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Press Releases
NTT Communications Selects FortiWeb-VM to Secure its Cloud Based Services
SUNNYVALE, Calif., October 28, 2015 – Fortinet® (NASDAQ: FTNT) – the global leader in high-performance cybersecurity solutions, today announced that NTT Communications Corporation (NTT Com), the ICT solutions and international communications business within the NTT Group (NYSE: NTT), has selected its FortiWeb VM virtual Web Application Firewall (WAF) to secure its enterprise private cloud and cloud service provider platforms. Fortinet's high-performance WAF security technologies are designed to help NTT Com's customers prevent identity theft, financial fraud and denial of service through specialized, layered application threat protection.
NTT Com will offer Fortinet's FortiWeb Web Application Firewall (WAF) functions within their Integrated Security Appliance: Web Security (WAF) service globally starting in December of this year. The Integrated Security Appliance: Web Security solution is an optional security service for NTT Com's Enterprise Cloud offering. FortiWeb WAF protection will also be offered within NTT Com's WideAngle managed-security services for the cloud environments of individual enterprises and cloud providers.
NTT Com customers will now be able to deploy Fortinet's high-performance WAF for web security to bolster their basic security features like antivirus, intrusion prevention (IPS) and URL filtering, all within the cloud. Users have direct control of WAF features through their unified global management portal which enables on/off, adding/deleting certificates, routing along with other management and configuration functions.
NTT Com's is also revealing the expansion of their one-stop unified threat management (UTM) services as an Enterprise Cloud option that combines IPS software for virtual environments, URL filtering, anti-virus, spam prevention for web and email and managed security, all powered by Fortinet's FortiGate VM and FortiGuard subscription services.
"We have seen a consistent increase in the number of attacks targeting web-based applications. Many enterprises need to secure their web-based applications as well as their websites using an advanced web application firewall to protect these valuable assets that are directly connected to their business operations." said Kazu Yozawa, Vice President, Managed Security Service Taskforce, Corporate Planning, NTT Communications. "We are happy to have Fortinet's web application firewall to offer WAF service in our cloud environment. We will continue to work with Fortinet to further tighten the security level of our offerings for our global customers."
FortiWeb virtual appliances protect web-based applications and internet-facing data from attacks and breaches by injecting web application firewalls into the virtual infrastructure. Using high-performance and advanced security technologies, FortiWeb provides bidirectional protection against malicious sources, DDoS attacks and sophisticated threats such as SQL injection, cross-site scripting, buffer overflows, file inclusion, cookie poisoning and numerous other attack strategies.
In order to help ensure on-going protection against new and sophisticated threats, Fortinet's virtual appliances receive dynamic, automated updates from FortiGuard Lab's leading threat intelligence services. Fortinet's security research division constantly monitors the evolving threat landscape using sophisticated tools and techniques like machine learning algorithms, covert surveillance of malware and botnets, reverse engineering, signature generation and zero-day attack analysis.
NTT Com will begin offering their optional FortiWeb powered Integrated Security Appliance: Web Security (WAF) services for Enterprise Cloud starting September 30th in Japan, with global availability starting in December.
NTT Com is expanding their FortiGate VM and FortiGuard backed unified threat management (UTM) service for Enterprise Cloud to France, Germany, Spain and the U.K. starting September 30th with further expansion planned thereafter.
About Fortinet
Fortinet (NASDAQ: FTNT) protects the most valuable assets of some of the largest enterprise, service provider and government organizations across the globe. The company's fast, secure and global cyber security solutions provide broad, high-performance protection against dynamic security threats while simplifying the IT infrastructure. They are strengthened by the industry's highest level of threat research, intelligence and analytics. Unlike pure-play network security providers, Fortinet can solve organizations' most important security challenges, whether in networked, application or mobile environments - be it virtualized/cloud or physical. More than 210,000 customers worldwide, including some of the largest and most complex organizations, trust Fortinet to protect their brands. Learn more at http://www.fortinet.com, the Fortinet Blog or FortiGuard Labs.
Copyright © 2015 Fortinet, Inc. All rights reserved. The symbols ® and ™ denote respectively federally registered trademarks and unregistered trademarks of Fortinet, Inc., its subsidiaries and affiliates. Fortinet's trademarks include, but are not limited to, the following: Fortinet, FortiGate, FortiGuard, FortiManager, FortiMail, FortiClient, FortiCare, FortiAnalyzer, FortiReporter, FortiOS, FortiASIC, FortiWiFi, FortiSwitch, FortiVoIP, FortiBIOS, FortiLog, FortiResponse, FortiCarrier, FortiScan, FortiAP, FortiDB, FortiVoice and FortiWeb. Other trademarks belong to their respective owners. Fortinet has not independently verified statements or certifications herein attributed to third parties and Fortinet does not independently endorse such statements. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, nothing herein constitutes a warranty, guarantee, binding specification or other binding commitment by Fortinet, and performance and other specification information herein may be unique to certain environments. This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve uncertainties and assumptions, such as statements regarding product releases. Changes of circumstances, product release delays, or other risks as stated in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, located at www.sec.gov, may cause results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in this press release. If the uncertainties materialize or the assumptions prove incorrect, results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and assumptions. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements. Fortinet assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, and expressly disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.


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This item is temporarily out of stock. However, we can notify you as soon as this product becomes available.
Thank you
We have received your request and you will be notified as soon as this product becomes available.
In order to keep our prices as low as possible, all CreateForLess order subtotals must be at least $10. This helps us save on labor costs when packing your order so we can extend the savings to you!
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1Orders placed must have a minimum subtotal of $10. More info
Aunt Martha's Tube Paint is fun and easy to use for decorating and embroidery on apparel, fabric, wood, paper, pottery and metal. Or use on stamped goods as a fun alternative to typical embroidery floss projects. This oil-based paint is lead-free, non-toxic, dries permanent, machine washable and dry cleanable. Tip may be removed to use paint with a brush. 1 oz. #901 Black.

subset: commoncrawl


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Well, you can't find out from their ad in the Alibi this week because we (I) screwed up and lost the ad for Sister in the shuffle. But most notably at Sister, this week:
Friday, May 31, catch an ear-crunching, face-melting stoner-rock assault from Albuquerque's super-heavy SuperGiant, teaming up with rockabilly favorite Cowboys and Indian. The show starts at 10 p.m. and tickets are $5.
The following night, Saturday June 1, Sister invites you to pull out your fancy dance moves, drink some delicious Beat Sauce and spend an evening wiggling and jiggling to the spinning of DJ Nicolatron, Brendangerous, Dirt Girl, Ben Bitten and a special visual dessert from Benji Geary.
I heard all of your friends are going to both shows.


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Provided by: xymon_4.3.30-1build2_amd64
acknowledge.cgi - Xymon CGI script to acknowledge alerts
acknowledge.cgi is invoked as a CGI script via the acknowledge.sh CGI wrapper. acknowledge.cgi is passed a QUERY_STRING environment variable with the ACTION, NUMBER, DELAY and MESSAGE parameters.
ACTION is the action to perform. The only supported action is "Ack" to acknowledge an alert. NUMBER is the number identifying the host/service to be acknowledged. It is included in all alert-messages sent out by Xymon. DELAY is the time (in minutes) that the acknowledge is valid. MESSAGE is an optional text which will be shown on the status page while the acknowledgment is active. You can use it to e.g. tell users not to contact you about the problem, or inform them when the problem is expected to be resolved.
--no-pin acknowledge.cgi normally requires the user to enter the acknowledgment code received in an alert message. If you run it with this option, the user will instead get a list of the current non-green statuses, and he may send an acknowledge without knowing the code. --no-cookies Normally, acknowledge.cgi uses a cookie sent by the browser to initially filter the list of hosts presented. If this is not desired, you can turn off this behaviour by calling acknowledge.cgi with the --no-cookies option. This would normally be placed in the CGI_ACK_OPTS setting in cgioptions.cfg(5) --env=FILENAME Loads the environment defined in FILENAME before executing the CGI script. --debug Enables debugging output.
$XYMONHOME/web/acknowledge_header HTML header file for the generated web page $XYMONHOME/web/acknowledge_footer HTML footer file for the generated web page $XYMONHOME/web/acknowledge_form Query form displayed when acknowledge.cgi is called with no parameters.
XYMONHOME Used to locate the template files for the generated web pages. QUERY_STRING Contains the parameters for the CGI script.
When using alternate pagesets, hosts will only show up on the acknowledgment page if this is accessed from the primary page in which they are defined. So if you have hosts on multiple pages, they will only be visible for acknowledging from their main page which is not what you would expect.
xymongen(1), hosts.cfg(5), xymonserver.cfg(5)


