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Thursday, October 30, 2003
Green screen refuses to die
Users of J.D. Edwards World software are petitioning JDE's new owner, PeopleSoft, to start investing more in continued enhancements to the character-based, host-based version of its software, formerly known as "World." This murmuring from the silent majority of JDE users shows how difficult it can be for vendors to get installed base users to change.
In the 1990's, nearly every software vendor was moving away from so-called "green screen" architecture to GUI, client/server, and later browser-based versions of their products. JDE was no exception, launching its "One World" product line with its "configurable network computing" (CNC) architecture. The only problem was that an enormous number of users were perfectly happy with their green-screen version. In fact, for some types of data entry, green-screen is actually more efficient than a graphical user interface.
I recall speaking at one JDE user group meeting in 2000 where I asked for a show of hands to see how many users were on One World. Out of a group of 100, there might have been 5-6 hands raised. Then I asked how many were planning to migrate to One World. Another 5-6 hands were raised. I know that One World has been more widely adopted since then, but it shows to what extent companies are reluctant to replace perfectly good systems just to get a technology change. Perhaps JDE was guilty of having a green-screen product that simply worked too well.
There's no doubt that PeopleSoft's preference is to put most of its R&D dollars into its PeopleSoft Enterprise and its EnterpriseOne (formerly JDE One World) products, while keeping the World users paying maintenance dollars. It just looks like the World users have a different idea. Therefore, PeopleSoft is in a tight spot. If it invests more in the green screen version, it takes money away from its future to support its past. But if it does not invest more in green screen, it risks these users considering alternatives other than PeopleSoft.
Computerworld has the story on the action being taken by the JDE World user advisory committee.
Update, Nov. 4: I've gotten feedback from several experienced JDE implementation consultants regarding this post. Here's what one has to say:Frank, I can tell you that not every company currently running JDE World [the green screen version] can upgrade to One World. Some don't have the IT infrastructure to support such a change. Others simply don't need the "better" functionality that One World provides. I agree with you that some applications are faster and easier in the green screen version. I am one who hopes that PeopleSoft will continue to enhance JDE World Software. I think it still offers many companies a competitive advantage.Another JDE consultant has a similar view:I was at the PeopleSoft Connect Conference. At the sessions I attended, Peoplesoft clearly stated it would not only support JDE World Software but would enhance the product. One speaker did say that JDE World Software would not get all the features of Enterprise One but would have some additional functions added. It appears that PeopleSoft's support for the World product may be more aggressive than JDE was even planning. To support that theory I know of at least one new sale of World in the last few months. This is something that JDE has not done since about 1998.I'm interesting in hearing from other JDE users and consultants. Should PeopleSoft pull the plug on JDE's green screen version? Or should PeopleSoft continue to enhance the product?by Frank Scavo, 10/30/2003 08:40:00 AM | permalink | e-mail this!
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Wednesday, October 29, 2003
Intentia wraps its apps around IBM--is there a Linux connection?
Intentia, a Swedish-based ERP vendor, is joining a number of other enterprise application vendors in embedding IBM's technology offerings with Intentia's Movex applications. According to the press release, "Intentia will pre-integrate its Movex applications with IBM's WebSphere Application Server, WebSphere Portal-Express and DB2 Universal Database. As such, every order from a medium-sized business will be shipped with IBM's enterprise-proven technology embedded inside the Intentia application suite."
Other major software vendors have made similar moves. See, for example, my post on QAD's partnership or JDE's partnership with IBM). It's getting to the point that major enterprise software vendors can be divided into two main groups: those that are aligned around Microsoft's technologies, such as .NET, and those that are aligned around IBM's. I suppose Oracle is the exception that makes the rule.
One interesting twist with Intentia, however, is the Linux connection. The press release says, "Intentia will also develop an optimized version of Movex for Linux, a low cost and reliable platform that continues to gain momentum in the mid-market." Hopefully, Intentia will follow through on this statement. Other applications vendors have announced Linux strategies but then don't seem to do much with them. For example, earlier this year PeopleSoft made a big deal earlier about its Linux strategy, but at its PeopleSoft Connect conference in September I could not find a single presentation on Linux.
I would love to see Intentia succeed with Linux. Over the past two years, Intentia has completely rewritten its entire Movex suite to Java, making it, to my knowledge, the only ERP offering a 100% Java-based system. Java fits very well with Linux. Since IBM's commitment to both Java and Linux is well known, Intentia should be right at home in the IBM fold. Intentia has over 3500 customers in 40 countries, but I'm guessing that over 90% of them are still running Intentia's pre-Java AS/400-based system. Therefore, Intentia needs to quickly complete the Linux optimization and get a few good reference accounts for it. If successful, Intentia could become an interesting alternative for companies that would like a greater share of their data center infrastructure on Linux.by Frank Scavo, 10/29/2003 08:57:00 PM | permalink | e-mail this!
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Friday, October 24, 2003
Ellison mistakes APICS conference for Oracle user group
Earlier this month, I noticed that the Spectator was getting hits from Google with search terms "Ellison" and "APICS" and sometimes "Las Vegas." Yesterday I found out why. It seems that Oracle's CEO Larry Ellison gave a keynote speech at the APICS International Conference in Las Vegas earlier this month, and people have been trying to find details on what happened. There doesn't seem to be anything in the business press about Ellison's speech. So I checked with two individuals that I knew were in the audience. Their reports to me were consistent with each other.
According to my sources, Ellison appeared "unprepared" and gave a 20 minute "meandering, off-the-cuff," promotion of Oracle's view of a single, centralized, universal database for the entire enterprise. One source said the points were virtually identical to those that Ellison gave to an Oracle user conference in the UK several weeks ago. "People were walking out in the middle of the presentation in droves," he said.
Those that stayed were not much friendlier. During the question period, one audience member, who claimed he had been speaking at APICS international conferences for over 20 years, chided Ellison for turning his keynote presentation into an Oracle sales pitch, something prohibited by APICS rules for speakers. (APICS's position, which is similar to that of other professional societies, is that if you want to make a sales pitch, buy a booth.)
According to one source, the general consensus after Ellison's performance was that--compared to other keynote speakers such as former Burger King CEO Barry Gibbons, Steelcase SVP Mark Baker, and Hilton Hotel's Anthony Nieves--Ellison looked "amateurish."by Frank Scavo, 10/24/2003 10:32:00 AM | permalink | e-mail this!
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Friday, October 17, 2003
Siebel loses $59M and responds by going on a shopping spree
During the same week that Siebel reports a loss of over $59M it also announces that it is buying two other software companies: Upshot, a hosted CRM provider, and Motiva, an incentive compensation software vendor.
The loss of over 18% of revenue is especially troubling as business is definitely picking up among other major software vendors, such as SAP, which just announced increased positive earnings in the most recent quarter and a jump of 35% in revenue in the U.S. market.
Siebel evidently sees the hosted CRM market as a threat to its CRM franchise, especially at the low end of the market, where most of the real opportunities are today. CRM, and especially the sales force automation (SFA) part of CRM, is one of those applications that is natural for the Application Service Provider (ASP), or hosted, model. Users are mostly sales people in the field and the Internet based architecture works well for them. Siebel was already moving in this direction with its CRM OnDemand offering. Siebel's grab for Upshot just moves things along quicker.
Siebel's acquisition of Motiva is a smaller deal ($3M) that just fills out functionality for Siebel's offerings.
InfoWorld has an article on Siebel's weak financial performance. eWeek has details on Siebel's latest acquisitions. Information Week has a report on SAP's continued strong performance.by Frank Scavo, 10/17/2003 10:11:00 PM | permalink | e-mail this!
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Wednesday, October 15, 2003
Beware the baffling bump in license revenue
I got a little insight recently into why the quarterly revenue of one well-known mid-market software vendor has been increasing lately, for no apparent reason. My source says that the vendor has been putting the squeeze on its existing clients for additional license revenue.
Here's how it's done. Several years ago, this vendor introduced a license audit program into its software distribution and began phasing out support for previous versions of its package. Now, according to the terms of its license agreements, it is ordering clients to run the audit program and report back usage statistics. Invariably, the vendor can find a few unpaid user seats here and there as grounds to declare the client in violation of its agreed terms and condition and demanding that they pay for those extra seats.
To be fair, most software vendor license agreements contain a clause giving the vendor the right to audit compliance. As new customers have become more difficult to acquire these past few years, vendors are tempted to enforce such rights in order to squeeze as much marginal revenue as possible from their existing customers. Although this approach will bump revenue in the short run, the strong-arm tactics can't be going over well with customers. And certainly, the revenue lift is not sustainable.by Frank Scavo, 10/15/2003 08:45:00 AM | permalink | e-mail this!
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Tuesday, October 14, 2003
Yet another update on Project Green
A Spectator subscriber attended the Microsoft Business Solutions (MBS) partner conference in New Orleans last week and sent me some additional information on Microsoft's Project Green (formerly known as NextGen):Frank, here is what I learned in New Orleans last week (not as much as I hoped but something). Microsoft announced that they will support and enhance Axapta through 2012. I was told that the NextGen product IS being built to Axapta functional specs, and that it's a fair statement to say that an Axapta user of today would readily recognize the software. And Microsoft is developing a bridge to ease the implementation of NextGen in an Axapta site.My earlier posts on Project Green (on Sep. 29, Oct. 2, and Oct. 6) generated a lot of traffic to the Spectator, especially after someone on a Microsoft Navision user message board linked to them. Clearly MBS users and even the resellers are not as well informed about future directions as they would like to be. Microsoft needs to put out a white paper or something regarding Project Green.by Frank Scavo, 10/14/2003 08:43:00 AM | permalink | e-mail this!
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Saturday, October 11, 2003
U.S. DoD mandates supplier adoption of RFID
The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) has ordered its entire supply base to begin use of radio frequency identification tags (RFID), effective January 2005. DoD's mandate follows a similar mandate by Wal-Mart on its largest 100 suppliers. Since these two mandates are going to drive rapid adoption of RFID technology over the next few years, let's take a quick look at RFID and what it means for manufacturers and distributors.
What is RFID? RFID technology allows products to be identified at a distance, by means of a tag that, when energized by radio waves, responds with identification information. You've probably already seen RFID in another application. It's the same basic technology used in proximity access control cards, which unlock a door when waved in the general area of a card reader. RFID tags in supply chain applications are similar except that the RF signal is stronger, allowing goods to be identified at a greater distance. The RFID standard being adopted by DoD is the same as that being adopted by Walmart, so there will be only one standard for suppliers to comply with. The new standard is called the Electronic Product Code (EPC), which is under development by the Uniform Code Council (UCC) and EPCglobal, a new organization under UCC.
