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Peter Stasek-Ajando Next Level C R M Corporate Architecture Concept
At Design Interviews
Interview with Peter Stasek : Frank Scott: What is the main principle, idea and inspiration behind your design?. Peter Stasek : Information Makes the World Go Round - Material is not the building material of our world, but rather information. This is not the position maintained by some Internet-addicted, social media nerd, who cannot imagine anything beyond World of Warcraft, Foursquare and Twitter. No, John A. Wheeler, one of the most well known quantum physicists of our time, made this claim. He and his colleagues already discovered decades ago that material is an illusion. In reality, our world is composed of information. .Frank Scott: What has been your main focus in designing this work? Especially what did you want to achieve?. Peter Stasek : Obtaining Information from Data - And that's as true as true can be! Real information is only obtained when we combine, visualize and present the right data in the right way. Information that inspires and motivates people. This is a very fundamental core skill at ajando. "The dynamics of this information flow can be seen as the driving element of the complete company". Consequently, my architecture office made the data and information flows of ajando visible in our corporate architecture concept. .Frank Scott: What are your future plans for this award winning design?. Peter Stasek : My most favorite design is based on the connection between the tangible and intangible. For this reason exist many instruments, among others the holography or the sound design for architecture based on the measured material swinging. The project ajando represent only a little step in this intended direction, which should be continued in form of further greater projects. .Frank Scott: How long did it take you to design this particular concept?. Peter Stasek : I do never count the hours needed for a design implementation, but the idea itself is mostly present from start. .Frank Scott: Why did you design this particular concept? Was this design commissioned or did you decide to pursuit an inspiration?. Peter Stasek : This design was commissioned for the reason of the best concept presentation in form of corporate architecture. .Frank Scott: Is your design being produced or used by another company, or do you plan to sell or lease the production rights or do you intent to produce your work yourself?. Peter Stasek : The entire design development including visualizations and architectural models until the execution planning is made by my office. The appropriate sectoral planning and the construction side management we give further to appropriate experts. .Frank Scott: What made you design this particular type of work?. Peter Stasek : On the beginning of my design career I was not sure what type of design I am able to implement. For this reason I was trying to develop at first only small piaces of furniture. Within this creation process was my future style slow growing. I am satisfied to develope a long period of time only such small projects in opposite to another architects. In this way was possible to let grow any ideas without greater environmantel demages..... .Frank Scott: Where there any other designs and/or designers that helped the influence the design of your work?. Peter Stasek : We are working under the label "Corporate Architecture". This stand not only for the vitalizing and expressive power of architecture as a 'business card made of stone' intends to reflect the self-image of a company and a brand's identity, but also for the kind of a collective working. To our collaborators counted among others artists, lighting designers, acousticians, holography creators, music writers in form of sound design for architecture and so on... .Frank Scott: Who is the target customer for his design?. Peter Stasek : On the one hand our concept is a niche product, on the other hand the number of companies which are eager to develop such projects in form of corporate architecture with us is rising. .Frank Scott: What sets this design apart from other similar or resembling concepts?. Peter Stasek : Our project development is alwas an individual act with many unique and unexchangeable components. For this reason is very difficult to clone our ideas and simple transmit these to another road works. .Frank Scott: How did you come up with the name for this design? What does it mean?. Peter Stasek : This design is based on my own main design theory: matrixX architectures. This theory is mainly founded on the quantum mechanics with follow asserts: Information Is the Building Material of Our Universe .Frank Scott: Which design tools did you use when you were working on this project?. Peter Stasek : At first exist always the idea in form of imagination following by sketches made by myself. The next step is mostly the fabric of an architecture model. The CAD plan comes at the and. .Frank Scott: What is the most unique aspect of your design?. Peter Stasek : The most unique aspect of my design is based on the attempt to connect the seizable with the intangible. This happens mostly in form of integration of lighting design concepts including holography as well as in form of music concepts such as the sound design for architecture. An anohter important aspect is the development of organic shapes as counterparts to geometric forms. I consider this combination as one of the main characteristics concerning my own design concepts. .Frank Scott: Who did you collaborate with for this design? Did you work with people with technical / specialized skills?. Peter Stasek : To our collaborators counted among others lighting designers, acousticians , music writer and so on...For another more sophisticated projects for example clinic facilities we claim always the cooperation of sectoral planning experts. .Frank Scott: What is the role of technology in this particular design?. Peter Stasek : The technology should enable to come closer to the core of my design theory and make this visible: "Our world is composed of information". .Frank Scott: Is your design influenced by data or analytical research in any way? What kind of research did you conduct for making this design?. Peter Stasek : I consider very particularly every analytical researches and developments. To the main research areas which we conduct in our desing count among others the parametric design research and generative architecture. This kind of research represent to my view the revolution in design thinking and approach very fast bit by bit the ordinary taste attitude of everyone. .Frank Scott: What are some of the challenges you faced during the design/realization of your concept?. Peter Stasek : One of the major challenges I faced during the design realization is: what allow the building owner budget? For this reason I am always looking for economically priced solutions. The form inself stands always in the foreground, the material quality rating unfortunately behind it. Certainly is the best existing case to develop all shapes in the best quality rating. .Frank Scott: How did you decide to submit your design to an international design competition?. Peter Stasek : I consider this international design competition platform as a very useful instrument to see where are standing my design ideas in comparison to another participants. .Frank Scott: What did you learn or how did you improve yourself during the designing of this work?. Peter Stasek : It is always useful to remember myself what I was doing and on what thoughts the entire finished work was based. Each underwent experience is a unique adventure and remain unforgettable forever. The design improving process here happens automatically. .Frank Scott: Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?. Peter Stasek : Currently I am in the stage to realize my ideas in form of some greater projects. For this reason I hope to present some of these projects in the A' Design Award and Competition next year too. .
Peter Stasek-Ajando Next Level C R M Corporate Architecture Concept Images:
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To the Editor:
I am writing to articulate the following correction to the article "Training the senses for learning" (March 13-19).
The statement regarding factors that prevent children from focusing and learning indicated that neurological disorders have to be handled by doctors. Neurological disorders have to be diagnosed by doctors, but the manifestations of all types of disorders, as they impede the learning process, are treated by occupational and physical therapists, regardless of the type. OT's and PT's rely on medical doctors to make medical diagnoses of these disorders.
I sincerely appreciate the article and what it introduced to the community regarding learning difficulties and therapists' work at Forest Road School.
Anna L. Nasci
Occupational therapist
New York Therapy Placement Services

