text:
Process is Key to Small IT Business Customer Satisfaction
By Kevin Manne
Release Date: January 14, 2013
BUFFALO, N.Y. – Small information technology (IT) businesses that follow formal processes are more productive and achieve higher quality and customer satisfaction, according to a study from the University at Buffalo School of Management.
Published in Communications of the ACM, the study found that smaller IT companies saw more benefit from formal processes than their larger competitors.
"Small businesses are the lifeblood of the U.S. IT industry, accounting for approximately 80 percent of IT jobs in the country," explains study co-author Rajiv Kishore, PhD, associate professor of management science and systems in the UB School of Management. "With greater competition and more demanding customers, small IT providers must now prove they can deliver high-quality products and services in a timely and predictable manner."
The research looked at both large and smaller companies that use the Capability Maturity Model (CMM) – a tool that helps improve the business processes of IT service providers.
In the past, smaller organizations have been wary of such productivity models, feeling the processes can be too time consuming or a barrier to productivity and office culture. But Kishore says there are ways to reap the benefits of formal process capability without sacrificing an entrepreneurial or less formal culture.
"Small firms should tailor CMM to their own environment and stress a process focused on flexibility, efficiency and quality," he says. "Evidence suggests that small firms that use it can see improvements with productivity, quality and customer satisfaction."
Kishore, who is an associate editor at Information and Management, a leading information systems journal, collaborated on the study with Matthew Swinarski, associate professor of MIS, and Diane Parente, Breene Professor of Management, both from the Sam and Irene Black School of Business at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College.
The UB School of Management is recognized for its emphasis on real-world learning, community and economic impact, and the global perspective of its faculty, students and alumni. The school has been ranked by Bloomberg Businessweek, the Financial Times, Forbes, U.S. News & World Report and The Wall Street Journal for the quality of its programs and the return on investment it provides its graduates. For more information about the UB School of Management, visit http://mgt.buffalo.edu.
Media Contact Information
Media Relations (University Communications)
330 Crofts Hall (North Campus)
Buffalo, NY 14260-7015
Tel: 716-645-6969
Fax: 716-645-3765


text: First Born culminates as the battle between the forces of Light and Dark reaches a fever pitch. And in the final issue of this summer's hottest event - the birth of Sara Pezzini's child! Writer Ron Marz (ION, SAMURAI: HEAVEN & EARTH) and digital painter Stjepan Sejic (THE DARKNESS: LEVEL 1, WITCHBLADE) deliver the ultimate conclusion and set up events for the next thrilling year to come including THE DARKNESS ongoing series. FIRST BORN #3 features covers by series artist Stjepan Sejic.

subset: commoncrawl


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Entry-level Health Occupations: Development and Future
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Celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain blasted Paula Deen via Twitter today. In a blatant barb, he tweeted, "Thinking of getting into the leg-breaking business, so I can profitably sell crutches later."
This, of course, comes on the same day that Deen announced that she has Type 2 Diabetes and that she's signed on to be the spokeswoman for a diabetes drug. Way to hit someone when they're down, what a jerk, was my original thought after reading his tweet. He's not exactly known for his tact. But the more I consider the details, the more I think his outrage over her behavior is justified ... this time.
You see, Deen didn't just find out she has diabetes. She's had it for three years -- three years during which she kept dishing up all of her fat-filled dishes and teaching America how to do the same. And now she's signed on to be the spokesperson for diabetes medication -- not Weight Watchers or some healthy lifestyle plan to help prevent the disease. So yeah, his analogy seems pretty accurate.
Of course Deen didn't purposefully make herself sick just so she could endorse a drug, but the message it all sends is not one that paints her in a favorable light.
Last year Bourdain called her the "worst, most dangerous person to America," and at the time I defended her. Everyone deserves a little indulgence once in awhile, and it's not Paula's fault if her recipes make people indulge a little more. We all need to find our own willpower, because if it's not Paula Deen, it's Hostess, or McDonald's trying make us all fat. Leave Paula alone.
But details in the news announced today make her appear nothing short of reckless. According to WebMd, "While not everyone with type 2 diabetes is overweight, obesity and lack of physical activity are two of the most common causes of this form of diabetes." Since Deen is clearly overweight, it's not a huge jump to assume her case is related. Even if by some weird stretch it's not, just knowing that obesity can lead to diabetes would have seemingly changed her fat-laden path or least have made her stop pimping it to the world.
Her health is her personal business, and I don't believe she or anyone else makes people fat but people themselves. But does Deen come off looking like she cares a lot more about the almighty dollar than about her health or that of her fans? Without a doubt.
As Bourdain told Eater:
When your signature dish is hamburger in between a doughnut, and you've been cheerfully selling this stuff knowing all along that you've got Type 2 diabetes ... it's in bad taste if nothing else.
Do you think Anthony Bourdain's tweet about Paula Deen was mean or justified?
Image via Food Network


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MOT Charter School asks the parents of its 675 students to volunteer at least 10 hours a year at various school-related activities.
Active parental involvement can be one of the most crucial factors in a child's education.
That's why MOT Charter School in Middletown asks the parents of its 675 students in kindergarten through eighth grades to volunteer at least 10 hours a year at various school-related activities.
"It's part of our charter," explained Head of School Linda Jennings. "We want parents to feel like they're part of a community. That's why we want them to be involved in any way they can, whether it's chaperoning a field trip, coaching a sports team or even just coming in to make copies."
Of the school's many parent volunteers, a dedicated group of about 20 parents, known as the Posse in keeping with the theme of the school's mascot The Mustangs, provide up to an hour of extra reading and math instruction to elementary school students every week.
"When parents sign up, we try to find out what they're skill set and then we provide them training so they feel comfortable helping the students," Principal Elaine Elston said. "The parents are then matched up with different classrooms, although not the ones that their own children are in, because the program is about helping the school as a whole."
Each week, the classroom teacher decides which students will receive extra instruction from the Posse members – typically referred to as Wranglers – and what each weekly lesson will include.
"In some cases, the Wranglers will provide extra assistance to students who might be having some trouble, or they might take some of the higher performing students for a while, so the teacher can focus their lesson on the rest of the class," Elston said. "It gives the kids an extra dose of what they need academically and it's another adult saying to the kids, 'You can do this and we're going to help you do it together.'"
MOT Charter launched the Posse program three years ago after parent Eric Finch asked what he and other parents could do to help the school improve its student reading scores.
"At the time, we had found we were having success with moving our mid-level students to high, but we weren't seeing as much progress with the students who were struggling," Elston said. "Mr. Finch asked what he and other parents could do to help and the idea for the Posse just sort of came out of that conversation."
First grade teacher Lauren Hoskins said the school's reading scores have improved steadily since the Posse program was created.
"The students have really responded to the extra attention and having someone to work with them in small groups, or sometimes even on a one-to-one basis, really makes a huge difference," she said.
Susan Laskos, a professional pilot and flight instructor whose adopted son is in the fifth grade at MOT Charter, said she jumped at the chance to become a Wrangler when the program was first introduced.
"I saw it as an opportunity to know more about where my son is spending his days and to get to know the staff and kids he's going to school with," the Middletown resident said before helping a handful of first graders practice the new vocabulary words the learned while reading a short story. "From Day 1, the school has been a warm environment and they took the time to train and assure us about what we were doing. I've never once felt like I wasn't appreciated or welcome here."
Diana Gotthold, a homemaker from Middletown whose three children have all attended MOT Charter, said she enjoys being a Wrangler so much that she often volunteers twice a week or more.
"Being a Wrangler has made me feel like a part of the whole process and the kids have become like my little buddies," she said. "I've come to know these kids and I love watching them grow. I'm just hoping that after my youngest finishes eighth grade, they won't kick me out because I've made wonderful friends here and I feel like part of a big family."


