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Checking in on… the Mountain WestPosted by rtmsf on March 5th, 2010
Andrew Murawa is the RTC correspondent for the Mountain West and Pac-10 Conferences.
Standings (as of 3/5)
- New Mexico (28-3, 14-2)
- San Diego State (21-8, 10-5)
- Utah (14-15, 7-8)
- Colorado State (15-14, 6-9)
- Wyoming (10-19, 3-12)
- Air Force (9-19, 1-14)
Team of the Week. New Mexico. The obvious answer here, as the Lobos this week knocked off BYU at the Marriott Center to clinch at least a portion of the regular season title, then followed that up by knocking off TCU back at The Pit to wrap up their MWC schedule with their 14th straight victory after starting out the conference season 0-2. The Lobos will head to Las Vegas as the #1 seed and have the potential to take home perhaps a #2 seed in the NCAA tournament should they extend their winning streak to 17.
Player of the Week. Darington Hobson, Jr, New Mexico. The junior JuCo transfer wrapped up this title, as well as my vote for the MWC Player of the Year, by leading his team to a win at BYU and a MWC title. Along the way this week, he averaged a mere 20 points, 14 rebounds (he in fact had exactly 20/14 in both games this week) and 5.5 assists, and had the key defensive play at the end of the Lobos win over BYU when he rejected Noah Hartsock's game-tying attempt in the closing seconds.
Newcomer of the Week. Hobson.
Game of the Week. New Mexico 83 BYU 81. While this game came down to the wire and provided plenty of drama in a game for the conference regular season title, it is unfortunate that this game may be more notable for what didn't happen than what did, specifically BYU's junior guard Jimmer Fredette riding the pine for all but 29 seconds in the second half due to an "upset stomach." The Cougars did have backup point Michael Loyd step up in Fredette's absence to the tune of 19 points, but there is little doubt that the Cougars were at less than 100% effectiveness without their best player. The other story that came out of this matchup that had little to do with the game was New Mexico head coach Steve Alford aiming an insult at BYU senior forward Jonathan Tavernari after the game. Nevermind that Tavernari's behavior in the closing minutes of the game was suspect at best, Alford was somewhat out of line. As far as the game goes, there were plenty of great moments, but most fans are left wanting a rematch in Vegas, preferably with a healthy Fredette.
Game of the Upcoming Week. The MWC Tournament Championship Game, March 13, 4pm, Versus. The remaining games in the MWC regular season schedule are all more or less snoozers, although UNLV, San Diego State and BYU will have to avoid slipping up against Wyoming, TCU and Air Force, respectively. But, at this point in the season, all eyes turn toward the MWC Tournament in Las Vegas next weekend, in what should feature some very competitive semifinals and a great final.
League Notes
At this point, there are four teams with NCAA dreams (New Mexico, BYU, UNLV and San Diego State) and a couple others (Utah and Colorado State) with their eyes on the NIT (or potentially, one of the other fourteen lesser post-season tournaments that have popped up recently – ah look, there goes another one now). While that makes for a banner season in the MWC, the concern around the league is not just getting to the tournament, but advancing. With that in mind, a brief look at how high (in terms of NCAA seedings) and how far these teams can go.
- New Mexico – The Lobos will likely end up somewhere between a #2 and a #4 seed. If they roll through the MWC Tournament and get maybe one or two other breaks, they could potentially get up to a #2, while if they falter, say in the semifinals, they could slide to a #4. Split the difference and put 'em down for a #3. In terms of how far they can go, clearly a team looking at those kinds of seeds has their eyes on at least the Sweet Sixteen, but a night of cold shooting especially at the foul line could cause the Lobos to underachieve. Their worst potential matchup would be with a team with a lot of size that could neutralize New Mexico's rebounding strength, a team like Gonzaga, Wisconsin or Georgia Tech. In the end, I say this is a Sweet Sixteen team, but likely no further.
- BYU – BYU's lack of great wins will probably knock them down a notch or two in seeding, so even if they are able to run through the MWC Tournament, they probably get a #4 tops. More likely they are looking at a #5 and could slip to a #6. However, BYU may be a more dangerous team in the tournament than New Mexico. The Cougars are one of the most efficient teams on both sides of the court and feature not only a boatload of great shooters, but a strong bench as well, and this is a more athletic team than it is normally given credit for. BYU is also a team that can succeed not only in high-tempo games, but in slower grind-it-out games. I can see this team as a Sweet Sixteen team with a puncher's chance of going a step further.
- UNLV – The Rebels have enough good wins this season to more or less ensure inclusion in the tournament and they should draw a first-round battle as a seed somewhere in the #7-#9 range. Their chances of advancing depend a lot on matchups, but this is not a team that is likely to be playing on the second weekend of the NCAA tournament.
- San Diego State – The big question for the Aztecs is not so much where they will be seeded, but if they will be seeded. A big run through the MWC Tournament is the only way that Steve Fisher will be resting easy on the night of March 13, but a run to the final would at least give SDSU another quality win to hang their hat on. Either way, even if the Aztecs do get to dance, they'll likely be doing so with a double-digit seed, somewhere from #11 (if they do win the MWC tourney) to #13 (if they are among the last teams in. I've got a hunch this team will get a #12 seed, and while they are athletic enough to do some damage, they'll likely bow out quickly.
Team Roundups
New Mexico
Looking back: Not much else to say here that wasn't said above. The Lobos have wrapped up their conference schedule and by the time they play again they will not have lost in over two months. Roman Martinez dropped 19 points and five threes on TCU in his senior night performance, and junior point guard Dairese Gary has been big lately as well, having averaged 21ppg over the Lobos last three games and has been clutch down the stretch, routinely being the guy getting to the line and knocking down his shots from the charity stripe in the closing minutes of games.
Looking ahead: The Lobos get a week off to prepare for their trip to Vegas where they will open play with a matchup against the winner of the Air Force/Wyoming game before moving on to more challenging fare.
Looking back: BYU's four losses on the season have come at Utah State, at New Mexico, at UNLV, and then at home against New Mexico without their best player for much of the game. They swept the season series against in-state rival Utah, and are all ready to receive a fairly high seed in the NCAA tournament. However, despite a bevy of accomplishments, it will go down as just another season if the Cougars are unable to advance out of the first round of the NCAA tournament, something they have been unable to do in the 11-year life of the MWC. The higher the seed the Cougs get, the easier it will be for them to accomplish that goal, so a strong performance in Vegas next weekend will be vital to BYU's tournament chances.
Looking ahead: BYU wraps up the regular season by travelling to TCU on Saturday, then will face the Horned Frogs again on March 11th in the quarterfinals of the MWC Tournament.
San Diego State
Looking back: After the BYU loss, the Aztecs had just two games left on their schedule, games that they were expected to win, and they took care of the first half of that equation this week with a win over Colorado State on Wednesday. SDSU got eight straight points from junior point guard D.J. Gay to extend their lead to 33-19 at the half, and the Rams never really challenged again. Gay wound up with a team-high 16 points, while freshman forward Kawhi Leonard added 14 points and 15 rebounds and junior forward Malcolm Thomas added 10 points, eight rebounds and five assists.
Looking ahead: The Aztecs wrap up the regular season with a trip to Air Force, then will travel to the MWC Tournament, where they will be a three-seed with a win and a four-seed if they lose and UNLV wins. Either way, they are locked into a matchup with either Colorado State or Utah in the quarterfinal, and a likely matchup with either BYU or New Mexico in the semifinal, a game which will be huge for the Aztecs NCAA tournament chances.
Looking back: Much like the Aztecs, the Rebels are in the midst of a couple games they should win to wrap up the season and they're halfway there, having polished off Air Force on Saturday by 30 behind a career-high 21 points to go along with eight rebounds from sophomore forward Chace Stanback. The Rebels dominated on the glass and shot 59% from the field, while lighting it up from three as well at a 48% clip. Junior guard Kendall Wallace added five threes.
Looking ahead: The Rebels can move up to the three-seed in the MWC Tournament with a season-closing win over Wyoming paired with an unlikely SDSU loss to Air Force, and like SDSU they'll face either Colorado State or Utah in the quarters and either BYU or New Mexico in the semis. Unlike the Aztecs, the Rebels seem to already have their ticket to the NCAA tournament punched, barring a bad loss between now and then.
Looking back: The Utes are all alone in fifth place, the highest they have been this season, thanks to their win over Wyoming on Saturday coupled with a pair of Colorado State losses. Utah got 33 total points from senior Luka Drca and junior Carlon Brown, the two most capable scorers in an inconsistent lineup, and Drca in particular made this win possible with 10 of his 17 points in the last six minutes of the game. However, as if to highlight their inconsistencies, the Utes failed to have a single player score in double figures in their 20-point loss to BYU on Tuesday and the entire team when over 8:30 of game time without scoring a single point ranging from the end of the first half through the start of the second and the team shot just 27% and turned the ball over 17 times.
Looking ahead: Utah will have a chance to get back to .500 on the season and wrap up the fifth seed when they travel to Colorado State on Saturday in a battle of the middle-of-the-pack MWC teams.
Colorado State
Looking back: For the first time all season, the Rams have lost four in a row, following a week in which they dropped a couple road games after giving up big runs. Against TCU on Saturday, the Frogs finished the game on a 20-6 run to come back from an eight-point deficit with 8 minutes left to win by six. Then, at SDSU on Wednesday, the Aztecs finished the first half on a 16-6 run to take a 14-point lead into the half, from which the Rams never recovered. Junior forward Andy Ogide continued his strong play of late, however, averaging 18.5ppg and 12rpg this week. Ogide has scored in double figures in nine of his last ten games, and in the one that he didn't hit double figures, he was still the team's leading scorer.
Looking ahead: The Rams host Utah on Saturday in a battle for the five-seed in Vegas, where they will have a tough quarterfinal matchup with either SDSU or UNLV.
Looking back: This was probably the Horned Frogs' best week of games since early January, and when you look at the 1-1 record with just a win over Colorado State to show for it, you get why TCU is down here in the dumps. TCU did get some signs of life from senior forward Zvonko Buljan (14.5ppg/11rpg) and senior swing Edvinas Ruzgas (12.5ppg), and rode some hot shooting (7-13 from three) against CSU to the week's lone win.
Looking ahead: The Frogs are going to get a double-dose of BYU over the next week: they'll host the Cougs on Saturday then meet them in the quarterfinals of the MWC Tournament.
Looking back: The Cowboys closed out Air Force late on Tuesday night with a 10-2 run to seal, well, nothing more than eighth place in the conference. But, the highlight for Heath Schroyer's team over the back-end of the schedule has been the emergence of freshman guard Desmar Jackson as a legitimate scoring threat. Jackson had 31 in Wyoming's loss to Utah on Saturday, then followed that up with 12 points and five assists against the Falcons, and has scored in double figures in nine of his last ten games.
Looking ahead: The Cowboys will be playing the rest of their games this season at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. They'll face UNLV there on Saturday to wrap up their regular season schedule, then face Air Force there in the first round game of the MWC Tournament.
Air Force
Looking back: It's been a rough season for the Falcons (again), with injuries decimating a roster that was already the least talented in the conference. And while they will likely finish up with just a 1-15 conference record (a one-game improvement over last year, mind you), they have fought it out right to the end. They put a scare into New Mexico a week ago, and this week (after getting demolished by UNLV in Colorado Springs), got to with a point of Wyoming late on Tuesday before folding down the stretch and cementing their hold on last place.
Looking ahead: The Falcons host SDSU on Saturday, then get a rematch with Wyoming, this time on a neutral court in the MWC Tournament.


