the economic downturn in 2008, growth rate for installed capacity (2004-2007) was consistently in double digits. Subsequent years show less than 10% growth every year (2010-2013). This may be explained by the fear of building up too much capacity, resulting a much more controlled and conservative approach of the industry. However, there are also concerns that the industry may not be able to meet rapid increasing demand.
Construction Increases in 2011, but More Slowly; even a New 200mm Fab
In the previous SEMI Worldwide Fab Forecasts articles, the "fab-tight" era was described. Trends show construction projects decreasing at rates which call for concern. Fabs are larger and fewer, and technology nodes are shrinking. Looking ahead, the industry may need to react soon to rapidly increasing demand, for example in the NAND Flash market. It takes about 1.5 years to bring a fab from ground breaking to volume production, so in order to see capacity ramp increase in 2012 or 2013, construction projects need to start pretty much now.
The SEMI data closely track construction activity, especially for new facilities. Since the May 2011 edition of the Worldwide Fab Forecast, 2011 fab construction project spending (including Discretes and LEDs) have increased from about $4.8 billion to $5.6 billion. In May 2011, 61 construction projects were counted; now, 72 are under way. Most of the increase is due to more LED fabs in China. Only 40 construction projects are predicted for 2012, less than half of the activity seen before the economic downturn.
Construction spending for 2011 is expected to increase 7%, or $5.6 billion. In 2012, spending will drop 25% to only $4.2 billion. In 2011, 23 new volume fabs began or will begin construction; only 10 such projects are currently foreseen for 2012.
In a blast from the past, new 200mm fabs are still being built. Infineon began construction of their new 200mm fab in Kulim, Malaysia.
The Future Still Looks Good
2011 will be a record year for total spending. In response to the last recession, the industry has become leaner and proven that it can react quickly to global economic fluctuations.
As we may approach some more volatile times ahead, we expect the industry to react as quickly as we saw in 2009. For as long as there is a positive growth rate for equipment spending, 2011 remains to be a record year. At this point of time, we expect a negative growth rate for next year but the absolute numbers are still very high, keeping 2012 in top three in terms of equipment spending.
SEMI's Worldwide Dedicated Team
Since the last fab database publication in May 2011, SEMI's worldwide dedicated analysis team has made over 330 updates on more than 250 fab facilities in the database. Fifteen new facilities have been added to the database, 10 of these LED fabs. The latest edition of the World Fab Forecast (published August 30, 2011), lists over 1,100 facilities, with more than 65 facilities starting volume production beginning next year and into the future.
The SEMI World Fab Forecast uses a bottom-up approach methodology, providing high-level summaries and graphs; and in-depth analyses of capital expenditures, capacities, technology and products by fab. Additionally, the database provides forecasts for the next 18 months by quarter. These tools are invaluable for understanding how the semiconductor manufacturing will look in 2011, 2012 and 2013, and learning more about capex for construction projects, fab equipping, technology levels, and products.
Also check out the New Opto/LED Fab Forecast!
Learn more about the SEMI fab databases at: http://www.semi.org/MarketInfo/FabDatabase and http://www.youtube.com/user/SEMImktstats
SEMI's Worldwide Semiconductor Equipment Market Subscription (WWSEMS) data tracks only new equipment for fabs and test and assembly and packaging houses. The SEMI World Fab Forecast and its related Fab Database reports track any equipment needed to ramp fabs, upgrade technology nodes, and expand or change wafer size, including new equipment, used equipment, or in-house equipment.
San Jose, California
September 7, 2011


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MATAMORAS, Pa. — After an unrelenting attack on what they say are their rights, gun people are firing back.
MATAMORAS, Pa. — After an unrelenting attack on what they say are their rights, gun people are firing back.
And what better place to do it than a gun show just across the border from New York state — which on Tuesday passed what Gov. Andrew Cuomo said would be "the most comprehensive (gun control) package in the nation."
That law — combined with President Barack Obama's vow on Wednesday "to put everything I've got" into his proposed federal gun control laws — seemed to be one reason why thousands turned out Saturday. It was the first day of the two-day Matamoras Gun & Knife Show at the Best Western at Hunt's Landing, with hundreds waiting to get in at 9 a.m.
Many, if not most, who said they feared the gun-control movement would infringe on their rights, were from New York.
The predominantly male crowd are ticked off at those who blame such recent mass shootings as the murder of 20 children and six adults in a Connecticut school on America's obsession with guns. There are about 300 million guns in America, about one per each person in the country.
