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"The (Land Use) committee has recommended that the county build the new judicial facility near the current jail on Experiment Station road and renovate the current courthouse for administrative functions at an estimated cost of $ 20 to $ 22 million….." Lee Becker : 10.19.10
October 25, 2010
Oconee County New $ 22 Million Courthouse moving under the radar – Part 1
By Wendell Dawson, Editor, AVOC, Inc
Many Oconee County residents remember 2008 and 2010 campaign pledges of County Commissioners that they did not favor building a new courthouse. The only one who did support it was Don Norris who lost his re-election in 2008. Subsequently, the courthouse discussion fell off the front pages and many citizens thought the unwise idea had been abandoned.
Oconee County Courthouse was extensively expanded and renovated in 1996-8
Quite the contrary, our "Big Spender" county officials keep pushing the idea including apparent 'behind the scenes' plans to buy land near the jail. The issue was moved out of the spotlight when the Board of Commissioners "referred" the matter to a "Citizens Committee" which turned out to be the Citizen Advisory Committed on Land Use and Planning. The committee is made up mostly of folks friendly to the county commission. Its chair is a professional planning consultant and engineer who helps build buildings.
The Citizens Land Use Committee met last Tuesday night, October 19, 2010, and made its report. Few citizens attended but county officials, staff and interested parties helped make up a crowd of approximately 30-40 people. I did not attend but have talked to at least two who did attend. Chairman Davis and Commissioner Horton were present. Sheriff Berry was there along with the three Superior Court Judges and our Probate Judge. Most of the members of the Citizens Committee were present.
Lee Becker did attend and video taped the presentation. Dr. Becker has a detailed article on his Oconee County Observations website. There seemed to be a consensus of those present that the County needs to proceed "full speed ahead" in building a new courthouse! It behooves citizens to read Becker's report and watch the video of the meeting.
Oconee County Court House New Addition -1998
Oconee Citizen Committee Gets Few Questions from Citizens about Its Courthouse Recommendation
"……..Sheriff Scott Berry, joined by the judges, argued that the current courthouse is both unsafe and inadequate for current judicial needs…….."
It also appears that 2009 speculation about the School Board and County buying land together may have been credible. Oconee County BOE Minutes 12.7.09
http://www.onlineathens.com/stories/011510/new_549255846.shtml; 1-14-09- Oconee Superintendent Finalists Want Conversations with County Government
Reports to AVOC on the 10-19 meeting indicated that some officials were critical of the extensive renovation and addition made to the Courthouse in 1996-1998. This is surprising since the Sheriff and Superior Court Judges, along with other officials were directly involved in the drafting of the plans for the 96-98 Renovation. There were also public information meetings in the courtroom.It was openly discussed, planned and had wide public support. It was specifically listed in the SPLOST referendum and was overwhelmingly approved by the voters.
Most of the present courthouse is a new building that was designed by Architects who met with all county and court officials before starting. Plans were reviewed by them and their input was included. A secured hall, entrance and elevator were installed to deal with the movement of inmates. An area for an office for a resident Superior Court Judge was provided. It has subsequently been subdivided to provide space for the District Attorney and other county officials. Numerous small meeting and hearing rooms were built on all floors of the courthouse. Oconee has as much or more space for hearings and mediations than most of the approximately 10 counties in which I have mediated over the last ten years.
Oconee County Observations
October 19, 2010
"Hearing" for Citizen Committee on Courthouse Plans
By Lee Becker
Gets Praise from Officials for Hard Work
The Oconee County Land Use and Transportation Planning Committee got only a handful of questions tonight from the audience of about 30 that turned out to view a presentation justifying the recommendation that the county start planning now to build a judicial facility separate from the existing courthouse.
.Included in the audience were a host of elected officials, including the three superior court judges, the probate court judge, the sheriff, Board of Commission Chairman Melvin Davis, Commissioners Chuck Horton and Jim Luke, and a number of county employees………………………………
Sheriff Scott Berry, joined by the judges, argued that the current courthouse is both unsafe and inadequate for current judicial needs.
The committee has recommended that the county build the new judicial facility near the current jail on Experiment Station road and renovate the current courthouse for administrative functions at an estimated cost of $ 20 to $ 22 million.
SEE More & Video at Oconee County Observations
2-15-09 Courthouse 'Moving Bug' meeting strong resistance in Greene County & Greensboro
10-20-10 Courthouse – Big Spenders – Charlie Baugh
AVOC NOTE: Charlie Baugh, a resident and property owner at GA Highway 15 South, has been attending county meetings and monitoring spending projects for several years. The following are his comments after reading the report of the Land Use Committee Report of October 19, 2010.
From: firstname.lastname@example.com: email@example.com: Big SpendersDate: Wed, 20 Oct 2010 13:46:42 -0400
The big spenders are at it again. I was unable to attend the Land Use and Transportation Committee "public hearing" on the 19th but the just-published article by Lee Becker paints a disturbing picture of the plan to ram through a new courthouse by big spenders on the Board of Commissioners with the help of our sheriff, superior court judges, and probate court judge. See http://oconeecountyobservations.blogspot.com/2010/10/oconee-citizen-committee-gets-few.htmlThis proceeding follows a very familiar process. Read on.
Those who followed the "debate" about building a new jail vs. upgrading the old jail will remember that about $ 1,000,000 had been approved by Oconee voters for renovation of the jail but before the "debate" ended we wound up with a new jail twice the capacity we needed at over $ 11,000,000. The big spenders used the citizen's vote to renovate the old jail as cover to claim that the voters had approved this. They did not dare ask the voters to approve a bond issue. The financing was done with off-the-books financing by having the Association of County Commissioners sell bonds and build the jail. Oconee County signed a long term lease pledging county tax revenue and now makes a substantial monthly payment to "rent" the jail while the sheriff "rents rooms" to other counties at $ 35.00 a day to house their prisoners. This while the county hires jailers, feeds the prisoners and carries a huge liability for protection of the prisoners. All the while the sheriff and some commissioners brag about all the revenue they generate from renting rooms for prisoners.
If you followed the process that led to the awful decision to become a junior partner with Walton County to build the Hard Labor Creek reservoir you will recall the process that resulted in Oconee becoming a junior partner in a $ 400,000,000 reservoir project based on grossly inflated estimates of future water needs. The estimates were, shall we say "overly optimistic" before the downturn but are now grossly out of line. The county entered into a contract with the Walton County Water and Sewer Authority that obligated county property tax in unlimited amount to pay the county's share of the project if revenue from water sales did not materialize. Those who are on county water and sewer already feel the result of this decision as water and sewer rates have increased substantially. Also anyone who has had to pay water and sewer tap fees knows how onerous they have become. Now the county is already making payments on the first bond issue. That bond issue was nearly $ 20,000,000 and with interest payments obligates the county to nearly $ 40,000,000 over the life of the bonds. No water is in sight but the payments must be made. Additionally, sometime in the near future the county must issue more bonds if construction is to continue. Word is, construction has "slowed" so maybe the next bond issue will not be needed for a while. Still the yearly payments on the first issue must continue with revenue generated by the utility department and/or property tax revenue.
Now we see the same scenario unfolding. The big spender's hand selected "citizen's committee" directed by county employees and supported by those with a financial interest embark on a campaign to convince taxpayers that we need a new courthouse. The initial estimate is $ 20,000,000 to $ 22,000,000 and we all know what happens to initial estimates. The voters have approved $ 4,000,000 of SPLOST funds for renovation of the courthouse. Now we are talking about more that 5 times as much for a new courthouse. Look for the big spenders to use the voter's approval for renovation as cover as they did with the jail. At least it is not ten times as much. Watch for off-the-books financing that can be done without voter approval. If our Commissioners think there is a need for a $ 20M courthouse they should take it to the voters in the form of a bond referendum. Lets see what the voters think.
Oconee County voters are at a disadvantage as this unfolds. With the exception of Judge Sweat we will not have a chance to hold anyone accountable for at least 2 years and in some cases 4 years. Commissioners Davis, Luke and Horton and Sheriff Berry must run for reelection in 2 years, Commissioners Hale and Daniell are currently on the ballot with no opposition. Voters must resolve to have long memories. We recently saw what can happen if voters pay attention to the actions of those we elect when a School Board member was voted out by an overwhelming margin after voting a huge expenditure for land to be used for administrative facilities.
I hope you will pay attention to this issue, let the decision makers know where you stand, keep a long memory and hold them accountable. Let's not forget to hold big spenders accountable at the local level as we work to hold them accountable at the state and national level.
Charlie Baugh
7-14-09 Oconee County Courthouse – Historic and Lots of Memories
Oconee County BOE Purchase of 6.654 acres on U S 441 for $ 900,000 in December 2009
Oconee BOE spends $ 900K on land for office –ABH – 1.15.10
Oconee County BOE Minutes 12.7.09
Land Purchase – On motion of Tom Breedlove, second by Mack Guest, the Board
voted 3/1 with one abstaining vote (Argo-No, Breedlove-Yes, Guest-Yes, Hunter-
Abstain, Weeks-Yes) to purchase the property containing 6.654 acres, more or less,
situate, lying and being on Main Street (U.S. Hwy 129 and 441) in the Town of
Watkinsville, consisting of Parcel 1 (4.524 acres) from Will-O-War and Parcel 2
(2.103) from Williams at the purchase price of $00,000 with the contingencies set
forth in the contract.
Article-Engine © by AlexScriptEngine.de