Benefits of RFID. Once the RFID tag is affixed to the product, case, or pallet, any participant in the supply chain can use RFID readers to automatically identify and track them, untouched by human hands. The ultimate benefits are huge for productivity savings, increased data accuracy, timeliness, and visibility. At the risk of over-simplification, shipments into a warehouse could essentially announce their arrival and trigger matching against advance ship notices or purchase orders. Likewise, shipments out of a warehouse could identify themselves and trigger pick confirmation and advanced ship notice to the consignee. Manual effort in taking physical inventory would be greatly reduced. Think of it as bar-code data collection on steroids.
Costs of RFID. RFID isn't cheap. The DoD and Walmart mandates will require large investments in RFID infrastructure by suppliers. Since the infrastructure must be in place before applications can be developed to take advantage of it, suppliers themselves will see little immediate return on this investment, other than being able to continue to do business with DoD and Walmart. According to one estimate, fitting out a single warehouse for RFID could run $100,000, not counting the cost of integrating RFID readers into existing warehouse management systems to complement bar-code readers or manual transaction entry.
Furthermore, early adopters--those who are under DoD and Walmart mandates--are going to pay the most. Suppliers who can wait will save, as the cost of the technology drops with economies of scale. Walmart is shooting for a price of $0.05 per tag, but even that price will probably drop as volume increases. Tags today reportedly have a failure rate of 20%, which tells me that chip manufacturing processes are not yet mature. Still, as with any electronic component, yields will improve dramatically as volume increases, and tag costs eventually will fall. The cost of readers should fall as well.
What's the impact? DoD's mandate covers nearly everything purchased by the military, from munitions to commissary items, estimated at a whopping 45 million items supplied by over 20,000 suppliers. DoD's deadline is less than 16 months away, in January 2005. (Coincidentally, Walmart's first deadline is the same date.) Most observers doubt that DoD's deadline can be met, so there may be some extensions granted. However, because the benefits are so great, the mandate will not go away.
Despite the high implementation costs, the mandates by DoD and Wal-Mart are a huge endorsement of RFID and likely to trigger widespread adoption of this technology over the next several years. So, even if your firm is not a supplier to DoD or Wal-mart, you should still begin to research RFID technology. It is likely that in the not-to-distant future, someone downstream in your supply chain is going to start asking for RFID, and if your competition is ready to deliver, and you are not, you could be at a serious disadvantage.
Computerworld has a short article on the DoD's mandate. InternetWorld has a recent article on Walmart's mandate. For more in-depth material, check out the RFID Journal's extensive site.by Frank Scavo, 10/11/2003 09:20:00 AM | permalink | e-mail this!
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Thursday, October 09, 2003
Friends in Southern California...
If you're in the area next Tuesday afternoon, October 14, come over to the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Irvine. I'm giving a pre-dinner clinic at the American Society for Quality (ASQ) meeting on the subject, "Enterprise Systems in an FDA Regulated Environment." You can't beat the price: ASQ clinics are free to the public. If you want to stay for dinner, though, you'll need to pay.
Details are on the flyer at the ASQ Orange Empire web site.by Frank Scavo, 10/09/2003 06:54:00 AM | permalink | e-mail this!
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Wednesday, October 08, 2003
PeopleSoft strengthens its manufacturing offerings by acquiring Demand Flow
At the APICS International conference this week, PeopleSoft (PSFT) announced it has acquired JCIT's patented Demand Flow software, a product based on lean manufacturing concepts. PeopleSoft will integrate Demand Flow with PeopleSoft's supply chain offerings. The acquisition is consistent with PeopleSoft's intent over the past year to become a serious player in manufacturing and supply chain management, by hiring industry experts such as Patrick Quirk out of i2 and Carol Ptak, past president and CEO of APICS. Ptak in particular has been positioning PeopleSoft's manufacturing offerings in the larger context of demand-driven planning and execution. She says, "Companies that focus internally on inventory and cost can no longer compete. Manufacturers must become demand-driven to survive." Acquiring Demand Flow puts more muscle behind that message.
PeopleSoft's press release does not indicate whether that means Demand Flow will be integrated with the J.D. Edwards products as well as with PeopleSoft Enterprise, but that would surely make a lot of sense. JDE has more current clients in the manufacturing sector, which would provide quicker cross selling opportunities for the Demand Flow offering.by Frank Scavo, 10/08/2003 08:39:00 AM | permalink | e-mail this!
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Monday, October 06, 2003
Microsoft Project Green details emerging
Doug Burgum, head of Microsoft Business Solutions (MBS), has been giving out more details on Project Green lately. In a nutshell:
InternetWeek has more on Project Green, and CRN has more on MBF.
- Project Green is an entire new code base that will replace current code for Great Plains, Navision, and Solomon (I'm assuming Axapta is in meant to be in that list). It will be released along with Microsoft's new OS version, dubbed Longhorn.
- Burgum admits that MBS has not wanted to talk much about Project Green in order not to upset current customers and partners. This explains why, until now, not many customers knew about it. In an interview last week, Burgum said, ""We have large installed bases of happy customers who continue to buy add-on modules." He also said that MBS will continue to sell and support the current-generation applications for years.
- Project Green will be built on top of a new integration and tools layer that Microsoft is developing, called Microsoft Business Framework (MBF). The next-gen applications will sit on top of MBF, which will sit on top of Microsoft's .NET. Details on MBF are sketchy to me at this point, but it appears that MBF will provide integration and perhaps even some core functionality that is common between the applications. The platform will be open in the sense that Microsoft business partners will be able to write additional applications on top of MBF.
The Microsoft Momentum partner conference is in New Orleans this week, and discussion of Project Green is on the agenda. One Spectator reader plans to be there and indicates that he will brief me on details.by Frank Scavo, 10/06/2003 09:20:00 AM | permalink | e-mail this!
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Thursday, October 02, 2003
Feedback regarding Microsoft's Project Green
I've been getting feedback regarding my post earlier this week on Project Green. Readers are making four main points:
I welcome this feedback, and here's my response. On the first point, it may be old news to MBS resellers but I don't think the implications are well understood by MBS customers and prospects. On the second point, if I were an MBS customer I would still have a concern: if I want to stay current, I am still facing a major upgrade or conversion in 2-3 years. Even if the license cost of the upgrade is zero (which it should be if I'm paying maintenance fees to Microsoft), the implementation costs could be substantial and the process could be disruptive to my business. On the third point, I can't find any public indication that Axapta is being used as the starting point for Project Green requirements, so it's just a rumor as far as I can tell. On the fourth point, we'll just have to wait to see how difficult or easy the upgrade path will be. Generally, it's not easy for vendors to transition a customer base to a whole new technical architecture. Perhaps Microsoft will do better than others have in past attempts.
- Microsoft Business Solutions (MBS) resellers have known about Project Green (formerly known as "NextGen") for at least a year now, so it's old news.
- Customers of Great Plains, Navision, and Axapta are not at risk from Project Green because Microsoft is planning to offer free upgrades to existing customers, as long as they are current on maintenance payments.
- Microsoft plans to use the functionality of Axapta as a starting point for requirements for Project Green.
- Microsoft will offer conversion routines to make it easy to upgrade from existing products to Project Green, so that it will not be like implementing a whole new system.by Frank Scavo, 10/02/2003 08:27:00 PM | permalink | e-mail this!
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Wednesday, October 01, 2003
Where does Oracle go from here?
Joshua Greenbaum has an interesting piece in Datamation regarding Oracle's future, where its greatest threat is IBM:The blowing wind that Ellison worries about most, in my opinion, comes from IBM. Sure, Microsoft is out there too, but IBM is the one that understands the enterprise market and can give Oracle a genuine run for its money. The triple threat that IBM presents -- high-end business consulting, database and systems software, loss-leader hardware sales -- has to keep Ellison up at night. Other companies, like SAP, compete directly with Oracle. But only IBM threatens to dominate.In response, Greenbaum expects Oracle to attempt an acquisition of a high end services business, similar to IBM's acquisition of PriceWaterhouseCoopers, and even an acquisition of a weakened Sun Microsystems, to answer IBM's hardware bundling.
In Josh's view, an acquisition of PeopleSoft by Oracle does nothing to solve the IBM problem. Many or most PeopleSoft clients are already running Oracle's database, so the cross-selling opportunities are not so great.by Frank Scavo, 10/01/2003 08:07:00 AM | permalink | e-mail this!
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Priorities, discipline, efficiency — and a fresh start
February 10, 2014 in Blogging, Misc, On Writing
I don't need you to tell me that I suck. That's why, starting from today, I'm going to be a new me. I had actually intended to write this post about a week ago, but instead I continued on my lazy, uninspired ways, yet another reason why I suck. But suck no more. The power of Christ compels you! Be gone, undisciplined self!
Shortly after I started my current job two years ago, I knew I would have a fair bit of time on my hands during the week. I started dreaming of wonderful writing experiences, magical ideas and just a truckload of awesomeness heading my way. Two years later, I'm still in the same position, with nothing but a sore ass to show for it. To be fair, two kids is no joke, and often I find myself just wanting to chillax and watch YouTube videos at work. The days, however, a rolling by too fast, and I was stunned to realise this weekend that we are almost 2 months into 2014.
I've developed some bad habits. I'd like to blame other people for how lazy and unmotivated I've been (lots of targets at work), but the truth is I've got no one to point the finger at but myself. I've been distracted and zoned out like Walter Mitty, dreaming of wild fantasies and unrealistic expectations instead of going out and accomplishing them. My focus isn't where it should be. I've been disciplined when it comes to this blog, my work (day job and freelance, relatively speaking) and my exercising (for the most part), though for some strange reason I can't seem to apply that same discipline to thing I want it to be applied to most — my writing.
I've figured out that it's not that I'm afraid of failure or anything like that. It's not that I don't want to put in the work. It's just that I have my priorities all messed up. I recently wrote an article on Elon Musk, the 42-year-old billionaire who co-founded Paypal and runs visionary electric car company Tesla Motors. His first ex-wife, Justine Musk (nee Wilson), is a Canadian-born author who bore him five boys — twins and then triplets! Despite having to look after 5 boys (OK, so they were rich enough to have lots of help, but still) and having to overcome depression and the SIDS death of their first child, Justine still managed to have three books sold to Penguin and Simon & Schuster. Now that's impressive, and there are many more similarly impressive stories out there to make me want to stick my head up my butt in shame.
From now, I'm going to get my priorities straight. It's not necessarily about sacrificing other things I want to do — rather, it's about doing what I should be doing and looking towards the long-run as opposed to immediate gratification. I'm also going to be disciplined and stick to it. And I'm going to be efficient. I used to think multi-tasking was the shit, but I've come to realise it's just…shit. If you really want to do something well, focus on what you need to do, zone in, and get it done before moving onto the next thing.
OK, no more writing about wanting to write. My fresh start starts…now.