"We don't have a gun culture in America; we have a freedom culture," said show manager Nick Jubinski, who was doing a phone background check on a customer buying a pistol at a booth that sold everything from a vintage .44-caliber 1860 Colt handgun to smaller contemporary Rugers.
"A gun is just a tool to maintain our freedom. If you're going to mess with that freedom, you're going to have bloodshed."
Others who packed the aisles — with displays of everything from the semi-automatic Mossberg 715T rifle (illegal in New York) to a Winchester Model 12 shotgun — chastised the politicians who voted for and crafted New York's law — many of whom used stronger language than Jim Knight of Port Jervis' "bull crap." "They don't have the slightest idea what they're doing," Bob Gay of Suffern said of the politicians. "They don't even know what an assault weapon is."
He pointed to a rifle that was legal except for its bayonet mount — one of the features that would make it a banned assault weapon.
"I mean, come on, what are we all going to do?" said the hunter, "start stabbing everybody?"
Then, echoing what many at the show said, he added: "The Second Amendment is there so we can control the government — not so the government can control us."
Some also pointed to what they said is the flawed logic behind the gun-control movement. "It does nothing to stop the violence," said gun dealer John Tidd of Ariel, who was selling that Mossberg 715T — but not to New Yorkers. "This isn't a gun issue; it's a mental health issue. This is typical liberal hysteria."
Many weren't just denouncing the gun-control law and the politicians behind it; they were vowing to fight it. Gay hoped to mount a legal attack on the anti-gun legislation. "We just have to sit back and not have a knee-jerk reaction like Cuomo," he said, noting that his Rockland County gun club hired a lawyer to try to fight the law.
Others, like Stephen Carley of Dutchess County, went one step further. "I'm going to defy and not comply," said Carley, wearing a baseball cap that read "Second Amendment NRA Task Force."
"If they come to my house for my guns, there's going to be a fight," he said.


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The man who helped introduce Elvis Presley to worldwide audiences through the Louisiana Hayride — the state's version of the heralded Grand Ole Opry country radio show — has died. He was 87.
Veteran radio broadcaster Frank Page died late Wednesday after suffering a severe respiratory infection while hospitalized at WK Pierremont Health Center in Shreveport.
Page retired from KWKH in 2005 after 65 years of service. He was best known for introducing Presley on the show in 1954, but he was also credited with launching several other country music stars' careers.
They include singer-songwriter Nathan "Nat" Stuckey whose hits included "Sweet Thang" and "Waitin' in Your Welfare Line," and James "Gentleman Jim" Reeves, whose songs included "I Love You Because" and "Welcome to My World." Both men worked as announcers at KWKH with Page.
Page's radio career began at KGHI in Little Rock, Ark., while in high school and he soon began working at KLRA there. He served in World War II and at the end of the war was on Armed Forces Radio, Berlin.
In 1947, he started at KWKH and became an announcer for the Louisiana Hayride two years later.
The Shreveport Times reported it was through one of his radio personas, "Brother Gatemouth," that Page brought blues to a generation of middle-class youths. One of the people listening was Robert Zimmerman, of Hibbings, Minn., now known as Bob Dylan. Several Dylan biographies credit Page with influencing the musician.
"His life really resonates," said longtime friend and colleague Tom Pace, who worked with Page at KWKH for nearly 25 years. "To think that he touched so many lives from Hank Williams Sr. to George Jones to Jimmie Davis to Johnny Cash to Loretta Lynn, when country music was at its heyday. Frank would revel in telling those stories about the live performances on the Hayride."
Page was a member of the County Music DJ Hall of Fame and received the Louisiana Association of Broadcaster's Lifetime Achievement Award.
Page's survivors include his wife of more than 60 years, Helen Page; a daughter, Patty Stephens, of Denver; a brother, Larry Page, of Shreveport and a grandson.


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Footprints in the Dust: The Lunar Surface and Creationism
Perhaps the strongest, most appealing claim that the creationists have put forth against evolutionary timescales is the rate of infall in interplanetary dust into the terrestrial atmosphere. Frank Awbrey, in this journal, has detailed the arguments put forward in the creationist tracts on the age of the earth. There are, however, a few points which should be added, especially concerning the nature of the lunar surface, since it is also a useful lesson in the workings of scientific argument and the reasons for space exploration in the first place.
