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Microsoft KB Archive/265173
Article ID: 265173
Article Last Modified on 2/28/2007
- Microsoft Windows 2000 Datacenter Server
This article was previously published under Q265173
This article describes Microsoft Windows 2000 Datacenter as a product and as a service offering from Microsoft and participating original equipment manufacturer (OEM) vendors. More information about Datacenter can be found on the following Microsoft Web site:
If you are interested in purchasing Windows 2000 Datacenter as a product and a service offering, contact a participating OEM vendor.
The Windows Datacenter Program complements the Microsoft Windows 2000 Datacenter Server operating system. This program is designed to provide customers with an integrated hardware, software, and service offering, that is delivered by Microsoft and OEMs that are qualified server vendors. The program is specifically designed to address the demanding requirements of enterprise customers and includes scalable hardware, joint support teams with server vendors for single-point-of-contact support, and rigorous system testing and qualification focused on the entire system. The Windows Datacenter Program also includes coordinated maintenance and change control for hardware and software updates.
The Windows Datacenter Program is the integration of an operating system product, OEM partnerships, and service offerings to provide customers a high-end computing solution. The key customer scenarios for the Datacenter Program include large non-partitionable databases, server consolidation, and massive file and print servers.
Platform: Hardware
The Windows Datacenter Program requires that a computer support at least 8 physical Intel Architecture-32 (IA-32) central processing units (CPUs). A server may have less than 8 CPUs, but it must be capable of expanding to at least 8 CPUs as the customer needs or requirements increase. An example of an 8-CPU capable computer would be computers that are built around the Profusion chip set.
Windows 2000 Datacenter Server supports up to 32 IA-32 CPUs. Windows 2000 Datacenter Server also supports hardware partitioning, and this gives a customer the ability to run multiple instances of the operating system within the same physical server. Windows 2000 Datacenter Server has fault-tolerant hardware solutions that are available through Microsoft-certified OEMS. Note that fault-tolerant hardware is only required to have at least 8 CPUs within the hardware solution. Also, the Windows 2000 Datacenter Server operating system and service packs are provided to customers by OEMs on media that is BIOS-locked to that specific OEM's hardware platform.
Note: Although Datacenter Server supports hardware partitioning, Datacenter does not support changing the partition configuration during operation. Although there are hardware platforms that support such dynamic partitioning, this feature cannot be used with Windows 2000 Datacenter Server.
Platform: Operating System
Windows 2000 Datacenter Server is a 32-bit operating system that is based on the Windows 2000 operating system and Service Pack 1 (SP1). Some key software features that are not included in Windows 2000 Advanced Server are:
- Up to 32 gigabytes (GB) of memory support, provided by Enterprise Memory Architecture on Intel Physical Address Extension (PAE)-capable computers.
- Up to 32-way symmetric multiprocessing (SMP).
- Clustering: Windows 2000 Datacenter Server supports 4-node clustering.
- Process Control: This allows you to control the resources that are allocated to programs. With Process Control, you can specify the maximum memory use of a program or service, program priority, program processor affinity, and various other limits to help ensure stable system and program operations.
- Winsock Direct: This enables programs that use Winsock to perform faster processing with less overhead, when communicating across a system area network (SAN). Winsock Direct streamlines communications between distributed components on computers that are running Windows 2000 Datacenter Server if a SAN is in place.
License Model
Windows 2000 Datacenter Server is available to customers only through qualified OEMs. Windows Datacenter Server is licensed based on the number of CPUs that exist within the hardware platform. Microsoft is licensing the product to OEMs in the three following packages:
- up to 8 CPUs
- up to 16 CPUs
- up to 32 CPUs
Customers may also upgrade to a 16 or 32 CPU license as needed. Note that the Windows 2000 Datacenter Server license does not include any Client Access Licenses (CALs) for Windows 2000. These must be purchased separately. Microsoft can make a CAL 5 pack available to the customer through an OEM.
In addition to the software licenses that are listed earlier in this article, Windows 2000 Datacenter Server has updateable subscriptions that are available from an OEM. The update subscriptions provide the customer access to version releases, supplements, and service packs for Windows 2000 Datacenter Server. The update subscription is available on a yearly basis, and a customer must renew it yearly with an OEM to obtain the benefits of the subscription. A customer may choose not to purchase the update subscription, but then the customer does not receive access to version releases, supplements, or service packs. Customers have the opportunity to pay previous subscription dues if they do not purchase the update subscription initially, but choose to subscribe at a later time.
The Windows Datacenter Program has been developed to provide customers with a list of qualified servers that have been thoroughly tested and proven to be highly reliable. The Windows Datacenter Program provides a qualification process that is designed to extend the current hardware compatibility requirements from Microsoft. To get more information about this, see the following Microsoft Hardware Compatibility List (HCL) Web site:
This process ensures that all server components are tested together in a high-use environment. In addition, any changes to hardware or system kernel components requires retesting of the server configuration for seven days. An exception to retesting is a change in a hardware storage array or hard disk attached to a datacenter certified host bus adapter (HBA) in a standalone (non-clustered) Datacenter Server.
The Role of Windows Hardware Quality Labs
The Windows Hardware Quality Lab (WHQL) ensures that OEMs produce quality hardware and software that interacts efficiently and optimally with Microsoft products. OEM products must pass the appropriate Hardware Compatibility Test (HCT). If successful, they are placed on the Hardware Compatibility List (HCL), and receive the "Designed for Windows" logo. The Windows logo on hardware products ensures the product meets Microsoft standards for compatibility with Windows operating systems. Hardware intended for use with Windows 2000 Datacenter Server must be designed to the specifications of the Hardware Design Guide Version 2.0 for Microsoft Windows NT(R) Server and the companion:
and Server Design FAQ:
Customers who receive servers validated by the Windows Datacenter Program know that they are receiving a complete configuration that has been rigorously tested with all hardware components and kernel-level software products. Windows 2000 Datacenter Server is only available to OEMs that perform extra testing and configuration control and can provide comprehensive customer support programs. The result is a highly reliable and dependable server. OEMs must test the following components to ensure that they work together smoothly on servers running Windows 2000 Datacenter Server:
- All hardware components
- All hardware drivers
- All programs that work at the kernel level, including antivirus programs, disk and tape management, backup programs, and similar types of programs
Reliable components are the foundation for reliable servers. Consequently, any changes that OEMs make to the server configuration or drivers requires that the change be run through the Windows Datacenter Program tests and resubmitted to WHQL.
Note: Device drivers not covered by the Windows Logo Program are not signed and are not checked for signatures.
Assuring Server Availability: 14-Day Test
To be placed on the HCL, Windows Datacenter Program servers in the Windows Datacenter Program must be tested over an extended period. Microsoft requires participating vendors to set up servers running Windows 2000 Datacenter Server and successfully run the Windows Datacenter Program tests. Vendors must successfully pass a 14-day test period during which servers running Windows 2000 Datacenter Server must meet or exceed 99.9 percent scheduled availability.
The Windows 2000 Datacenter Server HCL
Server platforms compliant with the Windows Datacenter Program are listed on the HCL in the same way that Microsoft lists Windows NT-based servers or Windows NT-based cluster servers. The Windows Datacenter Program is new, and does not replace, but rather complements, existing logo or HCL listings. Given the more stringent qualifications of the Windows 2000 Datacenter Server HCL, any hardware approved automatically qualifies for the Windows 2000 Server HCL as well.
Third-Party Components
OEMs often integrate third-party adapters, utilities, or other components with their servers. This is an acceptable practice within the framework of the Windows Datacenter Program. The OEM is responsible for integrating and testing the third-party components prior to submitting the entire configuration for Datacenter HCL qualification.
Configuration Verification Tool