subset: commoncrawl


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Loving the Commute: Fixed Gear Edition
Several months ago I decided to use some of the old bike parts in my garage to try to assemble my own fixed gear bike. For those that don't know, fixed gear bikes are not just for people with mustaches. Fixed gear bikes actually started out as track bikes before slowly becoming the universal designation for bike messengers and hipsters. Bike messengers adopted these bikes primarily because their inner-city travel didn't require too much gear changing due to the stop and go nature of traveling in a traffic heavy area. As fixed gear bikes are simply composed of fewer parts, the bikes naturally require considerably less mechanical work and likewise, don't have nearly the mechanical issues.
There is a big difference between a true fixed gear bike, and the more popular, commonly mislabeled, single speed bike. Many manufacturers that sell pre-made "fixies" often really mean "single speed". A single speed bike typically has a freewheeling hub to allow for coasting, while a fixed gear has a fixed hub. Meaning that on a fixed gear, when you pedal, the bike moves and when you stop pedaling the wheels stop turning… or at least they try to stop turning. Some people are brave (read as crazy) enough to ride a fixed gear with no hand brakes, relying solely on their leg power to slow and stop the bike. Single speed bikes typically have to have a hand brake of sometime or you would never stop the bike.
If you look around online you can find a plethora of tutorials on a simple way to build a fixed gear bike from any old parts. With only investing about $50 dollars, I have managed to recently complete my fixed gear using a frame from an old 1983 Schwinn Traveler. I had never ridden a true fixed gear bike until I hopped on the saddle of this beast to give it a shot. I decided a while ago that I needed to quit riding my nice bike to work, because the commute was just beating it up too much; my new fixed gear was the replacement plan. I used some 700×37 sized hybrid tires (which fit perfectly thanks to the large frame) which made the whole thing look rather meaty. Basically I decided I never wanted to be afraid of falling over on the unexpected patch of gravel again.
The one thing I didn't do, primarily because I thought my now sculpted legs were hardcore enough to work fine for brakes, was apply a front or rear brake. I hopped on the saddle and rode out of my driveway. Now, any cyclist that has been riding fairly seriously for a while will likely be not be intimidated by the prospect of not being able to stop pedaling unless you actually wanted to stop. Going to the gym and hopping on a trainer typically means a full hour of non-stop high cadence pedaling for me. I assumed that this ride would be similar. Of course, what you forget is that riding in the gym typically means you don't need to randomly stop quickly. I did a couple of laps around the block, and while it was a little strenuous due to the rather intense gear ratio I chose, I was confident that I could handle my 5-6 mile commute to work the next morning. On the recommendation from an experienced track cyclist, I went ahead and also moved my clips to the fixed gear from my road bike because apparently you really do not want to slip off the pedals of a fixie whilst rolling at any kind of speed. I was a little nervous, but excited.
The next morning I woke up bright and early, put on my short shorts and my favorite v-neck, and took the bike out to the sidewalk to prepare for the ride. I also drank an extra cup of coffee and a bit of OJ to make sure I had plenty of extra oomph to keep those legs moving. Just to recap… I was about to clip myself into a bike that had no brakes besides the stopping power of my legs, and ride through town, for 5-6 miles, uphill all the way. Yes…stomach of anger, suitcase of courage, head of idiot. The first mile was not a big deal. I felt comfortable with my speed and ability to keep up the pace. My legs were feeling strong, pulsing with the power of coffee. Then… up ahead in the distance… I saw a shimmering light… my head grew heavy and my site grew dim… I knew I would have to stop for the red light (drum break).
The 1,000 feet leading up to the light began the slight incline that is my hill to work, so naturally I lifted the hammer to allow gravity to naturally slow the bike. I had seen a million videos of those guys on fixies slamming on the brakes and sliding their bikes to a stop, and yes, I am pretty sure that in my delusional mind this is what I was expecting to happen. 100 feet, 50 feet, 30 feet to the light… I try to tighten my legs to bring the bike to the stop, but besides the immediate pulsing of the veins in my legs… nothing happened. 20 feet, 10 feet, 5 feet… I'm still moving forward. I stood up out of the saddle pulling up with my left leg and pushing down with my right, hoping that my clips will stay engaged and my internal pleading with the bike to stop will somehow be heard…
I stop.
Wow… the first mile… the first red-light… and I am a little terrified. I had come this far already and if I am anything, it's stubborn. Sure I could have rode back home and 4-wheeled it in… but I'm not AarontheQuitter… I'm Aaronthestrong. "No big deal", I told myself that as I approached the next light I would just increase my stopping distance by a mile or two. The light turned green and I rode on. Fortunately the next three lights managed to stay green as I approached with caution. Then, halfway through the relatively crowded college campus I ride through, a light turned red. This time it caught me a little off guard… I was only 500 feet out from the stop and moving faster than I had been at the first light. I was pretty sure that I was going to die. I tried to extend my legs to brake like I had the first time. I'm pretty sure my legs and bike both laughed at me. The only thing I could do was hang a right at the light. I was a little proud of myself, actually, for my ability to think quick and relieved with my handling skills when I leaned into the turn and kept myself in the tight bike lane and away from the SUV that was 3 feet to my right. Still… this was dumb, and I was not feeling very good about my remaining commute.
I rode on. The bike gods must have taken pity on me because the rest of the ride was uneventful. I made sure to give myself plenty of stopping time at the next few lights and made it to work a short while later. The entire trip took me only 3 minutes more than my average commute. My legs felt like I had just left the gym after leg workout day. The veins were pulsing in my calves and popping out at my knees. It was one of the most intense rides I have had to date.
So what did I learn from my first fixed gear experience? Well, brakes are important…for one. I am pretty sure that if I had not gone with such large tires then perhaps I might have had a little easier time…but one thing is certain, I have no idea how those guys do the slide stop thing that always looks so cool. I also learned just how important it is to stay aware during a commute. You never know when something is going to happen and you won't be able to stop or might have to react quickly to someone else. The last thing I learned is that riding a fixed gear bike is not just something the "cool kids" are doing these days. I have since ridden this bike quite a few more times around the neighborhood and I am pretty confident that it is going to be a great way to work on my leg strength and improve my riding skills. If you have a spare frame, wheels, and a chain hanging around you can pretty much put together one of these rides. At most you might need to throw down 30-40 dollars for a fixed hub rear wheel and cog, but those can be easily created on your own if you need to as well. If you don't want to ride one yourself, I at least recommend you swing out to your local shop and just take one for a spin, it's an experience any cyclist will appreciate!


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Glorious powder snow fell from the sky all over the world in the month of March. Our team was there, hungry mouths wide open, ready to lap it up…
Canada got pounded by storms in March. Andrew Hardingham caught this wicked selfie shredding in the Kootenays.
Here's another one of Hardingham ripping a rowdy line in Golden, BC
Claudia Avon has been getting after it in the Whistler Backcountry. Kale Stephens snapped this shot of Claudia throttling a lovely spine line.
Even the east coast of Canada got hammered. Here's a rad zone in Quebec that got slayed on a splitboard by Fabrice Tremblay. Photo - CDG
The Alps got hit with a solid storm in the beginning of the month, then suffered through a nasty warm-up for a couple weeks. Liz Daley found blower pow in Chamonix after the first set of storms. Photo - @MarqDiamond
Mitch Toelderer, Bibi Pekarek, Ryland Bell and Forrest Shearer went on a powder hunt to the Italian Dolomites mid-month. Mitch snapped this sick sunset shot of the crew setting up camp on an overnight mission.
To no surprise, the crew found a few faceshots in Italy. Here's Forrest gettin his, as Ryland gets the shot.
Rob Kingwill jumped the pond over to Japan in March. As usual, the Japanese Alps delivered the goods…JA'POW!
Hokkaido powder playground. Photo - Rob Kingwill
Wyoming definitely takes the 'Powder Country' title for 2014. Jackson Hole continued to get crushed all month. Photo - Alex Yoder
Teton Tube. Photo - Alex Yoder
To make matters even better for Teton shredders, the new snow stabilized fairly well. Big lines have been in play. Iris Lazz laid tracks in the Sliver Couloir with a crew. Photo - Iris Lazz
Mark Carter toured into Mt. Moran with the TGR crew and ripped the Skillet Glacier. Photo - Mark Carter
Frank Knab and Jimmy Goodman joined Jeremy Jones and Bryan Iguchi for a mission to Buck Mountain in the Tetons.
What a month…here's to an epic April! Photo - Iris lazz


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Other Online Certificates and Courses
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Online learning is a fun, enjoyable and very productive way to learn. Millions of people are learning online each year. You will engage with the instructor and other participants. You will get to know your instructor and other participants. You may make friends. It's easy. It's fun.
How the Course Works
It is easy to participate in your online course. After you register, you will be given a web address to go to get into your online classroom. You will have a password and use your email address and password to gain access.
Once inside the online classroom, here's what you can expect.
Participate when you want
You can participate any time of day or evening. The online classroom is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
There are no live real-time requirements or meetings. You decide when you participate.
For the best learning, participants should log into the course on 2-3 different days of the week.
What you will do
For each Unit, you will:
For best learning, you should make one or more comments at 2-3 different times each week.
The content (readings, audio lectures, slides) and self quizzes are accessible for the entire course, so you can work ahead, or go back and review again, at your convenience.
The Discussion for each Unit lasts one week. All comments are made in writing and can be made at any time of the day or night.
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We encourage you to make 2-3 comments each week to maximize your learning and enjoyment of the course.
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Ave. hours 16, 1.6 CEUs/ILUs
About Your Instructors
Fred Bayley has been developing extraordinary customer service in an organization while our technology and information sources have changed. His area focuses on soft skills resulting in income almost doubling and profits up 300%. Fred facilitates experiences on building positive working relations, customer service, and team building. Fred is a past president of the local chamber of commerce, Habitat crew member, volunteer middle school wrestling coach, and one-fourth of a hand bell quartet.
Holly Arnold is a rising star in the retail and banking world. Her employees are customer focused leading to high results. Holly has transformed a low-performing store into a high-performer with record sales. She has changed a high turnover store into a place where employees love to work in spite of being one of the lowest pay rates in the area. Her work goals are exceeded by attending to her employees who provide extraordinary customer service.