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City, county working together to truly transform Rockford
The city of Rockford and Winnebago County face many challenges, which have been highlighted during the Transform Rockford meetings: public safety, education, attracting new and expanding businesses, and the overall prosperity of our region.
Others include poor infrastructure, public and affordable housing, and invigorating our central city. But make no mistake about it; we can overcome these challenges when we work together.
Our crime problems affect certain areas and certain populations much more than others.
On Thursday, Dec. 19, the city and county came together to expand our efforts to keep our people safe. Winnebago County Board Chairman Scott Christiansen, Rockford Mayor Larry Morrissey, State's Attorney Joe Bruscato, Rockford police Chief Chet Epperson, Loves Park Mayor Darryl Lindberg, Loves Park police Chief Jim Puckett, and Sheriff Dick Meyers joined together to describe the joint efforts underlying the Winnebago County Violent Crime Task Force.
We're committed to a long-term partnership, and we've already begun to see positive results.
The partnership includes the Illinois State Police and Department of Corrections, which will assist in investigations, patrol and parolee monitoring; additional support from numerous federal law enforcement agencies; and in coordination with the state's attorney and U.S. attorney to pursue effective prosecutions. Together, we will update and review our goals and objectives and report our results at least quarterly in an open, accountable, and collaborative manner.
During 2013, two Public Safety Summits addressed "Crime Prevention through Cooperative Policing and Best Practices" and "Behavioral Health and the Criminal Justice System: Issues and Solutions." Post-summit action plans have included the development of a 211 call center, Text-a-Tip, a joint city/county re-entry program in cooperation with United Way and Lutheran Social Services, and a city and county "Stop-Walk-Knock-Talk" program to build relationships between residents and the law enforcement community.
In economic development, recent infrastructure improvements include the opening of the Morgan Street bridge and completing utility access for the Rock 39 Industrial Park. The under-construction Woodward facility will ultimately provide 1,500 jobs for the community.
In the coming year, the city and county will continue to work together to bring passenger rail service from Chicago, to improve freight-rail opportunities, and to rebuild South Main and West State streets. We support the Reclaiming First Initiative, as well as a hotel and conference center in the downtown Amerock building.
We're committed to finding solutions for failed public housing efforts. The Winnebago County Housing Authority and Rockford Housing Authority are pursuing successful models similar to those of Hope VI and Purpose-Built Communities.
Rising tides lift all boats. To reduce crime, we need to provide jobs and improve access to educational and vocational opportunities communitywide. We'll continue our work with public and private educators and coordinated efforts like Alignment Rockford to realize successful outcomes for our K-12 system.
In conjunction with private business, we're committed to enhancing opportunities for entrepreneurs and small businesses. Expanded options for vocational training are critical to our future. By furthering our partnerships with Rock Valley College, Chicago Rockford International Airport and others, we will be able to meet workforce demands. It is essential to supporting and such growing programs as EIGERlab, the Stenstrom Center, TechWorks, Aviation Maintenance, JIET-A and Freedom Field.
As we begin a new year, we're dedicated to working together in support of Transform Rockford. Please join us in celebrating our many positive attributes and in striving to achieve opportunity and prosperity for all!
Larry Morrissey is mayor of Rockford. Scott Christiansen is chairman of the Winnebago County Board.


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Chuck, from Rock Racing submitted this photo Friday winner of him and his teammate racing in the Berryman Adventure race with a waterproof map case. The Rock Racing team makes their way to the canoe transition, lucky they have those map cases to keep their maps and passports dry.
Every Friday is Photo Friday. Submit those photos of your MPGear today and be entered for a chance to win a $25 MPGear gift certificate.


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It's a must-win week for the Chicago Bears. And they finally had their defensive leader back in the mix at practice.
Linebacker Brian Urlacher participated in on-field work for the first since hurting his hamstring in Week 13. Unfortunately, he's listed as doubtful to face the Detroit Lions on Sunday.
Here are the other items you need to know about the Week 17 injury report:
- The Green Bay Packers list wide receiver Randall Cobb (ankle/knee) as questionable. Running back Alex Green (concussion; probable) is back in the mix. Safety Charles Woodson (collarbone) remains out, but wide receiver Jordy Nelson (hamstring, probable) is all ready to go to against the Minnesota Vikings.
- Two of the Vikings' best players -- cornerback Antoine Winfield (knee) and defensive end Brian Robison (shoulder) -- are questionable to face the Packers. Winfield didn't practice all week, but Vikings coach Leslie Frazier indicated the cornerback should suit up Sunday. Robison is less likely to play against the Packers.
- The Dallas Cowboys list linebacker DeMarcus Ware (elbow, shoulder) as probable despite not practicing all week. Other than nose tackle Jay Ratliff (groin), the Cowboys are healthy for their big game against the Washington Redskins. The Redskins are even healthier.
- The New York Giants listed wide receiver Hakeem Nicks (knee) as questionable for the final time this season. He should play, but he clearly hasn't been 100 percent. Cornerbacks Prince Amukamara (hamstring) and Jayron Hosley (quadriceps) are doubtful to play against the Philadelphia Eagles in the regular-season finale.
- Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Anquan Boldin (shoulder) is questionable after being limited in practice all week. The Ravens travel to Cincinnati for a meeting with the AFC North rival Bengals.
- Forget about Rex Ryan's Friday news conference. The real news in New York: tight end Dustin Keller (ankle) and quarterback Greg McElroy (abdomen, concussion) are doubtful. Mark Sanchez will start at quarterback as Gang Green heads to Buffalo.
- Twenty New England Patriots are listed as questionable against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday. That's almost half the roster. Twenty! Bill Belichick's injury report ridiculousness truly is peaking with the playoffs near.
- Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Roddy White (knee) is questionable, but he's expected to start against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Brooks: No 'D' in San Francisco?
The 49ers' vaunted defense has allowed 30-plus points in back-to-back games. What gives? Bucky Brooks has the answer. **More ...**
- The San Francisco 49ers placed wide receiver Mario Manningham on injured reserve Friday. Not a surprise, considering he tore ligaments in his left knee last week.
- Niners defensive tackle Justin Smith (triceps) says he'll be ready to play next week, but he's doubtful for Sunday's regular-season finale against the Arizona Cardinals. Tight end Vernon Davis (concussion) is questionable. He could be cleared to play by doctors Saturday.
- Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson (ankle) is listed as questionable to play against the Jacksonville Jaguars after returning to a limited practice Friday. He missed work earlier in the week. Johnson has missed only one game in his career, in 2008.
- Carolina Panthers running back Jonathan Stewart remains questionable to play against the New Orleans Saints, but he hasn't practiced in weeks because of his ankle injury.
- The Saints will be without three key players -- cornerback Jabari Greer (concussion), running back Pierre Thomas (knee) and defensive tackle Akiem Hicks (knee) -- in their season finale.
- The Cleveland Browns will start Thaddeus Lewis at quarterback because Brandon Weeden (shoulder) and Colt McCoy (shoulder) are out. Montario Hardesty will start at running back because Trent Richardson (ankle) is out. The Pittsburgh Steelers will start anyone they please and still should win this game.
Thanks for reading this Friday update all season. You are the true diehards.


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My husband and I are empty nesters. We're doing a good job at saving and investing in our 401(k)'s, but we'd like to find a financial planner to help us get smarter about our money. Any tips?
Good thinking. A professional planner can help save you from your own worst investing enemy—yourself! One study suggested that the difference investment managers make is in dissuading clients from making emotional investment decisions (trading aggressively can cost investors as much as four percentage points a year). Simply having someone to prevent you from selling low and buying high could mean earning an average of, say, 7% versus only 4% through age 65.
How much would that be worth? If you're 30, make $60,000 a year with 2% annual raises, and sock away 10% of your pay in your 401(k), here's the difference: Earning an average of 4% would net you $596,434 at age 65, while 7% would almost double your money—to $1,080,273! Even those who start saving later on would benefit from this higher rate. Start at age 40, and 4% gets you $314,193, while 7% gets you $471,471.
To search for a planner, as for referrals from famliy and friends whose financial circumstances are similar to yours or check out websites that list and rate planners and advisers, such as brightscope.com. As you look, focus on finding a Certified Financial Planner (CFP)—a pro who has had and continues to get rigorous training—whose clients pay either a flat fee or a percentage fee based on how much money she manages for them. Avoid anyone who's working on commission: Her company may reward her for matching you with certain investments that may not be in your best interests.
More From Good Housekeeping
A good place to research fee-only planners is the National Association for Personal Financial Advisors (napfa.org). Other places to look for planners are the Financial Planning Association (fpanet.org) and the CFP Board (cfp.net). You can also look up a planner's track record (and any complaints against him or her) at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's site sec.gov, brokercheck.finra.org, and your state's securities regulator (nasaa.org).
If your questions are few and fairly straightforward, you may be fine with someone who charges an hourly rate. If you want a wider array of services, paying an annual flat fee or percentage fee might suit you better.


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Story by
Emil Protalinski
Emil was a reporter for The Next Web between 2012 and 2014. Over the years, he has covered the tech industry for multiple publications, incl Emil was a reporter for The Next Web between 2012 and 2014. Over the years, he has covered the tech industry for multiple publications, including Ars Technica, Neowin, TechSpot, ZDNet, and CNET. Stay in touch via Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.
Yahoo today announced a renewed push into games with the launch of its Yahoo Games Network platform and its Yahoo Classic Games site. The company says it already has more improvements and new features on the way, but for now it is happy to show off its cross-platform network for developers and "a great experience for our millions of users."
The Yahoo Games Network is a new platform for third-party game developers who want to take advantage of Yahoo's large userbase for distributing their games. It includes onboarding services that help them authenticate players, monetize their games, provide social sharing, analytics, and "ongoing operational support for growth."
If you're not a developer, however, Yahoo Classic Games is what you're looking for. The company promises the new site works "seamlessly" across Android and iOS devices, as well as the Web.
Yahoo naturally includes its own games (like Yahoo Poker, Yahoo Pool, and Yahoo Bingo) but it also already has other hits that it has hosted on its sites before, including KingsRoad, The Last Stand: Deadzone, Ballistic, Bingo Blingo, Rise of Mythos, Vegas World, and Slotomania. The company now wants to rekindle the excitement that online games created in the 1990s, a particularly difficult feat to achieve in the day and age of app stores.
Nevertheless, Yahoo has already convinced some developers in the industry. It specifically names Rumble Entertainment, DreamWorks, SGN, ChangYou, Namco Bandai America, Playtika, FlowPlay, and Con Artist Games as being on board, but says there are "many more" in both mobile and the Web.
The company touts that it has an "untapped gaming audience" of 800 million users worldwide, 400 million of which are on mobile. Converting those people into regular Yahoo gamers, however, will be no walk in the park.
See also – Yahoo acquires location-based mobile gaming company Loki Studios and Yahoo bundles up its fantasy games into a new Fantasy Sports app for Android and iOS
Top Image Credit: David Paul Morris/Getty Images
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Download Bulu Monster APK Mod For Android
Monsters are the main theme of the exciting new app from Sigma Game. Bulu Monster allows the user to become a monster trainer on Bulu Island. Sigma Game believes this app will stand out from all of the other monster games on the market as Bulu Monster puts the user fully in control. In this role playing adventure game, the user must discover, capture, fight and train one of the 150 monsters. Bulu Monster also allows the user to engage with friends and with other trainers online, enabling them to challenge their friends and other players of the game.
Bulu Monster was some eighteen months in the making; Sigma Game has ensured that the app is of the quality that users will have come to expect. The high quality animation, adventurous storyline, and the ability to challenge both friends and other users online adds to the exhilarating, high energy feel of this game.
Bulu Monster leads the user on a unique adventure that is not available on other monster games. As well as enabling the user to capture monsters, the user can train them, too, and this is what makes Bulu Monster different to the other games that can be found out there. Bulu Monster can be played both online and offline, allowing the user to play the game even without Internet access, making the game more versatile than most.
Requires Android: 2.3 and Up Version: 2.3.2


