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Wolcott, Oliver
Wolcott, Oliver, 1760–1833, U.S. Secretary of the Treasury (1795–1800), b. Litchfield, Conn; son of Oliver Wolcott. Admitted to the bar in 1781, he served as Connecticut comptroller (1788–89), auditor of the U.S. treasury (1789–91), and U.S. comptroller (1791–95). A Federalist and loyal follower of Alexander Hamilton, he succeeded Hamilton as Secretary of the Treasury and was bitterly, but unfairly, attacked by Republicans for misappropriating funds. Wolcott left the Federalist party during the War of 1812, and was elected (1817) governor of Connecticut as a Republican, serving until 1827. As president of the 1818 state constitutional convention, he led the successful fight for a wider suffrage, an independent judiciary, and the disestablishment of the Congregationalist Church.
The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2023, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.
See more Encyclopedia articles on: U.S. History: Biographies


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Chalk up another Code Red Elmo moment for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. While Islamic terrorists groom suicide bombers starting in kindergarten, the grownups in charge of protecting America can't seem to reach an elementary level of competence.
The "good" news: Hindsight-driven bureaucrats at DHS moved to ban high-risk cargo from Yemen and Somalia this week after a global air scare involving makeshift printer/toner cartridge-bombs. The bad news: More than nine years after the 9⁄11 jihadist attacks, untold numbers of high-risk flyers have been able to board, ride and pilot American planes — some with Transportation Security Administration approval to boot.
Outside Boston, one shady flight school provided single-engine pilot lessons to at least 33 illegal immigrants from Brazil. But clear counter-terror rules ban illegal aliens from enrolling in U.S. flight schools. Clear counter-terror regulations require TSA to run foreign flight students' names against a plethora of terrorism, criminal and immigration databases. Head-scratching airport security officials were at a loss last week to explain how dozens of these illegal alien students eluded their radar screen when the agency "performs a thorough background check on each applicant at the time of application" and checks "for available disqualifying immigration information," the Boston Globe reported.
A cluebat for the Keystone Kops: No matter how DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano might spin it, the "system" is not "working" in any sense of either word.
Whistleblowers have warned for years about the gaping holes in both the TSA's and the Federal Aviation Administration's foreign pilot screening systems. In 2005, aviation safety inspector Edward H. Blount of the Alabama Flight Standards District Office sent a letter to the TSA warning of federal policies that were "fostering illegal flight training by foreign individuals" in the U.S. on improper visas. Blount reported that he and another investigator were told by a TSA official that the agency was "not going to look at the visa status" of pilot applicants.
The next year, TSA issued a backside-covering memo shirking responsibility and instead pointing fingers at the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Department of State for neglecting to follow up on rigorous immigration status checks for foreign pilots.
In 2008, ABC News discovered that thousands of foreign nationals were able to enroll in flight schools despite the strict flight security rules. "Some of the very same conditions that allowed the 9-11 tragedy to happen in the first place are still very much in existence today," one regional TSA officer warned.
"TSA's enforcement is basically nonexistent," former FAA inspector Bill McNease told the network. The matter was kicked upstairs to DHS higher-ups in Washington. And there it gathered dust.
Compounding those persistent gaps are the myriad ways the open-borders lobby has undermined secure identification. Homeland security officials were warned years ago about the use of bogus Mexican matricula consular cards by illegal aliens boarding planes. American banks have pandered to the pro-amnesty lobby in search of illegal alien customers; the financial industry championed the use of the matricula consular cards as identification despite widespread fraud, inability to verify validating documents and lack of any central database. Dozens of municipalities have incorporated consular cards as "valid" ID for illegal aliens, and three states still issue driver's licenses to illegal immigrants. Open-borders ideologues populate every corner of the Obama administration, from DHS to the Department of Justice, where civil rights division head Thomas Perez has long crusaded for illegal alien licenses.
These comprehensive failures are partly attributable to incompetence, partly attributable to industry pressure and partly attributable to the intentional undermining of the very immigration laws Congress passed after 9⁄11 — laws specifically designed to prevent future alien hijackers like the 9⁄11 monsters from so easily exploiting the homeland security lapses that allowed them to live and train here for years unencumbered even after their temporary visas had expired.
As I reported in the aftermath of the would-be Christmas Day bomber fiasco last year, data are only as good as the people entrusted to collect, process and use the information to protect national security. Without the ability to share and access the information across numerous agencies, the data are useless. There is still no functional interoperability among an alphabet soup of national security and criminal databases — including NAILS, TECS, CLASS, VISAS VIPER, TUSCAN, TIPPIX, IBIS, CIS, APIS, SAVE, IDENT, DACS, AFIS, ENFORCE and the NCIC. The Senate raised questions about understaffed efforts to modernize some of these databases last spring. They're still waiting for answers.
As usual, the homeland security moppets under fire stress that they found no links to terrorism among the immigration law-breaking flight students outside Boston. This misses the gobsmackingly obvious point that, despite billions of dollars and years of bureaucratic expansion, our homeland security infrastructure cannot yet provide adequate protection against unauthorized, unscreened, undocumented and unwanted intruders — terror-related or not. That is not a consolation. That is an indictment.

subset: commoncrawl


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This article is more than 1 year old
Salesforce gobbles cloud database upstart Cloudconnect
Upcoming Heroku1 PaaS feasts on fresh tech meat
Cloud integration service Cloudconnect has been acquired by Salesforce to help the company lash databases together with cloud services.
The acquisition was announced on Monday with a message posted to the company's website.
"Cloudconnect.com provides a simple and seamless way to integrate and sync salesforce.com with MySql, Postgres and similar relational databases, making it possible to manage all of your customer data in one place, and build compelling new applications using standard platforms and tools," an earlier version of the site reads.
Given Salesforce's desire to lash together customer data, cloud services such as Heroku, and other tools into a gooey mess of data that can keep customers hooked on paying the company for its services, the buy seems logical.
It's likely that the technology will go into Salesforce's upcoming Salesforce 1 platform, and will be used to give new capabilities to the Salesforce-backed Heroku platform-as-a-service.
"Heroku1 extends the value of Salesforce by making it easy to build customer-facing apps that leverage your existing data," the company wrote on its website. "And the service automatically keeps your employee workflows in sync with your customer experiences. Under the hood, the Heroku Connect database sync service and new API tools makes this easy for developers and IT organizations."
Cloudconnect's technology will have a role in this, and the company will be integrated with Heroku, it said. ®


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Racism in America is asymmetric. Many white arguments against racism assume a symmetry that just is not there. Being black in America is not the mirror image of being white. If only. It is a false symmetry because nearly all the power is on one side and not the other. Institutional white power makes it asymmetric.
Comparing black racism to white racism is like comparing a bicycle to a car.
Why this is so:
- The numbers: For every black person in America there are more than five whites. Even if everyone is equally racist, blacks will still experience five times more racism.
- The money: For every $1 of wealth that blacks as a whole have, whites have $53. In American society money and power pretty much go together.
In addition to greater numbers and greater wealth and the knock-on effects that has on government and business, whites by and large write most of the schoolbooks and create most of what is on television. They shape what blacks know and think about the world. They set society's ideas about beauty, about proper English and so on. Even worse, they set society's ideas about what black people are like – the power to stereotype.
Even something like hip hop is not as much of an exception as it might appear at first: once the music caught on among whites and started selling mainly to a white audience, its character changed markedly, playing to white stereotypes about blacks in a big way.
American society is so suited to whites that they mostly forget that they are even white! Some even think they speak English without an accent and have no culture!
One attempt to express this imbalance says that racism is more than just simple prejudice, it is prejudice together with power. That means blacks are incapable of racism.
I disagree with that. Blacks do have some amount of power and do hurt whites and Asians with it. And yet when whites are quick to point out cases of black racism as if that somehow balances things out, I want to roll my eyes.
If you are white or Asian and went to a high school that was mostly black, then you probably experienced black racism. But that was just your high school. For blacks it is the whole country.
The imbalance is not the only difference between black and white racism. There is not just a difference of degree, but also of kind.
Black racism is not mainly turned against whites or Asians or anyone else, but against other blacks, against one's self. Black-on-black racism, internalized racism. Because blacks live in a white racist country they constantly hear white racist messages. At one level they know the messages are untrue, but at another level they hear this stuff so much a part of them believes it.
One other asymmetry that whites forget about is the One Drop Rule. Black people will have black children no matter who they marry. Not so for white people.
See also:


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Hi and Happy early Halloween to you! Do you have any fun plans lined up? I'm taking it easy and hitting the town with a bunch of family including my beloved grandparents. Should be a good time!
Now that I'm not traveling as much, I've been making more time to explore my own city which has been AWESOME. My friend Emily from Catalyst Coffee and I made a day of adventuring around Portland. We started at the Nob Hill Barista (some of the best coffee in town), made our way down to a few shops including Back Talk (check out their site to see the AMAZING clothing racks), then onto magazine shopping at Rich's Cigar Store and finally, lunch at Marmo (see above).
Oh, I also finally bought some Lush products! I've visited their stores around the world but was always too overwhelmed by the options to even know where to start. I found a great sales lady at the Portland location who helped me pick out the best dry shampoo (no gross silicone additives like other brands) and some leave-in conditioner. Since I'm new to the brand, I'd love to hear what your favorite products are. Any recommendations of what I should try next?
I always get a little scared when I have to visit my accountant (to the point that I wear my metallic gold sneakers for good luck) but by the end of our meetings, I'm laughing like a madwoman. I swear that he's a part-time comedian. And, he makes understanding numbers kind of fun. Even funnier is the bike rack outside of his office!
I finally made it to Trader Vic's and it was everything I could have hoped for! I've been making the tiki bar rounds in Portland since I got back from Palm Springs and they have a fantastic happy hour. Plus, check out that swanky dining room!
Oh, Portland. It's been raining every day and I'm ready for a mug of apple cider and curling up with a good magazine. Have a great weekend, friends!
P.S. Today, I'm sending out the first ever Branch Bulletin — it's my studio mailing list and I'm sharing a very personal story that most freelancers will be able to relate to big time. Hop on over to the site and sign up at the bottom of the page to receive yours! xo


