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Oct. 14, 2007
Carolyn Latham, a red shirt sophomore, led the Lipscomb Lady Bisons to a fourth place team finish at the Evansville Invite by posting a 5-K time of 18:30 for sixth place overall.
Latham has led the Lady Bisons in every meet this season. While her time was not an all-time PR, it was one minute ten seconds faster than she ran this race last year.
"Carolyn challenged herself today. Said Head Coach Bill Taylor. She ran up front again and stuck. She is getting used to running in the 18s every week now and is getting very comfortable with going out with the best in the race. "
Right behind Latham, freshman Caitlin Anderson had a breakout day with a huge PR of 18:48. Caitlin has now taken almost two minutes off her 5-K PR prior to this season.
"Caitlin's performance was terrific!," said Taylor. "She was strong and aggressive. You could see the desire in her eyes as she just went out and gave it all. The whole team was so happy for her."
Shannon Shoemake also posted a PR time of 19:18. That time was a 34-second improvement over her time in this race last year. Freshman Jenny Randolph followed close behind in 19:22.
"Shannon and Jenny ran solid again, making our top four very strong," said Taylor. "It was terrific to see Julie Alley finish what she started last week and get the result for her effort. She's now another runner we have up in our top group."
Though her breakout result was delayed by a week, sophomore Julie Alley ran aggressively for the second week in a row. Last week she was on pace for a tremendous race but passed out 400m before the finish. This week she charged through, finishing as the fifth runner for Lipscomb with a great time of 19:53, just off her high school PR and 36 seconds faster than her time on this course last year.
Erin Pyles finished sixth for the team, right with Alley, in an identical time of 19:53. After running with Carolyn Latham early, Erin struggled late in the race, yet still ran one minute 23 seconds faster than her time on this course last year.
Paloma Floden ran her best race of the year in an all-time PR of 19:58, her first time below the twenty minute barrier. Her time was 38 seconds faster than last year on this course. Paige Griffin ran a time of 20:49 to finish as the eighth Lipscomb runner and Valerie Winkler ran 20:52 to round out the Lipscomb contingent.
"Paloma looked great as well," Taylor said. "She really stepped it up and raced. I enjoyed seeing the desire she had. And Paige gets better each week as she comes back from a summer injury. Her race this week was twice as good as her first race of the season last week. Now she gets two weeks to prepare for conference."
The Bisons get next weekend off to prepare for the Atlantic Sun Conference Championships on Oct 27th. Lipscomb University is hosting the championships this year at the Vaughn's Gap course in Percy Warner Park.


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ETSU senior averaged 28.7 points per game, moved into A-Sun's top 10
MACON, Ga. (Jan. 6, 2009) - ETSU's Courtney Pigram (Memphis) put on the nation's best scoring display last week, spanning three games, as the conference's active leading scorer picked up his fourth Player of the Week award, the conference office announced on Tuesday.
Pigram, a senior from Memphis, Tenn., treated the ETSU fans to one of the most impressive individual performances in Buccaneer basketball history on Saturday against Jacksonville. His 39-point effort in ETSU's 84-82 victory tied for ninth on the program's all-time single-game scoring list, while coming up just three points shy of the Memorial Center's all-time single-game scoring mark of 42 points (set by Dimeco Childress against Western Carolina on Feb. 14, 2002). Pigram then capped off the week's efforts with a game-high 24 points against UNF on Monday. In three games -- which included 23 points against Morehead State on Dec. 30 -- Pigram scored 86 points, more than any player in the country for the week. He hit on 56 percent from the field and 46 percent from 3-point range.
The performance moved Pigram into the top 10 in Atlantic Sun history in scoring as the interdisciplinary studies major increased his career total to 1,736 points. In just the last week, he moved up from 14th on the list, passing Samford's Joey Davenport (1,651 points from 1992-96), Centenary's Patrick Greer (1,673 points from 1987-91), Stetson's E.J. Gordon (1,691 points from 2002-06) and UALR's James Scott (1,731 points from 1987-91). This week, he has the potential to move into eighth place passing Mercer's Scott Emerson and Belmont's Justin Hare with 26 points.

subset: commoncrawl


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AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) -- Thousands of people will be flocking to the path of totality with cameras in hand for the solar eclipse, one Augusta University professor has a way to make sure you take the perfect selfie with your cell phone.
All it takes is practice, a full moon and a cellphone with a front flashing flash. Dr. Nathan Yanasak, an assistant professor for the Department of Radiology and Imaging has tried to come up with a surefire way to make sure you can take a selfie with the eclipse.
The last time an eclipse similar to this happened was in 1918 -- it's safe to say people were not Snapchatting or posting pictures on their Instagram accounts.
"Think about why we take cell phone pictures -- they're really sort of general shots to remember moments in time that are important," Yanasak says.
Yanasak is an amateur photographer in his free time. He likes doing night photography especially. "I started going outside and experimenting with it based on some of the parameters that I had and I started to come up with some decent pictures that I think are going to work when the eclipse happens."
Basically there's two ways. The first is taking a selfie with a full moon. The next one is around August 7th.
Using your front facing camera you need to focus on the moon. Then you can use your phone's camera settings to adjust the exposure. What you want to do is make sure the moon can be seen clearly and will not be too bright.
Prior to doing this you want to turn on your front flashing flash. You want to make sure this setting is ON not AUTO.
With one finger holding down on the moon, use a finger on your other hand to take the picture.
The second way is to do all of that except using a dimmed light in a big dark room.
Yanasak says it takes about an hour of practice to get this down, but stresses if you are not committed to taking this selfie do not do it. "You're gonna waste your time fiddling with your camera and you're gonna miss the actual eclipse - what a waste that is."
He says everyone should try to make it to the path of totality, to see this once in a lifetime event.
The key to making sure you get the perfect selfie with the eclipse is speed. "Do it quickly. Beginning to end can I do that in 30 seconds that's the key -- in which case you can take a picture of the eclipse and you can enjoy it at the same time," Yanasak says.
You can read more tips from Yanasak here.


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Live by the sword, go to jail.
Gainesville cops reported tased Robert Allen Chesser, 47, after he reportedly charged at them with a mop before striking a K9 dog with the tool, reports The Gainesville Sun.
The cops responded to a call after Chessner allegedly chased his neighbor with a three-foot-long samurai sword, swinging it at the man, according to a report.
Get the DUHtails at


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I had a great race this morning. Almost half-way through the first mile, it almost became a terrible race. I love music. The only time that I don't workout with music is when I am with someone else. Even then sometimes I will have one earbud in, just so I can keep pace. So back to my race this morning…my iPod died. I was charging it on the way to the race and when I went to the starting line I thought that it was halfway charged. Nope. However, I realized the joy of not running with music. The race I participated in this morning was a women's only run. No matter how you feel about it, I enjoy them. I love seeing the people cheering on the runners, and since its mostly women, you see husbands/boyfriends/partners cheering on their significant others and children cheering on their moms. It warms my heart to see people cheering for the women in their lives as they tackle something that could be very difficult for them. Many women-only racers are "first-time" racers. The fact that people are out there cheering them on and being positive about their accomplishment is amazing. Not only that, but complete strangers were cheering me on. I love that!
Anyway, I wanted to post some of my favorite running/workout songs (this is only a smattering). The keys for me when picking songs for my playlist is speed (it is really difficult for me to keep pace when the song is slow…I use slow songs for weight training) and something that I genuinely enjoy listening to while running. Most of these songs I would not listen to unless I was working out, but that works for me. Here we go (in no particular order):
– "Sweet Nothing" Calvin Harris feat. Florence Welch
– "Halfway Gone" Lifehouse
– "Where Dem Girls At" Flo Rida and Nicki Minaj (pretty much any Flo Rida song works for me, except the "Whistle" song….I'll forgive him for that one)
– "Valerie" Steve Winwood (I also enjoy "Call on Me" by Eric Prydz which is a remix of this one)
– "Bon Bon" Pitbull (be aware that this is completely in Spanish and I pretty much love any Pitbull song)
– "We Run the Night" Havana Brown
– "Aeroplane" Red Hot Chili Peppers (of course I have to listen to the Chili Peppers…that funky bass line just makes me happy)
– "All I Want" A Day to Remember (this is actually a really great band out of Ocala)
– "Brother Lee" Citizen Cope (this was the last song that played in my first half marathon…never will forget that)
– "Hurts Like Heaven" Coldplay (Coldplay's Parachutes album was playing in the period prior to my very first triathlon)
– "The Pretender" Foo Fighters (starts slow but kicks in quick with a distinct drum beat to pace yourself with)
– basically anything from the Pirates of the Caribbean soundtrack
– "Points of Authority/99 Problems/One Step Closer" Jay-Z and Linkin Park mashup
– "Blow (remix)" Ke$ha (I would never just listen to this as I was driving around, but the distinctive beat is perfect for pacing)
– "Milkshake" Kelis (only because the milkshake brings all the boys to the yard, so you have to keep the milkshake in shape)
– "Excuse Me Mister" No Doubt
– "Graceland" Paul Simon (this was the turning point in my night run for Ragnar, when I actually started to relax a little bit and not hate myself lol)
– "Bring the Noise" Public Enemy vs. Benny Benassi
– "Bloodclot" Rancid
You get the idea. Also, you understand why if someone ever steal my iPod they would think I was schizophrenic. My music love is all over the place.
In food news, I was really working furiously in the kitchen today. Strawberry harvest season is upon us in Florida and its awesome. This also means that the Strawberry Festival will be happening soon and who doesn't love risking their lives on rides that break down easily for transport and watching pig races. It is a great place to see the locals in their natural habitat.
Anyway, after slicing about 10 pints of strawberries I think I'm set for a while. Additionally, I did the prep work for my "Mexican Shepherd's Pie." Basically you saute onions, shredded carrots, and bell peppers then add black beans and corn and cook for about 15 minutes so the flavors can mix. Once that is done you add a freshly chopped tomato and turn off the heat. Season as you like (I finished it with some homemade seasoning and lime juice). When you are ready to serve, you make a little guacamole (I just mash half an avocado with lime juice and some salt) and heat the black bean mixture. Spread the guacamole over the top of the black bean mix and enjoy! It is so yummy.