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Steve McQueen at the legendary 1970 12 Hours of Sebring Race where McQueen (partnered with co-driver Peter Revson) raced with a broken left foot in a cast against racing great, Mario Andretti. McQueen is sporting his iconic '67 Rolex Submariner that went for $234,000 at auction in 2009. BTW – Anyone else feeling the "Brian Johnson AC/DC " vibe here with the black leather 8-panel cap?
Steve McQueen's 1971 epic, Le Mans, is the racecar film that is widely hailed as the gold standard for which all such films are measured– now, and certainly well into the future. It was filmed largely live at the actual 1970 24 Hours of Le Mans, without the benefit of computer generated imagery and modern day trickery that we rely on today. It feels raw because it is raw. McQueen had originally planned to enter the #26 Porsche 917K with co-driver Jackie Stewart. Fate had other ideas– their entry car was rejected, and McQueen was unable to get insurance for the race. As such, Jo Siffert and Brian Redman were now given driving duties. While it was never a commercial success, it is long on guts, and is a sensory feast when it comes to the sounds and sights of what racing is all about. Looking back at this incredible era, it's hard not to be struck between the eyes by the strong graphic elements of the cars, logos, racing gear, and attitude on display at every turn.
In preparation for the filming of the movie "Le Mans", Steve McQueen went to the 1969 race to scout filming spots around the Le Mans course. When they returned in 1970 with all their camera equipment they knew all the best camera locations for the footage they would need for the movie "Le Mans." I wonder who has all that film footage that they took in 1969? –Nigel Smuckatelli
1970 — Steve McQueen at Sebring hanging out with Carroll Shelby.
1970 — Steve McQueen at Sebring
1959– A young & lean Steve McQueen ready to race at Santa Barbara. That is Al Long on the far left, Frank Monise in the middle. –photo by Hector Pimental
The King of Cool, Steve McQueen
Steve McQueen and the iconic Gulf Porsche 917K that was entered by McQeen's Solar Productions at the actual 1970 24 Hours of Le Mans for the filming of 1971's epic racing movie, "Le Mans." The racecar was driven by Jo Siffert and Brian Redman. Vic Elford, driver of the race-leader #25 Porsche 917K called it, "a monster… the long tail had to be driven like it was on rails."
May 1971, Belgium — Driver Jo Siffert races a JW/Gulf Porsche 917 supercar during the 1971 Spa-Francorchamps 1000km endurance race. — Image by © Schlegelmilch/Corbis
Steve McQueen, Le Mans
McQueen's #29 Porsche 908/2 camera car used for filming at the 1970 24 Hours of Le Mans races for footage to make 1971's "Le Mans." It's the same car McQueen co-drove in the 1970 12 Hours of Sebring placing 2nd to Mario Andretti.
Original Director John Sturges and Steve McQueen relax during the filming of the movie Le Mans. The cost of paying for this film almost bankrupted McQueen and eventually led to the break-up of his marriage. –Nigel Smuckatelli
That's a young Chad McQueen going for a ride with dad during the filming of the movie Le Mans in 1970. Chad even went for a ride with Steve in the #20 Porsche 917 that his dad drove in the film. Chad was even allowed to sit in Steve's lap and hold onto the steering wheel for a short trip down the track. –Nigel Smuckatelli
Steve McQueen in 1971's epic "Le Mans" sporting the now legendary TAG Heuer Monaco chronograph.
Steve McQueen in 1971's "Le Mans"
Steve McQueen, Le Mans
Steve McQueen, Le Mans
Letter written on Le Mans / Solar Productions letterhead, by Steve McQueen, documenting the concerns he had about Charles Manson and his murdering crew of misfits.
Steve McQueen's International driver's license
Steve McQueen had the idea to make a movie about Grand Prix racing and it was to be called "Day of the Champion" with MGM producing the movie. Steve even did some work using a Lotus camera car (see photo). That is actually Steve driving the car with some brave schmuck working the camera. Unfortunately for Steve John Frankenheimer started production on his movie called "Grand Prix" and they cast Steve's good friend James Garner as the lead. As a result Day of the Champion was put on the shelf and Steve got so angry that he didn't speak to James Garner for two years. –Nigel Smuckatelli
1971, France — Steve McQueen on the set of Le Mans — Image by © Apis/Sygma/Corbis
1970 — Steve McQueen "The King of Cool" on the set of Le Mans — Image by © Frederic Proust/Sygma/Corbis
1971 — Steve McQueen on the set of Le Mans, directed by Lee H. Katzin. — Image by © Apis/Sygma/Corbis
July 18th, 1970 — Steve McQueen at Le Mans in a Brabham F2, at Le Mans, listens to British Formula 1 race car driver Derek Bell. — Photo credit STAFF/AFP/Getty Images
Steve McQueen, Le Mans
Steve McQueen with wife Neile.
Steve McQueen, Le Mans
Steve McQueen, Le Mans
1970, Le Mans, France — Chad McQueen drives a mini Ferrari during the shooting of the film Le Mans with father Steve McQueen. — Image by © Universal/TempSport/Corbis
1970 12 HOURS OF SEBRING RACE | STEVE McQUEEN'S BRUSH WITH VICTORY
STEVE McQUEEN | HOLLYWOOD'S ANTI-HERO & TRUE SON OF LIBERTY
VINTAGE RACING STYLE | Legendary Drivers Crushing It On & Off The Track

subset: commoncrawl


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Portland's Newest Beer Spots
It's important to stay informed, because beer waits for no one. Here's the latest in brew news from around Portland:
Tin Bucket, a new growler-fill station/bottle shop/taproom on North Williams, carries 40 different beers poured from state-of-the-art, spaceship-like Pegas CrafTap fill stations, which purge growlers with CO2 (to prevent air contamination) before filling them with beer from the bottom up (no foam = more beer) and topping off with another CO2 purge that caps the growler with a nice foamy head to ensure a proper seal. The result? No spoiled beer—even after two weeks.
The shop offers a combination of rustic, raw wooden tables, a bar handmade by one of the owners, and the growler stations providing a bit of space-age industrialism. The beer wall boasts about 200 bottles, most hailing from local breweries. Owner Jason Monge says he hopes to fill his currently empty shelf space with more imports soon.
We walked out with 64-ounces of Georgetown's Lucielle IPA, sealed with CO2 and a soft promise of a one-year shelf life. But who could wait that long? We'll show a bit of reserve and leave it in the fridge for a month to test the power of the CrafTap.
A short sprint away is NE Dekum's Oregon Public House, the world's first nonprofit pub, celebrating its grand opening this week. Here's how it works: patrons grab a favorite pint on tap, and when it comes time to pay, servers will ask which charity the payment should support (from a list of eight options including Habitat for Humanity and Friends of Trees). At the end of every month, the staff tallies up the votes, and the profit is distributed accordingly. In other words, if 23 percent of patrons want to donate to Habitat for Humanity, that organization gets 23 percent of the overall profit.
Of course, if you're feeling very charitable, you could always buy a round for the house (for just $350).
"Anything put in this neighborhood is going to flourish," an OPH bartender shared with a touch of pride. With spots like the Tin Bucket and Oregon Public House popping up, it's no wonder this corner of Portland is thriving.
The Tin Bucket
3520 N. Williams Ave
Oregon Public House
700 NE Dekum St


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Lettuce, Lollo Rossa Dark (100% Heirloom/Non-Hybrid/Non-GMO)
- Beautiful red lettuce leaves.
- Curly leaves with really nice texture and color.
- Extremely popular amongst gourmet chefs and restaurants.
- Easy to grow and does not require a lot of space.
Day to Maturity | 50 days
Lettuce Seeds | Lettuce can be grown practically anywhere. For leaf types seed should be sown thinly in rows 1 foot apart. For head, Bibb, and cos types, space rows 18 inches apart.
Click here for complete Lettuce grow guide
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A photo is worth a thousand words, and in this case, some of those words are Harrison Ford is definitely in "Anchorman: The Legend Continues."
After speculation arose that the actor would be joining the highly anticipated sequel, photos of Ford on set with none other than Ron Burgundy, er...Will Ferrell popped up Tuesday.
And yes, this does put us in a glass case of emotion (good emotion, of course).
Take a look at Will Ferrell and Christina Applegate on set
The "Star Wars" star was sporting a crisp business suit and darker 'do in the snapshot, which makes sense considering the role he is rumored to play in the flick.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, who broke the news Monday, Ford will play "a legendary newscaster a la Tom Brokaw in the Adam McKay-helmed comedy."


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Hello everyone!
Just trying to say hello to everybody. I'm a new programmer with constant need of help for programming. I came across this forum on google hahaha, and hopefully this will be a good source of help for my programming needs. Currently stuck on an assignment that I need help on. So please! Assist me!


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Ganymede was a Trojan prince in Greek mythology, known for his beauty. He was the son of the king Tros of Dardania, after whom Troy took its name, and Callirrhoe.
According to the myth, Zeus spotted Ganymede while the latter was attending to his father's flocks and he became enchanted with his looks. Therefore, he took the form of turned into an eagle (Source: A Wing and A Day) and abducted Ganymede, bringing him to Mount Olympus.
In Olympus, Zeus granted him eternal youth and immortality and the office of cupbearer to the gods. From then on, Ganymede became water bearer to the Gods.
To compensate his father, Zeus offered him the best horses possible, and told him that his son would now be immortal and serve as a cupbearer for the gods, as well as a lover for him:
"Ganymedes now, mixing the nectar, waits in heaven above, though Juno [Hera] frowns, and hands the cup to Jove [Zeus]". (Ovid, Metamorphoses 10. 152).~
Almost all gods were content with Ganymede, except for Hera, who felt jealousy.
The idea of Ganymede being the cupbearer of Zeus subsequently gave rise to his identification with the divinity who was believed to preside over the sources of the Nile, and of his being placed by astronomers among the stars under the name of Aquarius, which is associated with that of the Eagle.
Aquarius constellation is symbolized by the water carrier or the water bearer. The sun passes through this constellation from mid February to mid March.
There is another constellation also related to this greek myth, and it is called Aquila, which is the latin word for "eagle". Needless to say that Aquila was the eagle that in Greek mythology actually bore Ganymede (Aquarius) up to Mt. Olympus. The eagle was also the thunderbolt carrier for Zeus.
Besides, Ganymede is the largest moon of Jupiter and in the Solar System. Still an extra fact is that according to observations made with the Hubble Space Telescope, scientists have recently found that the largest moon in the Solar System is hiding an ocean under its surface.
"[Constellation] Aquila (Eagle). This is the eagle which is said to have snatched Ganymede up and given him to his lover, Jove [Zeus]. And so it seems to fly above Aquarius, who, as many imagine, is Ganymede". (Pseudo-Hyginus, Astronomica, 2. 16).~
Ganymede was frequently represented as the god of homosexual love, and as such appears as a playmate of the love-gods Eros (Love) and Himeros (Desire)".
Ganymedes was sometimes describes as the "Eros" of homosexual love and desire. Plato calls him Himeros (Sexual Desire).
"And when his feeling continues and he is nearer to him and embraces him, in gymnastic exercises and at other times of meeting, then the fountain of that stream, which Zeus when he was in love with Ganymede named Himeros (Desire), overflows upon the lover, and some enters into his soul, and some when he is filled flows out again". (Plato, Phaedrus 255).~
Plato also mentions this myth in his dialogue "Laws", in which he relates it to homosexuality:
"One certainly should not fail to observe that when male unites with female for procreation the pleasure experienced is held to be due to nature, but contrary to nature, when male mates with male or female with female, and that those first guilty of such enormities were impelled by their slavery to pleasure. And we all accuse the Kretans of concocting the story about Ganymedes. Because it was the belief that they derived their laws from Zeus, they added on this story about Zeus in order that they might be following his example in enjoying this pleasure as well". (Plato, Laws, 636c).~
On the other hand, the myth was a model for the Greek social custom of Paiderastia, the socially acceptable erotic relationship between a man and a younger man.
Ganymede was depicted in Greek vase painting as a handsome boy. In the abduction scene his attributes were usually a rooster (a lover's gift), a hoop (a boy's toy), or a lyre. When portrayed as the cup-bearer of the gods he is shown pouring nectar from a jug.
In poetry, Ganymede became a symbol for the beautiful young male who attracted homosexual desire and love.
In Baldassare Peruzzi´s panel of "The Rape of Ganymede" (*see painting below) in a ceiling at the Villa Farnesina, Rome, Ganymede's long blond hair and girlish pose make him identifiable at first glance, though he grasps the eagle's wing without resistance.
►Links Post:
I have been nominated for three awards.
The One Lovely Blog Award, from Inside the Life of Moi, the Creative Blogger Award, from Poetry and Chocolate and Books and the Very Inspiring Blogger Award, from Angelo's Universe.
I want to thank these three bloggers and suggest you to please make sure to check out their blogs and follow them.
Note: For the three awards, I will nominate blogs I have recently came across and like, recent followers and/or plussers. Also, I am changing the logos so that way I can include new awards among mine… And, finally, I will follow the nomination process without answering questions or mentioning facts about me…
►Rules for these Three Awards:
♠ Thank the person who nominated you for the award.
♠ Add the logo to your post.
♠Nominate ten (10) bloggers you admire and inform them of the nomination.
►I) Nominees~One Lovely Blog Award~
1. Crissy Dean 2.Short Stories Diary 3. Italian Home Kitchen Blog 4. Robynchristi 5. Charlotte Bang Bang 6. Before Sundown 7. 100 Ways to Write 8. Yamarella 9. Poetic Darkness 10. From Midnight to Dawnlight.
►II) Nominees~Creative Blogger Award (Pencils Version)~
1. Angelo's Universe 2. Dorlanavann 3. Poems thrown in a shoebox 4. BlondiesBearista 5. Sesquiotica 6.Filling Spaces 7. Zen Scribbles 8. Comig East 9. Sinister Bend 10. Serenity in the City.
►III) Nominees~Very Inspiring Blogger Award (Soft Version)~
1.Inside the Life of Moi 2. The Keys 3. Poetry and Chocolate and Books 4. The Writes of Woman 5. Ginger's Grocery 6. Just Jen 7. Haiku Odyssey 8. Imagery of Light 9. A Little Blog of Books 10. A Writer's Path.
►Silvina Garré: "Palmas Azules Para Mí":
~To Verónica Boletta, from the great Poetry Blog "En Humor Arte"~