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A clear majority of Americans still suspect there was a conspiracy behind President John F. Kennedy's assassination, but the percentage who believe Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone is at its highest level since the mid-1960s, according to a new Associated Press-GfK poll.
Cheryl Casati, 62, who retired from the Air Force after 20 years, watched it all unfold on television back in November 1963. She said she's "extremely sure" there was a conspiracy. The killing of Oswald, the accused shooter, just days after the assassination is part of the reason why.
"There's too many holes in explanations," the Phoenix-area woman said. "That just could not have happened easily in that time and place. And (Jack) Ruby shooting (Oswald) could not have happened as easily as it did."
Pat Sicinski sees it differently. She and her husband recently visited the Texas School Book Depository in Dallas. Looking out the sixth-floor window from which Oswald allegedly fired on Kennedy's motorcade helped reaffirm the retired school employee's faith in the Warren Commission conclusion that Oswald was the lone gunman.
"Some skepticism is always justified," the 68-year-old Houston-area woman said. "I just think when people take it to extremes, they lose me."
According to the AP-GfK survey, conducted in mid-April, 59 percent of Americans think multiple people were involved in a conspiracy to kill the president, while 24 percent think Oswald acted alone, and 16 percent are unsure. A 2003 Gallup poll found that 75 percent of Americans felt there was a conspiracy.
The Oswald-acted-alone results, meanwhile, are the highest since the period three years after the assassination, when 36 percent said one man was responsible for Kennedy's death.
Robert Mawyer of Blairsville, Ga., is one of them. The 44-year-old IT salesman recently finished reading Bill O'Reilly's "Killing Kennedy." Assuming all of that information is correct, he has no problem accepting that Oswald went solo.
"The Warren Commission says that's what happened, so I tend to believe that, I guess," he said. But, he added, "I don't suppose anybody can be completely positive."
Jon Genova is positive that no one person could have pulled off this crime.
"There are just a number of factors that don't seem to zero out in my mind," the 46-year-old Denver mechanical engineer said. "How some evidence seemed to be suppressed, and the results are sealed for how many years? And the fact that … it just seemed like the whole political winds change at the point when Kennedy was assassinated. It just seemed as if he was probably an impediment."
Those who were adults in 1963 were almost as likely as younger Americans to say that Kennedy's killing was a conspiracy involving multiple people — 55 percent, compared to 61 percent.
As for who might have been behind a conspiracy, Genova's money is on the Central Intelligence Agency. Casati, who wouldn't divulge her rank or military occupation, was a little more circumspect.
"I will tell you that Jack Kennedy was too much of his own person," she said. "And he made decisions that were not popular with some agencies, as far as I'm concerned."
The Associated Press-GfK Poll was conducted April 11-15, 2013 by GfK Roper Public Affairs and Corporate Communications. It involved landline and cell phone interviews with 1,004 adults nationwide. Results for the full sample have a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3.9 percentage points; it is larger for subgroups.
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Sgt. Bales' lawyer: U.S. "hiding evidence"
Updated at 1:42 p.m. ET
(AP) SEATTLE - The attorney for the U.S. soldier accused of killing 17 Afghan civilians said Friday that the U.S. government is "hiding evidence" from the defense team.
John Henry Browne told The Associated Press that members of the defense team in Afghanistan were told they would have access to witnesses at a hospital, but later discovered the people had been released.
He also said the U.S. government has not turned over files to the lawyers defending Army Staff Sgt. Robert Bales.
Special Section: Afghanistan, Ten Years Later
Lawyer: Sgt. Bales' tours left major depression
Poll: Support for Afghan war hits all-time low
The defense team said in a statement the prosecution is withholding information "while potential witnesses scatter."
"It's outrageous," Browne said. "What they are basically doing is hiding evidence. The only reason to hide evidence is if you don't have evidence."
An Army spokesman did not immediately return a call seeking comment on Browne's allegations.
Bales has been charged with 17 counts of premeditated murder. He remained held at a U.S. military prison at Fort Leavenworth, Kan.
The defense statement said the team in Afghanistan attempted to interview injured civilians being treated at a hospital in Kandahar, but were denied access and told to coordinate with prosecutors.
The prosecution team interviewed the civilians, but the defense team said they were unable to after the people were released and no contact information was provided for them.
Browne's team also said they have been denied access to the civilians' medical records, as well as video allegedly taken from a surveillance blimp showing Bales on the night of the killings.
Dan Conway, a military attorney who represented one of four Lewis-McChord soldiers convicted in the deliberate killings of three Afghan civilians in 2010, said the government doesn't appear to be doing anything wrong at this point in the Bales case. He said prosecutors have little obligation to turn over evidence right now and doesn't need to help coordinate interviews this early in the process.
"This is just going to be an uphill battle," Conway said.
The defense will have a right to interview witnesses that could be called at trial, so the Army could then take the defense team into the villages with security or coordinate to have them come onto the military base. But Conway said the challenges of interviewing witnesses now means the defense team may not be able to track down people to bolster their case such as witnesses unable to identify Bales or those who believe there were two shooters.
"If they want to talk to those witnesses, they're going to have to get an investigator and probably go to the village and talk to civilians themselves," Conway said.
U.S. military officials have said Bales was drinking on a southern Afghanistan base on March 11 before creeping away to two villages at night, shooting his victims and setting many of them on fire. Nine were children.
Bales has had incidents involving alcohol and violence in the past. In 2002, He was arrested for a drunken assault of a security guard at a Tacoma casino. That charge was dismissed after Bales completed 20 hours of anger management training.
In 2008, a couple accused an intoxicated Bales of grabbing a woman's hand and thrusting it toward his crotch before kicking and punching the woman's boyfriend, according to a police report. Prosecutors declined to pursue that case.


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A series of free Statistics Lectures with examples & solutions in videos.
These lectures cover the concept and use of z-scores.
Rotate to landscape screen format on a mobile phone or small tablet to use the Mathway widget, a free math problem solver that answers your questions with step-by-step explanations.
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XE Currency BlogTopics7223 Posts7268
The dollar dipped, then rallied back after the nearly in-line May NFP report on Friday, with reaction overall, fairly muted. Ranges were fairly narrow for the major dollar pairings, with no new ground broken relative to the past two sessions. Risk taking levels perked up, as Wall Street rallied, and as Treasury yields ultimately nudged higher. EUR-USD peaked at 1.3677 before finding a base into 1.3620, as USD-JPY touched 102.12 lows before making its way over 102.60.
EUR-USD was jerked around between 1.3673 and 1.3627 immediately after the U.S. jobs report, before making a session highs of 1.3677. From there, the euro eased into 1.3621, matching the London low, before turning sideways on either side of 1.3635. The ECB rate cuts on Thursday were apparently not enough to keep the euro under pressure, with the 1.36 handle holding up easily on Friday. In the coming days however, once market positioning is evened out some, another down leg may well be in the cards.
USD-JPY made it to 102.61 highs after bottoming at 102.12 after the jobs report. The risk backdrop was supportive, while the USD in general had been on the rise. Offers are now seen at 102.70-80, though sell orders noted from 102.80-103.00 are now said to be cancelled. Barriers are still in place at 103.00, and will likely be defended.
Cable made its way through resistance seen at 1.6824, which represented Thursday's high, touching 1.6846 highs. Gains didn't hold however, as the dollar moved broadly higher. Sell stops were later hit at 1.6800, resulting in a low of 1.6782.
EUR-CHF saw a one-month low of 1.2167 on the Swiss CPI data, which came in above expectations at 0.2% y/y in May from 0.0% in April. This is the highest inflation has been in Switzerland since September 2011, which was the month that the SNB implemented the 1.2000 EUR-CHF limit peg as a means to counter exchange rate induced deflation. N.Y. trade saw risk appetite pick up on good U.S. jobs report, allowing the cross to move back over 1.2195.
USD-CAD initially slipped to 1.0913 in the aftermath of the U.S. and Canadian jobs reports, though quickly rallied to 1.0942 highs. The mix of Canadian data was the driver, as Canada job gains were all part time in nature, as full time jobs fell sharply. Offers remained into 1.0960, which represents the one-month high posted on Thursday. The pairing later managed 1.0948 highs before turning sideways into the close.