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Know What to Expect
OnTrack conducts a thorough visual inspection to uncover any deficiencies that exist in the home. We're committed to ensuring you become aware of any existing or potential problems before you make the decision to buy. Since we primarily obtain our clients from select Realty specialists and client referrals; it's our goal to become your life-long first choice in home inspection, as well as that of your family, and friends.
State of the Art
We use state of the art equipment during the inspection process, to enable us to find any deficiencies that might exist, and give you a more informed report on the condition of the home. Of course, we can't see through walls or predict the future, but based on our non-technically exhaustive, but thorough investigation, you can be assured that if a problem exists, we will point it out to you. Should it be required, we will recommend Structural, Electrical, Plumbing, Roofing, or HVAC Specialists or Engineers that can further research any deficiencies that we may find. Generally, these are issues that can be dealt with simply and quickly.
Before AND After
Prior to the Home Inspection process, you will receive an Inspection Agreement that outlines what will and will not be done. This is required to be signed and returned before we begin, so you know precisely what will happen during our inspection. ...After your purchase, we'll update you via email with bulletins, and reminders that advise you on maintaining your home, and provide you with maintenance schedules and methods.


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Y ou've already missed four (FOUR!) days of Colorado Craft Beer Week, but luckily that bastard rolls into the weekend through Sunday.
The event, in its third year now, is run by the Colorado Brewers Guild.
Let me tell you a story about these cats.
Once upon a 1995 ago, much like when colonial white-hairs gathered at the pub for a frosty one, dudes in flannel shirts and tribal tattoos and chicks in Jennifer Aniston hairstyles (a la the "Rachel") sat around and decided to create a guild for those who turned their bathtub suds into casks and barrels of delicious craft beer.
It was the mid-90s, I had to conjure up some visuals. You're welcome.
Anyway, now, like ... what, 20-something years later (I do words, not numbers), there's like ... a whole mess of craft brewers all over the state (again, words here).
Needless to say, when this state isn't throwing beer seeds on concrete to grow another brewhouse, we're celebrating, drinking and being merry. Or hairy.
Colorado Craft Beer Week hosts various tappings, beer dinners, mingling with the brewers and such. I'll give you some good places to start, but there's so damn much. You can find the whole schedule online here: cobeerweek.com.
Legends & Rarities
The Star Bar, 2137 Larimer St., Denver, is celebrating the, well, legends and rarities.
Each brewer will pour two beers -- a legend and a rarity. Reps will be on hand from breweries to chat your drunk ass up.
Breweries in attendance: Avery, Boulder Beer, Breckenridge, Great Divide, Left Hand, New Belgium, Odell, Oskar Blues, Ska, Wynkoop.
Info: Tonight at Star Bar from 6-9; 720-328-2420; $30 for 30 drink tickets
Beers and Spears
Saturday in the Barrel Room at Denver Beer Co., 1695 Platte St., Denver, the joint, along with gourmet Denver pickle makers, The Real Dill, will host a party of three beers and three pickles.
One of the beers even has ingredients from one of the pickles, and there is a spicy pickle eating contest. The winner gets a growler of beer and a jar of pickles.
I want a pickle now. That's what she said.
Info: Saturday 3-6 p.m.; 303-433-2739
New Kids On The Block
Saturday, The Lobby, 2191 Arapahoe St., Denver, is getting amped up for the New Kids on the Block show at the 1stBank Center in July.
Roof raise, bitches.
Maybe they are, but not this Saturday. The locally owned Denver joint is hosting Colorado breweries who are under 2 years old. Aw. Babies. This is an '80s-themed party (they are celebrating NKOTB!) and costumes are highly encouraged.
Info: Saturday p.m.-close; 303-997-9911; $19.86
Peach Grand Cru tapping
Holy hell, I'm drooling. If I wasn't working Sunday, I would be dry humping this beer. Great Divide, 2201 Arapahoe St., Denver, is tapping a small batch of Belgian-style strong ale brewed with -- ready? -- 200 pounds of fresh Colorado Palisade peaches.
Drool. It has 12.3 percent ABV. Salivating over here. Limited quantities are available in the Great Divide Tap Room.
Good drunk to you!
Info: Sunday at 2 p.m.; 303-296-9460


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Did Justin Bieber Propose to Selena Gomez Prior to the Breakup Heard Round the World?
When Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez broke up, it was blamed on a few things: Selena's trust issues, the couple's hectic schedules, Justin's partying. But could Biebs actually have wanted to get more serious with Sel? Because rumor has it, he may have actually proposed to her before they called it quits!
A rumor based on a blind item -- which technically could have been about anyone, since it's blind -- was heavily believed to be about Jelena. Bieber reportedly, according to the blind, proposed to Gomez twice before she broke it off. Here's the blind:
This heartthrob would like to be engaged to his famous girlfriend, whom he has been dating for over a year. And here's some surprising news for you: he actually proposed to her a few months ago!
But … she said "No." However, 'No' doesn't mean 'Never.' She told him to ask her again in a few months. So they might still get engaged in 2013. But she is not ready to make a big commitment to marriage -- or a baby -- right now.
The outlet, Blind Gossip, then revealed that the blind was supposedly about Selena and Justin -- and then some. Apparently, according to the site, Jelena began as little more than a PR stunt.
"It started out as a PR arrangement. Which is fine … except for the fact that Justin wanted to make it permanent," Blind Gossip says. "Selena, on the other hand, is a little older and wiser. She saw the relationship as a job from the beginning." Apparently Justin proposed to Selena more than once, but she declined both times. (We bet a lot Beliebers are fuming right now!)
However, don't expect either party to talk about it, because according to the blind item, "They have agreed to never, never, ever talk about the proposals! It would be far too damaging to his reputation if people found out that a smaller star turned down a bigger star."
Drama! Now, Hollywood Life is reporting that the pair may actually get back together. Another day, another chapter in the Jelena saga! The site says that their meeting in New York City actually went well and that the roller coaster couple are likely to work it out and stick together.
"Justin and Selena have broken up a bunch," a source said. "But they're basically back together. Justin just likes to party and Selena gets upset. There's a lot of jealously but it's typical for their age. They fight all the time, this time it's just been blown way out of proportion."
That may explain why no one involved has issued an official statement on the split: no one really knows what's going on! But just in case they do end things for good, Bieber took a precaution: Going forward, he's apparently removing her name from Nicki Minaj's rap in 'Beauty and a Beat.'
A source told The Sun, "It's too late for Justin to remove the lyric from his album. But there's no way he's going to be singing it or have anyone else sing it -- including Nicki -- at his concerts. He knows it would just rub salt in the wounds for Selena and there would be a huge backlash from his girl fans, so it's easier forgotten."
Watch the Justin Bieber 'Beauty and a Beat' Video