Ensuring that the initial configuration and kernel drivers remain intact is a key part of this program. Windows 2000 Datacenter Server is distributed with a file that reflects the server configuration including BIOS and hardware component firmware revision levels. The configuration-checking tool detects any changes to the original tested configuration and displays a message detailing the differences. NOTE: Configuration changes do not affect the setup or loading of Windows 2000 Datacenter Server.
Ongoing Program Requirements
OEMs are required to maintain configurations that conform to the requirements of the Windows Datacenter Program. Vendors must resubmit their configurations for validation any time they install a service pack or new version of the operating system. When updated versions of vendor-supplied drivers are released, the OEM must make an updated configuration file available to the customer. Further, under the program, OEMs are required to support their platforms for the life of the Windows 2000 Datacenter Server version. Translated this means support is provided until the next version is released plus eighteen months.
Microsoft Gold Certified Support Partner for Support Services Datacenter Program
The Microsoft Gold Certified Support Partner for Support Services is designed to help Windows 2000 Datacenter partners provide an integrated hardware and software service offering that is delivered jointly with Microsoft. The Microsoft Gold Certified Support Partner for Support Services Datacenter Program is an extension of the base Microsoft Gold Certified Support Partner for Support Services program. An OEM must first meet the base Microsoft Gold Certified Support Partner for Support Services requirements, and then Microsoft Gold Certified Support Partner for Support Services Datacenter requirements, to sell Windows 2000 Datacenter Server.
The Microsoft Gold Certified Support Partner for Support Services Datacenter Program gives partners access to the Microsoft resources they need to help customers achieve high levels of availability, and establishes a unique level of cooperation in delivering support for critical business systems. The Microsoft Gold Certified Support Partner for Support Services Datacenter Program provides a comprehensive suite of services to help partners and Microsoft jointly deliver the service offerings that are needed for high-end environments using Windows 2000 Datacenter, including:
- Skills development and readiness services, such as advanced new product training; access to internships and special partner development programs at Microsoft; a partner-level knowledge base of known issues and resolution; early notification of critical problems and fixes; and, regular technical bulletins of support information.
- Software support services, including a joint team of Microsoft and partner support professionals to provide a single point of contact for customers; rapid escalation of critical or complex issues to Microsoft development for fixes; tools for managing hotfixes; and, onsite critical problem support for customers.
- A source code license to help in the diagnosis and isolation of a problem.
- Business development services, including brand marketing, targeted joint marketing, customer satisfaction measurement, and participation in ongoing service development.
- Account management services, including a dedicated account manager, annual business planning assistance, and ongoing advocacy activities within Microsoft.
To be designated as an Microsoft Gold Certified Support Partner for Support Services Datacenter partner, an organization must meet a series of qualifications as a service provider. Those qualifications include:
- Quality: consistent achievement of target customer satisfaction levels for support services provided to end customers and ongoing quality analysis and improvement methodologies.
- Staffing and certification: requirements for the number of full-time professionals that support Microsoft products and Microsoft certifications.
- Escalation: maximum rates for escalation of non-bug incidents to Microsoft and the ability to share support cases across partner and Microsoft tracking systems.
- Problem replication environments: lab and replication environments capable of reproducing all Datacenter HCL systems for troubleshooting customer problems and testing software patches.
- IHV/ISV Escalation Path: 24 x 7 access to an escalation path to debug resources and symbols files for all products certified as a part of the Datacenter system.
- Service offerings: the capability to provide service components including:
- A minimum uptime guarantee of 99.9% availability
- Installation and configuration services
- Availability assessments
- 24 x 7 hardware and software support
- Response service for onsite hardware and software support.
- Change management service
Core Services
A Datacenter OEM partner must offer the following services to customers, however the delivery of the service may differ, because the OEMs choose different implementation models. Microsoft may be involved in the delivery of many of these services, however it is Microsoft's intention for our Datacenter OEM partners to build attractive business models around these core services.
Minimum 99.9% Uptime Guarantee
The Datacenter OEM must offer a service that guarantees system availability at the operating system level of 99.9% uptime to the customer. Clustered environments can be used to increased system uptime.
Minimum requirements of the installation service are to install the Datacenter operating system--including all hardware and software components, booting Windows 2000 Datacenter Server, and confirm that the Datacenter HCL configuration file matches the current installation exactly. This insures that the customer begins their Windows 2000 Datacenter Server experience with a properly-qualified system configuration.
Availability Assessment
The Availability Assessment Service is an evaluation of the Datacenter customer's environment, support capabilities, and processes to assist in the stability of the overall system and installation. Minimally this should include evaluating physical environmental conditions, change control process gap identification, capacity planning, back-up and restore procedures, and fault tolerance and disaster recovery strategies and processes.
Onsite Responsiveness
The Onsite Responsiveness service is the capability, either with company employees or through sub-contracted services, to be onsite at any Datacenter Server customer location. Dispatched personnel do not need to be MCSE certified, but should be able to assist Joint Support Queue engineers with troubleshooting and data collection.
Joint Support Queue
The Joint Support Queue will be staffed with both OEM and Microsoft personnel to ensure tight collaboration between the hardware and operating system vendors. The Joint Queue will have access to all OEM Datacenter HCL hardware configurations for problem reproduction and isolation.
Change Control
A change control service must be offered to customers. The change control service is a process to ensure coordinated delivery of hardware and software updates as a single re-qualified system Datacenter HCL system. The change control service must provide a way for a customer to move update their system from one Datacenter HCL qualified configuration to the next on a periodic basis.
Reliability Measurements
The combination of qualified of Datacenter HCL platforms and Microsoft Gold Certified Support Partner for Support Services Datacenter services makes Windows 2000 Datacenter Server the most reliable Windows-based product ever. To accurately assess the quality of the Windows Datacenter Program, the OEMs are required to report the following items:
- Reliability Measurements: Each OEM agrees to measure customers' Datacenter-based systems, as allowed by their customers, with the Event Log Analyzer (ELA) Tool to record reliability data. Microsoft Gold Certified Support Partner for Support Services must then provide the reliability data, in an agreed-upon format, to Microsoft on a quarterly basis.
- Blue Screens: The number of customer reported blue screens must be reported quarterly to Microsoft.
- Crash Dumps: Microsoft Gold Certified Support Partner for Support Services agrees to provide, as allowed by their customers, a copy of each crash dump file for analysis within 7 days of the actual occurrence of the blue screen.
Delivery Models
OEM Partner
Microsoft leads with service delivery through their OEM partners. OEM partners are uniquely positioned to build a business model around the core Datacenter Program-based services. Each OEM offers the core service and additional services in a manner that builds a unique value for that OEM.
Microsoft Alliance
Some customers want Microsoft to be the general contractor for their support and services. To accomplish this request, Microsoft Alliance is able to purchase support and service contracts from the respective OEM on behalf of the customer. Microsoft then resells the service to the customer adding in the additional cost for the Microsoft resources, thereby ensuring Microsoft does not compete with the OEM's service offering.
The value and quality of Windows 2000 Datacenter Server lies within the Windows Datacenter Program. The delivery of an integrated operating system, hardware platform, system qualification, and support and services by Microsoft and its OEM partners provides customers with a high-end Windows-based computing solution. The Windows Datacenter Program is designed to change the way people think about the Windows operating system.
Additional query words: mscs w2000mscs data center
Keywords: kbinfo KB265173