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Bus charter professional services are used by a variety of companies in an effort to make it easier to supply travel. There are actually good things about employing a charter tour bus – you save money on plane tickets, you decrease the quantity of individuals who will "pass" on an celebration due to having to supply their own travel, and everyone can get there on the event simultaneously. Not sure when and reasons why you would utilize a charter coach? You could be shocked.
1. Cathedral Organizations
There may be all sorts of reasons why should you require a huge part of your congregation to anywhere. Possibly it's a cathedral picnic. Perhaps it's a volunteer option. Anything, you would like to make sure everybody seems like section of the community. Which means you wish to use shuttle charter professional services rather than creating every person fend on their own and meet up with at the agreed upon spot.
2. Job Event
Work activities are popular for producing anyone generate from try to an event, then an event to residence. What happens if you could simplify it for individuals? The moment you enable people go into their auto, you run the risk of them driving a vehicle property instead of to the function, especially if it's not just a mandated occasion.
Whether it is a function conference, team creating, or even a holiday break party, it is possible to supply transport with coach charter professional services and be sure more people appear once you announce you have travelling taken care of.
3. University Trip
College outings don't always imply that you could (or wish to) work with a college shuttle. Specially when it's longer than a short while, charter bus providers can provide a far more cozy type of travel. This implies industry outings, sporting activities satisfies, as well as group concerts.
4. Big Group of Friends
Sizeable sets of friends can be helped by a charter shuttle, also. Every time you have a lot of people heading a place, use a bus. This makes it simpler to get to where you're heading without producing everyone place their very own vehicle.
5. Family Reunion
You at long last have the whole family together. Now what will you use anyone?Tour bus charter services can save a lot of dollars because no one will have to get lease automobiles. Additionally, no one must heap to the number of automobiles that happen to be nearby since you can give everyone the place they require and wish having a charter shuttle.
Upon having a charter shuttle set aside, you are able to make certain there is certainly more enjoyable to be had throughout the loved ones reunion. Get everyone on the recreation area, a restaurant, or even a generate out and about. Considering that you will have a large form of travel for anyone, anyone can participate in with out one has to generate – which means everybody can enable loose a bit once they want as well.
It's a smart idea to use bus charter professional services for a variety of things. There's absolutely no reason to help make anyone get their personal automobile. It's problematic and quite often high-priced. All you want do is schedule a charter bus to consider everybody to where they should go. It's so easy.
Inspired by: ezinearticles


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Normally, our relationship with the journals of the Nature Publishing Group is a bit parasitic: they provide the raw material for our stories. But I'm pleased to note that, at least for the moment, we've become a symbiote, as Nature has published an open access news story in which they take a look at the state of science journalism, prominently featuring Nobel Intent as an example of some of the experimentation that's going on with new formats online.
In the US, we've definitely entered an era of radical cutbacks when it comes to science coverage in the traditional media: science sections and staff are dropping like flies, and even CNN has decided it can do without a dedicated science staff. Science is apparently perceived as a money loser when it comes to the US news media and, in the tough economy, losing money isn't an option. (The article suggests that the situation isn't as bad in Europe.) That trend has hit at the same time that the Internet has delivered lots of new options for providing science news, from the blogs of the actual researchers themselves to the press offices that research institutions use to try to promote the work done on their premises, all done in the hope that it will attract publicity and funding.
Not all of this is good. Blogs tend to mix their science news with all sorts of other material—the article includes some thoughts from a number of blog writers I read regularly. Self-promotional press releases often get treated as news by both traditional and online media. The loss of good science journalists means we lose what they're trained to provide: perspective on the current consensus in a field, obtained by talking to multiple people with the relevant expertise.
Nobel Intent is somewhat of a mixed bag here. We are focused on science news, and we definitely avoid rehashing a press release. Our writers are not generally journalists, so we lack some of the skills they have, and we rarely take the time to survey the field. On the other side, all of us have done scientific research (most of us still active), so we can provide a different perspective than most science journalists. It's not necessarily better or worse, but it's certainly different.
What may make it a bit better is the excellent writing staff we've got. They provide an inside view of the process and logic that run the scientific endeavor (messy as it sometimes is), which is something you'll never get simply by talking to people, even if they are experts. Hopefully, they'll help Nobel Intent succeed in a tumultuous time.
Nature, 2009. DOI: 10.1038/458274a


text: I have an aluminum angle that is housing an LED strip. I need to attach a UV filter to stop LEDs fading whatever it lights. I ordered a plexi angle that will work as a filter, I just need to figure out how to attach it. I don't want to drill into the aluminum because its attached and I would like to make this as painless as possible. I would also like to make it removable so I can change lights. Any ideas?


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Dustin Johnson is serving a six-month suspension from the PGA Tour after testing positive for cocaine, a source has told Golf.com.
According to the source, Johnson has failed three drug tests: one for marijuana in 2009 and two for cocaine, in 2012 and 2014. He was previously suspended for the 2012 failed test, but that suspension was never made public. Under the PGA Tour's drug-testing policies, the Tour is not required to announce any disciplinary actions against players who test positive for recreational drugs.
Johnson announced on Thursday that he is taking a leave of absence from professional golf, effective immediately.
"I will use this time to seek professional help for personal challenges I have faced," he said in a statement issued by his management company. "By committing the time and resources necessary to improve my mental health, physical well-being and emotional foundation, I am confident that I will be better equipped to fulfill my potential and become a consistent champion."
The PGA Tour released a curt statement wishing Johnson well and saying it looked forward to his return. When asked directly about Johnson's failed drug tests and suspension, Ty Votaw, executive vice president of the PGA Tour, said Friday that the Tour would have no further comment.
Johnson's conduct has long been a topic of conversation among close observers of the Tour. He is often seen in bars near his home in Jupiter, Fla., and is also known to have had a sexual indiscretion with at least one wife of a PGA Tour player.
The suspension means Johnson, 30, will miss the PGA Championship — the season's final major takes place next week in Louisville, Ky. — and also the PGA Tour's lucrative FedEx Cup playoff series. Johnson's agent, David Winkle of Hambric Sports Management, notified the PGA of America on Thursday that his client will also not be competing in the Ryder Cup in Scotland this September. Earlier this week, when asked if Johnson was about to be suspended by the PGA Tour, Winkle texted an SI reporter, "Don't believe everything you hear."
Winkle did not immediately respond to a request to comment on Johnson's failed drug tests and suspension.
Last year, Johnson announced his engagement to Paulina Gretzky, daughter of hockey great Wayne Gretzky. She was seen with members of her family at this year's Masters and also attended the U.S. Open. Gretzky, a model with a handful of small film credits, appeared on the May cover of Golf Digest as a fitness maven.
In 2012, Johnson played the Cadillac Championship at Doral in March and then did not play again for 11 weeks, until the Memorial in late May. Johnson said at the time that he was not playing because he hurt his back while lifting a jet ski. However, Golf.com's source says that Johnson was actually serving a suspension for failing a drug test for cocaine. The PGA Tour had no official comment at that time and Winkle denied that Johnson had been suspended.
An eight-time winner on Tour, Johnson had been enjoying one of the most successful seasons of his career, logging a win, two seconds, and seven top 10s on the way to earning more than $4.2 million. He was a near certainty to make the U.S. Ryder Cup team. Johnson's leave will make Team USA captain Tom Watson's job easier. Watson has three captain's picks for his 12-man team and, without Johnson on the squad, Patrick Reed moves up to the ninth and final automatic spot on the qualification points list. Phil Mickelson moves closer to that final berth, in 10th place. Tiger Woods remains well outside automatic qualification.
Considered one of the most lavishly talented players in the game, Johnson is without question one of the longest hitters. At the British Open two weeks ago he hit one drive that measured 405 yards. His reputation as an extraordinary driver of the golf ball makes Johnson an important endorser of TaylorMade products. Earlier this year, then TaylorMade CEO Mark King was concerned about what he was hearing about Johnson's private life but was told that there were no issues that would affect his ability to represent TaylorMade. (King is now president of Adidas North America, TaylorMade's parent company.)
In a statement TaylorMade said it supported Johnson's decision to temporarily step away from the PGA Tour. "We wish him well and look forward to his return," the company added.
Despite his wins, he is perhaps better known for the major championships he has let slip away. In 2010, he was in position to win the PGA Championship but grounded his club in a bunker on the final hole, incurring a two-stoke penalty that left him two strokes out of a playoff between Bubba Watson and eventual winner Martin Kaymer. Earlier that year, Johnson had a three-shot lead at the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach after 54 holes but shot a final-round 82 to finish eighth. And in 2011 he was in contention at the British Open at Royal St. George's before fading in the final round to finish tied second.


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HIT-MAKER: Stoughton's Lori McKenna up for four Grammy's tonight
If Stoughton's Lori McKenna receives the Grammy for best country song this weekend, she'll be the first songwriter to win back-to-back awards in that category since 1999.
McKenna, one of Nashville's premier songwriters, is up for a total of four Grammys, including best country song for penning Tim McGraw's No. 1 hit, "Humble and Kind." It won song of the year at the Country Music Awards in November and has been certified platinum. Its music video won video of the year at the 2016 Country Music Television Awards in June.
McKenna won the Grammy Award last year for co-writing Little Big Town's smash "Girl Crush." Coincidentally, McKenna is competing against her best friend and "Girl Crush" co-writer, Hillary Lindsey, who wrote Keith Urban's "Blue Ain't Your Color."
"It's just insane," McKenna said. "I slept over at her house last night and we were talking about it. It's really such a blessing to be at the Grammys again and to have the experience with my best friend. We're rooting for each other."
McKenna also landed nominations for best Americana album for "The Bird & the Rifle," American roots performance and American roots song for "Wreck You."
A mother of five children ranging in age from 12 to 27, McKenna said "Humble and Kind" was inspired by her offspring.
"It's just a list of things that I want them to know. They never listen to what I'm saying, so I figured that I'd write it down," McKenna said.
The lyrics are simple but effective: "Hold the door, say please, say thank you; don't steal, don't cheat, and don't lie; I know you got mountains to climb; but always stay humble and kind."
McKenna said she never expected the song to reach the heights it did.
"Tim made it into something so much bigger than I ever imagined," McKenna said. "It's very surreal."
Thursday's blizzard blocked McKenna from traveling from Nashville to Stoughton. Instead, she'll fly straight to Los Angeles. Her husband, Gene, will meet her in California.
"We thought about bringing the kids, but it turned out to be too hard to orchestrate all of that," McKenna said.
Look for McKenna in a simple black, one-shoulder, floor-length gown.
"My husband had to pack for me. I had him on FaceTime showing him which shoes and strapless bra to pack," McKenna said, laughing. "Luckily, I knew where everything was."
Even with a pair of blockbuster songs under her belt, McKenna said she still feels uncool in the eyes of her children.
"Every time my youngest puts a song on our Alexa, he says, 'play "Blue Ain't Your Color."' And then I remind him that I wrote 'Humble and Kind' for him and he always replies, 'This is a better song.' So I cannot convince them that I'm cool."
The Grammy Awards air at 8 p.m. Sunday on CBS, and will be hosted by Tony winner James Corden.
The last back-to-back winners of best country song were Robert John "Mutt" Lange and Shania Twain for "You're Still the One" (1998) and "Come on Over" (1999).