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The PPTP (Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol) protocol allows transfers between remote clients and servers in private networks, using both switched telephone lines and the Internet. PPTP is an extension of PPP that supports flow control and multi-protocol tunneling on IP.
Panda GateDefender Integra includes a VPN system so you can create your own virtual private networks, widening the reach of your network and ensuring confidentiality in connections.
The aim of the following guide is to describe the steps needed to create a virtual private network (VPN) based on PPTP with Panda GateDefender Integra, using real data.
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Privacy & Security International > Alerts > January 28 Data Privacy Day
On Wednesday January 28, 2009, RBC will be joining organizations in countries around the world to mark Data Privacy Day and promote education and awareness of data privacy rights and practices.
Corporations, governments, other public and private institutions are banding together to host events to educate consumers about how they can safeguard their privacy in our inter-connected digital world. RBC teamed up with the Canadian Bankers Association and other Canadian banks to provide our clients with information about the latest schemes and scams: what to look for and how to protect yourself.
"Trust is the cornerstone of our relationship with our clients and RBC works with our partners in the financial services industry to drive change to protect the privacy of all Canadians. One of the primary goals this year is to raise awareness among our web savvy teens who spend a great deal of time surfing the net or connecting with friends via the numerous social networking sites," says Jeff Green, RBC's Chief Privacy Officer.
Across RBC, we are dedicated to protecting our clients' privacy and safeguarding the personal, business, and financial information entrusted to us. We are also committed to raising awareness and helping educate our clients on what you can do to safeguard your information.
We invite you to visit RBC's Cyber Security Awareness Site to find out more about how to make your day safer. Wondering how savvy you are at protecting your information when you surf online? Why not visit the Canadian Bankers Association Fraud and Security site and encourage your family to test their Cyber Security Knowledge.


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Washington: While the United States baked to its hottest March by far, the rest of the world took a break last month from ever increasing temperatures.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said the world as a whole had its coolest March since 1999. It was only the 16th warmest March since record keeping began in 1880. Still, the month was 0.8 degrees Fahrenheit (0.5 Celsius) warmer than the 20th century average.
NOAA`s Deke Arndt (AREnt) said though it was cooler than recent years, last month globally was warmer than the vast majority of Marches in the 20th century.
Arndt said the fading weather phenomenon La Nina has had a cooling effect globally.
Bureau Report


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Oppenheim Law
@OpLaw Dirty Dozen; When Every Bank Is Guilty; The Only Crime Is Getting Caught
Blog post • Aug 10, 2012 18:00 EDT
Would you believe it if I told you that 24% of executives in the United States and the UK believe that financial services professionals need to engage in unethical or illegal conduct to be successful?
Well, a recent survey of over 500 executives found exactly that, with 26% of them admitting first hand knowledge of wrongdoing in their workplace.
I can't say I was surprised. Not one bit.
With this type of mentality, is it any wonder that our financial system is failing, and that the banks have a holier than thou mentality where they think they are above the law?
Apparently on Wall Street, the crime isn't engaging in misconduct, but in getting caught.
I mean, since everyone is doing it, it must be OK, right?
But down here on Main Street, we would not have the same success rate with that line of reasoning.
Let's say you got pulled over for speeding, and when the officer asked why would you going 100 miles-per-hour when the speed limit is 70, you told the officer;
"Well officer, everyone else was speeding; it would have been dangerous for me to slow down."
Do you think that officer would let you off? Of course not.
Yet regulators and politicians have been accepting this type of excuse from the banks for far too long.
Oppenheim Law's Dirty Dozen Exposed
And that exact excuse has reared its head again in relation to a massive tax fraud being investigated by New York Attorney General Schneiderman, the IRS, as well as the attorneys here at Oppenheim Law.
The investigation centers on what we have coined the @OpLaw Dirty Dozen, a group of twelve banks that have perpetrated the most egregious tax fraud at the expense of the American people.


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Meyer Textile Co: Aprons for Him and Her
All of the aprons at Meyer Textile Co are the handiwork of Ashley Meyer, who runs her workshop out of a 100-year-old dairy barn in southern Minnesota. We really like the simplicity of her designs, and the fact that all her aprons are unisex and made of heavy duty materials like canvas and denim.
The company motto ("simple, rustic, authentic") speaks to the practicality and durability of the aprons — a great wear-it-and-wash it, no-fuss style. Keep them in mind for gifts, too!
- 1 Canvas Utility Apron for Him or Her, $28.50
- 2 Rustic Full Kitchen Apron in Red Ticking, $28.50
- 3 Rustic Full Utility Denim Apron, $48.50
- 4 Canvas Utility Apron, $28.50
- 5 All the canvas colors available.
Visit the Store → Meyer Textile Co
(Images: MTC)


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Main part of a prototype Nuclear Magnetic Resonance machine, Europe, 1970-1975
This is the magnet and electronic circuit for a prototype Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) machine used in medicine, commonly called MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging). MRI uses NMR signals that build up a picture of the human body by using high frequency radio waves. MRI does not expose the body to radiation or invasive surgery and it can image soft tissues more effectively than X-ray-based methods.
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1988-186 Pt8
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Techniques and Technologies:
Glossary: NMR machine
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Glossary: MRI
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). A technique for producing high quality images of internal organs and tissues. MRI uses radio waves to achieve its results. It is particularly effective in detecting cancers.
Glossary: NMR
Nuclear magnetic resonance is a technique used to detect what chemicals make up a sample containing unknown materials, or proportions of material. The sample is exposed to radio waves, and the frequency of electromagnetic energy that the sample absorbs is recorded. Because different atoms absorb unique frequencies of radiation, it is possible to determine what sort of atoms are present in the sample. NMR is now known as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).


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Learn about STDs and Love will not Hurt you
STD and Love
When in love everything seems nice and good, we do not think of any negatives, because the positives are at the top of the game. Love also means that you will be bound to be physically close to your lover and the act of sexual love will be a high point in your life, but do you think of the downside? The downside to physical love is Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs), which can be a great problem to your life. Know what it is all about.
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The Types of STDs
There are different types of STDs and some of the most common types must be known to you, these are, herpes, human papillomavirus (HPV), syphilis, chlamydia, gonorrhea, hepatitis B, crabs (pubic lice) and HIV. But there are other types too, and some have more than one variety. For example you can find over 100 types of HPV viruses that have been identified.
Image Courtesy: gettyimages.in
STD through Oral Sex
Yes, it is very possible to get STD through oral sex. Many people believe that they can avoid STD if they avoid sexual intercourse, but this is not true. STDs can be contracted through vaginal, anal and oral sex so you should wear a condom even during oral sex. Irrespective of whether you are giving or receiving, as male and female condoms are both available.
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Women are more Susceptible than Men
The female anatomy is such that it makes women more vulnerable to contract STD than it does to men. The female genitals are moster, thinner and are more prone to infection than a man's. The problem is that women might not get diagnosed as often as most times the symptoms go unnoticed, either because STD is asymptomatic or because the symptoms are not noticeable.
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Some are Cured while Others are only Treated
Sexually Transmitted Diseases such as Chlamydia, Gonorrhea and Syphilis are bacterial infections that can be cured with the proper treatment. But there are other types of STDs thet can be treated but not cured completely. This means that you will have to live with the STD for the rest of your life.
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Condoms does not give 100% Guarantee
Using a condom is definitely a good option and one must always make use of one, but apasrt from abstinence there is nothing which keeps you 100 percent safe from STDs. It is definitely more wise to avoid skin to skin contact and prevent the passing of sperm and bacteria between partners, but condoms are not foolproof. But we would still remind you that prevention is better than cure.
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Can Pass on to an Unborn Child
Sexually Transmitted Diseases are such that if a mother gets infected with it then there are chances that it will infect their baby either during the pregnany or during the birth. It is necessary for you to get checked for STDs before getting pregnant, and even after getting pregnant.
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The Alarming Fact
The most important thing to remember is actually an alarming fact. You have to realise that when you are sleeping with your partner, the one you love so dearly, you are actually sleeping with everyone he or she has ever been with. Now because STDs do not have symptoms your partner may have contracted it without your and even without his or her knowledge. In order to be safe, you must both be tested before you begin a sexual relationship.
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STDs increase the risk of HIV
If you have the more common STDs such as herpes, gonorrhea, syphilis or chlamydia then you can significantly increase the risk of contracting an HIV. Researches and studies suggest that a person who is infected with an STD is exposed to HIV through sexual contract has two to five times higher risk of contracting the infection than those without an STD.
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Birth Control Pills do not Help STDs
Contraceptive methods such as birth control pills or IUD are worthless when it comes to protecting against STDs. The best option for you is to use condoms when having sex. Or better still go for abstinence until you and your partner are both tested negative for Sexually Transmitted Diseases.
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Immunized against STDs
Consult a doctor and find out if vaccines which are available for protection against STDs would help. The good news is that they are available. Everyone in anyway should be vaccinated against hepatitis B regardless of whether you are at risk or not. But there are more vaccines available in the market that could help.
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Or download our app "Guided Lessons by Education.com" on your device's app store.
Third Grade Emotional Development
Along with the astonishing physical growth, the impressive new mental abilities and the heightened focus on friendships, third grade brings new emotional milestones for children. Some are welcome elements to the life of parents; some will drive you up the wall. The important thing is to know what's coming and how to react. Read this slideshow to learn what to expect from your child in this interesting, challenging, wonderful year.
Click on an item in the set below to see more info.
They are dramatic.
The emotions of a third grader can be all over the place. One minute, they're being affectionate and cooperative with friends, and the next, they're bossy and demanding. They exaggerate and say things like "Times tables is the hardest thing ever!" or "I hate all the kids in my class!"
What you should do: Be patient and supportive. Expect unexpected complaining and whining. Set limits that allow for some negative emotions while teaching your child self-control.
They want more responsibility and independence.
In third grade, kids begin to realize they don't need their parents for every simple task. Add this to new intellectual skills, and suddenly they want to do it all.
What you should do: Give your child plenty of chances to show how responsible and independent he can be. Ask him to make his own bed, clean his own room or do his own laundry. Assign household chores like doing dishes, taking out the trash and mopping the floor, and compliment your child on jobs well done.
They criticize themselves harshly.
Third graders often overestimate their abilities, and they are easily discouraged when things don't go well. Comments like "I can't do anything right" can be common. The pressure to be accepted by peers leads to strong emotional stress when children struggle academically and athletically.
What you should do: Make sure you are giving your child chances to accomplish things on his own without your help, which builds self-confidence in the long run. Provide challenges that aren't too hard, such as household chores. Remind your child of things he's learned to do; children can genuinely forget recent accomplishments because they quickly move to the next thing. Focus more on the learning process of challenges and less on the end product. If you think your child is falling behind, you can consult with teachers, counselors or your pediatrician.
They criticize others harshly, including adults.
Third graders might not be quite as mean-spirited as they were in second grade, but they compensate with a newfound ability to notice the imperfections of others, including their teachers and parents. As they form exclusive social groups, they decide which peers don't belong, which is a form of criticism in itself.
What you should do: Be ready. You might be in for an angry tirade at some point in your child's third grade year. Realize that the forming of opinions is a normal developmental milestone in your child's life, but the way it plays out can be hurtful.
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They recognize their own strengths and weaknesses.
With a heightened focus on academic, athletic and social skills, children in third grade start to see where their skills rank among their peers. They talk about who is the smartest, who is the funniest, who is the most popular and who is the best athlete.
What you should do: Remind your child that a person's worth isn't tied to any one facet of their life, and look for opportunities to build confidence. If your child is struggling academically, calmly tell him where he should improve without putting too much pressure on him.
They have conquered unreasonable fears.
Third graders have an improved sense of reality. Many of their old fears have passed, but this also means their new fears are more reality-based. A child this age may be afraid of failing in school or being judged by his peers.
What you should do: Don't tease your child about past fears. Focus on helping him through his more mature, more realistic fears.
They have more secrets.
A lot of factors in a third grader's life lead to secrets. They are getting better at watching what they say and deciding when not to speak. They have active social lives in which they care deeply what others think of them but are afraid to be judged. They are withdrawing from adults, who they may have told secrets to previously. It's no coincidence that this is a time when children end up holding certain information to themselves.
What you should do: Buy your child a diary and/or a box that he can lock. Not only does this give him an outlet to express his thoughts, but a locked box is a small symbol of responsibility that he'll appreciate.
They may experience guilt or shame.
Consider all the emotional and intellectual development happening for a third grader. It can be a stressful time. Some kids use their new ability to think deeper and their overly negative opinions against themselves in a strong, potentially damaging way. This can be hard for others to detect because third graders are better at hiding their feelings than ever before.
What you should do: Be on the lookout for the difference between temporary emotional flare-ups—anger, frustration and sadness—and a deeper sense of guilt or shame. Talk with your child about his expectations for himself, and help him find a reasonable balance. Encourage him to forgive himself. Talk about how to act in the future, not about what happened in the past.


