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< To: ATL
This is the ATL wiki FAQ. The entries of the old ATL FAQ have not been copied here yet.
Metamodels declared in the header (after the
create keyword) of transformation models have to be named. What name should be used?
Usually, the name given to a metamodel is used in several places: the name of the file containing its definition (e.g. in XMI or KM3), the name of the main package of the metamodel, and the name given in the header of ATL transformations. This is the simple scenario that should be followed when possible.
In practice, the EMF driver for ATL (emf4atl) does not care about the name given to the metamodel in the header. There is no strong notion of main package. Any name can thus be used.
The MDR driver (mdr4atl), however, does care about this name. A specific package has to be specified to create a model conforming to a metamodel. If the correct package is not selected, the created model usually does not behave as expected. The current version of mdr4atl selects the package having the name specified in the transformation header or any package if there is no match.
When designing ATL, we started from the most recent OCL specification at the time. It is the OMG Final Adopted Specification ptc/03-10-14.
We elaborated from this document to solve the following issues:
- ATL works with MOF, not UML. The specification only gave some hints on how to do this.
- We decided to use model element references so that the metamodel is not defined as an extension of the metametamodel. Note that the specification defined it as an extension of UML.
- We had to resolve some of the ambiguities of the specification. The latest version of OCL 2.0 specification probably solves most of these but ATL predates it.
- We simplified the metamodel and syntax so that it works with TCS (or more precisely the version of TCS at that time).
The last step (simplification of metamodel and syntax) was necessary but did not impact the result too much in
our opinion.
It mostly resulted in forbiding some of OCL syntactical shortcuts.
For instance, iterators and
self must be specified explicitely in ATL whereas this is optional in OCL.
We are confident that ATL is really close to OCL 2.0. Moreover, it is certainly interoperable with any OCL tool having an explicit metamodel. This interoperability can indeed be achieved via model transformation.


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Hi Folks
Don't know whether its a bit naff but are we doing anything for Burns night
I was thinking something along the lines of inky fingers perhaps hosting a Burns evening and the kitchen doing veggie haggis burritos
What do you folks think?
Mr C
Burns Night
Post Reply
2 posts • Page 1 of 1
Re: Burns Night
Inky Fingers did an alt-Burns thing last year, but two other local organisers are doing prominent Burns night things already (plus we're really busy). Others could tho.
Post Reply
2 posts • Page 1 of 1

subset: commoncrawl


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Dinner Tonight: Farro Salad with Roasted Kale and Beets Recipe
Your source for quick recipe every single week day.
In Autumn begins a season of roasting. The snap of cold air is here to stay, earthy vegetables like beets are in season, and nothing beats the deep flavor of caramelization the oven provides. That was the only inspiration for this recipe—that and the remains of my last shipment of vegetables from this year's CSA. I slid the red and golden beets (peeled and sliced thin) and a leafy bunch of kale into the oven and set out to figure out how to serve them.
The answer came when I found a bag of farro in the pantry, the nutty grain that's as healthy as brown rice but cooks in half the time (while tasting twice as good). It never seems to get mushy and pairs perfectly with in-season vegetables (In summer, I tossed it with sautéed slices of zucchini with plenty of garlic, and added a dollop of pesto). The roasted kale was especially cool, tender in parts and starting to crisp in others, which added fantastic texture, and even though the beets turned my entire dinner pink, I sort of liked it. Though it's not pictured, the pièce de résistance was crumbles of goat cheese which took it to the next level of awesome. I was surprised at how delicious it all came out, the way simple in-season food often does.
The filling farro makes this a satisfying main. But I'm also filing this away for Thanksgiving. It would make a perfect side dish or, sans goat cheese, a vegan main course. Carrots, parsnips, and many other root vegetables could join or stand in for the beets.
- Yield:4 to 6
- 3 beets, peeled and thinly sliced on a mandoline
- 2 bunches kale, tough ribs removed and leaves roughly torn
- 3 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 1 pound farro (pearlized)
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice from 1 lemon
- 3 ounces fresh goat cheese
Adjust oven rack to middle position and preheat oven to 400°F. Spread beets, kale, and garlic on rimmed baking sheet and drizzle with the olive oil. Season with salt and pepper, and toss to combine. Roast until the beets are soft and the kale is tender, 20-30 minutes.
Meanwhile, cover farro with cold water in medium saucepan, season with salt, and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook until tender, about 30 minutes. Drain excess water, then add roasted vegetables and toss to combine. Season to taste with salt, pepper, and lemon juice and divide amongst bowls. Crumble goat cheese and serve hot or warm.
All products linked here have been independently selected by our editors. We may earn a commission on purchases, as described in our affiliate policy.


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What's New
Fixed bugs.
App Description
Howdy partners!
Play Darts game with Cheeky Mouse!
There's a cheeky mouse trying to steal an apple.
He thinks that he is disguising himself as a poster on the wall.
But we know better!
Aim at the mouse.
Err I mean "Apple" with your darts.
I will just play with him,yee haw!
**Easy to play**
1.Look around to check there is no one
and no obstacles around you.
2.Hold your device firmly with one hand to avoid
dropping it.
3.Touch the screen
with your finger of your other hand.
4.Shake it forward once
and release your finger at the same time.
5.Then a dart will fly towards the target.
-Hit center of the apple to get higher points.
-Make no misses, hit consecutively to get bonus points.
-Adjust the wind that may be blowing...
and hit the target!
{What is this mouse?}
-He is a trained mouse so he will dodge ALL the darts.
-He may "egg you on", but it's not a big deal to you, right?
-Oh, and remember "Do Not Try This At Home"
There are 4 game modes,
so choose the one you like best and enjoy!
Presented by PONOS
App Changes
- March 15, 2012 Initial release
- March 17, 2012 New version 1.1.0
- March 30, 2012 New version 1.1.1
- August 23, 2012 Price increase: FREE! -> $0.99
- October 10, 2012 New version 1.1.2
- December 13, 2012 Price decrease: $0.99 -> FREE!


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SACRAMENTO (AP) — Sacramento County authorities are praising the quick-thinking of a 7-year-old girl who was kidnapped off the street and thrown into her abductor's car trunk, but managed to escape.
Sheriff's Department Sgt. Jason Ramos said the girl was walking with her mother and two siblings in south Sacramento on Saturday afternoon when a man pulled up next to the family, grabbed the girl and drove off.
Ramos says the man had traveled only a couple of blocks when the girl jumped out of the trunk while the car was moving. She suffered scrapes but was otherwise uninjured.
He says investigators don't want to reveal how the girl freed herself from the trunk because it might give kidnappers ideas for how to thwart escapes by future victims.
The man was a stranger to the girl and her family.


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Available in Several Finishes for 3/8" and 1/2"
(10 and 12 mm) Glass
CRL 90 Degree Straight End Clamp Type "D"
Stair and Walkway Railings have pre-drilled bases and are ready for use
in the construction of metal and glass railings, partitions, room dividers and
more. Two sizes accommodate 3/8 inch or 1/2 inch (10 or 12 millimeter) thick
Standard finishes are Brass, Chrome and Brushed Nickel with custom finishes
Simply loosen screws on one end, insert glass edge and tighten.
Use CRL Tuff-Pak Tape to cushion glass in clamps.
Color: Chrome
Minimum Order: 1 Each
Types Available:
Type A: Acute End Clamp for Slanted Railings
Type B: Open Center Clamp for Slanted Railings
Type C: Obtuse End Clamp for Slanted Railings
Type D: Straight End Clamp for Level Railings
Type E: Straight Open Center Clamp for Level Railings


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Letters to a Friend
"Picture poems are worth so little compared with the meeting of hearts you are my poem--- reps
ZEN FLESH ZEN BONES - Special Edition - Buy Now
(ISBN #limited edition)
Limited Edition Hawaiian Koa Wood Cover Book "ZEN FLESH ZEN BONES" by Paul Reps Jesus Sanchez has completed 100 copies of a special edition of the book "zen flesh zen bones" with beautiful koa hawaiian wood covers(acacia hawaiianense). The Koa, collected in the island of Hawaii is dried and milled by hand. The binding is a design from the 13th & 14th century German school. -linen and hemp handmade end sheets. -oasis goat skin from North Africa -23Kt. gold titles
Zen Flesh, Zen Bones
Reps' classic book
Zen Flesh, Zen Bone
(originally published in 1957), was one of the first collections of Zen writings to gain widespread popularity in the counter-culture generation of the 1960s. Rated as one of the top 100 spritual books written in the last 100 years, it is still considered one of the classic texts on Zen.
Copyright © 2001 - 2008 Reps Playshop - All Rights Reserved