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Fayette FFA members recently competed in two competitions.
The Parliamentary Procedure team placed third at the district competition, just one place from qualifying for the state competition.
The team had to conduct and run a formal business meeting and answer questions about parliamentary procedure.
Team members are Kalley Martin, Amanda Gilmore, Dakota Shay, Darrell Randall, Parker Stockburger, Ben Kovar, Jessie Torres, Jake West, Clay Burkholder and Reba Rash.
In the job interview competition, Taylor Curry and Amanda Gilmore both advanced to the district contest. Contestants went through job interviews and wrote thank-you letters following the interview. Curry placed fourth.
The Fayette FFA was in charge of Christmas Cheer this year for the Fayette School District. The school collected 1,786 non-perishable goods to donate to the Christmas Cheer efforts of Fulton County.
The seniors won the class competition with 285 items from only 20 students.
The FFA officer team delivered the donations to the Fulton County Fair Grounds and helped sort and hand out the food collected.
The next Fayette FFA Alumni meeting is scheduled at 7 p.m. Jan. 26 in the high school agriculture room.

subset: commoncrawl


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After getting behind the camera for the drama In the Land of Blood and Honey, Angelina Jolie will get back in front for the fairy-tale re-imagining Maleficent. Director Robert Stromberg's spin on the Sleeping Beauty tells the story from the eponymous villain's point of view. Jolie recently commented on what we can expect from the upcoming film, which is scheduled to start shooting in June.
Hit the jump for what Jolie had to say about Maleficent including her take on the character's personality, how Maleficent can be good for young girls, and how the sorceress will look.
Speaking to EW, Jolie says Maleficent won't be total villain, but an "epic woman" who's multi-dimensional:
I hope in the end you see a woman who is capable of being many things, and just because she protects herself and is aggressive, it doesn't mean she can't have other [warmer] qualities. You have to figure out the puzzle of what she is.
Jolie also made the surprising comment that although Maleficent isn't going to be a misunderstood character like Wicked's Elphaba, there's still going to be something positive for young girls:
It sounds really crazy to say that there will be something that's good for young girls in this, because it sounds like you're saying they should be a villain. [Maleficent] is actually a great person. But she's not perfect. She's far from perfect.
It seems like Jolie has latched on to the magnificence of the character, and I'm curious to see how she plays that grandiosity (provided that's the direction she chooses to go).
No matter how she plays the character, we can expect her to at least have a bit of a resemblance to Disney's 1959 animated version:
We're still figuring out the look. We're experimenting with different things. But the horns are the horns – you can't deny them. You have to have horns.


