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As a response to recent negativity on the Internet, we've been working with Groklaw to get a story running detailing facts about questions such as "Releasing KDE 4.0 was a mistake", "I am forced to use the kickoff menu", "The whole KDE4 desktop interface is radically new". among others. Thanks go out to Pamela Jones for giving the KDE community a chance to rectify certain points that have recently been said in public. This way, we hope to make it easier for journalists to put KDE's direction, recent decisions and put simple myths into the right light.
I admire the developers for doing something that basically amounts to short term pain for long term gain. Some very forward thinking design choices will let the KDE4 series (eventually) overshadow anything around it in all areas.
i've been using kde 3 for many years now and all i can say is thanks to all the developers that spend time and money to do something for free. those who complaint should be shot on the head why because they're complainting about something they got for free and better yet it's open source which mean you don't like something just change it or fix it what's stopping you.
I personally wasn't all that impressed with the 4.0 release. But I also understood that it was the libraries that were stable and not the desktop. I've personally enjoying the latest 4.1 beta. There has been loads of work going into the new desktop and I'm pleased to see it progressing like it has. I think the KDE team has done very well. Thanks for that KDE guys!
Even though I'm still exited about the 4.X series there are a few things I would like to have before switching to it.
- different wallpapers on different desktops. I absolutely love just adding a directory and not specific wallpapers, but I don't like using the pager, so different wallpapers helps me know what desktop I'm on.
- drag 'n drop of the plasmoids from the desktop to the plasma panel and vice versa.
- a complete oxygen icon set. Its gotten more and more complete as time has gone one but I still see little white boxes representing folders or programs in the menu.
- program stability. I realize that the last version I used was a beta release. However, every time I tried to create a new folder, konqueror and dolphin both crashed on me. Well documented on bugs.kde.org as well...
KDE 4.X will get there. It will just take a little time. Thanks for all the hard work so far.
- a complete oxygen icon set.
And please, please replace the folder icons in the Oxygen icon set. In almost every regard, Oxygen is a beautiful icon set.
That, is sadly a color scheme I was playing with to present as a possible concept for the next release of openSUSE. I'm not very happy with it, but you can see the icons I use in the shot. Compare that icon folder to the one from Oxygen.
That's a matter of taste. There are some of us who actually like the current Oxygen folder icons. And then again, you're probably free to replace the folder icons on your own setup. It's just a matter of replacing some PNGs. : )
You'd be the first I've heard to say they like it, and you're posting anonymously.
I've heard plenty of people state they really don't like the folder icons.
Click on the link I posted and then compare that to the folder icons currently in Oxygen.
If you need someone with a name who likes the Oxygen folder icons: I do. Oxygen is just a great composition, from the window decoration that blends with the window colors to the folder icons. I absolutely love that look.
I like the folder icons too. And a note: personal experience is not statistically significant.
I won't argue that point.
However it would be unfair for me to suggest that most people hate the icons, when I don't know that to be the case.
The only thing I can speak of with certainty is my own experiences. On kde-look.org and here on the Dot, I read tons of negative comments about the folder icons. I tend to agree. I think most of the Oxygen icons are incredible, and Nuno Pinheiro constantly amazes me with his designs. In KDE 4 in reality looked more like his mock-ups, I'd likely use it.
Yeah, a 'me too' here. I like 'em...
On my original post I never said I didn't like the Oxygen set. I simply stated that I would really like it to be *complete*. I know it takes loads of work to do some great graphics. I think Oxygen looks great so far. But I also think that once the first folder icon is created it should be fairly easy to finish up the rest. Of course I'm a terrible graphics designer and have no skills with Gimp, Krita, or Inkscape.
Just because I said I would like to see it completed doesn't mean I didn't like it.
Myth number one is that KDE 3.5 will no longer be maintained.
KDE3.5 remains alive and well, a new release is coming. The plug is not about to be pulled at any minute. No one is going to be forced to make the jump anytime soon. We've got plenty of time to get used to it, and it's got a long way to go, and KDE 3.5 is still here, the default for practically every distro. That's all I needed to hear; I don't really care about the other stuff.
This is a good step, but you really ought to put it on the website. People who want to know what's going on with KDE aren't necessarily going to go to groklaw.
You are right: perhaps that fact is not visible enough.
But luckily, that can be corrected easily and it should: every non-advanced user that thinks KDE 3.5 will be stopped, will be in great fears when trying out KDE 4.0.