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Creation of the Atom Bomb in the mid-20th century followed a forecast made in 1875 when the Englishman Samuel Tolver Preston, scientist and theologian, published the equation that later became the foundation of Einstein's Theory of General Relativity (1905). Many researchers speculate that Einstein was a fraud for laying (or accepting) a personal claim on the hard work and genius of his predecessors and peers which included his first wife. His complicity in military research has been veiled to support his public stance as a pacifist. Einstein's zionism is downplayed by his mainstream biographers but there is no evidence that he was not idealogically complete and commited to the World Zionist cause. In 1921, Einstein made his first trip to the United States with Chaim Weizmann, president of the WZO, to promote the Jewish interests in Palestine and the building of Hebrew University. A legacy of that visit was the formation of a zionist "Physicians Committee" in New York.
Einstein established a special relationship with Caltech between 1931 and 1933, prior to his permanent U.S. residency in Princeton, New Jersey, at the Institute for Advanced Study (IAS). The IAS was founded by Abraham Flexner and funded by the Bambergers in 1930. Co-incident with IAS's founding was the construction of Rockefeller Center in NYC. The small town of Princeton was also home to Rockefeller's Department of Animal Pathology (DAP). DAP infamously developed a human-swine bacterial mutant in 1937, intentionally infecting a herd at one of its experimental (open air) farms that may be the first genuine occurrance of "swine flu" involving human genes.
Abraham Flexner was the younger brother of Simon Flexner, longtime director of the Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research(RIMR) in Manhattan and also Bernard Flexner who was well known as a leading American Zionist. Abraham Flexner presided over Rockefeller's General Education Board and helped to co-found premier American medical colleges, such as the University of Rochester (essential to the Manhattan Project) and Vanderbilt medical schools. He is widely known as the creator of the "Flexner Report" in 1910, a medical school survey that was used to establish accreditation requirements thereafter. Abraham Flexner counted RF trustees Julius Rosenwald and son Lessing J. Rosenwald among his few lifelong associates, as is commonly found between the "associates" in the Rockefeller/Carnegie foundation network. Julius Rosenwald specifically reserved a grant-making endowment in 1933 for "cultural" Jewish refugee academics who relocated to the U.S. when the 1933 headlines read "Jews Declare War on Germany". The Rosenwald Fund was disseminated by the "Emergency Committee In Aid of Displaced Jewish Scholars". Bernard Flexner was a top officer in this prominent organization, however, it was only one among hundreds of "rescue" operations, notable for its selectivity. A larger relocation effort was launched by the British Academic Assistance Council which was sponsored by governors of the London School of Economics, aided by physicist Leo Szilard (Einstein's friend) and Churchill's war counselor, Lord Cherwell, the physicist Frederick Lindemann (founder of Clarendon Lab, Oxford). For new readers, this is a taste of Rockefeller's web-like infrastructure. The cooperation, hegemony, and concensus platform of the RF was in itself a compartment of a larger global network.
Albert Einstein, incidentally, makes a first appearance in Seymour Hersh's The Samson Option in a footnote on page 25: "According to Shimon Peres, Weizmann approached Albert Einstein, then teaching at Princeton, and asked him to recommend one of his students to run the [Daniel Sieff] institute. Einstein instead suggested [Ernst] Bergmann, who didn't get the job [at that time] for reasons not known." On the following page Hersh writes, from an interview with Herman Mark, "Without Bergmann..there would have been no Israeli bomb:…He was the man who completely understood it [nuclear fission]". Hersh further adds, on page 44, "Herman Mark explained years later why Ben-Gurion had picked the right man: 'Bergman was one of the few scientists who saw the lamp and knew how to make a light bulb'…in 1979, Shimon Peres eulogized Bergmann..as one of the seven founders of the State of Israel." It may have gone unnoticed by The Samson Option readers that Hersh introduced Bergmann's connection to Einstein buried in a footnote. Einstein, who originally "picked the right man", surely, knew well of Bergmann's capacity to build a nuclear arsenal for Israel. Between 1934 and 1936, Einstein's "patent" partner, Leo Szilard, submitted a nuclear reactor design to the British Admiralty, requiring controlled fission and an earlier-than-advertized apprehension of nuclear power. The significant hole in history that is being skirted by all sources cited here, is that "nuclear options" were secretly tabled many years before the public was allowed to know, obtaining the announcements in the heat of WWII and the "race for the bomb" in which Einstein played a tremendously influential role.
Warren Weaver, who is named above as an 'architect' of the RF molecular biology program, became the Chairman of the Salk Institute after his retirement from active service as an RF division president. Popular books that trace the history of Jonas Salk never fail to remark upon the "anti-Semitism" of the Rockefeller Institute (RIMR) where Salk aspired to work in research after his MD residency at Mount Sinai Hospital. Salk was rejected (we can say "distanced") for better "grooming" but was nevertheless taken well in hand. Salk's mentor, Thomas Francis Jr., was personally close to the Rockefeller family. Together, Francis and Salk developed flu vaccine for the military under the auspices of the Army Epidemiological Board (AEB or AFEB) during WWII. The war-time AEB was dominated by Rockefeller alumni.
It was Rockefeller that came to Salk, by appearances, in the late 1950s, providing the bedrock of Salk Institute staff and oversight. www.polioforever.wordpress.com/salk-institute/
One does not need to be a scientist to intuitively understand the potential of "upward causation"; the molecular equivalent of the "butterfly effect" which posits that even the minutest 'force' of a change-agent can be magnified as it transmits a local effect "upward" into a greater sphere of complexity and force. Upward causation in biology is still not well understood according to Kay who wrote, "..the question of how much we can learn about life by examining its building blocks has not been resolved. Mechanisms of upward causation have been remarkably effective for a finite range of biological phenomena but have not effectively explained some of the primary characteristics of life." [p17]. From the pen of a true-believer, Kay is telling us that Science must be allowed to progress. Kay's patrons had narrowed their Vision in the past, choosing from the "multiplicity of biological realities..that could have been singled out and promoted by the Rockefeller Foundation during the 1930s." But this does not square with the multiplicity of Rockefeller realities. The primary characteristics of life were never to be found in petri dishes or between the sheets of one-inch-square glass. "Theoretical biology" was not to be indulged in on the Rockefeller dime.
On this, at least, the message is discernibly clear: "..a molecular vision of life…is embedded in the matrix that linked the particular forms of social control sought by that agenda with the specific kinds of control supplied by the new biology."
For more on how the Rockefeller Foundation implemented its "fully articulated" program and staffed its institutions in 1933, and onward, read https://jenniferlake.wordpress.com/2009/07/30/the-displaced-scholars/