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Wolf Blitzer delivers the most important breaking news and political, international, and national security stories of the day. Tune to The Situation Room weekdays 5-7pm ET on CNN.
CNN's Brian Todd reports on pizza company executives fighting a plan to force pizza chains to post calorie counts.
Every body talks about calories,BUT no one tells you how many calories it takes to make 1 ounce of fat.
A slice of pepperoni pizza has the same amount of calories as a 16 ounce bottle of coke. Throw in some chips or fries and it is no wonder lotsa folks are overweight.
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I had a rather bad fire last Friday. I was washing a large jacketed glass reaction vessel used for polymer scale-ups, after pouring the reaction mixture out, and a tiny particle of potassium hydride (from this poorly quenched reaction) that was adhering to the bottom of the reaction flask ignited just as I was giving the flask a proper acetone rinse. So I had a flaming flask in my hands + burning hands + flaming sink in front + a whole bunch of wash bottles ablaze next to me (plastic wash bottles peeing their burning solvents around…) A colleague promptly put the fire out with a mid-sized CO2 fire extinguisher before the flames spread any further. There was no damage to the lab, my fingers or the reaction mixture but it was a pretty scary situation – considering how fires in organic labs can get out of control so fast.
Potassium hydride pyrophoric nature is well documented in the literature; from my limited experience I would say KH is quite comparable to potassium metal in its tendency to flame up. But there are some aspects that make KH more treacherous than K metal: KH in paraffin or mineral oil is docile and only when the oil or wax is washed off the pyrophoric nature becomes apparent. Also, the KH appearance (a grayish-white powder) is less dramatic than shiny low-melting globules of K metal and one cannot easily guess whether KH is fully consumed or quenched by the sediment appearance if the reaction produces inorganic precipitate of its own. Also, I noticed that some alcohols react with KH in THF surprisingly sluggishly while reaction of other alcohols is prompt – I believe the solubility of the K-alkoxide in THF plays a role and the KH particles may get coated by a poorly soluble material and laze about the bottom – and then at some later point flame up when least expected.
Since K-alkoxides have significant reactivity advantages over Na and Li alkoxides in alkylation reactions[2], and since the easy-to-handle KH formulation in paraffin wax is now commercially available, it is likely that KH will get used increasingly more often in place of NaH. Despite its innocuous appearance KH is less tame than NaH; having unreacted KH excess present in the reaction mix makes it prone to auto-ignition during the workup if the reaction was not quenched with care.
Note 1: I was impressed how good is CO2 extinguisher for large solvent fires – and it leaves no mess behind. I don't think a dry powder extinguisher would have worked nearly as well.
Note 2: Taber et. al.: Tet. Letters 51 (2010), 3545-6


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DOOLEY Family HistoryRecorded as O'Dooley, Dooley and Dooly, this is a famous Irish surname. It originates from the 12th century Gaelic O' Dubhlaoich meaning 'The male descendant of the Dark Hero' and as such a reference to the first chief of the clan. He may have been Celtic or Breton, as the early history of the clan may suggest that they were 'comer ins'. Nevertheless the clan chiefs were also known as the Lords of Fertullagh in County Westmeath, in medieval times. Arguments over land tenure with the O'Melaghins and the Tyrrells, lead to a migation to the lower slopes of the Slieve Mountains, where some nameholders remain today...
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Lois Atnip
My first Dooley, Dooly, Dowley, was an Elenor, Nelly, Ellen. B:1789 Offerlane, Laois, Ireland. She married William England around 1800, first son was William England 1806, then Letitia 1808 and 6 more children ending in 1820. Backing up a bit Nelly's parents were Darby Dooley (Dowly) and Elenor Dermody, both born 1860's around Laois. Anyone recognize these ancestors? My tree "Roots of my Past" and public. My name is Lois Atnip (roz Burger) My Mother was my Irish side, Gleason, Queens New York.
Charles Dawe
My grandmother was Elenor Dooley, half Irish, half Italian. She has passed away now. My father is a Dawe, 1/4 Irish, 1/4 Italian and half Welsh. His names is James Francis Dooley and is 72. My name is Charles Dawe and I live in Mississippi. Happy to connect with family. Just spent some time in Ireland (Galway, Kellarne, Dingle Peninsula, Dublin). My email is email@example.com
Patti Dooley
Thomas Henry O'Dooley (1650-1740) married to Catherine Katie Gaffney (1650-1700) from County Antrim, Ireland. The only info I have found on his father was: Chiefs Clan of Dubhlaoich O'Dooley. I have no idea what that means. Not sure if that's his father's title, or if the person whose research I found, only had verbal history passed down. Thanks much for any information.
Aileen Dooley
I am Aileen Dooley born in Toronto, Ontario Canada. My Great Grandfather was Patrick Dooley born in County Offaly (not sure where in Offaly). My parents are from Ireland and emmigrated to Canada in 1957 after they married and arrived on the Saxonia. My Dad's name is John Dooley and my mother's name was Teresa McMahon. My sibling and I know all of our 1st cousins very well and have been back and forth to Ireland from childhood. My Great Grandfather Patrick Dooley settled in Coolderry, Co. Monaghan where he ran a Dairy Farm. The farmland has been passed down to my cousins through the generations.
I am great grandson of Patrick J Dooley. I've been able to trace ancestry to his father Bartolomew Dooley of Cork Ireland. Would like to trace back further.
Dan Dooley
I am the 6th great grandson of Henry B. Dooley. He was born in 1710 in the Derry/Antrim area. He came to Virginia, USA sometime between his birth and getting married in 1734. His father was Thomas O'Dooley who was born in Ireland but also emigrated to US as he died in Viriginia. I'm looking for more information on my family history.
Heidi Overstreet
Dan Dooley, Henry B Dooley, Captain (1710-1772) is my husband's 6th Great Grandfather. His father was Thomas O'Dooley (1610-1774); his father was Thomas O'Dooley 1650–1740 and his father was Chiefs Clan of Dubhlaich (O'Dooley) born 1630 in Westmeath County, Ireland and died in Leinster which I believe is next to Westmeath. I don't know much about the clan, only that this particular clan has been around since the 1200's DEATH Leinster
Dooley. La ba ne co.ga law ay
Melissa Dooley
I am the daughter of Lorna Dooley, granddaughter of Eldon and Nina Dooley. Both of my grandparents are from Mt Nebo WV., I see I already have family on here.. Hello!!
Shelle Morgan
Margaret Pierson
I am the granddaughter of Richard Hubert Dooley of Mt. Nebo, W.Va. USA. Birthdate was July 30 1903(?) He and my grandmother, Rhoda Thomas Dooley had 11 children-Eldon, Arley, Edna Dooley Moore(my mother) David, Harold, Gerald, Velda, Darla, Ruth, Retha, and Louise. He had a brother, Emmet Dooley, sister Myrtle Chipps, sister Mae who died at the age of 18 from a nose bleed. I know our family came from Ireland but have no idea what area or what year. My great grandfathers' name was John Wesley Dooley.
Shelle Morgan
Feel free to visit my tree!
Jean Elizabeth Mills
My grandfather was Simon Dooley from County Clare, Ireland. They had 8 children. He was killed in a car accident o\n April 13, 1924, in Chciago.
Simon Dooey came to the USA on the Oceanic in 1902 with his cousin Michael Russell and settled in Chicago, IL.
Chrystal Fraser
Sorry that is "Virginia"!
Chrystal Fraser
My maiden name was Dooley, my mom is a Dooley, and my grandfather was a Dooley. His name was Olly Dooley. He was from Mississippi and his dad was from Verging.
My great grandfather was named Jeremiah Dooley. He supposedly was from around Rome, New York ( Oneida County ) and born around 1841. However, someone thinks he could have actually been born in Ireland. He likely fought in the Civil War. Cannot find out names of his parents, where in Ireland they were from or names of any brothers or sisters. would like help.
Virginia Dickenson
My mother just passed away. Her maiden name was Bettie Dooley. My grandfather was Reginald Dooley. They were from West Virginia.
My great grandfather.micheal Dooley..my father Michael Dooley and me Margaret Dooley Vines
I am the great granddaughter of James Patrick Dooley of Rathgibbon, Co Offaly one of 8 children. His parents were Kieran Dooley b1830-d1883 and Mary Tooher b1840-d1915. My Grandfather James left Rathgibbon approximately 1903 ending in Yonkers New York where he married Josephine Murray also of Dowras Co Offaly the daughter of John Murray and Martha Kilkeary. They had 3 children Kieran. James Brendan. and My father Gerald Patrick. My Father Gerald Patrick married Anne Emily Brannigan they had 8 children.
Susan Dooley
I'm the granddaughter of George "Freddy" Dooley of Liverpool. He emigrated to New York City in the 1920s. I was able to trace Freddy's line back several generations in the Liverpool area, to Joseph Dooley in 1820, but haven't yet found the Irish connection, though I'm sure there is one. I'm visiting Limerick today!
Hi my Dooleys are from Limerick, don't know where just now. Michael and Thomas Dooley 2 brothers went to Chicago and had a family there. I think there was more kids than these 2 in Limerick. Thomas was a policeman in Chicago and Michael married Elizabeth Comerford in Chicago. These 2 died in a terrible car accident. Thomas married......... They had 9 children. 1 girl and 8 boys. Thomas retired after 29 years in the police force. This is all we know at the moment. Kind regards Shirley
Carole jones
Carole Jones (Nee-Dooley) I am the granddaughter of Charles Dooley. I don't know which part of Ireland his family originated from but they lived in the Wrexam area of North Wales in a village called Gwersyllt and when my grandfather married they moved to a village called Bradley, also in the Wrexam area. They had 6 children, one of whom was my mother, Maureen Dooley. I know that my grandfather's mother was named Jayne. I wish I knew more as I am so interested to know my family history. Hello to all you Dooley families.
Mike Stanley
I am the grandson of Robert Lynville Dooley. His grandfather came through Ellis Island in the late 1800s. My wife and I will be in Ireland this June. We would love to meet with some of the relatives.
Julie Shewman
My great great grandfather was Michael Dooley. Born in Limerick area 1832, died in Montana USA in 1886. Ancestry.com thinks maybe his parents were Darby Dooley and Nance Connors but I'm not sure. I don't know anything really about him other than birth and death dates. He died when my great grandmother was very young so no info to go on. Any help or ideas would be appreciated.
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The Washington Post is hosting a Live Discussion with Steve Wozniak, Apple co-founder, author of iWoz, and terrible jokester extraordinaire. The discussion, not surprisingly, will be in part to discuss his recent book, but he will also be available to answer questions about, theoretically, anything else.
The Washington Post will be moderating the discussion of course and you need to submit your questions in advance via this handy online form. Woz will be online for the chat at 2pm Eastern Time on Tuesday, November 21. Ten ego points to anyone who submits a question that gets him to say "Infinite Loop." (Shouldn't be too hard, considering...)