Measurements of the rate of infall of meteoritic material were first accomplished using the U-2 as a collection device, and by measuring the amount of contamination by interplanetary material in dust falling atop Mauna Loa.1 The rate which he got, now known to be about an order of magnitude too high, was the first serious attempt to derive the number density of interplanetary material by something other than the brightness of the Zodiacal light (the bright band of solar illuminated interplanetary dust which is a permanent resident feature of the solar system). The current rate, which is quoted by Hartmann2 in his recent review text on the solar system, is 108+1 kilograms per year for the Earth and about 4 x 106 kilograms per year for the Moon, the latter being a directly measurable quantity.
First, notice that the figure is considerably higher (and more uncertain) for the Earth. The reason is Newtonian gravitation—the accretion radius of the Earth is correspondingly larger due to its greater mass. The fact that the scaling works quite well is an indication that the measurement can be trusted. The second is that the rate of overall infall is in very good agreement with the cratering characteristics of the lunar material. I should explain this a bit more, since it is a powerful argument and one which the creationists have never bothered to worry about.
The surfaces of airless bodies are constantly pummeled by infalling debris. which, because there is no atmosphere to slow the infalling particles to terminal velocity, arrives at the surface at essentially the escape velocity. For the Earth, this would mean that the infall would arrive at about 10 kilometers per second. Even a piece of fine dust at this ballistic velocity would pit any rock, with a known "crater" to particle radius ratio. From counting the rate of production of craters on every piece of lunar material as a function of the size of the crater, it has been concluded that the surface of the Moon is literally saturated by the infall—the primary source of erosion on the surface is due to this debris infall. Now in order for this to occur, there must be a definite spectrum of infalling particles so that by averaging over the observed crater distribution, it is possible to calculate the total rate of infall of the dust and larger bodies and to compare this with the actual observed rate. The two agree very well.
In the case of Mercury, although we have not been able yet to set even a mechanical foot on the surface, we can still count the larger craters and observe that they derive from the same distribution as is responsible for the lunar surface morphology. If the cratering has been going on for only 10,000 years, as the more avid literalist creationists would have one believe, the rate of cratering must have been astonishingly high at an instant, or else we are measuring far too little infall at present, because the surface we see is in effect in equilibrium. This is absolutely impossible with the information that the creationists use. There is simply not enough time in their model to provide for the surface as we see it. In fast, it even leaves open a stronger violation of observation. If the Earth and everything else were as young as they claim, there should be many more large craters on the Earth's surface, since erosion would not have had sufficient opportunity to remove them on this atmosphere-dominated planet. Again, it is impossible to imagine under what conditions the laws of physics which we see in operation now could have been superseded in the so-recent past.
Well, never mind, they will say. The point is that the best calculations of the lunar surface indicated that there should be an enormous dust layer on the Moon into which the astronauts would sink—the very fact that the best evolutionary calculations gave an unambiguous answer that there should be several meters of dust on the surface which was subsequently not found should itself be an indication that the theory is clearly wrong.
Let me make one minor aside here, since as in all of the creationist arguments this one on the nature of the infall clearly points to a hidden agenda: "Since the scientific theory leads to some disagreement, and there can be no dissection in matters of truth, the scientific approach must be wrong and consequently misleading and useless. On the other hand, Genesis is the word of God which, being infallible, is an absolute meter-stick for measuring truth." One should never lose sight of this attack on the scientific method in all of the creationist writings. It may not be stated as such, but it always lurks beneath the surface.
Now back to our tale. In 1965, a conference was held on the nature of the lunar surface.3 The basic conclusion of this conference was that both from the optical properties of the scattering of sunlight observed from the Earth, and from the early Ranger photographs, there was no evidence for an extensive dust layer. In fact, some three years before we set foot on the moon, there was already hard evidence that the dust layer must be quite thin. The creationists would of course point to the fact that this was stated only after we had sent probes to the Moon. But wait, there is another source for the same statement. In a conference held in late 1963, on the Lunar Surface Layer, McCracken and Dubin4 state that
"The lunar surface layer thus formed would, therefore, consist of a mixture of lunar material and interplanetary material (primarily of cometary origin) from 10 cm to 1 m thick. The low value for the accretion rate for the small particles is not adequate to produce large scale dust erosion or to form deep layers of dust on the moon, for the flux has probably remained fairly constant during the past several billion years." (p. 204)
They also state that the rate of infall of material with masses smaller than 10 kg has been about 1 gram per square centimeter during the past 4.5 billion years, a result which is completely in agreement with the modem measurement. The most one could expect was a layer some 1 meter deep, not the norm of the predictions. All of the participants at the earlier conference agreed that the rate of infall should in fact be low. They also argued that the lunar surface should be eroded on a small scale, and that the jagged appearance hypothesised by the earlier ground-based observers should be modified to allow for the results of dust and solar wind impact. To be sure there were predictions of a deeper layer, notably by Gold using the erosion from the solar wind (assuming properties of the lunar material which have since been shown to be too fragile) and by Salisbury and Smalley5 in the 1963 conference, which suggested that a debris (rubble) layer could be an average of 60 cm thick. The essential point of these measurements from the ground was that we would know once the space probes reached the Moon.