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Kasia M. Russell, Senior Managing Director and Practice Leader – U.S. West, has been with HVS since 2006. Kasia oversees the company's West Coast region, including team management and overall strategic direction. A Seattle native now residing in Portland, Oregon, Kasia has overseen hundreds of assignments spanning hotel appraisals, market studies, portfolio valuations, and feasibility studies for proposed hotels, resorts, and mixed-use assets. She has also appraised partial-ownership interests and conducted management contract valuations. Kasia has completed hotel valuations on hotel real estate with an aggregate value of over $100 billion.
Kasia's clients include independent investors, hotel owners and management companies, legal counsel, city governments and municipalities, and major banks. They value her extensive expertise, her strong service-oriented mindset, and her tireless work to help them achieve their goals. Her exceptional reputation in building trusted, long-term client relationships has resulted in ongoing word-of-mouth referrals that have earned her status as one of HVS's top leaders.
Kasia specializes in proposed developments throughout the Pacific Northwest, including urban, coastal, suburban, and rural markets. A sample of these is as follows:
"Kasia Russell and her team are a delight to work with. They are professional, attentive, [and] prompt, and I really appreciated how much time they invested into explaining the results of the market study we commissioned to multiple stakeholders on our end. HVS is a leader in the hospitality market study space, and we would trust them on any project." – Sarah Zahn, Urban Development + Partners (UD+P)
"Kasia and her team were so on it during a rush assignment. It's really competitive to get your vendors to be punctual in order to close on time. We got everything we needed on time, and the HVS reputation for hospitality won credibility with our lenders. We are happy to use them in the future." – Derek Worchel, All Services Real Estate
"Ms. Kasia Russell was my contact person. Throughout the process she was very professional, friendly and caring. She worked with me as one would work with a longtime trusted friend. Kasia provided answers to all of my questions regarding my business needs for the study and even emailed me after the project was completed to see if I had any further question or if she could help me understand our report in depth. Because of Kasia's service, I will call HVS for my future projects." – Devin Singh, Phoenix, AZ
"The promises made were kept - quality and schedule and cost - the document was great quality, [and] the team was great to work with." – Matt Braun, Braun Development Company
2006 – Present
Boulder, Colorado
2005 – 2006
Bow, Washington
2003 – 2004
Bellingham, Washington
Bachelor of Arts
Other Specialized Training Classes Completed:
Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice – 15 hours
Basic Appraisal Procedures – 30 hours
Basic Appraisal Principles – 30 hours
General Appraiser Income Approach – 60 hours
General Appraiser Market Analysis and HBU – 30 hours
General Appraiser Sales Comparison Approach – 30 hours
General Appraiser Site Valuation and Cost Approach – 30 hours
Business Practices and Ethics – 8 hours
Statistics, Modeling and Finance – 15 hours
General Appraiser Report Writing and Case Studies – 30 hours
Advanced Income Capitalization – 40 hours
Report Writing and Valuation Analysis – 40 hours
Small Hotel Valuation – 7 hours
Fundamentals of Separating Real, Personal Property, and Intangible Business Assets – 15 hours
Advanced Market Analysis and Highest & Best Use – 35 hours
Advanced Concepts & Case Studies – 40 hours
General Demonstration Appraisal Report Writing (Demo)
OR Supervisor/Trainee Class – 4 hours
Advanced Income – 35 hours
CA Laws and Regulations – 4 hours
Nevada Law – 4 hours
Mortgage Fraud – 7 hours
Oddball Appraisals – 7 hours
Business and Equipment Values in a Real Estate Appraisal – 2 hours
Advanced Hotel Appraising – Full-Service Hotels – 7 hours
Appraisal of Owner-Occupied Commercial Properties – 7 hours
Appraisal of Land Subject to Ground Lease – 7 hours
Basics of Expert Witness – 7 hours
Appraiser as an Expert Witness – 15 hours
CA Supervisor/Trainee – 4 hours
NV Law – 3 hours
Business Practice and Ethics – 5 hours
Commercial Land Valuation – 4 hours
Analyzing Operating Expenses – 7 hours
Rates and Ratios – 7 hours
Small Hotel Valuation – 7 hours
Appraisal of Fast-Food Facilities – 7 hours
Evaluating Commercial Leases – 7 hours
Cost Approach – 7 hours
Appraisal of Owner-Occupied Commercial Properties – 7 hours
Biennial USPAP Updates
Appraisal Institute – Designated Member (MAI)
Sample List for Illustrative Purposes
JPMorgan Portfolio of 6, Various Locations
JPMorgan Portfolio of 9, Various Locations
Natixis Portfolio of 14, Various Locations
Quarterly Clarion Portfolio of 47, Various Locations
Portfolio of 14 Shilo Inns, Various Locations in the Western U.S.
Portfolio of 7 Full-Service Hotels, Various Locations
29 Extended Stay America Hotels, Northwestern U.S.
Homewood Suites, Huntsville
Comfort Inn, Prattville
Courtyard by Marriott, Prattville
Proposed Homewood Suites, Prattville
Coast International Inn, Anchorage
Proposed Home2 Suites, Anchorage
Ramada Anchorage, Anchorage
Super 8 Juneau, Juneau
Proposed Hyatt Place, Avondale
Carefree Resort (Conversion to DoubleTree), Carefree
Red Roof Inn, Chandler
Best Western, Cottonwood
Hilton Garden Inn, Flagstaff
Residence Inn by Marriott Phoenix Gilbert, Gilbert
Tru by Hilton Gilbert, Gilbert
Proposed Holiday Inn Express/Staybridge Suites, Goodyear
Travelodge, Lake Havasu City
Proposed Homewood Suites by Hilton, Lake Havasu
Hilton Phoenix East, Mesa
Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites Phoenix Mesa Chandler, Mesa
Proposed Hotel at Cannon Beach, Mesa
Residence Inn Phoenix Mesa East, Mesa
Candlewood Suites, Nogales
Proposed Wingate Inn Page Arizona, Page
Arizona Grand Resort, Phoenix
Country Inn & Suites, Phoenix
Crowne Plaza, Phoenix
Hilton Garden Inn Airport North, Phoenix
Hilton Suites, Phoenix
Hyatt Regency, Phoenix
Proposed Dual-Branded Hotel Happy Valley, Phoenix
Proposed Hotel Downtown Prescott, Prescott
Red Roof Inn, Phoenix
Sheraton Phoenix Downtown, Phoenix
Travelodge, Phoenix
Holiday Inn Express, Pinetop
Days Inn, Sedona
Holiday Inn Express, Show Low
Candlewood Suites, Sierra Vista
Holiday Inn Express, Sierra Vista
MOXY Phoenix Tempe/ASU Area, Tempe
Proposed Hilton Garden Inn/Home2 Suites by Hilton, Tempe
Proposed Tempe Hotel, Tempe
Ramada, Tempe
Red Roof Inn Phoenix Airport, Tempe
Proposed Best Western, Topock
Hilton Tucson East, Tucson
Holiday Inn Express, Tucson
Hotel Arizona, Tucson
Sheraton Hotel & Suites, Tucson
Holiday Inn Express, Winslow
Hampton Inn & Suites Oakland Airport Alameda, Alameda
Home2 Suites Alameda Oakland Airport, Alameda
Proposed Fairfield Inn & Suites, Alameda
Embassy Suites by Hilton Anaheim North, Anaheim
Holiday Inn & Suites Anaheim (1 Blk/Disneyland®), Anaheim
Hotel Menage, Anaheim
Radisson Blu Anaheim, Anaheim
Proposed Azusa Hotel, Azusa
Hampton Inn & Suites, Blythe
Chase Suites Hotel, Brea
Proposed Hampton Inn, Buena Park
Crowne Plaza, Burlingame
Courtyard San Diego Carlsbad McClellan-Palomar Airport, Carlsbad
L'Auberge Carmel, Carmel-by-the-Sea
Residence Inn by Marriott, Corona
Residence Inn, Cupertino
DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Hotel Doheny Beach Dana Point, Dana Point
Propose Hotels, Davis
Rodeway Inn Encinitas North, Encinitas
Courtyard by Marriott, Fairfield
Courtyard Airport, Fresno
Radisson, Fresno
Hyatt Regency Orange County, Garden Grove
Residence Inn Anaheim/Garden Grove, Garden Grove
Proposed Hilton Garden Inn, Irvine
Proposed Country Inn & Suites, Kanab
Proposed Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton, La Habra
La Jolla Inn (Conversion to Ascend Collection), La Jolla
Proposed Select-Service Hotel, Lake Havasu
Homewood Suites, La Quinta
Holiday Inn Express Lincoln Roseville, Lincoln
Proposed Select-Service Hotel, Livermore
Hilton Garden Inn, Lompoc
Proposed Hilton Garden Inn, Lompoc
Hotel Queen Mary, Long Beach
Proposed Breakers Hotel Long Beach, Long Beach
The Cecil Hotel, Los Angeles
Claremont Hotel Tiverton, Los Angeles
Proposed Hampton Inn & Suites Korea Town, Los Angeles
Proposed Hotel, Los Angeles
The Standard Hotel, Los Angeles
Proposed Residence Inn by Marriott, Mammoth Lakes
Sierra Nevada Resort & Spa, Mammoth Lakes
Belamar Hotel, Manhattan Beach
Proposed Autograph Hotel, Menlo Park
Stanford Park Hotel, Menlo Park
Marriott, Monterey
Proposed Hotel, Napa
Proposed Hampton Inn, Needles
Le Puy Inn, Newberg
Fairfield Inn & Suites Riverside Corona Norco, Norco
Hampton Inn by Hilton Oakland Downtown City Center, Oakland
Proposed Hampton by Hilton, Oakland
Ontario Airport Hotel & Conference Center, Ontario
Radisson Ontario Airport, Ontario
Sheraton, Ontario
Embassy Suites, Orange
Proposed Oroville Hotel, Oroville
Bide-A-Wee Inn & Cottages, Pacific Grove
Martine Inn, Pacific Grove
Sea Breeze Inn & Cottages, Pacific Grove
Embassy Suites by Hilton Palm Desert, Palm Desert
Hampton Inn & Suites, Palm Desert
Proposed Autograph Hotel, Palm Desert
Villa Royale Inn, Palm Springs
Proposed Upscale Hotel, Palo Alto
Sheraton Pasadena Hotel, Pasadena
Lancer Motel, Pico Rivera
Proposed Hotel, Pismo Beach
Hilton at the Club Expansion, Pleasanton
La Quinta Inn & Suites, Pomona
Proposed Sanctity Hotel, Rancho Cucamonga
Proposed Tierra Oaks Resort, Redding
Proposed Hotel, Rocklin
Good Nite Inn, Sacramento
Lexington Inn & Suites Sacramento Cal Expo, Sacramento
Proposed Hampton Inn, Sacramento
Proposed Hilton Garden Inn, Sacramento
Proposed Hotel, Sacramento
Westin, Sacramento
Fairfield Inn by Marriott, San Bernardino
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel San Diego Downtown, San Diego
Four Points by Sheraton, San Diego
SureStay Hotel by Best Western San Diego Pacific Beach, San Diego
Best Western Americania, San Francisco
Carriage Inn, San Francisco
Good Hotel, San Francisco
Hotel Metropolis, San Francisco
Hotel Vertigo, San Francisco
Mark Twain Hotel, San Francisco
Tilden Hotel, San Francisco
Proposed Crowne Plaza, San Gabriel
Proposed Sheraton Hotel, San Gabriel
Four Points by Sheraton San Jose Airport, San Jose
Proposed Hilton Garden Inn, San Luis Obispo
Proposed Homewood Suites, San Luis Obispo
Proposed Hotel, San Jose
Proposed Select-Service Hotel, San Luis Obispo
Holiday Inn & Suites, San Mateo
Marriott San Mateo San Francisco Airport, San Mateo
Crowne Plaza, San Pedro
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel San Diego Downtown, San Diego
Crowne Plaza Los Angeles Harbor, San Pedro
Travelodge, Santa Monica
Sandman Motel, Santa Rosa
Proposed Lexington Hotel, Scotts Valley
Kronborg Inn, Solvang
Proposed Unscripted, South Lake Tahoe
Budget Inn & Suites Stockton, Stockton
Holiday Inn Express Stockton Southeast, Stockton
Proposed Tahoe Luxury Lodges, Tahoe City
Proposed Hampton Inn, Tehachapi
Hotel Truckee Tahoe, Truckee
Embassy Suites, Valencia
Holiday Inn Express, Walnut Creek
Proposed Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott, Woodland
Proposed Limited-Service Hotel, Breckenridge
Hyatt Summerfield Suites, Colorado Springs
Proposed Comfort Suites/Mainstay Suites, Colorado Springs
Proposed Sheraton Downtown, Colorado Springs
Cameron Motel, Denver
Proposed Hyatt Place DIA, Denver
Quality Inn (Brand Analysis), Denver
Rocky Mountain Park Inn, Estes Park
Gateway Canyons Resort, Gateway
Regency Hotel (Brand Analysis), Greeley
Proposed Hotel, Telluride
Proposed Homewood Suites by Hilton, Thornton
Fairfield Inn by Marriott, Milford
Fairfield Inn by Marriott, Wallingford
Fairfield Inn by Marriott, Windsor Locks
Wakulla Suites, Cocoa Beach
Multi-use Commercial Property, Deerfield Beach
Hampton Inn, Ft. Lauderdale
Hampton Inn, Jacksonville
Residence Inn, Jacksonville
Residence Inn, West Palm Beach
Candlewood Suites, Athens
Embassy Suites, Kennesaw
Hotel Indigo, Vinings
Polynesian Plaza, Honolulu
Courtyard by Marriott Kaua'i at Coconut Beach, Kapa'a
Hampton Inn & Suites Boise Spectrum, Boise
Hilton Garden Inn Boise Spectrum, Boise
Motel 6 Boise Airport, Boise
Proposed Avery Hotel, Boise
Proposed Boise Hotel, Boise
Proposed Sunnyslope Wine Trail Hotel, Caldwell
Hampton Inn & Suites, Coeur d'Alene