subset: commoncrawl


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Delphi Nav200 w Optional Lifetime Traffic Service:
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Boobe Celebrity Birthday Bash at Stadium in DC ( Feat Paul Wall, Kevin Durant, LEP Bogus Boys + More ) [Prestige Film Works Submitted]
HUGE OY BOYZ shout out to EVERYONE who came out to support @ONEWAYBOOBE on his birthday at Stadium Night Club in Washington DC. @onewayboobe has def left his mark in these streets of DC, be sure to download his latest Gangsta Grillz Mixtape with @DJDRAMA - BOOBE TRAP
directed by Alex Acosta
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David Crockett: His Life and Adventures (FULL Audio Book) 09 - Adventures in the ...
David Crockett: His Life and Adventures (FULL Audio Book) by John S.C. Abbott (1805 - 1877) David "Davy" Crockett (August 17, 1786 -- March 6, 1836) was a celebrated 19th century American folk hero, frontiersman, soldier and politician. He is commonly referred to in popular culture by the epithet "King of the Wild Frontier." He represented Tennessee in the U.S. House of Representatives, served in the Texas Revolution, and died at the Battle of the Alamo. This narrative attempts faithfully to record the influences under which David Crockett was reared and the incidents of his wild and wondrous life. It begins with his ancestors' immigration to the American wilderness, his adventures among the Indians, his political career in Tennessee and beyond, and ending with his heroic stand at the Alamo. (Summary by Brett W. Downey)


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Nassau, Bahamas: Fashion aficionados and Islands of the World Fashion Week fans within the Caribbean and South Florida region can rejoice, as they will be granted access to front-row seats of the three day runway extravaganza! Mode Îles Ltd, producers of the internationally acclaimed IWFW event produced a 30 minute Television Special which gives an in-depth and entertaining views of the runway showcase.
Designers and event organizers share the commentating of the TV special, as cameras take viewers through the pre-happenings backstage and the show's runway. Popular American television personality and celebrity designer Nick Verreos, plays host to this year's event and shares with the viewers, his take on IWFW as a past international guest designer.
The event which was held in the Bahamas on November 11th-13th, 2010 featured international designers Jay McCarroll (U.S.A.), INDASHIO (U.S.A.), Oliver Tolentino (Philippines) and island-based designers from Haiti, The Bahamas, Turks & Caicos, Jamaica and the Dominican Republic.
In an effort to increase the popularity of Islands of the World Fashion Week, Mode Îles Ltd has partnered with CaribVision to air the fashion event internationally. On Saturday 18th December, at 7.00 p.m. and again on Sunday, 19th December, at 3.00 p.m, viewers will have the opportunity to tune in and catch the "Islands of the World Fashion Week Television Special" through their cable provider on the CaribVision network.
Happy Holidays from Mode Îles Ltd.
For more information contact Mr. Kedar Clarke at 242-356-6133 or firstname.lastname@example.com. Please visit us at www.islandsfashionweek.com or become a friend on Facebook "ISLANDS OF THE WORLD FASHION WEEK".


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Gradel plans Whites stay
Highly-rated winger Max Gradel claims he is planning to stick around at Leeds 'for a long time to come'.
Last Updated: 24/07/11 10:48am
Highly-rated winger Max Gradel claims he is planning to stick around at Leeds 'for a long time to come'.
The 23-year-old, who can also operate as a central striker, has become a summer transfer target for a number of clubs.
Having caught the eye as he notched 18 goals last season, sides from the Premier League and across Europe are monitoring his situation at Elland Road.
Fulham, Stoke, Newcastle, Wigan, Swansea and Queens Park Rangers are all reported to be keen on taking him to the English top flight, while reigning French champions Lille and their Ligue 1 rivals Paris St Germain are also believed to be in the running.
Massive club
West Ham have already seen a bid knocked back by Leeds, with the Whites reluctant to sell, and Gradel has now revealed that he would be happy to spend a prolonged period of time with his current employers.
He said: "Leeds is a massive club. It is the best I have been at and to play at a club like this is a dream.
"I want to keep playing at this club for a long time to come.
"There are a lot of positives to be taken from last season and now we are ready to go again. We deserve to be in the Premier League."