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1. Thursday's Big East opener against Connecticut will determine what kind of season Seton Hall has. A win, and we can see an NIT berth at the end of the tunnel. A loss, and it's going to be tough to avoid the 0-3 start (with trips to Marquette and Pitt on tap) that typically dooms a team's postseason hopes. The Pirates are 2-20 vs. UConn since 1993 and 0-6 since 2001. If they're not going to play a big lineup for stretches on Thursday, they had better shoot the lights out.
2. For Rutgers to win its Big East opener at South Florida, Hamady N'Diaye has to stop collecting fouls like baseball cards. The Scarlet Knights can survive against Lilliputian Manhattan when he gets three fouls in 13 minutes but it won't happen against a team with 6-9 rebound-monger Kentrell Gransberry in the paint. If Rutgers doesn't win this one, it may be a while (vs. GTown, at Providence, vs. Louisville, at Syracuse are the games that follow) before they get a league W.
3. Here is our Big East power ranking with league play looming: 1. Georgetown; 2. Marquette; 3. Pittsburgh; 4. Louisville; 5. Villanova; 6. Notre Dame; 7. West Virginia; 8. Providence; 9. Connecticut; 10. Syracuse; 11. Seton Hall; 12. Cincinnati; 13. South Florida; 14. Rutgers; 15. DePaul; 16. St. John's.
1. North Plainfield and Pingry are much better. Two years removed from a one-win campaign, the Canucks won the Bound Brook Tournament with what looked like a wild win over the host Crusaders. Pingry came up just short against Governor Livingston in the Brearley Tournament but sports one of Somerset County's better backcourts in Jeff Tanenbaum and Tyler Parsels.
2. Nice job by Montgomery recovering from an opening-night drubbing by Immaculata to win the Gene Haley Tournament. Looking forward to seeing the Cougars in the flesh against Voorhees Friday night.
3. Who's No. 1? The difference among the top five teams in the area is negligible. With Scotch Plains losing to J.P. Stevens (what happened there ?????), Bridgewater beating Piscataway by one, Piscataway beating Seton Hall Prep (wow), Plainfield beating Linden and then squeezing by Watchung Hills in overtime, one thing has become clear in the season's first two weeks: There is going to be a lot of movement in the Courier News Top 10 this winter, maybe more than ever before.
Wednesday: What Rutgers must do to be competitive in the Big East this season.
Thursday: A feature on the most pleasant academic surprise on Seton Hall's roster.
Plus: Live coverage of the Big East opener for both Rutgers and Seton Hall.
Saturday: Our high school hoops Notebook/Top 10, focusing on the plethora of quality big men in the area.


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LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Unified School District on Friday reached an agreement with its teachers union to include students' state standardized test scores as a measure of teacher performance.
The nation's second-largest district said the tentative agreement stipulates that classroom observation will form the bulk of a teacher's performance appraisal, but test scores will also be taken into account.
"This agreement strikes a balance that is much needed in the country right now in terms of using students measures of academic progress as both a vehicle to improve instruction and to hold us accountable for the achievement of students in our schools," said Superintendent John Deasy.
Deasy said the district will form a committee to oversee and implement the new evaluation policy, which will go into effect immediately.
Warren Fletcher, president of United Teachers Los Angeles, which has long opposed using test scores to rate teachers, said data from the California Standards Test will only be used at an initial planning conference to set teachers' performance objectives, not for the final evaluation.
"This is significant because these scores have been found to be an unreliable method of measuring a teacher's effectiveness," Fletcher said.
The agreement came after nearly six months of negotiations and just days ahead of Tuesday's deadline to present a proposed evaluation procedure to a judge presiding over a lawsuit filed against the district last year.
An anonymous group of district families sponsored by EdVoice, a Sacramento-based education reform group, charged that the district was violating California's Stull Act, which mandates that test scores be used to appraise teachers. The judge ruled in June in favor of the families and ordered the district and the union to hammer out an agreement.
The union says test scores are not good measures of teacher effectiveness because students vary individually as learners and teachers particularly in high-poverty, low-performing schools could be unfairly punished.
Opponents say the true impact of a good teacher, including encouraging students, dealing with their problems, and stimulating intellectual curiosity, does not show up in test scores.
The seven-page settlement must still be approved by the judge, the school board and the union membership.
Scott Witlin, attorney for the plaintiff families, said he was heartened that the lawsuit succeeded in making teachers more accountable, but said the agreement still gives teachers a lot of latitude in their evaluations because it does not specify how much weight should be given to test scores.
"At first glance, it meets the smell test," he said. "We'll see how it is implemented."
The dispute over use of test scores in performance appraisals was a key factor that led to an eight-day teachers' strike in Chicago Public Schools in September. The district agreed to limit the weight of test scores to 30 percent in evaluations.


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Scooped: Carrot Cake Ice Cream
I scream, you scream, we all scream for...
When I was growing up there was only one cake. It was carrot cake, because red velvet's invasion of the American bakery world hadn't happened yet and this was the only cream cheese frosting delivery vehicle around.
Think about it: in the American frosting world—that is, discounting Swiss buttercream and its relatives—what's a better frosting than cream cheese? You need to whip cream pretty heavily or stabilize it to keep it in shape, and I'm not alone in thinking that American buttercream is just too thick and sweet for most cakes. (Do you agree? Let me know.)
These days I keep my moist spice cakes and my thick frosting separate, but I haven't lost the taste for tangy dairy mixed with sweet spices and brown sugar. Anna recently showed you a carrot cake reimagined with slices of cake sandwiching a cream cheese semifreddo; here's another interpretation—carrot cake ice cream.
It's an easy blended cream cheese base flavored with turbinado sugar* and a hint of cloves. The carrots and sugar give the ice cream a complex caramel profile cut just enough by cream cheese twang. It tastes a lot like a carrot cake blitzed in a blender—in a good way.
* Also known as "sugar in the raw" and my preferred brown sugar for most ice cream. It's less molasses-y and overbearing than commercial brown sugar.
Except for frying some carrots in butter, this recipe has no cooking at all. No eggs, no tempering, no lengthy chill-downs in the fridge. Which means that you could whip this up by lunch and have it ready to eat at dinner. Piece of...you know.
Get the Recipe
All products linked here have been independently selected by our editors. We may earn a commission on purchases, as described in our affiliate policy.


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USB Type A Male an B Male
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For destinations within the European Union (EU), delivery will usually be made within two to five working days of despatch, depending on service and country.
Orders received and accepted before 3.00pm (CET) will be despatched on the same working day, subject to availability.
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If the country you require is not in the list or if you are a Business (Trade) account holder, please contact us, and we will calculate the delivery cost for you.
From the Lines cable connectivity concept developed by Lindy, Cromo Line USB 2.0 Type A to B cables are high performance, designer connections that combine premium construction with striking connector architecture.
Cromo Line USB 2.0 cables feature double shielded construction with tinned copper conductors for premium performance and corrosion resistance. High quality gold plated contacts and connectors maintain optimal signal integrity and maximum reliability.
Data transfer speeds up to 480Mbps are supported for the quick and effortless transfer of large data volumes.
Cromo Line USB 2.0 Type A to B cables are available in lengths from 0.5m, 1m, 2m, 3m, 5m and 7.5m.
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Posted by Editoress on 03/16/11
Effective March 1st, 2011, Norco Products Ltd., Canada's largest bicycle, parts and accessories distributor, signed a deal as an official distributor for SPANK products to the Canadian IBD market.
An up-and-coming mountain bike brand, Spank Industries produces progressive, high-quality bicycle components for riders of all off-road disciplines from dirt jump to cross country. The unique blend of innovative in-house technologies and exciting design driven aesthetics of their products has quickly put their name on the map as a top quality components brand. Though many riders may have heard of the Spank brand, they are new to the Canadian market.
Spank took their time in selecting a Canadian partner, waiting for the perfect opportunity to enter the competitive Canadian market. "With the support of a partner like Norco, with such extensive experience and deep involvement in the Canadian MTB scene, we feel we have found the perfect fit," stated Mike Dutton, Spank Industries Brand Manager. With a complete lineup of frames, rims, bars, stems and pedals, the partnership will provide an excellent addition to Norco's extensive product offering.
"We are extremely excited about distributing Spank products to our Canadian dealers. Their mix of bicycle parts is first-class in style, innovation, strength and quality," said Geoff Pradine, Norco Aftermarket Parts Buyer. Norco is now taking orders on Spank and anticipates to ship to dealers by mid-April.
|Return to Canadian Cyclist homepage | Back to Top


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Crew forward Olman Vargas has been summoned by the Costa Rica national team for its friendly against Honduras on Wednesday. Vargas left Columbus for Costa Rica shortly after Saturday's match against the Red Bulls. If Vargas plays on Wednesday, it would be his first cap for La Sele.
Vargas is expected back in Columbus on Thursday in time to be ready for this weekend's match against the Philadelphia Union.


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Emulation of dynamical systems by recurrent neural networks
- Properties of learnable dynamical systems
- Network capacity
- Role of single-neuron dynamics and cortical network connectivity
An essential prerequisite for any living being's survival is its ability to predict its environment and to adjust its behaviour according to the outcome of this prediction. From a physicist's point of view, our world constitutes a set of dynamical systems. It has been hypothesized that the mammalian neocortex has evolved towards a flexible dynamical substrate in order to emulate external dynamical systems, similar to a spring emulating the motion of a pendulum. Once a particular dynamical system is learned, trajectories for any (new) initial condition can be predicted. Recent studies have demonstrated that simple recurrent neural networks can indeed be trained to emulate a large number of dynamical systems. Current research in our group is focusing on the properties of the dynamical systems which can be emulated by a given neural network, the network capacity and the role of realistic single-neuron dynamics and cortical network connectivity.
Related publications:
Maass W., Joshi P., Sontag E.D. (2007), Computational aspects of feedback in neural circuits PLOS Comp Biol 3(1):1-20
Legenstein R., Maass W. (2007), Edge of chaos and prediction of computational performance for neural circuit models, Neural Networks 20(3):323-334
Hausler S., Maass, W. (2006), A Statistical Analysis of Information-Processing Properties of Lamina-Specific Cortical Microcircuit Models, Cerebral Cortex 17:149-162
Jaeger H., Haas H. (2004), Harnessing Nonlinearity: Predicting Chaotic Systems and Saving Energy in Wireless Communication Science 304(5667):78-80


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WASHINGTON (October 6, 2010) The following is a statement from Ralph O. White, Managing Associate General Counsel for Procurement Law at GAO, regarding todays decision on a protest filed by U.S. Aerospace, Inc., (B-403464, B-403464.2.):
On Wednesday, October 6, the U.S. Government Accountability Office denied a protest by U.S. Aerospace, Inc. challenging a decision by the Air Force to reject as late the protesters proposal for the KC-X tanker modernization program. This legal decision by GAO's attorneys concludes that the U.S. Aerospace proposal to build the KC-X tanker was received after the deadline for the receipt of proposals. Consequently the Air Force acted appropriately in rejecting the proposal. The decision addresses both the initial protest, and supplemental issues raised by the company. The decision is publicly available on GAOs website at http://www.gao.gov/decisions/bidpro/403464.htm. Any inquiries about the ongoing procurement for the KC-X tanker modernization program should be directed to the Air Force.
For more information contact Chuck Young in the GAO Office of Public Affairs at 202-512-4800.
The Government Accountability Office, known as the investigative arm of Congress, exists to support Congress in meeting its constitutional responsibilities. GAO also works to improve the performance of the federal government and ensure its accountability to the American people. The agency examines the use of public funds; evaluates federal programs and policies; and provides analyses, recommendations, and other assistance to help Congress make informed oversight, policy, and funding decisions. GAOs commitment to good government is reflected in its core values of accountability, integrity, and reliability.