Holiday Inn Express, Coeur d'Alene
La Quinta Inn & Suites, Coeur d'Alene
Shilo Inn Suites, Coeur d'Alene
Proposed SpringHill Suites, Coeur d'Alene
SpringHill Suites by Marriott, Coeur d'Alene
Proposed Homewood Suites by Hilton Eagle, Eagle
Proposed Lodge at Carlin Bay, Harrison
Proposed Hotel, Idaho Falls
Shilo Inn, Idaho Falls
Fairfield Inn & Suites, Moscow
Proposed Boutique Hotel Moscow, Moscow
Proposed Fairfield Inn & Suites, Moscow
Hampton Inn & Suites, Mountain Home
Proposed Nampa Hotel, Nampa
Proposed Hotel, Nampa
Proposed Downtown Rupert Hotel, Rupert
Hampton Inn, Twin Falls
Holiday Inn Express, Twin Falls
La Quinta Inn & Suites, Twin Falls
Motel 6, Twin Falls
Proposed TownePlace Suites by Marriott, Twin Falls
Quality Inn, Twin Falls
Holiday Inn Merchandise Mart, Chicago
Hilton Oak Lawn, Chicago
Proposed Renaissance Blackstone, Chicago
Renaissance, Chicago
Danville Inn & Convention Center, Danville
Marriott Suites, Deerfield
Proposed Hampton Inn & Suites, Edwardsville
Comfort Inn, Elk Grove Village
Days Inn, Matteson
Holiday Inn, Moline
Holiday Inn Express, Moline
Candlewood Suites, O'Fallon
Inn Town Motel, Rockford
Days Inn, Sheffield
Holiday Inn Express, Shiloh
The Blue Star Inn, Urbana
Holiday Inn, Willowbrook
Red Carpet Inn, Anderson
Proposed Suburban Extended-Stay, Castleton
Proposed Suburban Extended-Stay, Clarksville
La Quinta Inn & Suites, Fort Wayne
Quality Inn, Fort Wayne
Sheraton Keystone Crossing, Indianapolis
Quality Inn & Suites, Lebanon
Ramada Inn, Logansport
Super 8, Logansport
Super 8, Markle
Days Inn, Merrillville
Holiday Inn, Merrillville
Proposed Holiday Inn, Merrillville
Knights Inn, South Bend
Proposed Suburban Extended-Stay, South Bend
Hilton Garden Inn, West Lafayette
Days Inn, Davenport
Hampton Inn, Des Moines
Quality Inn, Newton
Econo Lodge, West Liberty
Econo Lodge, Wichita
Baymont Inn & Suites, Bowling Green
Rodeway Inn, Florence
Proposed Courtyard by Marriott, Houma
Hampton Inn, Lexington
Comfort Suites, Benton Harbor
Best Western, Grand Haven
Econo Lodge, Lansing
The Regent Inn, Lansing
Econo Lodge, Petoskey
Proposed Oxford Boutique Hotel & Spa, Oxford
Hampton Inn, Eagan
Hampton Inn, Eden Prairie
Proposed aloft, Edina
Super 8, Granite Falls
Super 8, Marshall
DoubleTree Park Place, Minneapolis
Hotel IVY, Minneapolis
Proposed Westin, Minneapolis
Westin, Minneapolis
Hampton Inn, Minnetonka
Car Wash, Magee
Hampton Inn, Bloomington
Proposed Indigo Hotel, Kansas City
Proposed Limited-Service Hotel, Culbertson
Proposed Best Western Plus, East Glacier Park
Greystone Inn, Great Falls
Hilton Garden Inn, Missoula
Proposed Whitefish Hotel, Whitefish
Days Inn, McCook
Proposed Hotel, South Sioux City
Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton Las Vegas Airport, Las Vegas
Proposed Fairfield Inn & SpringHill Suites Dual-Branded Hotel, Las Vegas
Siena Hotel, Reno
Sheraton, Eatontown
Rest Inn, Williamstown
Hampton Inn, Albuquerque
Hawthorn Suites, Albuquerque
Hotel Parq Central, Albuquerque
Proposed Tapestry Hotel, Albuquerque
Wyndham, Albuquerque
Proposed Home2 Suites, Farmington
Hotel Encanto de Las Cruces, Las Cruces
Bishops Lodge Ranch Resort & Spa, Santa Fe
Hotel St. Francis, Santa Fe
Rodeway Inn, Ithaca
Fairfield Inn, Spring Valley
Proposed Hilton Garden Inn, Williamsville
Grand Williston Hotel & Conference Center, Williston
Comfort Inn, Austintown
Sheraton, Independence
The Elms Holiday Inn, Oxford
Cannery Pier Hotel & Spa, Astoria
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Astoria, Astoria
Proposed Hotel, Astoria
DoubleTree, Beaverton
Proposed AC by Marriott, Beaverton
Proposed Limited-Service Hotel, Beaverton
Hampton Inn & Suites, Bend
Hilton Garden Inn, Bend
Proposed Autograph Collection Hotel, Bend
Proposed Embassy Suites, Bend
Proposed Extended-Stay St. Charles Medical Center Hotel, Bend
Proposed Home2 Suites, Bend
Proposed Hotel, Bend
Proposed Hyatt House Bend, Bend
Proposed Limited-Service Hotel, Bend
Proposed Limited-Service Hotel, Boardman
Inn at Haystack Rock, Cannon Beach
Proposed Cave Junction Hotel, Cave Junction
Holiday Inn Express, Corvallis
Proposed OSU Campus Hotel, Corvallis
Proposed Eugene Boutique Hotel, Eugene
Proposed EVEN Hotels, Eugene
Valley River Inn, Eugene
Proposed Eagle Landing Hotel, Happy Valley
Courtyard Portland Hillsboro, Hillsboro
Proposed Full-Service Orenco Station, Hillsboro
Proposed Hillsboro Hotel, Hillsboro
Proposed Home2 Suites by Hilton, Hillsboro
Proposed Residence Inn by Marriott, Hillsboro
Proposed Staybridge Suites, Hillsboro
Residence Inn by Marriott Portland West Hillsboro, Hillsboro
Staybridge Suites Hillsboro North, Hillsboro
Staybridge Suites Hillsboro Orenco Station, Hillsboro
TownePlace Suites Portland Hillsboro, Hillsboro
Columbia Gorge Hotel, Hood River
Best Western Olympic Inn, Klamath Falls
Motel 6, Klamath Falls
Best Western Plus Rama Inn & Suites, LaGrande
Hilton Garden Inn, Lake Oswego
Proposed Lake Oswego Boutique Hotel, Lake Oswego
Proposed Boutique Retreat, McMinnville
Proposed Downtown McMinnville Hotel, McMinnville
Hampton Inn, Medford
Proposed Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott, Medford
Proposed Hilton Garden Inn, Medford
Best Western Agate Beach Inn, Newport
Whaler Motel, Newport
Proposed Kiwanda Lodge & Spa, Pacific City
Aloft Portland Airport at Cascade Station, Portland
Canopy by Hilton Portland Pearl District, Portland
Country Inn & Suites PDX, Portland
Courtyard by Marriott Portland Downtown/Convention Center, Portland
DoubleTree Lloyd Center, Portland
Duniway Portland, a Hilton Hotel, Portland
Hilton Portland Downtown, Portland
Homewood Suites by Hilton Portland Airport, Portland
Hotel Eastlund, Portland
Hotel Lucia, Portland
Proposed AC Hotel Cascade Station, Portland
Proposed Burnside Hotel, Portland
Proposed Canopy by Hilton Portland Pearl District, Portland
Proposed Cornelius & Woodlark, Portland
Proposed Hilton Garden Inn, Portland
Proposed Hilton-Branded Hotel, Portland
Proposed Hotel Chamberlain, Portland
Proposed Hotel Cornelius, Portland
Proposed Hyatt Place, Portland
Proposed Mall 205 Hotel Portland
Proposed Multnomah County Courthouse Hotel, Portland
Proposed OHSU Extended-Stay Hotel, Portland
Proposed Proper Hotel Pearl District Portland, Portland
Proposed Ritz Carlton & Branded Residences, Portland
Proposed Riverside Center Hotel, Portland
Proposed St. Johns Hotel, Portland
Proposed Woodlark Hotel Portland, Portland
River's Edge Hotel & Spa, Portland
Staybridge Suites PDX, Portland
Westin, Portland
Woodlark, Portland
Comfort Suites, Redmond
Proposed Hampton Inn Redmond, Redmond
Proposed Holiday Inn Express Redmond, Redmond
Proposed WoodSpring Suites, Redmond
Proposed Holman Inn, Salem
Residence Inn by Marriott, Salem
Comfort Inn & Suites Seaside Convention Center Boardwalk, Seaside
Proposed Gilbert Block Hotel, Seaside
Hilton Garden Inn, Springfield
DoubleTree, Tigard
Embassy Suites, Tigard
Motel 6 Portland Tigard West, Tigard
Proposed IHG Hotel, Tigard
Proposed Hotel Washington Square Mall, Tigard
Washington Square Hotel, Tigard
The Resort at the Mountain, Welches
Courtyard by Marriott, Altoona
Fairfield Inn by Marriott, Butler
SpringHill Suites by Marriott, Washington
Waldorf Astoria El Conquistador Resort, Fajardo
El Conquistador, Las Croabas
El San Juan Hotel & Casino, San Juan
Hilton Condado Plaza Hotel & Casino, San Juan
Clarion Airport Graceland, Memphis
Residence Inn, Nashville
Holiday Inn Express, Cedar Hill
Proposed Hotel Developments, DFW Airport
DoubleTree by Hilton, El Paso
La Quinta Inn El Paso Cielo Vista, El Paso
La Quinta, Granbury
Courtyard by Marriott Medical Center, Houston
La Quinta Inn & Suites, Katy
Proposed Hyatt Place, Kanab
Proposed La Quinta, La Verkin
Best Western Plus Midvale, Midvale
Proposed Microtel, Naples
TownePlace Suites, Orem
Hampton Inn & Suites Park City, Park City
Proposed Upscale Hotel, Park City
Best Western, Richfield
Super 8, Richfield
Hilton Garden Inn, Saint George
Rodeway Inn, Salina
Comfort Inn & Suites Salt Lake City Airport, Salt Lake City
Hilton Garden Inn Downtown, Salt Lake City
Peery Hotel, Salt Lake City
Proposed Homewood Suites by Hilton, Salt Lake City
Tru by Hilton Salt Lake City Airport, Salt Lake City
Proposed Sandy Radisson Blu, Sandy
Home2 Suites by Hilton Salt Lake City, South Jordan
Hampton Inn Petersburg Southpark Mall, Colonial Heights
Holiday Inn Petersburg North Fort Lee, Colonial Heights
DoubleTree Airport, Richmond
Courtyard by Marriott, Vienna
Proposed Boutique Hotel Allyn, Allyn
Embassy Suites, Bellevue
Fairfield Inn, Bellevue
Proposed AC Hotel, Bellevue
Proposed Marriott, Bellevue
Proposed InterContinental at the Avenue, Bellevue
Proposed Upscale Hotel, Bellevue
Residence Inn, Bellevue
SpringHill Suites Bellingham, Bellingham
Westin, Bellevue
Proposed Limited-Service Hotel, Blaine
Proposed SpringHill Suites and TownePlace Suites, Bothell
Residence Inn, Bothell
SpringHill Suites, Bothell
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Camas Vancouver, Camas
Proposed Holiday Inn Express, Camas
Proposed Candlewood Suites, Camas
Proposed Holiday Inn Express, Camas
Proposed Parker's Landing Hotel, Camas
Hampton Inn & Suites, DuPont
Proposed Limited-Service Hotel, DuPont
Proposed Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott, East Wenatchee
Proposed Home2 Suites Ellensburg, Ellensburg
Proposed Hotel at SIC Everett, Everett
Proposed Hotel Silver Lake, Everett
Proposed Holiday Inn Express, Federal Way
Proposed Hotel, Federal Way
Lodge at St Edward State Park, Kenmore
Proposed Dual-Brand Hotel Three Rivers Convention Center, Kennewick
Proposed Limited-Service Hotel, Kennewick
Value Inn, Kent
Embassy Suites, Lynnwood
Proposed Hilton Garden Inn, Lynnwood
Residence Inn, Lynnwood
Proposed Home2 Suites, Marysville
Proposed Lodges at the Farm, Mill Creek
Ocean Crest Resort, Moclips
Proposed Fairfield Inn & Suites, Moses Lake
Shilo Inn, Moses Lake
Proposed Olympia Hotel, Olympia
Belmont Hotel, Port Townsend
Proposed Hastings Landing Hotel, Port Townsend
Proposed Hilton Garden Inn, Redmond
Hyatt Regency Lake Washington at Seattle's Southport, Renton
Proposed Lodge at Columbia Point, Richland
Red Lion Hotel Richland Hanford House, Richland
Proposed La Center Hotel, Ridgefield
Proposed Seabrook Hotel, Seabrook
Cedarbrook Lodge & Conference Center, SeaTac
Proposed Wingate Hotel, SeaTac
DoubleTree Airport, Seattle
DoubleTree Arctic Club Hotel, Seattle
Hilton Airport, Seattle
Hilton Downtown, Seattle
Hilton Seattle, Seattle
Homewood Suites by Hilton, Seattle
Hotel Theodore, Seattle
Mayflower Park Hotel, Seattle
Proposed 405-Room Upper-Upscale/Luxury Hotel Seattle, Seattle
Proposed AC by Marriott, Seattle
Proposed Autograph, Seattle
Proposed Curio Hotel, Seattle
Proposed Full-Service Hotel, Seattle
Proposed Hotel, Seattle
Proposed JM Hotel, Seattle
Proposed Metropole Hotel, Seattle
Proposed Residence Inn, Seattle
Proposed Stanford Hotel, Seattle
Proposed Tempo by Hilton Seattle, Seattle
Residence Inn by Marriott, Seattle
Proposed Hotel, Shelton
Proposed Limited Service Hotel, Silverdale
Fairfield Inn by Marriott, Spokane
Quality Inn Spokane Valley (Conversion to Fairfield Inn), Spokane
Hampton Inn & Suites, Spokane Valley
Proposed Tru by Hilton Spokane, Spokane Valley
Proposed Stanwood Hotel, Stanwood
Proposed Candlewood Suites, Sumner
Proposed Hotel, Tacoma
Proposed Marriott Hotel Tacoma Convention Center, Tacoma
Courtyard by Marriott Seattle South Center, Tukwila
Home2 Suites by Hilton Seattle Airport, Tukwila
Proposed Full-Service Hotel, Tukwila
Proposed Home2 Suites, Tukwila
Residence Inn, Tukwila
Proposed Southend Hotel, Tukwila
Candlewood Suites Vancouver-Camas, Vancouver
Homewood Suites by Hilton, Vancouver
Proposed AC Hotel by Marriott Vancouver Waterfront, Vancouver
Proposed Hampton Inn, Vancouver
Proposed Indigo Hotel and Condominium Development, Vancouver
Proposed Hotel Vancouver, Vancouver
Proposed Tru by Hilton Vancouver North, Vancouver
Residence Inn by Marriott Portland Vancouver, Vancouver
Eritage Resort, Walla Walla
Proposed Penrose Hotel, Walla Walla
SpringHill Suites, Wenatchee
Proposed Home2 Suites by Hilton, Yakima
Proposed My Place Hotel, Yakima
Courtyard by Marriott, Brown Deer
Residence Inn, Glendale
Clearwaters Convention Center Hotel, Marshfield
Holiday Inn Express, Milwaukee
Proposed Hotel, Verona
Rustic Inn, Jackson
Best Western The Lodge at Jackson Hole, Jackson Hole
Paintbrush Motel, Riverton