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Apple will finally unveil its in-car version of iOS at next week's Geneva Motor Show, according to reports this weekend.
Update: It's official and it's called Apple CarPlay!
The Financial Times brings word Apple has enlisted auto giants Ferrari, Mercedes-Benz and Volvo, whose next-generation connected cars will be fitted with iOS in the Car functionality.
Those manufacturers, and others according to the FT, will reportedly roll-out vehicles carrying the embedded software before 2014 is out.
iOS in the Car will allow iPhone or iPad owners to see Apple Maps mirrored on a dashboard display, use Siri voice commands, make iPhone calls through the car system and receive notifications.
Apple vs Google in the car
The company first announced the technology in June 2013 after its unveiling within iOS 7, but all has been quiet since, aside from a few pieces of code within recent Beta builds.
Apple's reported move comes at a time when Google is also making a play to control the future of connected vehicles.
At CES, the web giant announced it had joined forces with Audi, Honda and General Motors in order to bring Android into the car.
Is everyone set for another Apple vs Google battle? This time for the right to control the infotainment within our four wheeled friends? Let us know your thoughts below.


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Many prayers have been heard. Many questions have been answered.
But, of all the solace one could savor having followed the Swiss genius loyally till his seventh Wimbledon title, the record 17th Slam and his march back to No.1, a blissful break from all the bunkum about his dying legacy tops the list. Period.
For the rest of the article, click 'Bleacher Report'.