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Media Contact: Museum Communications Officer, Koshland Science Museum
Phone: 202-334-1201, Email: Museum Communications Officer
Maureen O'Leary, Office of News and Public Information, The National Academies
202-334-2138, Email: Maureen O'Leary
December 14, 2009 - WASHINGTON – Beginning in January, the Marian Koshland Science Museum is offering several public programs and free "science cafés" that explore a wide range of topics, from identity theft to the U.S. Census to viruses such as influenza and AIDS. The public programs will take place at the Koshland Science Museum; the science cafés will be held at Busboys and Poets. A schedule of events follows.
Public Programs at the Koshland Science Museum
African American History Month Family Day: Counting America
Rescheduled to Saturday, Feb. 27, noon - 5 p.m.
Admission: Free
The 2010 U.S. census is fast approaching, and researchers have worked hard to ensure that the numbers are as accurately as possible. Everything from school funding to how many delegates a state has in the U.S. House of Representatives is determined by the census count. In addition, the demographic information collected by the census paints a vivid picture of who we are as a people. At this free family day, participants will explore plans for the 2010 census, take part in activities that illuminate the statistics behind the count, examine how cultural issues and perceptions of race affect the census, and study how census taking and racial descriptions have changed over time.
The Odor of Love: Is Attraction All in the Nose?
Thursday, Feb. 11, 7 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Admission: $30 (valid ID required)
Our sense of smell and natural body odors may play a much bigger role in sexual attraction than previously thought. Learn more about scientist Johan Lundström's intriguing research on the connections between the nose, the brain, and attraction. Lundström, of the Monell Chemical Senses Center in Philadelphia, will discuss recent findings and help participants explore the power of smell through "nose-on" activities. The event, co-hosted by Professionals in the City, a social and networking organization, will also include light refreshments and a chance to mix and mingle.
Pandemics in Retrospective
Thursday, March 11, 6:30 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Admission: $7 / $5 students
What have we learned about how the H1N1 pandemic has been handled so far in the United States? Join Nicole Lurie, assistant secretary for preparedness and response at the Department of Health and Human Services, and Katherine Edwards, professor of pediatrics of the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, Nashville, for a discussion of the pros and cons of public health responses to H1N1, how responses to the current outbreak differed those from past influenza pandemics, and the media's influence on public perceptions. Rob Stein, science editor of the Washington Post, will serve as moderator.
Science Cafés held at Busboys and Poets
These informal venues -- planned in conjunction with the science journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences -- provide opportunities to discuss complex issues in depth with experts. All science cafés will be held at Busboys and Poets, 5th and K Streets, N.W., Washington, D.C. Admission is free; those who attend must be 21 and have a valid ID.
The Dish: It's All in the Numbers -- Privacy, Math, and Social Security
Wednesday, Jan. 20, 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
The popularity of online shopping, banking, and social networking sites has made identity theft easier and far more common than ever before. New research conducted by Alessandro Acquisiti, associate professor of information technology and public policy at Carnegie Mellon University, shows how thieves can accurately guess a person's Social Security number, for example, with a few easily obtainable facts that many people post online. Join Acquisiti to explore how to make personal information less vulnerable and share your ideas for protecting privacy in an increasingly public world.
The Dish: Adaptation and Evolution -- The Life of an RNA Virus
Wednesday, Feb. 17, 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Nothing has posed a more persistent threat to human health than viral diseases. RNA viruses such as HIV, influenza, SARS, and hepatitis C challenge our immune systems like no other infectious agent. Unlike other viruses, RNA viruses mutate rapidly, making it very difficult for people to build immunity to them. In addition, RNA viruses can literally become part of our DNA; studying them provides insights into the patterns and processes of evolution over real time. Join Eddie Holmes, professor of biology with the Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, Pennsylvania State University, to discuss the genetics and evolution of RNA viruses and how to combat these often deadly agents.
The Dish: Finding Patient Zero
Wednesday, March 17, 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Tracing the origin of an outbreak is a critical clue in curing a disease, but doing so for a disease that is thousands of years old presents its own unique challenges. Join researcher Nathan Wolfe, Lorry I. Lokey Visiting Professor in Human Biology at Stanford University and director of the Global Viral Forecasting Initiative, to discuss how his team discovered the origin of malaria -- which still kills thousands each year. Share your thoughts on how their findings could be used to fight the disease.
The Dish: Do We Need a Climate Solution for Indoors?
Wednesday, April 21, 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Most people typically spend close to 90 percent of their time inside. While outdoor air quality is very important, so too is the quality of the air at home, at school, and at the office. However, most people know little about the condition of their indoor climate. The chemicals that are present indoors today are quite different from those of just a few decades ago. Join researcher Charles J. Weschler, adjunct professor in the UMDNJ-RWJMS Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine and visiting professor at the International Centre for Indoor Environment and Energy, Technical University of Denmark, for a discussion about the marked changes in indoor air quality over the last 50 years and explore ideas for protecting personal health and well-being.
Tickets and additional information for all Koshland events are available through the museum at 202-334-1201 or at the events page; advance registration is suggested. Reporters who wish to cover these programs should pre-register.
The Marian Koshland Science Museum engages the general public in an exploration of the current scientific issues that affect their lives. The museum's state-of-the-art exhibits, public events, and educational programs provide information that stimulates discussion and provides insight into how science supports decision making. Located at 6th and E streets, N.W., the museum is within close walking distance of the Gallery Place/Chinatown and Judiciary Square metro stops.


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Greetings, earthlings
Go for galactic gold
"Sufferin' Succotash!" Show the Martians what you're made of in six spectacular outer space events, featuring iconic cartoon characters such as Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and Porky Pig.
Compete in the fast-paced and action-packed Galactic Archery, Space Races, Trap Shooting, Space Boxing, Aquatic Sport and Space Golf. Don't forget to use awesome ACME gadgets to stay one giant leap ahead of your rivals.


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16 skulls found on streets in Prague
Police in Prague say 15 human skulls have been found in a wooden box found on a street, and another was found in a garbage bin.
Spokeswoman Jana Roesslerova says police found the 15 skulls Thursday morning near a garbage container after they were alerted by a telephone caller. Roesslerova says each skull was numbered.
She says another skull, also bearing a number, was found in a garbage bin Wednesday by a homeless person.
Police say it is not clear whether the two cases are connected. They have asked experts to help in their investigation.