subset: commoncrawl


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B.C.'s school strike looks set to drag on until September as a second mediator has been unable to settle the long-running labour dispute.
Exploratory discussions were held between the teachers, their employer and mediator B.C. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Kelleher since last week, but the talks were not successful and no further discussions are planned.
The B.C. Public School Employers' Association and the B.C. Teachers' Federation issued a joint statement on Wednesday, acknowledging that both sides had agreed that Kelleher would be an acceptable mediator.
"He had some exploratory discussions with the parties and determined that mediation is not indicated at this time," the statement read.
Veteran mediator Vince Ready said last month that he was "too busy" to take on the dispute that has closed schools since June 17, looks set to end summer school and may even interfere with classes in the fall.
Fiona McQuarrie, a business professor with the University of the Fraser Valley, said now that two mediators have declined the appointment, it will "certainly discourage" other mediators from wading into the dispute.
McQuarrie said it is uncommon for a Supreme Court judge to serve as a mediator, but that the BCTF had asked for Kelleher to act as mediator in their last dispute.
The two sides in a labour dispute can appoint a mediator on any terms they agree to.
"But if they don't agree to the terms, it makes it difficult," McQuarrie said.
That is clearly the case here, with provincial Education Minister Peter Fassbender saying mediation will only help if both sides are in the "same affordability zone as the other public sector agreements reached to date". BCTF president Jim Iker said mediation won't work if the teachers have to agree to preconditions and if the government has nothing new to offer for class size, class composition and specialist teachers.
"The government wants teachers to accept wage demands before they will even disclose their new proposals on class size and composition. That is unacceptable," Iker said. "At this point, with the government maintaining entrenched positions that are unfair and unreasonable, mediation will not be able to move forward."
Fassbender said there is no point to mediation at this time.
"There is no process and no mediator that can bridge this gap at this time," Fassbender said. "To pretend otherwise only raises false expectations and serves to delay the tough decisions the BCTF executive needs to make to get to an affordable agreement."
At this point, there are no further meetings or talk scheduled, but both sides said they are ready to talk if something changes during the summer.
Kelleher has dates available during the summer, should the two sides agree on the mediation parameters, Iker said, adding that he would be ready to negotiate this summer and that he is "concerned" about the strike continuing into September.
"We will keep the lines of communication open in July to restart bargaining if the government is ready to make a real effort and bring the necessary funding to the table. If not, B.C. teachers will try again in August, with the new school year looming, to re-engage Justice Kelleher and the government in meaningful and fair mediation," Iker said.
Fassbender said the employers' association is prepared to negotiate over the summer, "with or without a mediator, whenever the BCTF is ready to commit to a fair and affordable settlement."
The government and BCTF have spent 16 months trying unsuccessfully to sign a new collective agreement. The main issues are wages and rules about class size and composition. The two sides have moved closer on their wage offers (the government is offering seven per cent over six years, the BCTF wants eight per cent over five years).
The BCTF also wants a $225-million annual fund to hire new teachers and deal with class size and composition issues, after winning a B.C. Supreme Court case earlier this year that said the government had illegally stripped the right to bargain class size and composition issues from the teachers' contract in 2002.
The BCTF is asking for another $225-million fund to deal with retroactive grievances by members, as well as to pay for improved medical benefits, professional development and preparation time.
The government is offering to continue a $75-million Learning Improvement Fund, but says it can't afford the BCTF's terms.
More than 40,000 teachers walked off the job on June 17, casting about half a million students out of classes about two weeks before the summer break.
Meanwhile, several districts, including Vancouver, have cancelled summer school.
Many of the province's 60 school districts were still deliberating on Wednesday how to handle the dispute's impact on summer school, which the teachers have previously announced they'll picket.
Last week, the B.C. Labour Relations Board ruled schools must hold summer classes for students in Grades 10 to 12 who failed a course, but only if the course won't be on the time-table next year. The board asked school districts to compile a list of these courses, although several districts have already announced closures.
The Vancouver School Board said it would shut down for the summer because it has no students who meet the labour tribunal order's requirements.
"This is really unfortunate," Supt. Steve Cardwell said in a statement. "However, the reality is that without our teaching and support staff due to the prospect of picket lines at our school sites, summer school will not be able to happen."
Chilliwack, Williams Lake and Campbell River will also cancel summer classes but have not said if the board's ruling will force them to offer courses considered essential. Prince George said it has no courses meeting the criteria and will also cancel all summer classes.
Abbotsford will make courses the labour board deemed essential accessible through the district's online learning website.
Sun Education Reporter
with files from The Canadian Press