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Best Spring Festivals at Ski Resorts
12 Best Spring Festivals at Ski Areas
Springtime at ski resorts brings warm weather, corn snow, skiing in costumes, and big parties and festivals. These are pro skier Griffin Post's picks for his 12 favorite springtime festivals at ski resorts around the world.
Scufoneda; Moena, Italy
With roots as a local telemark gathering, Polartec's Scufoneda, which takes place each year in early March, has blossomed into an international skiing and snowboarding festival, complete with a two-day big mountain competition at nearby Passo San Pellegrino. Hosted by the Scufons, a hearty bunch of Dolomite locals, the event balances world class skiing during the day and full bore partying at night.
High Boy; Alta, Utah
Part Mardi Gras, part Halloween, the unofficial closing-day party at Alta is not for the faint of heart. Rain, snow or shine, partygoers gather on top of High Rustler in their finest (or weirdest) costumes for one final run. Unsanctioned and a bit out of control, High Boy ensures Alta goes out with a bang. This year, Alta's closing day is scheduled for Sunday, April 29.
PMS; Squaw Valley, Calif.
The Pain McShlonkey Classic at Squaw Valley pays tribute to one of the most iconic and funniest men in skiing history, Shane McConkey. With the coveted Golden Saucer on the line, pros and amateurs compete in a Chinese downhill, small mountain snowblade contest and costume contest followed by, of course, the World's Greatest After Party. This year, the PMS, as it's called, took place March 30.
Gaper Day; Anywhere
Gaper Day, a grassroots April Fools' Day event that has grown into an international celebration of dated ski clothes and tourist-mocking antics, is likely the most widely celebrated, yet loosely organized event on the ski calendar. For one day on the first of April, neon, headbands, and zinc come back into style at virtually every ski resort across the country.
Verbier Xtreme; Verbier, Switzerland
The finals of the Freeride World Tour, the Verbier Xtreme, which took place this year on March 22, is more than some of the world's best skiers and snowboarders tackling the Bec des Rosses, the most difficult competitive big mountain venue in the world. The weeklong event is complete with a seemingly endless street party, live music, and bikini-clad Swatch models dancing in a life-size snow globe (seriously).
Mountain Festival; Jackson Hole, Wyo.
More than a concert that features a national headliner, Jackson Hole Mountain Festival, which takes place in late March, plays host to a series of events. The Pole, Pedal, Paddle challenges individuals and teams in an alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, biking and boating relay; the Coombs Classic honors Jackson legend Doug Coombs in an on-mountain, lap-driven competition; and live music and fireworks abound throughout the weekend.
WSSF; Whistler, BC
The World Ski and Snowboard Festival at Whistler celebrates all things skiing and snowboarding. From music and art to the Association of Freeskiing Professionals' World Championships, there's something for everyone. The 10-day event serves as the proverbial exclamation point to the winter season. This year, the event takes place April 12-21.
Beach Party; Arapahoe Basin, Colo.
If there's one place where tailgating and skiing intersect, it's at A-Basin's Early Riser parking lot every spring. Just steps from the lifts, The Beach goes off nearly every weekend (and some week days) as skiers toting barbeques and beach chairs celebrate the final weeks of the season, which often lasts into June.
Closing Party; Ischgl, Austria
Imagine a rock concert featuring an international headliner with thousands of fans. Now, imagine that same concert, at 7,500 feet in elevation, in the snow. That's just what happens at the Silvretta Arena in Ischgl, Austria, on closing day. Musicians from around the world, including Elton John, Tina Turner, and Mariah Carey in years past, bring the Austrian Alps season to a close. This year, it was German soul singer Xavier Naidoo and rapper Kool Savas who shut down the season on April 1.
Reggae Festival; Sugarloaf, Maine
Now in its 25th year, Sugarloaf's Reggae Festival, taking place April 11-14, combines spring skiing with a beach-like atmosphere. With most events free to all, the weekend-long party features a series of outdoor and indoor concerts, good vibes, and fireworks.
Spring Back to Vail; Vail, Colo.
The end-all bash of Colorado resort skiing, Vail plays host to a series of free concerts, late night parties, and, of course, the World Pond Skimming Championships, where a free Epic Pass is on the line. This year's event, taking place April 8-14, celebrates Vails 50th year.
West Coast Invitational; Mammoth, Calif.
Mammoth Mountain is typically one of the last resorts in California to close for the season. The West Coast Invitational, taking place May 4-5, hosts a late-season big air contest with top pros in skiing and snowboarding, the Eddie Wall Ride Invitational, and live concerts.
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Step 1: Scope It Out
Determining the scope of your kitchen remodeling project is the best place to start when forming a budget. At the low end of the budget range, a cosmetic facelift -- painting or refinishing existing cabinets, installing new laminate countertops and vinyl flooring, changing out an appliance or two, and replacing a faucet and hardware -- could be done for as little as a few thousand dollars.
At the high end of the budget range, a complete redesign -- including top-of-the-line appliances, cabinetry, and surfaces, as well as changes to walls, plumbing, wiring, and ductwork -- could cost $50,000-$100,000.
Step 2: Shop Around
Once you know the extent of your project, get an idea of the actual budget by visiting showrooms, home improvement centers, and Web sites and pricing individual elements. Focus your research on the big-ticket categories: cabinets, appliances, surfaces, and plumbing fixtures. Total costs for those categories give you a ballpark materials budget. But that's not the total cost of the project. When you factor in design, labor, and installation costs, you could end up spending twice what you paid for materials.
Step 3: Think Long Term
As you crunch numbers, consider your home's value, your neighborhood's future, how long you plan to live there, and the importance resale has to you. A popular rule of thumb says that the budget for a new kitchen should be approximately 15 percent of the assessed value of your home. However, if you plan to move from a $200,000 home in a few years, it may not make sense to invest $30,000 in kitchen renovations. But if you plan to stay in that same home for many years, you may feel comfortable spending twice that.
Step 4: Slice the Pie
Cabinetry, appliances, and labor/installation costs usually gobble up the biggest pieces of the budget pie. Cabinetry alone may eat 40-60 percent. But it depends on what's most important to you. If professional-grade appliances are a must, then you may spend more on those. If you are adding on or moving walls -- and your home is older and holds unpleasant surprises behind its walls -- labor and installation could become your budget's biggest line item.
Step 5: Set Priorities
Knowing what's important to you -- and what's not -- helps cut costs. For example, if solid-wood cabinetry is not important, you can save money with units that contain medium-density fiberboard doors and laminate interiors, then apply the savings to what really matters to you, be it granite countertops or high-end appliances. But if fine cabinets are a priority, you can pair them with more economical countertops and appliances and still have a great-looking kitchen. Just don't scrimp on any one area so much that it interferes with good function.
Step 6: Go With A Pro
Working with a design professional is one of the best ways to get the most for your money. And it doesn't have to be costly. Many showrooms and home centers offer free design services, and some designers will do an initial in-home consultation and budget estimate at no cost. Even if a designer charges an initial fee, it usually pales in comparison to the total cost of a project.
If nothing else, designers also have access to resources and products that may not be available to you on your own. Their novel kitchen remodeling ideas may save you money. Besides, going it alone can be risky. Do-it-yourself design, labor and installation by friends and family, and products and materials from unproven sources invite problems that outweigh any cost savings.
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[We review Agile Tools. Have you seen our Agile Tools list?]
We've been looking around for another tool to review and it landed on our desk for sure.
[Enter]: SonicAgile – An Easy to Use Scrum tool in Blue
The SonicAgile folks tell us that they built SonicAgile because they wanted a lightweight and easy to learn project management tool which the developers could coordinate the work that their team performs on software projects.
SonicAgile supports the basic features that many other tools cover as well: creating backlogs, scrumboards, and burndown charts. It includes support for acceptance criteria, story estimation, calculating team velocity, and email integration.
Interested already? It's simple. You can sign up for 30 days free. Booyah.
SonicAgile Backlog
You use the backlog to create a prioritized list of user stories such as features, bugs, and change requests. It's a snap, prioritize a story by just drag and dropping the story from one location to another.
Likewise, it's easy to add stories from the product backlog to the sprint backlog:
Tracking velocity is pretty intuitive and easy as well. Try it out… and then try to overload your team. A nice addition is that when you add too many stories to a a sprint… the system warns you automatically:
SonicAgile Scrumboard
If you're running a daily Scrum everyday, you can use the Scrumboard to view at a glance what everyone on the team is working on. Below is a view of what an individual is working on in the Product Details Page:
Every story can be broken into tasks and acceptance criteria:
One caveat though, you cannot close a story — and remove the story from the list of active stories on the scrumboard — until all tasks and acceptance criteria associated with the story are done.
SonicAgile Burndown Charts
Currently, SonicAgile supports several versions of burndown reports: Release Burndown, Sprint Burndown by Task Estimates, and Sprint Burndown by Story Points charts. Below is an example of a Sprint Burndown by Story Points:
Email Integration
The folks over at SonicAgile tell us that their system was designed to improve your team's communication and collaboration. Most stories and tasks require discussion to nail down exactly what work needs to be done. If your rockin' a dispersed team, or a team that isn't local, you can collaborate through email, right? When you use SonicAgile, all email discussions concerning a story or a task (including all email attachments) are captured automatically. At any time in the future, you can view all of the email discussion concerning a story or a task by opening the Story Details dialog:
Summary (And some Technical Details)
SonicAgile is very close to being a pure Ajax application (which I like). Looking a bit deeper we've found that SonicAgile was built using ASP.NET MVC 3, jQuery, and Knockout. Almost all of the MVC controller actions return JSON results. The controller actions are invoked from jQuery Ajax calls from the browser.
SonicAgile was built on Windows Azure, and the team over at SonicAgile is taking advantage of SQL Azure, Table Storage, and Blob Storage.
Going through the system, I wasn't too disappointed with the experience. It was intuitive and pretty easy to navigate. I specifically liked the ease of the drag and drop functionality, which is a standard these days. The color scheme took a little bit getting used to though.
Since they've opened it up for free sign ups and 30 days of trial, it wouldn't be a bad ride to take if you're looking for a new tool to use. Consider dropping a couple minutes on this one, you might just find that it will work for you and your team!