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Age & Generations Study
The Age & Generations Study conducted by the Sloan Center on Aging & Work at Boston College was designed and implemented to gather new, practical information about contemporary multi-generational work teams. Specifically, the Study examined the extent to which diversity—with respect to age/generation, life-stage events, career-stage, and tenure—influences employees' experiences at work.
The Study was conducted by the Sloan Center on Aging & Work at Boston College between November 2007 and September 2008 (Time 1: November 2007 to March 2008; Time 2: May 2008 to September 2008). The Center collaborated with 9 U.S. workplaces (12 departments) on this study. Data was collected using surveys, most of which were completed online, though some employees used written questionnaires. Employees were asked a series of questions about the following topics: employees' perceptions of their work, organization/department as a whole, work group, supervisor/team leader, work style, and outlook on life. In total, approximately 2,210 employees participated in Time 1 and 1,300 in Time 2.
- The Difference A Downturn Can Make: Assessing the Early Effects of the Economic Crisis on the Employment Experiences of Workers (June 2009)
by Christina Matz-Costa, Marcie Pitt-Catsouphes, Elyssa Besen & Kathy Lynch
- Age & Generations: Understanding Experiences at the Workplace (March 2009)
by Marcie Pitt-Catsouphes, Christina Matz-Costa, and Elyssa Besen
- Engaging the 21st Century Multi-generational Workforce: Findings from the Age & Generations Study (March 2009)
by Marcie Pitt-Catsouphes, Christina Matz-Costa
- Workplace Flexibility: Findings from the Age & Generations Study (January 2009)
by Marcie Pitt-Catsouphes, Christina Matz-Costa, and Elyssa Besen
key research questions
- Is it important for employers to consider age/generation, life course, career-stage, and tenure in understanding the employment experiences of their workers?
- Are there relationships between age-related factors and employees' experiences as team members?
- If we use different age-related markers to examine employees' reports of their work experiences, do we gain a deeper understanding about the quality of their employment?
selected findings & implications
Recent Analyses—The Effect of the Economic Downturn (Perceptions Pre-Downturn and Post)
Analyses revealed that, overall, after the onset of the economic downturn employees perceived:
- A decrease in their job security.
- A drop in supervisor support.
- An increase in work overload.
- A decrease in feelings of inclusion.
- A decrease in job quality.
- No change in perceptions of the effectiveness of work teams.
When we examined whether these effects differed by age or changes in perceptions of job security, we found that after the onset of the economic downturn:
- The extent of the decrease in engagement scores became smaller with each successive age group.
- The extent of change in the measures of job security, supervisor support, work overload, inclusion, and job quality stayed relatively constant across age groups.
- Perceptions of engagement, supervisor support, inclusion, and job quality declined for employees who felt that their job security had decreased, but it stayed the same or only slightly declined for those whose job security had stayed the same or increased.
- Those who felt that their job security decreased or stayed the same before and after the onset of the downturn experienced a slight increase in work overload during this time period, whereas those whose job security increased experienced a slight decline in their perceptions of work overload.
- In terms of perceptions of team effectiveness, those who felt that their job security decreased perceived a slight decrease in team effectiveness before and after the onset of the downturn, whereas those whose job security increased perceived a slight increase in their perceptions of team effectiveness. Those whose job security stayed the same, however, did not perceive an increase or decrease in work team effectiveness.
Finally, we assessed whether the extent to which employee perceptions changed after the onset of the economic crisis varied both by age and by changes in employee perceptions of their job security (To make this a little simpler, we organized the employees into just two age groups: those under age 50 and those aged 50 or older):
- Among those under age 50 whose job security increased, perceptions of team effectiveness also increased before and after the onset of the downturn. But, for those under the age of 50 whose job security decreased or stayed the same, perceptions of team effectiveness decreased. In contrast, among those aged 50 and over, those whose job security increased perceived a decrease in the effectiveness of their work team; however, those whose job security decreased or stayed the same perceived that the effectiveness of their work team remained pretty stable between the two data collection periods.
- We did not find that the patterns of change in employee engagement, supervisor support, work overload, inclusion, or job quality were different when we considered the job security circumstances of those under the age of 50 and those who were 50 years of age and older.
Previous Analyses—Age, Generation, Career Stage, Life-Stage
- The relationships among these four different ways to look at our lives (age/generation, life course, career-stage, and tenure) can vary considerably from individual to individual. For example, the span of ages within different career-stages is quite large. The ages of those who reported that they were in early-career ranged from age 17 to 61 years; mid-career, from 22 to 62 years; and late-career, from 28 to 81 years.
- Generation Y'ers/Millennials (those age 26 or under) experienced less work overload than employees in Generation X (ages 27-42) and the Baby Boomers (ages 43-61).
- Older Baby Boomers (age 53-61) were less likely to perceive their supervisors as supportive and effective than those in the Younger Generation X group (ages 27 to 35).
- Early-career employees experienced less work overload than mid- or late-career employees.
- Mid-career employees perceived greater access to flexible work options than did early- or late-career employees.
- Early-career employees were more likely to perceive their supervisors as supportive than mid- or late-career employees.
- Employees with eldercare responsibilities (but no children under the age of 18) felt less secure in their jobs than those with children under the age of 18 (but no eldercare responsibilities).
- Employees with eldercare responsibilities (but not children under the age of 18) felt that they had less access to flexibility then those with children under the age of 18 (but no eldercare) and those not providing any dependent care.
- Employees with no dependent care responsibilities were more satisfied with their benefits than those with children under the age of 18 (but no eldercare responsibilities).
- Those with 3.01-10 years of tenure felt less included in their team than those with 0-3 years or 10.01 or more years of tenure.
- Those 0-3 years of tenure felt more supported by their supervisor and felt that their supervisors were more effective than those with 3.01 or more years of tenure.
- Those with the least amount of tenure (0-3 years) perceived that they had greater access to learning and development opportunities than those with 3.01 or more years of tenure.
Implications for Employers
- Although most workplace-based resources – such as flexible work options – are available to all employees (regardless of age), employees of different ages might access or experience those resources in different ways. Therefore, employers might find it helpful to examine the extent to which their policies and programs are, in reality, age-neutral.
- It is important to keep in mind that employees of ALL ages might: be early-, mid-, or late-career workers; have tenure that ranges significantly; and may or may not have responsibilities for dependent care.
- Employees' assessments of their employment experiences are different when you examine them through multiple age-related lenses. Therefore, employers will find it useful to consider age-related factors (such as career-stage, tenure, and life course experiences) as well as chronological age (or generations that mark age groups) when they gather information about their employees' experiences at the workplace.
For much of the 20th century, age was used as an indicator of the "seasons of our lives," in part because it seemed that, for many of us, our lives unfolded in a way that (more or less) appeared to correspond with age. But, if you think for a minute about your own life and the lives of others you know, is chronological age alone a reliable indicator of your experiences? Doubtfully.
Several major changes have occurred that make chronological age an unreliable indicator of individual's experiences with regard to work and life:
- Life course events and transitions such as education completion, career entry and exit, marriage, family formation, divorce, and retirement are tied less and less to chronological age than they were in the past.
- Such events/transitions are more continuous and multi-directional than they used to be.
- Life trajectories with regard to these various events/transitions are interdependent upon each other and may develop simultaneously and reciprocally within and across individual lives1.
When examining our workforce, we must examine employees' perceptions of their employment experiences through multiple age-related lenses including, but not limited to:
- Chronological Age/Generations:
Chronological age is often used as proxy measure for age-related individual human development (physical, social, emotional, cognitive). The term generation (typically defined using a chronological age cut-off) refers to population groups of people who are approximately the same age. Key societal experiences (such as economic circumstances, historical events, and dominant cultural values) have the potential to affect enduring ways that a majority of the members of these groups view the world and make meaning out of their experiences.
- Life Stage:
Life Stage refers to important transitional experiences that shape major life roles (often indicated by markers of life events and transitions, such as marriage or the birth of children, which connect us to our social world).
- Career-Stage:
The career-stage designation is a way of thinking about experiences that mark the accumulation of knowledge, competencies, skills and social capital related to a particular type of career or line of work. While career progression might seem more or less clear for some occupations and professions, it is not for others. Furthermore, if an employee has made a career change or has taken some time out from the workforce, they might feel that they are actually in an earlier career-stage than they had been in the past.
- Tenure:
Tenure refers the number of years that an employee has been with a particular employer (or, in some cases, the number of years the person has been in a particular job). Tenure is, of course, often related to career-stage and age. In contrast to the age-related factors discussed above (which are descriptors of the individual employee), tenure is a measure of the relationship between the individual and the organization.
age & generations study team
For more information on Age & Generations Study, or to schedule a conversation with any of the Center's team, please contact:
617-552-9195 | email@example.com
primary investigators
|Marcie Pitt-Catsouphes, PhD
Sloan Center on Aging & Work, Boston College
Graduate School of Social Work & Caroll School of Management, Boston College
research team
|Elyssa Besen, PhD
Research Scientist
Center for Disability Research, Liberty Mutual Research Institute for Safety
|Melissa Brown, MSW, PhD
Adjunct Faculty
Graduate School of Social Work, Boston College
|Jacquelyn B. James, PhD
Co-Director of Research, Primary Data Studies
Sloan Center on Aging & Work, Boston College
Research Professor
Lynch School of Education, Boston College
|Kathy Lynch, MBA
|Christina Matz-Costa, MSW, PhD
Senior Research Associate
Sloan Center on Aging & Work, Boston College
Assistant Professor
Graduate School of Social Work at Boston College
Ariane Ollier-Malaterre, PhD
|Jennifer Swanberg, PhD
Associate Professor of Social Work
College of Social Work, Colleges of Medicine and Public Health, University of Kentucky
Executive Director
Institute for Workplace Innovation, University of Kentucky
|Monique Valcour, PhD
Professor of Management
EDHEC Business School, France.
|1 O'Rand, A.M. & Campbell, R.T. (1999). On reestablishing the phenomenon and specifying ignorance: Theory development and research design in aging. In V.L. Bengtson, & K.W. Schaie, Handbook of Theories of Aging (pp. 59-78). New York, NY: Springer Publishing Company.


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Because we are committed to improving the oral healthcare knowledge of our patients, we are providing the following selection of dental videos which we hope you will find interesting and informative. We have grouped the videos into various categories to provide quick access to the topics of greatest interest to you.
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Terry Ryan
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Ali Reeder