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No Cell Service? Need 911? Mesh Networking May Help
Cellular-free mobile phone service and Wi-Fi boosters are part of the next generation of technologies that could make communication during disasters easier.
A catastrophic earthquake or hurricane can easily wreak havoc on communications systems. But while redundancies are typically built-in to avoid downtime, governments could use a more comprehensive backup mobile network.
One concept public-sector officials may find useful is mesh networking. The technology allows mobile phones to share data and messages with one another over a local area when there's no active cellular network available. In addition, mesh networking can potentially help offload communications surges from working networks during periods of high activity.
The New Zealand Red Cross and the so-called Serval Project, have worked together over the past several years to create Serval Mesh, a free software program that uses a smartphone's Wi-Fi to form impromptu networks consisting of only mobile phones. The idea was conceived in the aftermath of the 2010 Haiti earthquake, which left large areas of the country with limited or no communications.
Paul Gardner-Stephen, co-founder of the Serval Project, called the technology a complementary mobile communications solution that can sustain productivity for governments, businesses and individuals when normal cellular networks aren't available. Serval Mesh doesn't provide access to the Internet; it just passes data and text messages back and forth between mobile phones that are connected to the Serval network.
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"This approach adds a new element to communications redundancy to bolster reliability," Gardner-Stephen said. "We already have horizontal redundancy in the form of multiple [commercial] carriers providing equivalent services in most markets. Mesh communications adds a vertical element to the redundancy, giving smartphones a new mode of communication, albeit a localized one."
Earlier this year, a prototype mesh network with a range of more than a mile was set up on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., as part of a demonstration project. One group stood at the Lincoln Memorial and exchanged text messages and files with another group at the Washington Monument, without using any existing cellular network services.
"Now that we have developed a track record and have a product to demonstrate, we are looking more seriously at government funding, as well as support from larger non-government organizations who see the value in what we're developing," Gardner-Stephen added.
Another technology innovation could be used in tandem with mesh networks to connect to the Internet, giving government agencies a vital communications option during a disaster. Called BRCK, the device boosts existing weak Wi-Fi signals to expand the connectivity of local users who need access to the Internet.
For example, if an emergency vehicle is equipped with BRCK and is responding to a situation in a remote area with spotty Wi-Fi coverage, the booster will grab the signal and push it out so a user has a more reliable connection to the Internet. In addition, if multiple vehicles are involved and all have BRCKs in their trunks, the one booster picking up a Wi-Fi signal can repeat it out over the Wi-Fi chain so that all vehicles have connectivity.
BRCK was created by Ushahidi, a nonprofit organization based in Nairobi, Kenya. The group specializes in the development of open source technology. Jonathan Shuler, Ushahidi's research and development manager, said part of the reason BRCK was designed was to help solve the company's own connectivity issues in the African nation, where Internet service can be inconsistent. Shuler said that the connectivity at Ushahidi's office in Nairobi is only up about 75 percent of the time and at certain parts of the day the speed slows down quite a bit. He added that the power also goes out frequently.
When that happens, BRCK serves as a backup by having its own power source and grabbing any 3G wireless signals being broadcasted and distributing them throughout a general location.
"We designed BRCK to be as much of an Internet scavenger as possible within the confines of being legal, obviously," Shuler said. "You would be basically breaking some pretty big encryptions to jump on your neighbor's Wi-Fi. Now, if it's open Wi-Fi, if your neighbor hasn't locked that down, the BRCK would grab that signal and repeat it."
However, Joe Hoffman, a mobile networks expert for ABI Research, wasn't convinced the technology would effectively support mission critical applications over the long term. He believed Serval Mesh and BRCK could be useful in a redundancy capacity, or in emergency situations, but felt it would behoove governments to keep up with the latest technology so they have widespread connectivity when needed.
But Gardner-Stephen and Shuler felt their respective technologies will have a place in government's future. Ushahidi is looking at satellite communications as a way to give BRCK its own Internet access. In addition, the company is also looking at what possibilities exist to access and use white space communications frequencies — the unused spectrum between TV stations. Ushahidi is talking with a group that is developing a properly-integrated circuit for a white space modem.
The Serval Project is also interested in potentially being a part of the federal government's First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet), which is developing a nationwide public safety communications network throughout the United States.
"In the same way that Serval can complement consumer cellular networks, it could complement the cellular-like part of FirstNet with a resilient backup communications capability," Gardner-Stephen said.


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Caloosahatchee River Fishing
Chloosahatchee river: Glades County Fishing * Glades County Florida * Glades County Florida Fishing * Glades County FL Fishing
The Chloosahatchee river starts at Lake Okeechobee, from Lake Hicpochee, in southeastern Glades County, approximately 10 mi (16 km) WNW of Clewiston. It flows WSW past La Belle, where it becomes tidal, forming an estuary along its lower 25 mi (40 km). It broadens as it nears the ocean, passing Fort Myers and Cape Coral. It enters the Gulf of Mexico 10 mi (16 km) southwest of Fort Myers in San Carlos Bay protected by Sanibel Island.
The best freshwater fishing is below the first two locks, Lake Hicpochee area can be really good depending on the water levels and has produced many tournament-winning bags. The river has urban development which added several canal systems, these are great locations for resident fish as well as great places for the big river bass to spawn.
The 5 mi (8 km) Caloosahatchee Canal connecting Lake Hicpochee to Lake Okeechobee allows continuous navigation from the Caloosahatchee to the Okeechobee Waterway system. Since the late 19th century, dredging and channelization of the river, as well as the artificial connection to Lake Okeechobee and its use as a water supply for urban and agricultural uses, have substantially altered the hydrology of the river.
Lower Caloosahatchee River
The lower Caloosahatchee River was purchased by the State of Florida in the 1960's, Lee County entered into a lease on the site in 1989, with a management agreement to provide public recreational opportunities.
Located along the Caloosahatchee River is an area rich in natural history. Calusa Indians are believed to be the first settlers here. Followed by Seminole and early settlers of what is now known as Alva.
The efforts of several community members from the Caloosa Saddle Club in 1985, were instrumental in convincing Lee County Commissioners to proceed with plans to develop a park. Caloosahatchee Regional Park opened on March 6, 1999, and to this day, volunteers are instrumental in trail maintenance and campground management.
This park features 768 acres of pine Flatwoods, scrub oak, cypress swamps, and oak hammocks. Crossing through them, you'll find over 18 miles of hiking, mountain biking, and equestrian trails. Primitive camping sites for families and groups are available, along with equestrian sites for people with horses. Kayaking and fishing are available along the banks of the Caloosahatchee River.
Three picnic pavilions are available for group use. Programs offered include kayaking, kids fishing, campfire programs, and guided walks. Annual special events include an Adventure Triathlon & PALMGRASS Bluegrass Fest each Spring and River, Roots, and Ruts Trail Run.
Counties Served: Lee, Collier, and Hendry
Caloosahatchee District Office
Florida Division of Forestry
Pets are not permitted.
Open 7am-dusk daily, year-round FEES
Parking-$1 per hour/$5 per day
Camping- $12-$24 per site, Depending on site.
Shelter rentals-$25 per day. Parking fees apply.
Kayak rentals-$10 per hour, $30 per day. Kayaks can be on the water from 9:30am to 3pm. RESERVATIONS MUST BE MADE AT LEAST 24 HOURS IN ADVANCE.
LODGE rentals –Seating for 80 in a screened facility with a kitchen (refrigeration & ice available–$125 per day with a $250 damage deposit. (parking fees apply, requires 5-minute walk from the parking lot) Call 239-533-7440 to reserve.
Caloosahatchee River Reviews
Fun Place to Fish
View Caloosahatchee Fishing in a larger map