On the other hand, probably not more than a mention on the main kde-site would be needed.
The truth is: You can savely run the KDE 3.5-series for the next few years. Since my wife and daughter both didn't like 4.0, they stayed with 3.5 and will stay for the next time. Meanwhile, I am using the development version from SVN ever since perhaps november. Add some test installations of the 4.0 packages from my distribution, and you see that it's perfectly possible (and actually quite easy) to have both versions and more side by side.
Coming to think of it: I think this side-by-side installation is the officially recommended way of "switching" to the new version (a slow switch, really :).
... and that's a fact. Nothing gets more attention, makes you feel like part of the in-crowd, and is easier to do than complain. Give someone a bar of gold and I'm sure they'll whine "Gosh it's so heavy!".
And without having to look the other person in the eye, people on the internet seem to have gotten a lot cruder and more inconsiderate, too.
Add these factors to a group who are already used to getting things for free (the end-user FOSS crowd) and you've got a big baby on your hands.
Please realize I'm not describing the (silent) majority of you ought there -- those of you who appreciate all the hard work that goes into the *FREE* *EXCELLENT* tools you use everyday.
And that's it? Just unneccessay complains? Apart from that everythung's just perfect?!
Using KDE 4.1 (Neon Project) and it simply rocks!!! KDE 4 IS revolutionary, I think some people just cant accept changes...
Let me say that I think this is a very good approach. Pam from Groklaw is awesome as per usual.
I have yet to read the article, which I'm just about to do. However the summary mentions a few myths that seem rather subjective. "I am forced to use the kickoff menu" is objective, and false. It is good to clear up true myths like that.
However the other two examples cited do seem to be a matter of opinion. I'm not sure they can be classified using objective standards.
"We do not think we're anywhere near that point. A fork is a necessity only when other alternatives have failed. Yet people are calling for a fork of KDE without even trying those alternatives. We call that irresponsible."
I think a fork of a project like KDE is extremely unlikely, and I think it is extremely unhealthy for the community. I would strongly urge people to reconsider making such suggestions. However, I understand how both sides feel here. When a developer says "I will refuse patches submitted on an issue" people may feel like no other alternatives exist. The alternative really is a fork without the typical connotation of a fork. Some blogged (can't recall which, SVJ?) called for a fork in which someone rewrites KDE 3 and maintains that. That isn't going to happen. However, when you don't like the upstream version, and they refuse to include a patch, I think the solution is to contact the package maintainers from your distro of choice. They may accept a patch. You have your fork, in that you have your alternative version of the package, but you're not dividing the whole community.
It should be noted, on the cashew issue that originated some of this mess, openSUSE made their own patch precisely because Aaron wouldn't accept it upstream. Some problems like these fix themselves.
"KDE needs to drop Plasma"
I thought these were fact debunking myths. Again, most of what I'm reading in the article so far is opinion. However, as a big KDE 4 critic, let me say that KDE should not drop Plasma. Plasma has many things going for it. Asking for the direction of the desktop to change is one thing. Asking for Plasma to be dropped is ridiculous. If you really hate Plasma, then use KDE 3.
"Plasma lacks functionality"
I think this is semantics. People equate Plasma with their desktop, which it is to an extent. When they can't configure their desktop, or their panel, they see a lack of functionality. One could contend factually that they are missing the functionality they are missing.
Maybe a better answer might be along the lines, "from a developer perspective, we feel that Plasma is a robust and powerful framework that provides vastly more functionality that the old kicker/kdesktop code. We understand that end users may be missing some of the customization options they have come to expect from KDE 3. In time we plan to add most of those options back, as well as many new features. So please be patient."
"The KDE team does not listen to its users"
The KDE team is massive. There have been complaints that Aaron said he would not address, yet those complaints were addressed. I am going to assume that Aaron does not represent the opinions of every developer working on Plasma, let alone KDE. I'd say as of late Aaron has certainly expressed little desire to listen to feedback from users. Comments such as saying that you can't understand interface issues unless you read the code create a schism between users and developers that I don't feel is healthy for the project.
However, it is a gross misrepresentation to suggest that entire KDE team does not listen to users.
You'll note, that despite being labeled (unfairly) as a troll, I mostly defend the project and the people associated with it. I have primarily said good things about KDE over the years. Personally if I say that I find someone to be an interface issue, that the interface causes problems and affects the way I use the desktop, I have a valid right to that opinion.