The thing to keep in mind is that the predictions of the surface properties of the Moon were based on very questionable laboratory simulations and on quite preliminary data from terrestrial measurements. Using these numbers, the values which resulted from the theory of surface morphological changes could vary widely. The reasons for sending probes up was to determine what the rate of infall is, to achieve at least some hard numbers which everyone could agree on and use for subsequent predictions in their models.
It should also be mentioned that the fact that the surface cannot be very dusty was also known from the infrared observations6 of the moon during eclipse. The rate of cooling of a surface depends on the conductivity, or poricity, and therefore on whether it is dusty or not. The fact that craters on the surface stay hotter longer into the eclipse (totally improperly attributed by the creationists to the actual heat flow from the interior of the body) is a direct evidence that the floors of the craters are debris-strewn. That the lunar surface as a whole cools very quickly was already known as well years before we set foot on the surface, and was consistent with the layer of dust which was finally shown to be present.
In short, this addendum and expansion on Awbrey's article is simply meant to place the question of influx in its proper perspective. The number for the rate of meteoritic infall is important, but is at best a backwater in the far greater question of the origin and development of the solar system. The creationists have contributed nothing to this argument, and in fact have even argued among themselves about the value, and so we should simply leave this to the historians as an interesting sidelight in the race for the Moon, and go on with the business of planetary exploration. Our footprints have been left in the dust that was expected, and the question is settled.
1. Petterson, H. 1960, Scientific Amer., 202 (Nr. 2), 123.
2. Hartmann, W. K. 1983, Moon and Planets: 2nd Edition (CA, Wadsworth), p. 161 f.
3. Hess, W. N., Menzel, D. H. and O'Keefe, J.A. (eds.) 1966, The Nature of the Lunar Surface (Johns Hopkins Univ. Press). See especially p. 99 ff, p. 141 ff and p. 287 im passim. A very excellent recent discussion of the rate of infall, which was about 10 years after the conference, is by: Smith, D., Adams, N. G. and Kahn, H. A. 1974, Nature, 251, 379: "Flux and Composition of Micrometeroids in the Diameter Range 1 to 10 Microns." See also Short, N. M. 1975, Planetary Geology (Prentice Hall) p. 42f. For one of the most complete discussions of the infall measurements in the vicinity of the Earth see: Fechtig, H. 1982, in Comets: IAU Colloquium 61 (ed. L. L. Wilkening) (Univ. Arizona Press) p. 370ff "Cometary Dust in the Solar System," which mainly discusses the dust production by comets, but also includes a useful bibliography.
4. Salisbury, J. W. and Glaser, P. E. (eds.) 1964, The Lunar Surface Layer: Materials and Characteristics (Academic Press).
5. In the earlier conference, there was indeed some disagreement, but this was not on the depth of the dust layer but actually on the nature of the material of the surface layer.
6. Shorthill, R. W. and Saari, J. M. 1972, Advances in Astron. and Astrophys., 9, 149: "Infrared Observations on the Eclipsed Moon." See also, in the same issue, the article by Winter, D. F. "Infrared Emission from the Surface of the Moon."
7. Phillips, P. G. 1978, in Origins and Change: Selected Readings from the Journal of the American Scientific Affiliation (ed. D. L. Willis) (Elgin, IL, ASA) p. 74: "Meteoritic Influx and the Age of the Earth."


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The BBC's Horrible Histories has had some wonderful musical parodies in the past (the theory of evolution set to Bowie's Changes springs to mind) but this one is something else. A chronological account of the life of Charles Dickens set to the music of The Smiths. It is spot on too. The level of detail is superb, the Morrissey style vocal mannerisms, the occasional sudden break, the funky Marr-esque guitar, they are all there.
It is about four Smiths songs in one but Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Know and This Charming Man feature prominently.
And don't miss its excellent finale- and what is he doing with that Gladioli?
Oh, and isn't that Al Murray on drums. Now that is what the licence fee is for.
More fantastic TV kids shows for adults here.


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Goal.com revealed in November that the Red Devils were keen on a move for the recently-capped England international, but are looking to strike a deal in the summer.