text:
You're either with Brit Marling or you're against her. The 29-year-old blond filmmaker (who describes herself on Twitter as a tree climber/actor/writer/producer) catapulted out of obscurity in 2011 with two obfuscatory indies — Sound of My Voice and the mournful sci-fi drama Another Earth. Marling specializes in films about faith, loyalty, and paranoia, where rationalists argue with dreamers and everybody seeks a greater meaning to what could just be nonsense, which is to say her specialty is life.
In Sound of My Voice, she positioned herself, fittingly, as the leader of a new cult. Audiences agreed, forgiving her usual third-act problems in favor of hailing a lovely thing who would rather write about conspiracies than romantic comedies. Who can resist an ingenue with a Georgetown degree in economics? When Marling returned to her alma mater this month to deliver the commencement address, she urged the graduates just eight years her junior to "hold onto your tribe."
The East is Marling's third film with her own tribe — former classmates Mike Cahill and Zal Batmanglij, who trade off directing her scripts. In it she acts/writes/produces/and, yes, even climbs a tree. Marling plays Sarah, a former FBI agent turned corporate spy, paid handsomely to protect McDonald's, Wal-Mart, Exxon, and the like from the terrorists: vegans, environmentalists, and activists out to besmirch their names. Handing Sarah a pair of brand-new Birkenstocks, her boss (the coolly cynical Patricia Clarkson) sics her on the latest shadowy supergroup, The East, who we meet dumping crude oil through the air-conditioning vents of a gasoline mogul's mansion.
Type-A Sarah stays up till dawn shaving the sides of her sandals to look convincingly worn. After lying to her live-in boyfriend that she's headed to the Middle East, she rides the rails in search of an introduction to Exxon PR's Enemy No. 1, a group so secret that members like Luca (Shiloh Fernandez) publicly deny its existence. Like Sound of My Voice, The East is about a human virus infiltrating and destroying a cell. The only difference is that now Marling is the invader, and in Marling's place, our new leader is Alexander Skarsgård, the thinking person's eye candy, looking haggard and frightening. (At least until he shaves off his Manson beard halfway through when Batmanglij realizes he owes the audience a solid.)
Those who enjoy the occasional Big Mac will laugh with Sarah's struggle to fit in with these hipster hobos. During the day, she feigns delight when a freegan offers her used donuts. (In The East, when someone says they know "a good place to eat," it's a dumpster.) At night, she checks into a motel and gorges on fast food. Even though she fails the sniff test — "You smell like soap," accuses pint-sized leftist Izzy (Ellen Page) — the rebels eventually acknowledge they could use someone with her strength.
Sarah is cut from Marling's own image. She's clever and capable, a whiz kid who can't fail. Over the course of the film, she picks handcuffs, punches men, and leaps from trees with the grace of a private-school ninja. If she has a flaw, it's that she can't hide her belief that she's the smartest person in the room. In another life, I'd love to see Marling play Bond — imagine those Botticelli waves falling over a tuxedo. But in this life, she's still proving her brains, which is why it's disappointing that, for all its empathy and equilibrium, The East has nowhere to go after the script backs itself into a corner. Again with the third-act problems.
Embedded among the activists and pressured to help poison a party of pharmaceutical reps, Sarah is caught between wrong and wrong. These hippies are right and they're also cruel. Her boss is right and she's also cruel. There are no happy endings in this world — people get maimed on both sides of the economic divide — but there are almost always happy endings in Hollywood. Which is why Marling's bleeding cynicism is mistaken for depth, when she's really just a Socratic starlet who excels at asking questions. Who's worse: the conglomerate who blindly hurts a village, or the vengeance-seekers who willfully target the CEO and their friends? Is a good soul with bad intentions any better than an impersonal giant?
Marling doesn't have an answer, and she evades logic in her dash to close the film before anyone realizes it. But though she won't quite deserve the gold medal she'll be given for effort, we should be glad she exists, if for no other reason than the novelty of watching a young talent prove her guts by gutting a deer. With her dance card full acting in other people's films and no scripts of her own on the horizon until at least 2015, the indie world's salutatorian is stuck sharing her wisdom on her Twitter account, where one can read the following koans: "People are usually of a certain quality or characteristic and its near but not exact opposite" (15 retweets, 23 favorites), "The kind of morning where u feel u cannot face the day unless someone makes you a sandwich and cuts the crust off" (24 retweets, 54 favorites), and, candidly, "Take me serious" (40 retweets, 34 favorites).