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|Can you hear me now? Even in remote corners of Africa, the cellphone has become indispensbile for people like Bridgette who lives in Opuwo in northeast Namibia.
Jeff Barbee
|Repair shops like one in Opuwo in an old wrecked Toyota pickup have sprung up all over.
Jeff Barbee
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Namibia's plucky fix-it industry handles all manner of disaster: Melted phone? No problem. Dead battery? Jump start it with a car.By Stephanie Hanes | Correspondent of The Christian Science Monitor
On the flatbed sits an aluminum-sided shack, identified by a hand-painted sign: Okau Cell Part & Repair Shop. Inside you'll see a generator, a car battery, a smattering of dusty pink phone jackets, and a dozen different chargers hanging like sausage in a butcher shop. This is where Jack Nendongo works his magic.
"I do all repairs," he says, watching three women in traditional Himba tribal garb – thick beaded necklaces over bare breasts and animal-skin skirts – walk by. "People here, they must have their cellphones."
He doesn't just fix phones, he explains. For less than a dollar he charges them – a much needed service in a region where more villages have cellphones than electricity.
Over the past decade, the number of cellphone users in Africa has grown faster than anywhere else in the world. According to Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Entrepreneurial Programming and Research on Mobiles unit, the continent's cellphone usage has increased about 65 percent annually for the past five years – from about 63 million users in 2004 to 152 million in 2006.
"Cellphones are in the deepest rural areas in Africa," says Saadhna Panday, of South Africa's Human Sciences Research Council. "More people have access to a cellphone than a land line."
And the way people use and care for their mobile phones is different than in the wealthy, BlackBerry-addicted West. Here, people send text messages to friends, but also use their cells to do banking and organize political rallies. In areas with no TV, farmers use phones to get agricultural news and weather reports. (The Kenya Agricultural Commodity Exchange, for instance, sends text messages with up-to-date market prices.) In townships, entrepreneurs will set up cellphone booths, where passers-by can use airtime for a slightly inflated price.
In all these ways, says Panday, cellphones have increased networking among Africans and have lessened the global "digital divide" between haves and have nots.
"Young people today, more than any generation, have digital savvy," she says. "They all have access to SMS [short message service] and cellphones."
Africa has its own cell etiquette. Here, people tend to buy airtime as they go – cell contracts similar to the ones people use in the US tend to require a higher monthly income than the majority earn – and there is much maneuvering to save "units." Most Namibians, for instance, touch base with one another by inexpensive SMS.
"Especially on Fridays," says Betty Matthews, a resident of Katatura, the township of
Windhoek, Namibia's capital city.
Why Fridays?
"Because it's free!" she exclaims incredulously, in unison with two friends who are standing next two her. They explain that on Fridays, one cell company offers free SMS-ing, so friends tend to wait until the end of the week to connect. Ms. Matthews says that many people also have two or more phones, each with SIM (subscriber identity module) cards from different providers, so they can take advantage of the day's best deals.
There are other techniques to use another person's airtime instead of yours. You might "beep" someone – repeatedly, if necessary – by calling and hanging up after one ring. Or you can send a "please call" message, which is free because it's attached to a text advertisement. Or, better yet, you can SMS a free message asking someone to transfer money to your account – the best antidote to the "please recharge" message that plagues those who have burned through their units.
"Usually I'll send that to my girlfriends," says a Namibian who gives his name only as Enrico because he doesn't want his girlfriends to realize the word is plural. "They always send me minutes."
It's not too surprising, then, that the all-valuable "unit" has its place in pop culture – the Congolese group Zaiko Langa Langa, for instance, sings, "Ba unités nionso ya bolingo esili pasi na ngai veuiller recharger moncompteur d'amour."
"All of love's units are used up. Please recharge my love account."
In this part of the world, people often try to fix their cellphones when technological disaster strikes rather than buying new ones, which range from $30 to $2,000. (In a region where most people live on less than $2 a day, even the least expensive phone is an investment.)
This has sparked a new sort of business in both rural areas and city townships: the independent cellphone repair shop. Mr. Nendongo's shop in Opuwo, for instance, is one of five owned by a local businessman. And his company is only one of many. "We have too much competition these days," he sighs.
The day before, Nendongo fixed a customer's cellphone that had partly melted in the brutal Namibian heat. (He attached the phone battery to a car battery and jump-started it, he says.) But he says that this week has mostly been quiet – he is waiting for a new stock of cell accessories, which sell well at the end of the month.
Usually housed in some form of shipping container or shack, establishments like the Okau Cell Part & Repair Shop are often manned by a mobile phone company employee in off hours, or sometimes by a cellphone mechanic who has gone independent.
"The guys in Katatura are less expensive than the cellphone shops," says Matthews, who recently dropped off her phone and its broken screen at one such establishment. "But there you must be very slick."
She explains that sometimes the local shop owners will take parts from a client's phone and replace them with older items.
Enrico agrees with Matthews's assessment of the independent repair shops. But he says his problem these days isn't that his phone is broken, but that it is lost – along with the information for 150 or so contacts he had programmed into it. He shakes his head at the thought.
"Eish," he says. "All my numbers. Now, I'm writing everything down in a book."
Repair shops like one in Opuwo in an old wrecked
Toyota pickup have sprung up all over.
Jeff Barbee
via Putting People First
via CS Monitor


text:
Video on website
Woman denied insurance
because of dog
Updated: Sunday, 17 May 2009, 11:53 PM EDT
Published : Sunday, 17 May 2009, 11:53 PM EDT
Story by: Sara Welch
Milford (WTNH) - One Milford woman was denied insurance coverage all because of the type of dog she owns. And, now she wants to warn other pet owners that they, too, may be at risk.
When it comes to her dog Pryor, Laura Pendleton treats him like family.
"He was a rescue dog," she said.
Pryor came from a Shelter 9-years ago. And since then, the Pitbull Mix has lived with Laura at her home in Milford without any trouble. She's got paperwork from the vet to prove it.
"He said he is an asset to society and he's a loyal, fun-loving, neutered dog," said Laura.
So, when it came time to renew her homeowner's insurance policy, Laura thought nothing of filling out a questionnaire that asked whether a dog lived at the residence and if so what breed.
"And I said American Staffordshire Terrier and two days later I got the renewal notice denied," she said. "And the reason they gave was that he is an unacceptable mix."
So what changed? Why was Laura being dropped by The Hartford? News Channel 8 asked Laura's insurance agent.
"Initially my understanding is the was a terrier mix and that did not present a problem," said Insurance Agent Don Burns. "And on a questionnaire, she indicated the dog was a Pitbull, but breed Pitbull which is going to cause a problem with just about every insurance company in the world."
"When I called him that night I got the cancellation notice he told me that perhaps I was too forthcoming on the questionnaire; that upset me even more," said Laura. "I don't think it's fair to be punished on a breed."
But it's not just Pitbulls that are considered a risk by insurance companies. Other breeds like Rottweilers, Doberman Pincher and German Shepherds are sometimes questioned. It all depends on the insurance company you are dealing with.
"I think it's discrimination," said Laura.
State Senator Ed Myers proposed legislation that forbids insurance companies from denying homeowners insurance because of a specific breed.
It would all allow homeowners to get insurance at a higher premium if their dog has bitten someone before.
"I think there is a way out of this and we are going to do this legislatively," said Sen. Myers.
What does the state insurance department have to say?
"Connecticut does allow insurance companies to exclude a specific breed based on risk. It does not allow insurance companies blanket exclusions for all breeds of dogs because the state says that would be unfairly discriminatory to dog owners."
This means insurance companies cannot have a policy that says no dogs will be covered.
The state said because of competition there are insurance companies that will insure pet owners like Laura who says Pryor is staying put.
"Cause he is not going anywhere, he's just not, he's been part of the family for too long," Laura said.
Laura has since found an insurance company that will cover her dog. The legislation may be heard in the coming weeks.
http://www.cga.ct.gov/2005/fc/2005HB-06 ... 253-FC.htm
General Assembly
File No. 253
January Session, 2005
Substitute House Bill No. 6543
House of Representatives, April 11, 2005
The Committee on Insurance and Real Estate reported through REP. O'CONNOR of the 35th Dist., Chairperson of the Committee on the part of the House, that the substitute bill ought to pass.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:
Section 1. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2005) (a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, with respect to a policy for personal risk insurance, as defined in section 38a-663 of the general statutes, delivered, issued for delivery, renewed, amended or continued in this state on or after October 1, 2005, no insurer may use the breed of dog owned by the insured as a basis for (1) establishing rates or minimum premiums under the policy, or (2) cancelling, refusing to renew or refusing to issue such policy.
(b) An insurer may establish rates or minimum premiums under such policy or cancel, refuse to renew or refuse to issue such policy on the basis of (1) the insurer's evaluation of the risk presented by the specific dog owned by the insured, or (2) claims history with respect to the specific dog owned by the insured. Such claims history shall be limited to claims paid because the dog has bitten or attacked a person or animal during the three-year period immediately preceding the renewal or issue date of the policy.
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:
Section 1
October 1, 2005
New section
Joint Favorable Subst.
The following fiscal impact statement and bill analysis are prepared for the benefit of members of the General Assembly, solely for the purpose of information, summarization, and explanation, and do not represent the intent of the General Assembly or either House thereof for any purpose:
OFA Fiscal Note
State Impact: None
Municipal Impact: None
The bill prohibits personal risk insurers from considering an insured's dog's breed when setting policy rates or minimum premiums. The bill has no fiscal impact.
OLR Bill Analysis
sHB 6543
This bill prohibits personal risk insurers from considering an insured's dog's breed when setting policy rates or minimum premiums. It also prohibits such insurers from using the dog's breed as the reason for canceling, not renewing, or not issuing a policy.
But, the bill permits such insurers to set rates and premiums and cancel, not renew, or not issue a policy based on (1) a risk evaluation of the insured's dog or (2) claims paid because the insured's dog bit or attacked a person or animal during the three years immediately preceding the policy renewal or issue date.
Personal risk insurance includes homeowners, tenants, private passenger automobile, mobile home, and other property and casualty insurance for personal, family, or household needs. The bill applies to personal risk insurance policies delivered, issued for delivery, renewed, amended, or continued on and after October 1, 2005.
EFFECTIVE DATE: October 1, 2005
Insurance and Real Estate Committee
Joint Favorable Substitute


text:
German Chamomile has a calming aroma that helps create feelings of peace and patience. This oil can be applied as part of a massage to desired areas. This daisy-like plant has been introduced to North America and Australia and is the most popular source of the herb chamomile.
In Aromatherapy, it can be used:
Please refer to specific label instructions for how to use tips and information.
Click here to view German Chamomile label.