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Marc Stein writes wrote:The Atlanta Hawks and Golden State Warriors are closing in on a trade that would find a new home for Jamal Crawford.
NBA front-office sources say that the Warriors and Hawks will soon complete a deal sending Crawford to Atlanta for Acie Law and Speedy Claxton.
Warriors coach Don Nelson made no secret of the fact that Crawford wasn't in his future plans. By shedding Crawford's longer contract and by virtue of insurance payments that will cover some of the costs of Claxton, Golden State would secure a decent measure of payroll relief with the trade.
Less clear is what impact the move will have on Atlanta's forthcoming negotiations with free agent-to-be Mike Bibby. Although Crawford is not a pure point guard, he's a prolific scorer whose arrival could affect the sort of contract offer Bibby expected to command from the Hawks.
speedy's contract expires at the end of this upcoming season and is for a little more than $5million...i might even assume a buyout of his contract to make space for another player(s)
this trade would have us goin into the draft with the supposed depth chart looking like:
Monta/ Law/ Speedy
Jackson/ Morrow/ Belinelli
Buike/ Maggs
Randolph/ Wright
Biedrins/ Turiaf


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This Week In Movies: 'Transformers 4,' Snowpiercer'
06.23.2014 | By Jack Rico | No Comments">No Comments
We're into the middle 2014 World Cup and 12 new film releases will be competing for your eyeballs and money this week. Full of some big names from television and film, some of the most compelling pieces are Chris Evans' Snowpiercer which is a supposed sci-fi force, Paul Rudd and Amy Poehler team up for the very first time, Maroon 5 singer Adam Levine does his film debut, an iconic fashion designer gets his own biopic, a few documentaries showcase some thought-provoking subjects and one of Philip K. Dick's stories finds itself to the big creen again. After the jump, you'll see a list ranked by order of my interest. Read More


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BEDMAP Collaboration / BAS
This graphic shows the bedrock beneath Antarctic ice. The color scale goes from 2,250 meters below sea level (blue) to 2,250 meters above sea level (red).
A British survey suggests what the Antarctic continent would look like if it were stripped bare of all its ice.
This BEDMAP elevation image of the polar region is based on satellite imagery as well as observations made from planes, ships and even dog-drawn sleds, the British Antarctic Survey reported today. Hamish Pritchard, a researcher from the BAS, presented the digital maps at the American Geophysical Union's fall meeting in San Francisco.
Less than 1 percent of Antarctica's bedrock projects above the continent's layer of ice, the BBC reported. If all that ice were suddenly taken away, the sea would pour into the dark blue troughs shown on the BEDMAP picture. The light blue area on the graphic indicates the Antarctic continental shelf.
"In many areas, you can now see the troughs, valleys and mountains as if you were looking at a part of the earth we're much more used to seeing, exposed to the air," Pritchard told the BBC. Such imagery has helped scientists trace the roots of the Gamburtsev Mountains, a range of peaks buried two miles (3 kilometers) below the surface of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet.
In the picture above, the Gamburtsev range is the deep-red area just to the right of the continent's center. "It's fascinating to see the Gamburtsevs in the context of the other big mountains in Antarctica," Pritchard said.
BEDMAP Consortium / BAS
This graphic provides a sidelong perspective on the Antarctic bedrock, looking inward from the Antarctic Peninsula toward the center of the continent.
This survey of the naked continent, which follows up in far greater detail on an earlier BEDMAP scan, wasn't done merely to fascinate scientists (and the rest of us). Understanding Antarctica's rocky foundation could help climate researchers get a better sense of how the polar ice cap may respond to future climate change.
The key observations included radar soundings that penetrated the ice and bounced off the underlying rock, which told researchers how far down the ice went. Still more airborne surveys need to be made to flesh out BEDMAP's view in detail.
These pictures serve as today's offerings from the Cosmic Log Space Advent Calendar, which features views of Earth from space every day from now until Christmas. Check back on Tuesday for the next "treat," and check out these links for previous entries as well as other space-themed Advent calendars:
- Dec. 4: The monster of Madagascar
- Dec. 3: Santa's shrinking domain
- Dec. 2: The masses in Mecca
- Dec. 1: An ornament in outer space
- The full Cosmic Log Space Advent Calendar, going back to 2010
- Hubble Advent calendar, presented by The Atlantic's In Focus
- 2011 Zooniverse Advent calendar
Connect with the Cosmic Log community by "liking" the log's Facebook page, following @b0yle on Twitter and adding the Cosmic Log page to your Google+ presence. You can also check out "The Case for Pluto," my book about the controversial dwarf planet and the search for new worlds.


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Sample MRF MOS plot
This plot shows forecasted information from the Glocal Forecast System (GFS) model extended MOS surface data. This data include the predicted maximum temperature (colors) and probability of precipitation (POP) for 1 through 7 days.
The maximum temperatures are color contoured with a 5 degree contour interval.
The POP data are contoured as well with the 10% line dashed, the areas from 30% to 50% filled with diagonal black lines, and the areas greater than 50% hatched. Therefore, the likely areas of precipitation would show up hatched.
These images are generated by geostationary satellites orbiting 22,000 miles above the equator looking at the United States. These include visible, infrared and water vapor images. The images are updated once an hour at about 30 after the hour.


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Wisconsin Court Upholds Law Curbing Unions' Rights
Ruling on Collective-Bargaining Rights Is Likely to End Legal Challenges
MADISON, Wis.—Wisconsin's highest court upheld a law ending most collective-bargaining rights for government employees in the state, a blow for public-sector unions that have been stymied in their efforts to reverse the controversial measure championed by Republican Gov. Scott Walker.
The law, passed in 2011, rocked the state, leading to mass protests and recall elections, while making Mr. Walker a favorite of conservatives across the country. The measure put Wisconsin at the center of a national debate over the role of public-employee...