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Kenneth Cole's 'personal' Twitter account has a bio that states 'My tweets are not representative of the corporate @kennethcoleprd feed'.
This poses some questions about governance. Is a tagline of 'views my own' inoculation against scandal?
The answer is 'you're missing the point', as is Kenneth.
Kenneth yesterday tweeted as below, referencing the debate on Syrian intervention.
Reaction is succinctly tied to the bottom of the tweet as 'related headlines'.
Kenneth Cole is the founder of the Kenneth Cole brand, and the two share a name. His tweets are therefore not representative of the company that bears his name, they simply are the tweets of the company that bears his name.
I didn't know two Twitter accounts existed (man and brand), until I investigated the recent reaction.
Again, this is beside the point. Social media fascinates everyone because it is simply real life. Anyone with a degree of social nous is an expert on social media.
Social media is a heightened reality of idea exchange and we don't need to discuss whether what Kenneth did was right or wrong. All we have to do is look at the reaction.
Here it's of course pertinent that strong reactions are not some sort of absolute opprobrium. But Kenneth will have realised from the reaction to a tweet about unrest in Cairo (see below) that his referencing Syria would upset a lot of people.
From this point, we need to answer the question: 'is it right for the figurehead of a company, a company that pays wages and has a board, to stir public feeling in this way?
The answer is undoubtedly 'no' because the public know that whether right or wrong, this tweet will prove 'all PR is good PR' and lead to increased awareness and sales for Kenneth Cole.
So, how do all the people that work for Kenneth feel when they see the brand mired in this way? It can't be good for morale.
If individuals tweet and make mistakes like this, even CEOs, MDs etc, it can be argued the mistake is easier in the making, because the person in question may not be intending to increase revenue. Kenneth Cole might not have been aiming to do this either, but the fact that he is the company means he can't take the risk.
His explanation, via Instagram video, is that he's raising awareness. If he is, it's at the expense of his reputation. But, he isn't raising awareness.
What does 'raising awareness' mean?
It doesn't mean waiting for the public to reach peak awareness levels about a subject and then jumping on the crest of the wave with an insensitive tweet about sandals.
What it means is working for a cause, no matter what the political or social climate. Kenneth Cole does this in another capacity by serving as Chairman of amfAR.
With his recent Instagram video excuse Kenneth is damaging his sincere work. When I went to the 'awareness' part of his website I started to question some of the information. I started to cynically see it as brand augmentation, which it isn't at all, at least most of it.
So, this whiny post is to say that these kind of tweets are defensible from an individual, but not from a company, and certainly not from a company who has pulled this stunt before.


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Thread: Hybrid Tires
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Hybrid Tires
I own two Honda Hybrids, a 2008 Civic purchased new in June 2008 and in March 2010 I purchased a new Insight.
The OEM tires on the Civic, Dunlops, we're replaced at 37,000 miles, almost bald. I deviated from the Dunlops with the wrong tires from Costco and my resultant mileage was reduced by 10 MPG. This was not a good idea. I located the OEM Dunlops at Sam's Club. After they arrived and were mounted I was able to return the Bridgestone, non-LRR tires, to Costco for a full refund.
At 20,000 miles, the 2010 Insight tires were almost to the wear indicators and were losing traction. These were the 175/65 R15 Dunlop OEM tires, same tire, one size smaller, as the Civic. I have read that most Insight owners share the same pathetic mileage results.
This negative attribute of the Hybrid true cost is further exacerbated by this additional expense to the true mileage cost after investing some $3000 to $5000 additional cost above the traditional gas vehicles.
I reviewed every on-line and printed article on tires in search of a solution for the Insight. Tire Rack provided an in-depth review of LRR tires using numerous Toyota Prius vehicles for their evaluation.
From this detailed review I decided to purchase Michelin Energy Saver AS tires. This is where I initially became depressed.
While Tire Rack provided extensive real-world research, they did not have the Michelin in the 175 size. Neither did Michelin.
I had resolved to then purchase the Bridgestone Ecopia, but the tire style recommended in the tire report did not exist for the Insight, the lesser Ecopia (more friction) Touring tire was available at Costco.
Fortunately for me at Costco, I mentioned to the tire representative my preference for the obviously non-available Michelin Energy Saver AS tire in my requested size. He then placed a phone call to their automated distribution center in South Carolina. He entered type and size information. Voila, the Michelins were ordered and are now installed on my 2010 Insight.
I am amazed at the quietness of the new tires, the major ride difference and the handling, especially now that we are experiencing rain in Memphis after a prolonged drought. The mileage may be a few miles per gallon shy of the almost bald Dunlop (virtually no friction) OEM tires, but I won't have a true picture until I purchase fuel in the next hundred miles. The on board computer readout indicates 43 MPG. The Insight is very consistent in my daily driving of actual 40-42 MPG, 30 miles highway and city.
Honda and Honda America should be held to a higher standard, but no they could care less. I am a Honda owner expert having purchased seven (7) brand new Honda vehicles since 1995. Three Accords, two CRVs and the two Hybrids.
Unless the technology advances drastically, I will not purchase another HYBRID vehicle.


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Raita is a yogurt based condiment that is served chilled. It goes well with spicy Indian dishes because of the cooling effect that raita has on the palate. Typically, a raita contains little more than yogurt and vegetables, but the following recipe, adapted from Madhur Jaffrey's World Vegetarian, includes chickpeas, which makes this raita a little more substantial than most. It's also a great way to use up leftover cooked chickpeas if you have them on hand, and like any raita it's delicious and refreshing on a hot summer day, whether as a light lunch or picnic food or a wonderful side for dinner.
|Onion and Mint Raita with Chickpeas
|Recipe by Lisa Turner
Adapted from Madhur Jaffrey's World Vegetarian: More Than 650 Meatless Recipes from Around the World
Cuisine: Indian
Published on August 9, 2007
Very simple, creamy, refreshing and delicious yogurt and chickpea dish for warm weather lunches or picnics