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SAG Awards 2011 Articles
2011 SAG Awards hilights, gossip, photos, and video.
Worst Actress: Jane Lynch
Look, I've looked through it over and over again, to choose someone else, anyone else, for such a dubious distinction. But last night, it kept coming back to this. To Jane Lynch. Beloved Jane Lynch. Because even though we adore her, even though she's a badass bitch who's finally hit her stride, this… this is unacceptable. Full Story
Best Actress: Nicole Kidman
As I said last night on Twitter, I love this dress so much I'd actually consider hitting up a fraud marriage for 9 years, employing a philandering country singer to be my husband, walking around with a pillow during my pregnancy, and botoxing the sh-t of out my face if I could look like Nicole Kidman in this Nina Ricci. Full Story
Best SAG Actor...even with a slight hair problem
Admit it, there was too much height happening with his hair. Admit it. Just a little. Just a little overlifting. It wasn't bad from every angle, but from some angles, it wasn't great either. It wasn't however as distracting as his tiny bow tie from the Golden Globes Full Story
SAG Boss: Mark Wahlberg
There's been no mention yet of James Franco I WENT TO FILM SCHOOL. Why? Because his ego penis was nowhere near as intrusive as Mark Wahlberg's last night. Wahlberg dragged his balls on stage and cockily took up our time to stroke his own dick. Did you see? While presenting with Amy Adams,he decided to congratulate himself first, his movie, the actors in his movie, and his tv show, Boardwalk Empire… We get it. Full Story
SAG let this be the last time: Angie Harmon
Are you done with this dress and all its interpretations? Penelope Cruz did it one year at the Oscars, and repeated herself a few times after that, and every other designer decided to copy that big full feather/bubble/cotton ball skirt… to the point that now, without fail, it shows up at every goddamn awards show like a thing that just. Full Story
Best SAG Print: Claire Danes
And a monumental bitchface too when she got out of her car. I attributed it to hunger. Angela just looks so hungry all the time, so bulimic in the jaw, gossip would be a lot less interesting if these people decided to eat like normal. Boys too, not just girls. For starters they'd all be nicer to each other. Full Story
Best SAG Surprise Colour: Tina Fey
Tina Fey not in black! Tina Fey not in navy! Tina Fey not in grey! Tina Fey in RED! So good, right? Unless invited to present at the Oscars, the SAGs are the end of the awards show road for those who work primarily in television. Tina decided to go out with some flair. And why not? February Sweeps are coming up. Full Story
SAG Possessed Bride: Winona Ryder
Why is my girl so crazy? Half the time she looks, like, stunned to be there. And it's not like Winona Ryder is a stranger to these occasions. Quite the opposite, in fact. Winona should be very familiar with an awards season. But it's still like a caged animal on display, big brown eyes darting around, ready to flee at a moment's notice. Full Story
Best SAG Body: Sofia Vergara
I'm actually not sure how a body like hers is mathematically possible. Between the size of her breasts and the smallness of her waist, it's a goddamn mindf-ck. No complaint here. Especially not when she starts talking. I can't find the video online yet. But she was, as usual, solid gold during her interview with E! When asked what she liked least about herself, Sofia Vergara replied:"I wisha 2b an A cup sun-tines to wear the no bra. Full Story
SAG Old Navy: Hailee Steinfeld
I thought she was 16. She's not 16. Not even close. She's 14. As in she JUST TURNED 14 a month ago. Like she still has an entire year of being 14 ahead of her. Good for her for finding a dress that actually looks like she has an entire year of being 14 ahead of her. It's like Old Navy Couture, non? Except that it wasn't. Full Story
SAG Determined: Paz de la Huerta
If you're not familiar with my Paz de la Huerta obsession, you must have missed this article from December. Or maybe you don't watch Boardwalk Empire? She's made moaning an art on Boardwalk Empire. And she practically moaned up on stage last night during Boardwalk Empire's win for Best Drama. Full Story


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Alabama became back-to-back BCS champions last night at Sun Life Field in Miami as the Crimson Tide bested the Fighting Irish 42-14. 'Bama coach Nick Saban notched his third title in four years and quarterback AJ McCarron ran and passed his way all over the field. Notre Dame didn't even make it onto the scoreboard until 2/3 of the way into the game. Throughout the one-sided game, fans both frustrated and elated took to Twitter to rant about the game — or lack thereof — and the odd extreme focus on McCarron's girlfriend. Here are the 9 best tweets from the game.
Next Hot or Not?


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DOE A to Z: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z #
The State Board of Education has approved Dr. Charles T. Epps, Jr. as the new State District Superintendent for the Jersey City Public Schools. Epps, who has served as the districts Associate Superintendent for Community and Support Services since 1998, was recommended to the board by Commissioner David Hespe. The current superintendent, Dr. Richard A. DiPatri, is leaving Jersey City to become Superintendent of Schools for Brevard County in Florida.
Epps has dedicated his entire education career to the Jersey City School District. Since joining the district as a teacher of grades six and seven at the Whitney M. Young School in 1967, Epps has worked his way up through the ranks of the district as a teacher, supervisor, principal of adult evening programs, and director of funded programs.
"I am very proud to recommend to the Board that Dr. Charles Epps, Jr. lead the Jersey City School District at this critical time," said Commissioner Hespe. "Dr. Epps is not only an outstanding educator, but a man who has spent over three decades energizing the community to improve both programs and student outcomes in the district."
Hespe commended the new Superintendent for his leadership in implementing numerous outstanding programs over the past several years.
"Many of Jersey Citys record nine Best Practices awards received from the Department of Education in the past two years have recognized programs overseen or founded by Dr. Epps," said Hespe.
"Additionally, he has taken a leadership role in the districts efforts to reduce the drop-out rate, which has fallen from a high of 14.6 percent to three straight years at 10 percent or lower," he added.
Hespe noted that Epps is also highly regarded in his role as Chairman of the Hudson County Community College Board of Trustees.
"As chairman, Dr. Epps helped establish the Opportunity Knocks scholarship program allowing graduating seniors in Jersey City to attend Hudson County Community College tuition free," said the commissioner.
Epps has long been active in the community and serves on several advisory boards, including the National Conference on Community and Justice, the Hudson Cradle advisory board, the Hudson County Schools of Technology advisory board, and the Jersey City welfare board. Last year, he was recognized by both the NAACP (Outstanding Educator award) and the Urban League (A Man for All Men award) for his contributions to Jersey City and its public school system.
Epps education includes a B.A. in Education at Bishop College in Dallas, Texas, followed by a Masters degree in Education from Seton Hall University and a doctorate in education from Rutgers University.
Hespe stressed that Epps will provide strong leadership and stability as the Jersey City School system continues its transition from being a state-run district to local control.
"The department will continue to work closely with Dr. Epps, the Jersey City Board of Education and the Jersey City schools to ensure that progress continues on the strategic plan," added Hespe.
"I am very pleased that the Commissioner and the State Board of Education are giving me this opportunity," said Epps. "I will seek to be a role model for students, a source of renewed commitment for the staff, and a catalyst for bringing all stakeholders into the educational process. Through it all, I will provide an administration which leads the district in effectuating a smooth and successful return to local control."


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Get Involved
About Us
All Regions
Picking a wonderful quote made by an educationist and a freedom-fighter; late Nelson Mandela, from my last article titled Empowerment through scholarship, he said and I quote, "a good head and good heart are always a formidable combination. But when you add to that a literate tongue or pen, then you have something very special." He reiterated further that, "education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." Almost everybody in an education world wishes to have a scholarship at one point or the other in their academic sojourn but in spite of everyone wanting one, scholarships are complicated things. This article looks at ways you can increase your chances of winning the highly coveted scholarships.Much strife to fill out forms and apply for the few candid ones that are available and only a small number of people get them. It appears that there are even many of those scholarship offers out there that go unexploited on a yearly basis. Scholarships cannot be placed in the same category as loans as they differ due to the fact that they are free money that does not require any pay back or interest, hence, they are highly coveted things. And for every soon-to-be graduate or intern-interested student, scholarships are brilliant resume boosters and make an eye-catching effect on any resume. For someone hoping to win a scholarship, the most excellent way to start seeking scholarships is to embark on series of enquiries and search. Most colleges and universities have affiliations with several local, international and private/individual scholarship boards. More often than not, the various scholarships will be highlighted on the school's website; however, a scholarship applicant can always make enquiries as to their genuineness and availability. When this has been confirmed, one can find out how much is up for grabs as scholarship offer and the reasons why they are established. In actual fact, scholarships are not handed over to an applicant on a platter of gold; although some people might be lucky with theirs, you must definitely do your research and application. One of the few ways to increase your chances of winning scholarships is to pay attention to details and contents. Scholarships always come with ample instructions explaining and showing directions on how to effectively and efficiently apply for scholarships. Such information can be found in books, scholarship board websites and also referrals from previous successful winners of scholarships.Al
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Registered Nurse - Wyoming Behavioral Institute, Casper, Wyoming
Wyoming Behavioral Institute serves the citizens Wyoming by providing Inpatient and Residential Psychiatric care. Located in Casper, Wyoming, we are a 110- bed acute care hospital with residential care. We provide acute care for children, adolescents, and adults, as well as residential treatment for children and adolescents. We are seeking individuals who are passionate about caring for others and possess strong communication skills.
Wyoming Behavioral Institute, a UHS Facility, is seeking a dynamic and talented Registered Nurse - Psychiatric
Key Responsibilities include:
The Registered Nurse is responsible for the overall assessment, implementation of treatment, and evaluation of quality clinical services for children, adolescent, adult and geriatric patients. He/she has direct responsibility for the provision of nursing care. Carries out "other duties" as assigned.