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How about a tall, cold glass of fish guts? It hardly sounds appetizing, but it may be what some of us are sipping when we reach for a beer.
In recent weeks, there's been growing pressure on breweries to share what goes into their products: a "Tell us what's in your beer" campaign headed by food blogger Vani Hari (aka the "Food Babe") has already resulted in Anheuser-Busch
Such as…
Fish guts
It turns out that collagen derived from fish guts — specifically, something called the "swim bladder" — makes a fine clarifying agent for use in beer (meaning it can help weed out "any remaining yeast and solid particles," according to Smithsonian.com). While it doesn't necessarily affect the taste of beer, it could result in a beer being less than vegetarian or vegan-friendly. For that reason, Smithsonian reports, many vegetarians and vegans opt for German-made beers because they must adhere to that country's "purity laws," which specify what can (and can't) go into a brew.
Insect-based dyes
Crushed cohineal beetles, anyone? Those particular insects are used to make a red dye that can be used to color beer. Obviously, this is another area of concern for vegetarians and vegans. But as the BeerTutor.com site also points out : "Some people do have severe allergic reactions to foods containing this dye."
Caramel coloring
This popular coloring agent, which is found in many a soda, can also be used with beer. Hari says it's problematic because "it is a carcinogen proven to cause liver tumors, lung tumors and thyroid tumors in rats and mice." That said, she notes that most beers usually derive their color from toasted barley.
GMO corn
To make alcohol, you need to ferment something with sugar in it – in the case of beer, that's typically malted barley. But as the Cryptobrewology site explains, some brewers add corn (GMO corn, to be exact) to assist with the process. Still, Cryptobrewology maintains this is much ado about nothing since after fermentation "the original corn grain…is discarded. So GMO corn is not really an ingredient in the final beer."
Propylene glycol
For many beer lovers, it's all about the foamy head. In turn, for many beer makers, it's all about the propylene glycol — that's the organic compound that's often used as a foam stabilizer. Beer lovers may be alarmed to hear that propylene glycol also finds its way into such products as electronic cigarettes, veterinary medicines and antifreeze. Still, the FDA says the compound "can be ingested over long periods of time and in substantial quantities…without causing frank toxic effects."
More from MarketWatch:
4 stocks that have tripled and are set for more gains
5 cities where workers are the happiest


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So you've decided to make your own fertilizer from compost. Watch this video to learn how to construct a homemade compost bin from a garbage can.
It's Black Friday week on WonderHowTo! Don't miss out on all of the big sales in the Gadget Hacks and Null Byte shops. And if you've been wanting to take some classes without going into debt, check out our best deals on online courses for a variety of skill sets. Don't miss out on these huge discounts:
See Gadget Hacks's top 10 BF sales on online courses (up to 99% off) >
See Null Byte's top 13 BF sales on online courses (up to 99% off) >


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Bake the Book: Caramel Cake
Get the Recipe
Caramel cake is a challenge. Not to eat, but to ice. Thankfully, this recipe from The Lee Bros. Charleston Kitchen provides the right guidance to make a gorgeously oozing, burnt-sugar, sweet-salty mini-tower of delight.
Tips: Steer clear of icing-related disaster by keeping a few tools on hand. The trick to successfully coating this cake with caramel is to make sure it neither seizes (gets too cold) or overflows (gets too hot). To that end, keep hot water and a hand mixer nearby to mix into the icing, teaspoonful by teaspoonful if it seizes, and a hair-dryer works a treat to spot-heat cooled icing. These tips are included thanks to Angie Mosier, food stylist for the very cake you're looking at.
Tweaks: No matter how well you've made, mixed, and poured the icing, entropy usually takes over. Don't worry about getting perfectly even icing layers—the "drip" effect that happens when things get messy is a gorgeous thing.
Get the Recipe
As always with our Bake the Book feature, we have five (5) copies of Lee Bros Charleston Kitchen to give away
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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Add vehicles to compare. You can compare up to 3 vehicles at a time.
Pricing includes incentives for which everyone qualifies. Guests may also qualify for additional, conditional incentives not included in the displayed price. Therefore, upfront price could be less than advertised price. While every reasonable effort is made to ensure the accuracy of this information, we are not responsible for any errors or omissions contained on websites. Please verify any information in question with Bergstrom Automotive.Prices do not include tax, title, registration, service fees or any emissions testing fees. All prices, specifications and availability subject to change without notice. Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price may not represent actual sales price.
Are you in search of a safe luxury car for driving on Appleton roads? Look no further than the INFINITI Q50. This IIHS award-winning sedan ensures a smooth drive. Its alluring exterior and charming interior would captivate your senses. This sedan is complemented with the latest safety features and sophisticated infotainment system. So what are you waiting for? Visit Bergstrom INFINITI of Appleton and discover the latest inventory of the new Q50 today!
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Downton Abbey
Premiered in 2011
Downton Abbey, the award-winning series from Julian Fellowes, spans 12 years of gripping drama centered on a great English estate on the cusp of a vanishing way of life. The series follows the Granthams and their family of servants through sweeping change, scandals, love, ambition, heartbreak, and hope.
Funding for MASTERPIECE is provided by Viking and Raymond James with additional support from public television viewers and contributors to The MASTERPIECE Trust, created to help ensure the series' future.


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When you make your own pasta, you will always end up with some scraps, even more if you make ravioli. You can easily recycle this leftover pasta to make maltagliati, meaning "poorly cut" in Italian, which was traditionally meant as food for the poor. We are way past that, and today you can enjoy rich texture and amazing flavor of your pasta without the social stigma ;-)
Creamy scrambled eggs
I love the creamy texture of scrambled eggs, but I strongly dislike the idea of eating eggs raw, so I hacked a scrambled eggs recipe to be both completely set, creamy, and pack a crunchy punch as an extra. It's so delicious with fresh bread or toast, and the consistency makes it spreadable like a cottage cheese! I come back to this recipe quite often, because it's simple, fast and feels luxurious ;-)
Sweet potato quiche
Quiche is that one recipe that I love coming back to — it's easy to make, looks delicious and tastes heavenly :-) Plus, it allows me to come up with new fillings, which makes it very versatile!
Sweet potatoes are very smooth and creamy when boiled, then baked, and shallots add a crunchy texture. The combination of them is very mild and aromatic, so make sure you spice it up to your liking!
German Zimtsterne (cinnamon almond cookies)
I always wanted to make these, and finally got the guts — oh boy, I wasn't really prepared for the amount of nitty-gritty with making these. I started with original German recipe that called for 500g of almonds, but that ended up being 2 full baking sheets and lots of sneaky snacking between steps ;-) But the result is good, and these cookies are worth the effort.
Salami frittata
Hot, savory and full or aroma, that's literally an omelette on steroids that smashes my hunger during dark, cold autumn days :-) It's also extremely easy and pretty fast to cook!