text:
>In or out of the water, corticosteroid medication should always be taken with the understanding that a rare side effect is to cause serious deterioration of the head ("ball" of the ball-and-socket joint) of the femur, the long bone of the thigh.
>For more information on marine life injuries, see the complete article by Paul S. Auerbach, M.D., M.S. on Marine Life Trauma from the Jan/Feb 1998 issue of Alert Diver.


text:
Academic integrity
Five values are fundamental to the business of the University and form the basis of academic integrity:
- honesty
- fairness
- trust
- responsibility
- respect
All members of the University community are required to uphold these values and comply with the code of conduct (PDF, 211KB) in all of their activities.
To preserve the quality of learning, the University may impose severe sanctions on activities that undermine academic integrity.
There are two major categories of academic dishonesty:
Academic Integrity Module (AIM)
All new undergraduate, postgraduate, research and non-award program students need to complete the University's Academic Integrity Module (AIM). This is an online test that is available through UONline.
AIM must be completed before the end of a student's first enrolment period (trimester, semester or block). Successful completion will be automatically recorded against their academic record in NUSTAR. If they do not complete AIM in the designated time frame, they will not be able to re-enrol, view grades or transcripts, or graduate.
For more information view the guide on academic integrity information (PDF, 408KB).
Student Academic Conduct Officers
Student Academic Conduct Officers (SACOs) provide teaching staff with the support required to ensure transparency and consistency for both students and staff in determining key standards in academic literacy and ethics. SACOs are guided by the provisions of the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Student Conduct Rule.
The role of the SACO is to support and maintain academic standards when misconduct is suspected. Communication between the SACOs contributes to consistency in approach to academic integrity across the University.
- Find your School's SACO (PDF, 68KB).
- Contact the SACO Coordinator, Dr Greg Preston.
Turnitin is the University's text matching software. This academic support tool gives students and staff the ability to submit assignments and view an originality report.
Turnitin compares papers against:
- information on the internet
- papers submitted to Turnitin by other students
- proquest online journal collection databases
It doesn't match text against subscription based academic journals or textbooks unless they are already included in the Turnitin database.
It is a condition of enrolment that students accept that electronic text-matching software may be used to check their work. Staff need to set up a link to for each Turnitin assignment in Blackboard so students are able to pre-submit their work and make revisions based on the originality report.
How do I set up a Turnitin assignment?
- See a how-to guide for setting up a Turnitin assignment (PDF, 180KB).
- See information on using Turnitin more effectively (PDF,1.47MB), including interpreting originality reports.
Please note that originality reports generated by Turnitin should be interpreted by the assessor. Judgement about whether or not plagiarism has occurred can't be based solely on the percentage of matching text that is found.
For further information on the University policy on academic integrity, please refer to the Student Academic Integrity Policy.


text:
April 2, 2012 in Accessories (E)
[prMac.com] Windham, New Hampshire - Contour Design, a market leader in multimedia control surfaces, has announced a new video contest for users of its ShuttlePRO and ShuttleXpress multimedia controllers.
Shuttle users are invited to create a short video (60 seconds or less) that demonstrates why they love their Shuttle device. Entries will be accepted through April 30, 2012 and Shuttle users will be able to vote for their favorites. Winners will be announced in June 2012 and the following prizes will be awarded:
* 1st Prize: Apple iPad (3rd generation, $499.99 value)
* 2nd Prize: Contour RollerMouse Free2 ($239.95 value)
* 3rd Prize: PowerProduction Martini QuickShot Creator ($199 value)
* 4th Prize: Boris Continuum Lens Blur Unit ($99 value)
* 5th Prize: Eye Scream Factory DVD Art Professional ($99 value)
The winner will be announced via Contour Design's June Shuttle e-newsletter.
More information regarding the contest is available on the Contour Design website.
The Perfect Tool for Every Application:
ShuttlePRO v2 is a multi-functional multimedia controller for audio and video editing, photography, gaming, and many other applications. Designed for ergonomic integrity and maximum productivity, the ShuttlePRO v2 allows one-handed access to 15 fully-programmable buttons, a jog knob, and a spring-loaded shuttle wheel. At the head of the ShuttlePRO v2 are nine programmable buttons complete with crystal clear removable keycaps for labeling and ease of reference. The inner ring or 'jog knob' at the center of the ShuttlePRO v2 rotates a full 360 to provide precise frame-by-frame control while the outer black ring or rubberized 'shuttle wheel' facilitates fast forward and rewind. The jog and shuttle can also be configured for many other purposes including scrolling, volume control, and sequencing.
Based on the award-winning ShuttlePRO v2 multimedia controller, the compact ShuttleXpress features five oversized programmable buttons, a jog knob, and a spring loaded shuttle wheel. The smaller footprint makes it ideal for travel and tight work spaces. The ShuttleXpress can be used by itself or alongside a ShuttlePRO for enhanced cooperative control.
Pricing and Availability:
The ShuttlePRO v2 and ShuttleXpress are available from Contour Design's worldwide reseller channel and the Contour Design website for MSRPs of $109.95 USD and $59.95 USD, respectively.
Based in Windham, New Hampshire, Contour Design is renowned for creating and delivering the most fashionable and functional products on the market. For more than a decade, Contour Design has continued to represent the cutting edge of innovative cellular, music, and computer peripherals. From shock absorbing dual injected iPod, iPhone, and iPad cases to leading edge ergonomic input devices, Contour delivers form and function to consumers worldwide. Copyright (C) 2012 Contour Design. All Rights Reserved. Apple, the Apple logo, iPhone, iPod and iPad are registered trademarks of Apple Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries.


text:
We, the signed, want the sale and use of cruel leg hold, coil spring, Conibear (or body gripping), and snare traps made illegal.
80 other countries around the world have already concluded these traps to be egregiously torturous and cruel, and have banned them completely. It is time for the United States of America to move up to the 21st century regarding treatment of our wildlife. Many citizens from other countries are shocked to hear that the United States has not made this compassionate leap forward.
No animal suffers more than an animal caught in any of these traps, experiencing severe physical pain and distress--equaling torture; in addition experiencing hunger, thirst, exposure to elements and predators, separation from family and young.
Words cannot describe this kind of torture, therefore, I am enclosing photographic documentation of the undeniable cruelty of these devices. Only 2% of Americans claim that they trap animals -- but those 2% create a mountain of misery for innocent, defenseless animals, that do not deserve to suffer just for being in the forest or river home, and going about the business of being the animal they were born to be.
It has been proven that trapping is not an economic issue for this 2%, and in fact, many admit they 'do it for the fun, as you never know what you're going to get'. The main point being, traps are cruel, inhumane, and torturous to wild animals and dangerous for domestic pets and humans,
Please, in the name of common decency and the American way, ban theses Draconian devices for all time -- it is not only about time to do this, it is well overdue.
This petition closed over 6 years ago
Compassionate people should sign this petition to lay the groundwork to get cruel and barbaric traps banned, as they equal hours of torture for our wildlife. Some trappers literally continue to...
Compassionate people should sign this petition to lay the groundwork to get cruel and barbaric traps banned, as they equal hours of torture for our wildlife. Some trappers literally continue to torture an animal after it is trapped---laws must be passed to protect wild animals from the whims of any sadist who can buy a trapping license for $16.00 and use our forests and waterways as a barbaric playground. In addition traps are a danger to domestic pets, and humans.