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Double click on above image to view full picture
Availability: In stock
The Eames House, Case Study House No. 8, designed by Charles and Ray Eames, and constructed in 1949. This photograph shows the house building, but there is also a studio across the patio built at the same time and considered part of the same structure. (Photo by Eames Demetrios, 1997)


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swati679 needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 79 designs submitted by 16 freelance designers.
We are homeowners tired of having to remember what needs to be maintained around the house (A/C filters, Fence re-staining, etc). Since we know we aren't alone in this plight, we are in the process of launching an application that helps homeowners remember their daily, weekly, yearly upkeep needs.
Our market will be homeowners, apartment owners, landlords, etc. Basically anyone who maintains a home. Our goal is to create a user-friendly and practical site that has a relaxed feel.
We are looking for a logo that represents our home upkeep site: PadKeeper
Here are some more specifics:
1. We'd like the logo to have a home and tools
2. The logo should be casual but not childish. We want users to feel like this is a site they can easily use.
3.The "P" and "K" in PadKeeper must be capital
4. The typeface should be bold, relaxed, and clear
5. If possible, one of the letters in "PadKeeper" should be either a house or a tool.
Examples of logos we like:
1.We like the mint leaves and the casual appearance of the logo on this site: http://www.mint.com
2. We like how an orange represents one of the letters in "cook" on this site's logo: http://www.supercook.com
We will need the following file formats:
layered .psd
Please do not use any clip art or stock images in the logo design.
Most importantly: Have fun with our design!
Find out how a design contest works or learn more about our logo design services.


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- Inside Athletics
- Tickets
- Fan Zone
- Media Zone
- Social
- Shop
- Donate Now
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (May 16, 2009) - The ETSU baseball team powered out eight extra base hits as the Bucs defeated Lipscomb 14-7 on senior day Saturday at Cardinal Park.
The Bucs improve to 24-27 overall and 10-20 in conference play, while Lipscomb falls to 23-31 and 17-13 in league play.
Senior Dustin Plumlee (
ETSU had five starters with multiple hits as Paul Hoilman (
Justin Sanders was a perfect 5-for-5 for Lipscomb as he drove in three and had a double.
The Bisons took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first on a RBI single by catcher Chandler Wicks. Later in the inning, Wicks came in to score on a sac fly to center by centerfielder Allen Bolden to make the score 2-0.
ETSU exploded for seven runs in the bottom of the third on a solo home run to left by shortstop Garrett May (Roswell, Ga.), a three-run home run to left by Hoilman and a two-run shot to right by Reeder to take a 7-2 lead. Reeder's home run was the 15th on the season and ties the freshmen home run record set by Derek Trent (
The Bucs added another run in the bottom of the fourth as Hoilman drew a walk with the bases load to extend the lead to 8-2.
Lipscomb narrowed the gap in the top of the sixth scoring four runs on four hits to cut the lead to 8-6.
In the bottom of the seventh, the Bucs added four insurance runs on RBI a RBI single by
The Bisons added a run in the top of the eighth on a RBI single by first baseman Justin Sanders to make the score 12-7.
Hoilman hit his second home run of the day in the bottom of the eighth launching a solo shot over the fence in right center to extend the ETSU lead to 13-7. The Bucs added one more run in the inning on a RBI double by Reeder to make the final 14-7.
ETSU is back in action Wednesday at 11 a.m. at Melching Field in
ETSU 14, Lipscomb 7 (May 16, 2009 at
LU.................. 020 004 01 - 7 14 4 (23-31, 17-13 A-Sun)
ETSU............ 007 100 42x - 14 13 1 (24-27, 10-20 A-Sun)
Pitchers: ETSU - Ben Andrews; Dustin Plumlee (3); Paul Hoilman (6); Bo Burton (6)
LU - Charles Williams; Davey Hackett (6); Kyle Tognazzini (7)
Win - Dustin Plumlee (4-5) Loss - Charles Williams (1-7)
HR - ETSU - Garrett May (6); Paul Hoilman 2(17); Bo Reeder (15)