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A report released in October by Corporate Insight outlines 10 ways innovation in the investing industry will affect advisors. The "Next-Generation Investing: Online Startups and the Future of Financial Advice" report is based on two years of research, studying over 100 financial startups.
Corporate Insight noted that among the many challenges facing the industry, attracting younger clients to replace retiring boomers is one of the biggest. Attracting those clients will require many advisors to change the way they're accustomed to doing business, though.
"Compared to baby boomers, members of Generations X and Y have higher expectations for online and mobile services and don't see as much value in regular face-to-face meetings," Corporate Insight noted in the report. "Many also have a skeptical attitude towards large financial institutions and have eschewed active investment management for passive, index-based ETFs."
(Check out Boom in Demand for 401(k) Advisors.)
That attitude has given innovative startups an opportunity to grab younger investors' business. Corporate Insight acknowledged that these services are unlikely to replace advisors completely, especially among high-net-worth clients, but they will have a measurable effect on the investment industry.
1. Algorithm-Based Investment Advice
Online financial services that use algorithms to provide financial advice typically start by asking users to complete a questionnaire about age, income, risk tolerance and investment preferences. These services are available at multiple fee scales, with the more expensive typically requiring more robust information.
Corporate Insight noted that these questionnaires are frequently superficial, and that the services rarely allow users to assign specific goals to investment accounts. Another drawback is that some users may feel uncomfortable executing the service's recommendations on their own.
Some examples of these types of services include SigFig, which analyses users' funds for high-cost or poor-performing holdings and suggests other funds, and Quovo, which targets small institutions like endowments and family offices.
We spoke with Grant Easterbrook, senior research analyst for Corporate Insight, in September about how these types of services will change the way investors get financial advice. "This technology is here to stay, whether or not some of these free services succeed or even paid ones," he said. "I don't think every one of these firms is going to succeed. Why it's one of the most interesting groups is a lot of these firms have B2B partnerships, or B2B partnerships are soon to be announced. That makes them a lot more stable in the long term. If there's a major correction they still have the revenues from their contracts. If it's just B2C, that's very hard. If trading goes down, people panic: then what happens to the firm?"
2. Trade Mimicking
Some startups have appeared that allow investors to copy the trades of other traders: sometimes professional managers, but friends and relatives or other traders are also possibilities. Corporate Insight identified two common ways they achieve this. One is to automatically copy the trades of a "trade leader. Investors can turn off trade mimicking at any time to invest on their own. The other method is to opt in to alerts about when the trade leader makes a trade. Investors will decide at each trade whether they want to copy it.
Trade leaders are compensated by the mimicking firm, according to Corporate Insight. Some let trade leaders set their own prices, but the most common pay schemes use a prearranged share of revenues or a share of the spread on forex trades.
The trade mimicking firm makes money by charging commissions on trades or subscription fees. Some examples of trade mimicking firms include German firm ayondo, which allows users to choose from a ranked list of traders; Currensee, recently acquired by OANDA, which vets forex traders and removes leaders from users account if they lose more than a specified amount; and Ditto Trade, a discount brokerage that lets users follow other customers.
Some drawbacks include how easy it is to switch managers. Corporate Insight noted that it's likely investors will drop trade leaders when they start to lose and miss out when the market goes back up. There's also the risk that investors won't understand the tax implication of all their trades.
3. Low-Cost Online Managed Accounts
Firms that use this method have clients buy into the same basket of low-cost ETFs as a managed account but with their own allocation based on the results of a questionnaire.
Users don't work with a manager or advisor, but have access to customer service. The minimum investment starts as low as $5,000 for many firms, and accounts frequently invest in passive index funds.
Corporate Insight identified two main drawbacks: an over-reliance on questionnaires, similar to algorithm-based services, and simply the lack of any relationship for the user. "Investors that work with a traditional financial advisor know that he or she is there to answer their panicked phone call, preventing them from taking huge losses during volatile periods and keeping them disciplined in their approach," the report noted. "With no human account manager to reassure clients, many investors may pull money out of these low-cost managed accounts during a correction."
Some examples of these types of firms include AssetBuilder, which offers eight index portfolio options that invest in Dimensional Funds; Betterment, which allows users to target multiple goals with different allocations; and the yet-to-be-released Invessence, which uses what Corporate Insight called a "notably detailed questionnaire" to address investors' needs.
4. Online Financial Advisor Search Tools
Unlike the automated services previously mentioned that took advisors out of the relationship, these firms work to connect investors and advisors. Corporate Insight identified three different approaches for these types of firms. One is a dedicated search engine that allows investors to search for a vetted advisor from a list compiled from publicly available information. Consumers can search for advisors based on factors like location, services provided, gender or AUM, and many include rankings or reviews from other users. Some examples of these types of firms include Tippybob, which rank advisors on a 100-point scale based on questionnaire answers provided by clients, and BrightScope, which provides information on advisors and firms, as well as different retirement plans.
The second approach incorporates a proprietary list of advisors into an existing website. The third approach uses a matchmaking style. Consumers enter information about what they're looking for, and the firm will identify possible matches.
These sites make money by charging advisors a fee to be listed. Some include listing for individual advisors or entire firms.
Corporate Insight noted that with consumers growing reliance on online research in other aspects of their lives, online search tools for advisors have some room to grow in the industry. However, boomers hold much of the wealth in this country and typically already have a relationship with an advisor. Another drawback is that these services need significant number of advisors to be useful, but many will be turned off until they see some benefits for themselves.
5. Online-Only Financial Advisors
While some automated services provide access to a personal advisor as part of their premium services, most stick to the automated model, Corporate Insight found. There are some firms, though, that attempt to provide online services similar to that of a traditional advisor relationship. By communicating through phone, email and video chat, these firms can charge lower fees, according to the report.
Corporate Insight noted that some large brokerages like Charles Schwab, TD Ameritrade and Fidelity already offer managed accounts where the client may have limited, if any, physical interaction with their advisor because they don't have a local branch or simply prefer it. "The strong growth numbers of managed accounts at these firms suggests that an advisor relationship without in-person meetings is viable," according to the report.
Some examples include eSavant, the online-only branch of Savant Capital Management and Mariner Holdings' FirstPoint Financial, which charges a quarterly asset-based fee and has not established an account minimum.
6. Online Financial Planning and Budget/Cash Management Tools
With these tools, consumers take control of all of their financial planning. Corporate Insight noted a distinction between online financial planning tools and budgeting tools. Many online tools exist to help consumers track monthly spending and assign goals. However, "adhering to a strict budget is a necessary piece to the puzzle when it comes to achieving one's financial goals, but budgeting alone is not enough."
One obvious drawback is that these sites will only help consumers who are already inclined to be financially responsible. Furthermore, even if they sign up, consumers have to keep their information up-to-date and accurate. Corporate Insight expects some firms will incorporate account aggregation in the future as a way to keep consumers honest about their finances, and to simplify the data entry process.
Some examples of these firms include Goalgami and Planwise, both of which allow users to set specific goals and dates for when they hope to achieve them, and incorporate their spending habits to see how on-track they are.
7. Retirement Plan-Specific Advice
Some firms have launched online services that offer plain-English descriptions of a retirement plan's rules and fees. Some, like BrightScope, may also compare them to other similar plans. Although most providers have information on hundreds of plans, Corporate Insight found, small plans may not be included, forcing participants to enter information on their own.
Other examples of these types of firms include Kivalia, which provides asset allocation advice for 401(k), 403(b) and 457 plans, and FutureAdvisor, which analyzes the selected plan based on costs compared to other plans and average account balances.
Corporate Insight noted that many participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans already have access to similar services through their plan sponsor. However, many sponsors use outdated or limited third-party tools as part of their online offering.
8. Customizable ETFs
Some firms allow consumers to build their own ETF. Investors own shares of each of the underlying securities rather than shares of the fund.
The two main firms that offer these services, Motif Investing and Folio Investing, don't charge expense ratios.
Investors can buy a pre-packaged ETF or start from scratch. Motif allows investors to choose up to 30 different stocks; Folio allows up to 100.
Some of the drawbacks Corporate Insight identified are difficulties with the customization process: if the underlying holdings are rebalanced, it's difficult to notify users who have made changes to the standard basket.
Fidelity and TD Ameritrade have experimented with similar schemes, but those tools treated trades as individual transactions with standard commissions, according to Corporate Insight. The report noted that most brokerages aren't likely to adopt customizable ETFs for fear of cannibalizing their own managed product and trade commission revenue.
9. Real Estate Crowdfunding
Unlike REITs, which provide diversified exposure to real estate, crowdfunding websites offer investors direct ownership of real estate properties by offering shares of vetted opportunities or stakes in mortgages or home equity.
Corporate Insight noted that many of these sites are still in beta testing, so the report did not include profiles of individual firms. However, assuming these schemes take off, they could become popular among long-term investors who want more control over real estate investments, Corporate Insight suggested. They would also provide more access to new developments.
One limitation that might prevent real estate crowdfunding from ever taking off is the SEC's requirement that investors be accredited; that is, they must earn more than $200,000 per year for at least two years; have a joint income of $300,000 per year; or have net worth over $1 million, either individually or jointly. However, on Oct. 23, the SEC voted to propose rules that would allow companies to sell securities to raise money through crowdfunding. Those rules would limit how much money a company could raise and how much individuals can invest. Investors who don't meet the accreditation requirement might still be able to invest in startups if the rules are approved.
Some drawbacks are that it's hard for investors to determine the value of a property that may be thousands of miles away without extensive information about it. It also requires investors be fairly sophisticated. Among the questions they need to ask are how the developers' financials are audited and how they are compensated. This puts a large burden on the crowdfunding website. "Just like purchasing shares of a REIT is an investment in the wisdom of the REIT manager, using a real estate crowdfunding website means placing your trust in the vetting process and the expertise of the people who select the properties that are available on the platform," according to the report.
10. Tuition Financing Startups
Corporate Insight identified three strategies for enterprising young students to finance their education and some firms that are capitalizing on that need.
Some firms are offering loans in exchange for a stake of the student's future earnings. Funding comes from investors or from the firm itself. They commonly take between 3% and 10% of the student's income for a set number of years, usually about 10 years. They may also provide some mentoring or support to the student to protect their investment.
Some examples of these types of firms are Pave and Upstart.
Another way students are funding their education is through micro-financing: asking for small donations from friends, family or their local community. Some examples of these firms include Give College and GradSave, which cater to parents, and Campus Slice and BrainFund, which help students solicit donations.
Corporate Insight was skeptical that these types of services would catch on as a major funding vehicle and suggested that they would be more successful as part of a broader service. Fees are expensive, and donations are likely to only come in a few times a year, consequently requiring a "huge number of customers" to be successful.
Finally, some students are securing loans from alumni. Some firms, like SoFi and CommonBond, are connecting students with benevolent alumni who would rather directly finance student loans than contribute to the school's general fund. Students can get a lower rate than they would at a private lender, and the scheme appeals to charitable investors who want to feel like they're supporting a good cause.
Currently, those providers are only available at a few institutions, but Corporate Insight had high hopes for their futures. "The 'loans from alumni' concept seems like a win-win. So long as the middleman keeps the fees reasonable, loans from alumni should become more common."
– Check out more content on ThinkAdvisor:


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A Rustic Fall Wedding at Megunticook Golf Club in Rockport, Maine
Camille Conover (24 and an online boutique producer) and Dennis Gunderson (30 and a private yacht program manager) planned a romantic fall affair inspired by loosely gathered arrangements of blush-colored cafe au lait dahlias. "I absolutely love how end-of-season blooms have that 'holding on to summer' feel," Camille says. The flowers were the inspiration behind their organic palette of green, pewter, blush and merlot. Paper cones made from recycled sheet music housed hundreds of flower petals, which guests tossed during the couples recession down the aisle. Camille's wild, textured bouquet incorporated lush cafe au lait dahlias and a single green strawberry sourced from a local farm. Jars of homemade blueberry jam made by Camille's mother deliciously doubled as escort cards. To keep the focus on the flowers and the food, the couple opted for simple white china and table linens. "We wanted the atmosphere to be that of an intimate summer dinner," Camille says. Understated décor lent to the day's fuss-free feel, while a live jazz band and lots of candlelight delivered just the right amount of refined flair.