text:
No products
New product
RGB+Cool White LED strip (Quad/4 in 1 Chip), 6000K, 24V, IP67 (Waterproof)
60 LEDs/m–14.4W/m–1200Lm/m
5m roll–12mm width
3 year warranty
12 Item Items
Same Day Dispatch
Warning: Last items in stock!
Availability date: 05/01/15
RGBW LED Strip (RGB+CW) 24V-14.4W/m- IP67-CRI80-SMD5050
RGB+Cool White LED strip (Quad/4 in 1 Chip), 6000K, 24V, IP67 (Waterproof)
60 LEDs/m–14.4W/m–1200Lm/m
5m roll–12mm width
3 year warranty
Recipient :
* Required fields
or Cancel
|LED Chip
|Quad colour SMD 5050
|CIE Colour Space
|14.4 W/m
|1200 Lm/m
|Number of LEDs per meter
|IP67 (Waterproof)
|Colour Temperature (CCT)
|Colour rendering (CRI in ra)
|Width of strip
|Width of PCB
|FCP copper content
|2 ounce double layer
|Cutting length
|Every 6 LEDs (100mm)
|LED Strip Packing
|5-meter roll
|Voltage Type
|Constant Voltage
|3 Years
Commercial high-grade RGB + Cool White LED strip with quad chip (4 colours in 1 chip)
14.4W/m – 24V DC – 5m roll – 60 LEDs/m – IP67 (Waterproof) – 5-wire cable (15cm on each side of the strip roll)
This new design of RGBW LED strip integrates all 3 primary colours (Red/Green/Blue) + Cool White in a single chip. Due to this innovative design (4 in 1 chip), the strip is brighter than the conventional RGB + W strips, which have one chip for RGB and another one for white.
The RGBW LED strips are powered by high-quality quad SMD5050 LED chips. The brightness of each chip is 20 lumens.
The power consumption is 14.4W per meter, which means an average of 3.6W per colour per meter.
Excellent colour rendering index (CRI) – all chips reach a value of Ra >80.
Red LED channel: wavelength 625nm
Green LED channel: wavelength 525nm
Blue LED channel: wavelength 470nm
For more information on RGB readings, please see our Wavelength Article.
The strip can be cut every 6 LEDs (10cm). The final width of the LED strip is 12mm (including coating); RGBW LED strip printed circuit board (PCB) used is 10mm wide.
Fitted with an easy to install original 3M adhesive tape with excellent adhesion (identified by a red protective strip on the adhesive side).
IP67 waterproof protection (IP67 = protected from dust and temporary immersion to a maximum depth of 100cm) is achieved by inserting the LED strip in a UV-resistant silicone sleeve.
3-year warranty
The high quality of Hi-Line LED strip products ensures low decay, which increases the LED strip's lifespan and assures that the high level of the brightness is kept constant throughout the LED strip's life.
Please do NOT connect more than 5 meters of a LED strip in series. A LED strip of more than 5 meters in length is overloaded due to the increased amount of current passing through, resulting in the damage of the PCB and the failure of the LED strip. Thus, when 5 meters of the LED strip is exceeded, it is suggested to connect the strip directly to the LED controller using a 5-core cable.
Please note that this data is based on the average readings for a 5-meter long LED strip. If the length of the strip is 1 meter the power consumption will be higher as there is almost no voltage drop. For comparison, the test result for 1m RGBW LED strip with 14.4W and 60 LEDs showed a power consumption of 18.48W or 0.77A.
Installation hints and tips for LED strips can be downloaded at the bottom of this web page.
The RGBW LED strip comes with a 15cm wire ending on each side of the strip roll. Therefore, no extra soldering is required if the roll should be cut into 2 different pieces (i.e. 3 meters + 2 meters).
Please note that soldering is recommended for the connection of LED strips. However, if a solder-free connection is preferred, Hi-Line's solder-free connectors offer the best solution currently available on the market.
All Hi-Line LED strips are dimmable. Please select a suitable PWM LED dimmer/controller to ensure the proper dimming of the LED strip.
All Hi-Line RGB and RGBW LED strips are fully compatible with Fibaro RGBW LED Controller, Rako or ANY common anode LED controller available on the market.
The stated price is for 1 x 5-meter roll RGBW LED strip (Cool White) with 300 SMD5050 RGBW LEDs – IP67 (Waterproof), 24V DC.
Selection of the LED driver depending on the maximum LED strip length
The table below shows the maximum LED strip length, which can be operated with a given LED driver.
To consider the performance drop, which occurs in the power supply cable and the efficiency of the LED Driver, 20% was deducted from the maximum strip length in the table below.
Note that, for driving RGBW LED Strips, you will have to combine the LED-Driver with a RGB/RGBW LED Controller.
In such case, LED driver is not required to be dimmable. Brightness control (dimming) and colour adjustment is still possible through the LED controller.
No customer reviews for the moment.
EULUMDAT photometric dataDownload (15.19k)
IES Photometric dataDownload (10k)
DE-Installation von LED-StreifenDownload (946.11k)
Advice on the LED strip installationDownload (1.15M)


text:
Summary Judgment 101 teaches that pleadings, even sworn pleadings, are not competent summary judgment evidence. All Texas lawyers learn early-on that they cannot rely on pleadings to prove a fact, raise a fact issue in dispute or otherwise provide evidentiary support for a summary judgment.
While this is true as a general rule, it is not always so. There are times when a summary judgment may be properly based upon the pleadings standing alone. Whether a summary judgment can be based on pleadings depends in part on what cause of action is contained in the pleadings and whose pleadings are being considered.
Movant's Pleadings:
Generally speaking, a party moving for summary judgment cannot rely on statements of fact contained in its own pleadings, even if those pleadings are verified or sworn to. However, if the plaintiff's underlying cause of action requires a sworn response and if the defendant has failed to file a verified denial, then the plaintiff may move for summary judgment.
The most common example of this is in cases involving suits on sworn accounts. If a plaintiff properly pleads a suit on a sworn account and the defendant fails to file a verified denial of the account, then summary judgment may be granted based on the pleadings alone. Nguyen v. Short, How, Frels & Heitz, P.C., 108 S.W.3d 558 (Tex. App. — Dallas 2003) ("a defendant's noncompliance with Rule 185 conclusively establishes that there is no defense to the suit on the sworn account). Quite often, a respondent may be given an opportunity to cure the pleading defect prior to summary judgment, but failing that, a summary judgment would be appropriate. In these cases, the movant's pleadings are not considered summary judgment "evidence," but absent a verified denial, movant's pleadings do constitute prima facie proof sufficient to support the summary judgment.
Non-Movant's Pleadings:
Likewise, a non-movant may not rely on its own pleadings to establish a fact necessary to defeat a summary judgment motion, even if the pleading is verified. However, under certain circumstances, a movant may rely on the non-movant's pleadings to establish its entitlement to summary judgment.
Admissions: The first way that this can occur is when a non-movant's pleadings contain statements of fact or conclusions which are not pled in the alternative and which are directly contrary to its own theory of recovery or defense. Statements of fact such as these contained in the non-movant's pleadings are considered judicial admissions which are conclusively established without the necessity of other evidence. For that reason, a non-movant's pleadings of this nature may support a summary judgment for the moving party. As with the rule on suits on sworn accounts, admissions contained in the non-movant's pleadings are not considered summary judgment "evidence" per se, but may nevertheless support the judgment. Judicial admissions are not considered summary judgment proof, but rather a waiver of proof because of their binding effect as an admission. Galvan v. Public Utilities Bd., 778 S.W.2d 580 (Tex. App. — Corpus Christi 1989) (defendant's pleadings stating it was "an agency of the City of Brownsville, Texas" held sufficient proof to support plaintiff's summary judgment on the issue of agency).
No Viable Cause of Action: The second way that this can occur is when a party's pleading contains no viable cause of action under the law. This can occur in one of two ways: (1) pleading a cause of action which is not recognized under Texas law, or (2) failing to plead any cause of action at all. In either situation, a movant may support its motion for summary judgment on the non-movant's pleadings alone. Helena Lab. Corp. v. Snyder, 886 S.W.2d 767 (Tex. 1994). Beware, however, that the Supreme Court expects that before a court grants a "no cause of action" summary judgment, the respondent be given an adequate opportunity to plead a viable cause of action. Friesenhahn v. Ryan, 960 S.W.2d 656 (Tex. 1998) (holding that because the movant's special exceptions were denied, the respondents were "never on notice that their pleadings may be deficient"; therefore, summary judgment was improper).
While in some cases summary judgment may be based upon pleadings alone, when the summary judgment motion is based on a pleading defect, such as a lack of verification required by law or failure to plead a viable cause of action, the movant should first file a special exception and have that matter heard sufficiently in advance of the summary judgment motion to allow respondent adequate opportunity to cure its pleading defects. However, with regard to summary judgment motions based on admissions, an opportunity to cure is not required under the law.
In the next blog, we will explore issues regarding use of the more customary types of summary judgment evidence.
— Bonnie Sudderth, Judge of the 352nd District Court of Tarrant County, Texas