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Press Releases
Fortinet Uncovers Most Prevalent Undetected Cyber Threats Traversing Enterprise Networks
John Maddison, senior vice president of products and solutions, Fortinet
"Businesses are constantly under cyber attack. With the attack surface dramatically increased and a mature attackers ecosystem, companies have to be ever more vigilant across all their IT assets. Fortinet's Cyber Threat Assessment Program has been designed to look deep into a company's network traffic and look for Indicators of Compromise. It provides customers a blueprint on how to reduce risk and at the same time make their network more efficient."
News Summary:
Fortinet (NASDAQ: FTNT), the global leader in high-performance cyber security solutions, today unveiled the most prominent, undetected cyber threats and bottlenecks impacting enterprise network security and performance, based on data analysis from the Fortinet Cyber Threat Assessment Program (CTAP).
- Fortinet CTAP issues its first end-user report with data collected from hundreds of U.S. Fortinet users and prospective customers across industries over a few month's time span; analyzed millions of incidents to gain unmatched insight into the largest, unknown security threats traversing their networks.
- Results indicate that enterprises of every size and vertical continue to face a constant and consistently hostile threat landscape, with more than 32.14 million attempted attacks on these networks.
- Top threat types include malware, botnets and application exploits with 357,420 attempts to compromise networks within the top 10 application vulnerabilities alone, and 71 different malware and botnet variants detected across the networks.
- Key verticals analyzed include healthcare, financial services, education and technology companies, with banking being targeted by nearly 45% of all malicious activity, followed by education, which experienced 27.4% of all attack events.
Global Program Uncovers Unknown Risks, Provides Immediate Mitigation Strategies
Fortinet's CTAP has expanded to global organizations, providing a free-of-charge program that enables companies to take a detailed look at their network's current security accuracy, application usage, user productivity and performance through expert guidance from Fortinet. By installing a FortiGate high-performance enterprise firewall within the network, a user can instantly monitor the application traffic traversing the network for intrusions, malware and malicious applications that could cause massive risk to the network. Additionally, FortiAnalyzer provides a Risk Assessment Report with actionable mitigation recommendations at the end of the data collection period.
Key Findings Across Industries: Largest Network Threats and Usage Trends
The data highlighted in Fortinet's initial end-user CTAP report demonstrates that organizations of all types constantly face threats from various angles and need to ensure that they have the right end-to-end security solution in place to mitigate the risks. With hundreds of organizations in North America already benefiting from the global threat intelligence of CTAP, some of the largest cross-industry vulnerabilities and network usage trends include the following:
Automated Attack Systems, Botnets and Malware take Center Stage
- With 32.14 million attempted attack events in a 4-month span, it's evident that attackers rapidly build automated systems and tools to probe networks for exploitable vulnerabilities.
- Headline-generating Malware such as Conficker, Nemucod and ZeroAccess have made significant efforts to rebuild and infect machines, as the financial incentives for these owners are massive. With 5,230 instances of Conficker, followed by 4,220 instances of Nemucod and 3,210 instances of ZeroAccess traversing these networks, it's evident that this threat type will only continue to grow.
- In just the top 10 incidents analyzed, 357,420 attempts were made to exploit application vulnerabilities, as hackers continue to cast a wide net to try and compromise corporate data.
- Social Media, Video Streaming and Advertising Drain Corporate Networks
- Social media and multimedia streaming activities account for 25.65% of all network traffic, exposing corporate systems and sensitive data to risks of infection from drive-by downloads, social engineering and malvertising. Facebook is the most dominant social media site representing 47.27% of all social media traffic, with YouTube contributing to 42.29% of streamed content.
- Advertising content accounts for 19.1% of network traffic and has been shown to be a potential source of malware as third party advertising networks are subverted or tricked into delivering malicious ads.
- Application control appears to be a continual challenge for administrators. A significant amount of Peer-to-Peer traffic, primarily Bittorrent and gaming activity opens the network to malicious content that piggybacks on top of applications and files downloaded through these popular sites. Enterprises should exercise caution when building application control policies on their networks.
- Financial Services, Education and Healthcare Rank Most Vulnerable Industries
- Due to the lucrative financial data obtained when these networks are successfully infiltrated, banking and finance organizations are disproportionately targeted with 44.6% of all malicious activity. Hackers rely on high-velocity attacks and target financial institutions with sophisticated trojans and land-and-expand attack strategies to infiltrate and persist within the network.
- Education organizations represent 27.4% of all attack events in this report and are the second largest at-risk vertical industry. Botnets are the dominant threat for educational institutions, with 7 out of top 10 infections, while XcodeGhost, the widely publicized iOS malware breaks into the top 10 vulnerabilities list in education.
- Healthcare ranked third in overall malicious activity with 10.6% of attack events. The healthcare industry is unique in the appearance of automated exploit kits, notably targeting numerous vulnerabilities in Flash, Silverlight and Internet Explorer to compromise a system via a drive-by-download or infected website.
Takeaways and Actionable Insights to Protect Your Network
Attackers are targeting companies of every size in the hopes of gaining access to the valuable assets inside the corporate network. Vertical industries need to know what hackers are after and understand the unique strategies they employ.
- Banking and Finance organizations should bolster their networks against land-and-expand strategies and the predominant use of trojans. Deploying security platforms like Fortinet's Advanced Threat Protection framework can combat sophisticated new variants of malware at the network edge, while implementing internal network segmentation can help contain insider threats and minimize risks to the most valuable data.
- Education security professionals should be mindful of the various devices that can access their network resources, utilizing threat intelligence like FortiGuard Mobile Malware services to detect threats that target student smartphones and tablets as vectors for an attack.
- Healthcare industry protections closely mirror those of banking organizations. Understanding that hackers may be looking to encrypt their data and hold the information hostage, instead of silently exporting data to sell on the dark web makes it even more imperative for healthcare to consider internal segmentation strategies to contain threats.
- Technology businesses are varied and hackers respond with diverse strategies and malware to cast the largest net. Security professionals in these organizations need to understand their devices, applications and platforms that connect to the web using analysis tools like FortiAnalyzer. Understanding their network utilization will help businesses tailor a security posture that matches their individual attack surface.
CTAP is part of a broader effort by Fortinet and its FortiGuard Labs threat research team to integrate risk and advisory capabilities with its end-to-end security platform to provide customers greater insight into dynamically changing cyber risks that threaten their businesses.
Supporting Quote
"As attacks against corporate data resources become increasingly pervasive, TierPoint is committed to providing a clear line of defense to secure our customers. As such, it's critical that we know exactly what is going on inside their networks. Fortinet's Cyber Threat Assessment Program has opened the door to many new business opportunities for TierPoint. CTAP offers deep analysis of existing or possible threats running on customer or prospect networks, helping us ensure that we can recommend the right Fortinet security solutions to mitigate the dynamically changing cyber risks that threaten their businesses.
- Scott Fuhriman, vice president and general manager, TierPoint, #1 CTAP US Partner
Additional Resources
- Report: 2016 CTAP Threat Landscape Report
- Whitepaper: Cyber Threat Assessment – Threat Landscape Report Executive Summary
- Infographic: A Look Behind the Firewall
- Follow Fortinet on Twitter and LinkedIn
- Join the conversation on the Fortinet blog
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 https://www.fortinet.com, the Fortinet Blog or FortiGuard Labs.
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Launched alongside the radically new iPhone X, the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus bring a fresh design language, headlined by a body with a metal frame and a glass back. The duo of phones also comes with new and improved hardware, which includes a more powerful chip and graphics, better display, vastly improved camera, and wireless charging.
More From Redbook
Familiar, Yet So Different
It's pretty remarkable how much the glass back has changed the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus compared to those of the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. It's the only design element that separates the two product families, yet it makes quite a lot of difference, making the newcomers command more attention compared to their more subtle, all-metal predecessors.
There are three colors to choose from — silver, gold, and space gray. Because of the glass back, the new colors look substantially different from their past iterations despite the familiar name.
The build quality of both phones is excellent as expected. The iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus feature ultra-tough glass developed especially for them, an aerospace-grade aluminum frame, and internal stainless steel elements. They're also water- and dust-resistant.
Specs You Should Know About
The most important hardware bit about the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus is the A11 Bionic chip. Developed in-house by Apple, it features a six-core architecture, as well as a new performance controller. It's faster and more energy efficient than its predecessor.
An all-new graphics chip developed by Apple is up to 30% faster than the previous model. It allows the phones to deliver gaming and augmented reality experiences with exceptional quality.
The 4.7-inch and the 5.5-inch Retina HD displays of the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus have the same size and resolution as those of the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. However, thanks to improved LCD panels, they're capable of delivering even more vibrant colors.
True Tone is another cool display feature that's a novelty in the iPhone family. It utilizes the devices' ambient light sensor to adjust the color temperature of the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus screen as lighting conditions change. Already available in the iPad Pro, it reduces eye strain, and allows you to enjoy accurate colors at all times.
Both new iPhones pack a brand-new 12 MP camera with a larger sensor, f/1.8 aperture, improved image processing, quad-LED, and optical image stabilization. It can capture 4K video at a class-leading 60 frames per second.
The iPhone 8 Plus has a second 12 MP camera with a f/2.8 telephoto lens. The front-facing camera has a 7 MP sensor.
The iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus also feature wireless charging. A first for an iPhone, the feature utilizes the Qi industry standard, so there are many wireless chargers to choose from.
In 2018, Apple will introduce its own wireless charger, dubbed Airpower Mat. It'll allow you to charge your iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods (via an optional case) all at the same time.
This year, you can choose your iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus with 64 GB or 256 GB of storage. Apple deserves a hat tip for doubling the memory of the entry-level model, making it sufficiently plentiful for many users.
Louder stereo speakers with deeper bass, Bluetooth 5.0, and a Touch ID fingerprint sensor round up the key features of the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus. Apple promises that the phones will have similar battery life as the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus — hardly a surprise considering they share the same size and form factor.
The new iPhones don't have an audio jack. Once again, you'll get a pair of Lighting EarPods and an adapter for connecting your older headphones in the retail box.
iOS 11
The iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus run iOS 11. The latest iteration of Apple's mobile platform brings a number of new features and improvements, including a customizable Control Center, a redesigned App Store, vastly better Siri, and better Photos, among many others.
ARKit is handily the most noteworthy iOS 11 feature you need to know about. The augmented reality framework will enable app developers to create high-quality apps and games that'll change the way you interact with your iPhone.
Of course, iOS 11 also comes with the best selection of apps in the business, as well as an unrivaled set of privacy and security features.
Industry-Crushing Performance
The new iPhones are the most powerful smartphones you can buy. Thanks to the Apple A11 Bionic chip, the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus can perform any task faster, and they can play harder than any other smartphone out there.
Augmented reality apps and games showcase the power chops of the new chip best. Their fluidity and graphics quality are bound to redefine your expectations about what a smartphone should be able to do.
The battery life of the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus is similar to their predecessors'. You can expect a day of use from the smaller model, and well beyond that from the Plus model. In this instance, the bigger model has a noticeable advantage over the iPhone 8.
Fantastic Camera(s)
The iPhone camera has always been an industry benchmark, and this year is no exception. The iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus can consistently and rapidly capture photos with amazing quality every time. Low-light shots in particular have benefited a great deal from the larger camera sensor.
Things get even more interesting with the secondary camera of the iPhone 8 Plus. In addition to the excellent Portrait Mode we already know from the iPhone 7 Plus, it adds Portrait Lighting.
By taking advantage of the phone's powerful chip, the above camera mode allows you to experiment with various lighting effects in real time and capture pretty remarkable portraits, even though it's still in beta form.
Being able to capture high-quality 4K video at 60 fps is another attention-grabbing feat made possible by the powerful chip of iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus. The same goes for the ability to shoot slow-motion footage at 240 fps (up from 120 fps in iPhone 7).
Wrap Up
The iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus offer an excellent blend of class-leading power, a superb camera, and the most advanced mobile platform in the business. The new — if slightly conservative — redesign and the addition of wireless charging add further appeal to an already superb smartphone package.
Apple's seamless implementation of augmented reality will change how people use their iPhones going forward. With the new framework being so impressive in such an early stage, we can only imagine the ARKit apps and games that'll arrive in the future.
It's worth noting that the extra camera sensor of the iPhone 8 Plus makes quite a bit of difference. The big iPhone's battery life is also noticeably better. When it comes to delivering power and refinement in a compact package, the iPhone 8 sits in a league of its own.
Every new iPhone also comes with the best selection of accessories of any smartphone. From cases and screen protectors to Lighting cables, you'll have an overwhelming selection of original and third-party options to choose from.
When it comes to upgrading, if you're a user of an iPhone earlier than 7 and 7 Plus, jumping to an iPhone 8 or iPhone 8 Plus will be a massive upgrade in performance and hardware features. Owners of an iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus who are itching to upgrade should consider the iPhone X and its bezel-free OLED display instead. If you're planning to switch from an Android to an iPhone, now is as great a time as any to do so.
And then there's the pricier iPhone X that's coming out in a little over a month. It'll offer showstopping new design, stunning display, an even more premium finish thanks to a stainless steel frame, the same performance, and an all-new user interface that omits the home button.
Pricing of the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus starts at $699 and $799 respectively for a 64GB variant. Quadrupling the storage to 256 GB will cost you $150 more for each model.
More from Best Products:
Wireless Chargers for Your New iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus
All the Cool, New iOS 11 Features on Your New iPhone
What You Should Know About Upgrading From the iPhone 7 to the iPhone 8
Follow BestProducts.com on Facebook and Pinterest for all the latest products, so you can find the item that's perfect for you (at the right price)!
Stefan is the senior technology editor for , where he's been covering the tech industry and testing the latest gadgets since 2015. He has more than a decade of experience covering consumer tech products, especially smartphones, tablets, laptops, and audio gear. He was previously the US editor for ; his work can also be found on Popular Mechanics and other Hearst publications.In the rare moments when he's not playing with a new gadget, Stefan likes to watch live Premier League games or hang out with his cat and rabbit. He's also an espresso snob.