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The Boro 6 Music Festival 2010 – Worth a Trip to Montclair, NJ
Like just about everything here, we're a little late in getting to this, but last year's Boro 6 Music Festival included just about every good rock and rock-related style happening outside of NYC. In covering the scene here, we often lose sight of all the other vital scenes outside the five boroughs – based on last year's festival and this year's, Montclair is definitely one of them. This year's festival is four concerts in three days at two venues, starting Fri June 11 at Tierney's Tavern, 136 Valley Road in Montclair and Asana House, down the block at 127 Valley Road where there will be an all-ages show on Sat, June 12 (Tierney's is 21+).
Friday's headliners the Defending Champions are a first-class, high-energy third-wave ska band. Also on the bill; Black Water (feat. former members of the skronky, atonal, amusing Meltdowns) and hypnotically echoey, reverb-drenched Mogwai-ish dreampop/noiserockers the Invisible Lines.
The good stuff starts around nine on Saturday at Tierney's with up-and-coming retro soul band the One and Nines, fronted by charismatic siren Vera Sousa, with an equally captivating if far darker choice of headliners, the alternately austere and intense guitar-and-violin-driven indie rockers Bern & the Brights. The all-ages show at Asana House kicks off with anthemic veteran powerpop guy Gerry Perlinsky plus the clever, Beatlesque Terry McCarthy, tuneful and fun janglerockers the Sirs (who do a song about a Jean-Paul Sartre play, and another about being goth in high school) and Celtic folk troubadour Niall Connolly.
Sunday's show opens with the tongue-in-cheek retro 80s Frozen Gentlemen, followed by Copesetic – whose tunefully psychedelic debut last year was a singer short of greatness – then the funky hip-hop groove of Tip Canary, the Porchistas' fun, country-inflected powerpop (plus they're bringing free rice and beans for everyone, yum), the similarly Americana-driven but louder McMickle Bros. and then fiery gypsy rockers Kagero to wind up the night on an exhaustingly fun note. Definitely enough good stuff here to make it worth the ride there and back.
4 Comments »
Hello hello. Just wanted to add that I'm in the band Black Water and if you want to add a link, our website is http://www.blackwater.tv.
Comment by Adam N. Copeland | June 10, 2010 |
the porchistas are making free late lunch – rice and beans, a killer salad and a surprise dessert for everyone who makes it to tierneys between 2 and 3 pm for sundays show! free lunch people! comeon!
Comment by the porchistas | June 10, 2010 |
Sirs are a local NJ band. http://www.myspace.com/sirstheband
Comment by Michael Aquino | June 10, 2010 |
Thanks for the mention! Hope to see you guys at the festival this weekend.
Comment by Gerry Perlinski | June 11, 2010 |


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Bright, compact and easy to use projector with low TCODesigned for education and corporate environments
Bright, compact and easy to use projector with low TCO. Designed for education and corporate environments
|3.600 lumens
|3.100 lumens
|4.100 lumens
|3.800 lumens
|3.300 lumens
|3.100 lumens
|Contrast Ratio
Variety of Useful Features
Ease Wireless Projection by Optional Modul
Simply inserting the optional ET-WML100 Wireless Module into the USB port on the projector enables easy wireless projection from Windows PCs, iOS devices, or Android devices on which the proper freeware is installed.
Presenter Light for Windows® PCs
Pictures, videos, and any documents including PDF files/Power Point files, whatever are displayed on the PC screen can be projected.
The images from up to four PCs can be projected simultaneously.
VueMagic™ Pro* for iOS/Android Devices
Pictures, some documents including PDF files can be projected.
Live camera mode / Annotate mode can be used.
The images from up to four devices can be projected simultaneously.
* VueMagic™ Pro is a product of Pixelworks, Inc. For detailed information, refer to the following website .
Memory Viewer Function
In addition to JPEG/BMP image and text files, PDF files can be projected by simply inserting a USB memory device containing the data into the USB memory port. Now you can start your presentation without having to connect to a computer.
USB Display Function for Easy Projection Using a USB Cable
USB Display outputs images and sounds from the computer without the need to install any software.
Simply connect* to the USB port with a single USB cable and start your presentation.
* The first time a USB cable is connected, a USB driver must be installed.
Equipped with an HDMI Input Terminal and Abundant Interfaces
Extensive interfaces include an HDMI input terminal, 2 sets of computer (RGB) input terminals, a monitor (RGB) output terminal,
a wired LAN terminal, and a serial (RS-232C) terminal for external control.
These features support a wide range of system architectures for portable or ceiling-mounted use.
A Wide Variety of Functions for Easy Setup
Auto Input Signal Search
The Auto Input Signal Search function automatically detects the input signal and selects the input channel based on the signal.
This function lets you start a presentation without any complicated setup required.
Real-Time Keystone Correction
With Real-Time Keystone Correction, the projector automatically senses if you adjust its angle (in the vertical direction) during operation and instantly makes whatever keystone correction is necessary for optimal viewing.
Color-board and Blackboard (Green) modes
Color-board and Blackboard (Green) modes adjust the colors to provide
high-quality projection possible in rooms that don't have a screen.
10-Watt Speaker Enables Audio Playback Directly from the Projector
These portable projectors feature high-output 10-watt speaker that produces a high sound volume without requiring external speakers.
Other Features
- Direct Power Off right after use
- Projector identification system for remote control allocation of up to six projectors
- Built-in closed caption decoder.
Excellent Performance in a Compact Body
High Brightness and High Contrast in a Lightweight Body
A brightness level ranging from 3,100 lm* to 4,100 lm* and contrast ratio of 16,000:1 have been achieved in a compact lightweight body. Clear and bright images enhance the learning and working experience.
* Brightness ratings for models in the PT-LB426 Series are as follows: PT-LB426 (4,100 lm), PT-LB386 (3,800 lm), PT-LB356 (3,300 lm), PT-LW376 (3,600 lm), and PT-LW336 (3,100 lm), PT-LB306 (3,100 lm)
A Maximum 10,000-hour *1 Lamp Replacement Cycle and 10,000-hour *2 Air Filter Replacement Cycle
The PT-LB426 Series has a maximum lamp replacement cycle of 20,000 hours.*1 The air filter also has a replacement cycle of 10,000 hours.*2 This reduces maintenance hassles for long periods of use, and helps to lower maintenance costs and reduce environmental impact.
*1 This is the maximum value when the lamp power is set to Eco2. The usage environment affects the lamp replacement cycle. *2 The usage environment affects the duration of the filter.
Daylight View Lite
The Daylight View Lite function can be activated from the remote control for easy and comfortable viewing during presentations and lectures in a bright room.
Ease of Installation
Corner Keystone Correction Enables Angeld Projection
All you need to do is designate for points as the corner of the projected image, and this function easily carries out horizontal and vertical keystone correction.
Easy Remote Monitoring and Control over a LAN
Web browser on a computer connected through a wired LAN system lets you remotely operate projectors and check their status.In addition, Multi Monitoring and Control Software is available for monitoring and controlling multiple Panasonic projectors from a single PC.The wired LAN terminal is compatible with PJLink™ (class1), an open protocol that is used by many manufacturers, to enable integrated control of systems that contain different brands of projectors.
1.2x Zoom Lens Allows Flexible Installation
The PT-LB426 Series includes a 1.2x zoom lens to support a wide range of projection throw-distances. This is useful when presenting in rooms of different sizes.
Easy Lamp and Air Filter Replacement Simplifies Maintenance
For easier maintenance, you can replace the lamp from the top and the air filter from the side, even after the projector is installed on the ceiling. This eliminates the need to detach the projector from its mounting bracket in ceiling-mounted applications.
- Images
Please see below the services available for this product. You can also use this section to access the general Service & Downloads area of the website or contact our Technical Support team.General service & downloads Contact technical support
Please see below the services available for this product. You can also use this section to access the general Service & Downloads area of the website or contact our Technical Support team.General service & downloads Contact technical support
There are currently no key services available.
Please see below the services available for this product. You can also use this section to access the general Service & Downloads area of the website or contact our Technical Support team.General service & downloads Contact technical support
There are currently no other services available.
|LCD Panel | Panel Size
|16.0 mm (0.63 in) diagonal (4:3 aspect ratio)
|LCD Panel | Number of pixels
|786,432 (1024 x 768 pixels) x 3
|Light Source
|230 W x 1 lamp
|Light Output *2
|3,600 lm
|Lamp replacement cycle*3
|Normal: 10,000 h/Eco: 20,000 h/Quiet: 10,000 h
|Filter Replacement Cycle
|Normal: 5,000 h/Eco: 6,000 h/Quiet: 10,000 h
|1024 x 768 pixels
|Contrast Ratio*2
|20,000:1 (All white/all black, Iris: On, Image mode: Dynamic, Auto Power Save: Off, Daylight View: Off, Lamp control: Normal)
|Screen size [diagonal]
|0.76–7.62 m (30–300 in), 4:3 aspect ratio
|Center-to-corner zone ratio*2
|85 %
|Manual zoom (1.2x), manual focus lens, F = 2.1–2.25,f = 19.11–22.94 mm,throw ratio: 1.47–1.77:1
|Keystone Correction Range
|Vertical: ±30 ° (Auto, Manual)
|Ceiling/desk, front/rear
|Terminals | HDMI In
|HDMI 19-pin x 1 (Compatible withHDCP 1.4, Deep Color), Audio signal:Linear PCM (Sampling frequencies:48 kHz, 44.1 kHz, 32 kHz)
|Terminals | Computer 1 In
|D-sub HD 15-pin (female) x 1 [RGB/YPBPR/YC]
|Terminals | Computer 2 In/1 Out
|Terminals | Video In
|Pin jack x 1
|Terminals | Audio In 1
|M3 (L,R) x 1
|Terminals | Audio In 2
|Pin jack x 2 (L,R)
|Terminals | Audio Out
|M3 (L,R) x 1 (Variable)
|Terminals | LAN
|Terminals | Serial In
|D-sub 9-pin (female) x 1 for external control (RS-232C compatible
|Terminals | USB A
|Terminals | USB B
|For service only
|Power Supply
|AC 100–240 V, 50/60 Hz
|Power Consumption
|Built in Speaker
|2 W monaural
|Operation Noise*2
|Normal: 38 dB, Eco: 35 dB, Quiet: 30 dB
|Cabinet Materials
|Molded plastic
|Dimensions (W x H x D)
|335 x 96*5 x 252 mm (13 3/16˝ x 3 25/32˝ *5 x 9 29/32˝ )
|Approx. 2.8 kg (6.2 lbs)
|Operating Environment
|Operating temperature*7: Normal use: 5–40 °C (41–104 °F) at altitudes less than 1,400 m (4,593 ft); 5–35 °C (41–95 °F) ataltitudes of 1,400–2,700 m (4,593–8,858 ft); Operating humidity: 20–80 % (No condensation)
|Applicable Software
|*1 Availability may vary by country or region. *2 Measurement, measuring conditions, and method of notation all comply with ISO/IEC 21118: 2020 international standards. Value is average of all products when shipped. *3 Lamp replacement cycle stated is maximum value, at which timebrightness will have decreased to 50 %. Usage environment affects lamp replacement cycle. *4 ET-WML100 Series and AJ-WM50 Series devices are both compatible with supported projectors in this series, and either can be used to enable the wireless network function. *5 With legs atshortest position. *6 Average value. May differ depending on the actual unit. *7 When [LAMP POWER] is set to [NORMAL] and the projector is operated at an elevation of 1,400 m (4,593 ft) or less, if the ambient temperature exceeds 35 °C (95 °F), [LAMP POWER] will be switched to[ECO] automatically to protect the projector. When [LAMP POWER] is set to [NORMAL] and the projector is operated at an elevation between 1,400 m (4,593 ft) and 2,700 m (8,858 ft), if the ambient temperature exceeds 30 °C (86 °F), [LAMP POWER] will be switched to [ECO]automatically to protect the projector. *8 When using Presenter Light Software, images are projected with 1280 x 800 dots or 1024 x 768 dots onto the screen. Also, your PC display resolution may be forcibly changed, and audio playback disrupted or become noisy, while images andsound are being transmitted. *9 When using the Wireless Projector app, display resolution differs depending on your iOS/Android™ device and the display device. The maximum supported display resolution is WXGA (1280 x 800).
|Terminals | Monitor Out
|D-sub HD 15-pin (female) x 1 [RGB/YPBPR]
|Light output
|3,600 lm