text:
Add vehicles to compare. You can compare up to 3 vehicles at a time.
Pricing of vehicles on this web site does not include options that may have been installed at the Dealership. Pricing may include current promotions, incentives, and/or bonus cash. Monthly payment calculator is an estimate and does not include tax, title, license or doc fees. Please contact the Dealership for latest pricing and monthly payment. Published price subject to change without notice to correct errors or omissions or in the event of inventory fluctuations. Price good for 2 days only, please contact store by email or phone for details. While every effort has been made to ensure display of accurate data, the vehicle listings within this web site may not reflect all accurate vehicle items. Accessories and color may vary. All Inventory listed is subject to prior sale. The vehicle photo displayed may be an example only. Vehicle Photos may not match exact vehicle. Please confirm vehicle price with Dealership. See Dealership for details. Sale price includes GM Preferred price, employee vehicle allowance, Purchase Bonus Cash and other applicable north central region rebates. Must qualify for GM Employee discount, others will be slightly higher. Just add title, tax, license and doc fee. Read disclaimer for eligibility or contact us via email, phone. Offers available only to residents of MI and select counties of IN, KY, NY, OH, PA, and WV. Offers not compatible with most other offers. Offer subject to change without notice. See dealer for details. Vehicles may have more mileage than stated due to test drives, demonstrator units, service vehicles, dealer trades, etc; see dealer for details. Tax, title, license (unless itemized above) are extra. Not available with special finance, lease and some other offers. The Feldman 3-Day Buy Guarantee is only available on pre-owned vehicles and does not apply to new vehicles. Tax, title, license (unless itemized above) are extra. Not available with special finance, lease and some other offers.


text:
Rovers down Bees
High-flying Tranmere grabbed an emphatic 2-0 win over Brentford with well-taken strikes either side of the break.
Robbie Weir gave the visitors the lead inside the half hour, heading home Andy Robinson's pin-point cross unmarked at the far post.
Brentford striker Clayton Donaldson wasted a gilt-edged chance to haul the Bees back into it just before the break, firing his effort straight at Owain Fon Williams.
Gary Alexander saw a speculative effort bounce off the bar for the hosts, but that was the closest Uwe Rosler's side came to breaking their duck.
Any hopes of revival were ended a minute after the restart when Robinson lashed home an unstoppable dipping drive from 30 yards that left Brentford keeper Richard Lee with no chance.
Lucas Akins was a constant threat for Tranmere and saw two efforts go close to extending the lead, one of them flashing into the side netting.
Source: DSG
Source: DSG


text:
RTC Conference Primers: #8 – Mountain West ConferencePosted by Brian Goodman on October 29th, 2010
Andrew Murawa is the RTC correspondent for the Pac-10 and Mountain West Conferences and an occasional contributor
Predicted Order of Finish
- San Diego State (13-3)
- New Mexico (11-5)
- Colorado State (9-7)
- Wyoming (6-10)
- Utah (6-10)
- Air Force (1-15)
All-Conference Team (key stats from last season in parentheses)
- G: Jimmer Fredette, Sr, BYU (22.1 PPG, 4.7 APG)
- G: Dairese Gary, Sr, New Mexico (13.1 PPG, 3.9 APG)
- G: Tre'Von Willis, Sr, UNLV (17.2 PPG, 3.9 RPG)
- F: Afam Muojeke, Jr, Wyoming (16.8 PPG, 3.9 RPG)
- F: Kawhi Leonard, Soph, San Diego State (12.7 PPG, 9.9 RPG)
6th Man
Billy White, Sr, San Diego State (11.1 PPG, 4.3 RPG)
Impact Newcomer
Drew Gordon, Jr, New Mexico – Gordon left UCLA midway through the Bruins awful season last year after never meshing with Ben Howland and his system, and as a result, he won't be eligible for Steve Alford until after the first semester. But Gordon showed enough talent in his years in Westwood that he will be a welcome addition for what was an undersized Lobo team last season. However, Gordon did tear the meniscus in his right knee in mid-October and, although he is not expected to miss any game action, he may miss out on valuable practice time leading up to his expected December 17 debut.
What You Need to Know
- Best In The West? Given the Mountain West's history as a contender for the title of the top non-BCS conference in the nation, and given that the Pac-10 is at its lowest point in memory, it's quite possible that, at least for 2010-11, the MWC may be the best conference in the West. Last season, four MWC teams advanced to the NCAA Tournament, and in just over a decade of existence, only once has the MWC failed to place more than one team to the Big Dance (2000-01). However, major changes are afoot in the conference, as Utah and BYU, both consistently strong basketball forces, will be leaving for the Pac-10 and WCC, respectively. Boise State, Fresno State and Nevada will join the conference, but while those teams are capable of putting together strong seasons (Nevada, in particular, has recent success on the court), they'll be hard-pressed to replace the production of the two Utah schools.
- Familiar Faces: When you look around the conference this season, there will be a lot of veterans up and down the rosters, as 70% of the players that averaged more than five points per game last season return. Only Utah, of the nine conference teams, will look drastically different, as they lost two starters to graduation, a third starter to transfer, and five additional bench players to transfers as well. Bolstering the general experience around the league is a flood of incoming transfers: Drew Gordon and Emmanuel Negedu at New Mexico, Quintrell Thomas at UNLV, Hank Thorns at TCU, Wes Eikemeier at Colorado State and James Rahon at San Diego State. Not only will there be a lot of recognizable players on the court, there continues to be a lot of stability on the sidelines, as for the second consecutive year, every head coach in the MWC returns.
- Non-conference Boost: Last season seemed to mark the first year of a new era in non-conference scheduling in the MWC. After earning a reputation as a conference whose teams would play consistently tough games, they slipped out of the top 20 in non-conference strength of schedule for a stretch from the 2006-07 season through the 2008-09 season. However, last year, the MWC addressed this in several ways. First and foremost, their teams were able to go out and get games against Pac-10 and Big 12 competition, but they were also able to get their teams in some good early-season tournaments, and they began the MWC/MVC Challenge, guaranteeing every team in the conference a matchup with a team from the Missouri Valley. That MWC/MVC Challenge will continue (the two conferences signed a four-year agreement), as will the involvement of conference teams in early-season tournaments (for instance, New Mexico plays in the Las Vegas Classic, UNLV in the 76 Classic, Colorado State in the Cancun Governor's Cup, BYU in the South Padre Island Classic, Utah in the Diamondhead Classic, Wyoming in the Cancun Classic and San Diego State in the CBE Classic – and yes, the people that run these tournaments need to consult a thesaurus for an alternative to "Classic"). Additionally, the tougher non-conference scheduling continues, with conference schools making trips to places like Spokane, Berkeley, Logan, Ann Arbor, El Paso, Dayton, Tulsa, Louisville and Kansas City over the course of the non-conference slate.


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'Spartacus: War of the Damned' "Decimation" Preview: Gannicus Vs. Crixus!
Only three episodes into the final season, and the rebels of 'Spartacus: War of the Damned' have accomplished some amazing feats. With the armies of Marcus Crassus and his "wolf" Julius Caesar nipping at their heels however, might the greatest threat Spartacus and his band of gladiators face be from within? We've got a few new sneak peeks at tomorrow's all-new episode "Decimation" that pit brother against brother in a fatal battle for the rebellion inside!
After a week's hiatus, 'Spartacus: War of the Damned ' will return with a vengeance this Friday for "Decimation," picking up from the events of "Men of Honor" that saw Tiberius (Christian Antidormi) and his men promptly rousted by the might of the rebels and their new pirate allies. The victory will not prove so joyous for the rebellion however, as tensions continue to mount over the captive Romans within Sinuessa en Valle, pitting brother against brother!
Starz has released two new clips from "Decimation" that preview internal conflicts on either side, as Gannicus (Dustin Clare) and Crixus (Manu Bennett) come to blows in in the middle of the city! Elsewhere in the second clip, Tiberius and his men have quite a bit to answer for over their failed assault on Spartacus, leading Crassus to revive an ancient practice that will see the men pay dearly.
Check out two new clips from tomorrow's all-new 'Spartacus: War of the Damned' episode "Decimation" below, and give us your predictions for the final season in the comments!