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BYOD has gone mainstream with smartphones and tablets. But what will happen with PCs?
It's dangerous for those of us in the tech industry to naively take what we see playing out in our workplaces every day as a mirror of the wider world. High-tech workers are often more technically savvy and likely to be early adopters. High-tech employers are likewise more inclined to let employees use the tools of their choice. And high-tech companies as a group are, almost by definition, far closer to technology adoption's leading edge.
Which raises the question of whether all the personal gadgets from smartphones to tablets to laptops that appear to be an increasingly integral part of most high-tech workplaces represent a broader norm or just a tech industry anomaly. Forrester Research's Frank Gillett recently published a report that takes a look at this question and highlights some of the findings in a blog post.
Forrester's "latest Forrsights workforce employee survey asked more than 9,900 information workers in 17 countries about all of the devices they use for work, including personal devices they use for work purposes." I found the results a bit eye-opening. I wasn't especially surprised to see that "IT consumerization," as the trend of bringing personal technology into the workplace is often called, does indeed appear to be a broad phenomenon. But I still sat up a bit because of just how big and how rapid the change has been. A couple of examples.
About 74 percent of the information workers in the survey used two or more devices for work -- and 52 percent used three or more.
When you dig into the data, the mix of devices used for work was different than what IT provides. About 25 percent were mobile devices, not PCs, and 33 percent used operating systems from someone other than Microsoft.
The vast majority of these gadgets aren't "Bring-Your-Own-Device" (BYOD) in the sense of a formal IT program that provides a stipend for employees to purchase specific types of devices. Gillett notes that: "If you only ask the IT staff, the answer will be that most use just a PC, some use a smartphone, and a few use a tablet." It's something of an irony that BYOD in its original tops-down, vendor- and IT-driven sense has largely fallen flat even while grassroots BYOD is going gangbusters.
That said, a new report by market researcher IDC that looked at BYOD trends in Australia and New Zealand suggests that more formal BYOD programs may become more common. "Widely publicized and high-profile BYOD case studies are further adding to the peer pressure. One in every two organizations are intending to deploy official BYOD policies, be it pilots, or partial- to organizational-wide rollouts, in the next 18 months," said Amy Cheah, market analyst for Infrastructure.
What's perhaps the more interesting tidbit in this report though is when it offers something of a counterpoint to the assumption that BYOD is something that everyone outside of IT strongly wants and prefers. Cheah writes that "IDC's Next Generation Workspace Ecosystem research has found that only two out of ten employees want to use their own device for work and for personal use, which means corporate devices are still desired by the majority."
Why the apparent disconnect between the apparent pervasiveness of employee-purchased devices in the workplace and the continued desire for IT-supplied hardware? I think that Vittorio Viarengo is onto something when he wrote me that: "It is not about BYOD. It is about SYOM (Spend Your Own Money). That's why people like corporate devices."
It's increasingly common practice for people to use their personal smartphones for both business and pleasure, whether their cell phone bills are subsidized or not. And there doesn't seem to be a widespread expectation that employers will start buying tablets for their employees.
However, most companies still buy and support business PCs. I suspect we're seeing a certain lack of enthusiasm on the part of many employees for that part of the status quo to radically change, especially if it means turning a company expense into a personal one.


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2019 Subaru WRX and WRX STI Series.Gray sport sedans have been finally revealed by Subaru. Offered as a limited edition trim only (1,000 units will be built... read more
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text: We all have friends and relations that are pleased to help us use our marriage ceremonies. Nonetheless, your friends and relations are the guests and even components of the wedding. Even though they are often very useful they may not be part of the wedding and ensure that everything should go flawlessly in your as… Continue reading Wedding Planner


text: Back The Best Ways to Treat, Prevent Tendonitis Tennis elbow, quarterback shoulder, and jumper's knee are forms of tendonitis, a painful but preventable injury. Tendonitis is your body's way of telling you, "Enough! You're putting too much stress on this muscle and joint." Tendons are connective tissues that hold muscles to your bones. When muscles contract, tendons react, causing bones to move. Too much stress on joints can tear and inflame tendons, says the American College of Rheumatology (ACR). The tissue will repair itself quickly if the damage is slight or happens only occasionally. But the pain and inflammation can become chronic if the damage occurs frequently. Weekend athletes recognize that tendonitis is a common result of overdoing it especially when the body is out of shape. Other factors contribute to tendonitis: Forceful or violent motions, such as pitching a fastball Unnatural motions, such as serving a tennis ball Poor body mechanics or technique when doing an activity, whether aerobics, lifting weights, or painting the ceiling Typically, several of these factors may be involved at once. Is it tendonitis? To determine if the problem is tendonitis, check the location of the pain. It's probably tendonitis if it's close to the joint or the connecting muscles around the joint. Chronic tendonitis is a dull but persistent soreness that feels worse when you first start to move, then eases up as muscles get warmer. But don't be misled by this temporary relief. If you keep reinjuring the tissue, there will come a time when the pain will persist even while you're active, the ACR says. In severe cases, the injury may become impossible to repair without surgery. Acute tendonitis is a sharper pain that may keep you from moving the joint. The pain eventually goes away, but it's likely to return if the stressful motion is repeated. Treating tendonitis See your health care provider if you think you have tendonitis. Your provider may recommend the classic RICE treatment for pain relief: Rest the joint; apply ice packs; compress the area with an elastic bandage to reduce soreness and inflammation; and keep the joint elevated. Your health care provider may recommend taking over-the-counter pain relievers, such as aspirin or ibuprofen, which may also help inflamed soft tissue. If your health care provider gives you the OK, begin exercising to strengthen the muscles around the sore joint within a day or two. Start with a long warm-up to minimize shock to the tissues, then try lifting light weights or working with an elastic exercise band. Go easy at first, then build as your strength increases. Preventing tendonitis A prevention program should replace bad habits with these techniques that promote a healthy workout: Warm up thoroughly, gradually building the intensity level of your workout. Cool down after the session. Train for a new sport before you start it. Start building strength and flexibility in the muscles you will use a few weeks or months in advance. Learn the proper technique for any exercise or activity. Work out consistently, not just once a week.


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Eating Well
Eating well is a great way to support your body working towards achieving your other health goals such as being more fit, being more productive or even sleeping better. When you give your body what it needs, it functions at its best. Eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables is key.
Confidence Boosters
As you start eating better and exploring new healthy food options, consider inviting a friend along and share what you are learning. This helps to build your community of like-minded people who will help you stick with it.
Plant-based Menus
Even beer and chips are considered plant-based, but as you get to know us at Juice Plus+, you'll know that by plant-based, we mean eating an abundance of fruit, vegetables, nuts, grains and seeds. We also agree that there is room for dairy products, meats and other animal products when in balance if that makes sense for your body.
By the way, your fruit and veggies can also come from canned, frozen or dried sources. This helps when it's difficult to get fresh produce on a daily basis.


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Board Members are vested with the sole responsibility of promulgating policy relative to parole and mandatory supervision considerations; vote cases requiring the full Board vote; and, vote clemency matters.
Board Members are appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate for six year terms.
Updated 10/23/2017


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LOS ANGELES – Lowe's will pay $18.1 million to settle a civil enforcement action claiming 118 of its California stores unlawfully handled and disposed of hazardous waste over a six-and-a-half year period, authorities in Los Angeles announced today.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office worked with 31 other state district attorneys and two city attorneys to resolve the environmental violations against North Carolina-based Lowe's Home Centers LLC.
Between 2011 and 2013, investigators conducted a series of waste inspections of Lowe's dumpsters. The inspections revealed that Lowe's was routinely and systematically sending hazardous waste to local landfills in California that were not permitted to receive it, prosecutors said.
The inspections showed that at some Lowe's stores, instead of recycling batteries and compact fluorescent light bulbs that the company had gathered from customers at store recycling kiosks as part of a program to responsibly reduce waste, employees were unlawfully discarding the items directly into the trash, according to prosecutors.
Under the final judgment, Lowe's must pay $12.85 million in civil penalties and costs. An additional $2.1 million will fund supplemental environmental projects furthering environmental protection and enforcement in California, and Lowe's will fund hazardous waste minimization projects of $3.2 million.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office will receive $125,000 as part of the settlement.


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Tackle fungal forces to save crops, forests and endangered animals, scientists say
More than 600 million people could be fed each year by halting the spread of fungal diseases in the world's five most important crops, according to research published today in the journal Nature.
Furthermore, data reviewed by scientists suggests that in 70% of cases where infectious disease causes the extinction of a type of animal or plant, an emerging species of fungus is behind the problem. Evidence suggests this figure is increasing.
The scientists behind the study, from the University of Oxford, Imperial College London, and institutions in the US, are calling for new solutions to prevent the proliferation of existing and emerging fungal infections in plants and animals in order to prevent further loss of biodiversity and food shortages in the future.
Fungal infections presently destroy at least 125 million tonnes of the top five food crops - rice, wheat, maize, potatoes and soybeans - each year, which could otherwise be used to feed those who do not get enough to eat. These crops provide the majority of calories consumed by people.
The damage caused by fungi to rice, wheat and maize alone costs global agriculture $60 billion per year. The effects are disproportionately catastrophic for those in the developing world, where 1.4 billion people live on less than $1.25 per day, and rely most heavily on these low-cost foods.
Diseases like rice blast, soybean rust, stem rust in wheat, corn smut in maize and late blight in potatoes affect more than just productivity; many have wide ranging socio-economic costs. Trees lost or damaged by fungi fail to absorb 230-580 megatonnes of atmospheric CO2, equivalent to 0.07% of global atmospheric CO2, an effect the scientists say is likely to be leading to an increase of the greenhouse effect.
In animals, new fungal diseases increasingly threaten the existence of over 500 species of amphibian, as well as many endangered species of bees, sea turtles and corals. In the US alone, studies suggest the decline in bat populations caused by white nose syndrome fungus will lead to a dramatic rise in the insect crop-pests that the bats would otherwise eat, and a cost to agriculture of more than $3.7 billion per year.
Dr Matthew Fisher, from the School of Public Health at Imperial College London, and a corresponding author of the study, said: "The alarming increase in plant and animal deaths caused by new types of fungal disease shows that we are rapidly heading towards a world where the 'rotters' are the winners. We need strive to prevent the emergence of new diseases as we currently lack the means to successfully treat outbreaks of infection in the wild."
The article shows how instances of fungal diseases have been increasing in severity and scale since the middle of the 20th century, largely thanks to trade and travel, and now pose a serious danger to global food security, biodiversity and ecosystem health. The threat to plants from fungal infections has now reached a level that outstrips that posed by bacterial and viral diseases combined and is projected to continue rising.
The authors calculated that fungal infection could damage of up to 900 million tonnes of food if disease epidemics were to hit all the top five food crops in the same year. Although the chances of this happening are very slight, they estimate that this scenario would cause a global famine leaving over 4.2 billion people starving.
They are calling for tighter control of trade in plant and animal products that facilitate the spread of disease, and more research into tools that can predict emerging fungal infections so scientists can learn to halt the spread of existing diseases that are currently geographically isolated.
Corresponding author, Sarah Gurr, Professor of Molecular Plant Pathology at the University of Oxford, said: "Crop losses due to fungal attack challenge food security and threaten biodiversity, yet we are woefully inadequate at controlling their emergence and proliferation. We must have better funding channelled into the fight against fungal disease."
More information: MC Fisher et al. "Emerging fungal threats to animal, plant and ecosystem health." Nature, 12 April 2012. DOI 10.1038/nature10947
Journal information: Nature
Provided by Imperial College London