With the player himself also expressing his desire for a switch to the top flight, Arsenal have also been heavily linked with a move.
|Crystal Palace are 9/4 to be promoted with bet365
While Eagles chairman Steve Parish has said that he believes Zaha will "be a Palace player until the summer", the south London club's manager is drawing up plans for a return loan if he was to lose his star man this month.
When appearing on Sky Sports' the 'Footballer's Football Show' on Thursday, he was asked by its presenter: "So what's the plan for [Zaha] then? You get a big fee for him and get him back [on loan]?"
The former Blackpool boss replied: "You didn't have to be a genius to work that one out did you?"
While discussing the growing speculation on the show, the 49-year-old revealed that his chairman has spoken to "one or two clubs" regarding a deal but insisted he wants to keep Zaha to aid their push for promotion.
Reports suggest that the Red Devils could be open to loaning back the player, who made his senior England debut in a friendly against Sweden in November, should they secure his long-term services, however Palace's apparent £20m price tag could prove the stumbling block.


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The aim is to lower the cost of putting in infrastructure at unfinished subdivisions.
The plan for some of the roughly 860 lots formerly owned by The Coastal Companies might be that there is no development at all.
North Myrtle Liquidating Trust, a trustee of Bank of America, has been working with Brunswick County employees to reduce the scope of work needed at Ocean Isle Palms, Seawatch at Sunset Harbor and Ocean Ridge Plantation. The hope is by eliminating some parcels from the plans, it will lower the cost of putting in infrastructure at the developments, according to county engineer William Pinnix.
It's a process that Pinnix said involves removing an area subdivided for development from a certain plan.
"It lowers or decreases the scope of work that needs to be done," he said.
The land, once owned by The Coastal Companies, was acquired in December by Bank of America in an out-of-court foreclosure settlement that charged the developer had defaulted on a $78 million loan.
The trust's lawyer did not respond to requests for comment.
Since the acquisition of the land by the bank, there has been uncertainty among property owners about the fate of the developments. But the recent meetings with county officials have helped shed some light on what will be occurring at the developments.
Many property owners reached Thursday said they are still unaware of the trust's plans.
But County Attorney Huey Marshall said the moves being made are positive developments.
"They are certainly acting like ... they want to get the properties back to market," he said.
The next steps involve helping the trust determine which properties can be cut from the developments and re-evaluating infrastructure bonds, which were posted by The Coastal Companies to guarantee basic infrastructure so it could sell lots in the unfinished subdivisions.
Pinnix said the update on the bonds helps the county understand the cost of development in case the trust is not able to finish the work. He added that some of the work at the developments is done.
"(Each) subdivision is in different phases of completion," he said.
Pinnix added that the county is working to ensure anyone who owns property is considered. He could not say if the liquidations company is looking to buy land from property owners, but he said it was possible.
Pinnix said cutting out a section of the development can only be done on the trustee's parcels, "without affecting anyone else."
Jason Gonzales: 343-2075
On Twitter: @StarNews_Jason


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Educators from across the country to be honored on "LIVE"
Hosts Kelly Ripa and Michael Strahan have announced the return of "Top Teacher Week" to "LIVE with Kelly and Michael." Each day during the week of April 29 through May 3, "LIVE" will honor the nation's best educators for being outstanding mentors to their students in and out of the classroom, for making their schools better, and for going above and beyond to serve their communities.
Last year, Bryan Sawyer, from Karigon Elementary School in Clifton Park, was voted the overall 2012 top teacher by "LIVE's" viewers. Sawyer, a special education teacher, was nominated by the parent of two students, who described him as having a "vast understanding of the power of motivation and its importance in engaging children." Sawyer captured the hearts of the "LIVE" audience and took home a brand-new 2013 Ford Fusion, as well as a $25,000 check for Karigon Elementary School.
"LIVE's" viewers can nominate teachers from their communities as individuals or as groups, and must include the teacher's name, the name of the school where he or she works and, most importantly, what makes that teacher so unique and special. All teachers are eligible, from public or private schools, from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. The deadline for submission is April 3. From the submission pool, 10 teachers will be selected as semi-finalists and announced during the week of April 8. Viewers will vote for their favorites, and the five teachers with the most votes will be showcased during the week of April 29. The educator chosen as the 2013 top teacher will be announced the week of May 6.
For further details or to submit a nomination, viewers can visit the "LIVE" website at LIVEKellyandMichael.com
Visit "LIVE" on the web at www.LIVEKellyandMichael.com, on Facebook, or follow "LIVE" on Twitter @KellyandMichael.