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Results 1 to 10 of 137
Tuesday, 6th March, 2012, 02:29 AM #1
Chicago Gameday 31 is 3/17: SIGN UP TO PLAY!
Chicago Gameday 31 Sign-Up Thread
Gameday 31 is Saturday, March 17, 2012.
ENWorld Chicago Gameday 31 is a day of FREE gaming held at earth's finest game store, Games Plus.
To participate, simply post in this thread and tell us which games you want to play in each slot. Event sign-up is first-come, first-serve.
Be aware that the event schedule may be subject to change. PM or email me (buzz AT buzzmo DOT com) with any questions.
PLEASE NOTE: This thread is the primary means of communicating information about Gameday 31. Please keep an eye on the thread for any updates or schedule changes, especially in the day or so prior to Gameday. This goes double for GMs. If you'd like to be on the Gameday mailing list, just shoot me an email.
You can also find us on Facebook, which is another great way to stay updated.
Games Plus
101 W Prospect Ave
Mount Prospect, Illinois 60056
(847) 577-9656
Hosts: Curt Duval & Jeff Swegler (owners)
View a map of the Games Plus gaming area to see where your events will be located.
- 8:00am - 9:00am Slot 0: Breakfast
Meet up for breakfast at Le Peep Grill (located across the Metra tracks, kitty-corner from Games Plus).
- 9:15am Arrive at the store to settle in to your game tables.
- 9:30am to 2:30pm Slot 1: Morning events
1. This event is now FULL. Hero's Banner, Tim C. Koppang , Table A
2. This event is now FULL. Psi*Run, Nev the Deranged , Table B
3. This event is now FULL. Pathfinder, "Here kitty, kitty, kitty, kitty!", TracerBullet42 , Table C
4. This event is now FULL. Outlive Outdead, "Finding Mr. FEMA", WJMacGuffin, Table D
5. Dragons at Dawn, "Keep on the Borderlands", willowx, Table E
6. D&D 4e, "Raid into the Shadowfell", SuddenImpact, Table FCANCELED
7. Surcoat, "Til Dawn We Fight", Mark CMG, Table G
8. HiBRiD, "Eighties Action Heroes", hujraadjohaansen, Table H
- 2:30pm to 3:30pm Break for lunch!
- 3:30pm to 8:30pm (or later) Slot 2: Afternoon events
1. Ghosts of Albion, "Blight", WebWarlock, Table A
2. This event is now FULL. Fiasco, "HOCUS-FOCUS: A Dresden Fiasco", Ninjacat, Table B
3. Griffins & Grottos, "Clearing the Castle", Mark CMG, Table C
4. The Laundry RPG, "Operation Quiet Thunder", WJMacGuffin, Table D
5. Misspent Youth, "Misspent Youth: A Game of Sci-Fi Teenaged Rebellion", Toddjank, Table E
6. Dread, "Beneath the Mask", meganjank, Table F
7. This event is now FULL. Lacuna, "Lacuna, part 1", CoreyHaim8myDog, Table G
8. Marvel Heroic Roleplaying, "Breakout", buzz, Table H
Slot 0 (Breakfast)
No limit to number of attendees.
1. buzz
2. Nev the Deranged
3. Ninjacat
4. Der Spot
5. ekb
6. Catt33
7. Painfully
8. Tofu_Master
9. whifflebat (Joshua)
10. whifflebat (Benjamin)
11. WJMacGuffin
12. Vyvyan Basterd
13. Laurie
14. William Ronald
15. ...
Slot 1: Morning
Morning Game 1: Hero's Banner
Heros Banner: The Fury of Free Will, Tim C Koppang, Table A
Grim fantasy meets the angst of indecision. Will you choose love, power, religion, allegiance, war, or betrayal?1. Ninjacat
Heros Banner: The Fury of Free Will is a fantasy roleplaying game with a razor sharp premise and elegant mechanics to match. Every character is faced with a choice between three mutually exclusive and world-changing paths to glory. Which will they choose, and what will they forever give up to achieve their goals?
2. DavidTC
3. ekb
This event is now FULL.
Morning Game 2: Psi*Run
Psi*Run, Nev the Dranged, Table B
1. Laurie
It's basically this:
No experience necessary, all materials supplied.
2. CoreyHaim8myDog
3. Tim Jensen
4. Fractal Advocate
This event is now FULL.
Morning Game 3: Here kitty, kitty, kitty, kitty!
Pathfinder, TraceBullet42, Table C
Oh my gosh! Someone has stolen all (or nearly all) of the kittens! Who would do such a thing? Are you kidding me? Is this really the plot of a role playing game?1. rvalle
Yes! It is! "Here kitty, kitty, kitty, kitty!" is a Pathfinder adventure geared towards young players. (Not that older players can't sign up to play, mind you...) It will be rated PG and be full of silliness. Pregenerated characters will be provided, and no previous experience is necessary.
(No kittens were harmed in the making of this game...much.)
2. Krista (rvalle)
3. Alex (rvalle)
4. Nicky (rvalle)
5. sw3333
6. whifflebat (Benjamin)
This event is now FULL.
Morning Game 4: Finding Mr. FEMA
Outlive Outdead, WJMacGuffin, Table D
I don't care who you were before zombies started eating people, you're a soldier now. Don't like it? Blame Obama and martial law. And no, you don't get uniforms, helmets, or guns - just what you managed to loot before coming to the Mt. Prospect Quarantine Zone. Ready for your first order? Tough, because here it is. William Fugate, head admin for FEMA, is lost somewhere in the suburbs west of here. Go there, find him, and bring him back here safely. Ready for your second order? Try not to get eaten along the way.1. Vyvyan Basterd
Outlive Outdead is a new zombie rpg from Happy Bishop Games. Players take roles as human survivors of a zombie apocalypse. If you die, no problem - you then take roles as zombies and get to attack the other players! This game has a strong PvP element, a unique karma system, and plenty of temporary insanity. (What, the zombie apocalypse is supposed to be stress-free?) This is a final playtest, meaning most (if not all) kinks have already been worked out.
The quickstart rules can be found here. You don't need to read this before the game but it wouldn't hurt.
The available player-characters:
- Julie Webb: Unemployed single mom before zombies appeared, she lost her two sons to the zombies and is ready to repay the undead bastards in spades.
- Louie DaCosta: Owner of a strip club in Melrose Park. He saw a dancer change on stage and is really freaked out about it all.
- Michael Lake: Was the mayor of Des Plaines before it fell to the zombies. He still thinks he deserves special treatment and privileges.
- Jacob Reed: Minor league hockey player who lost his wife and is determined not to lose his daughter too.
- Micaela Reed: Daughter of Jacob Reed and high school soccer star. Believes she's more than ready to get out from Dad's protection.
- Marcos Flores: Illegal immigrant and busboy/dishwasher at a local Chili's. He wants to fit in and make sure his undocumented status doesn't force him out of safety.
If you wish a specific character, please mention that when you sign up. Thanks!
The content of this event should be considered PG-13.
2. Tofu_Master
3. Catt33
4. Lifelike
5. Yroho
6. whifflebat
This event is now FULL.
Morning Game 5: Keep on the Borderlands
Dragons at Dawn, willowx, Table E
Welcome to Dave Arnesons Basement! Its 1971 and youve been invited to play this cool new game Experience the thrill of the very first fantasy RPG adventures with Dragons at Dawn, the rule set that harkens back to the early days of adventure gaming when everything was new and the possibilities endless.1. buzz
Dragons at Dawn is a reconstruction of Dave Arneson's original rules: D&D, before there was a D&D. It's super easy to learn. I'll be running the Keep on the Borderlands adventure.
2. William Ronald
3. ...
4. timfire
5. timfire (Dylan)
6. timfire (Tyler Abide)
Morning Game 6: Raid into the Shadowfell
D&D 4e, SuddenImpact, Table F
As a side effect from the recent attack on the Genasi city of Glass Mesa in Akanul by the insane necromancer Gurwenzler (who was killed by our band of adventurers), a portal has been opened between the Shadowfell and the middle of the town square right after his death. Every few hours some undead monstrosity comes through and starts killing tavern drunks and merchants. While not necessarily a bad thing, it is bad for business and must be stopped, not to mention they are giving your kids nightmares.1. ...
One of the town elders, a high level rogue, has already reconoitered the portal and has informed the town council that your group will need all 3 of the temple's raise dead scrolls, leaving you to wonder how dangerous this mission really is. Your group of retired adventurers have volunteered to save the town and now stand poised to enter the portal. Once through the portal the group must find the creater of the portal, kill them and make it back within 1 hour of his death or the portal will close. With luck, you should be home in time for dinner, your spouse is making apple pie, your favorite. You have heard that dieing makes you quite hungry.
Experience required: Familiar enough to understand the combat sequence and how to work as a team. This will be heavy on miniatures combat.
Event is suitable for all ages
Location of 16th level Pregen's, the top 6 files ending in *16.PDF
The March 2nd version is a place holder, permanent files will be uploaded by March 4th.
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Morning Game 7: Til Dawn We Fight
Surcoat - Medieval Fantasy Combat Miniatures Game, Mark CMG, Table G
The legions of evil are many and the strong walls of the castle are the last defense against them. The beleaguered forces of good must hold off the aggressors until dawn in hopes that neighboring kingdoms can send reinforcements. Surcoat is a simple miniatures combat system for Medieval Fantasy wargaming, no experience necessary, nothing for players to bring but their imaginations.1. A flannel shirt
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Morning Game 8: Eighties Action Heroes
HiBRiD, hujraadjohaansen, Table H
Black Helicopters. Paratroopers. Innocent College kids running around in panic and terror!!! Where have the families gone? The children? Power up your kung fu abilities, load your big@$$ pistols, & get ready to rock! Bring a d20 and a boatload of attitude! Heroic action and macho players with attitude welcome and desired...1. sailorkitsune
View the pregen characters
Experience required: None necessary. You will "get it" three rounds into the first action scene.
2. Der Spot
3. Gozerean
4. Gozerean (Brandon)
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Slot 2: Afternoon
Afternoon Game 1: Blight
Ghosts of Albion, WebWarlock, Table A
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Ireland is dying.
Her Protector has been murdered and you are the primary suspects. Can you clear your name, regain your magic and stop whatever necromancies befoul the land? Time is short, yours and one million lives hang in the balance. Set in 1847 this is an adventure for the Ghosts of Albion RPG.
Minimum Age: Teen (13+) (PG for some violence, and problem solving)
Experience Required: None (never played before), some knowledge of "Ghosts of Albion" is helpful.
Materials Provided: Yes, materials are provided for this game. You do not need to bring your own. One d10 is needed.
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Afternoon Game 2: HOCUS-FOCUS: A Dresden Fiasco
Fiasco, Ninjacat, Table B
This is finally it. . .the big caper that's going to cement your glorious future, put you in the big leagues, living the high life you've always dreamed of. You've got it all worked out, just one last job to pull off with the help of a few "friends", and life will be smooth sailing from there. The plan is Idiot-Fool-Moron Proof, nothing could possibly go wrong...1. sailorkitsune
..Until Harry Dresden gets involved, that is. In this game, you'll be playing a less-than-savory member of Chicago society, whether you're something that goes bump in the night or a vanilla human who knows too much. Either way, you've got a big plan all figured out- -a plan that local P.I. Wizard Harry Dresden is going to make go horribly, horribly wrong.
FIASCO is a narrative RPG based on movies like Fargo, A Simple Plan, LA Confidential, and others where a seemingly simple goal spirals into a gigantic fustercluck of epic proportions. Gee, that doesn't sound like a Dresden adventure in the slightest, does it? The narrative is built around the Relationships between the Player Characters and the Details connected to them...the kinds of things that make the players pump a fist and declare: "YES! That's HORRIBLE; I Love It!" (It's a game for awful people, or people willing to be awful vicariously, heh-heh.) All materials provided, just bring your improv story-telling skills.
A Replay example of a Fiasco game is on my site here, edited to include the Hocus-Focus Twist selection process. A PDF version of the example is downloadable here.
SPECIAL NOTE: KNOWLEDGE OF THE DRESDEN FILES BOOKS IS REQUIRED TO UNDERSTAND THE DETAILS OF THIS GAME. If you're willing to attempt faking it or have only read a few of the books in the series, feel free to sign up, but be aware that much of both the game's set-up and the in-character narratives may go flying right over your head. On the other hand, if you're an improvisational maestro when it comes to free-form narrative, you could have a total blast even without knowing what's going on.
2. Lifelike
3. gamingcaffeinator
This event is now FULL.
Afternoon Game 3: Clearing the Castle
Griffins & Grottos - Medieval Fantasy Wargame and Roleplaying System, Mark CMG, Table C
The ancient, abandoned stronghold at the edge of the mountain range has been reoccupied and is being used by evil forces to disrupt trade. The adventurers must gather intelligence and investigate how best to clear out this nest of villainy. Players will find this Medieval Fantasy RPG easy to use and generally familiar, no experience necessary, pregens available, bring dice and your imagination.1. HinterWelt
2. Catt33
3. William Ronald
4. Crisp64 (Chris)
5. Crisp64 (Alex)
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Afternoon Game 4: Operation Quiet Thunder
The Laundry RPG, WJMacGuffin, Table D
Earlier this morning, the CIA lost contact with the crew of a oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico code named Thunder Gator. They have asked us to join a Navy SEALs team to investigate the rig--but they won't explain why. Given this is an oil rig in the gulf, we suspect KUHOOK (code name for the Deep Ones from the Shadow Over Insmouth) are involved. Big question--why is the CIA in contact with an oil rig in the first place? Go with the SEAL team and figure out what's going on. But be careful! If this thing goes FUBAR, it'll be more than the Gulf Coast that gets trashed.1. Yroho
The Laundry is a mix of Call of Cthulhu and James Bond with a dash of Dilbert. You play junior members of the Black Chamber, a semi-governmental organization tasked with protecting the United States from occult threats based on Lovecraft's Cthulhu Mythos. You can cast spells (from your iPhones), use guns (poorly), and face gibbering horrors from eldritch dimensions that want to eat your head. Sanity checks will happen.
The available player-characters:
- Raymond Boudreaux: Former marine and the closest the team has to a combat specialist because he knows which end of the gun to point at the bad guys. Strong, disciplined, and annoyingly military.
- Donald Kagan: Ex-priest (it's hard to believe in God once you've had dreams from Nyarlothotep), most experienced in the bad guys, which makes him the least sane.
- Sarah "sh33r4" Harmon: Hacker wannabe who believes in her l33t hax0r skillz even though no one else does. The fact she still says "l33t" should tell you something. Still, she comes in handy.
- Dr. Leo Contelli: Aging college professor who read the wrong book. Haughty but clueless, he nevertheless knows a lot about magic and the occult. Too bad most of it is wrong.
- Bryce Phillips: Tea Partier who believes Cthulhu and his minions are evil because they are socialists. (Oh, and they want to kill people.) Most interested in saving America from illegal extra dimensional aliens.
- Rachel Jordan: Computational sorcerer who would easily had become a bad guy had the Black Chamber not gotten to her first. She's a bit on the creepy side, though.
If you wish a specific character, please mention that when you sign up. Thanks!
The subject matter of this event should be considered PG-13.
2. timfire (Dylan)
3. timfire (Tyler Abide)
4. Gozerean
5. Gozerean (Brandon)
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Afternoon Game 5: Misspent Youth: A Game of Sci-Fi Teenaged Rebellion
Misspent Youth, Toddjank, Table E
Misspent Youth is a role-playing game in which the player take the role of Young Offenders (YOs), or teenagers who are taking on The Man in a dystopian, sci-fi future. The GM plays "The Authority," who will do whatever he can to stop them from undermining his power. We will do full character and world creation at the table, so come ready to create a messed-up future you can't wait to tear down.1. willowx