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Trucks loaded with tomatoes, milk and almonds clog the two main highways that bisect California's farm heartland, carrying goods to millions along the Pacific coast and beyond. This dusty stretch of land is the starting point for one of the nation's most expensive public infrastructure projects: a $68bn high-speed rail system that would span the state, linking America's salad bowl to more jobs, opportunity and buyers.
Five years ago, California voters overwhelmingly approved a bullet train for the nation's most populous state. It would be America's first high-speed rail system, sold to the public as a way to improve access to well-paying jobs, cut pollution from smog-filled roadways, reduce time sitting in traffic, and provide an alternative to high fuel prices.
Now, engineering work has finally begun on the first 30-mile segment of track in Fresno, a city of 500,000 people with soaring unemployment and a withering downtown. Rail is meant to help this place, with construction jobs and improved access to opportunities once the job is complete. But the region that could benefit most from the project is also where opposition has grown most fierce.
"I just wish it would go away, this high-speed rail. I just wish it would go away," says Gary Lanfranco, whose restaurant in Fresno is slated to be demolished to make way for rerouted traffic.
Such sentiments can be heard throughout the Central Valley, where roads are dotted with signs such as: "Here comes high-speed rail. There goes the farm." Growers complain of misplaced priorities, and residents wonder whether their tax money is being squandered.
Aaron Fukuda, a civil engineer whose house in the dairy town of Hanford lies directly in one of the possible train routes, says: "People are worn out, tired, frustrated."
Voters in 2008 approved $10bn in bonds to start construction on an 800-mile rail line to ferry passengers between San Francisco and Los Angeles in two hours and 40 minutes, compared to six hours by car the trip takes during good traffic. Since then, the housing market collapsed, multibillion-dollar budget deficits followed, and the price tag has fluctuated wildly – from $45bn in 2008 to more than $100bn in 2011 and, now, $68bn.
Political and financial compromises led officials to scale back plans, meaning trains will be forced to slow down and share tracks in major cities. Critics now question whether it will truly be the 220mph "high-speed rail" voters were promised. Construction has been repeatedly postponed, and a court victory this summer by opponents threatens further delays; a Sacramento County superior court judge said the state plan defies the promise made to voters to identify all funding for the first segment before construction.
Even the former chairman of the California High-Speed Rail Authority, Quentin Kopp, has turned against the current project, saying in court papers that it "is no longer a genuine high-speed rail system".
In the Central Valley, there is intense distrust of the authority, which has started buying up property, land and businesses, some of which have been held by families for generations.
At the dimly lit Cosmopolitan Cafe, office workers line up alongside farmers and paramedics to order sandwiches as waitresses call out order numbers. Four decades' worth of memorabilia and yellowing newspaper reviews line the faux-wood walls in the space Lanfranco has owned for most of his life.
Lanfranco says the sum he was offered to buy the property does not come close to replacing the space he owns, debt-free. The adjacent parking lot – a rare commodity – is packed with pickup trucks and cars each day at lunchtime. Lanfranco declined to say how much he was offered, and the offers are not public record.
"It's not like it's just a restaurant that I've owned for a couple of years and now I can just go replace it. It's something that I've put the last 45 years of my life into," the 66-year-old says.
His is just one of hundreds of properties the state needs to buy or seize by eminent domain if they cannot reach a deal. Many owners are resentful after years of what they call confusing messages and misleading information. Raisin farmer Ray Moles may lose a fraction of his farmland, but he says that is not why he opposes the train.
"I think water is more important than rail. Bring some water to the valley, put some people to work, and you'll have candidates to ride on the rail," Moles says after finishing lunch at the Cosmopolitan.
"They're putting the cart before the horse. They want to put the rail in this summer, but they don't want to do the water for 20 years."
Rail officials acknowledge that the agency hasn't always communicated well with those most affected, and part of their work in the Central Valley is strictly public relations. "Frankly, it set us back, because we, in effect, created questions and even opposition by just failing to give people answers," says Jeff Morales, the authority's chief executive officer.
For supporters, high-speed rail is the solution to California's future transportation needs, when the state's already jammed, rutted highways and busy airports won't be enough for a population expected to hit 46 million by 2035. It will create hundreds of jobs for several years, as officials tear down buildings, draw plans, survey wildlife and, eventually, lay track. It will also help move the Central Valley beyond the dominant low-wage agriculture sector, Morales says.
"By connecting Fresno, Bakersfield and the other cities of the Central Valley to Los Angeles and San Francisco … it just creates more opportunities for people," he says. "It creates a whole different sort of economy that'll just raise the Central Valley."
Governor Jerry Brown calls rail "cheaper than the alternative, and it's a hell of a lot better." The project also offers the 75-year-old Democrat a chance at a legacy. What is less certain is what the legacy will be, and whether high-speed rail will ever be what was once promised. Critics say the ridership projections are inflated and rely on low ticket prices that would require government subsidies, although the federal Government Accountability Office has called them reasonable.
The Obama administration promised $3.2bn for the first phase as part of the federal stimulus package, but that is just a fraction of the money needed to complete the system, leaving many of the valley's 6.5 million residents to suspect California taxpayers will be on the hook for the remainder.
The state's independent analyst calls current funding plans "highly speculative". Republicans in Congress have furiously fought to block any more federal funding as GOP governors in Ohio, Wisconsin and Florida have backed out of plans for high-speed rail in their respective states.
Fukuda is among the residents suing to block California's rail line. He and his wife had planned to build their dream house on their Hanford property. At first he planned to build sound barriers, but then he says he lost faith in the planners.
"I don't think it's a viable, well thought-out or … financially feasible project for the state of California," he says.
It is rare to find someone in Hanford, a town of 55,000 people south of Fresno, who is not opposed to the project. Many landowners have been in financial limbo for years as the authority weighs different paths, leaving farmers wary of planting crops or buying new equipment in case their land gets gobbled up.
Among them is Kole Upton, a farmer in Chowchilla whose family has put on hold plans to replace almond trees. The rail authority is busily signing contracts with engineering firms and contractors in hopes of getting shovels in the ground in the next few months.
"When they come in with these routes they put a cloud on your land," says Upton, who works with his brother and son on the 1,400-acre family farm but has devoted much of his time to fighting high-speed rail.
Officials, Fukuda says, "don't understand the emotional toll this has taken on the community".