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CRESTVIEW � A Crestview High School art student has taken home the first prize in this year's Van Porter Art Show, an annual countywide competition.
CRESTVIEW � A Crestview High School art student has taken home the first prize in this year's Van Porter Art Show, an annual countywide competition.
Abigail "Abbie" Pouncey won the Van Porter Senior Artist of the Year Award in Okaloosa County, art teacher Laurel Breaux said.
"Her work competed against seniors from all the other high schools in the county," Breaux said.
The Arts and Design Society of Fort Walton Beach�s competition is for eighth and 12th-graders only. Teachers nominate students for consideration in the show. Accepted students submit a written essay and three of their artistic works for a jury�s evaluation.
Abbie's essay was "about what art meant to us and how it affected our lives and how important art is to us," Breaux said.
Among the three pieces Abbie submitted was the prize-winning "Sweetheart," an abstract sculpture of a person's head wearing headphones and a smiley-face bandanna.
"I was inspired by nature and different cultures around the world and how different things come together," Abbie said. "It was a colorful moment."
The sculpture also won a first-place ribbon at the Crestview High spring art show.
Abbie plans to major in graphic arts at Northwest Florida State College.
Contact News Bulletin Arts & Entertainment Editor Brian Hughes at 850-682-6524 or email@example.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbBrian.


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John Mayer went four months without talking
The rocker has suffered numerous problems with his throat over the years and underwent surgery to remove a granuloma from his vocal cords last August (12).
He has now revealed that during the height of his problems, he had muscle freezing agent Botox injected into his vocal cords and went months without talking at all, using an Apple iPad to communicate instead.
Mayer tell Billboard, "I probably had contiguously three, maybe four months of not saying a word. The endurance was tough for me, but I started a new life."
However, he hated having to rely on a gadget: "I was forced to type on my iPad to communicate anything. It wasn't liberating. Is breaking your leg liberating? No. All complexity is gone when you don't have a choice."
Mayer is now back on track after his surgery and is heading back out on tour this summer (13), and the rocker insists he is delighted to be able to sing again: "It's hard to believe that I'm healed, but just to make sure, I keep going back (to the doctor) every two weeks for a look, and it's the same - if not better."


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Shop our selection of over 45,000 wholesale arts and crafts suppliest! Sign up today to start shopping.
Designed for jewelry making, the Sculpey® Souffle polymer clay is an innovative lightweight clay that ensures durability. The strength of this pistachio Sculpey clay, along with its ability to hold detail, makes it ideal for advanced and delicate clay patterning techniques such as bergello, caning, and mokume gane. This light-green shade oven-bake clay gives an elegant suede finish on baking. Its self-supporting nature ensures that it does not crack when used for large clay projects. This package contains a 1.7 oz bar of polymer clay.
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- Do not microwave
- Do not exceed the recommended baking time


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I think John's point is that if he (or we) thought that we could sell 2000
units of every title we release to the academic market (which is where most
of our titles do most of their business) then we could charge home video
prices for each unit.
Secondly, unlike textbooks or journals, I don't think that the cost of
videos for nontheatrical markets have gone up (or are going up). I know that
my company, which probably has (intentionally) among the highest prices in
the field (I guess except for Fire Prevention films!), has not raised our
prices, ever.
I think where we, and other companies, consider it fair to charge extra is
when an institution wants to be able to use the media they buy from us in
more ways, more flexibly, possibly with more copies (virtual or otherwise)
to serve more people more often (and with potentially greater risk to us,
particularly in this transition period): and you are, I think, suggesting we
shouldn't charge more for that.
If you product (the films we distribute) have value for you and your
constituents, your job is to figure how much value they have compared to
what we think they are worth (cost us) or we think the market will bare
Since our sales (and I believe Bullfrog's) are going up with our prices
going down - some of you out there - and more than in the past - must think
they are, in fact, worth it.
And we think so too.
Jonathan Miller
-----Original Message-----
From: email@example.com
[mailto:firstname.lastname@example.com] On Behalf Of Ciara Healy
Sent: Friday, February 10, 2006 2:37 PM
To: firstname.lastname@example.com
Subject: [Videolib] Video costs
In reply to John from Bullfrog's post:
Do you mean by: "my point of comparison is always with textbooks... if
professors assigned videos the way they assign textbooks, then the price
of course would drop dramatically" that professors should make unique
copies of videos mandatory purchases for students? Do you mean "require"
instead of assign? I have just purchased a video entitled "Fire
Extinguishers - First Responder" which is a 12 minute film that costs
$325.00. (I can't speak to the production quality - yet.) If the
instructor made it mandatory that each student purchase that video, the
result would not be a dramatic drop in the price of the video. The
result, most likely, would be that there would be a dramatic drop in
The high price of textbooks is a major complaint of students across the
country, what with new editions coming out and the resale value of used
textbooks about %10 percent of the original cost. Many of the students
believe that professors should put copies of the current textbook on
reserve - or that libraries should buy them every semester - so that
students without the money can still be prepared for class. You are not
doing yourself a service by hitching your wagon to textbooks to
textbooks (or journals) - with regard to publishing costs or much else.
You also don't go into scholarly publishing, or education really, to
make money.
The harder argument to make is to defend the exorbitant price of
educational videos. But to suggest that the price go up in relation to
demand ("So my conclusion is that if higher ed is going to rely more
heavily on the use of media, then the price should probably go up.")
under cuts your first point about textbooks, which I thought was that if
more copies were purchased (demanded) then price would go down
So my conclusion is that either way - if demand goes up or down, that
video prices will skyrocket. And so will textbook prices.
Ciara Healy
Media Services Librarian
Bruce I. Howell Library
Wake Technical Community College
9101 Fayetteville Road
Raleigh, NC 27603
(919) 773-4724
Videolib mailing list
Videolib mailing list


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Sunday, August 30, 2009
Don't Tweet? You're Not Alone
Does Twitter have a future among genealogists? I'm still not at all sure. And this recent article gives me reason to wonder:
As with the teens, many genealogists are heavy users of Facebook (and now Genealogy Wise). So is there something unique to genealogists that would make us react differently to the use of Twitter? Hmmmm....
3 comments:
- AnonymousAugust 31, 2009 at 11:01 PM
My 2 cents - twitter is annoying.... short, incomplete thoughts in reverse order. Making it a pain to follow. I'd rather read a blog that has been thought through, organized, embellished and published than quick random thoughts to be read from the bottom up.ReplyDelete
Perhaps you've changed your mind since then, but I have to say that I totally disagree. I learn more and communicate more with Twitter than anything else, despite being a heavy user of Facebook. Facebook is for friends but Twitter is for everyone. I don't use it every day but whenever I do I learn something about people or genealogy-related resources that I didn't know before.ReplyDelete
It is also much easier to follow when someone is tweeting through a conference (eg RootsTech) or a national disaster (eg The Queensland floods last month). It's all on Twitter first.
OK, I'll settle down now!
Nothing particularly earth shattering here. I disagree with your point that twitter is annoying. Twitter is actually beneficial, especially to your business. Also, twitter apps can make Twitter life a lot easier. Why not try it.ReplyDelete


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Hand Washing
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Acrylic "Soap Saver" Soap DishThe ridged bottom of this functional and attractive dish will keep bar soap out of the "goo" or hold a small brush or sponge. One piece for easy cleaning. 5¼" x 3½". Learn More
Small Plastic Soap/Lotion PumpThis "travel-size" pump-action dispenser is ideal for hand or dish washing activities. Ideal for holding soap or lotion. Made of plastic (PET). Holds 1.8 oz.; 1½" diameter x 4" high. Learn More
Nylon NailbrushA finger-tickling accessory for hand washing! The curved plastic handle is easy for small children to grasp. 3⅜" long x 1¾" high; ½" bristles. Sold individually. Assorted colors. Learn More
Whale NailbrushChildren will love washing their hands and nails with this little brush. The curved plastic handle is easy for small children to grasp. 2½" x 1⅝"; ⅜" bristles. Sold individually. Assorted colors. Learn More
Cotton Terry Cloths - 2 piece coordinated setsThese 100% cotton fabric waffle-weave dishcloths are super-absorbent and are wonderful for washing or drying tables, hands, or dishes. Checked cloths are sold as a two-piece coordinated set. 12" square. Learn More
Cotton Terry TowelSuper-absorbent waffle-weave makes these 100% cotton fabric towels wonderful for drying tables, hands, or dishes. Solid colors. 17" x 24¼". Learn More
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Categories: Forceps, Pliers, Hemostats & Removers : Forceps
Atraumair Forceps – 35 Apical Forceps, Upper Canines and Premolars - Hu-Friedy Mfg Co. Inc.
Hu-Friedy Atraumair Forceps are designed with enhanced beak geometries to allow for optimal access and enhanced engagement when extracting teeth. This suite of forceps feature a matte finish and unique hole design to reduce weight and light reflection.