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The mission of the Stalking Resource Center is to enhance the ability of professionals, organizations, and systems to effectively respond to stalking.
For interviews and comments, please contact:
Tara Ballesteros
Director for Public Affairs
202.467.8743 (office) email@example.com
Michelle Garcia
Stalking Resource Center Program Director
202.467.8726 email@example.com
2012 © National Center for Victims of Crime. All Rights Reserved.
2000 M Street NW, Suite 480, Washington, DC 20036
p.202-467-8700 | f.202-467-8701 | firstname.lastname@example.com
Return to the National Center


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A lot of cyclists still prefer shallow, non-anatomic bars. For many, however, the newer ergonomic bars provide a more comfortable cockpit. If you're a member of the new-school camp, then you should give the 3T Ergonova LTD Carbon Handlebar a good look. 3T has lavished the same loving attention to this bar as it has with the more traditionally shaped Rotundo.
The LTD edition of the 3T product line represents the top of the heap. No expense is spared in their quest for the strongest, lightest and loveliest-looking handlebar. The lightest carbon composite materials are used, more sophisticated fabrication methods are employed, and the bolts are made from titanium instead of steel. This is a handlebar made to be lightweight, tough and stiff. Weighing just 180g, the Ergonova LTD Carbon Handlebar is one of the lightest carbon bars on the market. The top of the bars are egg or teardrop shaped which is intended to give your hands a flatter, more comfortable surface to hold onto. The designers have also seemed to anticipate some of our objections to "ergo" bars by keeping an eye on the needs of the smaller person. Not only do these bars come in an array of widths ranging from 38 to 44cm (c-c), but the reach is quite moderate at 77mm and the drop is a comfortable 123mm. Whereas a bar like the FSA Wing Pro has a 145mm drop making it very difficult for a rider with small hands to reach the brake levers while in the drops, the 123mm Ergonova drop is much closer to what one would find in a shallow, classic shape bar, giving greater ease of access to the levers and other controls.
3T uses a four-step production life cycle to make sure that its bars and stems are light, comfortable, aero, and durable with a capital D. Beginning with what it calls the CAE design visualization, the engineers can visualize and capture a virtual prototype. By using CATIA (Computer Aided Three-Dimensional Interactive Application) technology, they are able to be interactive with their design by creating solid mock ups from the virtual designs, handing them to expert riders for testing, a incorporating their feedback to the design all within a matter of days. The next step takes them to the finite-element analysis which is software that models how the prototype will react to the forces acting on it. After that, the manufacturing process begins, taking full advantage of all the data analysis that they have gathered. Finally 3T then spends hours upon hours engaging both in-house and independent testers to make sure the parts pass the mustard.
The 3T Ergonova LTD Carbon has 123mm of drop and 77mm of reach. It is designed for a 31.8mm stems. The bar is available in four sizes, 38, 40, 42, and 44cm, measured center-to-center at the drop. Please note that these bars flare out at the drops. Each drop flares out by approximately 2cm, so a set of 42cm c-c bars are, in fact, 40cm c-c at the hoods.


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Winter Sports School graduates Class of 2012
November 27, 2012
With the end of another year at the Winter Sports School, a graduating class of athletes moves on to whatever may come next. WSS is a private school that uses a summer-based schedule to allow the athletes attending to focus on competing in the winter months.
Twenty-seven seniors, accompanied by family and friends, walked across the stage at the Egyptian Theatre this month. Several students were from the Park City area, others came from as far away as Squaw Valley, Cali., Jackson Hole, Wyom. and Stowe, VT.
"The place was packed," said Rob Clayton ,the WSS Head of School. "The upper balcony was full. People were standing in the aisles. It was a full house."
Eric Oberg, the commencement speaker at the graduation and former managing partner of Goldman Sachs, spoke to students about his own experiences with alpine skiing and Nordic skiing.
"He was a great speaker," Clayton said. " He was a good athlete in high school, and he used his athletic skills and his good sense to get a job after college. He spoke about how opportunities will arise in life, and how we have to take advantage of them. Where we go and what we do leads to opportunities."
"That was a strong message for these students because this group is really driven," Clayton said. "They are so motivated, so competitive."
Recommended Stories For You
As the winter months approach, graduates are already dispersing to various corners of the country, ready to compete. Five students will be entering the Yellowstone Ski Festival Super Tour. Sarah Hendrickson, a graduating senior this year, took second place in the World Cup in Lillehammer, Norway, last week.
One graduating senior, alpine ski racer Taly Polukoff, gave a speech at graduation as the student body president. When she was trying to determine the subject of her speech, she tried to find the humor in her nerves, relating the experience to her dreams. Polukoff said she often dreams about embarrassing situations when she is nervous. If it is the night before a race, she may dream that she is stuck on the chair lift, unable to get to the starting line.
"It was a little funny. I talked about that stereotypical high school movie scene where the valedictorian is dreaming that they are naked on stage, and then I related that to myself," Polukoff said, "how I have something important to do, and how I can mess it up in a stupid way. But our graduating class was so awesome, I had no nightmares."
Instead, she focused on the small moments that brought the class together, moments like the last day of school when the teachers scrapped lesson plans and let students relax and watch The Lord of the Rings.
"Every single senior was lying on floor watching the movie," Polukoff said, "and I think that showed how close we all were. That's what I will remember from my graduation."
Fellow alpine ski racer and graduating senior Riley Greene said he is applying to colleges with ski teams, and his top school is Harvard University. He will be focusing on technical training this season, building on skills that will help him join a ski team.
"Our class was pretty competition-oriented," Greene said. "We could argue about whether gravity was pushing or pulling force or whether or not the ball was in or out. I think that pushed us. We are a combination of minds, these really unique, really special athletes who thrive at pursuing their sports."
On the night of the graduation ceremony, Clayton was able to meet a handful of parents from out of the state, meeting several for the first time. Some had flown in from across the country to be there when their students accepted their diplomas.
"Graduation is this very personal moment," he said. "It's not about getting you out the door. Rather, it's a finale, a grand finale. It's meaningful to the kids and the parents. I think that resonated through the entire class too, their gratitude to their parents for supporting them."


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By Kirk Carapezza
Congressman Peter Welch says he believes it's unlikely that lawmakers and President Obama will avert the so-called fiscal cliff, blaming House Speaker John Boehner.
Welch says the president has offered significant savings in the Medicare program for the elderly, but he says the Republicans haven't.
"The President has been specific," Welch argues. "He said $1.6 trillion in revenues and $400 billion in Medicare savings. The Speaker has rejected that but has not had a counter offer so the next move is up to them."
Welch is not directly involved in fiscal cliff negotiations, but he's urging the president to hold tough after already agreeing to reduce federal spending by $1 trillion over 10 years.
"The Speaker is in an objectively difficult spot. I believe, one he wants a deal, two he knows it's going to include raising taxes on the top 2 percent," Welch says.
Boehner has a real challenge, Welch says, in persuading Republican members who were against tax increases to vote for them.
Source: http://welch.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2226&Itemid=33


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anital needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 45 designs submitted by 14 freelance designers.
We are looking for a clean, fun yet classy logo.
The logo should give you the feel of what a vacation means to you:
bright, warm, sunny, happy times, fun stuff, happy times brought to you by a company you can trust
I really like the fun yet professional logo you can see at
We have been in business for two years and assist owners of vacation rentals with everything vacation rentals. We are adding a vacation listing site to serve our clients and others for the vacation rent by owner industry.
Most of our clients are in the age bracket of 35 to 70 and are traditional. The guests of vacation properties are 25 to 50 and are not traditional. Need a timeless logo that represents trust, quality, and the fun of going on vacations. That would be attractive to both age groups. The listing site will attract vacationers looking for a property to rent.
This won't be a challenge for an experienced Graphic Designer.
- Item 1...The tag line is Rent Your Dream Vacation Home.The logo needs to look good in grey scale.
- Item 1..Use your creativity - no restrictions to start.
Find out how a design contest works or learn more about our logo design services.


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Mel Knight needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 79 designs submitted by 25 freelance designers.
Grace & Pepper (http://www.graceandpepper.com)
We are a small "green" company starting out in the organic skin care business.
Our goal is to provide skin care products that are luxurious, good for the body, and environmentally responsible for the planet (right down to our operating practices).
I started this company because I love lotions, creams, perfumes, fancy soaps and all that fun stuff, and I wasn't finding a product to meet my needs. I also wanted to help educate people on the benefits of switching to organic skin care products, but without preaching or requiring a radical change to someone's routine.
For additional insight into myself or the company you can also read our blog at http://www.graceandpepper.blogspot.com/
Our primary consumers are women between the ages of 25 and 40.
They want a product that is good for them - because of heightened awareness surrounding organic skin care benefits, but they don't want to compromise performance and scent.
Our niche is in between the "hard core organic" culture, and the "luxurious spa" self indulgent culture.
We are looking for a logo to represent our business - Grace & Pepper.
Please have a look at our website - http://www.graceandpepper.com (its under construction).
We would love to have the logo incorporate an Orchid (from our website) but here are a few things to think about:
1. No Cartoons, stock images or clip art
2. Should be elegant without being stuffy or snobby.
3. The typeface should be clear, simple and a bit different. We want something that stands out.
4. Design elements I would like to see are illustrated swirls, or ivy.
5. The logo can be abbreviated to G&P or G+P.
I have examples of what we like, but am not able to upload them into the brief? You are welcome to email me and I will forward them.
The files we will require are:
Print file format - .ai (CMYK)
Web file format - .jpg and layered .psd (RGB)
Find out how a design contest works or learn more about our logo design services.