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Silence from Johnny Manziel, except on the football field
- Johnny Manziel is not sharing his thoughts publicly%2C and that%27s just fine with his coach
- Manziel hasn%27t yet publicly discussed the pay-for-autograph scandal that caused a half-game suspension
- Last spring%2C Manziel told USA TODAY Sports he knew the Alabama game %27was gonna be fun%27
COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Johnny Manziel is not talking. At least, not publicly. No interviews. No TV time. More than likely, no tweets. That was the word from Texas A&M officials Tuesday – but it's the quarterback's choice.
"I'll respect his wishes for that," Aggies coach Kevin Sumlin said, adding that Manziel's decision was made after consulting with "his lawyers and his family."
Which only speaks to how odd the situation is. The buildup for No. 1 Alabama's visit to No. 6 Texas A&M is enormous, and the overarching storyline is pretty simple: Can Manziel and Texas A&M roll Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide again? But the reigning Heisman Trophy winner has clammed up on the advice of attorneys.
The reasons for Manziel's silence are well-known. He hasn't yet publicly discussed the pay-for-autograph scandal that enveloped him during the preseason and led to a one-half game suspension in the Aggies' season opener against Rice. But if he's not talking, it's not that dissimilar from the last time these teams met, last November in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
The legend of Johnny Football wasn't born that day, exactly – he was already a burgeoning folk hero – but it fully blossomed. Manziel's performance in the Aggies' upset propelled a nice little story into superstardom. Manziel was restricted by Sumlin's no-interview policy for freshmen, but Johnny's football spoke loudly. We've all seen endless replays of the scramble-fumble-turned-touchdown-pass – the best illustration of Manziel's freelancing ability – and of his late-game passing for the winning score.
"It was a stage for the whole world to see what kind of player he is," Texas A&M senior running back Ben Malena said.
And junior offensive tackle Cedric Ogbuehi, who bumped into Manziel, jarring the football free briefly before the quarterback gathered it in and created that highlight TD, said the moment won Manziel the Heisman.
"Every Heisman guy needs that one game, and that was it," Ogbuehi said. "He just came out there, he played really good and confident. I'm hoping he does the same thing this Saturday."
The Heisman came soon after. It was followed by the endless offseason with Drake and LeBron, followed finally, just before the start of preseason practices, by the autograph scandal, which led to the half-game suspension and, for the last six weeks (with one brief post-game exception Saturday) a muzzled Manziel.
This week, we won't hear his take on beating Alabama a year ago, what it meant to him and the program – or how he's looking forward to the rematch. Last spring, Manziel told USA TODAY Sports he knew the Alabama game "was gonna be fun," and that he expected some of his new celebrity acquaintances to attend.
"It's big on the schedule," Manziel said then. "Look how we went in there last year and we were able to take care of business at their home, and now they're coming in here, trying to take care of business at our home."
Coaches and teammates said Manziel is a better quarterback now than last November. He worked during the offseason to become a better passer, and the Aggies' emphasis has been on remaining in the pocket longer and scrambling less often, without reining in his improvisational skills.
"He's come a long way," junior receiver Malcome Kennedy said. "Obviously, he's a unique quarterback. What he does makes him who he is. He's really been focusing on proving to everyone that he can be a great quarterback and make all the throws."
Sumlin spoke Tuesday of harnessing Manziel's intensity and passion. During the season opener, TV cameras captured Manziel talking with Rice defenders and making various gestures. Sumlin yanked him from the game after he was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct. Sumlin said Manziel's behavior "was not the norm."
"He plays with great emotion and intensity," Sumlin said, "and it's my job to have that emotion and intensity moving in a positive direction because when that happens, great things happen."
Whatever happens, the TV audience is likely to see it. CBS plans to focus a camera solely on Manziel – the "Johnny Cam." It's not a completely new idea; the network did it, for example, with Tim Tebow a few years back. But Sumlin didn't sound happy with the development.
"Saturday afternoon, you're gonna have two football teams on the field," Sumlin said. "And I just don't understand why there's got to be one guy singled out to put a camera on the whole time. That's not what we're trying to be about and not what we're trying to promote. … With all the criticism about individualism on a football team, I don't think this helps enhance a team concept one bit."
Manziel has spoken publicly once since the autograph allegations surfaced. Last Saturday night, after a victory over Sam Houston State, he answered a few questions during the postgame interview session.
"I thought he did a great job," Sumlin said. "He expressed his feelings about his play Saturday and his teammates' play."
Many reporters were in the press box, on deadline. Manziel was not asked about and did not express his feelings on the autograph controversy or the suspension. Those questions undoubtedly would have been asked this week, and will be asked whenever the quarterback is finally available.
Until then – and especially Saturday – we'll all watch to see what Johnny's football has to say.
George Schroeder, a national college football reporter for USA TODAY Sports, is on Twitter @GeorgeSchroeder.