No prior experience necessary.
Characters will be made at the table.
The subject matter of this event is appropriate for ages 16 and up.
2. Tim Jensen
3. Tofu_Master
4. Fractal Advocate
Afternoon Game 6: Beneath the Mask
Dread, meganjank, Table F
Dread is a game of horror and hope. Those who play will participate in a mutual telling of an original macabre tale. The goal of Dread is to sustain the delicate atmosphere the invokes hand-quivering emotion and to experience the thrill that lies within the tension between desire and loss. Also, there is this Jenga tower, you see. KNOCK OVER THE TOWER AT YOUR OWN PERIL.1. Laurie
No prior experience necessary.
Characters will be made at the table.
The subject matter of this event is appropriate for ages 16 and up.
2. InShaneee
3. ekb
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Afternoon Game 7: Lacuna, part 1
Lacuna, CoreyHaim8myDog, Table G
five agents needed.1. Nev the Deranged
no questions asked [by you].
inquire within.
2. Tim C Koppang
3. Painfully
4. ScottJank
5. timfire
This event is now FULL.
Afternoon Game 8: Breakout
Marvel Heroic Roleplaying, buzz, Table H
It's a stormy night in New York.1. Vyvyan Basterd
A blinding flash of lightning; deafening thunder. Power outages leave half the city in darkness. Sirens begin to wail as the city is thrown into chaos.
You patrol the rain-washed rooftops near the East River. You look out towards Riker's Island and see what could be the epicenter of tonight's mayhem: The Raft. Where they keep the supervillains.
Clobberin' time? Bet on it, true believers.
This scenario is designed as an introduction to Marvel Heroic Roleplaying and is based on Brian Michael Bendis story featured in New Avengers #1-6.
No experience with the game is necessary. No prior knowledge of the Marvel comics universe is required, but it will add to your enjoyment.
Pregen heroes will be provided. This game uses 4-, 6-, 8-, 10-, and 12-sided dice; having a lot of each type will be very, very helpful.
This event's content is suitable for all ages.
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3. TracerBullet42
4. Der Spot
5. A flannel shirt
6. grizzo
Last edited by buzz; Saturday, 17th March, 2012 at 12:37 PM.
- 8:00am - 9:00am Slot 0: Breakfast
Tuesday, 6th March, 2012, 02:31 AM #2
Please sign Laurie up for Psi*Run in the morning and Dread in the afternoon.
Please sign me up for Outlive Outdead in the morning and Marvel Heroic Roleplaying in the afternoon.
Tuesday, 6th March, 2012, 02:33 AM #3
Acolyte (Lvl 2)
- Join Date
- Mar 2008
- Location
- maple park, IL
- Posts
- 8
Marvel Hero RPG afternoon please, under my real name, Stuart Helm.
Tuesday, 6th March, 2012, 02:34 AM #4
Novice (Lvl 1)
- Join Date
- Feb 2005
- Posts
- 608
Hi. Please sign up me + 3 (Krista, Alex and Nicky) for the 'Save the kitties' game. We will make sure no kitties are left behind!
Tuesday, 6th March, 2012, 02:34 AM #5
Here we go again!!!
Buzz, please sign me up for some Marvel action in your afternoon game. Thanks! See y'all in less than two weeks!
Tuesday, 6th March, 2012, 02:37 AM #6
Gallant (Lvl 3)
- Join Date
- Dec 2010
- Location
- 60004
- Posts
- 140
Buzz, sign me up for Psi*Run please.
Tuesday, 6th March, 2012, 02:39 AM #7
W0000t, GameDay!
Buzz, please sign me up for "Hero's Banner" in the morning, Thanks!
ETA: Oh, and Der Spot and I will join y'all for breakfast at Le Peep, too. Playing in the morning and All Improv in the afternoon, it's okay if I'm even more of a sleep-deprived zombie than normal, yay!
Last edited by Ninjacat; Tuesday, 6th March, 2012 at 02:44 AM. Reason: forgot breakfast
Tuesday, 6th March, 2012, 02:39 AM #8
Please sign me up for Afternoon Game 3: Clearing the Castle.
Thanks Buzz!
Tuesday, 6th March, 2012, 02:39 AM #9
Sweeeeet. Sign me up for breakfast and Lacuna, plz.
I'd sign up for HB, but sadly, I am not the kwisatz haderach.
Tuesday, 6th March, 2012, 02:41 AM #10
Novice (Lvl 1)
- Join Date
- Sep 2008
- Location
- Madison WI
- Posts
- 12
I want to play.....
Hi, Buzz! Please sign me up for Hibrid in the morning and Dresden Fiasco in the afternoon!
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text:
Yet another mock and still no Spencer at 15
Yet another mock and still no Spencer at 15
"SA, it's more than a FEVER it's an ADDICTION" -BlacknGold Bleeder
His username would indicate that he loves our zone blitzes. Yet he doesn't want us to take the player that even the BEST O-lineman in this years draft say is the BEST pass rusher! Even though Anthony Spencer led all of college football players with tackles made in the backfield by more than DOUBLE the next player, we don't want a player with those abilities? Tom Brady was a 6th round pick! Just because a couple idiots like Todd Mcshay or Mel Kiper say a player should go in a certain part of this round or that does not make it so. Thank God that coaches and scouts don't take what these jackasses say very seriously even though Blitzburgh obviously takes their opinions like they are the word of Gods! If we draft Spencer and he is a freakin superstar are you going to root against him? Judging from what I have read from the fans on this site......about 90% of us want to see Spencer in black and Gold!
Who do you want them to take "Oh Ye Great Purveyor of Football Knowledge"? Please do bless us with a nugget of your wise football counsel!
Who do you think we should take? Is that a difficult question?
i like moss
but the only reason you want him is because you've heard of him as you've said in other post you've never heard of spencer until now
that logic is dumb......i didn't know who ware is i didn't know who merriman was.....and look what happened
spencer is gonna be better then moss i guarantee you that
"SA, it's more than a FEVER it's an ADDICTION" -BlacknGold Bleeder
Some mocks have him falling out of the first round completely! Apparently that mid-season dope smoking has some teams questioning his character. Nevermind that he didn't have near the season that Spencer had!
scout.com rankings of top 5 Defensive Ends
DE 1 Gaines Adams SR 6-5/258/4.67 Clemson Fork Union, VA
DE 2 Jamaal Anderson JR 6-5.5/288/4.80 Arkansas Little Rock, AR
DE 3 Adam Carriker SR 6-6/296/4.91 Nebraska Kennewick, WA
DE 4 Anthony Spencer SR 6-3/261/4.72 Purdue Fort Wayne, IN
DE 5 Jarvis Moss JR 6-6.5/250/4.76 Florida Denton, TX
Spencer led the nation in tackles for loss with 26.5, he was third in the nation with 10.5 sacks (you do like sacks don't you.....Blitzburgh55?).
Oh yeah, don't let me leave out no drug suspensions!
Now let us explore your choice shall we?
Jarvis Moss: Flags: (C: CHARACTER) Problems on and off the field(D: DURABILITY) Player that can't stay healthy. Had 11 tackles for losses and a whopping 7.5 sacks. Didn't play in all the games due to a drug suspension in the middle of the season!
Now please explain to me how you see Moss as a better fit or player. He is your choice, surely you can explain to me why the Steelers should ignore the character and durability issues and take him over a player who clearly outplayed Moss and had a better season! If he is your choice you must have a reason.....you do have a good reason that would convince us all why we would want the inferior player with more baggage? Don't you?
So you never heard of Anthony Spencer and you continue to knock him. I watched both Spencer and Moss play in college. I was impressed with both players but I seen Spencer more and like him better.
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"Mechatronics." Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam said the word so fast that it got lost in the echo of the large aircraft hangar at the Tennessee College of Applied Technology near Memphis International Airport.
And he said it only once. The rest of the time, he used a better-known term, "advanced manufacturing."
Mechatronics is the latest buzzword in the resurgence of manufacturing in Memphis. Haslam was at the hangar near the airport in September to announce $2.8 million in grants for TCAT and Southwest Tennessee Community College to get the equipment they need to train those who already have manufacturing in mechatronics.
"It's really kind of the old multi-craft. … It is an individual that really understands maintenance in the manufacturing field," said John Churchill, executive director of workforce development at STCC.
The change in terminology is an indication of why the comeback of manufacturing a decade into the 21st century is on terms that are much more advanced and complex than they were 30 years ago. That's when traditional, industrial-age manufacturing at bedrock Memphis workplaces like Firestone, International Harvester and Kimberly Clark began to lock the doors and turn to rust.
Manufacturing companies work more deliberately in today's rejuvenated manufacturing sector to keep unplanned shutdowns of equipment to a bare minimum. So those maintaining the machinery often also do preventive maintenance.
Executives at Memphis-based International Paper Co. always outline planned outages during the company's quarterly earnings calls with investors. Outages, or down time that isn't planned, are accounted for in the earnings statements the publicly traded company makes every three months.
"(Mechatronics) entails just about anything you would need a maintenance person to do," Churchill said. "It ranges from mechanics, pumps, gear boxes, belts, chains, all of that. It can be PLCs, electric motors, drives, instrumentation and it even includes machine shop skills. I guess the best term is a complete maintenance person for most manufacturing industries."
PLC is shorthand for programmable logic controller, the computer that manages all of the other manufacturing equipment.
"In all modern manufacturing, that thing right there is one of the ones that's going to control the rest of it," said Hunter Purnell.
Purnell is heading a four-member instruction team at Southwest that was working in a lab on the school's Macon Cove campus just before Halloween with four employees of the Hershey plant in South Memphis.
At the PLC station, Joe Vazquez stared intently into a computer screen and a manual. His object, like those at three other stations, was to make a small motor at the station move through a simulator that confronts them with problems along the manufacturing chain between the start of the process and getting the motor to run. That translates to keeping the plant running and making products.
Cody Cole and instructor James Warwick troubleshoot an Electronic Drives System in a lab where "mechatronics" is being used.
(Memphis News/Andrew J. Breig)
"We are seeing what kind of skills they have for a multilevel, multiskilled technician," Purnell said of the lab work, which followed online cognitive tests.
Vazquez and his coworkers scored high enough to advance to this next assessment. With the combined score they get credit toward an associate degree or training certificate from Southwest and could pursue more training.
"Instead of just throwing training at them – stuff that they already know – let's get prior learning assessment on what they already know," Purnell said. "Let's concentrate on the things that we can make them better at."
The four workstations demonstrate just how the assembly process crosses boundaries.
Herbert Beasley used a socket wrench and a mallet at the mechanical or motor control station.
Cody Cole cupped a hand over a display atop a small digital keypad at the Human Machine Interface station. To his right was a small motor.
"All inside of what Cody's messing with – that's what you would see in a modern plant," Purnell said.
Meanwhile, Tommy Hall repeatedly and methodically shut a power box switch up and down as he checked a network of patch cords that represented an assembly line leading to yet another small motor.
Purnell worked at Hall's station creating problems for the team to solve.
"I can go in the back like the Wizard of Oz and I can pull out a plug and put in faults," Purnell said. "I can make things break. They have to find where the fault is."
Across the room, after lots of adjustments with the mallet and wrenches, Beasley unlocked a safety switch and started up his motor at a slow speed at first. The motor's whine filled the room as the others continued working at their stations.
The whine went higher as Beasley slowly adjusted the speed up and after the whine leveled out, Beasley just as gradually adjusted the speed down to a stop.
"Try that one more time," said his instructor, David Fulcher.
A few minutes later, Vazquez diverted his gaze a bit to his right from the computer screen and manual to a button he pushed. Another kind of small motor with a different whine began moving like a lathe with a ring on the cylinder moving left and right.
Southwest will be working with three industries in its mechatronics training – medical device manufacturers, process control personnel at plants like Hershey and DuPont and paper companies and logistics.
And Churchill said the goal isn't to make the workers experts in everything. They will continue after the mechatronics training to pursue more intently a specialty like being a mechanic or an electrician.
"They are not going to become experts at all of them. But they want them to become very familiar with all of it," Churchill said. "I can send almost anybody to do most of the elementary things and do it safely and correctly."
There is the possibility those trained in mechatronics could become engineers but the training is not a straight or clear line to a four-year degree.
"We have two types of degrees. One is where they take all of the math and science and English mainly so they can transfer to a four-year college," Churchill said. "When they take the applied degree, then what they are really doing is learning how things work. Very few of the hours are English and math. Most of it is getting them to go out and get a job immediately."
The point Churchill and Haslam make is that while mechatronics is a new name for an old concept, the machinery and technology behind the concept requires some kind of degree or certification and no longer just a high school diploma and being "good with their hands."
Southwest is working with employers like Hershey who are able to say specifically what they want in a training program they send their workers to. The Unilever plant in Covington is putting all of its operators through 40 hours of mechanical training.
"It's no longer where the operator just sits and watches equipment. They have to really understand what's happening," Churchill said. "It takes a more educated operator and maintenance person to keep up with the new technologies."
The recently released Greater Memphis Chamber report on the city's resurgent manufacturing sector showed manufacturers in the Memphis area plan to hire more than 4,000 employees through 2016 at an average annual pay of $32,180. Those are new jobs in a local economy historically dominated by the logistics and distribution sectors – which are also affected by the mechatronics training – along with health care and tourism.
Purnell likens the skill set needed in a single plant to cross training.
"In a plant of the size that these guys are running, every day is a different day. It's a new day and a new problem," he said of the Hershey employees. "It could be a mechanical problem. It could be an electrical problem. It could be a piping problem. A pipe's broken or a pump's broken or the piping to a pump is broken. From all of the stuff that these guys do mixing candy, all of that's involved – pumps, electrical motors, gears, rollers. Once they get the stuff made, they have to be able to palletize it and distribute it."
The experience of the quartet showed in the methodical way they went about the exercise. Each person followed the basic procedures of making sure the machine was off at the power box and testing connections.
"You are getting the cream of the crop here. You're getting guys who already do this for years," Purnell said. "We have to bring students up, kids out of high school in our area and bring them up and get them to at least a level where they can do some of this troubleshooting in a lab environment. So that when they get their job and they walk out on that floor, they are talking the same language."
The first test of that, he adds, is a supervisor walking up to a first-day employee and saying, "That switch is open. Do you know what I mean?"
Copyright 1995 -
by The Daily News Publishing Co. Inc. - All Rights Reserved