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Dead Island Riptide Developers Apologize for 'Gruesome' Statue
Not long after the Dead Island Riptide Zombie Bait Edition had been announced today, Deep Silver took to TwitLonger to apologize for the statue it included in the package.
Apparently a lot of people were disturbed or offended by the bonus material packaged in the Zombie Bait Edition. Deep Silver announced that they'd be packing a foot-tall headless, arm-less, bikini-wearing statue of a mangled torso. And even though they might already be zombie fans and therefore used to similar scenes of gore or violence, the inclusion of this statue was too much for the Dead Island gaming community.
In the statement on TwitLonger, Deep Silver said, "We sincerely regret this choice. We are collecting feedback continuously from the Dead Island community, as well as the international gaming community at large, for ongoing internal meetings with Deep Silver's entire international team today. For now, we want to reiterate to the community, fans and industry how deeply sorry we are, and that we are committed to making sure this will never happen again."
You can read the whole statement here. And let us know in the comments if you think this bloodied bust of a bonus is way too gory or if you'd want to add it to your list of gaming collectibles.


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Transparent Pricing
We deliver daily using trucking company Dantrans Pty Ltd, to Toowoomba, Ipswich, Brisbane, the Darling Downs, Stanthorpe, South-East Queensland and Kingaroy. We also deliver across Queensland outside this area. We deliver large loads interstate. We also deliver depot to depot across Australia. Contact Us for a free quote.
If you would like to pick up from Darling Downs Brick Sales, 19 Markelee Street, Toowoomba, phone us on 07 4633 3311 for yard pickup prices.


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A brilliant round cut crystal Swarovski inscribed in 24k gold with the image of Virgo, the virgin maiden and star sign symbol, in 24k gold, set in a classic 925 sterling silver solitaire pendant.
Talented, intelligent and modest, Virgos are true class-acts, so celebrate your month of birth or give that special someone the perfect gift of a zodiac necklace to accent their unique elements.
A truly unique birthday gift idea to present anyone who loves astrology and follows their horoscope. This cosmic celestial necklace is sure to impress any special woman you hold dear. Whether given as a birthday gift, anniversary gift or just because, your wife, girlfriend, daughter or best friend will be awed by your imaginative surprise. Also chosen as a Mother's Day gift for moms to adorn her child's birthstone color and zodiac sign.
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"Never seen before" innovative designs, transformed into everyday jewelry


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11/14/2013 | By Allen Kenney
Lauralee Martin, president and CEO of HCP, Inc. (NYSE: HCP ), joined REIT.com for a CEO Spotlight video interview at REITWorld 2013: NAREIT's Annual Convention for All Things REIT at the San Francisco Marriott Marquis.
Martin took over as CEO of HCP earlier this year following the departure of Jay Flaherty from the position. After serving as a member of the company's board of directors, she cited the "intensity level" as one of the biggest adjustments to her new job.
"At the board, we challenged management about strategy, competitive landscape and so forth, but when you're in the company, you've got to do it," she said. "It's really making sure that you're looking across the landscape, the change in the industry and where people are focused. Obviously it's all about growth and shareholder value.
Martin was asked about her background with Jones Lang LaSalle and how that experience will direct her vision for HCP.
"At Jones Lang LaSalle, we were a service provider and adviser to lots of operating companies in the Fortune 500, which are many of the clients of HCP," she said. "They focused on their business, and we gave them advice on how to optimize their real estate. That's what HCP is all about. We're the capital that is that real estate. Understanding the operator's thinking and then bringing that real estate investment perspective to get the best result for the both of us is the way that is the way that we can optimize for HCP shareholders as well."
Martin also addressed any potential concerns about the underlying health of the company following the change in its top management.
"We just had our earnings, and they proved the point that everything is good," she said. "Same store sales were good. Our operators continued to perform. We raised our guidance. The health is good. The people are delivering. Operations are stable."


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HYDRA Complete Commerce Management (CCM) is a software package that allows business
to sell products online, through retail locations, and through phone based ordering.
HYDRA allows businesses to save time by maintaining a single point of entry for all customer, item,
and sales data. HYDRA integrates with all of the major shipping carriers to allow
business to efficiently ship orders.
HYDRA makes it possible for companies to achieve the efficient and optimum results
through the entire sales cycle. This is done by eliminating duplicate tasks, improving
order efficiency, and providing tools to increase sales.
Users can access HYDRA's features from any location with internet access. This structure
allows users to setup a complete ecommerce and inventory management solution with
no hardware investment or site maintenance costs. Utilizing this structure allows
HYDRA to provide its users with an unparalleled level of functionality at a significant
HYDRA features integrated POS (point of sale) terminals that allow users to process
quick retail type transactions. Users can accept cash, check, or credit card payments
using HYDRA's low cost touchscreen terminals, are designed for fast for over-the-counter
To find out more information on how HYDRA can help you improve your business process,
reduce costs, and simplify tasks, click on the Product Overview link below.
Product Overview
If you have questions or need any additional information, please feel free to contact
our Sales Department at
(208) 449-0058 or via e-mail at email@example.com


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Canon Driver is one of those sites that can give you the latest update for your Canon PIXMA TS8251 Driver. Even though there are some other websites that can give you the similar feature, this website is one of the best because this website offers you the various Canon printer types that you can download its driver.
As an addition, on this website, you can also find the different software for the PIXMA TS8251 so that the driver can be installed in some different operating system.
Download Canon PIXMA TS8251 that compatible with your operating system.
TS8251 Full Driver & Software Package (Windows)
This file will download and install the drivers, application or manual you need to set up the full functionality of your product.
Driver Detail
File version: 1.0
File Size: 19 MB
File name: win-ts8200-1_0-n_mcd.exe
Release date:21 August 2018
Operating Systems:
Windows 10 (32-bit)
Windows 10 (64-bit)
Windows 8.1 (32-bit)
Windows 8.1 (64-bit)
Windows 8 (32-bit)
Windows 8 (64-bit)
Windows 7 (32-bit)
Windows 7 (64-bit)
File Size: (19 MB)
Latest Update Driver: Canon PIXMA TS8040 Driver
Canon PIXMA TS8251 Download / Installation Procedures
Mac OS X:
1. Download the file. For the location where the file is saved, check the computer settings.
2. Double-click the downloaded file and mount it on the Disk Image.
3. Double-click the mounted Disk Image.
4. Double-click the packaged file in the folder. Installation starts automatically.
1. Download the file. For the location where the file is saved, check the computer settings.
2. Double-click the downloaded EXE file to decompress it, then installation will start automatically.
Uninstall Procedures
If needed, you can uninstall this program using the Control Panel.
Note :
The steps below are for Windows 7. This procedure may be different for other OSes.
1. On the Start menu, click Control Panel, and then, under Programs click Uninstall a Program
2. A page will open with a list of installed programs. Double click on the program that you want to uninstall.
3. Click "Yes" then "OK", this will complete the uninstallation process.