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An interstellar energy crisis
In the not-too-distant future, the energy crisis on Earth has forced mankind into space in search of an alternative power source.
You are Employee 1001, a worker for the Solarus Corporation, sent to Mars to restore communications and continue mining for precious minerals after the original colony mysteriously fell silent. But as you explore the red planet, it's clear that something is very wrong…
Now you must tunnel deep beneath the Martian surface, mining minerals and trying to run a successful operation while solving puzzles, improving and enhancing your character and battling against powerful alien forces.


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The MTV Africa Music Awards (MAMA) is set to make a comeback in 2021, when it will be held virtually, in partnership with Uganda, on 20 February 2021...
26 Nov 2020
Following these simple steps can help to keep your holiday memorable in the best possible way...
Thea van de Mortel 1 Dec 2020
World Travel Awards - the global initiative to recognise and reward excellence in travel and tourism - has unveiled its Africa 2020 winners to coincide with its inaugural Africa Winners Day.
9 Nov 2020
A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test certificate not older than 72 hours and travel insurance are just some of the requirements for travellers to South Africa upon arrival on the country's shores.
5 Oct 2020
Here's how to travel with purpose and be a more responsible tourist...
Brendan Paddison and Karla Boluk 18 Sep 2020
Timberland has set a goal for its products to have a net positive impact on nature by 2030, in en effort to address the negative environmental impact of the fashion industry...
2 Sep 2020
Lorna Jane recently launched an "antiviral" line of activewear, called "LJ Shield", generating significant backlash from medical professionals...
Catherine Burke 20 Jul 2020
If bars are forced to restrict people's movement in our post-coronavirus pandemic world, they will lose some some of their most important social functions...
William Straw 12 Jun 2020
The world's largest jewellery maker will stop using newly mined silver and gold in its jewellery by 2025 and only buy from recycled sources...
9 Jun 2020
As Covid-19 shifts the global economic outlook into deep recession, reflecting the impact of social distancing measures on economic activity, no industry remains untouched...
Camilla Butler 5 Jun 2020
Adidas has surged ahead to become a global leader in sourcing sustainable cotton...
13 Feb 2020


text: Call2Compassion and Justice Mumbai (November 2013) RESOURCESINTERNATIONAL GATHERINGSCALL2COMPASSION AND JUSTICE MUMBAI (NOVEMBER 2013) About Call2Compassion and Justice Mumbai took place in November 2013. Some 350 delegates attended the gathering, coming from ten countries, including India, the Philippines, Nepal, Australia, South Africa, Thailand, Zimbabwe, Ivory Coast, the UK and the USA. Testimonials 'This is a very challenging conference; it gives us more energy to pursue the work we're doing. I'm blessed to go home and do the work. Now the ball is in my court.' 'I hadn't thought that the church could do so much, and I take up the call of going and sensitising my church.' Learning resources To watch the highlights and plenary sessions from Mumbai, please click below. Welcome and Introduction Morning devotion Opening plenary Second day plenary session - Doing Integral Mission Second day plenary session - Human Trafficking Fourth day plenary session - Children at Risk Fourth day plenary session - Urban Housing Project visit Closing Plenary Session Highlights Interview with World Vision Interview with YWAM Reflections part 1 Reflections part 2 Reflections part 3 Reflections part 4 Reflections part 5 Reflections part 6 Reflections part 7 Reflections part 8 Reflections part 9 Reflections part 10 Reflections part 11 Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share by Email Print Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share by Email Print


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Ark. says 955 workers furloughed over shutdown
Arkansas budget officials say state furloughs imposed because of the partial shutdown of the federal government has turned out to be not as deep as expected - so far.
Richard Weiss of the Department of Finance and Administration said Tuesday 955 workers were furloughed, according to figures from each agency. The Military Department lost 564 people while the Crowley's Ridge Technical Institute lost one.
Federal money helps pay for some state jobs. Gov. Mike Beebe warned on Monday that up to 2,000 state employees might be furloughed. DF&A said that if the shutdown continues, the number of workers furloughed go may rise.
The Health Department said it had 12 furloughs, while the initial expectation was that 300 people could have been impacted. The Department of Human Services reported 202 furloughs.


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"Better Buildings Neighborhood Program." Home Energy 30.5 (2013)..
China Energy and Emissions Path to 2030. . 2013. LBNL-4866E..
"China's Energy and Emissions Outlook to 2050: Perspectives from Bottom-Up Energy End-Use Model." Energy Policy 53 (2013) 51-62. LBNL-6179E..
Cooling the Planet: Opportunities for Deployment of Superefficient Room Air Conditioners. 2013. LBNL-6164E..
Data Availability in Appliance Standards and Labeling Program Development and Evaluation. Berkeley: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 2013. LBNL-6282E..
Design of Standards and Labeling programs in Chile: Techno-Economic Analysis for Refrigerators. 2013. LBNL-6295E..
"Efficiency Improvement Opportunities for Personal Computer Monitors: Implications for Market Transformation Programs." Energy Efficiency 6 (2013) 545-569. LBNL-5533E..
"Efficiency Improvement Opportunities in TVs: Implications for Market Transformation Programs." Energy Policy 59 (2013) 361-372..
"Electrical consumption of two-, three- and four-wheel light-duty electric vehicles in India." Applied Energy 115 (2013) 582-590..
Energy Efficiency Appliance Standards: Where do we stand, how far can we go and how do we get there? An analysis across several economies. 2013. LBNL-6294E..
Energy Efficiency Country Study: Republic of South Africa. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 2013. LBNL-6365E..
"Energy Efficiency - How Far Can We Raise the Bar? Revealing the Potential of Best Available Technologies." Energy 59 (2013) 72-82..
Energy Efficient Refrigerators Incentive Program Options for South Africa. Berkeley: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 2013. LBNL-6536E..
"Energy use of U.S. residential refrigerators and freezers: function derivation based on household and climate characteristics." Energy Efficiency 6.1 (2013) 135-162. LBNL-6026E..
Energy-efficient Public Procurement Best Practice in Program Delivery SEAD Initiative Procurement Working Group. 2013. LBNL-6398E..
"Estimation of CO2 Emissions from China's Cement Production: Methodologies and Uncertainties." Energy Policy 57 (2013) 172-181. LBNL-6329E..
"Evidence of Progress – Measurement of Impacts of Australia's S&L Program from 1990-2010." 7th International Conference on Energy Efficiency in Domestic Appliances and Lighting. 2013. LBNL-6783e..
Fundamental Phenomena affecting Low Temperature Combustion and HCCI Engines, High Load Limits and Strategies for Extending these Limits, Progress in Energy & Combustion Science. 2013..
A Global Review of Incentive Programs to Accelerate Energy-Efficient Appliances and Equipment. 2013. LBNL-6367E..
Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Options in ISEEM Global Energy Model: 2010-2050 Scenario Analysis for Least-Cost Carbon Reduction in Iron and Steel Sector. 2013. LBNL-6550E..
A Guidebook on Grid Interconnection and Islanded Operation of Mini-Grid Power Systems Up to 200 kW. 2013. LBNL-6224E..
"An international Survey of Electric Storage Tank Water Heater Efficiency and Standards." Southern African Energy Efficiency Convention 2013. Johanesburg, South Africa, 2013. LBNL-6725e..
"Mobility Towers: Improving transportation efficiency measures by persistent evaluation of city-wide travel behavior." ECEEE 2013 Summer Study. Belambra Les Criques, France, 2013..


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Compression Calf Guards
Lighter than calf sleeves, the 2XU Compression Calf Guards are great for training or competitions. Extremely powerful, breathable and engineered with UPF50+ sun protection your legs will definitely thank you!
Product Variations
- Color:
- Size:
Product Actions
Technical specifications
Item No: UA1987b-BLK_BLK-XXS
Product Details
The 2XU Compression Calf Guards are strategically designed to be exceptionally effective for the containment of the calf muscle when training and competing. Repeated muscle vibration is directly related to causing fatigue, muscle damage and shin splints. A versatile item that allows athletes to use their preferred sock and can also be worn under a wetsuit making transition times faster during triathlon.
- Graduated compression to promote increased circulation for recovery
- Highest power denier targeted support to calf + shins
- Reduced fatigue in lower legs through less muscle oscillation
- Reduced muscle soreness
- Greater power output
Delivery & returns
Estimated Shipping Time is 2-4 business days within the UK and up to 8 business days across Europe.
Upon dispatch you will receive an email confirmation containing the Tracking details and estimated time of delivery of your order.
Garments can be returned or exchanged within 30 days of purchase, provided the garment is in sellable condition.
30 Day Return Deadline Extended to 90 Days: Please be aware that our normal 30 day return policy has been extended to 90 days for the time being to help mitigate any issues you may have returning your order in light of COVID-19 restrictions. Any questions please email customer services at email@example.com
Click here to organise an exchange or return of an online purchase.
Care instructions
To best care for 2XU garments:
- Machine wash in cold water with like colours.
- Do NOT Tumble dry.
- Hang to dry in a cool shady area away from sun.
- Do not use bleach, fabric softeners or dryer sheets.
- Do not iron.
For wetsuit care instructions: Click Here
Garment Features
- High power PWX FLEX compression fabric with optimal breathability and flexibility supports the shin and calf muscles.
- Flatlock seams to reduce chafe for greater comfort.
- High filament yarns for dryness - wicks sweat from the skin to the fabric exterior.
- Antibacterial and UPF50+ sun protection.