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Is virtual reference successful? Part II (Hint: yes it is)
July 18, 2006 at 9:58 pm Peter Bromberg 2 comments
In Part II I'd like to respond specifically to two comments. The first is from Morgan Fielman. The second from Pascal Lupien, author the article I'm discussing.
Commenter Morgan Fielman wrote, "The original poster seems to have missed the point of this article, which is primarily about software."
No, I get that the point of the article is primarily about the software and not the customer experience. But the article is so broadly written and lacking in detail that it ends up saying nothing more specific than "VR software has problems."
My questions, unanswered by the article are, What software? What problems? Two of the products Lupien writes about (Tutor.com's and QuestionPoints') recently underwent complete overhauls, in effect becoming completely new products. It is unclear from Lupien's article which versions he's writing about but my sense is he's writing about the older versions. If that's correct then most of the article is, at best, moot.
Granted, the larger issue of whether or not the software is effective is a valid issue that warrants exploration and discussion. Fielman goes on to ask, "but how can customers be satisfied when the software we use is so poor?" I say that's the wrong question. The question is "Are customers satisfied?" The answer in our customers' experience is yes, they are satisfied. We didn't find this out by polling 20 libraries. We found this out by asking the customers. Another good question might be, "Do the problems with VR software affect the quality of the customer experience, and if so how and to what extent." There are many people at collaborative VR services looking at a lot of data to answer that question. Lupien's article suggests that problems with software affect the customer experience but offers no actual data to back it up. He mentions problems with popup windows, problems with Windows service pack 2, and problems with serving customers who use Macs, but he is not specific about which software products exhibit which problems and to what extent. And again, Lupien is not clear which version of Tutor and QuestionPoint he's talking about. The newer versions of both products are compatible with Mac users, and have no problems with service pack 2 issues that I'm aware of.
Fielman concludes his comment by saying "original VR supporters have realized that this service just isn't cutting it." The fact is our service has been cutting it for almost 5 years, and we have the hard data and glowing customer comments to prove it. If your VR service isn't cutting it, you need to ask why. Are your staff trained on the software? Are they enthusiastic? What are you customer service standards? Do your librarians give kick-ass customer service in f2f encounters? What quality control mechanisms do you have in place? Do you examine your transcripts for quality? Do you have regular and convenient service hours? Are you available 24/7? (going 24/7 made a huge difference in our usage, even though usage mostly grew during hours we were already open — go figure…) And finally, but certainly not last, do you consistently and effectively market your service to your customers? Do they know you exist???
If your service ain't cutting it maybe you need to answer these questions first before blaming the software, which is an easy way out. Consider that here in New Jersey using standard VR software (currently QP, formerly Tutor/LSSI's eGain-based software) we're cutting it and then some. Other statewide collaboratives are doing quite well too. And we're all working very diligently with our respective vendors to ensure that our VR platforms are stable and highly functional. While the current glitch here and there can be a real and undeniable pain in the ass, it hasn't prevented us from delivering a high quality and slightly mind-blowing experience to our customers.
First, I'd like to thank Pascal Lupien for taking the time to offer an extremely well-written and thoughtful comment in response to my first post. I'd like to assure him that contrary to his assertion, I've read his article through thoroughly a few times. I have no problem with bad news about VR. I just want accurate and somewhat substantiated news. I'm offering up the reality of my experience at QandANJ to counter the broad statements that Lupien makes. Now to some of his specific comments.
He writes, Perhaps these results aren't what proponents of VR would prefer to hear, but they do represent a problem that needs to be discussed, for the sake of our users.
I do not consider myself a proponent of VR, I consider myself of proponent of libraries. It is my desire that libraries remain relevant to our customers by offering a suite of high quality services. Collaborative VR is one such service, offering our customers 24/7 access where and when they want it. I want to see libraries changing their customers' perceptions about what libraries can offer them. I want libraries to blow customer expectations out of the water. I want libraries to be around in 50 years. It is not that I don't want to hear bad news about VR software. I'm perfectly open to hearing about the problems with the current stable of VR software offerings. It's just that I want to hear facts, not conjecture. And I want those facts to be couched in some meaningful context and always tied back, to whatever extent possible, to the impact on our customers. I didn't get this from Lupien's article.
Lupien writes, To respond to the person who claimed that software is the last thing that matters about VR, I say tell that to the user who is unable to log in because she uses a Mac, or because her computer has pop-up blockers. Tell that to the user who is "kicked off" in the middle of a session because the VR software does not function properly with the library's licensed databases. These things happen regularly, and this article makes an attempt to discuss them.
I'm pleased to see Lupien talking directly about the impact on customers. Clearly we agree that it would be optimal if VR software worked across all platforms, had no problems with pop-up blockers, and worked 100% of the time so no user was ever "kicked off." I am not suggesting that these problems don't exist, I am asking to what extent do they exist, and to what extent do they impact the customer's experience and satisfaction with VR service. Because Lupien fails to identify what versions of the various VR products he tested, and is repeatedly non-specific regarding his data, the article fails to answer these questions.
Lupien grants that, "many regular VR users appreciate the service," and that he wasn't contesting that fact. Our experience suggests that it is not "many" but most.
Lupien writes, "Shouldn't we be thinking about these potential users as well, rather than focusing on those who already use and appreciate the service? Shouldn't we be trying to determine if one software product could help us to improve the experience for all users, not merely the satisfied ones? Perhaps some would fear doing this, as it would reveal that their VR service isn't as successful and user-friendly as they like to claim?
Yes, we should absolutely be thinking about our potential users, and we should always be shooting for a platform that will provide high quality service to everyone. Again, it's a matter of facts and context. Lupien's article disappoints me on both counts.
Lupien writes, "The point of this article is to focus on users who are unable to log in to begin with, who encounter technical problems during a transaction, or who choose not to use the service because they would be required to disable pop-up blockers or use a particular browser, etc. We'll never know how these users feel about VR, because they don't get far enough into a VR transaction to make…comments.
Actually, we have some way of knowing. We ask. Yes sir, right there on the front page of QandANJ we say, "Click here to give us feedback on how our new software is working for you." Here's a sample of what we find: Since May 1st (79 days), we have received 23 comments. 16 of them were specifically technical (some were positive, some were of the nature, "it wasn't fast enough".) One comment came from a Mac user, 3 came from customers accessing us through the AOL interface and browser. So Mr. Lupien, we do make an effort to compile and monitor such information, looking for problematic trends with an eye on improving the service.
Finally, Lupien suggests that I have not been keeping up with the VR literature and if I had "taken the time to consider some of the issues discussed in this article before jumping on that user-centric high horse" I would have "come away with a better understanding of what is happening beyond QandANJ."
I can assure Mr. Lupien that I keep up quite well with VR literature thank you, and I'm familiar with Coffman and Arret's article, which you can read here (right at the bottom of the page, after Brenda Bailey-Hainer's reasoned response.) And if speaking from a place of fact and experience instead of conjecture and generality puts me on a high horse then what can I say? Giddyup.
In Part III (much shorter, I promise) I'll address the VR software versus IM question.
Epilogue: Customer comment from today: "I am exceedingly impressed. First time in ages I felt like I was getting something positive for my tax dollars." (Our funders sure hate to see this… Ha Ha )
Entry filed under: Virtual reference. Tags: Peter, Virtual reference.
2 Comments
I appreciate Peter's comments, but feel compelled to correct some statements which I feel are inaccurate. The assertions made in this article are not based on conjecture. They are based on personal experience, documented cases in the literature and the experience of other libraries.
In terms of experience, I have been involved in VR services for over 5 years and have contributed to developing, coordinating and/or managing VR in three different library environments (one public and two academic). At all of these institutions, we determined that the types of technical problems discussed in the article were having a significant negative impact on usage and on our users' experience. I am currently involved in a VR project which involves librarians from all library sectors. All of the individuals who have tried VR feel that they are not able to serve their patrons well, for the most part due to problems with software A review of the literature and discussions with other libraries reveals that these cases are not unique.
Coffman and Arret's articles are cited, but there are many more articles in the LIS literature which discuss and document the failure of VR as a customer service (Online is not an academic publication and does not favour lengthy literature reviews). There are many well written pieces which challenge the usefulness of VR. As more and more libraries either shut down their VR service or move to IM reference, I'm sure we'll see more of this in the literature. Furthermore, as stated in the article, libraries across North America were contacted and the vast majority felt that technical problems associated with their VR software prevented them from offering good service to their patrons. Again, not conjecture but the experience of close to 60 libraries in the U.S. and Canada. Peter seems to be basing his claims on his experience with one project (QandANJ). I am talking about a far larger number of cases. Also, posting a survey is not an efficient method for gathering data about technical problems users are experiencing. Rate of online survey completion are generally low, and this gives us no idea how many users are going away frustrated and not bothering to fill out a survey (or to ever come back).
Peter claims that a weakness of the article is that is does not state what versions of the software were tested. I'm sure he will appreciate that writing an article about VR technology is like hitting a moving target and that by the time a paper is written and published, technology may have evolved. I would suggest, however, that this is irrelevant in that the problems discussed in the article will continue to prevent libraries from offering good service to many of their patrons. Regardless of which version of Tutor.com, Docutek or QP we are talking about, the fact remains that as security features change and evolve, new problems will arise which create problems for our users. When SP2 was introduced, many libraries experienced a significant drop in usage. Many of our users couldn't access the service and other libraries have reported a drop of over 30%. That's hardly providing a user-friendly service. Vendors have responded to some of the SP2 problems (some vendors took months to respond), but what happens when the next security patch is introduced? Will VR users have to go through this all over again?
Luke Rosenberger, who also comments on this article (http://lbr.library-blogs.net/objects_in_mirror_are_closer_than_they_appear.htm), has addressed the issue more elequantly that I could. He states that it would be very easy to dismiss the article as out-of-date, but claims that this "would be a huge mistake" and goes on to point out that this "is a sobering reminder that no matter how much we perfect our interviewing and researching skills, it does no good for the patron who's unable to connect to our service, or gives up on our service, because of technical problems." Stating that the article is, in fact, very timely, he draws out attention to a recent study which shows that a whopping 39% of VR sessions were unsuccessful and goes on to point out that the "39% figure only reflects a subset of the patrons we've missed out on — because it counts only patrons who actually attempted to connect. That means there's another, unknown percentage looming behind that — patrons who find themselves face-to-face with an arcane error message, or instructions or requirements and simply abandon the service before even sending in a question." This is exactly the point of the Online article. Bill Drew, who commented on this post, correctly states that librarians are the only ones who want "a complicated and bloated VR system" and wonders why libraries don't move to IM.
As suggested in the article, IM allows us to deliver online service to patrons without forcing them to jump through hoops. IM is far more reliable and stable than most VR packages, isn't plagued by the technical problems discussed in the article, and patrons already use it. Even if we take the technical problems out of the equation, IM is till a more user-friendly option in that it puts us where the patron is, rather than expecting the patron to come to us (via a "a complicated and bloated VR system".) This is what the article urges librarians to consider.
So, um, are we gonna see Part III?