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'I Just Do My Own Thing': Walter Williams, RIP
The self-described "crazy-ass man" and libertarian economist focused on government's role in perpetuating racial inequality.
Milton Friedman – A Conversation On Minimum Wage
A debate on whether the minimum wage hurts or helps the working class. http://www.LibertyPen.com
Is Anybody Shocked that Higher Minimum Wage Mandates Are Resulting in Fewer Jobs?
August 25, 2016 by Dan Mitchell
While economists are famous for their disagreements (and their incompetent forecasts), there is universal consensus in the profession that demand curves slope downward. That may be meaningless jargon to non-economists, but it simply means that people buy less of something when it becomes more expensive.
And this is why it makes no senseto impose minimum wage requirements, or to increase mandated wages where such laws already exist.
If you don't understand this, just do a thought experiment and imagine what would happen if the minimum wage was $100 per hour. The answer is terrible unemployment, of course, which means it's a very bad idea.
So why, then, is it okay to throw a "modest" number of people into the unemployment line with a "small" increase in the minimum wage?
Yet some politicians can't resist pushing such policies because it makes them seem like Santa Claus to low-information voters. Vote for me, they assert, because I'll get you a pay raise!
All of this sounds good, and it may even be the final result for some workers. But there's overwhelming evidence that you get more unemployment when politicians boost the minimum wage.
There are no "magic boats." In the real world, businesses only hire workers when they expect that additional employees will generate more than enough revenue to offset their costs. So when politicians artificially increase the cost of hiring workers, there will be some workers (particularly those with low skills) who become redundant.
And that's exactly what we're seeing in cities that have chosen to mandate higher minimum wages.
The Wall Street Journal opines on Seattle's numbers.
Seattle's increase last year seems to be reducing employment. That's the finding of a new report by researchers at the University of Washington. The study compared nine months of 2015 in Seattle, where the wage is ticking up gradually and hit $13 an hour in January, with similar areas elsewhere in Washington. …The researchers found that the ordinance decreased the low-wage employment rate by about one-percentage point. …The ordinance "modestly held back" employment of low-wage earners, and hours worked "lagged behind" regional trends, on average four hours each quarter (or 19 minutes a week). Many such individuals moved to take jobs outside the city at "an elevated rate compared to historical patterns," says the report. …None of this will surprise anyone who understands that increasing the cost of something will reduce the demand for it. Then again, that concept seems to elude both major presidential candidates, who have floated national minimum-wage increases.
By the way, it's not just Trump and Clinton supporting this destructive policy. Mitt Romney also was on the wrong side back in 2012.
And it goes without saying that Obama has been a demagogue on the issue.
Let's examine evidence from another city. Mark Perry of the American Enterprise Institute looks at what has been happening in Washington, DC.
Since the DC minimum wage increased in July 2015 to $10.50 an hour, restaurant employment in the city has increased less than 1% (and by 500 jobs), while restaurant jobs in the surrounding suburbs increased 4.2% (and by 7,300 jobs). An even more dramatic effect has taken place since the start of this year – DC restaurant jobs fell by 1,400 jobs (and by 2.7%) in the first six months of 2016 between January and July – that's the largest loss of District food jobs during a 6-month period in 15 years. Perhaps some of those job losses were related to the $1 an hour minimum wage hike on July 1, bringing the city's new minimum wage to $11.50 an hour. In contrast, restaurant employment outside the city grew at a 1.6% rate in the suburbs (and by 2,900 jobs) during the January to July period. …While it might take several more years to assess the full impact, the preliminary evidence so far suggests that DC's minimum wage law is having a negative effect on staffing levels at the city's restaurants. At the same time that suburban restaurants have increased employment levels by nearly 3,000 new positions since January, restaurants in the District have shed jobs in five out of the last six months, with a total loss of 1,400 jobs during that period (an average of nearly 8 jobs lost every day). The last time DC experienced restaurant job losses in five out of six consecutive months was 25 years ago in 1991, and the last time 1,400 jobs were lost over any six-month period was 15 years ago during the 2001 recession.
Here's a chart looking at how restaurant employment in DC and the suburbs used to be closely correlated, but how there's been a divergence since the city hiked the minimum wage.
As Mark noted, we'll know even more as time passes, but the net result so far is predictably negative.
For additional background info, this video is a succinct explanation of why minimum-wage mandates are such a bad idea.
Let's close with something rather amusing. It turns out that the State Department, during Hillary Clinton's tenure, actually understood that higher minimum wages destroy jobs. Indeed, her people were even willing to fight against such job-killing measures.
But in Haiti rather than America, as Politifact reports.
Memos from 2008 and 2009 obtained by Wikileaks strongly suggest…that the State Department helped block the proposed minimum wage increase. The memos show that U.S. Embassy officials in Haiti clearly opposed the wage hike and met multiple times with factory owners who directly lobbied against it to the Haitian president. …media outlets assessed the cables and found, among many other revelations, that the "U.S. Embassy in Haiti worked closely with factory owners contracted by Levi's, Hanes, and Fruit of the Loom to aggressively block a paltry minimum wage increase" for workers in apparel factories. …Deputy Chief of Mission David Lindwall put it most bluntly, when he said the minimum wage law "did not take economic reality into account but that appealed to the unemployed and underpaid masses." …The U.S. Embassy, meanwhile, continued to lament the hike… USAID studies found that a 200 gourdes minimum wage "would make the sector economically unviable and consequently force factories to shut down."
Hmmm…., I wonder if some of those textile companies made contributions to theClinton Foundation?
P.S. People in Switzerland obviously understand this issue, overwhelmingly voting against a minimum-wage mandate in 2014.
P.P.S. As Walter Williams has explained, minimum wage laws are especially harmful for blacks.
Related posts:


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Day 6 (371) – January 6, 2019
Reflect – Sunday Stills / New – One Word Sunday / Underdog – FOWC / Homecoming – RDP / Riddle – WODC
The local fire house got a new truck recently. Driving past their auxiliary garage, I noticed that for a what I would imagine to be a good chunk of change, you could get yourself a used hose and ladder truck or an ambulance. It's a sight you just don't see every day. As I walked by the main fire house this morning, the shine off the new truck caught my eye. When I turned look, the row of gear, neatly and methodically hung, struck me. There was something about it that just stopped me in my tracks and left me riddled with somber thoughts. Knowing that each of those kits is occupied by someone who has volunteered (80% are volunteers) to risk their life, to fight an opponent with the power to make each of them a huge underdog, is a sobering thought. Especially when you look at the number of kits ready for their occupants to come home. When I moved to Albuquerque back in 1990, I actually took the test to become a firefighter. I passed the written and returned the following day to do the physical portion. After the 4th (of 7) obstacle, my breakfast decided that it was giving up, and as is policy, if that happens, it's immediate disqualification. I am not sure why I didn't go back and retest. I really wanted to be a firefighter. But I suppose it just wasn't in the plans. I was fairly certain, as well, that I had managed to get through the most difficult obstacle on the course and that the last 3 wouldn't have been as much of a struggle. I blamed the altitude. I still do.
Look What I Found


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These are three of almost a hundred business panoramas uploaded to 360 Cities in last two weeks by PRO account holders.
Restaurant of Hotel fazenda Eco Resort Recanto Alvorada
Restaurant of Hotel fazenda Eco Resort Recanto Alvorada in Brotas SP
Noumea Dentist New Caledonia
Noumea Dentist New Caledonia in Noumea
Oyster restaurant
Oyster restaurant In tibau do sul near pipa and natal in Brazil
Do you want to be featured in next week's update? Leave a link to your recently published pano in the comments below or send it to us directly via the contact form. If you send us email or a Skype message please mention a link to this blog post.


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Considering how hectic most of our lives are – trying to balance a job, a social life, the gym, etc. – it's no surprise that many of us are turning to technology to find the one.
Dating in Canada means sorting through lots of potential singles in the province. Where do you even get started? One of the easiest way of meeting other single people in Canada is by looking on the web, and at MyDates.ca, we make it easy to set up your profile and get started online.
Don't wait for the snow to melt or the season to change to start dating. MyDates.ca makes meeting compatible Canadian singles easier than ever because we take the time to understand our users and present them with only the best matches. By doing this we significantly increase the success rate for couples to enjoy a long and loving relationship. Let us know about your social style, cognitive mode, values and beliefs and we will find you people with similar or complementary characteristics.
Tons of members here have found success with online dating, and Canadians are no exception. Lots of singles set up profiles on our site every days in the hopes of finding one day their soul mate, and you can, too. MyDates.ca is a much more user-friendly website and because of the membership selection before registering you will find members much more serious on their desire to make a lasting encounter.
We work hard to make sure you don't have to worry about safety and privacy when looking for a partner online. Our ID authentication process, manual profile verification, SSL encryption and scam detection systems, all work in unison to provide you with one of the very best dating sites for security; a platform where you can feel comfortable to share what you want, with whom you want, when you want.