text:
What now? Penguins face plenty of questions after postseason sweep by Bruins
PITTSBURGH – Ray Shero left little doubt at the trade deadline, with the Pittsburgh Penguins general manager telling anyone who would listen his team was "all in" for the Stanley Cup after giving stars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin accomplished sidekicks in Jarome Iginla and Brenden Morrow.
The roster built to bookend the championship the franchise won in 2009 instead went bust against Boston in the Eastern Conference finals.
Four games. Four losses. Two measly goals over nearly 14 periods by the NHL's highest scoring team. Exactly zero seconds when they held a lead. Instead of a ticker tape parade, the Penguins face a summer filled with question marks and soul searching.
"You feel like with the expectations that we have on ourselves, that the team has for this group, no question you're going to look at this as a missed opportunity," coach Dan Bylsma said.
One that could lead to significant changes on the ice and on the bench.
Bylsma insisted before Game 4 that he didn't feel as though he was coaching for his job. But the sweep by the Bruins — the first time Pittsburgh had gone out so meekly in 34 years — leaves him just 3-4 in postseason series since leading Pittsburgh to the Cup four months after he inherited the job.
Each of the previous three springs, there were reasonable excuses. A mild Cup hangover in 2010. Injuries to Malkin and Crosby in '11. A wild and emotional first-round loss to Philadelphia last spring that played like an anomaly.
Not this time. The Penguins posted the Eastern Conference's best record during a lockout-shortened season and went 8-3 during the opening two rounds against the New York Islanders and Ottawa Senators. They averaged 4.27 goals — the highest mark midway through a postseason in more than 20 years. And they received solid play in net from journeyman Tomas Vokoun, who went 6-1 in his first seven starts after replacing Marc-Andre Fleury in Game 5 of the Islanders series.
Crosby, Malkin, Iginla and defenseman Kris Letang were among the playoff scoring leaders. They were heavily favored to beat the Bruins, who needed a miracle to escape a first-round upset by Toronto.
It never happened. Not even close.
Boston's defense took away the swaths of open ice that allowed Crosby and Malkin to operate. Goaltender Tuukka Rask took away the rest.
Pittsburgh's lowest goal total over a four-game stretch during the regular season was nine. They didn't even manage a quarter of that versus the Bruins. Malkin and Crosby didn't collect a point. Letang was an ugly minus-7 and Vokoun briefly imploded in Game 2.
Two more defeats — though closely contested — awaited in Boston. The season and the series fittingly ending with Rask stuffing Malkin one final time.
"We scored four goals in two games. It's not enough," Malkin said. "It's my mistakes that I scored zero goals. It's not good for me."
He was hardly alone. From Pittsburgh's first shot of the series — one from Crosby that clanged off the post — the Penguins couldn't deliver when it mattered.
"The timing in those big moments we need to come up with big plays, and we didn't," Crosby said.
The fallout could be significant. Malkin and Letang, a Norris Trophy finalist, will enter the final year of their contracts in July, and glue-guy Pascal Dupuis is a free agent.
It is a given the Penguins will do what it takes to retain Malkin. But Letang's sloppy play against the Bruins combined with the high price he'll likely command and the shrinking salary cap make his future in Pittsburgh murky. Dupuis played so well in the shortened season (38 points in 48 games) he may have played himself into a new tax bracket.
Even cloudier is Fleury's status. The former No. 1 overall pick, who helped lift the Penguins to consecutive appearances in the Cup finals in 2008 and '09, has now been knocked around in successive springs. His only appearance over the final two rounds came in two-plus so-so periods in relief of Vokoun in Game 2. When Bylsma had an opening to put Fleury back in the lineup for Game 3, the coach instead opted for the 36-year-old Vokoun.
Fleury is making over $5 million a season. Vokoun makes $3 million less but turns 37 in three weeks.
The Penguins were willing to ship away prospects and draft picks to rent Iginla, Morrow and defenseman Douglas Murray for a few months. All three will become free agents without the Cup they came to Pittsburgh to snare.
Iginla spurned the Bruins for the Penguins at the trade deadline, only to see Boston block the future Hall of Famer's shot at winning his first championship. While he was productive — collecting 12 points in the first 11 games of the playoffs — he also spent most of his time in Pittsburgh playing out of position at left wing.
It's a role Iginla was willing to take for the sake of a title. Now he hits the open market wondering when his next opportunity will come. The guys he briefly called teammates will spent the summer wondering the same.
"Obviously we're a very good team," Iginla said. "We went cold at the wrong time."
AP Sports Writer Howard Ulman in Boston contributed to this report.