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The Linac-MR Project: Tumor Tracking and Treatment
Not too long ago, my colleague Jennifer wrote a blog post about the Cross Cancer Institute, and the research being conducted there into the design of a new device for treating cancerous tumors. The device, known as the Linac-MR, is revolutionary due to its ability to both image and treat cancer cells simultaneously — a capability that had previously been regarded as near impossible due to the conflicting physics interactions involved. Such a device would allow for extremely precise radiation treatment because it could both detect and compensate for body movement during treatment, therefore allowing for accurate targeting even in moving tumors, such as those in the lungs, liver, stomach, etc. Some aspects of the device's design were outlined in the COMSOL News story "MRI Tumor-Tracked Cancer Treatment", however, in addition to the simulation work described in the article, I want to share a bit more about the research here, and point you to a few more resources that discuss this innovative design.
Mitigating Electromagnetic Interactions
Before delving into some of the additional simulations and experiments conducted by the group, I first want touch on what it is that makes this device so revolutionary. There are many different factors that make designing a device that can both image and treat a cancerous tumor complex. One of the main reasons for this is the electromagnetic interactions that occur between different components of the device. Many current cancer treatments use a linear particle accelerator (linac) to generate and direct radiation beams toward a target. The target, i.e. the cancerous tumor, is first located by imaging the tumor using a magnetic resonance (MR) scanner, which, in current practices, can be done days or even weeks prior to radiation. This is because, when used simultaneously, these two systems adversely affect the performance of the other. The electromagnetic waves generated by the linac impede the MR scanner's ability to interpret RF signals needed to create images, while the MR scanner can deflect the linac's electron beam, potentially causing it to irradiate healthy tissue.
Configuration of the Linac-MR, where the MR scanner moves in
the longitudinal direction around the treatment table.
As was explained in a previous blog post, researchers from the Cross Cancer Institute tested a few different orientations of the linac and MR scanner. Additionally, the team used simulation to explore different designs for a shielding plate to prevent unwanted electromagnetic interactions.
Considerations for the Linac-MR
There were quite a few other things the team considered when creating the final design. I explained a few of these in an article titled "Hybrid Linac-MR: Image-Guided Radiation Therapy Delivered in Real-Time", which appeared in this month's issue of Microwave Journal.
One of the main constraints that drove the team to further optimize and refine the design of the Linac-MR was the size of the device. Not only does the success of the Linac-MR depend on preventing electromagnetic interactions as described above, but the device also needs to be able to function within the space allotted for such devices in hospitals and treatment centers. In order to keep harmful radiation as far away from both people and equipment, many radiation therapy rooms are located in the basement. This means that the Linac-MR needed to be below a certain size, since expanding such a basement room would require too many resources to be a feasible option. Designing a "small" Linac-MR required further optimization and experimentation to be conducted on the linac used in the device.
In order to treat the full range of cancer types, a 1.5 meter 10 MeV waveguide is required for the linac. Additionally, in order to prevent interactions that are difficult to shield from MRI, the waveguide would need to be positioned vertically above the device. This means that, in order to fit inside a standard treatment room, the length of the waveguide needed to be reduced while still maintaining the strength of the electron beam. The team of researchers first estimated that 70 cm was the shortest 10 MeV waveguide that could be designed, however, by performing additional simulations, they were able to reduce the length of the waveguide down to 30 cm, as shown below.
Left: 1.5 meter 10 MeV waveguide positioned vertically above the treatment table. Right: Shortened, 30 cm waveguide.
When designing the 30 cm waveguide, the team began with a 6 MeV waveguide previously designed by a member of the group. Using simulation to explore different shapes of the RF cavities within the waveguide, the team was able to find a geometry that allowed for a 10 MeV energy source to be used on the shorter waveguide.
Simulation of the short, 10 MeV waveguide showing the electromagnetic field
distribution within the device.
Additional Resources
- Read the full article from Microwave Journal, "Hybrid Linac-MR: Image-Guided Radiation Therapy Delivered in Real-Time"
- Explore technical papers and more on the Linac-MR Project website
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For the ocean, business as usual is not an option
On Tuesday 6 March, an information session was organized at the European parliament by UNESCO's Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (UNESCO-IOC) and MEP Kriton ARSENIS, to raise awareness on current ocean-related issues in view of the upcoming United Nation Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20).
Facing a full conference room, MEP Kriton ARSENIS opened the information session. Participating Members of the European Parliament, researchers and representatives of NGOS, among others, were engaged during the session, which allowed for a lively discussion. Experts presented the main threats to the ocean in detail through comprehensive but accessible presentations on ocean acidification (Carol Turley), overfishing, illegal fishing (Commissioner Damanaki), and loss of biodiversity (Raphaël Billé) among other key issues. Wendy Watson-Wright's presentation provided an overview of the impacts of human activities on the ocean. She also introduced the interagency report A Blueprint for Ocean and Coastal Sustainability, its objectives and its action oriented proposals for the ocean.
The session was very focused on potential action and solutions. All speakers agreed on the necessity of a strong, renewed political impetus and strengthening the political momentum inherited from the first Rio conference in 1992. Several presentations outlined the importance of science, monitoring and assessment for the sustainable management of the ocean (Ronan Uhel and Rudy Herman).
Some of the crucial actions identified included the further development of existing tools for actions, such as Regional Seas for the protection of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction, and facilitating cooperation and synergies through initiatives such as the Joint Programming Initiative for Healthy and Productive Seas and Oceans (JPI Oceans). Commissioner Damanaki and Mr Billé also mentionned the possibility of implementing agreement under existing laws, like the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
UNESCO's Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (UNESCO-IOC) is keen to play an advocating role for the ocean through the Rio+20 preparatory process, and to encourage Member States to integrate, as far as possible, the importance of the ocean in sustainable development strategies and plans. As underlined by Commissioner Damanaki, 'Business as usual is not an option'. Engaging key Rio+20 stakeholders such as the European Union, through their institutions, is therefore critical. In this sense, the session was very successful.
- Carol Turley (PML): Ocean Acidification (.pdf)
- Commissioner Damanaki (European Commission): Preparing for Rio: Our Key Targets for Oceans and Coasts
- Raphaël Billé (IDDRI): Protection of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction: What to expect from Rio+20? (.pdf)
- Ronan Uhel (European Environment Agency): Science, technologies and monitoring for ocean management (.pdf)
- Rudy Herman (JPI): Healthy and Productive Seas and Oceans; A common European approach to meet the goals of theMarine Strategy Framework Directive (.pdf)
- Wendy Watson-Wright (UNESCO-IOC): Rio+20: What is at stake for the Ocean? (.pdf)
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blockout banner
Banner Material- What To Get For Your Banner
Picking the right banner material can be a bit tricky. We have several different options for printing available. In this article, we'll go over the different materials and what works best for various applications. Continue reading
The Different Types of Banner Materials and Vinyls
At Banner4Sale, we specialize in banners (in case you couldn't tell by our name). With that being said, we make them out of different materials too. Different banner materials have different purposes and appearances, and allows our customers to choose from a wider selection of products. We offer matte vinyl, super smooth vinyl, block-out vinyl, and mesh extreme materials for our banners.
Let's take a closer look at the different types of banner materials:
- 13 oz. Matte Vinyl Our matte vinyl banners are our best-selling banners. People love the matte vinyl material because it's perfect for nearly every occasion. Matte vinyl can be used on indoor and outdoor banners, and is guaranteed to be durable and long lasting. Matte vinyl is a tough material that can easily withstand all weather conditions, and is light enough to transport around.
- 15 oz. Super Smooth Vinyl Our super smooth vinyl definitely lives up to its name. With this banner, you'll be paying a higher cost for higher quality. This super smooth vinyl for banners is exceptional for image printing and ultra-fine. It's the perfect material for banner backdrops and large event banners for indoor conventions and trade shows. The super-smooth vinyl is also created by a material that blocks our glares from the sun and light. Our customers love the super smooth vinyl for its ultra-crisp display and vibrancy.Notice the difference in texture on the super smooth vinyl (as compared to our matte vinyl.
- 20 oz. Block-Out Vinyl Block-out vinyl is our heaviest banner material. This banner material is unique, because it literally blocks out all light. Many of our customers prefer this material for outdoor banners, because it reduces glare. It's tough enough to stand outside for long periods of time, and very durable in all weather conditions.The black line in the center of the material provides the block-out characteristic.
- Mesh Extreme
If you're located in a windy area, your best bet would be the mesh extreme material for your banner. The mesh extreme is a very popular choice for outdoor banners because it's lightweight and allows air to flow through its minuscule holes. Although the graphics on mesh extreme banners are not as clear, it has its own advantages. Some of these advantages include: lightweight materials, unique appearances, and high quality mesh.
Different materials are used or different purposes, which is why we offer a wide selection to fit your needs. For more help, contact us today!
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CFI Institute Online - The Science of Free Will - SCI 224-0513
Instructor: Richard Carrier PhD, philosopher, historian, and authorInstructor: John Shook PhD, CFI director of education and AHA education coordinator
This four-module short course discusses the intersection between science and philosophy in defining and understanding free will, with the aim of learning the latest science on the nature and existence of free will and how to critically approach philosophical uses of it. Students will not only learn about the relevant elements of brain science, but also how to identify common philosophical fallacies in reasoning about free will.Course Topics:The varieties of free will and the differences among them; identifying causes and the role of personal identity in making decisions (and what the latest brain science has to say about both); the nature and purpose of assigning responsibility to personal agents (in law and daily life); the difference between determinism and fatalism, and the importance of addressing both personal and genetic-environmental causes of decisions when thinking about social, political, and moral systems.
Readings: Sam Harris, Free Will (2012). Students will purchase their own copy (print or electronic). Additional readings will be provided electronically at no cost to students.Your Instructors:
Richard Carrier, PhD, is
the renowned author of Sense
and Goodness without God and Not
the Impossible Faith, as well as numerous articles online and
in print. He received his PhD in ancient history from Columbia University in
2008, and now specializes in the modern philosophy of naturalism, the origins
of Christianity, and the intellectual history of Greece and Rome. For more
about him and his work visit www.richardcarrier.info.
John Shook, PhD, is Director of Education and Senior Research Fellow at the Center for Inquiry and Education Coordinator for theAmerican Humanist Association. He also serves as visiting assistant professor of science education at the University at Buffalo, teaching for the joint CFI-UB Science and the Public online masters program. From 2000 to 2006 John was professor of philosophy at Oklahoma State University. Shook publishes on philosophical topics regarding science, the mind, humanist ethics, democracy, secularism, and religion, and has debated the existence of God with leading theologians, including William Lane Craig. His most recent books are The God Debates, and as editor, The Essential William James.
About CFI Institute Online Seminars:
CFI 200-level seminar courses are taught at an intellectual level equivalent to an introductory college course. We expect students to participate in the class discussion at their own chosen pace, and there are no other writing requirements and no grading. These classes are entirely online — everything for the course except the book is provided on a CFI website. You will read the course lectures, follow links to other webpages, ask your questions, and participate in class discussion with the instructors and other students on our website.
There is no specific time that you must be online. There is no "live" part to these courses, and you cannot miss anything even if you can only get online at 6am or 11pm — you can log in and participate anytime, day or night, 24/7. A certificate of course completion is available to students who do participate online (as opposed to only lurking and reading, which is also an unobjectionable option for some students). Completion of eight courses at the Expertise 200-level is rewarded with the Institute's Certificate of Expertise.
Online courses are now jointly advertised by the Center for Inquiry and the American Humanist Association, and both organizations encourage their members and affiliates to consider taking them. Online courses are the most visible sign that CFI and the AHA have entered a cooperative relationship on some educational programming. That cooperation is facilitated by Dr. John Shook, who now serves as education coordinator for both CFI and AHA.
This is a one-month course, running from May 1, 2013 through May 31, 2013.Cost: $70 for general registration; $60 for Friends of the Center; or $30 for college students (valid education institution email address required).
We're sorry, the deadline for registering for this event has passed.
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Pharmacy Practices For Sale in Massachusetts
Searching For A Pharmacies For Sale in Massachusetts?
1st Med Transitions, we specialize in locating pharmacies for sale in Massachusetts that meet or exceed our client's needs, budget and long term goals. Our team of pharmacy transition advisors are equipped with the direct industry knowledge and know how needed to locate and secure the practice of your dreams in Massachusetts.
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Please contact us if you don't see a pharmacy for sale in Massachusetts that meets your requirements. We also have pocket and off market listings that are not public facing. Join our pre-approved buyers list and receive new listings in Massachusetts before they go out to the public.
Get Notified about new pharmacy practices for sale - join our buyers list today!
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Sustainable, Responsible and Impact Mutual Fund and ETF Chart
Jump to: General Fund Information | Fund Institution Information | Account Minimums | Methodology | Proxy Voting Information | Specific Screening Information by Category | Performance Data
General Fund Information - [Return to Top]
Ticker: CULIX
Assets under management (AUM): $835.56M (in US$ millions) - See other performance data below
General Fund Type: Bond (Fixed Income)
Specific Sizes or Types of Investments: Ultrashort-Term Bonds
Financial Objective: The Fund seeks to maximize income to the extent consistent with preservation of capital, through investment in short-term bonds and income-producing securities.
Specific ESG Focus: The Fund seeks to apply environmental, social and governance (ESG) integration across sectors and holdings as part of its risk and opportunity assessment, and also seeks to avoid investing in tobacco companies.
To invest, call: 800-368-2748
Institution Name:
Calvert Research and Management
Mutual Funds Description: Established in 1976, Calvert is a diversified investment management firm serving individual and institutional investors. Offers a wide array of products including more than 40 equity and fixed income mutual funds, workplace retirement options, and a national 529 college savings program. Recognized as a leader in taxable bond investing, Calvert also manages the largest family of mutual funds in the US that feature integrated environmental, social, and governance research.
Contact info:
4550 Montgomery Ave., Ste. 1000N
Bethesda,MD 20814
United States
Phone: 800-327-2109
Fax: 301-654-7820
Email: email@example.com
Web: http://www.calvert.com (Opens in a new window)
Account Minimums - [Return to Top]
Minimum Account: $1,000,000.00
Minimum IRA:
Screening Venue: In-house
Screening Party:
Compliance Department
Screening Database Used:
Trade Order Management/Compliance
Screening Process:
The Fund's investment process is enhanced by the Advisor's integrated investment research, which seeks to add value by complementing traditional fundamental security analysis with the Advisor's proprietary assessment of critical environmental, social and governance ("ESG") issues. The Fund seeks to apply ESG integration across sectors and holdings as part of its risk and opportunity assessment. Tobacco Exclusion. The Fund seeks to avoid investing in companies classified under the tobacco industry sector of the Barclays Global Aggregate Index, the Barclays U.S. High Yield Index or the Barclays Global Emerging Market Index; or, in the opinion of the Fund's Advisor, any similar securities in the Barclays Municipal Index.
Proxy Voting Information - [Return to Top]
Proxy Voting Guidelines or Policies: Open external link in new window
Proxy Voting Records: Open external link in new window
Specific Screening Information by Category - [Return to Top]
- Climate / Clean Technology: Combination of Positive and Restricted/Exclusionary Strategies
- Pollution / Toxics: Combination of Positive and Restricted/Exclusionary Strategies
- Other Environmental: Combination of Positive and Restricted/Exclusionary Strategies
- Community Development: Combination of Positive and Restricted/Exclusionary Strategies
- Diversity & Equal Employment Opportunity: Combination of Positive and Restricted/Exclusionary Strategies
- Human Rights: Combination of Positive and Restricted/Exclusionary Strategies
- Labor Relations: Combination of Positive and Restricted/Exclusionary Strategies
- Board Issues: Combination of Positive and Restricted/Exclusionary Strategies
- Executive Pay: Combination of Positive and Restricted/Exclusionary Strategies
- Alcohol: Restricted/Exclusionary Investment
- Animal Welfare: Restricted/Exclusionary Investment
- Defense/Weapons: Restricted/Exclusionary Investment
- Gambling: Restricted/Exclusionary Investment
- Tobacco: Restricted/Exclusionary Investment
Performance Data - [Return to Top]
Data provided by: - Information current as of June 30, 2020
Year-to-date rate of return: -0.49%
1-year rate of return: 0.82%
3-year rate of return: 1.65%
5-year rate of return: 1.63%
10-year rate of return: --
Previous year rate of return: 3.57%
Management fee: 0.38%
Expense ratio: 0.49%
Standard deviation: 5.54%
Benchmark used: Barclays Short Treasury 9-12 Mon TR USD | External link (Opens in a new window)
Disclaimer: Investment in mutual funds involves risk, including possible loss of principal invested. You could lose money on your investment in the Fund or the Fund could underperform because of the following risks: the market prices of bonds held by the Fund may fall; individual investments of the Fund may not perform as expected; and/or the Fund's portfolio management practices may not achieve the desired result. Bond funds are subject to interest rate risk and credit risk. When interest rates rise, the value of fixed-income securities will generally fall. In addition, the credit quality of the securities may deteriorate, which could lead to default or bankruptcy of the issuer where the issuer becomes unable to pay its obligations when due. Because a significant portion of securities held by the Fund may have variable or floating interest rates, the amount of the Fund's monthly distributions to shareholders are expected to vary. Generally when market interest rates fall, the amount of the distributions will decrease. Investments in high-yield, high risk bonds can involve a substantial risk of loss. An active trading style can result in higher turnover (exceeding 100%), may translate to higher transaction costs, may increase your tax liability, and may affect Fund performance. The Fund is non-diversified and may be more volatile than a diversified fund.