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First, before you begin reading I want to take a minute of your time.
The Hounding After Hours Cafe opened in May of 2009 here in the Horror Section of AW. We're celebrating being a horror hound, even if you are new to AW or a regular. We have to put as much of ourselves into our genre as we do our words. We're horror writers and this is our little spot on AW. So let's write.
Well, you guys will. I won't. I get to torture you...
Old town legends have been around since fire was discovered. So you know... I think it is time we build some of our own.
One thing that always puzzled me is that horror songs are rare. Not Hope diamond rare, but rare. The only horrific song I can remember actually giving me the creeps was this one.
Link to youtube:
As you can see, the song is about a town Legend (now how did that happen, I wonder) and how it goes wrong for disbelievers. Listen to this song carefully before you continue reading on. It's a horror story set to music. It's a legend.
Now... about this contest.
"Build your own town legend".
The entire town must be fictional and populated beyond the protagonist.
There can be creatures, ghosts, phantoms, specters, whatever in the legend... but it must be original beyond that - no werewolves or vampires or zombies.
Ghosts and such are so easy to make personally different that they're okay.
The legend has to be age old (dating back a good few decades at least) and the protag must encounter it. Everything else is up to the writers.
And guess what, Houndies? It's a novella contest! Aren't you excited? I am.
Word Count Requirement: 15,000 up to 30,000 words
You have two months to write and polish your manuscript starting March 1, 2011.
Submissions open May 1, 2011 and close on June 1, 2011.
Formats accepted: .doc, .rtf, .txt
NO DOCX or PDF
Send submissions to [email protected](dot)com, the (dot), obviously being replaced with, you know, a real dot. Period. Full stop.
Please put in subject line: Horror Hounds AW Contest Entry - Last Name
Please also be sure to include your AW username with your contact info
Emails received before May 1st or after May 7th will be deleted.
Each submission will be confirmed as received, stripped of author identifiers and passed on to the judges after submissions close. Only Haggis and I will know the author names and their correlating stories and we aren't judging. The judges are basically getting a title and a story.
Kinda the same way we did it last year guys but this time... no reading and voting. Because of the length of the stories, we thought it would be unfair to ask you guys to read all those stories. And plus, it'll help you learn patience. Good practice.
The judges will review each submission and make notes on it. Amongst them they will discuss and decide on our finalists. The finalists stories will be passed on to Alice, who will decide our winner and runners up.
Winners will be announced in Mid to Late June, depending on the volume of submissions. This may change if a large or small number of writers participate.
Each author will receive the notes on their stories, so everyone gets something, even if it's just free feedback.
What are you waiting for? Go start writing a legend.
Before we get to our prizes, let's meet our judges.
a mystery judge
And judging the finals will be callalily61 (Alice Loweecey)
(Prizes are subject to growth.)
- A Publishing Contract with Black Label Books (authors must agree to allow edits)
- Choice of New Release from Black Label Books (pdf copy)
- Signed Copy of Force of Habit by Alice Loweecey
- $30.00 cash
- Crash Boom Girl a book of poetry by DL Hegel
1st Runner Up:
- A Reaper's Tale ebook by Adam Slade
- The Complete set of SNM Horror's Bonded by Blood Anthologies
- $20.00 Cash
- The Awakening by Donna Boyd
- Crash Boom Girl a book of poetry by DL Hegel
2nd Runner Up:
- A Reaper's Tale ebook by Adam Slade
- On Writing Horror A Handbook by the HWA
- More of Me Disappears - A Book of Poetry by John Amen
- $10.00 Cash
- Crash Boom Girl a book of poetry by DL Hegel


text:
After intensive checking of records and sources, there is still nothing to confirm a Pakistani intelligence source's warning of a vehicle bomb plot around the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, several intelligence, law enforcement, and Homeland Security officials said Saturday night.
Officials are following up on a tip that came in late Wednesday that al-Qaida may have sent three men to the United States on a mission to detonate a car bomb to disrupt events in New York City or Washington D.C. At least two of those men could be U.S. citizens, according to the intelligence, which security officials emphasized was unconfirmed.
Airline passenger arrival records are being checked against the few vague details the source offered, including age range, approximate heights, fragments of names and travel patterns. That chore is complicated by the possibility that the men may have been smuggled into and out of Pakistan, leaving no record they were ever there.
Law enforcement officials said hundreds of recent arrivals have already been checked and ruled out. Some of that can be done merely by reference to the records, but in other cases, in-person interviews are being conducted.
Interviews by FBI joint terrorism task forces across the country are for elimination purposes, a government official said.
"We do not yet know if any terror suspect entered the U.S. at all," he said. Initial intelligence suggested some suspects were U.S. citizens, the official said, noting the theory is they are traveling on U.S. passports.
It will take a lot longer to know whether the plot was for real or not.
"It's tough to downgrade things at this point. But at the same time, there's nothing to upgrade it either," one official said.
The terrorism tip reportedly came from a CIA informant who has proved reliable in the past, according to U.S. officials. They said the informant approached intelligence officials overseas to say that the men were ordered by new al-Qaida leader Ayman al-Zawahri to mark the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 by doing harm on U.S. soil.
Al-Zawahri took over as the group's leader after the U.S. killed Osama bin Laden during a raid in May at his compound in Pakistan.
On Saturday around New York and Washington, officials said, the FBI has found no sign of unusual purchases of chemicals needed to make car bombs.
Saturday also brought several reports of police seeking stolen vehicles in the New York and Washington areas.
It was already part of the security plan around the 9/11 anniversary to pay extra attention to stolen vehicles, and the intelligence warning about a possible car bomb plot added an extra level of interest.
Washington, D.C., police said on Saturday that in response to all the "see something, say something" admonitions, reports of suspicious activity and vehicles around the District were up 60 percent.
The fact that police are looking for any particular stolen vehicle doesn't mean much, because they're following up on all of them.
In New York, police were seeking two missing dark green Chevrolet vans with red stripes used in city roadwork, but there was no direct connection to the terror threat at this time, a New York law-enforcement official said. Instead, authorities suspect an inside job. One van taken from the Long Island Expressway at the Utopia Parkway exit on Sept. 1 or Sept. 2 apparently was later used to steal $70,000 in construction equipment.
In New Jersey, a law enforcement official said, "We may have a stolen vehicle but nothing to indicate it has anything to do with terrorism." Reports were being checked out as a precaution, he said.


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Mr Fantasy Inspired by Jerry Garcia Rock T-shirt Crystallized
Crystallized "Mr Fantasy" rock t-shirt titled after the song performed by Jerry Garcia and the Grateful Dead "Dear Mr. Fantasy" Originally from the band Traffic with Steve Winwood & performed by The Grateful Dead on tour many times. T-shirt artwork inspired by the exceptional psychedelic 60's legendary guitar player Jerry Garcia. Many thanks to the Grateful Dead for keeping the 60's alive and well all these years and I just know the basic roots of the 60's will live on forever... Peace, Love and Rock n' Roll!
Infinitee T-shirts
SKU:MF-WOM-TEE-Crystallized Blue Purple-Small