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Louisiana legislators weren't too keen on doing away with the state's income tax two years ago, but Gov. Bobby Jindal wasn't actively involved in that effort. Whether the situation will be different now that the governor is putting the full force of his office behind the idea remains to be seen.
Actually, the repeal legislation proposed in 2011 was pretty tame stuff, but it still died on the vine as the session ended. Former Sen. Rob Marionneaux, D-Livonia, wanted to repeal the income tax over a 10-year period. That makes a lot of sense when you're playing with the loss of revenues totaling nearly $3 billion. However, he had to weaken his plan when it appeared his phaseout bill wasn't going anywhere.
The amended Marionneaux legislation simply set up a commission to study the possibility of reducing or eliminating the state's income tax. It would have reported its findings to lawmakers by Jan. 6, 2012. It took seven votes before senators would even agree to consider the bill, but the House refused to go along as the session ended.
Some of the reluctance to eliminate the state income tax can be attributed to the fact Louisiana's tax is low when compared to other states that levy income taxes. That is one of the reasons why Kiplinger.com, the company that has been publishing a financial and business newsletter since 1923, ranks Louisiana as one of the 10 best states for retirees. It also has the state as one of the top five with the highest state-local sales taxes.
Both of those are critical factors when considering changes in the state's tax structure. One of the proposals being floated by the Jindal administration would raise the already-high state sales tax by nearly 2 percent. Louisiana ranks third highest in the country with a combined state and local sales tax average of 8.87 percent. Only Tennessee (9.44 percent) and Arizona (9.16 percent) are higher.
An additional $1.05-per-pack increase in the existing 36-cent cigarette tax is also a key part of the governor's package. Supporters see that as more than a revenue producer. They believe it will effectively curb smoking, particularly among teenagers.
Jindal also wants to eliminate many of the sales tax exemptions on the books. Marionneaux said during his unsuccessful effort to repeal income taxes in 2011 that the state had $7.1 billion in tax exemptions and credits, and many of them could be eliminated to make up for lost revenues. The former senator made his point by standing atop a ladder in the state Senate to unfurl an extremely long list of those exemptions.
Spokesmen for the governor have repeatedly said there will be no effort to do away with state sales tax exemptions on household groceries, residential utilities and prescription drugs. You bet they won't try because it would take a vote of the people to remove those exemptions, and it isn't going to happen. Former state Rep. Vic Stelly of Moss Bluff said his 2002 income tax plan put those exemptions in the state constitution so they couldn't be easily removed.
A fourth area being considered is making sales taxes apply to services that aren't currently being taxed. The administration is looking at what services are being taxed in Texas, our closest competitor for new business and industry. Consumers in the Lone Star state pay sales taxes on cable and satellite TV services and on credit reporting, data processing, information, security, custodial and janitorial services. Taxing home repairs, lawn work, dog grooming, massages, carpet cleaning, pest control and boat storage are other services under review.
Online sales are also being eyed, but Congress would have to get into the act for that to happen. U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., and 52 other congressmen backed a bill Thursday that would tax Internet commerce, but it is a high hurdle to climb. A similar measure got nowhere during the last Congress.
What does the state get in return if the state income tax is repealed and some of the proposed taxing ideas are adopted? Tax Foundation reports Louisiana currently ranks 32nd in business tax climate, and the state would climb to fourth place.
Dan Juneau, president of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, in a recent column questions whether that is a real plus. He said almost $70 billion in new plant locations have been announced for Louisiana. He added that construction and oilfield services could be taxed under Jindal's proposal.
"Have the companies which have announced the plant locations (largely due to the availability of low natural gas prices) figured a 10 cent or higher combined state and local sales tax into their investment plans for Louisiana?" Juneau asked. "If such a levy comes to pass it could have significant economic development consequences of its own."
Jindal insists his administration hasn't formulated a final plan, but is simply seeking input by throwing out a number of proposals.
"Everything is on the table," he said last week in a rare news conference for Louisiana reporters. "That's the way it should be," he added.
Maybe so, but that is what worries a lot of people. Jindal said it won't happen this time, but he has a habit of coming up with his final legislative plans at the last minute and ramrodding them through a more-thanwilling-to-oblige Legislature. Trying to find ways to replace $3 billion in state revenues is risky business that deserves long and serious consideration.
Just this once, we can only hope members of the Legislature won't be as anxious as they have been in the past to do Jindal's bidding without asking some serious questions.
Jim Beam, the retired editor of the Lake Charles American Press, has covered people and politics for more than five decades. Contact him at 337-494-4025 or [email protected].


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- Description
- Friedman Bros.
- Shipping
- Returns
- Price Match
- Warranty
Trumeau mirror with hand-painted oil on canvas - 'after Boucher'
Frame and Mirror Finish Options Shown in Picture Carousel. To select these options, please email us at email@example.com with your choice of Friedman Brothers product and desired finishes. We will confirm that the options selected are available to be ordered and then advise you to place your order. We will ensure that the desired finishes are selected for you on our end.
Please select from beveled and flat mirror edges as well.
Craftsmen stain, rub, antique and highlight all by hand. While they are very careful to formulate each finish and apply it to exacting standards, variations in color will occur. Woods vary in their acceptance of finishing materials. Hands vary in their touch. Therefore the finishes illustrated here should be used as a guide.
Since 1903, Friedman Brothers has been the World's premier creator of custom handcrafted decorative wall art for elegant interior design settings. Friedman Brothers products are found in some of the most prestigious locations around the World, including the halls of The Vatican and The White House. From private residences to World-class hotels, interior designers use Friedman products to enhance the prestige and elegance of their projects.
We guarantee the best price on your Friedman Brothers purchase. Simply message or call us if you see a difference in price elsewhere and we will match it.
M: 36"w x 52"h
L: 38"w x 58"h
Made in USA
Manufacturer: Friedman Brothers
Quick 24-48 hour processing
No sales tax
Free shipping
Model Number: 10791
Friedman Brothers is the oldest and most prestigious manufacturer of handcrafted decorative wall art in the United States. The company has been family owned and operated for over 100 years, spending much of that history perfecting the art of Decorative Mirrors, Consoles, Sconces, Brackets, Cornices, Window Treatments and More.
The company was founded by two brothers who emigrated from England in 1903. They brought with them an outstanding talent for old-world elegant design and the skilled crafts of wood carving and finishing, with special emphasis on Old World gold leafing. Through hard work and an unyielding commitment to design and quality, the Friedman brothers became the interior designer's supplier of choice for elegant and sophisticated decorative wall art.
The brothers then passed down their craft through the generations where this same original commitment to design and quality can be found in the company's products today.
Friedman Brothers decorative art is so high in quality that it can be found in the most prestigious places in the World, including Museums, The Vatican and The White House. From the best hotels to private residences, interior designers specify Friedman products to bring a touch of prestige and elegance to their designs.
UPS, FedEx, USPS Deliveries:
If your item is damaged in shipment, you must notify us within 24 hours. You must save all packing materials for an inspection by the shipping company. Call 855-256-2579, or email us at firstname.lastname@example.com and describe the nature of the damage along with the item style, name, stock number, manufacturer's name, your order number, name, address and the phone number where we can reach you.
Common Carrier (Freight) Delivery:
This is delivery by other than UPS, FedEx & USPS. This type of delivery will be made for the order of a Grandfather clock and some large and heavy items where shipment by common carrier truck is necessary. If your item is damaged in shipment and delivered by freight company (not UPS, FedEx or USPS), you must note the damage on the freight bill at the time of delivery for a claim to be valid. Failure to note the damage on the delivery freight bill, with the signature of the delivery driver delivering the product, will void your ability to seek reimbursement for the damage. If the damage is noticed which the delivery is being made, it is in your best interest to refuse the shipment and notify us immediately. A replacement will be sent and we will handle the claims process for you.
Please note: If you accept the delivery of a damaged item, delivered by a freight company, and you do not refuse the item and don't note damages on the freight bill, we will not be able to assist you with your claim. You will need to process the claim yourself and it may not be successful.
Other Shipping
If there is a situation in which a return is agreeable outside of the above stated policy conditions, buyer must both contract and pay for full return shipping, including full insurance for the amount of the purchase price. If any insurance claim is necessary, buyer is fully responsible for processing the claim. Time for a Clock will assist in any reasonable manner necessary.
Shipping and Delivery Times:
Items will be delivered in the original manufacturer packaging, with set up instructions included. Shipping time is between 5-14 days if the item is in stock with the manufacturer. You will be notified if a shipment is delayed for any reason via email or phone. We will do everything possible to get you your order as promptly as possible. Note that all custom or special ordered clocks cannot be returned or exchanged under any circumstances.
UPS, FedEx, USPS:
Any item shipping UPS or FedEx or USPS will be allowed to be returned (other than special order or custom items) within thirty (30) days of delivery for a credit of the original charge, less the 2 way shipping charge plus a 25% (of purchase price) restocking fee.
Common Carrier (Freight):
No item shipped common carrier will be allowed to be returned under any circumstances, with the exception of refusal of delivery for the express cause of damage at the time of delivery. If an instance arises where a return is agreeable, buyer must both contract and pay for full return shipping, including insurance for the amount of the purchase price. If any insurance claim is necessary, buyer is fully responsible for processing the claim (Time for a Clock would of course assist in any reasonable way necessary).
If you are returning an item, please contact us by calling 855-256-2579 or send an email to us at email@example.com and describe the nature of the damage along with the item style and make, your order number, name, address and phone number that we an reach you for instructions on your return. Please do not return the item without contacting us for instructions so that we can be sure that you are credited properly for the return. We will then contact you with information about your return, credits due and/or a replacement.
If you have any questions regarding our sales and return policy, please email us at email@example.com.
By using this website, https://timeforaclock.com, you agree to be bound by the terms outlined above, regarding shipping and returns.
Time for a Clock reserves the right to change and update information and/or prices at any time, even during order processing timelines if the manufacturer requests such a change be made. We do our best to prevent any errors, but in the unlikely event they do occur, we will reach out within 48 hours to update the buyer of the changes on their processing order.
All merchandises properly returned, following the above shipping and return policies, are eligible for a refund, which credit to the original payment method or a store credit will be issued. The refund or store credit will be processed within 3 to 4 weeks approximately once your return item(s) is received also inspected.
If you have questions regarding charges from our company, please contact us before you contact your credit card company. If we do receive a dispute/chargeback letter from your credit card company, your credit card company will require us to respond the dispute/chargeback. A handling fee $25.00 for each credit card charge back/dispute will be deducted from your refund or charge to you in order to handle the response to your credit card company.
Order Tracking
Feel free to email us directly at email@example.com and we will send you your tracking number within 24-48 hours.
Order Cancellation
Due to our commitment to process orders quickly, once the checkout process is complete or phone order is placed, we immediately submit your order to our order processing team. We cannot cancel any orders once the order is received.
Here at Time for a Clock, we pride ourselves on having the most competitive prices online. We're so confident in our pricing that we will match or beat any other site's pricing upon request.
In addition, if within 30 days after placing your order you find a lower price for the same product online elsewhere, we will reimburse you the difference within 30 days of your price match submission.
Time for a Clock is an authorized dealer for all brands it offers for sale and each clock is covered by full manufacturer warranty. Warranty conditions vary slightly from brand to brand but all service on all clocks purchased from Time for a Clock is done at the manufacturer or their direct representative's authorized repair facility. Each clock we offer has unique serial number and comes complete with paperwork you need to obtain warranty service. Please follow instructions enclosed. In order to obtain service, please call first to make sure that the repair you need is covered by warranty and to see if the shipping may be covered as well. If it is the part that is needed, in most cases, the manufacturer is able to ship the part to you free of charge. More warranty information can be found HERE.