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HIT Entertainment was originally formed as Henson International Television (hit!) in 1983 as a branch of the Jim Henson Company in order to coordinate the co-production of Fraggle Rock in London. The subsidary was later reincorporated and sold; it is now owned by Mattel.
Headquartered in London, HIT currently owns the Thomas and Friends, Barney & Friends, and Bob the Builder franchises, among others. The company also co-founded US cable network PBS Kids Sprout, with NBC/Universal, PBS, and Sesame Workshop. With Mattel's acquisition of HIT, that stake is retained by HIT's former parent company, Apax.
In April 2004, the Jim Henson Company signed a five-year agreement that gave HIT distribution rights of a large portion of the company's "family showcase" media catalogue. In 2006, HIT partnered with 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment for distribution of their DVD titles[1] and in 2008, distribution was taken over by Lionsgate.[2]
HIT produced several Henson VHS and DVD releases, including such shows as Fraggle Rock, Animal Jam, Mother Goose Stories and Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas, several with newly produced bonus features.
HIT also co-produced the Henson television series Frances and retains distribution rights.
Company history
HIT (Henson International Television) was originally established as an international distribution arm of Jim Henson Productions. The division was later reincorporated as HIT Communications plc. Following the death of Jim Henson in 1990, the business was sold off to several members of the company's management, led by Peter Orton (1943-2007), and renamed HIT Entertainment to prevent any future confusion between the two companies.
Apax Partners acquired the company in May 2005.
In October 2011, it was announced that American toy company Mattel had concluded a deal to purchase Hit Entertainment for $680 million. PBS Kids Sprout was not included in the deal, and that stake is retained by Apax Partners.
On February 1, 2012, the merger was completed, and HIT Entertainment became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mattel.
Henson titles listed in the HIT! Catalogue[3] (April 1, 2004 - March 31, 2009)
- The Animal Show
- Animal Jam
- City Kids
- Construction Site
- Fraggle Rock
- Fraggle Rock Animated
- Mopatop's Shop
- Mother Goose
- The Secret Life of Toys
- Telling Stories with Tomie dePaola
- The Ghost of Faffner Hall
- The Hoobs
- The Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss
- Dog City (special)
- Down at Fraggle Rock (documentary)
- Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas
- Henson's Place
- Song of the Cloud Forest
- The Christmas Toy
- ↑ Fox Home Entertainment and HIT Entertainment Reach Distribution Accord January 1, 2006
- ↑ Lionsgate® Selected to Distribute HIT Entertainment's Premiere Family Entertainment Library in North America
- ↑ HIT Entertainment Catalogue