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Undergraduate Catalog
2011 – 2012
Office of Admissions
Emil H. Messikomer Hall
100 W. Rosedale Avenue
West Chester, PA 19383
Phone: 610-436-3411
Fax: 610-436-2907
Revised September 2011
|Academic Passport
|Early Admission
|Second Baccalaureate Degree
|Admission Requirements, Freshmen
|International Students
|Students with Disabilities
|Admissions Staff
|International Students, Insurance
|Applying, Freshmen
|Physical Examination Requirements
|Transfer Students
|College Graduates Seeking Certification
|Transferring, How and When Should Students Apply
West Chester University welcomes applications from qualified residents of Pennsylvania, other U.S. states, and international students. The University evaluates its applicants on the basis of scholarship, character, and potential for achievement in the programs to which they apply. The Office of Admissions completes a preliminary evaluation of applications once all information has been received and processed. The admissions committee reviews every application individually and each aspect of a student's file is considered: academic record, standardized test scores, personal statement, and selected program of study. The committee prioritizes applicants with the strongest academic credentials during the review process and notifies them of its decision as quickly as possible upon completion of their file. Other candidates may be required to submit additional information or be referred to the committee for a section review. Final admissions decisions may be rendered as late as mid March, depending on circumstances. All decisions are communicated to applicants in writing. Qualified students of any age from all racial, religious, ethnic, and socio-economic backgrounds are welcome at West Chester University. Studies may be pursued on a full- or part-time basis.
1. Graduation, with satisfactory scholarship, from an approved secondary school or approval by the Credentials Evaluation Division of the Pennsylvania Department of Education, or Pennsylvania Homeschoolers Accreditation Agency.
2. Either a satisfactory score on the SAT of the College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB) or satisfactory scores on the tests given in the American College Testing Program (ACT). Applicants who graduated from high school more than five years ago do not need to submit test scores.
Applicants are encouraged to apply electronically by accessing the University's Web site at www.wcupa.edu/admissions. For printed application materials please call the Office of Admissions, West Chester University at 610-436-3411 (or toll-free at 877-315-2165), e-mail firstname.lastname@example.com, or visit the undergraduate admissions Web site.
Freshmen for the fall semester are urged to begin the application process early in their senior year of high school. Candidates will receive written notification from the director of admissions after decisions are reached.
Freshmen who are denied admission on the basis of academics will not be permitted to enroll as a nondegree student at the University but will be encouraged to consider a junior or community college as an alternative.
In exceptional circumstances, students with superior academic qualifications and unusually mature personal development are admitted as freshmen upon completing their junior year of secondary school. Students who, in the opinion of their guidance counselors or high school principal, warrant consideration for early admission may obtain more information from the Office of Admissions. Early admission applications should be submitted in accordance with deadlines recommended for freshmen.
Information about the SAT and ACT may be obtained from high school guidance counselors. It is the student's responsibility to ensure that all required test scores are forwarded to the Office of Admissions.
The University awards credit for courses taken through the Advanced Placement Program offered by the College Entrance Examination Board. Test scores of three or better are required and credit may be applied toward advanced placement in the University and/or requirements for graduation. Students are encouraged to submit their scores to the Office of the Registrar as early as possible to be scheduled appropriately for their first semester.
Individuals who have been enrolled in any postsecondary institution after graduation from high school and/or have attended West Chester University on a nondegree basis must apply as transfer students. Applicants whose secondary school credentials would not warrant admissions consideration as freshmen must complete the equivalent of one full academic year prior to attempting a transfer. A minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.00 is required for transfer consideration. However, the University gives priority to applicants with the strongest academic credentials. In addition, some academic departments have established prerequisite course work and specific grade point average requirements for admission. Special consideration is awarded to graduates of Pennsylvania community colleges and to students transferring from other universities in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. Specific information may be obtained from the Office of Admissions.
It is recommended that transfer applicants for the fall semester should complete the application process early in the preceding spring semester, preferably no later than June 1, and that spring semester applications should be completed no later than November 15; however, certain academic programs can close earlier. If enrollment limits are met before this time, admissions will be closed.
Applicants are encouraged to apply electronically by accessing www.wcupa.edu/admissions. Please follow all instructions and submit required materials.
The Office of Admissions should receive an official transcript from all institutions attended. If preliminary transcripts are submitted, the student must see that final transcripts are filed at the end of the semester.
If a student has completed less than 30 semester hours of credit, he or she must supply SAT or ACT scores and an official, final high school transcript.
Any offer of admission is contingent upon successful completion of current course work with at least a C average as documented by transcripts of all work attempted or completed.
Transcripts are evaluated and course/credit equivalencies are determined by the Office of the Registrar in accordance with the policies of the department to which the student seeks admission.
Transfer applicants who are denied admission on the basis of academics are not permitted to enroll as a nondegree student without the approval of the Office of Admissions. Such approval may be rendered in the event of extenuating circumstances and only under certain agreed-upon conditions in accordance with University policy.
The Board of Governors of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) adopted an Academic Passport Policy effective January 1999. The goal of this policy is to facilitate transfer to PASSHE universities from Pennsylvania community colleges and other PASSHE universities.
Pennsylvania community college students who have earned the associate of arts degree (A.A.) or the associate of science (A.S.) degree in a transfer program containing a minimum of 30 credits of liberal arts courses for the A.S. and 45 credits of liberal arts courses for the A.A. degree with a 2.00 GPA or above are considered to have an Academic Passport. Students completing 12 credits or more from another PASSHE university with a minimum 2.00 GPA are said to have an Academic Passport as well. The transfer-credit provisions described in the Academic Passport are extended to community college students without an associate degree who transfer 12 or more credits to a PASSHE institution. In addition, West Chester University is extending the transfer-credit provisions to all transfer students from accredited institutions, effective January 1999.
The Academic Passport policy states
Up to a maximum of 45 general education credits and liberal arts course credits shall be used to meet lower-division university general education requirements, even if the receiving university does not offer the specific course being transferred or has not designated that course as general education. A course-by-course match shall not be required.
Transfer credit not applied to general education will be applied to major requirements and other degree requirements.
All questions and appeals regarding the transfer of credits to West Chester University should be directed to the transfer credit area in the Office of the Registrar. All questions will be reviewed by the University's official credit evaluators and, if need be, will also be reviewed in consult with the chairperson of the appropriate department. If a course syllabus and/or description is needed to further investigate the student's appeal, it will be the student's responsibility to provide this information. The Office of the Registrar will strive to respond to the student with a final determination within a two-week (or less) period of time.
Please note: Students must meet the admissions standards for their selected program of study, and enrollment limitations may restrict the number of students who can be accommodated.
Specifics of this policy can be obtained from the Office of Admissions or the Office of the Registrar.
Students are urged to apply early and submit transcripts from transfer institutions as soon as possible so that students have maximum information on course equivalencies and which requirements have been met.
Applicants from collegiate institutions (including community colleges and junior colleges) that are not accredited by one of the six regional associations in the United States will be considered for admission if the applicant's cumulative index is 2.00 (C) or better. High school credentials may be requested.
The evaluation of courses listed on transcripts from an institution not accredited by one of the six regional associations will be made by the student's major department in consultation with the faculty dean and transfer credit analyst. All evaluations are subject to review by the provost and academic vice president.
Students from foreign countries may be considered for degree admission if, in addition to satisfying the general requirements, they also demonstrate proficiency in English. Applicants must submit official, English-translated copies of all secondary course work completed, including subjects listed and marks earned. Acceptable evaluation services include AACRO; Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc. (ECE); Josef Silney and Associates, Inc.; or World Educational Services (WES). Evaluations conducted by other National Association of Credential Evaluation Services approved members will be considered. International students are encouraged to apply electronically as well as supply all supporting documents to the Office of Admissions six months prior to the anticipated semester of enrollment.
Standardized test scores from one of the following must be submitted with the application: Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), International English Language Testing Service (IELTS), SAT, or American College Test (ACT). Non-native English speakers are encouraged to submit the TOEFL or IELTS. A minimum score of 550 is required for the written exam, 80 for the Internet-based score, and at least 213 for the computer-based test on the TOEFL.
An overall IELTS score at band 6.0 or above it required, and minimum scores of 6.0 for speaking, listening, reading, and writing are preferred to demonstrate proficiency in English.
International students are admitted for both the fall and spring semesters. Applications for the fall must be submitted to the Office of Admissions by May 1, while applications for the spring semester should be submitted by August 1. All students are required to submit an application fee. Accepted students must be able to verify their ability to fully meet all educational and living expenses before any immigration documents can be issued. Because of the amount of time it takes for a student visa to be secured, international applicants are encouraged to complete the admissions process well in advance of the May 1 and August 1 deadlines.
International students at West Chester University are required to carry adequate health and accident insurance. Insurance must be effective for all periods of time the student has been authorized to be in the United States by an immigration document issued by West Chester University.
Health and accident insurance policies must be purchased through a company that sells insurance in the United States. West Chester University has set minimum coverage standards which must be met by all insurance policies. Information about the minimum standards are available at the Center for International Programs, 610-436-3515.
To assure compliance with the insurance requirement, all international students must come to the Center for International Programs by September 1 of each academic year. There students may obtain information as to the amount of insurance required and the means of obtaining coverage to meet the insurance requirement.
Students are requested to submit a report of medical history once they have committed to enroll. The form for the necessary health examination, which will be mailed to students, must be completed by a physician and returned to the University Health Center prior to the start of classes.
West Chester University will make every effort to assure that students with disabilities will have access to all classes required for their program of study and will endeavor to remove all obstacles to a fulfilling, comprehensive university experience.
Students should contact the Office of Services for Students with Disabilities in Room 223 Lawrence Center to arrange suitable accommodations. Additional information can be obtained by calling 610-436-2564.
An individual may pursue a second baccalaureate degree at West Chester University after earning the first baccalaureate degree either at West Chester University or another institution. Such an individual must apply for admission through the Office of Admissions as a transfer student.
College graduates who wish to obtain teaching certification should consult with the Office of Field Placements and Student Teaching, 610-436-3090.
Degree students who have withdrawn from, or who for other reasons have not enrolled at, West Chester for two or more consecutive semesters are classified as "inactive" and must request an application for readmission from the Office of Admissions. After an absence of only one semester, students wishing to return need to contact the Office of the Registrar and their department advisers. Students applying for readmission who have attended any institutions of higher learning since leaving West Chester must request those institutions to forward transcripts of their records to the Office of Admissions, West Chester University, West Chester, PA 19383.
Readmitted students who have a disability that they previously did not disclose but wish to do so should contact the Office of Services for Students with Disabilities (OSSD) at 610-436-2564. These students will be informed of the appropriate documentation to submit as well as the assistance and support services available to them. Students who believe that their disability had an effect on their previous course work at the University and wish to have this fact considered should include that information in their personal statement. They also may wish to seek the support of the OSSD in the readmission process.
Readmitted students are bound by the requirements in general education, major, minor, and cognate areas at the time of readmission, except where permission is granted by the respective department concerning departmental requirements.
Students intending to enroll in student teaching in the first semester of readmission must file an application for student teaching with the individual departments at least four months before their expected readmission. See also "Student Teaching" in the section entitled "Academic Affairs."
All readmission applications, including all supporting documents, should be filed by August 1 for the fall semester and December 1 for the spring semester.