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Obama invites G7 leaders for meeting on Ukraine
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama on Tuesday invited allied leaders for an emergency meeting in Europe next week to discuss further action in response to Russia's involvement in Ukraine, as world economic powers considers whether Moscow' should keep its membership in their organization.
White House spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden said Obama wants to gather leaders of the Group of Seven nations and the European Union to meet on the sidelines of a nuclear summit next week in the Netherlands. Russia is one of 53 countries which will participate in the nuclear meeting in The Hague.
In a statement, Hayden said the meeting that Obama is organizing "will focus on the situation in Ukraine and further steps that the G-7 may take to respond to developments and to support Ukraine."
The G-7 includes the United States, Britain, Germany, Japan, France, Italy and Canada. Russia joined to form the G-8 in the 1990s, but has been a bit of an odd man out at their annual meetings. The G-8 has been eclipsed in recent years by the G-20, which includes China and emerging markets and was created to better represent the drivers of the 21st century global economy.
Russia has the G-8's rotating leadership and is scheduled to host a summit in Sochi in June, but the other members already had suspended preparations for that meeting over objections to Russia's involvement in Ukraine.
U.S. officials had been mulling the idea of an emergency summit since at least the weekend, depending upon how Russian President Vladimir Putin proceeded in Ukraine. The White House announced plans for the meeting shortly after Putin signed a treaty to incorporate Ukraine's Crimea region into Russia's map.
French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius on Tuesday said G-8 leaders have decided to suspend Russia's participation because of its incursion into Crimea, although other member countries said no decision has been made about Russia's future in the group.
Britain's Foreign Office said Tuesday that Russia is still part of the G8 — but did not rule out a suspension.
"The G7 collectively made clear last week that we would take further action should the Russian Federation seek to annex Crimea," the Foreign Office said in a statement. "We are keeping this under review and talking to G7 partners."
Follow Nedra Pickler on Twitter at https://twitter.com/nedrapickler


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STRALSUND, Germany—German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President François Hollande on Saturday urged the Kiev government to make concessions to the pro-Russian population in Ukraine even as they declared a looming independence referendum in the country's east illegal and warned of further sanctions against Russia.
The two leaders said after a two-day meeting in Merkel's parliamentary district in northeast Germany that the 57-nation Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, or OSCE, should collect illegal weapons in Ukraine and observe the scheduled May 25 presidential election.
They urged the Ukrainian government to move ahead within days a Ukrainian constitutional reform plan that Russia has been demanding. But they also warned Russian President Vladimir Putin that they were prepared to broaden sanctions against his country if Russia prevents the May 25 election from being held.
"We are prepared to go farther on the sanctions path," Merkel said. "But that is not an end in itself for us."
The comments from Merkel and Hollande show how the West continues to scramble to find a way to find a diplomatic resolution to the Ukraine crisis. While Putin made public statements in recent days indicating he was prepared to support the presidential vote, and urged separatists to call off their referendum, violence in eastern Ukraine has continued to flare.
Merkel and Hollande said they viewed as illegal the referendum for independence from Kiev scheduled to be held Sunday in separatist-controlled parts of eastern Ukraine.
But a five-point declaration the two adopted called on the pro-Western government in Kiev to be open to the demands of pro-Russian groups, including a constitutional reform plan that would ensure minority rights and open the door to decentralizing the government.
The Kiev government should make public their plans for constitutional reform "in the coming days," the declaration said.
The most important goal, they said, was to ensure the presidential election scheduled for May 25 would be held to add legitimacy to the government in Kiev.
An expanded version of this report appears at WSJ.com


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© 2023 MJH Life Sciences™ and dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care. All rights reserved.
Texas Supreme Court rejects emotional damages case
State high court upholds 122-year-old precedent maintaining pets as personal property.
In a decision that leaves the legal landscape little changed, the Texas Supreme Court on April 5 ruled against Jeremy and Kathryn Medlen's claim to emotional damages as a result of losing their dog, Avery, in 2009.
The state high court's opinion, written by Justice Don Willett, reads, "We acknowledge the grief of those whose companions are negligently killed. Relational attachment is unquestionable. But it is also uncompensable. We confirm our long-settled rule."
The court's precedent was established in an 1891 case that categorizes dogs as personal property, which eliminates the possibility of non-economic damages rooted in subjective, emotional feelings. "The term 'property' is not a pejorative but a legal descriptor, and its use should not be misconstrued as discounting the emotional attachment that pet owners undeniably feel," Willett's opinion states. "Nevertheless, under established legal doctrine, recovery in pet-death cases is, barring legislative reclassification, limited to loss of value, not loss of relationship."
The Texas Veterinary Medical Association supported the decision in a press release April 5.
"This is a great decision for pet owners and animals in general, and the Texas Veterinary Medical Association (TVMA) commends the court in making such a decision. Veterinarians devote their lives to caring for and preventing the suffering of animals and without a doubt understand the deep bond that develops between people and their pets. They sympathize with families over the losses of their animals, but they were also aware that such a dramatic change to the way that courts in Texas apply the law would have had vast unintended consequences," said the TVMA in the press release.
The Medlens' case began when Avery escaped from their backyard and was picked up by local animal control officers. When Jeremy Medlen went to retrieve Avery, he didn't have enough money to pay the fee.
He was told he could return by June 10 with the money and the dog would be held with a tag on his cage notifying shelter employees not to euthanize the dog. On June 6, shelter worker Carla Strickland mistakenly placed Avery on a list to be euthanized the following day. When the Medlens returned to collect Avery, they found out he had been euthanized.
The Medlens sued Strickland, requesting intrinsic and sentimental value for the dog. However, when the case went to trial court, the judge ruled to dismiss, saying the Medlens hadn't stated "a claim for damages recognized as law." The Medlens appealed this ruling to the Second District Court of Appeals, which reversed the trial judge's decision and remanded the case back to trial court. Strickland appealed that decision in January 2012 to the state's Supreme Court, asking it to reverse the appellate court decision and dismiss the case from trial court.
This decision comes after New Jersey and California both recently saw cases that sought emotional damages for pet loss or damage, with New Jersey ruling that animals were property and owners couldn't claim emotional damages, while a California appeals court upheld $50,000 in emotional damages (although the California verdict was based not on negligence but trespassing).


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Architectural firm hired for Rockford station
ROCKFORD — An architectural firm has been hired to design a train stop along Cedar Street, where train service to Chicago is expected to start late next year.
Rockford Mass Transit District will pay Legat Architects of Chicago up to $250,000 for architectural and design work for the station near tracks owned by Union Pacific Railroad.
"Their initial work will be determining the exact location," said Jim Johnson, project manager with RMTD. "That will require working with the city to meet their expectations and also working with Amtrak and the UP to make sure the location is acceptable."
Johnson expects Legat's design for a station on Cedar will be similar to the firm's earlier design for a South Main Street station near Tinker Swiss Cottage.
Plans for that station were scrapped when the state couldn't negotiate with the Canadian National Railroad for use of tracks for a Chicago-Dubuque, Iowa, route.
In April, Gov. Pat Quinn announced Amtrak would use Union Pacific Railroad tracks for Rockford service. He said the Illinois Department of Transportation would continue to negotiate with CN on a Rockford-to-Dubuque link.
The new train station site will be near the Ziock Building, where a $53 million hotel and conference center is being planned by Wisconsin developer Gorman & Co. The hotel is expected to open in 2016.
The station is part of a $233 million rail project.
IDOT Spokesman Guy Tridgell said the state added $10 million to the budget for the station. Tridgell said the city will kick in $5.5 million for the train project, which will include a new permanent station, repairs to the bridge across the Rock River, repairs to Main Street bridge and track work west of Seventh Street.
Brian Leaf: 815-987-1343; email@example.com; @b_leaf


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Enemy fighters use commercial satellite images to plot attacks on U.S. troops, but most U.S. soldiers can't get the same images because of technical or classification restrictions. The Pentagon says that problem can be gotten around through swarms of small satellites capable of providing on-demand battlefield images for any U.S. soldier with a tablet.
Two dozen disposable satellites could be launched from aircraft-fired missiles for a fraction of the cost of the flying robots that make up the U.S. military's drone fleet. The complete constellation of 24 satellites would hold orbit for at least 45 days and send updated battlefield images to soldiers on the ground within an hour and a half of receiving a request, according to a solicitation issued by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency May 9.
The U.S. military already has thousands of flying robot drones covering the battlefields, but DARPA's "SeeMe" program envisions satellite swarms providing much wider coverage and constant surveillance from space. That could allow even ordinary soldiers to request the latest battlefield images during a patrol or firefight, as seen in a newly released DARPA video.
DARPA says success of the project depends not only on getting satellites that are far less expensive than drone aircraft, but on finding a manufacturer that can make them within 90 days of the U.S. military's demands. At present, the military must wait a year or two for delivery of new satellites.
DARPA has set a test goal of launching 24 small satellites into orbit around 2014 or 2015. That first swarm is expected to have a price tag of $12 million, not including launch or operational costs.
Follow InnovationNewsDaily on Twitter @News_Innovation, or on Facebook.


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Teamwork is put to the test in building and racing a life-size cardboard F1 racing car.
Program outline
Get you team into TOP GEAR in this totally unique team building experience. Flat Out — Formula 1 tests the communication skills, collaboration and resourcefulness of your team whilst constructing the ultimate model kit — an almost full scale Formula 1 racing car! Using your time effectively is paramount for you and all of the other equally determined teams. Working from detailed construction plans, each Formula 1 team has to rally their collective skills to turn a 'flat-pack' kit of materials into the ultimate cardboard driving machine, and at the same time, create human-horsepower aiming for perfect synchronisation. Finally, the Grand Prix moment arrives and all team endeavours will be over in a flicker as the lights flash and all teams compete for the chequered flag!
Learning and development outcomes
Only by forming sub-teams and working in parallel can the incredible creations of Flat Out F1 be achieved. With a good understanding of the end goal, this complex project can be broken down to keep the whole team productive and efficient with everyone's efforts being essential for a successful build. There is plenty of creativity with 'pimping' of the cars, and practise makes perfect as the final race is won or lost in the pit stop.
Corporate Social Responsibility ideas
There are so many ways in which you can use Flat Out Formula 1 to promote your favourite charity. Here are a few examples:
- Prior to the event, all teams selected a charity. During the activity, teams branded their cars with decorations denoting their charity. Teams then raced for prize money for their chosen charity. All teams donated to their charity, whether they came 1st or last! At the end of the program the client surprised us by doubling the donations! Impressive!
- Staff from US dessert giant, Sara Lee, participated in a CSR focused Flat Out F1. They invited kids from a nearby institution to participate in the activity by helping build and decorate the cars. During the grand finale race, one child was invited to sit with the driver and race down the track! Needless to say the children had a fantastic time, and Sara Lee loved it so much that they purchased the first place car, taking it back to display at their HQ and donating the money to the children's charity. The children signed the car body with short "thank you" notes and all the participants names. Win! Win! for all.
- The children received the educational benefits of this dynamic challenge while raising money for their school. Prior to the event each team was tasked with finding a corporate sponsor for their F1 racing car. Character building stuff for go-getters in their formative years!
Key Business Benefits
- Corporate Responsibility
- Cross Functional co-operation
- Energising a conference
- Fun & Motivation
- Practical leadership
- Project planning
- Strategy Communication
- Team Dynamics
- Uniting Teams