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ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) – Coach John Harbaugh happily discovered it's going to take more than clinching a second consecutive playoff berth to impress Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens.
Whether it's the sign of a team stinging from the memories of last year's AFC wild-card playoff loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, or simply the fact that there are three games left in the season, Harbaugh didn't see many signs of celebration after the Ravens became the conference's first team to secure a postseason berth following a 24-17 win over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday.
"I tried to make a big deal out of it in the locker room, and the guys kind of gave me a smattering of applause,†said Harbaugh, who led Baltimore to its eighth playoff berth in his 12 seasons. "They've expected that and I think they earned the right to expect that.â€
Jackson wasn't all too impressed with the accomplishment, calling it "pretty cool,†and yet he appreciated the playoff-like test the Bills presented in a matchup of winning teams.
"Both teams coming out and trying to prove themselves and (the Bills) did that,†said Jackson. "But we ended up coming out on top.â€
Baltimore extended its franchise-best winning streak to nine straight and improved to 11-2, its best record through 13 games in team history. With the win, the Ravens can also clinch the AFC North title should the Pittsburgh Steelers lose or tie in their game at Arizona later in the day.
Buffalo (9-4) had a three-game winning streak snapped, and fell short 10 days since receiving national attention following a 26-15 win at Dallas on Thanksgiving Day. Despite the loss, the Bills are still in control of their playoff future as they continue to hold down the first of the AFC's two wild-card spots.
"I'm frustrated by the loss,†rookie defensive tackle Ed Oliver sad. "Forget hanging with the team. If we wanted to just hang with the team, we could lose every game. But ultimately, we're here to win and that's the most frustrating part.â€
Jackson finished 16 of 25 for 145 yards passing with three touchdowns and an interception in a game the Ravens' bulldozing offense was mostly held in check. Baltimore was held to a season-low 257 yards, and punted seven times for an offense that entered the game with just 24 punts on the season.
With 40 yards rushing, Jackson upped his total to 1,017, which is 23 short of breaking the single-season record for quarterbacks set by Michael Vick in 2006.
What defined Jackson was his ability to overcome the Bills blanketing his favorite target, rookie Marquise Brown, who was held to three catches for minus-2 yards, and after losing starting tight end Mark Andrews to a knee injury in the second quarter.
Jackson creatively found other targets to counter Buffalo's otherwise swarming defense.
With his running lane to the end zone blocked on third-and-goal from the 3, Jackson pulled up and lobbed a pass over a defender to tight end Nick Boyle to put Baltimore up 10-0.
Three plays into the third quarter, Jackson found tight end Hayden Hurst breaking free past safety Jordan Poyer for a 61-yard catch and run. And Jackson appeared to break the game open 5 1/2 minutes into the fourth quarter in putting Baltimore up 24-9 by sprinting to his right and then throwing across his body to hit Willie Snead for a 2-yard touchdown.
"I though Lamar played with great poise,†Harbaugh said. "He just has so much self-awareness to extend the play and find an open player.â€
The Bills otherwise shut down an offense that entered the game threatening to become the NFL's first to finish a season averaging 200 yards rushing and passing.
Buffalo's Josh Allen-led offense didn't wilt after showing signs of developing an identity in attempting to win 10 games in a season for the first time since 1999.
Trailing 24-9, Allen showed resolve in mounting a seven-play, 78-yard touchdown drive capped by his 3-yard pass to Cole Beasley, who dived inside the left pylon. The same two then hooked up on a 2-point conversion.
And yet, the Bills lacked finish in settling for three field goals and a punt on four consecutive drives into Baltimore territory spanning halftime.
Buffalo also fell short with a chance to at least force overtime, and despite benefiting from two personal fouls and a pass interference penalty called against Baltimore on the Bills' final drive.
Facing fourth-and-8 at the Baltimore 16, Allen stood in the pocket and sent a pass over the middle intended for John Brown only to have cornerback Marcus Peters break it up at the goal line.
"I have to make more plays. I should've made that last play,†Brown said.
Allen finished 17 of 39 for 146 yards with a lost fumble, and was sacked a season-high six times.
Bills kicker Stephen Hauschka responded by hitting all three of his field-goal attempts, including a 48-yarder, during a week his job security was placed into question. Coach Sean McDermott said the Bills put in a waiver claim for Chase McLaughlin on Wednesday only to have him land in Indianapolis, which was higher in the claim order.
Hauschka was coming off a 26-15 win at Dallas in which he missed a field goal and extra-point attempt.
Ravens: Harbaugh didn't believe the knee injury to Andrews was serious. DB Anthony Levine did not return with an ankle injury.
Bills: None reported.
Ravens: Host New York Jets on Thursday night.
Bills: Play at Pittsburgh Steelers on Dec. 15 in Buffalo's first Sunday night appearance in 12 years.
More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL


text:
From Open Babel
Open Babel is developed using open, community-oriented development made possible by an active community -- developers, testers, writers, implementers and most of all users. No matter which 'er' you happen to be, or how much time you can provide, you can make valuable contributions.
Not sure where to start? Look over the list of possible avenues for contribution listed below.
Provide Input
- Suggest a needed feature.
- Suggest a needed file format.
- Report a bug.
- Send a note to the mailing list and tell us what you think.
Spread the Word
- Include references to Open Babel in research talks or publications.
- Blog about Open Babel and chemistry.
- Help improve the documentation or website.
- This wiki can be edited by any contributor who creates an account and logs in to ensure proper attributions and citation. Send an e-mail to validate yourself as a real person and you'll be added to the editors group.
- The main user documentation is also available for patching through GitHub
- Contact your proprietary software vendors and suggest they support Open Babel and open file formats.
- Use Open Babel in another program.
Join In
- Share your projects, small or large on the mailing list.
- Help translate Open Babel to a foreign language.
- Test new code snapshots.
- Sponsor development.
Code a Storm
- Fix a bug.
- Add additional tests for stress-testing the code.
- Perform "software archeology" tasks for improving the codebase.
- Add a new file format.
- Write Perl or Python scripts using the Open Babel bindings for these languages.
- Add a requested feature from the tracker.
- Add support for additional data type translation and perception.
- Contribute an item off of the potential roadmap.
Also, please take a look at the documentation for developing with Open Babel.
In short, we're just getting started. There's still plenty to do. Contact the openbabel-discuss mailing list for more questions, comments, suggestions, etc.
This category has the following 2 subcategories, out of 2 total.
Pages in category "Contribute"
The following 11 pages are in this category, out of 11 total.


text:
Team uncovers secrets of Mars' birth from unique meteorite
As NASA prepares to launch a new Martian probe, a Florida State University scientist has uncovered what may be the first recognized example of ancient Martian crust.
The work of Munir Humayun—a professor in FSU's Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Science and a researcher at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory (MagLab)—is based on an analysis of a 4.4 billion-year-old Martian meteorite that was unearthed by Bedouin tribesmen in the Sahara desert. The rock (NWA 7533) may be the first recognized sample of ancient Martian crust and holds a wealth of information about the origin and age of the Red Planet's crust.
Humayun's groundbreaking discoveries about the crust and what it reveals about the Red Planet's origins will be published in the journal Nature.
In order to detect minute amounts of chemicals in this meteorite, Humayun and his collaborators performed complex analysis on the meteorite using an array of highly sophisticated mass spectrometers in the MagLab's geochemistry department. High concentrations of trace metals such as iridium, an element that indicates meteoritic bombardment, showed that this meteorite came from the elusive cratered area of Mars' southern highlands.
"This cratered terrain has been long thought to hold the keys to Mars' birth and early childhood," Humayun said.
While craters cover more than half of Mars, this is the first meteoric sample to come from this area and the first time researchers are able to understand Mars' early crustal growth.
Using the chemical information found in pieces of soil contained in the meteorite, the researchers were able to calculate the thickness of Mars' crust. Their calculation aligned with estimates from independent spacecraft measurements and confirms that Mars did not experience a giant impact that melted the entire planet in its early history.
Using a powerful microprobe at Curtin University in Perth, Australia, the team dated special crystals within the meteorite—called zircons—at an astounding 4.4 billion years old.
"This date is about 100 million years after the first dust condensed in the solar system," Humayun said. "We now know that Mars had a crust within the first 100 million years of the start of planet building, and that Mars' crust formed concurrently with the oldest crusts on Earth and the Moon."
Humayun and his collaborators hypothesize that these trailblazing discoveries are just the tip of the iceberg of what continued research on this unique meteorite will uncover. Further studies may reveal more clues about the impact history of Mars, the nature of Martian zircons and the makeup of the earliest sediments on the Red Planet.
Humayun's international team of collaborators include curator of meteorites Brigitte Zanda with the National Museum of Natural History (the Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle) in Paris; A. Nemchin, M. Grange and A. Kennedy with Curtin University's Department of Applied Geology in Perth, Australia; and scientists R.H. Hewins, J.P. Lorand, C. Göpel, C. Fieni, S. Pont and D. Deldicque.
More information: dx.doi.org/10.1038/nature12764
Journal information: Nature
Provided by Florida State University