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- Home
- Framed LDS Temples
- Houston, TX - LDS Temple - Frame #458 - With Flowers
Product Description
A color image of the Houston, TX - LDS Templewith flowers. This image is framed in a hand finished, gallery quality, wooden picture frame.
Available Colors:
- Rosewood - a cherry finished frame with dark brown outside and inside edges which transitions gradually to a rich rosewood finish along the center highlights.
- Desert Gold - a soft gold finished frame with light brown dusting along the outide and inside edges accents the bright gold highlights on the enter of the frame.
- Matte Black - a simple black frame in a medium satin finish
- Walnut - a walnut finished frame with dark brown outside and inside edges which transitions gradually to a soft brown along the center highlights. A traditional favorite.
- Easy Installation - Arrives Custom Framed and Ready to Hang with hanging hardware preinstalled. Anyone can hang this easily with our easy to use hanging system.
- Premium Clear Portait Glass and Acid-Free Foamcore backing will keep your image looking new for years
- No risk to you - 30 day, no questions asked, money back guarantee
- Allow 4 Business days before shipping.
- Free Shipping to the USA and Canada
A great idea for wedding, Christmas or birthday gifts. We will send your frame anywhere you want it shipped.
Warranty Information
30 day, no questions asked, money back guarantee. If you aren't completely happy with this frame image, simply return it within 30 days to receive a full refund.
Product Reviews
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MX391, Reviewed October 1993
Aquaculture in not a new concept. Japanese, Chinese, Romans, Egyptians and Mayan Indians farmed fish for food and recreation prior to 2000 BC. Ponds were constructed and fish were raised much in the same manner as fish are raised today.
Both freshwater and saltwater fish are currently raised commercially throughout the world. Other related aquatic products raised commercially are:
Aquaculture is the general term used to describe the propagation and rearing of aquatic animals and plants in controlled or selected environments. Although aquaculture is increasing in popularity in this country, the vast majority of fisheries food products eaten in the United States are imported or are captured wild stocks from natural waters.
In the North Central Region (NCR), aquaculture is a viable enterprise. Fish are produced for recreational stocking, food or fee-fishing. Minnesota bait fish farmers produce fish worth more than 30 million dollars annually. Wisconsin, Missouri and Michigan each annually produce trout worth 1.5 to 2 million dollars. Many other species of fish are produced in the region including Atlantic, chinook, and coho salmon, perch, walleye, hybrid striped bass, largemouth and smallmouth bass, sunfish and sunfish hybrids, channel catfish and carp.
Aquaculture products can be an answer to the growing problem of world dietary animal protein shortages. Fish convert feed into flesh about two times more efficiently than chickens and five to ten times more efficiently than beef cattle. Feed conversion rates of fish are higher than other common commercial livestock because
Moreover, fish can use the entire pond, top to bottom, for living space, while terrestrial animals are confined to the ground.
The proper combination of fish species, control of the environment and careful feeding can result in annual yields approaching 6,250 pounds per acre, compared to approximately 1,000 pounds per acre yield from beef cattle production. The potential for increased production and the lure of high profits have accelerated the interest in fish farming and other types of aquaculture.
Aquaculture, however, is a highly specialized form of agriculture. It is a high risk enterprise. One is trying to grow animals that one cannot see easily in their water environment. Water management may not be a familiar subject. Consequently, to increase potential for success, it is important to research carefully and plan any proposed aquaculture venture.
Establishing a commercial fish culture enterprise involves a four step process which should be followed carefully by the prospective aquaculturist.
An extensive planning stage is necessary before making any large capital investment. This step is especially important when deciding on the feasibility of establishing a costly aquaculture venture. Planning involves a detailed evaluation of the biological, economic and legal feasibility of raising a particular fish or group of fishes. Biological and economic considerations are of equal importance. Legal constraints also can severely limit aquaculture in certain areas.
Economic feasibilityAn economic case study of trout production can serve as an example of the economic constraints facing the potential fish farmer. During the period September 1989 to August 1990, United States trout producers in 15 surveyed states sold 56.8 million pounds of food-size trout, valued at 64.5 million dollars. Idaho producers sold 70 percent of the total during the period and dominated the industry. They sold their product for 81 cents a pound — up from 77 cents a pound the previous year. Producers in other states, who marketed their product as food-size trout, sold their product for an average of $1.91 a pound ($1.22 to $3.65 a pound). In the NCR, average sale price for food-sized trout was $2.34 ($1.95 to $2.67) in 1990.
The outlook is clouded by the dominance of Idaho producers. Three large producer-processors control the major portion of the frozen and processed trout market. Fortunately, producers in other areas have seen prices increase and they expect prices for fresh and live trout to continue to climb.
In the NCR we estimate that it will cost at least $200,000 to start a trout production farm capable of supporting the operators' full income requirements. Lower levels of investments will usually limit income and may result in negative returns. Although the initial investment may seem high, it is in line with investments required to start any type of new agribusiness (a tractor may cost as much). Current trout producers who aggressively market their products have no difficulty in selling their fish.
Other types of operations cost less. Starting a fee-fishing operation will require an initial investment of $30,000 to $50,000. A bait minnow farm will require $60,000 to $80,000 initial investment.
Economic feasibility analysisAn Aquaculture venture is economically feasible if a fish or aquaculture product can be produced at a cost competitive with other sources and can be reasonably profitable. Here, economic considerations are divided into demand, finance, production and marketing.
DemandProduct demand is the relationship between the amount of product that consumers will purchase, the selling price, the price of competing products, the size of the consuming population and the income of the consuming population. Many fish and aquaculture products command high prices as luxury food items, but these items are characteristically in short supply. Since demand for luxury foods is normally limited, increased production would result in reduced product revenues. Other fish and aquaculture products that command lower prices must compete with meat products. Until aquaculture products can compete favorably with the price of chicken and hamburger, the number of the fish-consuming people will remain relatively low. In 1990, less than 50 percent of the population ate fish, while average per capita consumption was 15.5 pounds.
FinanceFinance is a very important consideration. Private sector financing is generally conservative. Rarely will the private sector be persuaded to finance projects where risks are high, profits uncertain, and past experiences to guide decisions unavailable. Public financial assistance does not currently include specific programs for aquaculture; however, some United States Department of Agriculture programs have been extended to include aquaculture. Additional public financial assistance sources may become available pending the passage of aquaculture-oriented legislation. Thus, the current outlook for financing an aquacultural venture is dim — though the future holds promise.
ProductionProduction economics involves various direct costs that can be divided into system costs, production costs and processing costs. These factors can be outlined as follows:
Aquaculture ventures can be extremely labor intensive. The cost of labor can be the most limiting factor in terms of production costs for large United States firms. Less labor intensive aquaculture ventures are normally limited by high feed costs. Poor understanding of the nutritional requirements of fish and other aquatic animals results in rigid diet formulations. This causes costs of diets to skyrocket if a particular necessary ingredient becomes scarce.
Processing is a production cost if existing processing facilities are not available to the producer or if the producer is unable to sell the product to a processor at a reasonable profit. Processing costs (as well as the multitude of state and federal regulations governing processing) can be a significant constraint to perspective aquaculturists.
MarketingMarketing involves the movement of goods from producers to consumers. For aquaculture industries, marketing can be a significant problem. Ideally the marketing network for food items involves processors, distributors and outlets. Although a producer can bypass processors and distributors, bypassing these intermediaries will increase costs and risk. Because of the additional risk involved, it is usually best to work through an established marketing network that can adapt to a new aquacultural product. Unfortunately, when aquaculture is beginning to develop in an area, an established marketing network may not be available. Many small producers may have to process and market their own products to take advantage of the value that these steps add to the product.
Establishing a market network for a new aquacultural product requires a continuous, year-round supply of marketable fish. Until a year-round production system can be assured, a processor will be hesitant to invest in expansion or conversion of existing equipment to handle the new product. To avoid slack production periods, processors prefer to contract for products from producers on a strict schedule. Market development will be restricted if supplies are seasonal.
Unfortunately, the temperatures in the climates found in most of the NCR restrict growth rates and promote seasonal yields. Year-round supplies can only be obtained by holding marketable sized animals to meet processor demand or by raising the aquatic animals in controlled temperature systems. Both methods result in added production costs.
DistributorsDistributors transfer food products from processors to outlets, or, when live fish are sold for recreational use, from producers to outlets. Problems associated with distribution include quantity and quality of the distributed product. Both inadequate product handling and inappropriate storage of food products can result in consumer preference for well-processed, frozen, imported aquaculture products. Improper handling of live fish results in fish deaths, impaired taste, and ultimately, reduced sales.
Market outletsMarket outlets for aquacultural products range from recreational fish ponds (live fish), to retail food stores and restaurants (processed food items). Outlets for processed aquacultural food items will purchase their products based on quality and costs. Consequently, imported products can often out-compete domestic sources because of established processing and distribution facilities and reduced labor costs.
Determining the economic feasibility of an aquacultural venture is complex. A professional economist should design and perform the initial analysis. But before an economist is hired, it is advisable to determine the biological feasibility of raising the desired fish or aquaculture products in a particular area.
Not all fish or aquaculture products are suitable for culture in every area. Environmental constraints (such as water quality, water temperatures, and the length of the growing season) dictate where an aquatic organism can be raised commercially.
Water supplyWater supply is a critical factor when determining site selection for an aquaculture facility. Desirable water supply characteristics include
Based on these characteristics, water supply sources can generally be ranked (from most to least desirable) as springs, wells, streams, lakes and reservoirs.
Surface runoff and groundwater are usually an unacceptable source of water for commercial production ponds because of seasonal water level fluctuations and possible pollution. However, they may be acceptable for a fee-fishing operation.
Any potential water supply source should be adequately tested, both for quantity and quality, before any cost analysis for facilities is made. Raising shrimp, lobsters or other marine animals inland, although technically possible, would be costly because of production costs required to maintain a suitable saltwater environment and the constraints on disposal of salt-laden wastewater.
Water temperature and growing seasonWater temperature and/or the length of the growing season often limit the commercial production of aquatic organisms. The body temperature of an aquatic organism is approximately the same as the water temperature. Temperature thus affects its activity and growth. Therefore, to enable commercially economic production of the animal, the water temperature must be appropriate for promoting growth during a significant portion of the year.
Each type of aquatic animal requires a specific growth-promoting water temperature. For example, trout require lower water temperatures than channel catfish for optimum growth.
Temperatures below the optimum levels prolong the time required to raise an aquatic organism to market size and raise production costs. Temperatures above the optimum level for growth will stress the aquatic organism and result in reduced growth, disease and often death. Water temperature is one reason that production of catfish for the food market is severely limited in the northern part of the NCR. The growing season (water temperatures above 65 degrees Fahrenheit) is too short. Up to three years may be required to produce a marketable catfish (only 18 to 24 months is required to produce a harvestable catfish in the Southeast where the growing season is longer). In addition, eggs, fingerlings, feed and other production supplies are not locally available. Since shipping costs for fresh and frozen catfish from the primary culture areas are extremely low (about 3 cents per pound in 1990), local supplies of catfish must either meet specific demands for specialty niche markets or compete in price with southern produced catfish.
Although fish and aquaculture products in general have higher feed conversion rates than most terrestrial animals, not all fishes are suitable for intensive culture. Additional biological constraints limit which aquatic organisms can be raised at high densities commercially. Lack of knowledge of the reproductive biology, nutrition and diseases of specific aquatic organisms represents the major biological constraint on the culture of certain aquatic animals.
Reproductive biologyThe reproductive biology of cultured aquatic organisms must be well understood before commercial production is undertaken. Control over reproductive biology is essential for commercial culture. Culture of wild captured stocks, which may be illegal in some NCR states, is entirely dependent on the unpredictable availability of wild fry or seed. Control over the reproductive biology of a desired organism allows the aquaculturist to produce off-spring at desired times and in desired numbers. For example, lack of reproductive control is one of the major constraints limiting shrimp culture in coastal areas.
Nutritional requirementsNutritional requirements represent a major factor in determining the suitability of an aquatic species for aquaculture. As mentioned, the price of feeds based on rigid formulations can fluctuate severely with availability. This problem cannot be avoided unless the nutritional requirements of an aquatic organism are understood — so as to allow for ingredient substitution. The nutritional requirements of fish and aquatic animals are not well understood — even for fish such as trout and channel catfish, currently under intensive commercial culture. Some fish and aquatic animals require natural feeds such as algae, insects and minnows. If these animals are raised commercially, their natural feeds must be raised as well. For example, because walleye fry do not readily accept commercial feeds, intensive production of walleye as food fish in the Great Lakes area is limited at this time.
Disease resistance and controlA third biological constraint to aquaculture is disease resistance and control. When aquatic animals are raised intensively, they are crowded into a limited area which tends to promote the spread of disease. If diseases cannot be identified and treated quickly, the entire stock can be lost in a few days. The potential of disease-caused disasters to aquaculture makes knowledge of diseases and their control mandatory.
Scientific advances in the areas of reproductive control, nutrition and disease control will improve the potential for aquaculture of established and new aquatic species. Selective breeding and advanced systems technology will help eliminate many of the biological constraints on aquacultural development.
Various local, state and federal laws can restrict potential aquacultural development. These laws fall into a number of categories including
The number of permits required to establish an aquacultural business varies from state to state in the NCR; you will need to contact your state aquaculture coordinator to determine the specific permit requirements. The permit process requires considerable planning and may take a year or more to complete. As an example, permits to release effluents from an aquaculture facility may be denied if the water system receiving them is a high quality trout stream. Choosing an alternate site where effluents can be discharged into a less sensitive receiving system may facilitate obtaining the necessary effluent permits.
If the economic, biological and legal aspects of the planning state indicate that the aquaculture venture is feasible, the prospective aquaculturist can proceed to Step 2.
Production of fish or aquaculture products requires a different set of technical and managerial skills than other agricultural activities. Before a would-be aquaculturist can successfully grow aquatic organisms, that person needs specialized training in water quality management, aquatic weed control, parasite and disease control, nutrition and feeds, cultural techniques, marketing and processing skills. Although an informed aquaculturist can minimize the potential risks associated with raising aquatic organisms, the untrained fish farmer continually faces the possibility of unpredictable disaster.
The necessary technical and managerial skills required for aquaculture can be gained in either of two ways. The first method is that the prospective aquaculturist can obtain the necessary training by enrolling in selected college level courses or by attending special workshops. Either alternative for obtaining the necessary skills is costly and time consuming. The second method is to hire a fisheries biologist trained in aquaculture. Many large scale commercial ventures have succeeded because professional aquaculturists were hired to perform the technical and managerial functions. However, hiring a trained aquaculturist is often undesirable because of cost and/or the desire on the part of the potential aquaculturist to perform the labor.
Working for an aquaculture firm is highly advisable. First-hand, experiential learning will give the potential aquaculturist insight into the daily workings of an aquaculture operation.
Regardless of the method used to obtain technical and managerial skills, such skills are necessary in the process of establishing a commercial aquaculture venture. Once the skills are acquired, the prospective aquaculturist can proceed to Step 3.
A small-scale pilot test is desirable (particularly when evaluating a new species or culture technique) to determine the validity of estimates made during the planning state. In case the initial planning stage studies overestimate the biological feasibility or the product's acceptability — or the economic outlook has changed — losses can be minimized by testing the estimates with a small pilot test. A small pilot project also permits the new aquaculturist to develop practical managerial skills.
Failures resulting from lack of experience can be greatly minimized by obtaining experience during a pilot test. However, small pilot operations cannot be used to directly analyze economic feasibility because of economy of scale. Many inputs, such as feed, chemicals and fish equipment can be purchased at a discount when ordered in bulk. Many attempts at large scale commercial fish culture have failed because of undercapitalization and the consequent inability to take advantage of the economies of scale.
Only after the pilot project verifies the feasibility of the proposed commercial aquacultural venture and the skills of the aquaculturists have been obtained and developed, should a full scale commercial operation be undertaken, Step 4.
The size and nature of a commercial aquaculture venture will depend on the results obtained from steps 1, 2 and 3. Because of the complexity of analysis and the involvement required to complete steps 1-3, few people interested in establishing a commercial aquacultural operation pass steps one and two.
A few people interested in aquaculture progress to stage three and decide to restrict the size of their operation. A small-scale operation can help diversify their farming activities and provide a rewarding supplemental income by rearing fish for stocking recreation ponds or fee fishing lakes.
Very few potential aquaculturists proceed to step 4 — a large-scale commercial operation. Large-scale commercial aquacultural industries are often regionally located in areas where biological requirements can best be met, where markets for fish products are established, processing and distribution networks are available, and the price of a culture species can compete favorably with prices of captured wild fishes. The lack of an established national network of processors, distributors and markets will continue to limit the growth of large-scale commercial aquaculture outside their established regional areas in the near future.
Although the potential for aquaculture is theoretically very high, a number of factors (such as water pollution) threaten the future expansion of aquaculture. However, widespread interest in aquaculture, the anticipated funding and developmental support through the U.S. Departments of Agriculture (Regional Aquaculture Centers and Land Grant Programs) and Commerce (Sea Grant Program), and advances in technology and scientific knowledge will have a positive effect on the potential for aquaculture in the NCR and the United States.
Under the right conditions, fish farming can be a rewarding and profitable business opportunity. Like other forms of farming, fish production involves substantial capital investment and many risks. Growing fish requires specialized training and daily attention. If you are considering fish farming, this checklist can help you determine whether a fish farming enterprise is feasible for your particular situation. The checklist does not cover all possibilities, so answering "yes" to most of the questions will not guarantee your success. Answering "no" to many of the questions will not mean automatic failure. The checklist does present many of the most important considerations. To have a good probability of success, most of your answers should be in the "yes" column.
If a potential fish farmer lacks any one of these elements, his or her chance for success is very limited.
Here is a list of candidate fish or other aquatic animals and their current potential for culture in the North Central Region (NCR). You should consult your state's fish culture extension specialist for specific information about the best aquatic animals to raise in your state.
Some of these suggested readings may be out of print and will be available through your local library on interlibrary loan.
Information on fish farming in the North Central Region of the United States is limited. Your state's MU Extension service can help you further decide if fish farming is a viable option for you.
Order publications online at http://extension.missouri.edu/explore/shop/ or call toll-free 800-292-0969.