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Search results for author:"Loralee LaPointe"
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Loralee LaPointe
University of South Dakota
Belonging Online: Students' Perceptions of the Value and Efficacy of an Online Learning Community
Loralee LaPointe; Marcy Reisetter
International Journal on E-Learning Vol. 7, No. 4 (October 2008) pp. 641–665
The proliferation of online course designs has changed the learning environments for many students and professors. Recommendations for best practice in online course design frequently include maximizing students' online peer connections, with the...
Topics: Cognition, Distance Education, Instructional Design, Adults, Virtual Environments
The Impact of Altered Realties: Implications of Online Delivery for Learners' Interactions, Expectations, and Learning Skills
Marcy Reisetter; Loralee LaPointe; James Korcuska
International Journal on E-Learning Vol. 6, No. 1 (January 2007) pp. 55–80
Although research consistently demonstrates that students learn content in online classes as well as their campus based counterparts and are equally satisfied with the quality of their learning, more information is needed that describes how the...
Topics: Interaction, Distance Education, online learning, research, web-based learning, Instructional Design, design, online education, instruction, Professional Development, Web-based Instruction, online teaching, Teaching Methods, Learning Management Systems, Research Methods


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Dr Bill Rees founder of "The Ecological Footprint" and co-developer with Matthis Wackernagel, spoke at the recent International Conference on Degrowth in Montreal. "The Extraenviromentalist" team of Seth & Justin did a great job of covering the conference. http://www.extraenvironmentalist.com/blog/2012/05/24/degrowth-american-dream/
It is very rare that someone is able to concisely and clearly spell out what the inhabitants of the Earth are facing, but someone as respected as Bill Rees who has studied many areas of life on earth is worth listening to.


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Singer and songwriter Jimmy Buffett (1946- ) spent his early formative years in Mobile, Alabama, and briefly attended Auburn University. His childhood experiences growing up on Alabama's Gulf Coast helped shape his world view and the persistent themes in his artistic output. He later moved to Key West, Florida, where he became an author, entrepreneur, and icon of popular culture. Over his recording career, Buffett has released some 60 albums, many of which have reached gold, platinum, or multiplatinum status. His fans worldwide call themselves "Parrotheads" in homage to the Caribbean culture that exemplifies Buffett's life and is celebrated in his music. A savvy businessman, Buffett has amassed a fortune of almost $1 billion.
James William Buffett was born on December 25, 1946, in Pascagoula, Mississippi, the child of James Delaney "J. D." Buffett Jr. and Mary Loraine Peets Buffett. J. D. served as a flight mechanic in the Pacific with the Army Air Corps in World War II and moved the family to Mobile soon after to work for Alabama Dry Dock and Shipbuilding Company. Buffett's parents wanted their son to be either a Jesuit priest or a naval officer and sent him to parochial schools. He was a Boy Scout and altar boy in St. Ignatius Parish in Mobile and graduated in 1964 from McGill Institute (now McGill-Toolen Catholic High School), an all-male college preparatory school. His youthful interests in fishing, boating, swimming, and surfing along the Gulf Coast are passions that he maintained as an adult and that influenced many of his creative endeavors.
Buffett entered Auburn as a freshman in 1965 and pledged the social fraternity Sigma Pi. He learned guitar from another pledge, Johnny Youngblood, because he saw that it brought Youngblood success in meeting coeds. Buffett was unable to balance his newfound interests in music and girls with his college classes and failed out of Auburn in April 1966. To avoid the draft during the Vietnam War, he enrolled the following September at Pearl River Junior College in Poplarville, Mississippi.
Buffett turned to music to pay his college expenses, working first as a street singer on weekends in New Orleans and then at engagements along the Gulf Coast with friends Doug Duncan and Susan Pitman in a band called The Upstairs Alliance. Buffett's real education came from living in the hippie counterculture of the late-1960s French Quarter in New Orleans. Nevertheless, Buffett maintained his grades and transferred to the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg to complete a bachelor's degree in history in 1969. Anticipating the draft, he applied for Officer Candidate School, but received a medical exemption when a Navy physical diagnosed him with a peptic ulcer. Freed from military service, Buffett pursued a career as a solo act and proposed marriage to his girlfriend, Margie Washichek. In 1969 the couple wed in St. Joseph's Chapel on the campus of Spring Hill College in Mobile.
Buffett's talent lay in connecting with an audience, and he had an intensely loyal fan base from his earliest performances in Mobile at The Admiral's Club. Also in Mobile, Buffett composed and recorded songs in a studio owned by songwriter Milton Brown. Brown introduced Buffett to executives at Billboard magazine, based in Nashville, Tennessee, which took him on as a reporter. It would be Buffett's first and only nine-to-five job. Barnaby Records then signed him to a recording contract, requiring him to give up the Billboard job after his 1970 album Down to Earth appeared. The record sold less than 400 copies. Barnaby officials then misplaced his master tape for a second album to be called High Cumberland Jubilee. These financial disappointments and his inability to get club dates in Nashville stressed his marriage. In 1971 Buffett divorced his wife and headed for Key West, Florida. There he worked on a fishing boat, pursued his solo career on the road and developed the beach-bum persona for which he would become famous. A mutual friend introduced Buffett to Jane Slagsvol in Key West in 1972, and the two were married on August 27, 1977. The couple would have three children.
In 1973 Buffett signed with ABC-Dunhill Records and recorded a second debut album, A White Sports Coat and a Pink Crustacean, which was released in 1973. The subsequent Living and Dying in ¾ Time (1974) contained Buffett's first hit single, "Come Monday." But Buffett struggled to find a niche in the music industry because his songs could not be easily categorized. He formed the Coral Reefer Band in 1975, and their album Changes in Latitudes (1977)—featuring Buffett's most popular song, "Margaritaville"—reached number eight on Billboard's charts.
In the late 1980s, Buffett branched into entrepreneurship. He opened the first of several Margaritaville restaurants in Key West in 1987. In 1989, he invested in the Ft. Myers Miracles, a minor league baseball team, with actor and comedian Bill Murray. In 1998, he launched Radio Margaritaville, available for subscription on Sirius satellite radio. In 2000 Outback Restaurants paid Buffett $1 million for the rights to name a chain of restaurants Cheeseburger in Paradise, after the title of a hit song from his Son of a Son of a Sailor (1978).
Buffett also took up writing, publishing Tales from Margaritaville, a collection of short stories, in 1989. His 1992 mystery novel, Where Is Joe Merchant?, spent months on the New York Times best-seller list for fiction. He also co-authored the children's books Jolly Mon (1988) and Trouble Dolls (1991) with his daughter Savannah Jane and illustrator Lambert Davis. His autobiographical A Pirate Looks at Fifty (1998) topped the New York Times non-fiction list right after its release, and his novel A Salty Piece of Land (2004) also was a best-seller.
A flight enthusiast, Buffett has owned and flown a number of seaplanes. On August 25, 1994, Buffett survived the crash of his seaplane, Lady of the Waters, in Madeket Harbor, Nantucket. On January 16, 1996, Jamaican police mistook his plane for a drug-smuggling plane and shot at him and fellow passenger Bono, singer for Irish rock group U2. Buffett transformed the incident into "Jamaica Mistaica," a song on his Banana Wind (1996) album.
Buffett remains popular in the twenty-first century. His collaboration with country music star Alan Jackson on the hit single "It's Five O'clock Somewhere" (2003) earned the Country Music Award for Vocal Event of 2003, a Grammy nomination for Best Country Collaboration With Vocals and the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) Song of the Year for 2004. Buffett's album License to Chill (2004) debuted at number one on the popular music charts the week it was released, another first for Buffett. He received his second Grammy nomination for Best Country Collaboration with Vocals with his song, "Hey Good Looking" from the License to Chill album. Buffett produced, acted in, and created the soundtrack for the film Hoot, based on the children's book and released in May 2006. In August of that year, he released the album Take the Weather with You with the song, "Breathe In, Breathe Out, Move On" as a tribute to victims of Hurricane Katrina, which struck the Gulf Coast the previous year. In 2010, he teamed with the Zac Brown Band on the single "Knee Deep," which reached the top of the Billboard Country Music chart. In 2017, a Buffett acquaintance discovered a cache of early recordings made at Product Sound Studio in Mobile in 1969; Buffett released them as the album Buried Treasure.
Buffett has appeared in guest spots in several films and television shows, including 2015's Jurassic World. He continues to tour, regularly performing benefit concerts for survivors of hurricanes and other disasters, as well as concerts to support political campaigns. In addition to his musical endeavors, Buffet owns the licensing for Margaritaville Tequila, Margaritaville Footwear, and Margaritaville Foods, among others, and established the Latitude Margaritaville retirement community in Daytona Beach, Florida. He is also a recognized environmentalist, especially in efforts to save manatees and their habitats in the Florida Everglades through his Save the Manatee Club, which he founded with former Florida governor Bob Graham.
Additional Resources
Buffett, Jimmy. A Pirate Looks at Fifty. New York: Random House, 1998.
Additional Resources
Buffett, Jimmy. A Pirate Looks at Fifty. New York: Random House, 1998.
———. A Salty Piece of Land. New York: Little, Brown and Co., 2004.
———. Tales from Margaritaville: Fictional Facts and Factual Fictions. San Diego: Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich, 1989.