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Derby captain Robbie Savage is ready to end his international retirement and play for Wales again under new boss Gary Speed.
The 36-year-old midfielder quit playing for his country in 2005 following a fall-out with then boss John Toshack.
Speed, who won 85 caps for Wales, left Sheffield United to take the job and he is keen to persuade a number of experienced players out of international retirement, including Ryan Giggs, Simon Davies and Savage.
"I have said I am available and if Gary thinks it's the right thing for me to come back, then I will do," Savage told the Derby Telegraph.
"I am a passionate Welshman and I loved playing for them. Of course I would play for Wales again, if asked.
"I have done well for Derby County in the Championship. Gary has been involved in the Championship with Sheffield United in the last two or three seasons and has seen how I have been playing.
"But I know he won't pick people for the sake of giving his old mates a last hurrah. He is a man who commands respect for what he's done on the pitch and for his football knowledge."
Speed's first game in charge will be the Carling Nations Cup clash against the Republic of Ireland in February.


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Bellawood - An Industry Leader in Durability and Design. Everything we do is about making a better floor. From selecting the most durable wood and bamboo the world has to offer, to our patented finishing process that gives our flooring best-in-class stain, gloss and scuff resistance. This means a Bellawood floor is 2X more scratch resistant and 4X more abrasion resistant than other brands. Plus, it is backed by a transferable 100 year warranty. When you choose Bellawood, you choose a lifetime of exceptional beauty and quality for your home.
Brazilian Chestnut is one of the hardest and most durable woods on the market. This wood's strength is coupled with beautiful chocolate tones and exceedingly fine graining. It also exhibits a vast range of rich color variations from a lighter understated brown to sultry deep brown hues. This unique blend of coloring has made the floor a top choice among discriminating home owners. This flooring fills any room with an unrivaled warmth and elegance.
This product is proudly finished in the USA.
About "Select Grade" Flooring
Select Grade has the most uniform color with no large knots and the longest average lenght of planks. Also referred to as First Grade.
It Taber Tested "the Best." When subjected to the industry sandpaper abrasion test, known as Taber Testing, Bellawood's durability results were more than double most comparably priced floors. There's good, there's better, and then there's Bellawood.
We caught up with real Lumber Liquidators' customers who volunteered to discuss their floor shopping, buying and installation experiences. In no way did these customers receive compensation for their kind words. (They're speaking straight from the heart.)