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"The ocean is large and opaque. It is an act of irresponsible faith to think
that this impenetrable blue mass is big enough to absorb all our sins
without consequence. We need to finish the work of realistically assessing
the ocean's value, and cherish it accordingly."
~Tony Haymet, Director, Scripps Institution of Oceanography,
University of California at San Diego, USA
The World Economic Forum's Global Agenda Council on Oceans endorses the Ocean Health Index (OHI) an NCEAS partner, to help guide how the world's oceans are managed. The OHI rates the world's ocean health on a scale of 0 - 100 based on measures of ecological health and human benefits and currently gives global ocean health a score of 60.
According to the World Economic Forum (WEF), the OHI "is the first global standard that is scientifically grounded and transparent." WEF is an independent international organization committed to improving the state of the world by engaging business, political, academic and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas. OHI is an integral part of the WEF's newly launched interactive website titled "Future of Our Oceans".
Ben Halpern is OHI's lead scientist and a research associate at National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis (NCEAS). Over the past 10 years, Halpern's synthesis research and collaborations at NCEAS on ecosystem-based management and mapping global impacts of marine systems have laid the foundation for his work on the OHI. Halpern and many of his scientific and technical OHI team members reside at NCEAS and contribute to many of the Center's activities.
"My experience at NCEAS as a postdoc, working group member, project scientist, and now research associate has had a profound influence on the way I do science," said Halpern. "The world is awash in data -- at NCEAS we leverage those data through new analyses and syntheses to develop a more comprehensive and deeper understanding of how the world works."