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LOS ANGELES (AP) — Britney Spears' self-styled manager took the stand in his defamation lawsuit against her parents Tuesday, claiming he acted to protect her from paparazzi and others during a critical period in her life.
Sam Lutfi told jurors how he met Spears at a nightclub in May 2007 and said she struck up a conversation by asking him if she could have his hat.
He said he told her no. "She liked that. She doesn't get told 'no' often. So it was refreshing to hear 'no' once. We started talking, hit it off, and she started calling and texting me. We hung out and became friends," he said.
Lutfi described the singer at that time as being "in crisis mode."
"She was very distraught," he said. "She was having a child custody battle and was in the middle of a divorce." He added she also had drug problems.
Lutfi said he met Spears right after she had shaved her head during a very public meltdown. "She was dealing with a lot of anxiety," he said.
The witness's testimony was interrupted frequently by objections from lawyers for Spears' parents, Jamie and Lynne Spears. Lufti's attorney asked him if he took steps to control the press mob that was following Spears constantly.
Lutfi said he alleviated the problem with photographers by texting them where Spears would be going so they could follow her at a safe distance.
"I also started setting up meetings at her home with press photographers so they could get to know her as a human being," he said, referring to himself as the singer's "manager."
Under questioning by his lawyer, Lutfi said Spears had dubbed him her manager in June 2007 during a meeting with recording executives and had later asked him to take the job.
"I told her I had no experience as a manager for someone of her caliber," he said. "I wanted time to think about it. "
But Lutfi said Spears pressed on, saying, "Sam, do you know what this job pays?" and outlined an offer he did not refuse.
"She said, 'I'm getting $800,000 a month even when I'm not working. You will get 15 percent of that,'" he recalled.
Lutfi said he accepted the job with conditions, insisting that Britney, who had fired her entire staff, allow him to put together a new "varsity team" consisting of a lawyer, agent and business manager.
"And I wanted her to promise me to stay clean," he said, noting he brought drug-sniffing dogs to Spears' home, where they found a baggie full of a white powder. He said she promised and he flushed the powder down the toilet.
He said he then took control.
"I took charge of dealing with the press. I acted as a liaison between Britney and her child custody attorneys. I interfaced with her record label and video producers. I helped her choose artwork for her album and merchandise."
But he said by September, the singer had relapsed on drugs, and he walked away. On Oct. 1, 2007, he said, "Britney called me from her car and asked me to come back and help her kick drugs."
Lufti said Spears had been parked all night outside a tanning salon in a mini mall, where he found her and took her home. He said he moved into her house after that, although there was no romantic relationship.
Through all of this, he said he had no written management contract nor was he ever paid.
Lufti, wearing a suit and black-rimmed glasses, spoke in a businesslike manner as he described his increasing role as intermediary in the star's career and private life. He said he broached the subject of her estrangement from her parents and arranged a reunion for Britney and her mother. Jurors were shown a photo of the two women meeting and smiling. He also said he approached her father about a meeting but he declined.
In his lawsuit, Lutfi alleges that Lynne Spears defamed him in her book about her daughter's darkest days, depicting him as a Svengali-like figure who exploited Britney's vulnerabilities and gave her drugs to control her.
He denies those allegations and portrays himself as the singer's protector who managed her career during a time when she was in distress and ultimately hospitalized for mental problems.
Earlier, Superior Court Judge Suzanne Bruguera denied a motion by Lutfi's lawyer to gain access to Spears' medical records from the UCLA neuropsychiatric unit.
The attorney, Joseph Schleimer, said he wanted to know whether the drugs mentioned in Lynne Spears' book were actually in her daughter's system when she was hospitalized.
The judge said it was unlikely that had been determined, and noted the report was inadmissible without testimony from a doctor or other expert witness. The lawyer had listed no such witnesses for the trial.
Lutfi said he attended college but never graduated due to problems with attention deficit disorder, for which he has taken medication for years. He said he works as a consultant in his mother's gas station business and has helped produce music videos for Courtney Love and other rock singers.
Britney Spears' self-styled manager testifies
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Britney Spears' self-styled manager took the stand in his defamation lawsuit against her parents Tuesday, claiming he acted to protect her from paparazzi and others during a critical period in her life.


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Don't forget to check my blog every Monday morning for my New/Updated Websites, Blogs, and Newspaper Articles.
I love to go across this grand county of ours and pick out the interesting things that have happened in the genealogy, history, and heritage world the previous week and bring them to you.
I also check on the latest Canadian blogs, and websites to see what is new in them.
This week, I also highlight a Facebook pages too!
So don't miss the New/Updated Websites, Blogs, and Newspaper Articles blog on Monday February 25th.
It has been a regular blog since April 23, 2012.


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PITTSBURGH (AP) Marvin Lewis raised his hand, wiped his brow and let out a ``whoo.''
There used to be a time when the Cincinnati Bengals coach would make a bad decision and his team would lose.
Only that doesn't happen anymore. Not with Andy Dalton and A.J. Green changing the Bengals' woeful history one gut-check victory at a time.
The second-year quarterback and wide receiver connected for a 21-yard completion in the final seconds, setting up Josh Brown's game-winning 43-yard field goal in a 13-10 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday to send the Bengals back to the playoffs.
``Obviously we know the history is that we haven't been (in the postseason) two years in a row for the last 30 years,'' Dalton said. ``But since I have been here I haven't known that. My class, me, A.J., some of these other guys, we come in and expect to go to the playoffs.''
A place the Bengals (9-6) are heading to once again after another late-game gaffe by Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.
Roethlisberger tossed an interception on the second play of overtime a week ago in a loss to Dallas. This time his pass to Mike Wallace sailed high and Cincinnati safety Reggie Nelson returned it to the Pittsburgh 46.
Two plays later, Cincinnati clinched a wild-card berth while the Steelers (7-8) saw their postseason hopes disappear after losing for the fifth time in six games.
`'We should be (in the playoffs) if it wasn't for me,'' Roethlisberger said.
Roethlisberger's mistake helped the Bengals bail out their coach, who allowed Brown to attempt a 56-yard field goal in the swirling Heinz Field winds with 3:18 to go. The kick never had a chance and gave the Steelers a chance to put together a potential game-winning drive.
Looking back, Lewis admits he probably made the wrong choice.
``I make decisions to try and win the game,'' Lewis said. ``Today it kind of backfired on me.''
Just not on his team, which is heading to the playoffs in consecutive seasons for the first time since 1981-82, six years before Green was born.
``This has been our goal coming in at the beginning of the season,'' Green said. ``A lot of people talked about we hadn't been in in back to back seasons in 30 years. I don't worry about that stuff. I've been here two years and we made the playoffs all two years. That's all we can control.''
Shredding the label as erratic - and sometimes comical - losers one improbable victory at a time, the Bengals, their precocious duo of Green and Dalton and their quickly improving defense have Cincinnati in uncharted territory.
The Bengals have been around since 1968. This is the first time they'll make the postseason in two straight non-strike years.
``I know they just think that there's some complex; there's no complex, you've just got to come play and win,'' Lewis said. ``This group in there has very little history of anything.''
Maybe that's why Bengals aren't doomed to repeat it.
Dalton completed 24 of 41 for 278 yards and two interceptions for the Bengals, which snapped a five-game losing streak to Pittsburgh. Green caught 10 passes for 116 yards and Cincinnati's defense never let the Steelers get comfortable. The Bengals sacked Roethlisberger four times and allowed Pittsburgh to complete just 2 of 14 third downs.
``Not our day and thus, not our year,'' Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin said. ``Just not enough significant plays at the moments. Sounds like a broken record but reality as we sit here.''
Pittsburgh did a decent job of keeping Dalton and Green in check, posting season highs with three turnovers and six sacks. The Bengals couldn't run the ball at all, managing just 14 yards against the NFL's top defense. Still, it wasn't enough for the Steelers, turning a season that looked so promising before Election Day into a muddled mess.
Instead of making playoff plans, the team that was 6-3 on Nov. 4 needs a win next week against Cleveland to avoid the first losing season in Tomlin's six-year tenure.
``It hurts bad, not making the playoffs,'' Pittsburgh cornerback Keenan Lewis said. ``We're going to be home with the rest of them, watching.''
Not Cincinnati, which took another step forward behind a young core intent on changing the perception of a team known not so long ago as ``the Bungles.''
``I grew up in Cincinnati so the city should be buzzing,'' punter Kevin Huber said. ``We have a big game next weekend. New we have to get ready to go to the playoffs.''
NOTES: Cincinnati's 14 yards rushing were the second-fewest in franchise history. The Bengals had 4 yards rushing against Baltimore in 2000 ... Pittsburgh TE Heath Miller left game in the fourth quarter with a right knee injury ... Brown is 8 of 9 since taking over for Nugent three weeks ago ... Five of Pittsburgh's eight losses this season have come by three points ... Steelers RB Rashard Mendenhall had 50 yards rushing in his return after serving a one-game suspension for conduct detrimental to the team.