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Bow, The
NOTE:This Korean Import DVD is coded for playback in Region 3 only. In order to watch this disc, you'll have to have either a player coded for Region 3, or a Region Free DVD Player.
The twelfth film from Korean art-house wunder-kid Kim Ki-duk (director of The Isle, Bad Guy, and 3-Iron) continues his trend of telling off beat love stories with minimal amounts of dialogue and a few surprising twists to keep things interesting. If you've seen 3-Iron then you know how capable he is of directing long stretches of film without any spoken words whatsoever and making them important to the narrative and never has that been more aptly illustrated than in The Bow (or, Hwal in its native Korea).
A young girl (HanYeo-reum of Samaritan Girl) lives on a boat with a man (Jeon Seong-hwang) easily three times her age. Neither of them are named, neither of them really talk much. They make a meager living by hosting fisherman who come to cast off of their anchored ship, taxied in by the old man's smaller motorboat that stays tied to the side of the larger ship. The vessel is adorned with a myriad of colored streamers and plenty of Korean flag logos and insignias despite its rather run down condition. Sometimes the old man will tell the fishermen their fortunes by having the young girl swing on the side of the ship in front of a painting and shooting arrows into it. He never hits her, they always zip right past her into the ship and depending on what part of the painting they hit, that's how he knows what will happen to them. He not only uses his bow to tell fortunes but also to fend off would be attackers who show an interest in the girl, and to make music late at night by use of a sort of make shift violin.
The old man, who we hear has raised the young girl since he found her when she was six years old, plans to marry her a month from now when she turns seventeen and becomes of legal marrying age. Until then, he's very protective of her and will gladly put an arrow into anyone who touches her. She, not knowing any better having spent the last ten years on the same boat with the same man, seems content with her life until a young man shows up with his father and a couple of friends for some fishing. He gives her his headphones as a gift and takes her picture and they start to fall for each other, despite the obvious protests from the old man. In the past, he's been able to control her, as she's never known differently, but now the object of his love, who he has held captive for a decade, is asserting herself and he will have to come to terms that what she wants out of her life might not exactly coincide with the way he sees things happening.
A powerful and thought provoking film, The Bow will keep you guessing until the end – there's no way you're going to figure this one out until it happens and even then, Kim Ki-duk leaves the end of the film very much open to interpretation. If you pay close attention to the way that the movie builds up you might think you've got it figured out but this one comes so far out of left field that you'd have to be psychic to catch it before you're supposed to. Whether or not what happens at the end of the film is meant to be taken literally or as a metaphor is left completely up to you to decide, which makes the result all the more effective depending on what you read into it.
Performance wise, the film is excellent. Both HanYeo-reum of and Jeon Seong-hwang are superb in their lead roles and the fact that neither of them has any dialogue doesn't hamper the flow or narrative of the film in the least. Like in 3-Iron they tell their story with actions and facial expressions that speak volumes, rendering whatever dialogue you might expect to be there completely unnecessary. The film, like many of the director's early pieces, deals with an out of the ordinary kind of love and the performers are completely up to the challenge of portraying the very different emotions that the story requires as it plays out. As can be expected by those who have seen any of his earlier movies, this one looks terrific as well, with all manner of interesting shot compositions (the continued placement of HanYeo-reum's character in front of the Korean flag, the matching of the deck furniture to the linen on the bed in the hull of the ship) keeping the movie interesting in a visual sense as well as a narrative one. If there's only one flaw that the film has it's that the soundtrack gets a little repetitive at times but that's such a minor quibble that it almost seems unnecessary to mention it. The Bow is a powerful and fascinating film and even if you don't necessarily 'like' the ending, at least it'll get your brain working a bit and make you think about it…
The DVD
The Bow gets a very nice 1.85.1 anamorphic widescreen transfer on this Korean import DVD. The blues in the sky scenes and the water scenes look especially vibrant and quite nice. There is a bit of
over saturation in the reds in a couple of spots but it's minor. Black levels stay very strong and very deep throughout and there are no problems with mpeg compression artifacts at all, through there is some very mild line shimmering noticeable in a few spots. Print damage isn't ever an issue, neither is film grain and we have a nice, clean picture to look at on this release with plenty of detail present in both the foreground and the background of the picture.
You've got your choice of watching the film in its native Korean language using either a Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround mix or a more robust Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound mix. Optional subtitles are available
in English and in Korean only. The English subtitles are handled very well and aside from the opening song they appear to be very much complete. The music used throughout the movie comes through with a fair bit of punch and the scenes that do have dialogue come through nice and clear. There are a few spots where the background noise on the boat plays a very big role
in the atmosphere of the film and during these times the 5.1 mix really has an advantage over the 2.0 mix but both tracks are of very nice quality and there's really nothing to complain about in terms of presentation here.
There's only one extra feature on the DVD, a thirty seven minute behind the scenes look at the movie entitled The Making Of The Bow and it is in Korean only with no subtitles of any kind available. Not being fluent in Korean, all I can attest to is that most of the key performers in the film are
interviewed for this feature as is the director and a few other crew members. There is some interesting and candid behind the scenes footage that is interesting to watch in here as well. The packaging comes with a
slipcase cover to go over top of the keepcase which houses the disc as well as an insert (again, Korean language only).
Final Thoughts:
The Bow is liable to divide audiences even more than the director's earlier Bad Guy and some of the same reservations that apply to the earlier film are appropriate here as well. The ending aside (and that's really going to be the deciding factor for anyone) the film is exceptionally well made and the performances are excellent. The KD Media DVD looks and sounds very nice and despite the lack of English subs on the extra features, this one still comes highly recommended.
Ian lives in NYC with his wife where he writes for DVD Talk, runs Rock! Shock! Pop!. He likes NYC a lot, even if it is expensive and loud.
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You know how we told you Prey 2 saw you playing the role of a federal air marshal who finds himself up to his eyeballs in aliens? Well, the game's debut trailer just hit, and it's set on an airplane.
Don't expect gameplay footage. Actually, this might just be a "mood" trailer, so none of this may turn up in the game. But hey, there's the air marshal, and there's...a kid, and a camera, and some other stuff going on.
Look, I mean no disrespect to die-hard Prey fans when I say this, but is this a series that warrants this kind of teasing? I want to know if there's Clutch on the jukebox and assholes on the wall, not see some kid fare poorly in his first contact with aliens.


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A powerful graphics card is likely the most expensive component in your PC if you're a gamer, but with all current and past-gen GPUs available in the range of $100 to $500, it can be tough to pick the right solution for your needs.
In an effort to narrow things down, we're about to compare today's most relevant gaming cards that sell for $200 or more, testing them in a slew of games to see how it breaks down as we look for the best graphics cards for gaming at resolutions of 1920x1200 and 2560x1600.
Most GPU releases go through our testbench, however when we review these graphics cards, the GPUs are fairly new or barely making it to market, drivers are not entirely optimized, and most importantly, true market pricing has not settled down to its long-term value.
Relative performance leads more often than not remain the same through the life of the GPUs, but our take on best value is completely changed the second Nvidia or AMD decide to adjust their prices. To give you a clear example, the Radeon HD 7970 debuted to market last January with a sticker price of $550. A couple of months later the GeForce GTX 680 arrived offering better performance for less money. AMD quickly reacted slashing the HD 7970's price to $450. Similarly, the slightly slower HD 7950 was dropped from its original price of $450 to just $350.
The table above includes all the cards we'll be benchmarking, starting with the most recently released. Note that although we have the Radeon HD 7970 GHz Edition on hand, we didn't include it in this review because we don't see why anyone would buy the factory overclocked solution at a $50 premium.
Testing Methodology
We picked ten games for our test, six of which are DX11 titles and include recent releases such as Max Payne 3 and Alan Wake. Games will be run at 1920x1200 and 2560x1600 as we believe these are the resolutions gamers are targeting with today's $200+ graphics cards, using monitors between 24 and 30 inches. All games will be tested with fraps which lets us record 60 seconds of gameplay.
Test System Specs
1920x1200 Performance
Performance: Radeon HD 7950
Value: Radeon HD 7870
For an average of at least 60fps or better when playing Metro 2033 at 1920x1200, the Radeon HD 7950 is your best choice with 68fps. That said, the HD 7870 offers a better value and delivers totally playable performance at 56fps. The GTX 670 also performed well, but because it costs more and performs slightly worse than the HD 7950, it's not the best option here.
Performance: GeForce GTX 670
Value: Radeon HD 7950 or 7870
The GTX 670 managed to outpace the HD 7950 and HD 7970 by 11fps and 2fps, making it an easy pick for the best overall pick. However, HD 7950 remains a viable value-minded solution with 56fps, as does the HD 7870, which was only 9fps below the 60fps threshold.
Performance: Radeon HD 7850
Value: Radeon HD 6870
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 — as you likely know — isn't particularly demanding, making the GTX 670 and HD 7000 series overkill. At 1920x1200, the HD 6870 is more than capable of delivering a smooth experience at 71fps, as is the GTX 560 Ti at 73fps.
Performance: GeForce GTX 680
Value: GeForce GTX 670
Crysis 2 is extremely demanding with the high-resolution texture pack and the DX11 patch, so you'll want to hit it with all the force your wallet can muster, making the GTX 680 and 670 the best performance and value-oriented picks.
Performance: GeForce GTX 670
Value: GeForce GTX 670
Dragon Age II requires the GTX 680 if you intend to approach or exceed 60fps, though the cheaper GTX 670 is only a tad slower at 55fps and seems like the logical pick for both performance and value.
Performance: Radeon HD 7950
Value: Radeon HD 7850
Despite looking great, Deus Ex: Human Revolution isn't all that demanding on current-gen cards — in fact, even the older HD 6870 and GX 560 Ti perform well. The best value at 1920x1200 is the HD 7850, while the best performance-oriented card is the HD 7950 at 87fps.
Performance: GeForce GTX 670
Value: Radeon HD 7950
Max Payne 3 plays exceptionally well on the new GTX 600 series cards and we believe that the GTX 670 is the best choice if you're looking for high performance, while the HD 7950 is the best value at 61fps, or only 6fps behind the pricier HD 7970.
Performance: GeForce GTX 670
Value: Radeon HD 7950
Although it doesn't look (or perform) like it, The Witcher 2 uses DX9, which we found hard to believe when first testing this game. The game is pretty demanding at 1920x1200, though the GTX 670 managed to deliver 72fps, securing our performance-oriented pick, while the HD 7950 was only 5fps slower at 67fps, making it our value pick.
Performance: GeForce GTX 670
Value: Radeon HD 7870
While it is also a DX9 title, Skyrim isn't as demanding as The Witcher 2, so the GTX 670 can be considered somewhat overkill at 86fps, but it's still our top pick for a performance solution, while the HD 7870 is our value choice as it was on par with the more expensive HD 7950 at 63fps.
Performance: GeForce GTX 670
Value: Radeon HD 7950
The GTX 670 is a clear winner when testing Alan Wake at 1920x1200, averaging 61fps, slightly faster than the HD 7970 and just a fraction slower than the GTX 680. The best value option here is the HD 7950, which was just 10% slower than the GTX 670 while costing around 15% less.
Continue Reading
2560x1600 Performance
2560x1600 Performance, Part 2
Winners and Losers
Republished with permission from:
Steven Walton is a writer at TechSpot. TechSpot is a computer technology publication serving PC enthusiasts, gamers and IT pros since 1998.