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So much for interdepartmental communication.
More than two years after five Planning Department employees were ousted for emailing porn to each other, a group of San Francisco Public Utilities Commission employees are now under investigation for using city computers to share porn and visit online gambling sites, city officials said.
More than two dozen employees in two water-distribution units were being looked at in the probe, although some of them now appear to have had no or only peripheral involvement, such as receiving a pornographic e-mail from a colleague and not reporting it, sources familiar with the case said.
About a dozen employees, including some in supervisory roles, appear to have had more serious involvement, those sources said.
Mayor Ed Lee called the allegations "very disturbing."
"It's a misuse of (public) property for all the wrong reasons," Lee said. "We've got to (send) a strong message to those that are involved: This is not to be done."
The internal investigation into the conduct is expected to wrap up within two weeks, with the city then meting out discipline ranging from a reprimand to termination, depending on culpability and depth of involvement, public utilities commission spokesman Tyrone Jue said.
"It's deeply concerning anytime you have public employees abuse the public trust," Jue said. "It undermines the work we're doing on behalf of the city."
It was unclear if any of the conduct unearthed so far would warrant criminal charges, Jue said. The pornography involved was not child porn, he said.
A whistleblower first brought the gambling matter to management's attention in late spring or early summer, and the subsequent investigation revealed the porn, a source knowledgeable about the case said. The suspected gambling now appears to be rather minor, sources said.
The investigation comes after the city moved to fire five Planning Department employees in 2010, including the number two at the office, Larry Badiner, for exchanging or receiving X-rated images and videos, which had allegedly been going on for years.
The city initiated five terminations, with some of those employees resigning before they were fired, according to the city's human resources department. An arbitrator later overturned one firing but found that discipline was warranted and did not order back pay. The employee did not return to work for the Planning Department, but now works elsewhere in the city. Seven employees were suspended for various lengths of time, and six others received formal reprimands, a human resources official said.
Badiner, who was not believed to have sent the emails, but rather to have received them and done nothing to stop the activity, had fought his ouster.
Now that a similar situation has arisen at the Public Utilities Commission, Lee said it was the city's job to ensure "that it doesn't happen again."
"You give somebody a computer, and you allow them the freedom and access to the internet. They've got to handle that responsibility," Lee said. "You can't abuse it. This is all public property. If they have any idea that this is their own property, they're dead wrong."


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Outbound Buttons are disabled on CAD
From DocWiki
Outbound Buttons are disabled on CAD
|Problem Summary
|When the agent receives the preview outbound call on CAD and is moved to Reserved state, the Outbound buttons (Accept/Reject/Skip) are disabled on CAD and the agent cannot accept or reject the call. The Enterprise data associated with the call may not be displayed on the CAD screen in such a scenario.
|Error Message
|Possible Cause
|The Cisco Desktop Enterprise Server is possibly OUT OF SERVICE.
|Recommended Action
|Check the state of the 'Cisco Desktop Enterprise Service' - restart of the same will fix this issue.
|Release 8.0(1)
|Associated CDETS #


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SAVANNAH, Ga. - For the first time in the eight-year history of the AASU/Southbridge Pirate Invitational, two teams share the title as No. 8-ranked Lander made up 10 strokes on the final day to catch No. 24 Valdosta State, both teams finishing with an 895 score to capture the title.
A playoff was not competed between the two teams due to darkness. Play began on Tuesday an hour late because of a frost delay.
The Bearcats shot a final-round 298 on Tuesday, while Valdosta State carded a 308, both teams finishing the 54-hole tournament with 31-over-par 895 totals. Host Armstrong Atlantic State nearly pulled off a miraculous comeback themselves as the Pirates played their final hole of the tournament five-under-par, with seniors Justin Smith and Chris Wolfe carding eagles on the Par 5 18th hole to cap off a 298 round - leaving AASU one stroke shy of the co-champions with a 32-over-par 896 total.
Newberry shot a 901 on Tuesday to finish fourth with a 901 total, while the day's best round went to Coker, who fired a 297 to finish tied for fifth at 903 with Georgia College & State (302). Mount Olive shot 303 on Tuesday and finished seventh with a 916 total, followed by PBC schools UNC Pembroke (304) with a 919 total and Georgia Southwestern (322) with a 938 total.
Limestone finished 10th after a 310 on Tuesday with a 940 total. Queens (322) and Savannah State (308) tied for 11th with 962 totals to round out the team scoring.
The individual title had no such drama as All-American Brent Witcher of Valdosta State saved his best for last, scorching a tournament-best 68 on the final day to win going away. Witcher finished the tournament with a nine-under-par 207 total, seven strokes ahead of his closest competitor, Daniel Stanley of Newberry. Stanley carded a 70 on Tuesday to finish with a two-under-par 214 total. Wolfe's eagle on hole No. 18 gave him an even-par 72 and kept him tied for third individually with an even-par 216 total, with GCSU's Niclas Johansson, who shot a third-round 74. UNC Pembroke's Jordan Walor rounded out the individual top five, coming in with a two-over-par 218 total after a 71 on Tuesday.
Sophomore Parker Gordon shot a 78 on Tuesday and finished tied for 11th with a nine-over-par 225 total for the host Pirates, his best finish as a collegian for AASU. Freshman Matthew Motes shot a 74 and finished tied for 15th with a 227 total, while Smith's eagle on 18 gave him a final-round 74 and tied him for 22nd with a 231 total. Jon Wingate rounded out the Pirates' scoring after a final-round 78, finishing 31st with a 233 total.


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Archive for the 'marijuana' Tag
SHAMerica For President!
Filed under: B.S., Entertainment, Politics, Social | Tags: alcohol, american dream, american way, anti-idiot, border control, candidate, christian, democracy, free market, freedom, gun control, immigration, lender, marijuana, muslim, peanuts, Politics, presidency, president, pro-choice, radical, religion, shamerica, victim, war, war on drugs, welfare
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My Family, Friends and Fellow Americans:
I, like many of you I presume, am fed up with today's politics. I find that the candidates have become nothing more than talking heads sounding like the teacher from the Peanuts (wah, wah – wuh wah) – droning on with nothing but drivel and changing their minds on issues in response to public opinion polls just to tell us what they think we want to hear.
Enough of that I say!
I am a free thinking American who believes in Democracy, the free market and the American Way.
I am pro-choice, and generally against gun control.
I am for smart immigration and border control policies that neither jeopardize the security of the nation nor unjustly impact families that have come to this nation for a better future for them and their children (like our ancestors did for us I'll remind you!).
I think welfare has a place and a time, but should not and cannot be indefinite, nor should it be setup as to encourage people to stay on it.
I am sick of the "War on Drugs" and am for reducing/limiting the laws against marijuana and other drugs that are no more damaging than alcohol. If you are going to do it to yourself, you're an idiot (see "Anti-idiot" below).
I hate child-molesters and cold blooded killers and think they should be put to death, and I don't think death constitutes "cruel and unusual punishment" in these cases.
I think there is something after this life, but I don't profess to be smarter than anyone else and claim that I know what that will be. I think everyone should be free to believe what they will – from the mainstream Christian to the radical Muslim and everyone else in between – as long as they in no way harm others in the name of their belief (see my feelings on "cold blooded killers" above).
I can be opinionated, but am swayed by logical rationale and make sound decisions based on as much information as possible.
I am "Anti-idiot." "Anti-idiot" applies to a lot of things, for one I am not for supporting or bailing out all of today's "victims", be it victims of the so called "predatory lender" (the same lenders who had been praised for allowing people to realize the American Dream), "victims" in the many frivolous lawsuits (think hot coffee burned my crotch), or "victims" who lose their jobs or don't make enough money to support themselves due to their chosen profession becoming obsolete, inefficient or out-sourced. I could go on and on, but you know it when you see it and we should call it what it is.
I am tired of America policing the world and getting disrespected for it. We are criticized if we don't act or don't act quickly or decisively, yet we are also condemned when we act unilaterally. We have young men and women dying everyday and not being supported – supporting the troops but not supporting the war – that's a hard pill to swallow. You are telling those young Americans that you support them, but not the cause they are dying for. Putting your life on the line for something most Americans don't support, you should try that on for size before you jump out there and preach it. We need to bring our troops home (ALL of them throughout the world), and put those resources to work in our nation.
I will support policies and laws that enrich all Americans and strengthen the nation. I follow the "Golden Rule" – the same one we were all taught by our parents and in grade school – "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you". I will fight policies that do not enrich all Americans or weaken the nation.
With this said, I am asking you for your support in my bid for the presidency.
For a recent news story on how my campaign got started, please click on the link below:
Thank you!


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HARTFORD — The XL Center has hosted the USA Gymnastics national championships twice: in 2010 and 2013.
Both were important events building toward Olympic years, and Olympians competed both times, but neither was in an actual Olympic year.
But from June 3-5, 2016, a few months before the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games, the XL Center will host the men's gymnastics national championships, USA Gymnastics announced Thursday. The P&G Gymnastics Championships will determine who will compete in the Olympic trials in St. Louis June 23, 2016.
The Secret U.S. Classic for women's gymnastics will also be in Hartford June 3-5, which is the last chance to qualify for the P&G...


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We've all known the social media embarrassment that comes with posting a picture that gets a measly amount of likes.
Next time you find yourself praying that your best friend or sister throws you a pity like, know that you can rely on a Russian vending machine to shower you almost instantly in Instagram likes. All you have to do is add 100 rubles (which equals out to about $1.75) and you'll get roughly 200 likes right away. You can then divide these out to the photos you deem are in need of a little love.
Check out the machine in action:
Alexey Kovalev on Twitter
There you go. My friend @vsonkin made a video of the Like machine in action. https://t.co/v0EWkpGR3R
The likes come mostly from fake accounts, or from people who have handed their profiles over to the machine for use, so it looks strange if you go through and actually dissect who's hitting the heart button. But if you're in need of some instant social media love, this is a quick fix.
Lauren Levine is a freelance writer who has contributed to publications and websites including The Charlotte Observer, U.S. News & World Report, American Way magazine, The Huffington Post, Hello Giggles, Bustle, Thrillist, Thought Catalog, The Charlotte Observer, U.S. News & World Report, and others.