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Our good friend Nite Owl got us involved with this project for Art Murmur Oakland. A 16×20 ft wall to do whatever the fuck we pleased with. D young V and I only had a couple of days to bang this out . I actually like short deadlines because it cuts through all the bullshit and indecision. You just get it done. Awesome group of artists too. Nite Owl, Filth and Grime, Aura, Roar, 7seas, croma, onedr, Lydia Emily etc….
Tag Archives: cbs
Eddie Colla X D Young V X Art Murmur
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged 7seas, art, art murmur, aura, cbs, croma, D young V, Eddie, eddie colla, filth and grime, lydia emily, mural, nite owl, oakland, onedr, painting, paste, paste up, pasteup, roar, san francisco, sanfrancisco, sf, street, street art, streetart, wheat paste, wheatpaste


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migrate.pl - A script to migrate from other bug-trackers to Bugzilla.
./migrate.pl --from=<tracker> [--verbose] [--dry-run] Migrates from another bug-tracker to Bugzilla. If you want to upgrade Bugzilla, use checksetup.pl instead. Always test this on a backup copy of your database before running it on your live Bugzilla.
Specifies what bug-tracker you're migrating from. To see what values are valid, see the contents of the Bugzilla/Migrate/ directory.
Don't modify the Bugzilla database at all, just test the import. Note that this could cause significant slowdown and other strange effects on a live Bugzilla, so only use it on a test instance.
If specified, this script will output extra debugging information to STDERR. Specify multiple times (up to three) for more information.
This script copies data from another bug-tracker into Bugzilla. It migrates users, products, and bugs from the other bug-tracker into this Bugzilla, without removing any of the data currently in this Bugzilla.
Note that you will need enough space in your temporary directory to hold the size of all attachments in your current bug-tracker.
You may also need to increase the number of file handles a process is allowed to hold open (as the migrator will create a file handle for each attachment in your database). On Linux and simliar systems, you can do this as root by typing
ulimit -n 65535 before running your script.


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MONTREAL – I don't know what's less surprising: the fact that Nick Diaz started talking about retirement after his unanimous decision loss to Georges St-Pierre at UFC 158, or the fact that so few people seem to be taking the threat all that seriously.
We've been through this before with Diaz. Even when he's winning, he seems to have a love-hate relationship with this sport. In defeat he seems to temporarily forget the love part of the equation altogether. Then he takes some time, whether it's 10 minutes or a few weeks, and he finds a reason to keep going. This time the reason might come from the IRS, which, once it gets wind of Diaz's claim that he's "never paid taxes in [his] life," might show up with a bill that he can only pay in blood – his own or someone else's.
What are we supposed to make of Diaz's statement, which seemed like part confession and part cry for help? As UFC President Dana White said, "You wanna talk about sad? That's sad." And it is. That's really the only word for it. Obviously it's Diaz's responsibility, but if the people around him (who have no trouble taking their cut when his fight purses roll in) aren't looking out for him any better than that, well, it's just depressing to think about. Maybe none of us thought Diaz was the kind of fighter who spent his off-time in his financial planner's office, debating his level of exposure in the Stockton real estate market. But can't someone in his camp at least keep him out of jail?
The thing is, it's hard to know how seriously to take this. If you've watched just about any Diaz press conference, you've probably heard him say some pretty absurd things – things that make everyone around him burst into incredulous giggles –but it's tough to say whether he a) means for it to be funny, or b) realizes why it is. Would it really surprise any of us if Diaz's lawyer popped up with years of immaculate tax returns for his fighter and explained that he had no idea what Diaz was talking about? Would it surprise us more or less than if we found out that Diaz really did still owe back taxes on his win over Chris Lytle in 2002?
This is exactly the sort of thing that's fascinated us about the man for years. And, for the most part, watching Diaz make a mess of his own life from a safe distance has felt like a harmless hobby. Now it's starting to get serious. Now, if his tax evasion talk turns out to be more grounded in reality than his promises to retire, it might just get really sad.
The other Diaz brother has words for Mike Ricci, even if his motives remain a mystery
According to several sources, including MMA media member Mike Straka, UFC lightweight Nate Diaz instigated a verbal confrontation with Mike Ricci backstage following Ricci's decision win over Colin Fletcher on Saturday. Minutes after it happened, Ricci still seemed unsure what promoted Diaz to start up with the trash-talk while Ricci was busy savoring his first UFC win. Was it the fact that Ricci's Tristar Gym connection made him an ally of St-Pierre? Was it an attempt to get into the head of a potential future opponent? Ricci just shrugged.
"I don't know what his problem is, but that was all him," he told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com).
Regardless of the reason, it didn't seem to bother Ricci too much. It didn't even change his opinion of the Diaz boys, he explained.
"I have nothing against the Diaz brothers," Ricci said. "I'm actually a huge fan of the Diaz brothers. I love watching them fight. But if he doesn't like me too much, that's his business. I'm not going to lose sleep over it."
Jordan Mein is literally kicking tail and taking names
Following his first-round TKO of Dan Miller, Strikeforce import Jordan Mein showed up backstage with a wide grin that seemed equal parts elated and relieved. After nearly getting caught in a Miller armbar, he managed an escape solely because, he said, Miller "didn't have control of my thumb, so I just kept rolling." When he heard his corner shouting for him to get up and go on the attack, he did. Moments later, he became the first man to finish Miller, thus allowing him to "put a smiley face" next to Miller's name on the list he keeps of all UFC welterweights.
And no, that list is not a figurative one. If you're a UFC welterweight, Mein really does have your name written down on a list in his bedroom.
"I do, on a whiteboard," Mein said. "I wrote down every single welterweight in the UFC. … You've got to know who you're going to fight. You've got to have goals set in mind. You've got to know what's up, what's next. I look at that list every day. Dan Miller was in there. I look at his name and I'm like, OK, I'm ready. I've got to train every day, look at it when you wake up every day."
While Mein assured us he wasn't "putting on lipstick" and staring at the list in a creepy way while alone in his room, it does tell us something about his career ambitions. The 23-year-old already has more than 30 pro fights, so clearly he's not in the UFC just to see if he can hang. He's got his eye on every man in this division. Now we wait to find out whose name he'll zero in on next.
At Team Alpha Male, hints of a Ludwig-led revival
UFC bantamweight T.J. Dillashaw didn't mince words when accounting for the improved striking game that helped him knock out Issei Tamura in the second round of their UFC 158 prelim bout. The change was due in large part to Team Alpha Male's new kickboxing coach, Duane Ludwig, Dillashaw said.
"It's a huge difference," Dillashaw said. "It's not just for my striking, but also for practicing and being confident and having that person who's working as hard at his job as I am at mine."
But what of Ludwig's own fighting career? He suffered a knee injury in his last fight against Che Mills, and he likely won't be back to full strength until September, he said. Until then, he's actively avoiding making any decisions about the future of his career inside the cage.
"I'm not even thinking about fighting right now," he told MMAjunkie.com. "It's kind of nice."
You can see how it would be. Between kickboxing and MMA, Ludwig has been fighting at a steady clip for nearly 15 years now. Thanks to the coaching job at Team Alpha Male, he moved his family from Colorado to California and, for the first time in his adult life, now has the ability to leave his work at the office. When training for his own fights, Ludwig said, "I get so obsessive." As a coach, he can hammer his fighters into shape in the gym, maybe study some tape, then go home and give all his attention to his family.
"Mentally, it's really rejuvenating," Ludwig said.
Does that mean retirement is imminent? He wouldn't go that far. Not yet, anyway. Like almost every fighter, he'd rather go out on a win than an injury TKO loss. Then again, he's clearly pretty good at this coaching stuff.
Darren Elkins robbed of a clear finish, but will it matter?
Coming into his fight with Antonio Carvalho, UFC featherweight Darren Elkins had won four straight in the octagon, but still had trouble gaining much traction in the division.
"I had this good win streak going," Elkins said. "The one thing I was missing was a finish."
After a big right hand in the first put Carvalho on wobbly legs, that seemed like it was about to change. But as Elkins charged in with a follow-up punch, Carvalho dropped ever so briefly before bouncing back up like he was spring-loaded. He was clearly hurt but still in the fight. It was the perfect chance for Elkins to prove that he could finish, but referee Yves Lavigne beat him to it and called off the bout before we got a chance to see what would come next.
After the fight, Carvalho was surprisingly – almost shockingly – calm about the quick stoppage.
"I was trying to tell [Lavigne] I was OK, but he'd already made his decision, and he's obviously not going to go back on it," Carvalho said. "I respect Yves as a referee. He's reffed other of my fights before. We talked about it, and we laughed and I said, you know what? Thank you for protecting me, too. I don't know what would have happened after that."
For Elkins, the question is whether the win accounts for enough of a finish to rocket him up the ranks. He definitely showed he can do more than wrestle, but where does that leave him in the featherweight division?
"I think it's going to push me to a top 10 guy for sure," he said. "I think that win, going for a finish, more of an exciting fight, more a stand-up fight, it's a fight that could definitely do that."
With title tilts, a question of expectations and results
Now that it's over, I think it's safe to say that GSP's win over Diaz was not the worst beating we've ever seen in the octagon. It wasn't even the worst beating we saw that night. That's bound to leave some people disappointed, especially after all the talk about dark places and disrespect and bully payback that got drilled into our heads through ads so repetitive they felt like unsubtle attempts at brainwashing. The UFC promised us bad blood and a beatdown for the ages. What we got instead was more of the same from St-Pierre.
He came. He saw. He decisioned. What else did you expect?
What's that you say? You expected a grudge match on par with the one the UFC sold you in the lead-up to this event? Yeah, well, sorry. The UFC can market the sizzle, but it can't do much about the steak. That part is up to the fighters, and St-Pierre has no need or obligation to deliver what the UFC promised on his behalf. Face it, GSP gonna GSP. Why wouldn't he? It's the UFC's job to get butts in seats. It's his job to win, which he does by playing it nice and smart and predictable.
The trouble for the UFC is, it can only go to that well so many times before it comes up dry. Every fight can't be a grudge match, and when even the grudge matches don't look like grudge matches, people start to wonder whether they're paying for empty promises. That's why the GSP vs. Johny Hendricks bout – if, in fact, it materializes as it should – should be a refreshing change.
Clearly, these two aren't going to talk much trash. That much was evident as they sat next to each other at the post-fight presser, praising one another's skills like doubles tennis partners. Maybe this one can just be about the fight, and about the specific combination of talent and tactics that each man brings to the table. It might not make for sexy promo spots or juicy sound bites, but at least it's a promise that has a greater chance of being fulfilled.
Meanwhile, all Jake Ellenberger can do is watch and wait. With a first-round TKO of Nate Marquardt on Saturday, he did all he could possibly do to keep his name alive in the welterweight sweepstakes. But that's the hard part about being on a card where so much about one division gets determined in one night. With all that welterweight action, it's all too easy to get lost in the shuffle.
For complete coverage of UFC 158, stay tuned to the UFC Events section of the site.