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February 2013 DrivelinesPosted in Features on February 1, 2013
Best-in-Class is goal for new Ram HD Trucks
Bragging rights are a big deal in the heavy-duty (2500 and 3500) pickup segment. These are working trucks, after all, not a lifestyle choice. So when Ram executives say they're gunning for best-in-class performance from their new '13 HD pickups, they are putting Ford and Chevy on notice as well as generating some high expectations among potential buyers.
Expectations that, for now at least, will remain just that. So far the Ram folks are holding back on releasing towing and payload capacities, waiting until closer to the trucks' on-sale date before tipping their hand. Here is what we do know.
• Most of the changes to the new trucks take place under the skin, though some styling details—grille treatments, wheels, outside mirrors—will be different for the '13 models.
• The trucks ride on all-new ladder frames, with eight separate crossmembers, hydroformed main rails, and fully boxed rear rails. A factory-installed rear axle crossmember has provisions for fifth wheel and gooseneck hitches that are accessed through holes in the bed floor. For conventional trailers the hitch system gets an upgrade to Class 5, with a 17,000-pound load capacity.
• Ram 3500s are equipped with a new three-link (radius arm) front suspension to improve roll stiffness and support a higher front axle weight rating. The 2500 models retain their five-link front suspensions for better articulation. The rear leaf-spring suspensions are beefed up as well to handle the truck's higher tow and payload capacities.
• A new front-axle disconnect is designed to improve fuel economy.
• The 6.7L Cummins diesel will be available in three states of tune, depending on transmission choice. Manual-trans versions put out 350 hp and 660 lb-ft of torque, up from last year's 600 lb-ft. With the standard 68RFE six-speed automatic, output grows to 370 hp and 800 lb-ft. And with the brand-new Aisin six-speed automatic, the Cummins tops out at 385 hp and 850 lb-ft.
• All of the diesels get a more robust cooling system with dual radiators, dual transmission coolers, and a charge-air cooler for the turbocharger. A new Active Air intake with a solenoid-operated flap can switch the incoming air source from the front fenderwell to the truck's nose when it senses high operating temperatures or thin air in high altitudes. The diesel's emissions system now uses diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) to meet emissions regulations, and the DEF filler is conveniently located right next to the fuel cap.
• A new Smart System brings two-mode operation to the exhaust brake in diesel models. Push the brake button once and you get the engine's full braking power. Push it twice and it will work with the cruise control and vary its braking force to maintain the set speed.
• The gas 5.7L Hemi is unchanged for 2013 but will be available in 3500 models for the first time.
• Many of the new interior amenities found on the light-duty trucks will carry over into the HD models, including new climate and audio controls, Chrysler's next-generation Uconnect "infotainment" system (with available navigation and Wi-Fi hot spot), and a vehicle information display that's standard on all models.
• The low-content Tradesman trim level will now be available on HD trucks.
• Production on the '13 Ram HD models begins January, and they will go on sale in the first quarter of 2013. Pricing will be set closer to launch.
"Ram is putting Ford and Chevy on notice"
SEMA Show Sneak Peek
As of this writing we are just days away from heading to Las Vegas for the annual aftermarket parts bonanza that is the SEMA Show. Several of the manufacturers building special vehicles for the show are leaking photos and illustrations of their projects. The Jeep is called the Sand Trooper, with Hemi power and 42-inch Swampers mounted on beadlock wheels. The Tundra (or what's left of it) is being built by NHRA drag racer Alexis DeJoria and Racer Engineering as part of a Dream Build Challenge put on by Toyota. DeJoria's plans for the prerunner include a TRD supercharged engine, a full rollcage, and a long-travel (20-25 inches) suspension. We will bring you photos of both—and much, much more—when we get back from Sin City next month.
This Just In
• The Toyota Tacoma carries over into the '13 model year largely unchanged except for a new Limited package with 18-inch chrome wheels, chrome exterior trim, heated front seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and a backup camera.
• In an unusual collabo- ration for the crosstown rivals, Ford and GM are developing a new generation of automatic transmissions together to boost fuel economy. According to Automotive News, GM's contribution is a nine-speed transmission for front-wheel-drive cars, while Ford is working on a 10-speed tranny for rear-drive applications, including trucks and SUVs. Still in the design stages, they probably won't be ready for production before 2015.
• Italian exotic car maker Maserati is getting into the SUV business with an upcoming vehicle called Levante, says Automotive News. It will be based on the Grand Cherokee. Why? Because, as you might have guessed, Maserati, like Chrysler, is owned by Fiat.
Veterans Conquer the Rubicon Trail
Crossing the Rubicon is something many of us enjoy, but for some the experience is life-changing. Wheelers for the Wounded takes combat veterans four-wheeling and camping as a way to thank them for their service. They purposely seek veterans from all eras of service; sometimes those from the Vietnam era hear the words "thank you" for the first time at WFTW.
"We knew that everyone who came would have fun. You can't go to the Rubicon and not have fun," event co-coordinator Dan Hiney explains. "What we didn't count on was that men and women would come and experience a beginning to the healing process for PTSD."
Do you know a veteran who would benefit from being involved in this program? Contact Dan Hiney at 530.518.2101.
Harry Wagner
Earth Watch
• We heard through Daystar, a member of the Off-Road Business Association (ORBA), that the association is making a concerted effort to "rally support for the lobbying of state and federal representatives for the identification, protection, preservation, and further utilization of America's historic off-road trails," says ORBA. ORBA, like SEMA and other organizations, advocates common-sense preservation of our lands, protecting those sensitive areas that would be harmed by OHV travel but leaving open existing roads and trails for responsible use. "Many of these natural trails, such as the Rubicon, whose travel history and significance predates the invention of the automobile, have yet to be identified and offered protection and enhancement under the law," says ORBA. "These historic monuments are a key part of our environment, and our future economy, and deserve to be protected and utilized properly for the enjoyment of all."
• BFGoodrich has opened nominations for the 2013 Outstanding Trails program, which awards grants to trails in the U.S. and Canada that are deserving of funds for maintenance and preservation. Now in its eighth year, the program—done in collaboration with Tread Lightly! and the United Four Wheel Drive Associations—has awarded more than $100,000 in grants to 30 off-road trails. Nominations can be submitted through January 31 to BFGoodrich's Facebook page (www.facebook.com/bfgoodrichtires) or Twitter handle @bfgoodrichtires. Winners will be announced at the Easter Jeep Safari.
• Our favorite press release title this month: "New California Study Finds More Particulate Emissions from Charbroiled Burgers Than Diesel Trucks." Sorry, I'll give up a lot of things for the common good, but not burgers.
New King Ranch F-150
Ford has freshened the upscale King Ranch version of the F-150 for 2013 with a new three-bar grille, new 20-inch wheels, the availability of an all-black interior (Adobe is still the standard interior color), and standard MyFord Touch system, which has been "optimized for truck owners," says Ford, with bigger buttons you can press while wearing gloves.
Baja 1000 Start Order Drawn at Off-Road Expo
This year marks the 45th anniversary of the granddaddy of all desert races, the Baja 1000. To mark the occasion the race will travel the full length of the Baja peninsula, from Ensenada to La Paz.
Some 210 two- and four-wheeled vehicles are entered this year.
At the recent Lucas Oil Off-Road Expo in Southern California, SCORE held a drawing to determine the starting order. Pete Sohren's F-150 will be the first Trophy Truck off the line, giving him a dust-free ride as long as he can stay in front. Nipping at his heels will be Chris Kemp and Rob MacCachren, sure to be serious challengers over the 1,121-mile course.
The drawing took place in SCOREville, a display area set up at the Expo that included vintage and current race vehicles and SCORE merchandise for sale. Among the old-time trucks in the room were the F-100 that Scoop Vessels drove to win Class 8 in the 1977 Baja 500 and 1000 (seen here), and a '66 Bronco that won the 1969 1000 overall with Rod Hall and Larry Minor as pilots. Hall is the only man to have driven in every Baja 1000, and he was entered this year, too, running his Hummer H3 in the Stock Mini class with co-driver Emily Miller.
More Silverado News Leaks
Chevrolet has issued another "spy" photo of the upcoming '14 Silverado pickup, this time undergoing validation testing at GM's Milford, Michigan, proving grounds. The truck goes into production sometime in 2013, and those are all the details we're getting from Chevy.
Unofficially, though, we've learned via Automotive News that a premium model, dubbed High Country, will compete with Ford's various upscale F-truck trim levels—King Ranch, Platinum, Premium—and Ram's Laramie Longhorn. Chevy dealers who have seen the new truck say it offers a "bolder" look and will be 3-4 inches taller than the current model. There will be more rear seat room in the crew cab models, and extended cabs will get rear doors to improve access. Crew cabs will also get 61⁄2-foot beds, longer than the 53⁄4-foot beds currently offered.
Colorado/Canyon News & Rumors
In addition to readying its next generation of fullsize pickups for 2014, GM is also planning to reenter the compact truck market with all-new versions of the Chevy Colorado and—as was just announced—GMC Canyon. Seen here is a concept version of the Colorado that made the rounds of overseas auto shows last year. We know almost nothing about how the trucks will be equipped, but we did hear that a diesel engine will likely be an option. That squares with what's available overseas: 2WD and 4WD regular, extended-cab and crew cab variants with new 2.5L gas and 2.8L turbodiesel engines.
• Jan. 5: Tread Lightly! Tread Trainer Certification, Hungry Valley OHV Area, Gorman, CA. Info: www.treadlightly.org
• Jan. 6: Winching Clinic by Badlands Off-Road Adventures, El Paso Mountains near Mojave, CA. Info: 310.374.8047, www.4x4training.com
• Jan. 11-13: Winter Fun Festival, Nevada County Fairgrounds, Grass Valley, CA, by the California Association of 4 Wheel Drive Clubs. Info: 800.4x4.FUNN, cal4wheel.com
• Jan. 12: Getting Started Off-Road Driving Clinic by Badlands Off-Road Adventures, Hungry Valley SVRA, Gorman, CA. Info: 310.374.8047, www.4x4training.com
• Jan. 13: Advanced Beginner Off-Road Driving Clinic by Badlands Off-Road Adventures, El Paso Mountains near Mojave, CA. Info: 310.374.8047, www.4x4training.com
• Jan. 18-20: Bradshaw Trail ride by Badlands Off-Road Adventures, near Salton Sea, CA. Info: 310.374.8047, www.4x4training.com
• Jan. 26: Getting Started Off-Road Driving Clinic by Badlands Off-Road Adventures, Borrego Springs, CA. Info: 310.374.8047, www.4x4training.com
• Jan. 26-27: Truckhaven Challenge, Ocotillo Wells SVRA near Salton Sea, CA, by CORVA. Info: www.corva.org
• Jan. 27: Sand Off-Road Driving Clinic by Badlands Off-Road Adventures, Borrego Springs, CA. Info: 310.374.8047, www.4x4training.com
• Note: If you have a 4WD event you want us to publicize, please send the date, location, a description of the event, and contact info—phone numbers and/or email/website address—to Calendar, 4-Wheel & Off-Road magazine, 831 S. Douglas St., El Segundo, CA 90245; fax 310.531.9368; email firstname.lastname@example.com. Please submit your info at least four months in advance of the event due to our press lead times.


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Spend the $17 and Get a Flu Shotby Jim Amidon • October 12, 2006 Share:
October means the start of the influenza season and this year Wabash hopes to avoid a widespread outbreak of the flu. According to College Nurse Carol Lamb and Dr. John Roberts '83, the best way to avoid such an outbreak is a preventative flu vaccination.
The College will be hosting Lafayette Visiting Nurse on three separate days in the next few weeks to provide at-cost vaccinations for the Wabash community.
"The single best way to prevent the flu is to be vaccinated each fall," said Lamb. "Anyone who wants to resist the flu should get vaccinated unless they are allergic to eggs. Vaccines can prevent infection seven to nine out of 10 healthy people under the age of 65."
Vaccinations, at a cost of $17, will be available October 25 from 9:00 a.m. through 11:30 a.m. in the Sparks Center Fobes Lounge. On Thursday, October 26, the nurses will be stationed in Baxter Hall's Rogge Lounge from 9:00 a.m. through 11:30. The nurses will be back on campus Wednesday, November 1 from 9:00 a.m. through 11:30 in the Fobes Lounge of Sparks Center.
"Other than having an egg allergy, there really is no good reason not to get a flu shot," said Dr. Roberts. "It not only protects you against influenza but also lowers the incidence of colds by about 30 percent. Students are particularly vulnerable to influenza because of living in close quarters, so it's well worth $17 to avoid contracting influenza just before finals or during comps."
Student-athletes are at particular risk because of physical exhaustion and being in close proximity of other student-athletes.
Lamb says there's no truth to the notion that flu vaccines can cause the flu. "It's a myth that the flu shot causes the flu," she said. "The vaccine you receive is not a live virus, therefore, cannot ˜give you the flu."
Nurse Lamb also suggests a few good health habits to prevent spreading influenza throughout living units and classrooms:
"Avoid close contact and stay home when you are sick, and make sure to notify the health center," she said. "Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Clean your hands often, wash with soap and water or clean with alcohol-based hand cleaner. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth."