text:
Right this very moment, you have at your disposal a powerful tool that can make your dreams happen, whether you yearn to live in a beautiful home in the country, or land a job you'll love, or [insert your heart's desire here]. That tool is your intuition. But your sixth sense won't do you any good if you don't know how to use it. On these pages, you'll read about five women who let their gut feelings guide them to true happiness, and learn how you can do the same. You make logical decisions every day — when to get up, what to eat, how to get your work done. But how often do you act on a gut feeling, one of those deep-in-the-pit-of-your-stomach sensations that just seems right even though everything else (your past experiences ... your pro-and-con lists ... your mother ...) is telling you it's wrong? Paying attention to those feelings — and acting on them — is neither flaky nor foolish; it's actually an extremely effective way to harness your inner wisdom and lead yourself toward what you want in life. Need proof? We spoke to five women whose lives were powerfully changed when they listened to their intuition. Let their stories inspire you to tune in to — and then follow— your gut feelings.
Listening to her gut led to...
A life-changing move
More From Redbook
Susan Daffron, 43, Sandpoint, ID
"Fourteen years ago, my husband, James, and I took one of our get-outta-town trips to escape our cramped condo in San Diego. We were taking a walk through Idyllwild, CA, a quaint community in the San Bernadino National Forest, when I noticed some really nice houses there. Idyllwild has little industry other than tiny tourist shops, and we knew that real estate in the area was extremely expensive. I asked James, 'What do these people do that makes it possible for them to live here?' Then it dawned on us: telecommuting. They probably all worked from home.
"It immediately struck me that if we ran our own business, we could live anywhere we wanted. It was such a freeing thought, and I just couldn't get it out of my head after we returned home. I was working at a dismal job writing technical manuals, and James had a so-so position as a programmer. A nagging feeling was telling me that it was time to make a change, and it just wouldn't stop.
"I don't know why we thought we could do it — we just did — but within six months, we'd quit our jobs and started our own tech-writing and software company, even though neither of us had ever thought we'd be self-employed! Next, I wrote to the chambers of commerce in outdoorsy places like Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana — since we love being out in nature — asking for their marketing materials. When I saw Sandpoint, ID, in one of the destination guides, it seemed like a possibility. Sandpoint is green and forested, just what we love. We got on a plane to check it out, and as we flew into the airport over the mountains, James said, 'That looks like home, doesn't it?' I felt it too, and the hunch got stronger as we explored the area. I looked for red flags but couldn't find any — every cell in my body was telling me that this was it. We went back to San Diego and put our condo up for sale!
"We've been here 12 years and live in a beautiful log home on 40 acres of forest, where we run our businesses remotely from among the trees. Life's changed, to say the least: I got the four dogs I couldn't have in a condo and started my organic garden. Instead of getting in a car to commute, James rides a tractor on our land. We no longer feel that anxious need to get away — we're right where we want to be!"
Listening to her gut led to...
Helping kids thrive in school
Vielka McFarlane, 45, Los Angeles
"I know that every mom wants the best for her child, but what if the only education available is in a failing school that has a crime rate higher than some U.S. suburbs? I worked in the Los Angeles school system for 15 years — I started out as a teacher, got promoted to principal, and eventually became an administrator. The whole reason I got into education was to change children's lives, but in every job I had, I was never quite sure if I was making a difference, and I had a deep feeling inside me that I could do something more. That feeling got even stronger when I'd think about my 13-year-old son, who's a special-needs kid, and the fact that even with my connections it was hard to get him into the best classrooms — so I couldn't imagine what it might be like for other parents. I began daydreaming about starting my own school, and once I started thinking about it, I couldn't stop. Within a month after the thought first entered my mind, I had written a 180-page application to open a charter school.
"I mentioned it to my supervisors at work, but they all discouraged me, saying that with 60 percent of kids dropping out of schools in our community, it was too large a project, too expensive, and a 'catastrophe waiting to happen.' I looked for grants and investors, but no one would touch me. But I knew in my gut that I couldn't keep working in a failing school system, so I made a drastic move that nobody thought would work: I took out a second mortgage on my home to get the money to build the school! Then I went to two friends in the community and convinced them to do the same! I hired a core staff, and less than a year later, in September 2005, we opened our doors to 120 eager students, grades kindergarten through 8. Within a month, we had 330 kids.
"In that first year, supervisors taught, teachers supervised, and we all acted as custodians, but I somehow knew that we would succeed, in part because I had acted on instinct before in my life: I emigrated from Panama when I was 20, but I went back for a visit after I found out that a friend's sister, who was dying of AIDS, had put her infant son in an orphanage. My intention was just to visit them, but that 'feeling' came over me when I saw the boy, and for absolutely no other reason than a sense that I should, I adopted him right on the spot. He is the light of my life, and every single time I look at him, I know that I can always trust my intuition.
"Since 2005, we've opened two additional schools, serving more than 700 kids in our community, over 90 percent of whom are poor. These parents used to have no choice but to send their kids to bad schools, and I'm so proud that we've given them another option. Our schools outperform all of the other schools in the area on academic tests, and average attendance is 98 percent, something that's unheard of here. Imagine how things would be if I didn't believe that I could make a difference! What do I know in my gut? That the world turns because people do good things every day, for no other reason than that they have a feeling that they can."
Listening to her gut led to...
Saving her husband's life
Lisa Lindell, 39, Houston
"In March 2003, my husband, Curtis, was badly burned in an electrical accident when a defective electrical breaker exploded in the building where he was working. He had burns on 35 percent of his body and was immediately rushed to the hospital. After two weeks he started to decline, but every doctor I encountered assured me that he would be fine once his burns healed. I was working as a bookkeeper at a roofing company, so it's not as if I could see something that they weren't seeing, but I knew that something more was wrong with Curtis. I didn't know if it was his big toe, his brain, or his lungs — I just had a feeling that he was being left to die. There was no logic to it, and I kept telling myself that I was being a lunatic, but I just didn't believe all of the doctors who kept telling me he was fine. I exhausted myself trying to convince myself that they were right, but it was as if my husband's voice was screaming in my ear to help him — and it just wouldn't stop.
"I called every specialist I could find, begging them to take a second look. One specialist, who had assured me less than 12 hours earlier that my husband was okay, finally relented and looked at the now week-old ultrasound that had been performed on Curtis's body after he was admitted. He then saw that Curtis's gallbladder was dead. He rushed my husband to surgery and discovered that gangrene had set in, and if the organ and surrounding tissue weren't immediately removed, Curtis would die within days, maybe hours.
"At that point, it had been three weeks since the accident, and we had originally been told that his hospital stay would last a month. Instead, because of this medical oversight, he spent 108 days in the hospital and nearly died. Even though I had nothing but my instincts to guide me, I know I saved his life. Curtis is very much alive today, as handsome and sexy as he ever was, and I know I'm lucky. I now work as a patient safety advocate, and I get a phone call at least once a week from somebody whose loved one has been a victim of medical error. I tell anyone faced with a health-care issue to ignore what the 'experts' are telling them and trust their gut. My husband is living proof that it works."
Listening to her gut led to...
A best-selling novel
Karen Quinn, 45, New York City
"Seven years ago, I was downsized from my marketing job at a national corporation. I didn't want to work for a big company again, so I started a small business with a friend called Smart City Kids, which helped families get their children into New York City's top schools, something I knew about from going through the process with my own two kids. The business was a wild experience, with parents' going to shocking extremes to get their children into these schools. One single mom whose child was going through the application process paid an actor to pose as her husband during parent interviews because she thought it would reflect better on her daughter! The daughter was accepted, and then the mom went through a pretend divorce! After three years, I couldn't take the tears — from the parents, not the kids — so I quit.
"My husband and kids wanted me to look for a job, but a nagging voice in my head told me that I should write a novel based on my Smart City Kids experience. The only other time that being a writer had entered my mind was when I was a child — when I thought that being some sort of artist sounded fun — but I never knew anyone who actually made a living doing it. I still didn't know any writers, but I couldn't shake the feeling, even though the only creative thing I had ever written was an annual holiday letter that my friends and family told me was funny. I thought, If I can write an entertaining two-page letter, I just need to write 150 of them and I'll have a novel.
"My husband said I was nuts, but for some reason, I just knew I could do it. He said, 'How long will it take?' Pulling an answer out of the sky, I replied, 'Three months.' Ninety days later, my first draft was finished. A friend showed it to a book editor acquaintance who read it and said, 'I lost interest after the first hundred pages.' Ouch.
"I felt terrible. My son told me that I should go get a job like a normal mom. But I still had that 'feeling,' so I spent two months of 14-hour days revising the book. Through a strange connection — my babysitter — I found a literary agent who agreed to read my manuscript. A week later, the agent called, saying that she loved it and wanted to represent me! My book, The Ivy Chronicles, became the subject of a four-way bidding war among publishers and became a national best seller in 2005. The movie rights were sold to Warner Brothers!
"I've since published a second book, Wife in the Fast Lane, and my third, Holly Would Dream,came out this summer. I'm not sure I can explain where that voice came from and why it convinced me that I could become a novelist with no experience, no connections, and no track record. I'm just happy that I listened to it and believed in it, when I so easily could have dismissed the whole thing as wishful thinking!"
Listening to her gut led to...
A lifesaving mammogram
Linda Lemma, 42, Nutley, NJ
"One hot summer evening four years ago, I decided to take a shower before going to bed. While I was washing up, something told me to lift my left arm and examine my breast, which was weird because I had never done a breast self-exam before. Still, I have always felt in tune with my body; for instance, when I became pregnant with each of my four kids, I had a 'feeling' that I had conceived long before I missed a period.
"This time, as I did the self-exam, I felt a lump. I shifted my body in different directions, but the lump was still sitting there, right beneath my underarm. I couldn't believe what I was feeling and my heart started to race. In that moment, I was sure that something was wrong.
"I went to the ob/gyn a few days later. I had talked to this same doctor six months earlier, when one of my nipples was cracked and bleeding, and he had said that it was dry skin and told me that I should 'just put cocoa butter on it,' something that I had never felt quite right about. At this visit, my nipple was still bleeding and cracked, but it was as if my doctor didn't even see it or didn't want to deal with it. And when I showed him the lump, he insisted that he didn't feel anything. But I knew what I felt, so I insisted on a mammogram. My doctor told me that it wasn't necessary, and then he actually left the room to see his next patient! I really couldn't believe the way he was blowing me off, and I just knew that I could not accept his reaction — I was sure that something was wrong.
"After a few minutes, this doctor came back into the exam room, telling me that there was nothing more that he could do for me. I told him that I would absolutely not leave his office until I had a referral from him for a mammogram. The doctor kept leaving and coming back, and every time, I just refused to leave the room, insisting that I needed the test because I knew deep down in my gut that something wasn't right. I had never in my life acted quite this stubborn before, in any situation, but I was so completely certain I needed that mammogram that I never once even considered leaving his office without it. I guess the doctor got tired of me taking up space in his exam room because after about an hour of this back-and-forth, he finally handed me that referral.
"I had the mammogram a few days later — it revealed that there wasn't just one lump in my breast but a total of three, along with swollen lymph nodes. I was diagnosed with Stage III breast cancer, and I spent the next two years going through chemotherapy and radiation treatments. Today, I'm completely cancer-free, but I still get tears in my eyes every time I think about what could have happened. My children could be motherless. My husband could be a widower. I am forever thankful that I followed through and acted on instinct — that weird little feeling saved my life."


text:
This Blackhawks season just became a failure. There's no other way to look at it.
The franchise's motto is "One Goal." This isn't that goal. This is failure.
Some franchises might be happy to reach the conference finals. Some might be thrilled just to reach the Stanley Cup Final. Not the Hawks. It's Cup or bust. They tell us all the time. "One Goal."
In fact, Duncan Keith said as much before Game 6: "I don't think we look at it as a success if we don't win. I think with the group of guys we have in here, especially the core guys, that's our goal. … I don't think anybody in our room's satisfied with just getting to the Western Conference finals."
Now they can get packed up and watch the Kings play the Rangers for the Cup the Hawks surrendered when Alec Martinez wristed a shot from the left point off Nick Leddy and over Corey Crawford for the winner at 5:47 of overtime.
Just like that, epic fail.
So much played out in the Hawks' favor, starting with captain Jonathan Toews, regarded as the best two-way player in the game, and Patrick Kane, the scariest stickhandler in the league.
They also had Marian Hossa, a first-team two-way player. They had Patrick Sharp, one of the best snipers going. They had defenseman Keith, a Norris Trophy candidate, and their next three defensemen were considered to be No. 1 blueliners by Kings coach Darryl Sutter.
The Hawks had everything their way. They owned the roster with the best top-end talent and depth. They had some swagger. They were the defending champs, and despite finishing third in their division, they were looking at home-ice advantage in the three final rounds.
They missed the Avalanche and vexing goalie Semyon Varlamov. They got into the Blues' heads. They had more talent than the Wild. They had more top-end talent than the Kings, and they are a far more talented team than the Rangers, even if the Rangers have the best goalie in the game.
The Hawks should've been the best team going, and they should gone back-to-back and won their third Cup in five years. They didn't.
The Blackhawks choked in some epic ways throughout these Western Conference finals against the Kings. They already had blown two two-goal leads in this series, so why would a two-goal lead in a must-win Game 7 at home be any different?
Why would a third-period lead in the clincher be any different?
Look, if you blow three leads in a Game 7 of a conference finals at home, not to mention a 5-on-3 power play, you can just leave the Stanley Cup outside the dressing room door. It's not yours anymore and you don't deserve it
Since the Kings took a three-games-to-one lead, both teams seemed to spend a lot of time trying to say the pressure was on the other team. Turned out, the pressure was on the Hawks throats, courtesy of their own hands.
There were Olympic medals won by Hawks this season and there might be some individual awards later. But they won't collect the only prize that matters.
"One Goal." The only goal. Not achieved. Failure.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Modern world is full of temptations and other entertainments that cost much. It became a tradition that children want to become businessmen or entrepreneurs. The dreams of becoming a spacemen do not bother children any more. The desire to have everything and to be able to afford different things make children think about more profitable occupations. Some students, when grow up, change their minds and think about something more realistic, the others still continue dreaming of becoming entrepreneurs. The article is going to represent some advantages and disadvantage connected to the profession. Use arguments to support your choice.
Advantages of becoming an entrepreneur
1.Those who decided to become entrepreneurs are sure to enjoy the whole process, from the very beginning of their business till the highest level of its development. The prediction of risks and their successful elimination is a real delight.
2.The entrepreneurs salary directly depends on his/her intentions. If one wants to get more this month, he/she should work harder.
3.The working schedule of entrepreneurs is flexible. They may easily take a day off in the middle of the week without the moral pressure of being fired. Still, the consequences of such action should be considered beforehand.
Disadvantages of becoming an entrepreneur
1.The entrepreneur does not have a regular salary. The income may be considerable this month, but it may be too low another one. It is impossible to calculate some unpredicted costs.
2.The flexible working schedule is also a disadvantage. The necessity to work till night may be rather stressing.
3.Entrepreneurs are personally charged with the consequences of their actions. One wrong step and the whole business may be ruined.
It is exciting to be an important person in business, to have personal company and run it. Still, there are some cases when this independence may cost too much.


text:
Banff National Park of Canada, Alberta, Canada
The Banff National Park of Canada Abbot Pass Refuge Cabin is a one-and-a-half storey split-stone cabin of simple design with a rectangular plan and a gabled roof of medium pitch with minimal overhang. Constructed in 1922, it has a single entrance on the façade, accessed from a more recently constructed flat wooden porch. This porch is built over the original stone platform. The cabin is located right on the continental divide and the border between Banff and Yoho National Parks. Located at an altitude of 2 925.5 metres (9598 feet), it is the second highest building in the country. The designation is confined to the footprint of the building.
The Abbot Pass Refuge Cabin is a Classified Federal Heritage building because of its historical associations, and its architectural and environmental values.
Historical ValueThe Abbot Pass Refuge Cabin represents the theme of alpine recreation in Canada. It remains a well-known icon to the national and international alpine community, and a reminder of the pioneer days of Canadian alpine climbing. The Abbot Pass Refuge Cabin illustrates the period that became known as the golden age of mountaineering in Canada. Through its Swiss designers, it is associated with the long tradition of mountain shelters and Swiss mountain guides. The cabin is unique for being both the only shelter above the tree line and for being the only surviving example of an alpine hut in the Canadian Rocky Mountains.
Architectural ValueThe Abbot Pass Refuge Cabin is a very good and attractive example of rustic architecture. It is based on the model of high-altitude vernacular, alpine huts of Switzerland. The Abbot Pass Refuge Cabin has been described as one of the most impressive structures in the Canadian Alpine world. A very rare example of a stone cabin in the national parks, it was designed to be highly compatible with its unique setting through the use of natural materials in appropriate colours and textures.
Environmental ValueAccessed via a steep scree, the Abbot Pass Refuge Cabin was constructed in a high mountain pass. Designed as a mountain refuge, it still serves its original purpose. The Abbot Pass Refuge Cabin is successful as an extension of the natural character of its environment. The Abbot Pass Refuge Cabin reinforces the character of the Rockies between Mounts Lefroy and Victoria. This structure successfully harmonizes with its environment through careful selection and use of materials. The Abbot Pass Refuge Cabin is tiny relative to the landscape. Its existence is an isolated but permanent sign of human presence in this uninhabited area.
Sources:Rhona Goodspeed, Abbot Pass Refuge Cabin, Abbot Pass, Banff National Park, Alberta. Federal Heritage Buildings Review Office Report 97-098; Abbot Pass Refuge Cabin, Abbot Pass, Banff National Park, Alberta, Heritage Character Statement 97-098.
The character-defining elements of Abbot Pass Refuge Cabin should be respected.
Its rustic design and good quality materials and craftsmanship, for example:- the simple compact form, massing and balanced symmetrical composition of this one and a half-storey structure;- the well constructed stonework using locally available rock;- the simple features, such as the single entrance on the façade and the small window on all four elevations;- the original entrance platform built of the same stone as the cabin and which remains under the recently constructed flat wooden porch;- the layout of kitchen/dining area near the entrance with the sleeping area behind it on the main floor is designed to be purely functional;- the use of local materials such as the roughly finished stones of split limestone quarried on site and the resulting complementary colours and textures;- the building's design, scale, and its location within the dramatic and pristine setting of the Canadian Rocky Mountains;- its visual prominence due to its the unobstructed placement above a steep incline of scree behind a central peak;- its continuing use as a refuge for visitors;
The manner in which the building reinforces the dramatic character of the mountain landscape.
Government of Canada
Treasury Board Heritage Buildings Policy
Classified Federal Heritage Building
Edward Feuz, Jr. and Rudolph Aemmer
Heritage Conservation and Commemoration Directorate, Documentation Centre, 3rd Floor, Room 366, 30 Victoria St, Gatineau, Quebec
Abbot Pass Refuge Cabin National Historic Site of Canada
Abbot Pass Refuge Cabin is a high altitude alpine shelter in Abbot Pass, a col between Mounts Lefroy and Victoria on the continental divide on the border between Banff and Yoho…
Yoho National Park of Canada, British Columbia
The Warden's Cabin is a simple, well-proportioned, rectangular log structure with a medium-pitch…
The Elizabeth Parker Hut, situated in a subalpine meadow near Lake O'Hara with a backdrop of the…
Wiwaxy Lodge, situated in a subalpine meadow near Lake O'Hara with a backdrop of the Rocky…
Administered by Parks Canada


text:
A few months after teasing the new cameras at PMA 2010 (with almost no details), Sony officially announced the interchangeable-lens Alpha NEX-3 and NEX-5 on Monday. Both cameras will be available in July.
The NEX camera bodies are impressively thin and light, measuring about an inch thick and looking noticeably more slick and slim than competing interchangeable-lens cameras from Panasonic, Olympus, and Samsung. These are the first interchangeable-lens cameras we've seen that honestly approach the size of a point-and-shoot camera.
The Sony Alpha NEX-5 and NEX-3 both offer 14.2-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensors; it's the same size sensor found in Samsung's NX10 interchangeable-lens camera and in several full-size DSLRs, but it's significantly bigger than the Micro Four-Thirds sensor in cameras from Olympus and Panasonic.
On the video side of the equation, the Alpha NEX-5 will shoot 1080i high-definition video in either AVCHD or MPEG-4 format, while the slightly lower-end NEX-3 maxes out at 720p MPEG-4 video. The other key difference between the two NEX cameras involves the body build: The NEX-5's body is made out of magnesium alloy and has a larger grip, while the NEX-3 has a polycarbonite body available in different color options (silver, black, and red).
The NEX cameras handle SD, SDHC, and SDXC card formats, as well as Memory Stick cards; the one storage slot on the cameras takes both card formats.
The announcement means that there's yet another lens mount to think about, as well. The Sony Alpha NEX series will use the brand-new E-Mount lens system, and the two new cameras offer no body-based image stabilization.
Lenses using Sony's Optical SteadyShot stabilization system—a stabilized 18mm-35mm f3.5/f5.6 zoom lens, as well as a 16mm f2.8 pancake lens—will be available, including in the Alpha NEX's kit configurations. The NEX cameras have a focal length multiplier of 1.5X, meaning that the 18mm-55mm zoom lens has a 27mm-82.5mm field of view in 35mm film equivalent, while the prime lens is a 24mm-equivalent wide-angle lens.
A third, optically stabilized, 18mm-200mm f3.5/f5.6 zoom lens will be available separately in the fall for $800 (not in any kit configuration), which Sony says is optimized for shooting video. In addition to the E-Mount lenses, an adapter that lets you use Sony's A-Mount lenses with the camera will be sold separately for $200.
The Sony Alpha NEX-3 will sell as a kit with the 16mm prime lens for $550, or with the 18mm-55mm zoom lens for $600. The Sony Alpha NEX-5 will cost $650 with the 16mm prime lens and $700 with the 18mm-55mm zoom lens.
Hands On With the Sony Alpha NEX-5
After some brief hands-on time with the new Sony Alpha NEX-5 camera, I noticed a few things that make the Alpha NEX series a very attractive option for would-be DSLR buyers. This is an incredibly small and slick camera; with the lens removed, the NEX-5's body is about the size of a bulkier point-and-shoot camera. Without the lens attached, it would easily fit into a pocket.
Like the Olympus Pen E-PL1, the NEX models are aimed at entry-level DSLR buyers who don't want the bulk or complexity of a DSLR, and that comes through in the camera's ease of use. No user manual is included with the camera—and it doesn't need one. Beginners will take to this camera immediately, and more-advanced photographers are likely to be tempted by the camera's small size, vibrant display, and creative user interface.
For beginners, helpful in-camera guides offer general shooting tips and creative ways of controlling the settings. You can easily create blurred backgrounds and shallow depth-of-field effects without jumping into the aperture priority or manual modes; when you have the camera in Intelligent Auto mode, you simply "Defocus Background" by rotating the scroll wheel on the back of the camera.
Another big draw is the tiltable 3-inch LCD, which is practically a miniature HDTV. It's extremely sharp, crisp, and bright, and it might make purists forget about the lack of an optical viewfinder very quickly. You can tilt the LCD up and down, but it doesn't swivel; it's built for odd-angle shots, but not self-portraits.
The NEX cameras also include several innovative, fun-to-use modes found in recent Cyber-shot cameras. In the NEX cameras, these modes are bolstered by the added strength of a big sensor and high-quality lenses. Sweep Panorama mode, for instance, is far more impressive than it is on a point-and-shoot camera, and Handheld Twilight mode (which overlays up to six images to create a sharp, noiseless low-light image) gets a whole lot more sensor power to work with.
What is perhaps the coolest feature in the NEX cameras isn't available just yet, however. Sony says that a July firmware update will allow the cameras to shoot 3D panorama images, which you can view on Sony's Bravia line of HDTVs with the company's 3D glasses. That's a whole lot of proprietary technology to make the feature work, but the demos I saw of the cameras' 3D panorama abilities were impressive.
Of course, experienced photographers will have to make plenty of compromises with either of these cameras as opposed to a full-on DSLR. Advanced users won't be thrilled about the lack of an optical viewfinder, the omission of a pop-up flash, and the absence of a mode dial on the top of the camera (you get a power button, a shutter release, a dedicated video button, a playback button, and that's it).
You use the scrollwheel on the back of the camera and two soft keys to access menus, scenes, and settings; the soft keys' functions depend on which menu you're in. The user interface on the Alpha NEX-5 and NEX-3 is outstanding, and the lack of buttons on the back produces an uncluttered and elegant look, but many photographers will want faster access to certain modes.
All in all, the NEX-3 and NEX-5 may appeal more to point-and-shoot graduates than to seasoned photographers, but the cameras' ultracompact size and fun features give them serious potential for crossover appeal. Be sure to check back in the coming weeks for a full review of the Sony Alpha NEX-5.
Sony alpha NEX-5N
Read our full Sony alpha NEX-5N review
Samsung NX10 Mirrorless Camera
Read our full Samsung NX10 Mirrorless Camera review
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 Mirrorless Camera
Read our full Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 Mirrorless Camera review


text:
(Australian Associated Press)
- NSW/ACT – No entry restrictions. Recent SA travellers must complete entry declaration form.
- Victoria – No entry to anyone from "red zone" Adelaide hotspot areas identified by SA Health. Other arrivals from SA require a permit.
- Queensland – No entry to anyone from 20 local government areas in Adelaide.
- Western Australia – People from NSW and Victoria free to enter without quarantining from December 8. Travel from SA (including anyone who has recently been in SA or crossing the road border from other states) prohibited without an exemption until at least December 11. No restrictions on other jurisdictions.
- South Australia – No entry restrictions. Travel must be registered.
- Tasmania – Travellers from SA must quarantine for 14 days. From Thursday, this will only apply to travellers from "high-risk" SA areas. Others must register travel before entering.
- Northern Territory – No entry restrictions.


text:
"Peze zetoile pu cokin ou camarade so fun tone!"
Do you still remember the advert about the Fun Tone service of Orange?
If you use your mobile to call your friends (like most people do), you have most probably noticed that many people chose to replace the traditional ring back (waiting) tone by some music, hereby referred as the "Fun Tone". These group of people have probably sent requests to subscribe to the service via
- SMS or
- Calling 8787 or
- Internet or
- Pressed the (*) key to "steal" the tone of a friend… and I personally know persons who pressed the (*) key accidentally.
My guest writer Bhanu had that experience a few days ago. While calling one of his contacts, he accidentally pressed the key (and perhaps a lot of other keys simultaneously). He might have been careless but you might have the same problem if you have some touch screen models in particular.
He was immediately bombarded with a few SMS sent by Orange, congratulating him (lol) for subscribing to the Fun Tone and also, for choosing that specific Fun Tone.
When calculating the total costs mentioned in those SMS, he realised that he paid
- Rs10 for the monthly subscription to Orange Fun Tone
- Rs9 for choosing the fun tone (accidentally)
He called the customer care to inquire about this Fun Tone and they told him that he should SMS "STOP" to 8787 to cancel the subscription. One thing that he ignores till he reads this article is that he also paid Rs0.60 for this last sms. This accidental key press while handling his phone cost him Rs19.60, if there are no other hidden charges of course.
For a more friendly usability, I believe that Orange should have sent a confirmation message before cutting off your credits for a service you have no intent to subscribe to. Don't you think so?
And finally, are you among those who accidentally subscribed to the Orange Fun Tone too?


text:
U.S. Party / Case Index (USPCI)
The Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts and the PACER Service Center introduced the U.S. Party/Case Index (USPCI) to the public on November 17, 1997. The USPCI is a national index for the U.S. appellate, district and bankruptcy courts. The index serves as a locator index for the users of the Federal Judiciary Electronic Public Access services. Therefore a nationwide search will determine whether or not a party is involved in federal litigation.
Registered PACER users access the system with their current login name and password. The system may be accessed at the website for the USPCI at https://pacer.uspci.uscourts.gov* The cost for Internet access is 8 cents per page of search results.
For more information about the U.S. Party/Case Index, or to download a copy of the USPCI User Manual visit the PACER Service Center website at https://pacer.uscourts.gov*


text:
Online Scams
Protecting yourself from online shopping scams
Written by a NortonLifeLock employee
Constant connectivity to the Internet has improved our lives by leaps and bounds. From booking dinner reservations and buying movie tickets to keeping in touch with long-distance friends and finding the perfect gifts, the web offers a wealth of information. But along with the perks, numerous threats lurk online.
Safety for every device.
Security is no longer a one-machine affair. You need a security suite that helps protect all your devices – your Windows PC, Mac, Android smartphone or your iPad.
Try for 30 days before you buy with Norton Security Deluxe – helps protect up to 5 of your devices for one low price.
The Internet can be a dark place where virtual thieves can steal your money, your password, and even your identity. One of the biggest concerns when it comes to online scams is e-commerce fraud. From credit card fraud to bogus returns, the highest numbers of e-commerce fraud incidents are those against consumers.
E-Commerce Fraud
The RSA estimated that e-commerce fraud-related losses will reach almost $6.4 million by 2018, nearly doubling the current numbers. It's extremely important to be aware of the characteristics of e-commerce fraud so that you can protect yourself, and your finances.
The most common types of e-commerce themes include credit card fraud, identity theft, chargebacks, and bogus returns. These affect both consumers and merchants. Some of the warning signs of possible fraud include late-night orders, drop box addresses, items placed for sale outside of the country, express shipping, free/anonymous email services, high dollar orders, and cases in which the "ship to" address differs from the billing one.
Ways that consumers can protect themselves from e-commerce fraud include:
- Shopping at secure websites
- Doing research on the website before they place the order
- Reading the site's policies on privacy and security
- Being mindful of cookies
- Never giving out your social security number
Merchants can reduce fraud by:
- Verifying a cardholder's info
- Using transaction controls
- Maintaining an internal negative file
- Implementing a transaction data field
Online Auction Frauds
In 2005, the Internet Crime Complaint Center Report stated that 62.7 percent of all incidents regarding reported Internet fraud were about online auctions. And those statistics are only continuing to rise. While many folks have excellent experiences with online auctions, other encounter fraud in this area, receiving damaged or misrepresented goods and suffering compromised bank accounts.
Before you make a bid, do your homework about the auction site, the product, and the seller. Carefully read the terms and service agreement and review feedback left by other buyers about the seller and his or her items. You should also review the fine print and ensure that the seller has a return policy.
Most auctioneers accept PayPal, credit cards, or cashiers' checks. However, the safest method to pay for an item online is through a third-party payment company.
Another thing to look out for is if the seller tells you the item is located in one place, and then requests that you send payment to an entirely different location. This often indicates a huge red flag.
Fake Websites
An additional scam making the rounds on the Internet involves fake websites. These sites resemble legitimate e-commerce websites, with credible-looking logos, pictures, and payment options. Here are some tips for ensuring a site is honest:
- Ensure the URL code is legit
- If you see low prices, or discounts above 55 percent, it might be too good to be true
- Review the copyright date and domain creation date
- Do not make purchases on young websites
There are many scammers on the Internet, but consumers and merchants alike can avoid becoming e-commerce fraud victims if they pay attention and are aware. If you are ever the victim of an online scam, it is important to file a police report immediately.
Isn't it time to upgrade your security?
Upgrading to new devices and software can often mean downgrading your privacy and security. It's time to take your security seriously. Download the full version of Norton Security Deluxe free for 30 days, and test-drive it on up to 5 of your devices – PCs, Macs, smartphones or tablets.
Create an account today and be up and running in minutes.
Editorial note: Our articles provide educational information for you. NortonLifeLock offerings may not cover or protect against every type of crime, fraud, or threat we write about. Our goal is to increase awareness about cyber safety. Please review complete Terms during enrollment or setup. Remember that no one can prevent all identity theft or cybercrime, and that LifeLock does not monitor all transactions at all businesses.
Copyright © 2023 NortonLifeLock Inc. All rights reserved. NortonLifeLock, the NortonLifeLock Logo, the Checkmark Logo, Norton, LifeLock, and the LockMan Logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of NortonLifeLock Inc. or its affiliates in the United States and other countries. Firefox is a trademark of Mozilla Foundation. Android, Google Chrome, Google Play and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google, LLC. Mac, iPhone, iPad, Apple and the Apple logo are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc. Alexa and all related logos are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. Microsoft and the Window logo are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the U.S. and other countries. The Android robot is reproduced or modified from work created and shared by Google and used according to terms described in the Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution License. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners.


text:
Divorce is Hard.
Financial Issues Make it Harder.
Going through a divorce will force you to make the biggest financial decisions of your entire life - at a time when you may feel the least capable of doing so.
When you are in such extremely difficult circumstances, it is normal to question your ability to make even the smallest decisions. Or you may not be accustomed to making financial decisions. Even among the best of us, the emotionalism of divorce may cloud your good judgment. Whatever the case, you need help and you need it now.
The divorce process, and the professional assistance you need, is like a three-legged stool. You need professional legal, financial, and emotional advice and support. If one of the legs is missing, just like on the stool, you will fall and get hurt. Do not expect your divorce attorney to do it all. He or she is trained in the law and is not a financial expert or a therapist.
Your divorce team should include a financial professional, along with your divorce attorney and personal counselor. The best type of financial expert is an experienced financial services professional who regularly works with, and understands, the types of assets, accounts, and financial instruments you may have in your marital estate. In addition, they will have additional specialized training and certification in the divorce specialty, such as the Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA) designation. I have been recognized as the first Divorce Financial Professional in the Nation to have been awarded three different certifications in this specialty. As your divorce financial expert, I will work closely with you and your divorce attorney during the negotiation of your Marital Dissolution Agreement, or "Settlement"
Hire the Divorce Financial Planner who teaches other Divorce Financial Planners and Attorneys.
As your divorce financial expert, I first look at the marital assets belonging to you and your spouse in the traditional way. Consideration is given to an itemized list of real estate owned, household goods, vehicles, debts, investments, retirement accounts and pensions, family businesses, and the like. Additionally, the income and projected living expenses for each of you will be weighed. The intent is to divide the property as equitably as possible and plan for any appropriate child and/or spousal support.
But I don't stop there. I will examine the long term effects that a proposed property/support settlement has upon your future financial well-being. This is necessary because different assets, which may have equal value today, may be projected to behave differently and have vastly different values in the future. For example, a house worth $500,000, with $300,000 equity, will likely appreciate at about 1-3% per year and require maintenance and taxes to be paid in the meantime. On the other hand, a retirement account worth $300,000 may grow at about 6-8% per year and require no expenditures in the meantime. Huge difference, although today they both have the same net value and may be perceived as an equal division of property.
In addition, my analysis will consider factors such as: impact of inflation upon living expenses, different tax brackets of the parties as single individuals, special tax issues specific to divorce, present value of pensions, stock options, deferred income, replacement of insurances, cost basis and performance of individual investments, alimony and child support, possible buyouts and their overall impact, and more. My additional credentials of Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) and Master Analyst in Financial Forersics (MAFF) also enable me to identify possible indications of hidden assets or misleading documentation.
A professional analysis will illustrate exactly what the impact of a proposed settlement will have upon your Cash Flow for each of the next 10, 15, or 20 years. It will also project your resulting Net Worth for each of those years. These are the things that are really important for you to maintain a dignified lifestyle. The benefit is that you will know in advance what the consequences may be of a settlement that seems equal now, but may not be at all equitable in the long run. Based upon those results, I will then develop alternative settlements for consideration by you and your divorce attorney.
With the support of a divorce financial expert, you will be able to make more informed decisions regarding your divorce settlement and take better control of your financial future.


text:
(CNN) – Rush Limbaugh's apology for labeling a law student a "slut" and "prostitute" failed to stem an exodus of advertisers from his radio show, as another company said Monday it was withdrawing spots from the conservative program.
AOL, along with 11 other companies, announced plans to remove ads from "The Rush Limbaugh Show," which is the most listened to talk radio show in the United States.
CNN LIVE:Go to CNN.com, and CNN Mobile for the CNN Election Roundtable, a live video chat hosted by Wolf Blitzer and the CNN political team, on Tuesday at 12 p.m. ET. Tune in this week for live coverage of the primaries on Super Tuesday on CNNPolitics.com, on the CNN apps and on the CNN mobile web site. Follow CNN Politics on Facebook and on Twitter at #cnnelections.
- Follow the Ticker on Twitter: @PoliticalTicker
"At AOL one of our core values is that we act with integrity," the company wrote in a post on their corporate Facebook page. "We have monitored the unfolding events and have determined that Mr. Limbaugh's comments are not in line with our values. As a result we have made the decision to suspend advertising on The Rush Limbaugh Radio show."
Other sponsors dropping spots from Limbaugh's show include mattress companies like Sleep Number and The Sleep Train, and companies that assist small businesses like Citrix, LegalZoom and QuickenLoans.
One company, Carbonite, a data backup service, said feedback from customers led to the decision to remove advertising from Limbaugh's show. The company's CEO said Limbaugh's apology Saturday wasn't enough to put his company's ads back on the air.
"No one with daughters the age of Sandra Fluke, and I have two, could possibly abide the insult and abuse heaped upon this courageous and well-intentioned young lady," Carbonite CEO David Friend said. "Mr. Limbaugh, with his highly personal attacks on Miss Fluke, overstepped any reasonable bounds of decency. Even though Mr. Limbaugh has now issued an apology, we have nonetheless decided to withdraw our advertising from his show. We hope that our action, along with the other advertisers who have already withdrawn their ads, will ultimately contribute to a more civilized public discourse."
On Monday, KPUA, a radio station in Hilo, Hawaii announced it would no longer carry the radio program, effective immediately.
"We are strong believers in the first amendment and have recognized Mr. Limbaugh's right to express opinions that often times differ from our own, but it has never been our goal to allow our station to be used for personal attacks and intolerance. The most recent incident has crossed a line of decency and a standard that we expect of programming on KPUA," Chris Leonard, President and General Manager of New West Broadcasting said in a statement.
"Regardless of one's political views on the issue being discussed, we feel the delivery was degrading and the continued comments over several days to be egregious," Leonard continued.
In Limbaugh's apology Saturday, he admitted his "choice of words was not the best, and in the attempt to be humorous, I created a national stir."
He added, "I sincerely apologize to Ms. Fluke for the insulting word choices."
Appearing on the ABC program "The View" Monday, Fluke said Limbaugh's apology was issued under pressure from advertisers.
"I don't think that a statement like this, saying that his choice of words was not the best, changes anything," Fluke said. "And especially when that statement is issued when he's under significant pressure from his sponsors who have begun to pull their support from the show."
It was not clear Monday whether other companies who suspended their advertising before Limbaugh's apology would reinstate their support following the host's apology. Calls to Sleep Number, The Sleep Train and Legal Zoom were not immediately returned.
ProFlowers, an online flower delivery service, said in a Facebook posting Sunday Limbaugh's comments were at odds with their corporate image.
"At ProFlowers, our mission is to delight our customers with fresh and long lasting flowers, and that is our singular focus each and every day," the statement read.
It continued, "Mr. Limbaugh's recent comments went beyond political discourse to a personal attack and do not reflect our values as a company. As such, ProFlowers has suspended advertising on The Rush Limbaugh radio program."
On Monday, Pentagon press secretary George Little said the Defense Department had no plans to stop broadcasting Rush Limbaugh's show to service members on the American Forces Network. Limbaugh's show is part of the Defense Department's policy to broadcast shows that "reflect a wide range" of opinion, Little said.
Little said he had "not heard" of any review of whether Limbaugh's show remains suitable for broadcast after the controversy surrounding Limbaugh. Little also said he could not immediately say what the standards are for whether certain broadcasts are considered suitable by the Defense Department.
VoteVets.org, a veterans advocacy organization, released a statement from female service members calling on Defense Department to stop airing "The Rush Limbaugh Show" on the American Forces Network.
"Rush Limbaugh has a freedom of speech and can say what he wants, but in light of his horribly misogynistic comments, American Forces Radio should no longer give him a platform," the statement said. "Our entire military depends on troops respecting each other – women and men. There simply can be no place on military airwaves for sentiments that would undermine that respect."
On his radio show Monday, Limbaugh addressed the advertisers who dropped their spots from his program, telling his audience, "I'm sorry to see them go. They have profited handsomely from you. These advertisers who have split the scene have done very well from their access to you, my audience on this program."
He added, "That's a business decision and it's theirs alone to make. They've decided they don't want you or your business anymore."
Outcry over Limbaugh's comments began last week after he criticized Sandra Fluke, a student at Georgetown Law, for advocating broad health care coverage for contraception at a hearing on Capitol Hill.
Limbaugh made the original comments Wednesday, in which he also suggested Fluke wanted taxpayers to pay for her to have sex.
"What does it say about the college co-ed [Sandra] Fluke, who goes before a congressional committee and essentially says she must be paid to have sex?" Limbaugh asked. "What does that make her? It makes her a slut, right? It makes her a prostitute. She wants to be paid to have sex. She's having so much sex she can't afford the contraception. She wants you and me and the taxpayers to pay her to have sex."
Top Republicans and Democrats denounced the talk show host, and President Barack Obama called Fluke Friday to offer his support.
CNN's Kevin Liptak and Barbara Starr contributed to this report.
Also see:
Poll: All tied up in Tennessee
Romney gets backing from key Republicans
Barbara Bush robo calls for Romney
I agree he should be deported. At the very least taken off our airwaves. this guy is everything Americans are not!!
Rush's thoughts were actually logical in a strange sort of way, but he certainly could have presented them in a far less offensive manner. Just because the liberals throw insult after insult at conservatives is no reason for conservatives to stoop to their immature level in return.
Rush Limbaugh is without a doubt a jerk. I don't know how he's so popular because every serious Republican I know including myself can't stand him. However, the flip side of this is, if you wanted your university health insurance to cover contraception, maybe you shouldn't have decided to go to a private Jesuit university. I mean come on, that's just common sense. People need to learn they can't have their cake and eat it to. You have to make decisions and live with them. This Fluke girl shouldn't come running to the government to solve her problems. If she needs birth control coverage that badly, she should either buy private insurance on her own, or transfer to a non-religious school that offers a plan that covers what she needs.


text:
In the winter a layer of carbon dioxide ice (dry ice) covers the north polar sand dunes. In the spring the sublimation of the ice (going directly from ice to gas) causes a host of uniquely Martian phenomena.
In this subimage streaks of dark basaltic sand have been carried from below the ice layer to form fan-shaped deposits on top of the seasonal ice. The similarity in the directions of the fans suggests that they formed at the same time, when the wind direction and speed was the same. They often form along the boundary between the dune and the surface below the dunes.
The University of Arizona, Tucson, operates the HiRISE camera, which was built by Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp., Boulder, Colo. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a division of the California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, manages the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter for the NASA Science Mission Directorate, Washington. Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Denver, is the spacecraft development and integration contractor for the project and built the spacecraft.


text:
Netherlands now has more prison staff than prisoners
Dutch Justice Ministry 'studying what the reason for the decline is'
The Dutch government is facing an unusual crisis: Prison undercrowding.
There are now more guards and other prison staff than there are prisoners in the Netherlands for the first time, according to data released by the Justice Ministry on Friday.
Crime rates have fallen slightly in recent years, but aren't notably lower in the Netherlands than in neighbouring countries, and many Dutch people think sentences for violent offenders are too light.
In 2008, there were around 15,000 inmates in a country of 17 million. As of March of this year, there were just 9,710 inmates remaining, compared with 9,914 guards. And the number of inmates included 650 Belgian criminals the Netherlands is housing as part of a temporary deal.
In the U.S., the figure is more like one guard or staff member per five prisoners. The overall U.S. incarceration rate is more than 10 times higher.
Prisons closing
Justice Ministry spokesman Jochgem van Opstal said "we're studying what the reason for the decline is." The ministry is already in the process of closing prisons and cutting 3,500 staff.
Last week, labour union Abvakabo FNV slammed the cuts, saying they were leading to "staffing shortages."
"At this moment you can't say there is any safety in Dutch prisons," union leader Corrie van Brenk said in an interview with Dutch broadcaster NOS. "It's an explosive situation."
The government has rejected the criticism, saying violent incidents at prisons have been declining.
One change politicians are considering is ending a practice of granting probation to criminals once they have served two-thirds of their sentences. That policy has proved an embarrassment for Prime Minister Mark Rutte.
During his election campaign in 2012, Rutte promised to "fire any justice minister" who granted early release to Volkert van der Graaf, an animal rights activist convicted of murdering politician Pim Fortuyn in 2002.
Van der Graaf will be released on May 2, having served 12 years of his 18-year sentence.


text:
We started out as a manufacturer of remote-controlled aircraft for model-making enthusiasts. Coming from this background, we recognise that safety is the cornerstone of the usability and capability of our products. This belief extends to the empowerment of the people who keep us safe every day. From Fire and Rescue to the Coast Guard and Law Enforcement, we believe a view from above will help first responders overcome obstacles and make us safer. Our humble beginnings started with innovation and accessibility in the aircraft industry. From the first commercially successful ready-to-fly fixed wing RC airplane, to ground-breaking electric aircraft and next-generation aerial video quadcopters, Yuneec has pushed the limits above and beyond in electric aviation for over 15 years.
With hundreds of patents filed, Yuneec's core technologies power its manned aircraft as well as its drones and its market leading line of radio controlled aircraft for the hobby market
Yuneec International manufactures over 1 million units a year, sold under OEM/ODM brands as well as the Typhoon brand of multi-copters. The Company's achievements include the introduction of the hobby industry's first "Ready to Fly" radio control electric powered airplane and the design and manufacture of the market leading radio controlled helicopters and micro-copters.
Yuneec's two seat electric powered airplane, the E430, features a 48KW electric propulsion system and a carbon fibre composite airframe. Recognizing this achievement, Yuneec International was awarded the Lindbergh Electric Aircraft Prize (LEAP) by Erik Lindbergh, the grandson of Charles A. Lindbergh and Anne Morrow Lindbergh.
The E-Spyder, a single seat electric powered aircraft features the innovative PowerDrive 24 propulsion system integrating the Motor, Motor Controller, 75 VOLT Battery, and Charger. The E-Spyder received the world's first type certification for an electric aircraft from Deutschen Ultraleichtflugverbandes (DULV) E.V in 2013.
In 2014, Yuneec introduced the ready-to-fly, out-of-the-box drone. The Typhoon Q500 quadcopter featured a 1080p camera (60 FPS), a 3 Axis gimbal and 5.8GHz long distance real-time digital video link. The Typhoon Q500 has the Smart Transmitter (the "ST-10 series Ground Station") combining a 2.4GHz radio control transmitter with a 5.8GHz Digital video link along with a built-in Android touch screen, creating an easy-to-fly platform perfect for video capture.
One of the world's most innovative technology companies is involved in one of the most innovative multicopter manufacturers; this secures them access to the promising drone market and us access to cutting-edge chip technology.
The Yuneec Typhoon H is the very first semi-professional hexacopter as a ready-to-fly version, which, for the first time, has been equipped with Intel RealSense technology. RealSense allows the Typhoon H to detect obstacles and automatically dodge them – a revolution in obstacle detection.
Thanks to the Breeze, YUNEEC has been able to create an entirely new drone segment. The 4K selfie drone with GPS, IPS and sensational picture quality for under $500.


text:
So remember I was dreaming of the ideal diet? I really love the idea of a diet where I could eat all the things I love and still lose weight.
Well, recently there's been hype about a diet called the Cookie Diet – a diet of cookies that are meal replacements. I was interested in trying it, but when I went to the website, I have to say I wasn't impressed by Dr. Segal. He's a little creepy looking! He just seems sketchy. But I went as far as ordering the how-to guide which was sent to my email, but it doesn't really say what's in these magical cookies. It says they're natural, but we all know that that can be loosely defined. But the pictures – yum! They actually look delicious. The skeptic in me just can't believe these can help you diet and actually taste good. It just seems impossible!
But I think I'll go ahead and order some just so I can let you know how they are...Stay tuned!


text:
A Saab took the overall win, which was shocking, and GM continued its run of Index of Effluency dominance… which came as no surprise at all. It was cold, it was wet, but the racin' was great!
Those of you who want to geek out on lap times and such should go to the MyLaps results for the race.
Not enough LeMons action for you? Check out the top lemons of past races: Altamont '07 • Arse Freeze '07 • Altamont '08 • Ohio '08 • New England '08 • South '08 • Texas '08 • Arse Freeze '08 • Texas Spring '09 • South Spring '09 • Reno '09 • New Orleans '09 • New England '09 • Buttonwillow '09 • South Fall '09 • Ohio '09 • Texas Fall '09 • Arse Freeze '09 • Phoenix '10.
Thanks to LeMons Assistant Perp Nick Pon for photographic help, and to the Tunachuckers, Bone Stock Racing, and Our Lady Of Perpetual Downforce for allowing me to mount the BumperCam timelapse camera on their cars. OK, here they are, in order of the final standings:
Dewalt 20V Max Cordless Drill & Driver Kit
#1 Best-seller
Comes equipped with an LED which goes on when the trigger is pulled. You'll a clear view of whatever you are drilling or screwing with minimal shadows.
1. rbankracing.com, Saab 900 Turbo
Overall winner
2. Team SOB (South of the Border), Volkswagen GTI
Winner, Class Bad
3. www.endurancekarting.com, Mazda Miata
Winner, I Got Screwed
Winner, Class Good
4. Junkworks Racing, Mazda Miata
Winner, Organizer's Choice
5. Magnum PU, Honda Prelude
6. Monty Python's Flying CRX, Honda CRX
7. Sweede Lil' Pigs, Saab 900
8. Black Sheep Racing, Nissan 300ZX
9. Super Troopers Racing, BMW 325
10. Team Saab Story, Nissan 300ZX
11. Rush Hour Racing - Mellow Kab, Ford Crown Victoria
Winner, Least Horrible Yank Tank
12. Son of a Blitzen, Mercedes-Benz 190E
13. Miller Lite, BMW 325e
14. Team Villain Racing, Honda Prelude
15. Howard J Turkstra Motorsports, Toyota Celica
16. Team Top Gear, Nissan 200SX
Winner, Chili Cook-Off
17. Beelzebubbas - Rednecks From Hell, Chevrolet Camaro
18. German Garden Gnomes, Acura Integra
19. CHERRY BOMB RACING, BMW 325i
20. Cullman Liquidation, Honda Prelude
21. Team Red Rocket, Ford Escort
22. Dorifto Dogs/Hoon Hound, BMW 325e
23. Track Pillagerz!, Buick LeSabre
Winner, Index of Effluency
24. Swede Sixteen Racing, Volvo 740
25. Schumacher Taxi Service GI Slow, Toyota MR2
26. DRTy e-Thirties, BMW 325e
27. Team Police Brutality, Lincoln Mark VIII
28. Team Drinking and Driving, Honda Civic
Winner, Judges' Choice
29. Darwin Wrenching, BMW 325
30. theoretical racing, Nissan 280ZX
Winner, Class Ugly
Winner, Highest Placing 70s Contender
31. Team Z Racing, Mazda Miata
Winner, Jake Leg Award For Worst Moonshine
32. JP Smith Builders, Ford Crown Victoria
33. The Rotary Rotards, Mazda RX-7
34. Flying Purple People Eater, Mazda RX-7
35. V Dub Motorsports, Volkswagen Jetta GL
36. R&R Racing, Honda Accord
37. Graham Tire Co, Nissan 200SX
38. Pants Optional, Mazda Miata
39. Bone Stock Racing, Mitsubishi Diamante
40. Our Lady Of Perpetual Downforce, Honda Civic
Winner, Dangerous Homemade Technology
41. All night long, Lincoln Town Car
42. UPOS Delivery, Volkswagen Rabbit
43. Riverrat Racing, BMW 318i
44. BoomPow Surprise, Ford Probe
45. Whiine and Cheaat Racing, Saab 9000 Turbo
46. Skool Boyz Racezing, Datsun 280Z
47. Kobayashi Maru, BMW 320i
48. NSF Racing, Honda CRX
49. Midlife Crisis, Nissan 300ZX
50. No-Driving Sons-O'-Bitches, Honda CRX
51. BubbaGump Racing, Honda Accord
52. Team Phoenix, Porsche 944
53. Schumacher Taxi Service- Lost Our Shirts, Toyota Corolla FX16
54. The Slammer, Alfa Romeo Milano
55. Team Fustercluck, Ford Mustang
Winner, Heroic Fix
56. Racing Nemo, BMW 325i
57. Grim Reaper Racing, Ford Mustang
58. Viva Viagara, Opel Kadett
59. Misfitts, Honda Accord
60. Amaxaphobe Racing, Pontiac Fiero
61. Tunachuckers, Volvo Amazon


text:
The form is submitted using an HTTPS form action. All sensitive data is encrypted before transmission and is never sent as clear-text.
* Indicates a required field
Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. (TMS) is pleased to provide dealers the opportunity to convey the above information. When reviewing a Toyota dealer's inventory, please note that all information, including but not limited to pricing and vehicle status, is provided by and is the sole responsibility of that dealer. As such, TMS is relying on the dealer to ensure the continued accuracy of the information provided. Any questions or concerns should be addressed with the applicable dealer. TMS disclaims all liability for any inaccuracies.


text:
Widok zawartości stron
Widok zawartości stron
Widok zawartości stron
Widok zawartości stron
We may change APRs, fees and other Account terms in the future based on your experience with Elan Financial Services and its affiliates as provided under the Cardmember Agreement and applicable law.
Subject to credit approval.
- 1Cardmember will receive a "special" bonus of 7,500 points upon first purchase, which is in addition to the "standard" 2,500 points awarded after first purchase, for a total of 10,000 initial points. In order to qualify, the first purchase must be made by November 30, 2019, and the account must be opened between now and September 30, 2019. The account must remain open, have available credit and be current (no minimum payment past due) at the time the bonus is to be awarded. First purchase bonus points will be applied 6 to 8 weeks after first purchase and are not awarded for balance transfers or cash advances. The 2,500 "standard" bonus points and the 7,500 "special" bonus points may be awarded in separate billing cycles. Points expire five years from the end of the quarter in which they are earned.
- 2Reward points can be redeemed as a cash deposit to a checking or savings account with this Financial Institution only within seven business days or as a statement credit to your credit card account within one to two billing cycles.
- 3You will earn 1.5 Rewards Points ("Points") for each dollar of eligible Net Purchase made with your Account within a billing cycle (equal to 1.5% cash back). Cash Back Rewards are tracked as points and each point earned is equal to $0.01 when redeemed. Monthly net purchase points will be applied each billing cycle. Rewards are earned on eligible net purchases. Net purchases are purchases minus credits and returns. Not all transactions are eligible to earn rewards, such as Advances, Balance Transfers and Convenience Checks. Upon approval, see your Cardmember Agreement for details. You may not redeem Points, and you will immediately lose all of your Points, if your Account is closed to future transactions (including, but not limited to, due to Program misuse, failure to pay, bankruptcy, or death). The Elan Rewards Program is subject to change.
- 4Elan Financial Services provides zero fraud liability for unauthorized transactions. Cardholder must notify Elan Financial Services promptly of any unauthorized use. Certain conditions and limitations may apply.
This offer is valid only for new Real Rewards consumer accounts with this Financial Institution. The creditor and issuer of these Cards is Elan Financial Services, pursuant to separate licenses from Visa U.S.A. Inc., Mastercard International Incorporated, and American Express and subject to a business agreement with First Midwest Bank. Mastercard is a registered trademark, and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated. American Express is a federally registered service mark of American Express.
Widok zawartości stron
Expression qstringmap["ecdma-lc"] is undefined on line 4, column 14 in 10153#10191#5118476.
1<#assign url = request.attributes.CURRENT_URL >
2<#assign qstringmap = httpUtil.getParameterMap(httpUtil.getQueryString(url))>
4<#assign lc= qstringmap["ecdma-lc"]?first>
6

7 ${footerContent.getData()}
10 .fdic, .copyright {
11 line-height: 16px;
12 }
13 .fdic a{
14 color:#fff;
15 font-size: 12px;
16 text-decoration: none;
17 }
18 .fdic a:hover{
19 color:#fff;
20 text-decoration: none;
22 .fdic a{
23 text-decoration:none;
24 }
25 .fdic a:hover,
26 .fdic a:focus,
27 .fdic a:active{
28 text-decoration:none;
29 }
33 AUI().ready(function() {
34 var baaFooterID = "baaFooter";
35 jQuery('#baaFooter').find('.copyright').html('© Elan Financial Services 2019').addClass('ecdma-footer-client-name-copyright');
36 jQuery('#baaFooter').find('.fdic').html('Privacy and Security');
37 });


text:
Microsoft today asked a federal court to invalidate part of a 1986 law that it alleged has been abused by the government when authorities demand the company hand over customers' data, including documents, emails and other information stored in the cloud.
In a lawsuit targeting the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and Attorney General Loretta Lynch, Microsoft asked for a judgment that would declare unconstitutional a section of the Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA), a 30-year-old law that government agencies increasingly cite when forcing email, Internet and cloud storage service providers to hand over data to aid criminal investigations.
Microsoft didn't object to the ECPA as a whole, but to what it said had become the routine issuing of gag orders alongside the demands for data.
"We believe that with rare exceptions consumers and businesses have a right to know when the government accesses their emails or records," said Brad Smith, Microsoft's chief legal officer, in a long post to a company blog Thursday. "Yet it's becoming routine for the U.S. government to issue orders that require email providers to keep these types of legal demands secret."
"This is a very aggressive move on Microsoft's part," said Michael Carroll, a professor of law and director of the Program on Information Justice and Intellectual Property at the American University Washington College of Law, in Washington, D.C. "They're essentially saying, 'I want to violate the gag orders, but I don't want to be sued for doing that.' So they're disputing the constitutionality of the gag orders."
Microsoft ticked off statistics to make its point that secrecy had become habitual: In the last 18 months, the Redmond, Wash. company received 5,624 federal demands for customer information or data. Of those, 2,576, or 48%, were tagged with secrecy orders that prevented Microsoft from telling customers that it had been compelled to hand over their information. About 68% of the gag orders -- 1,752 to be exact -- had no end date. "This means that we effectively are prohibited forever from telling our customers that the government has obtained their data," Smith said.
In the complaint filed with a Seattle federal court, Microsoft said that was unacceptable.
"There may be exceptional circumstances when the government's interest in investigating criminal conduct justifies an order temporarily barring a provider from notifying a customer that the government has obtained the customer's private communications and data," the complaint read. "But Section 2705(b) [of the ECPA] sweeps too broadly."
Microsoft asked the court to strike the section on the grounds that it violates both the First and Fourth Amendments to the Constitution.
"I think this is a smart strategy," Chris Calabrese, vice president of policy at the Center for Democracy and Technology, a Washington, D.C.-based advocacy group, said of Microsoft's lawsuit. "This is important for the courts, and judges, to work out because in a lot of ways, what we need is some clarification on the secrecy [aspects of the orders]."
Calling the ECPA "antiquated," Microsoft hammered on the impact of data demands and gag orders on cloud-based services, the fastest-growing part of its business.
"The government ... has exploited the transition to cloud computing as a means of expanding its power to conduct secret investigations," Microsoft's lawyers asserted. "As individuals and business have moved their most sensitive information to the cloud, the government has increasingly adopted the tactic of obtaining the private digital documents of cloud customers not from the customers themselves, but through legal process directed at online cloud providers like Microsoft."
"Microsoft was like the frog in boiling water," said Jim Dempsey, executive director of the Berkeley Center for Law & Technology at the University of California Berkeley School of Law. "[The gag orders] just got to be too routine. They saw it in individual cases, then in dozens, then hundreds, then thousands. They reached a breaking point, much like Apple did with unlocking orders."
In effect, what Microsoft said in its complaint is that the law has been grossly misused by the government, either through policy or practice. "Microsoft is arguing that this is a systemic problem, and gotten to the point where gag orders are issued on a blanket basis. It's interesting that they've taken the declaratory route, which is almost like a class action. This is a systemic problem [Microsoft argued], and it deserves a systemic solution," Dempsey said.
DOJ spokeswoman Emily Pierce declined to comment on the Microsoft complaint, saying, "We are reviewing the filing."


text:
Sometimes I question which is it that I am most addicted to, the consumption of sugary
goodness or the creation of such treats? I enjoy both, but if I had to choose but one, I'm
pretty sure that creation would win. Oh, don't get me wrong, I would have a really hard
time shaking the sugar monkey off my back. He's been with me for deep. But, I know I could
do it. I'm just not ready yet.
Now, the thought of never baking another cake, cookie or pie strikes fear into my very soul.
Severe depression would be inevitable if I could never bake again. Ya' know, let's just
not go down that path.
Many posts ago I shared a recipe and pictures of Lemon Coconut Pixies. The recipe came from
the Hershey Company. I have a recipe tin that was given to me as a birthday gift in 2009
and it sat on our kitchen counter for 10 months before I ever made anything from it. That
post was 13 months ago, so it's time for another recipe from the tin.
HERSHEY'S Triple Chocolate Cookies
48 Hershey's Kisses Milk chocolate or Milk Chocolate with Almonds (that's what I used)
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine, softened (I used butter, of course)
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs
1 tablespoon milk
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup Hershey's cocoa (I used cocoa powder form that bulk bins at WinCo)
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup Hershey's Semi-Sweet Chocolate chips ( I used Safeway brand)
1. Heat oven to 350 degrees F.
Remove wrappers from chocolates.
2. Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla with an electric mixer on medium
speed in a large bowl until well blended. Add eggs and milk; beat well.
3. Stir together flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt; gradually beat into butter mixture,
beating until well blended. Stir in chocolate chips.
Shape dough into 1 inch balls.
Place on ungreased cookie sheet.
4. Bake 10 – 11 minutes or until set.
Gently press a chocolate into center of each cookie. Remove to wire rack and cool completely.
VARIATION: For vanilla cookies, omit cocoa powder and add an additional 1/3 cup all-purpose flour.
I made the recipe verbatim, but I wanted to see how they would look with a little added sparkle. I rolled the dough balls in granulated sugar before I baked another round. Here is what that looked like.
Both versions taste great.
I can clearly state, with authority, that these are delicious. After all, chocolate, chocolate AND chocolate? How could they not be tasty? These beauties will be added to my chorus line of confection.
Oh, great! One more sweet memory to send packing with that monkey.


text:
No. 7 Georgia wary of letdown against Ole Miss
ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — Tavarres King scoffs at the idea Georgia players could have difficulty playing with the same intensity in today's game against Mississippi that they showed in last week's upset of then-No. 3 Florida.
The 17-9 win over the Gators gave No. 7 Georgia control of the Southeastern Conference's Eastern Division. To earn a repeat trip to the SEC championship game, quarterback Aaron Murray and the Bulldogs (7-1, 5-1) must beat Ole Miss (5-3, 2-2) and then win at Auburn next week.
King, the senior receiver, says Georgia's control of its fate in the division is a precious prize and ample incentive against the Rebels.
King had a quick answer when asked if Georgia players had more motivation last week than against Ole Miss.
"Heck no," King said. "It is ours. We know that. We want it to stay ours."
The high-scoring Rebels, with their fast-paced, no-huddle offense, could be a dangerous opponent for even a properly motivated Georgia team.
Ole Miss will be playing to extend a two-game winning streak and qualify for a bowl in coach Hugh Freeze's first season.
The Rebels scored a combined 71 points in back-to-back wins over Auburn and Arkansas. Georgia also runs a no-huddle offense, but coach Mark Richt said Ole Miss, led by quarterback Bo Wallace, runs the offense at a faster pace.
"They just have a really good offensive package and a good scheme," Richt said. "It's a challenging, balanced attack. They're very high tempo and you have to get lined up in a hurry when you play these guys. They'll sub some, but to go as fast as they go, they're doing it without doing a lot of subbing at times.
"Our biggest challenge is just going to be to line up and get ready because they've caught a lot of people not being ready and they've taken advantage of that."
Georgia's defense re-emerged in the win over Florida after a string of shaky performances, including an ugly 35-7 loss to South Carolina. Players and coaches said the main problem on defense before the Florida game had been poor communication and difficulty having all players in the proper alignment.
There will be little time for communication on defense against the Rebels.
Freeze said running the no-huddle offense can be a gamble if the Rebels are stopped on three downs. Quick punts can put too much pressure on Mississippi's defense against a balanced Georgia offense.
Freeze said "it is very tempting" to make a full commitment to the high-tempo pace, but he said he has to remain aware of the risks.
"These games are so long," Freeze said. "When you're playing teams like Georgia, who has those receivers and running backs, every time they touch it you hold your breath thinking they could score. I have a defensive staff that will hope you can slow this one down a little bit. It's a balancing act."
Freeze said he will have only about 64 healthy players against Georgia.
"If we were a little deeper in the secondary and at defensive end, it would be even more tempting," he said. "It's still tempting. It's not going to be effective all of the time, and you know when it's not effective you're going to be out there a span of about 40-45 seconds. Certainly Georgia has the type of players and coaches that are going to make it unsuccessful at times. ... I'm not confident that we're deep enough to go score 60 against Georgia to win a game."
Wallace set career highs with 29 completions and 37 attempts and passed for 278 yards with a touchdown in the 30-27 win at Arkansas.
The Rebels, who are averaging 32.4 points, already have surpassed their 2011 totals for wins, total yards, points and yards passing.
Murray threw three interceptions as the Georgia offense struggled against Florida.
"Definitely some errors," Murray said. "A lot of it had to do with my footwork. I wasn't balanced. That was something I prided myself on in the offseason and in camp on getting better on, and I might have taken a slight step backward in that category this past week."
The Bulldogs haven't regained their momentum after scoring 40 or more points in their first five games.
The offense took a hit when leading receiver Michael Bennett was lost with a right knee injury early in October. Murray still has a deep group of receivers, especially with Malcolm Mitchell becoming more comfortable in his return to offense after opening the season at cornerback.
Mitchell had five catches for 74 yards, including Murray's only touchdown pass, against Florida.
Freshman tailback Todd Gurley, who ran for 118 yards and a touchdown against Florida, is on pace to top 1,000 yards.
"Once we get our passing back on track like it was at the start of the season, and have him running the way he does, I expect we'll hit on all cylinders and have those 40 and 50-point games like we did at the start of the season," Murray said.
Keith Marshall, another freshman, is the other half of the "Gurshall" duo.


text:
Mark L. Hopkins: Are we headed for a Constitutional crisis?
Every week that passes it seems that we read yet another major issue with our president and the operation of our government. This past week, we had the publication of Bob Woodward's book, "Fear," that called activities in the White House chaotic and the president, "unbalanced." Many top officials were quoted, lending credence to Woodward's findings.
Later in the week there was an op-ed published in the New York Times that was supposedly written by a White House insider who said there were several close to the president who were attempting to deal with the erratic actions of the president in order to protect the country.
The talking heads on the TV news shows say that (choose one) 1) such behavior by White House staff personnel is treasonous; 2) The groundwork is being laid for impeachment by Congress; 3) We are headed for a major "Constitutional crisis." The crisis they are talking about is a direct confrontation between the Executive branch of the government with the Legislative and Judicial branches.
So, are we headed for a Constitutional crisis? The answer is a resounding "YES." However, it won't be as debilitating as the talking heads think. This isn't a "first" for us. We have had many Constitutional crises over the years and have weathered every one. Our Constitution was born in crisis. It was written in secret and in violation of the existing document, the Articles of Confederation, at a time when we didn't even have a president.
Many of our founding fathers were skeptical that this new democracy could even exist for more than a few years. After all, this was a government without precedent in the history of the world. It was just a theory advanced by the ancient Greeks. Benjamin Franklin wasn't sure it could work at all. Alexander Hamilton wondered whether Washington should be appointed King. Thomas Jefferson, our first Secretary of State and third president, wasn't even sure of the constitutionality of his own Louisiana Purchase. The wheels of government had just started to turn when the details of running a government reared their ugly heads. Somehow the devil is always in the details.
The current crisis has its foundation in the limitation of the power of the presidency. From time to time in our history, a president will be elected who envisions himself as having more power than the office is allowed by the Constitution. When that occurs trouble quickly follows.
The framers of the Constitution did not envision an all-powerful presidency. When they were writing our Constitution, they looked closely at the monarchies of Europe and decided they did not want a king like George of England or Louis XVI of France. Instead, the powers of the government were centered in Congress and our forefathers designed a relatively weak presidency, an administrative post to carry out the will of Congress. That means that any president has limitations on what he/she can do from the White House.
Our last two presidents had to resort to executive orders to get anything done because our two political parties have forgotten how to work together thus creating gridlock in Congress. In the recent past conflict seems the order of the day in Congress. We have a president with "possibilities," who is caught up in that conflict.
So, are we headed into a Constitutional crisis? Oh, yes. We get one of those about every decade. But, our Constitution can handle ambiguity and it can handle change. It has flexibility. As written, it is a set of principles not a code of laws. We just have to remember to live by those principles. And, it is perfectly capable of handling conflict at the highest levels.
Our forefathers gave us a Constitution that can deal with any new crisis that appears. We just have to remember what it says and make it work for us. Smart people those forefathers.
— You can reach Dr. Mark L. Hopkins at firstname.lastname@example.com. Books by Hopkins, "Journey to Gettysburg, The Wounds of War, The World as it was When Jesus Came," and "Facts & Opinions on the Issues of our Time," can be acquired at Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, and through the E-mail above.