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Kobe Bryant congratulates himself for influencing the work ethic of a generation
There are few players in NBA history with the work ethic of Kobe Bryant, which is both why he's managed to stay at an All-Star level for so many seasons and why he managed to fulfill has massive potential in the first place. Whenever Kobe has the opportunity to improve his game, he takes it. He's also fanatically competitive and serious about his job.
It makes sense, then, that Bryant would have been a major influence on the generation of stars that followed his ascendance. Kobe, for one, is willing to credit himself for that impact. From Dave McMenamin for ESPNLosAngeles.com (via SLAM):
"Just by observation of some of the younger players that I face now, they wind up having a similar mentality that I had," Bryant said when asked how he has changed the sport during his time as a pro. "Because growing up, they were obviously watching me when I was 21, 22 years old and just kind of by any means necessary get things done, not afraid of the big moment and extremely competitive. They all have these work ethics now and most of them get up at five in the morning to train like I do. It's pretty cool."
Kobe has never been shy about talking up his accomplishments, so we shouldn't be terribly surprised that he has acknowledged his influence on the current crop of NBA stars younger than 30. What's most notable about these comments is that they don't even come across as particularly arrogant. Really, they're more like fact.
Bryant first arrived on the scene as a brash youngster who attended to his high school prom with Brandy Norwood and released a singularly terrible album. But that attitude quickly gave way to a more serious approach dependent on all-out effort and single-minded focus. If Kobe (and many failed superstars of the same era) initially tried to be like Michael Jordan by mimicking his global brand, then he corrected course by fixating on the same intense competitiveness that drove His Airness.
It's easy to see a similar approach today in players like LeBron James and Kevin Durant. Yes, those guys don't shy away from courting celebrity, but at a basic level they try to present themselves as professionals. While Jordan always emphasized that part of his game by winning, no one has fetishized determination quite like Kobe. He showed that it could be replicated. While he hasn't been the only influence on his younger peers, he sure as heck gave them one way to get to where they are today.


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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – About 300 men and women marched down Bay Street to the Police Memorial Building on Tuesday morning to make a statement about sexual abuse.
After years of silence, 23 people in the group came forward to present accusations against 27 sexual abusers. Carrying signs reading "No More Silent Crimes, Silent Children," "I Told on You" and "Stop Sexual Abuse," the supporters are part of ReClaim Global.
The march was led by the group's founder, Dr. Kaye Smith, who is trying to bring a crime usually in the shadows out in the public.
IMAGES: Marching against sex abuse | VIDEO: Marchers take to streets
"We have broken the cycle of silence today, and now we must work hard to break the silence of our children," Smith said.
Ann Dugger, of the Justice Coalition, who participated in the march, said if victims didn't stay silent, crimes like Jarred Harrell's killing of 7-year-old Somer Thompson might be prevented.
"It is very important when a child says something is happening, is not right, that someone lends an ear and listens to them and does something about it," Dugger said.
Other advocates also told their stories.
"She was broken on the inside from that abuse, and she never had the confidence to do anything about it," Kitty Rodger said of her sister, who was sexually abused as a child.
There weren't just women were in the crowd. Men were also there in support.
"The detriment that is does to their life after the crime has been committed, that's the reason why," supporter Cortez Williams said.
Reclaim Global hopes the public action it took will encourage other victims to come forward and not stay silent any longer.
"So they can have a better life, so they can be sorry, so they can be healed on the inside," Rodgers said.
The group also hopes if enough people ban together that it can change laws, such as making a mother accountable if a father is the person sexually abusing a child and she knew it was happening.


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Henry Flores, director of the CFCA communications center in El Salvador, recently traveled to our Kansas City office. During his stay he received training and also taught us about his work with our Salvadoran colleagues. This is the transcript of a speech he presented to the CFCA staff.
Note: The names of the individuals mentioned in this story have been changed to protect their identity and privacy.
Francisca's story
It is 5 a.m.
Francisca, mother of a 2-year-old boy and a 7-month-old baby, is waiting for the early public transportation that will bring her from her humble community to the hospital for children in San Salvador, El Salvador's capital.
While she waits on the road, a speeding truck crashes into her, killing her and her 2-year-old. The crash also leaves her baby highly injured.
The driver runs away, leaving behind his crashed truck.
To this date, no reports have been received from the local authorities about his identity or current location.
A few days later, the baby died at a public hospital.
Francisca was on her way to the hospital in San Salvador to try to get one space, along with hundreds of other mothers, just for her baby to see a doctor.
Juanita's story
A TV news anchor on the 9:30 p.m. program reports that a little girl, a 10-year-old, has been sexually assaulted by her stepfather.
Neighbors whose identities were protected say the girl's mother was afraid to report the crime because relatives of the girl's stepfather had threatened the mother, saying they would kill her and her children if she went to the authorities.
The next day at our CFCA offices in Santa Ana, I am informed that the girl whom I saw on TV last night is sponsored by CFCA. Her name is Juanita.
What to do?
Andrea's story
Two years ago Andrea, who was 11 at that time, was taken to an orphanage in the company of her 7-year-old sister.
Their 12-year-old brother was brought to a religious community. Their father was accused of molesting these children.
A few months ago, a new law for the protection of children and youth had been approved. The law said that children should and must be reunited with their parents for their best interest.
Andrea and her siblings were reunited with their mother and came back to live in their home. Unfortunately Andrea, now 13 years old, is pregnant after being sexually assaulted by her own father.
Andrea is a CFCA sponsored child.
This is the reality I come from. One that discourages you constantly, one that does not allow you to dream, one that makes you feel powerless.
This is the darkness I have to work in.
Families living in poverty fight heroically against tremendous odds such as impunity, corruption, lack of basic resources and many other challenges.
I have been asked, "Henry, what is it that you do in the communications center?"
I am in charge of finding the light in this darkness, to help our sponsored friends and their families shine because light is stronger than darkness.
I try to give voice to those who have no voice and share these beautiful examples of dignified lives with our sponsors and audiences.
My job is to bring hope to your eyes and ears through stories, videos, blog posts, news articles and pictures from families served by CFCA in Central and South America.
My job gives me the opportunity to help prove to Francisca, Juanita and Andrea that, in spite of the negativity they have to live through, that there is hope.
In fact, thousands of people in the CFCA community around the globe will give them a chance to overcome the obstacles of poverty and human boundaries.
Have you noticed how easy it is to lose a friend but how hard it is to find one?
At CFCA we strive to create friendship, a friendship based on mutual respect and support.
Just imagine ñ some of us are behind the computers programming, some are answering phone calls, some are scanning letters, others are in the field visiting families.
We all are contributing to create just one more friendship at a time.
Thank you all so much for doing this, for offering your God-given gifts to help those in both worlds we work with, to believe that not everything is wrong and negative.
Jorge, Efrain, Naresly and I do our part in the El Salvador communications center, finding stories to be published.
We also translate letters. In the past year, we translated over 100,000 letters, coming from 10 CFCA projects in Central and South America.
It is not easy, and no one said it was going to be. We are exposed, we are at risk, but finding that light in the darkness is worth the effort.
We are not alone. We have Regina in Africa, Sreekanth in India, Luis in Guatemala and Harry in Colombia. (All of these are other CFCA communications liaisons around the world.)
Together we work hard every day to find those stories of the beauty of our sponsored friends and their families, their brimming potential and their desire for a better future despite their realities.
I want to express my deepest gratitude for the opportunity to be part of this movement, for allowing me to help in the construction of true friendships around the world, for the opportunity to be here with you, my friends.
Oh, by the way, mothers of sponsored children, living in both communities where Juanita and Andrea live, convinced the mothers to go to the authorities.
At this moment there are warrants for their arrest and soon those guys will be brought to justice.
The CFCA project in Santa Ana is offering all necessary assistance to support the current reality Juanita and Andrea are going through.


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Undergraduate Admissions
Orientation Schedule
Welcome New Freshmen and New Transfer Students!
We wish you much academic and personal success! Many orientation sessions have been planned for you. Whether you are an incoming freshman or an incoming transfer student, we encourage you to begin your future at Western by learning about the campus and its many programs, services, and resources.
We hope you will participate in the many opportunities offered throughout the year to strengthen your awareness of this community value. The following is a list of orientation activities. Certain events have been highlighted for your benefit; however, we encourage you to attend all the activities that apply to you.
For questions about Orientation, please contact Transitional Programs at firstname.lastname@example.com.
- Summer Orientation Schedule (Summer Orientation)
- Fall Orientation Schedule (Leatherneck Launch)