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xsigns needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 168 designs submitted by 52 freelance designers.
Be Creative...... Blank Canvas!
xtreme signs
Hi, im after a new design for my sign company, Xtreme Signs. Im a small sign making company based in the north of the UK.
I've lauched this contest, because im finding it hard to come up with something i like for myself....! and its also finding the time to sit down and work on it. My main work is vehicle graphics (plant, vans, wagons, etc) and shop signage, but also do a-boards, banners, point of display, etc.
- Something modern, urban, eye catching and pretty clear to read! Must read 'xtreme', not 'treme' (this is the problem with the old one). I like the extreme sports, surf, skate type logos.
- Tag Line - professional sign services.
- Based on a rectangle layout, rather than a square as my many advertising is my van.
- Colours : Open to suggestions, but must work on white for invoicing, ect.
- Open to suggestions/ idea.... Not much help i know, but i'll try to be more help when ideas start coming in! Thank You.
- Item 1... I dont what a logo copyed from the web, i'll know, coz i've bin through them all!
Find out how a design contest works or learn more about our logo design services.


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livecd-iso-to-disk.sh is a Bash shell script from livecd-tools, https://git.fedorahosted.org/cgit/livecd/tree/tools/livecd-iso-to-disk.sh
- Note: There are some variations of the script for different versions of Fedora (see livecd-tools summary).
In a LiveCD distribution, the script is usually available in the installation disc's filesystem at /LiveOS/livecd-iso-to-disk (alongside squashfs.img and osmin.img). From a booted LiveOS filesystem, the outer USB/SD/CD/DVD device filesystem is mounted on the /run/initramfs/live/ mount point (or at /mnt/live/ on Fedora 16 and earlier).
Usage is documented in the first 270 or so lines of the the script, and accessible with the livecd-iso-to-disk --help command. Documentation is also in livecd-iso-to-disk.pod, https://git.fedorahosted.org/cgit/livecd/plain/docs/livecd-iso-to-disk.pod , but the format may be less clear for reading.