text:
US Education Secretary Arne Duncan did not dribble around the question when I asked him if collegiate basketball programs with longterm, gross racial disparities in graduation rates should be banned from March Madness. "Where you have insidious gaps, and where there isn't movement, I think there have to be consequences,'' Duncan said in a conference call on athletic reform last week.
In a follow-up interview the next day, Duncan added, "If a team can show it's improving, that's one thing. But if a team is in the same spot for 10 years, if your dropout rate is such that your graduation rate year after year is 30 [percent], 30, 30, 30, that shows you're less serious."
Duncan's thoughts, should he continue to voice them, could help move the National Collegiate Athletic Association to take its next major step to end the exploitation of African-American athletes. The NCAA took one meaningful step this year by banning 2011 national champion Connecticut from this year's tournament because of low longterm graduation rates. They were 11 percent for the entire team last year.
But UConn was the lowest-hanging of the rotten fruit in big-time college sports. There are many more teams that make a mockery of the student-athlete model. Many basketball and football programs have what appear to be acceptable overall team graduation rates of 50 percent or higher, but their numbers hide unacceptable disparities between healthy graduation rates for white players and abysmal ones for black players. The 50-percent standard was advocated for many years by reformers as the minimum acceptable standard for postseason play, but it is not adequate.
For the third straight year in the 68-team field, 21 teams had black graduation rates below 50 percent. They include Indiana, Ohio State, Wisconsin, Syracuse, Arizona, and the ostensible "public Ivy" California, along with small-school darlings Butler and LaSalle. Florida was at the bottom of the barrel at zero.
The NCAA is thus far unmoved by the fact that nearly a third of the field is plagued by such poor performance, which is all the more noteworthy because most of those same 21 schools had a 100 percent graduation rate for their white players. A year and a half ago, I asked NCAA President Mark Emmert if there should be further consequences for programs in the tournament that harbor such racial gaps.
All he said then was, "We don't subdivide the teams by race or ethnicity or income. We do know when we've created and raised those standards, the graduation rates of African-American students have gone up sharply."
He was right up to a point. This is my 17th year of charting graduation rates for basketball tournament and football bowl teams, and a record 25 men's programs in the 68-team field for the NCAA basketball tournament had black player graduation rates of at least 80 percent.
These lofty ranks included former whipping posts of mine such as Nevada Las Vegas and Louisville, whose black players had graduation rates of 14 percent and 25 percent in 2006. Other schools that rose to at least 80 percent from 33 percent or below were Kansas, UCLA, Kansas, Creighton, and St. Mary's.
But the very success of those schools has created an even greater chasm between them and the schools that do not even try. Duncan's sentiments that the laggards should face penalties were echoed on the conference call by former National Basketball Association player and former US Representative Tom McMillen of Maryland. He recently reviewed the contracts of more than 50 football and basketball coaches in major conferences; he and Duncan coauthored an article in USA Today noting that athletic performance incentives in the contracts average $600,000, compared to $52,000 for incentives promoting academic performance.
Both McMillen and Duncan say that universities do not have to wait for the NCAA to act, and college presidents and athletic directors should make academic incentives a much more significant part of coach contracts. "It's a reasonably good suggestion to say there should be new sanctions," McMillen said, "and things like graduation rates should play a much bigger share of a coach's bonus. You don't want these pockets of disparity, but right now academic incentives are so minimal it's like tokenism."
The NCAA must crack down on the schools that try to get away with chronic disparities. Anything less means that, for all of the progress that has been made, the NCAA still is willing to live with exploitation and tokenism.
Derrick Z. Jackson can be reached at email@example.com.


text:
We asked:
How might we, as a community of learners, grow in our knowledge and understanding to enhance the growth mindset of each of our young learners?
As a team, we have completed Jo Boaler's How to Learn Math: For Students and have shared our thinking, understanding, and learning.
Blending online and face-to-face learning, we worked through the Stanford units outside of school so that we could explore and learn more when together.
Here are some of the reflections shared by our team.
As a teacher my goal is to help children approach math and all subject areas with a growth mindset. It is of utmost importance that my students truly know that I believe in them and their ability to succeed!
Everyone my age should know that you should never equate being good at math with speed. Just because someone is a slower problem solver does not mean that they are a weak math student. Rather, sometimes the slower math thinkers are the strongest math thinkers because they are thinking about the problem on a deeper level. Being good at math is about being able to think deeply about the problem and making connections with it.
When talking to yourself about your work and learning new things, reminding yourself that you can try harder and improve is critical to potential success. People are more willing to persevere through difficult tasks (and moments in life) when they engage in positive self talk.
Mistakes and struggling, in life and in math, are the keys to learning, brain growth, and success.
Thinking slowly and deeply about math and new ideas is good and advantageous to your learning and growth.
Taking the time to think deeply about math problems is much more important than solving problems quickly. The best mathematicians are the ones who embrace challenges and maintain a determined attitude when they do not arrive at quick and easy solutions.
Number flexibility is so powerful for [students]. I love discussing how different students can arrive at the same answer but with multiple strategies.
Working with others, hearing different strategies, and working strategically through problems with a group helps to look at problems in many different ways.
"I am giving you this feedback because I believe in you." As teachers, we always try to convey implicitly that we believe in our students, and that they are valued and loved in our class. However, that explicit message is extraordinary. It changes the entire perception of corrections or modifications to an essay–from "This is wrong, you need to make it right" to "I want to help you make this the best it can be," a message we always intended to convey, but may not have been perceived.
Good math thinkers think deeply and ask questions rather than speeding through for an answer.
Math is a topic that is filled with connections between big ideas. Numbers are meant to be manipulated, and answers can be obtained through numerous pathways. People who practice reasoning, discuss ideas with others, have a growth-mindset, and use positive mathematical strategies (as opposed to memorization) are the most successful.
We learn and share.


text:
A service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
National Institutes of Health
Temporary Fever May Occur When Kids Under 2 Get 2 Shots at Once
Higher risk for a day or two if flu and pneumococcal vaccines given together, study findsTuesday, January 7, 2014
TUESDAY, Jan. 7, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Young children who receive flu and pneumococcal vaccines at the same time are at increased risk for temporary fever, a new study reports.
While parents should be told about this risk, the benefits of the vaccines outweigh the risks of fever, the researchers said.
The study included 530 children, aged 6 months to 23 months, who were followed for a week after receiving flu and pneumococcal vaccines either separately or at the same time. The annual flu shot is recommended for healthy people over 6 months of age, and the pneumococcal vaccine is recommended for children younger than 5 years old, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Nearly 38 percent of the children who received the vaccines at the same time had a fever of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher on the day of or the day after vaccination, compared with 9.5 percent of those who received the pneumococcal vaccine only and 7.5 percent of those who received the flu vaccine only, the investigators found.
For every 100 children, there were an additional 20 to 23 cases of temperatures of 100.4 F or higher in those who received the vaccines together, compared to those who received only one of the vaccines, the findings showed. There were also 15 additional cases per 100 of temperatures of 102.2 F or higher among children who were given the vaccines at the same time, compared to those who received the flu vaccine alone, but not compared to those who received the pneumococcal vaccine alone.
Rates of fever among the different groups of children did not differ in the two to seven days after vaccination, according to the study published online Jan. 6 in the journal JAMA Pediatrics.
"While our data suggest that giving children the influenza and pneumococcal vaccines together at the same visit increases the risk of fever, compared with getting only one of the vaccines at the visit, these findings should be viewed in context of the benefit of vaccines to prevent serious illness in young children, as well as the recognized need to increase vaccination rates overall," study first author Dr. Melissa Stockwell, an assistant professor of pediatrics and population and family health at Columbia University, said in a university news release.
"Parents should be made aware that their child might develop a fever following simultaneous influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations, but that the benefits of these vaccines outweigh the risk of fever and, in most cases, the fever will be brief," Stockwell said.
"For the small group of children who must avoid fever, these findings provide important information for clinicians and parents," she added in the news release.
Study co-author Dr. Philip LaRussa, a professor of pediatrics at Columbia and specialist in pediatric infectious diseases at New York-Presbyterian/Columbia, pointed out that "these findings are a first step; the next step is to figure out if there are any measurable biological markers, such as findings in a blood sample, that are associated with increased risk of fever after vaccination."
SOURCE: Columbia University, news release, Jan. 6, 2014
Copyright (c) 2014 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
- More Health News on:
- Childhood Immunization