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Know What God Teaches, and Do What He Wants
User's Guide to Sunday, Sept. 2.
Sunday, Sept. 2, is the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B, Cycle II).
Sept. 8 is the feast of the Nativity of Mary. If you search YouTube for "Nativity of Mary," one choice is a beautiful presentation that pairs young singer Jackie Evancho singing Ave Maria with art depicting Mary's birth.
It helps stress what Pope John Paul II said. When we contemplate "Mary the Child," he said, "we are contemplating a little girl like every other," but one who is at the same time "blessed among women."
Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-8; Psalms 15:2-5; James 1:17-18, 21-22, 27; Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23
Our Take
Today's readings are a celebration of intellect and will.
The Psalm states plainly what makes human beings' actions special, what makes them "godly."
To "live in the presence of the Lord," says the Psalm, you must "think the truth in your heart." You also have to "walk blamelessly" and "do justice."
St. James also says that truth and goodness are what set us apart from creation. "He willed to give us birth by the word of truth, that we may be a kind of first fruits of his creatures. … Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deluding yourselves."
To be fully human, we have to use our intellect and our will. But today's readings remind us of something else: The greatest feat of our intellect is to know what God teaches, and the greatest act of our will is to do what he wants.
God says of his commandments: "Observe them carefully, for thus will you give evidence of your wisdom and intelligence to the nations."
If we know and follow smart laws, we look smart. If we don't, we look stupid. There are two ways to be "stupid" regarding God's law. One is to "underthink" them to act according to our appetites without regard for God's way. Another is to "overthink" them, which often leads to sinning in a very human way.
Moses commands simplicity in today's first reading: "In your observance of the commandments of the Lord your God, which I enjoin upon you, you shall not add to what I command you nor subtract from it."
Jesus points out in today's Gospel that Moses' followers fell short in the "adding and subtracting" part.
Pharisees "carefully wash their hands" and "purify cups and jugs and kettles and beds," he says. They have added rules and overcomplicated their moral lives. They have overused their intellect and misused their will.
"This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me," says Jesus. "In vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines human precepts. You disregard God's commandment, but cling to human tradition."
We do this in many ways ourselves. We do it when we make religious obligation, instead of faith, the most important thing in our Catholic life. But we also do it when we make our own moral code, and not God's, the ruler of our lives.
A good place to start is to avoid sin and serve others.
St. James says so in his letter: "Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained by the world."
Tom and April Hoopes write from Atchison, Kansas,
where Tom is writer in residence at Benedictine College.


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Post-punk and ''perfection'' rarely went together. This was an era of experimental over-reach, of bands catalysed by the punk do-it-yourself principle attempting to expand the music by embracing genres (funk, reggae, jazz) that in their original context relied on virtuosity and slickness. Artistic ambition and anyone-can-do-it amateurism make for uneasy bedfellows, and many of the key groups of the period made records that were closer to sketches towards an ideal of a new music than the fully-realised deal. Even some of the accredited classics that defined the era - Public Image Ltd's Metal Box, Talking Heads' Fear of Music, Gang of Four's Entertainment - have the odd moment or several that are substandard, botched, or simply misconceived.
And really, that's okay, because perfection wasn't the point of postpunk. What was? Throwing out ideas, setting challenges for band and audience alike, keeping the collective conversation moving. That's why groups like Cabaret Voltaire, the Pop Group, Scritti Politti, Throbbing Gristle, were heroic figures, true catalysts. What this does mean, though, is that there are really just a handful of long-form recordings from the entire 1978-84 period that are immaculate from conception to construction. The Slits' Cut, Slates by the Fall, Pere Ubu's first two albums...and Young Marble Giants' Colossal Youth.
The Cardiff trio's one-and-only album contains not a wasted note, barely a blemish. The individual songs have something of the ''rightness'' of things found in nature - leaves, snowflakes, pebbles, sea-shells - that are at once miraculous yet commonplace, marvelous and unassuming. Together the tunes add up to a perfectly sequenced whole, a cohesive experience.
Colossal Youth became the independent scene equivalent of a blockbuster smash on its release in early 1980, and clearly the punters were partly responding to the sheer quality and aesthetic integrity of the record, which arrived without fanfare, seemingly from nowhere. But they were also spellbound by the originality and unusual-ness of the sound - there was nothing else like Young Marble Giants around at the time - and by its quiet radicalism.
Colossal Youth was followed by a couple of EPs, and then the group split up, to everyone's surprise and dismay. Frustrating as this disintegration was for fans, it had the beneficial side-effect of ensuring that the group left a small, perfectly-formed body of work - compact enough to fit on a compact disc.
-Simon Reynolds


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Watch King of the Hill Season 4 full episodes online free.
King of the Hill summary: Hank Hill is an old fashioned, hardworking, beer drinking man who is trying to live in a modern Texas world. His wife is opinionated, his son is a disappointment, his friends are losers, and his Father is oppressive. But through it all, Hank keeps a level head, a strong sense of morality, and by doing so keeps himself "King of the Hill."
Creators: Greg Daniels, Mike Judge
Stars: Mike Judge, Kathy Najimy, Pamela Adlon.
More information: IMDB


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Learn the ins and outs of planning successful focused field trips, how to bring the Museum's collections to your classroom, or dive deep into content. Schedule a 3-hour customized professional development program for educators at the Museum. These sessions include:
- Free Basic admission for your group
- Free educational resource packets
- Introduction to the Museum's educational resources
- Hands-on activities designed to meet customized learning goals
Who can schedule an in-service?
Group leaders of teacher education courses, professional education organizations, preK–12 school faculties, or other educator-groups.
How much does an in-service cost?
- Fewer than 25 participants, $150
- 26 - 50 participants, $200
- 51 - 75 participants, $300
- 76 - 100 participants, $400
If your group is larger than 100, contact our Group Sales Department to coordinate your event.
How do you schedule an in-service?
Email firstname.lastname@example.com at least one month prior to the requested In-service date. Once your request form has been received, we will contact you to confirm the in-service.
When and how do you pay for an in-service?
We accept payment by check or credit card. Payment must be received at least two weeks prior to the program date. If we do not receive payment by that time, your in-service may be cancelled.
Can we arrange catering?
Yes. Additional charges apply, please note catering interests on your request form so that we can discuss them with you.
Can we visit a temporary exhibition?
Yes, however our in-service fees do not include admission to temporary exhibitions. Please note this interest on your request form so that we can discuss your options prior to program confirmation.
For other questions about our in-service sessions email email@example.com.


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no worries
16 comments:
Oh yayy! Good luck!!ReplyDelete
Good luck!!!ReplyDelete
Yay!!! Good luck to you all!ReplyDelete
Awesome! Good luck & best wishes!!!ReplyDelete
Good luck! Have been checking to see if it happened every day. Hope it all goes smoothly.ReplyDelete
We can't wait either!!ReplyDelete
Woo woo woo woo woooooooooo! CONGRATS JEN!! He's adorable!! And I looooooooove the name!! hehe. :)ReplyDelete
best wishes! Looking forward to hearing the news!ReplyDelete
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- AnonymousFebruary 16, 2012 2:23 PM
She's positive - I have six of them! (but they work!)ReplyDelete
Buona fortuna!
Good luck & congratulations!ReplyDelete
Exciting! Best wishes for a great delivery.ReplyDelete
om gosh, I am so excited to finally meet the little bugger!ReplyDelete
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- Goals should give your team something to reach for.
- Write down the goals for your team and each of your direct reports.
- Goals must be accepted and recognized as important.
- Goals must align with the organization's mission and strategy.
- Revisit the goals on a regular basis.
Related How-Tos
Adapted from The Wall Street Journal Guide to Management" by Alan Murray, published by Harper Business.
What should we do? That is the first question the manager must answer. What is the mission of the organization I am managing? What is the strategy for accomplishing that mission? What are my goals for the future, consistent with strategy and mission? What are the overall goals for my team, and for each member of the team?
This may sound obvious. But it is remarkable how many managers never get to this basic question. They take their mission, strategy and goals as given – something that has been set by others. Perhaps it's their boss, or their boss's boss, or perhaps it's just built into the situation or organization in which they work. These managers will spend their entire work life reacting – reacting to orders from above, reacting to pressures and problems from below, or simply reacting to the insistent demands of a busy workplace.
If all you do is react, you will fail as a manager. You may be good at solving problems that arise. You may be skilled at responding to the needs and requests of those you work for, or the people on your team. You may work long hours, be loved and respected by your employees, and be the very model of organizational efficiency. But you will not be an effective manager.
One of the most popular management books ever written is Stephen Covey's "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People" – a book that describes seven practices that will lead to success in either your personal or your professional life. Habit number one is simply this: be proactive. The very essence of being human, Mr. Covey writes, is self-awareness – the ability to think about, and ultimately make independent decisions about, your life. Your actions are not simply determined by "nature" – your genetic make-up, or by "nurture" – your upbringing, or by the environment in which you live and work. Rather they should reflect your ability to choose your own course. Effective people focus on being proactive, not reactive, and looking for the things they can do, rather than dwelling on those they can't.
The effective manager is the same. Any workplace is filled with constraints. You may have an overbearing boss, you may have an extremely limited budget, you may not have enough people to do the job you've been asked to do, you may be part of a culture that is hugely resistant to change. There's an understandable tendency for people to fall into a familiar pattern, and just do things as they've always been done, or do what others ask them to do. Your job as an effective manager is to do better than that. You must understand all the constraints, and know which can be changed and which cannot. And then you must decide on a positive course forward.
That leads to Mr. Covey's habit number two: Begin with the end in mind. It's not enough to simply choose a course; you must have a clear sense of where that course will lead you. You need to decide both what you are going to do and where it is going to take you. In short, you must have a strategy.
As a manager, it is your responsibility to decide on goals for yourself and your group. But it's not something you should do in isolation. You must make sure the goals you set for your team align with those of the broader organization. And you must make sure that your team understands, accepts and commits to those goals. The more you can involve your employees in setting goals for themselves and the group, the more committed to those goals they are likely to be.
Most managers recommend that you write down the goals for your team and each of your direct reports, and then revisit those goals on a regular basis – perhaps every six months, or once a year. When writing goals, it's helpful to keep the following tips in mind:
— Goals must align with the organization's mission and strategy.
— They must be clear and easy to understand.
— They must be accepted and recognized as important by everyone who will have to implement them.
— Progress towards goals must be measurable.
— Goals must be framed in time, with clear beginning and ending points.
— They should be supported by rewards.
— They should be challenging, but achievable.
The last point is particularly important. Goals should give your team something to reach for. But they should not be unreachable, and their attainment or lack of attainment should not be dependent on a host of circumstances beyond the person's control.