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A dishwasher not only has to look beautiful in your kitchen; it needs to clean beautifully as well. So it's important to consider the cleaning and drying performance of a dishwasher model and how it works for different types of stains and residue as well as different types of dishware and cookware.
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Our dishwashers feature dBAs as low as 40 dBA, for barely perceptible sound while the dishwasher is running. No other line of dishwashers is quieter.*
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Cycles are primary wash settings, while options are additional functions you can select to enhance the cycle. The ones you find most important will depend upon your day-to-day dishwashing needs and the level of convenience they offer you.
JennAir® dishwashers offers several different cycles and options. Many models offer our Heavy Wash cycle. Designed to clean larger loads and heavy amounts of food residue, this cycle uses two washes and three rinses.
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Tuesday, January 08, 2008
Marking the Journey of Six Generations
Capricorns from Different Worlds
January 8th marks the birthday of two women who are related, but part of different worlds created by time, place, and cultural, historical, and social influences.
Let's compare brief bios of the two, spanning 130 years--the amount of time in between the dates the photographs were taken. The first photograph is of Thibertina (Bertina) Johnson Winje, a Norwegian immigrant, and the second is of her great-great-great granddaughter, Courtney (my own daughter), who is now close to the same age as her ancestor when the photograph of Bertina was taken.
Bertina (1875)
Born: January 8, 1841, in Nord-Trondelag, Norway
Marital status: married: 13 yrs (1st marriage to a farmer); 56 yrs (2nd marriage to an attorney and judge)
Occupation: pioneer, farmer, homemaker, wife, and mother
Education: rural schooling up to confirmation age
Favorite things: attending school functions; giving dolls to granddaughters
Hobbies: knitting, crocheting, embroidery, and other useful handiwork
Travel: emigration from Norway to America across the Atlantic
Special challenges: feeding and clothing family from scratch, fatigue from physical labor, disease epidemics, crop failure, severe weather, learning a new language as a matter of necessity
Courtney (2006)
Born: (currently 20-something), Washington State
Marital status: single
Occupation: barista; in training to be a computer network specialist
Education: some college
Favorites: cats, chocolate, and clubbing
Hobbies: making jewelery and hair pieces, modeling, playing the flute and guitar
Travel: Driving across the U.S. from Florida to the Pacific Coast, plus visiting British Columbia and Germany.
Special challenges: Working & attending school at the same time; paying bills, inflation, nutrition, keeping medical benefits, sorting through all the choices
I'll let the reader determine any similarities or differences. The point is: we've come a long way, Baby!
When Bertina Johnson Winje set foot on the Norden, the sailing ship that brought her and her small family from the port of Bergen, Norway to America in 1866, she had no idea what the future would bring. In her highest hopes, she sought greater opportunity for her children, and wanted them to be able to have their own land and greater educational possibilities. How surprised and pleased she must have been to see two of her daughters become teachers. One would go on to become a School Superintendent in Minnesota.
But, did Bertina ever dream of the possibilities for future generations? Things have changed drastically for women since she was a young immigrant pioneer woman in Chippewa County, Minnesota. My daughter, Courtney, faces challenges of her own in the present day--mostly economic ones--but she has certain advantages over living in the era of her g-g-g-grandmother: the right to vote, the ability to seek advanced education and choose a career, instant communication with others, relative freedom from life-threatening devastation due to severe weather or disease epidemic, the right to wear makeup and dress however she likes, and the opportunity to work and play in diverse groups. There is also the major luxury of kicking back and eating a prepackaged, microwaved entree rather than chasing the chicken, killing the chicken, plucking and cleaning the chicken, stoking the woodstove, boiling the chicken, getting out the breadboard, mixing and kneading breaddough, stoking the woodstove again... well, you get the idea.
Bertina had advantages of her own, though some may not have been realized until the perspective of history brought them to light. There is much to be said for the age-old human need to be close to the land, and having direct, consequential interaction with nature. Also, a dependency upon family life and utter faith brought security and acceptance during times of strife. Modern media and technology have altered the human pysche forever, for better, or for worse.
Sometimes, I look upon my daughter and wonder which of her genetic traits have come down through the generations, and from which ancestors. Is that slate/blue-gray, geode-like color of her eyes also those of an ancient ancestor's? What about her strawberry blonde hair color as a toddler? Who was it that gave her that slender frame... her nose, her ears? Am I hearing Bertina in Courtney's voice, or someone else? What about that funny little habit of hiccuping exactly three times after eating anything?
I will never know the answers to all of those mysteries. But, one thing is for certain: our ancestors live within our children, and in our children's children, and it was the sacrifices of those who came before that created the opportunities of the here and now. We are forever indebted to them.
Happy Birthday, Gals!
Posted by Chery Kinnick at 6:37 PM
Labels: birthday, generations, January 8
4 comments:
- Thomas MacEntee said...
Capricorns rule. I should know.
- January 09, 2008
- Chery Kinnick said...
Thomas: Well, then, happy birthday (soon or belated)! I'm a Libra myself, so Capricorns are a mysterious bunch to me...
- January 10, 2008
- Colleen said...
Very well put, Chery. Out of five people in my immediate family, three of us are Capricorns. As well as my brother's daughter. We do rule! (at least we did in our house!).
- January 12, 2008
- Chery Kinnick said...
And Happy Birthday to you, Colleen!
- January 14, 2008
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akire wrote:But... what if he was arrested by the hotness police (me) for being too hot (because he was shirtless)? Then he would get thrown in Hotness Jail (the Summer House).
DarkMuse wrote:Ok ok. You twisted my arm. Lol. I know us inmates in the Hotness Jail will have fun making him our b!tch, but can we take turns being the Hotness Police? Cause you know..sometimes them thar coppers do things that don't get reported.
older_twilight_fan wrote:I selflessly volunteered to strip search Rob if necessary. It's the least I can do....
You're all bad, very bad. And funny.
I'm bad too. I found a shirt Rob can wear while making our drinks
Kristiner:thanks for the pic of Lizzy with Patty. Wow Lizzy really has eyes like Rob.
diane: the new security is very adorable!
Edward_Addict wrote:Rob with... non-Rob hair.
I think he looks really hot with Kristen's hair! I have a soft spot for long haired guys. Do you think in "Unbound Captives" when he's kidnapped by Indians he'll end up with long hair? <swoons>
Boy "Remember Me" looks like an interesting movie!


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USB memory sticks are getting cheaper and more common. The options are expanding for doing much more with them besides just acting as glamorized "floppy drive replacement" storage media.
This list of ten cool ways to use your USB drives has an added bonus...once past the price paid for the USB drive all these items are free! And if you got your USB stick as a "gimmie" prize, then the whole shebang is free!
The List
1. Load it up with Claus's Portable SysAdmin Tools - Build your own portable System Administrator's toolbox. -via Grand Stream Dreams (Shameless plug #1)
2. Install the PortableApps Suite - This Standard grade package includes: ClamWin Portable (antivirus), Mozilla Firefox - Portable Edition (web browser), Gaim Portable (instant messaging), OpenOffice.org Portable (office suite), Sudoku Portable (puzzle game), Mozilla Sunbird - Portable Edition (calendar/task manager) and Mozilla Thunderbird - Portable Edition (email client) all with a handy launcher. Lite and Base editions also available for the under 512MB crowd.
3. Build a Bootable WinPE USB Key - Really cool way to boot a system for recovery and troubleshooting...all from a USB key (assuming your motherboard supports it). -via WIndowsConnected/Josh's Windows Weblog.
4. Install Damn Small Linux to a USB Flash Drive - Probably even cooler than a WinPE USB boot key as you get a full-features operating system and a plethora of applications as well. This cool thing is a bit more advanced, but still within the realm of accomplishment. More DSL information. See also Pen Drive Linux » Boot and run Linux from a USB flash memory stick, as well as Linux bootable USB key HOWTO - OpenFacts for more USB bootable Linux builds and How To's.
5. Install a PC Repair System - Put a nice collection of useful tools and software in the space of 32 MB all in one handy-dandy zip package. -via Daily Cup of Tech.
6. Take an Introduction to USB 101 with a series of great articles from Daily Cup of Tech:
- My Philosophy of the USB Drive
- Setup and Configuration of My USB Drive
- USB Drive Applications Part 1
- USB Drive Applications Part 2
- Limitations, Challenges, and Resources
7. Make a Portable and Secure Medical Record File for your family. - via Grand Stream Dreams. (Shameless plug #2)
8. DemocraKey: Browse the web anonymously off a USB stick.
9. Use it with Vista for ReadyBoost - Increase your Windows Vista performance by using a USB key with sufficient minimum requirements. See also this ReadyBoost Q&A FAQ by Microsoft insider, Tom Archer and the father of ReadyBoost, Matt Ayers.
10. Run a virtual Windows CE session from USB. Although it is a work in progress, it is pretty clever. --via Steve Makofsky's Weblog (MSDN)
Have fun!
Bonus USB Fun:
Top 10 weirdest USB devices ever - fosfor gadgets
Even Wackier USB Devices - PC World


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08.30 am – Woke up and found our way to Foodland Supermarket on Soi 16.
08.43 am – Ta da!
The ever reliable, tasty, Foodland-owned chain of restaurants called Took Lae Dee.
Continue reading 4D3N Bangkok Day 3 : Took Lae Dee, Chatuchak, Channel 7 Stadium, Muay Thai, Terminal 21, Sirocco