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Understanding the basics of a Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) and a Fixed Rate Home Equity Loan can give you confidence in choosing the one that's right for you. We'll explain the differences and benefits of each option.
For details about home equity rates, eligibility requirements and other information, view important disclosures.
A HELOC uses your home as collateral for a line of credit that you can access as needed. There are 2 types of HELOCs, a HELOC with a principal and interest draw period or a HELOC with an interest-only draw period. The latter option has asset eligibility requirements. With both options, you'll be approved for a specific line amount to draw from multiple times, up to your available credit limit.
The HELOC includes 2 phases:
Because a HELOC is flexible and usually has a higher limit, it's generally used to pay for large items like tuition or home improvements rather than day-to-day expenses. Some homeowners also use a HELOC to consolidate higher-interest-rate debt.
A HELOC may be the right choice if you:
A Fixed Rate Home Equity Loan provides a set amount of money that you repay in equal monthly principal and interest (P&I) payments over a fixed time period.
If you have a balance on your existing mortgage, Citi offers Fixed Rate Home Equity Loans with 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30-year terms.
This loan could be a good fit if you prefer consistent monthly payments for a longer amount of time, or if you need a certain amount for a specific purpose like paying for tuition or home renovations.
A Fixed Rate Home Equity Loan may be the right choice if you:
If you sell your home, you'll be required to pay off the full amount of your HELOC or Fixed Rate Home Equity Loan immediately. Keep in mind that if you pay in full and close the line of credit within 36 months, you may also have to pay additional charges. If you're likely to sell your home in the near future, you may want to consider a loan instead. Citi also offers Personal Lines and Loans.
By providing us with a few details about your home equity needs, we'll share personalized rates for a Home Equity Line of Credit or a Fixed Rate Home Equity Loan.Go to the Home Equity Rate Selector
Terms, conditions and fees for accounts, programs, products and services are subject to change.
For Home Equity Lines of Credit with an interest-only draw period: Your monthly minimum payments during the draw period can be as low as "interest-only". If you choose to pay only the amount of interest due, then at the end of the interest-only period you will still owe the original amount you borrowed and your monthly payments will increase because you must pay back the principal as well as interest. Your payment could increase even more if your variable rate increases. Home Equity Lines of Credit with an interest-only draw period are also available in combination with a Citi mortgage. Please speak to a personal banker for more details.


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Welcome to the CRG Discussion Forum!Forum registration problems: Make sure you enter your email correctly and you check your spam box first. *Then* email KurtS2@gmail for help.Classified ads are not allowed on the forum.
Question: What happened to the *orders* corresponding to those additional 76,000 or so Bodies assigned? Only 42,803 additional cars were built during the extended production at Norwood.. Were the BDY NBRs modified on August 1 for the remaining cars to be built? I'm assuming that very few, if any, customer orders for '69's were accepted after that point, so were those remaining *orders* internally generated numbers to maintain the parts pipeline given the apparently known issues with the upcoming '70 production?? Maybe JohnZ has some memory or information about what happened at that time?