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Ogden News
WKU group makes progress on projects to assist remote village in Belize
- Thursday, November 1st, 2012
A WKU group led by Dr. Bernie Strenecky, Scholar-in-Residence in the Honors College and founder of The $100 Solution™, traveled to Belize in September to work in the remote village of Gales Point, Manatee, located near the eastern coast.
The team also included Dr. Jason Polk, Associate Director of Science for the Hoffman Environmental Research Institute; Jonathan Oglesby, WKU Geography and Geology graduate student and Hoffman staff member; AJ Strenecky of the Merritt Island Florida Rotary Club; and Dr. Beth Quick, Dr. Terry Silver and Professor Ruby Black, faculty members from the University of Tennessee-Martin.
The group had several goals during the trip, with the overarching theme of working with the local community in Gales Point. These goals included helping to improve its water supply, discussing and evaluating the school's curriculum, and evaluating the karst geology and groundwater resources in the area. In addition, Dr. Polk and Oglesby conducted fieldwork in western Belize for a project investigating past climate change impacts on the Maya using cave deposits.
"This trip was magic and is a testament to what can happen when a small number of people give of their hearts, minds and skills to improve the lives of a forgotten people," Dr. Strenecky said.
Gales Point, Manatee, exists as an isolated community on a peninsula a few miles long and up to only a few hundred feet wide at some points. The peninsula is surrounded by a brackish lagoon just inland from the Caribbean Sea, yet offers little in the way of viable water resources due to its low elevation and karst geology. The primary means of reaching the community is by boat, and the secondary, less-reliable route is via a long, muddy gravel road that can be impassable at times, thus enhancing the difficulty of the community in accessing outside assistance and resources.
The population at Gales Point is made up of a unique people group that originated from runaway slaves and settlers from Nigeria who began inhabiting the peninsula in the early 1800s. Gales Point is one of the few, if not only, places in the world outside of Africa where this culture and its customs still exist and flourish. In addition to the unique population residing in Gales Point, the landscape that comprises the area is a national wildlife preserve, home to many diverse, and sometimes endangered, species of animals and plants, caves, and past Maya activity. The surrounding lagoon is home to multiple threatened or endangered species, including the hawksbill turtle, the goliath grouper, the West Indian manatee, and several exotic bird species.
The trip left little down time, with the group immediately starting on the night of arrival to work on the first major project of installing a UV water filtration and purification system for the local school and preschool. This system was provided by the generous donation of the Merritt Island Rotary Club and pioneered by AJ Strenecky, who spent more than two years in researching, developing and organizing the purchase and installation of the system.
The system incorporates two filters to remove particulates, and an ultraviolet light tube that kills any harmful pathogens, leaving the water purified as it exits the small and efficient system, which is capable of treating three gallons of water per minute. The system now provides clean water for the entire school and preschool on a continuous basis, requiring little energy and maintenance for its long-term operation.
The team worked with local Chairman of the Water Board, Kevin Andrewin, and community members to install the system and provide training on its operation and upkeep.
Community leader Nancy Bailey, who owns Manatee Lodge located at the end of the peninsula, is working to develop and implement best management practices with support from the WKU team to help Gales Point become sustainable with respect to water, energy and health. "I am really excited to see the things fall in place that I've been dreaming about for years," she said. "I look forward to continue working with the WKU team and I know great things can and will come out of it."
The WKU team met with Anthony Flowers from the Ministry of Health (Water Division) and Martin Lewis from the Ministry of Rural Development to discuss issues of water quality and sustainable development. Efforts are under way to develop training initiatives and programs to improve water quality testing procedures and local water infrastructure in rural communities. The Gales Point community serves as a pilot project in the joint efforts.
The WKU team also had a follow-up meeting with the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC) to continue discussions on how to address climate change issues in the region, including Gales Point. This meeting was part of an ongoing collaboration to build partnerships between WKU and the CCCCC for long-term climate change science and education initiatives in vulnerable Caribbean communities.
Dr. Polk and Oglesby also performed reconnaissance and collected preliminary data regarding the environmental conditions and resources in Gales Point. They visited Ben Loman's cave across the lagoon and inventoried features within the cave, which included many flora and faun
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Experience-Rated Employers
BWC uses reported payroll and applies a manual classification expected loss rate to determine an employer's expected losses. Employers with expected losses of $2,000 or more are entered into the experience-rating plan.
Experience information (also called an experience period) is a statistical snapshot of each employer's claims costs for the oldest four years of the most recent five-year period.
Each June, we provide an online experience exhibit so state-fund employers can view their experience-rated information, such as:
- All lost-time claims within their experience period, including compensation awards, medical payments and claim reserves. Claim reserves are monies we expect to pay out in the future, not what is paid out already.
- The base rate(s) for each NCCI manual classification within their business.
- Any experience modification, which is the percentage of credit or debit we apply to the base rate to determine the employer's premium. It's also called an experience modifier ̶ a measure of expected future claims costs. For employers who have lower expected claims costs than their classification average, we apply an experience modification credit to their premium. Conversely, employers with expected claims costs higher than average would receive an experience modification debit.
- For private employers, the maximum credit in policy year 2019 is 53 percent.
- For public employers, the maximum credit in policy year 2019 is 65 percent.
To view an experience exhibit for a policy, refer to Experience period data.


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Sanford: Stephen Colbert not running
Former Gov. Mark Sanford previewed his lines of attack against Democrat Elizabeth Colbert Busch on Wednesday, saying her famous comedian brother wasn't on the ballot and her issue stances would eventually sink her candidacy.
"She's not held office," Sanford said on MSNBC's "Morning Joe," the day after his victory in the GOP runoff. "Right now, the one thing that people know about her is that she is Stephen Colbert's sister. Well, at the end of the day, Stephen Colbert is a very popular, well-regarded comedian, but at the end of the day he's not on the ticket."
Sanford, who left office in disgrace after admitting to lying to his staff and having an affair, won with 57 percent of the vote in a GOP primary runoff on Tuesday in South Carolina's 1st congressional district. But national Republicans are already worried baggage from his governorship could drag down his candidacy and cost the GOP a seat Mitt Romney won by 18 points. The general election is set for May 7.
( Also on POLITICO: GOP frets Mark Sanford could blow it)
Sanford was confident the district's natural conservative tendencies would come through.
"We're going to have a debate about ideas," he said. "And I think when people really begin to digest those ideas and see a real strong contrast between where she should be and where I would be, I think that will substantially change a poll that I think now identifies name I.D. as people know it, not issue I.D. and I think ultimately the debates and campaigns are decided on issues."
A Colbert Busch spokesman said the Democrat was clearly making strides in the coastal district, which Sanford previously represented from 1995 to 2001.
"Elizabeth is a tough, independent businesswoman who spent twenty years working at South Carolina's Ports and developing the economy here in the 1st District," James Smith said in a statement. "She has deep roots in the District and her focus on creating jobs, balancing the budget and doing what's right by the families and businesses of South Carolina is clearly resonating with voters."


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Editorial: We grew tired of Blagojevich's act years ago
Rod Blagojevich begged, pleaded and insisted he was innocent during a rambling 46-minute speech to Illinois senators Thursday.
It wasn't enough as senators voted 59-0 to remove the governor from office. We're relieved this long, ugly, surreal process is over.
The only thing surprising about the governor's last-minute appeal was that it was short by his standards. He could have spoken 90 minutes under the Senate rules and it's hard to believe he gave up the podium without an escort.
He must have had more pressing matters. He was out of Springfield and on the plane back to Chicago within a half-hour, long before senators began to deliberate.
Blagojevich's defense Thursday was redundant if you had watched any of the governor's TV appearances this week. He offered nothing new, repeating how unfair the process was and how he had done nothing wrong. There were weird side stories, like when he was a freshman in Congress and got coffee for U.S. Sen. John Warner.
"And I didn't tell him I was a congressman; instead, I went and asked him, "How do you take it?" And he said "Black."
"And I went and got him the coffee."
Although we endorsed Blagojevich him in 2002, we grew tired of his act by his third year in office. Lawmakers complained he did not talk to them and tried to dictate rather than collaborate as he pushed his programs. There were whispers of wrongdoing then and some thought he would be indicted before he had a chance to run for a second term.
In 2006, we endorsed Green Party candidate Rich Whitney for governor. In that editorial we said, "Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich has danced as fast as he can on the campaign trail in a vain attempt to stay ahead of allegations of personal corruption and fiscal irresponsibility."
He couldn't dance fast enough. Those allegations finally caught him Dec. 9, 2008.
The most offensive thing about Blagojevich's comments Thursday was his declaration that what he did was business as usual. "You guys are in politics," he told senators. "You know what we have to do to go out and run elections." The FBI wiretaps recorded "conversations relating to the things all of us in politics do in order to run campaigns and try to win elections."
So much for fairness, Mr. former governor. That unfairly tarnished all honest politicians.
Even before the charges by the U.S. attorney, frustration with Blagojevich was evident.
In June, Speaker of the House Mike Madigan's staff created memos to tell legislative candidates how to call for Blagojevich's impeachment. Later, legislation that would have given Illinoisans the ability to recall elected officials — legislation inspired because of Blagojevich — was killed by the governor's allies in the Senate.
Blagojevich's approval rating fell to 13 percent before his Dec. 9 arrest, so it's apparent most people had lost faith in his ability to govern long before the impeachment process.
Impeachment is not a judicial branch proceeding, it is part of the legislative process. It allows the Legislature to dismiss a governor who has lost the confidence of the people to govern.
Now that Blagojevich has been ousted, it's up to the new governor, Pat Quinn, to restore that confidence.
Rockford Register Star