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Uncyclopedia:Anniversaries/March 24
Jump to navigation Jump to search
March 24: International Do-It-Yourself Day
- 1857 - Oscar Wilde pens his story The Soul of Man under Socialism while under something else.
- 1943 - Jackson Pollock unveils his long-awaited third exhibition, featuring the classic Angsty Orange Tiger.
- 1964 - The ping pong incident occurs at my high school, and will torment me for over forty years until my son avenges me.
- 1991 - The first child is admitted to the hospital for Phonics addiction in the beginning of a nation-wide pandemic, resulting in thousands of kids becoming 'hooked'.
- 1994 - Kitty porn makes its first appearance on the primitive internet.
- 2004 - Goku is effected by the ping pong incident putting his father in shame for 40 more years.
- 2007 - The first human trials of Neuroipods suffer drawbacks when a vast majority of test subjects contract iEllepsy.
- 2010 - Sarah Palin kicks off the first annual Alaskan Sasquatch Appreciation Day.
- 2043 - Ping pong becomes extinct after being shot by Dick Cheney as it was mistaken for a bike.
- 2044 - The ping pong incident is never resolved.


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Ford cuts price of 2014 Electric Focus by 10 percent
DETROIT - Ford Motor Co. will reduce the price of its 2014 Focus Electric compact car by 10 percent, the latest in a series of price cuts by major automakers on their battery-powered cars.
The 2014 Focus Electric, which will reach dealerships in the next few weeks, will have a starting price of $35,200, Ford spokeswoman Amanda Zusman said. That is down $4,000 from the $39,200 base price on the 2013 model.
The new price, which excludes government credits and other charges, will keep Ford's first electric passenger car "competitive" in the market, Zusman said.
Since the model's launch last year, Ford has built 2,517 Focus electric cars and sold about 1,593. During the first six months of 2013, Ford sold 900 of the cars.
So far this year, General Motors Co. and Nissan Motor Co. have also taken steps to make their electric and plug-in cars more affordable as others pile into the segment with new models.
Last month, GM announced it would offer incentives of up to $5,000 on the Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid, which starts at nearly $40,000 before federal and state tax credits.
Earlier this year, Nissan dropped the U.S. price of its 2013 Leaf electric vehicle by more than $6,000, bringing its base price to below $30,000.
U.S. regulators are pressuring automakers to boost the fuel economy of their lineups by 50 percent over the next dozen years. But sales have struggled for a range of issues, including a lack of charging infrastructure for plug-in vehicles.
Sales of electric and plug-in cars more than doubled during the first six months of the year, according to hybridcars.com, which tracks "green" car sales. But they accounted for less than 1 percent of overall U.S. auto sales.


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Measures approx 2 ¾" tall
The "Marshmallow World" is a continuation of our commitment to bring you the best figures we can. These whimsical figures are the perfect compliment to the gingerbread and candy villages that are so popular today. Each and every one is hand painted in up to 15 different colors, then, as a "crowning touch" each figure's base is generously coated in genuine old-fashioned German ground glass glitter! The combination of the bright glossy enamel and the sparkling glitter propels these figures into a league of their own!


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From the Sterling Journal-Advocate (Marianne Goodland):
The committee unanimously approved House Joint Resolution 13-1004, which encourages the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service to withdraw a 2012 directive that requires ski areas to turn over their water rights, without compensation, for federal lands leased from the Forest Service.
HJR 1004 points out that federal law requires federal agencies to abide by the water laws of the states in which federal lands are located. However, according to resolution sponsor Rep. Jerry Sonnenberg (R-Sterling), the Forest Service drafted the 2012 directive in violation of that law, known as the McCarran Act.
The National Ski Areas Association filed a lawsuit against the Forest Service over the directive, and a Denver District Court judge recently ruled in favor of the NSAA, but only on procedural grounds and not on the substance of the directive. According to testimony in Monday's hearing, the judge told the Forest Service that "they didn't do it right" when they issued the directive without public input, a violation of federal administrative procedures.
Meanwhile, here's the USFS release about the public meetings this spring (Chris Strebig):
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service announced today a public process to develop a directive regarding water rights on National Forest System lands that have ski areas and other permitted uses. The Forest Service plans to begin the public process this spring.
"Establishing an inclusive process on this important issue will help meet long-term goals," said Rocky Mountain Regional Forester Daniel Jirón. "Maintaining the water with the land will ensure a vibrant ski industry, and resilient and healthy national forests and mountain communities into the future."
Regional Forester Jirón testified today before the Colorado General Assembly House Agriculture, Livestock and Natural Resources Committee at the Colorado State Capitol in Denver. The Committee scheduled the hearing to address water rights and ski areas brought up through Colorado House Bill 13-1013 and Colorado House Joint Resolution 13-1004.
On December 19, 2012, the United States District Court for the District of Colorado in National Ski Areas Association, Inc. v. United States Forest Service ruled to vacate the 2012 Forest Service directive on ski area water rights. The Court declined to rule on the substance of the Forest Service directive, but indicated the Agency should proceed with public notice and comment for this type of directive.
The Forest Service Directive System consists of manuals and handbooks that codify policy and provide administrative direction for Forest Service employees to manage National Forest System lands.
"Together, we can find solutions that support a strong ski industry, keep the water with the land to sustain local communities, and ensure the long-term viability of this unsurpassed winter recreational experience," said Jirón. "We think it is a good idea to engage the public and communities to map out next steps on this issue."
The National Forest System lands comprise 192 million acres of forest and grasslands in 43 states. The Forest Service estimates that downhill skiers and snowboarders at 22 ski areas on national forests in Colorado contribute approximately $1.5 billion annually to Colorado's economy.
More 2013 Colorado legislation coverage here.


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The Measure Net Rubber Net - "Catch, Measure, Release".
The patented Measure Net is the only landing net that allows the angler to catch, measure and release a fish without touching it. Simply land the fish in the net and add the numbers at the head and the tail to get the total length. "Catch, Measure, Release". The Measure Net is made of strong aluminum tubing with a durable rubber handle that allows the net to float. The netting is very soft fish friendly Rubber. Small: measures up to 20" Medium: measures up to 24" Large: measures up to 28"