When someone suggests I am stupid and don't understand what a containment is, because otherwise I'd never complain, then I'm not the troll. If anything, I feel like I'm the victim of a personal attack here, and the other side isn't listening.
I think there is definitely some truth to saying that some KDE developers clearly aren't listening to their user base. Interface/ergonomic issues are best addressed by a wide range of users. Listen when they offer advice.
Again, I praise the concept of this article. I only bring up the subjective/objective thing because I'm pedantic and have a thing for semantics.
I for one hope to see a healthy relationship from users and developers in the KDE community in the future.
"When someone suggests I am stupid and don't understand what a containment is, because otherwise I'd never complain, then I'm not the troll. If anything, I feel like I'm the victim of a personal attack here, and the other side isn't listening"
I assume you are talking about the ability to remove the cashew? I just put a non technical explanation on the Plasma FAQ (and notice that such a thing has been said *a lot of times* already):
"Although putting an option to disable the cashew for desktops sounds reasonable, from a coding point of view it would introduce unnecessary complexity and would break the design. What has been suggested is, since the destkop itself (a containment) is handled by plugins, to write a plugin that would draw the desktop without the cashew itself. Currently some work ("blank desktop" plugin) is already present in KDE SVN. With containment type switching expected by KDE 4.2, it is not unreasonable to see alternative desktop types developed by then."
When I commented on it, I was told I was stupid and didn't understand what a containment was.
I understand what Aaron said about the complexity of the issue. But frankly, that doesn't change the fact that the cashew was causing problems with people even when they weren't trying to interact with it. That makes it a serious interface issue, not just one of aesthetics.
Here is another solution. Remove the cashew completely, and create a different interface for adding widgets that isn't problematic.
Instead, we get a response of "not only do we think your issues are not relevant, but we're going to call you stupid for bringing them up," which masks the actual issue of "doing so means considerably redesigning how these things are handled and I don't feel like doing that. I feel that in in the end, my design will be fine, so we'll have to live with the bumps until then."
Aaron did at one point express it more like that, with the quote that made it into the FAQ. However, more often than not he wasn't so diplomatic with his replies.
"When I commented on it, I was told I was stupid and didn't understand what a containment was."
Quotes, please.
I have to go reread bug reports and posts, but I'll find them.
Coincidently I remember having read a thread like that on the dot. Although I neither recall if the one called stupid was him nor if the developer was Aaron, I tend to attribute that affair to the heated atmosphere of the last months.
I have the feeling that most developers (and some users, too) woke up since one of them didn't see any other possibility than to refuse any public communication. This waking up has already resulted in a better atmosphere and I hope we'll get back to sane communications soon.
But I think it's not one single comment or one single technical (usability?) issue that should be discussed here, but how we (as a community) can prevent that our communications ever de-escalate so badly again that a long-term user and a core-developer of one project both love, exchange hard words. Or that developers get attacked publicly so badly that they have to hide to save themselves!
I certainly do hope the coming moderation system on the dot is helping there, too.
First I just want to say that I'm just a KDE user, though interested and impressed by the work done in 3.5 and 4.
The feeling I get when reading your posts is that this has become a personal thing for you. That might not be your intention, but that's what many of your posts convey to me. You do have some constructive criticism in your posts too.
Maybe you were treated unfairly by A, but you also have to understand that he probably got the same questions a thousand times (exaggerated). If person number 1000 asks the same question in a (to him) not so polite and constructive way, he might snap. I know I would. Person number 1000 maybe doesn't deserve it, but there's only so much patience in a human being. I've seen a LOT of patience and helpfulness from A and I've seen him be not so polite too.
So please, don't make this a vendetta, give each other some slack and move forward.
I don't have any beef with Aaron as a person, and I empathize. I've never run a project of this size, but I have had to deal with large product coordination before.
I'm upset because I disagree with concepts and philosophies regarding the future of the KDE desktop. Since I feel strongly about the KDE desktop, I'm expressing my opinions.
I don't presume that anyone owes me anything, or that the desktop must be precisely how I like it. Actually, I could care less about defaults. I'm more concerned about whether or not I'll have the flexibility to configure KDE to operate how I want.
Regardless, I don't want to come across like I'm disagreeing or arguing with you. It seems your intent is to diffuse a situation. I'm just trying to express that I don't have any anger or issue with Aaron, aside from misspelling his name a few times the other day.
I am quite dyslexic, but I owe Aaron *Seigo* an apology for that.
I've yet to read you do anything but complain, even when the KDE team has to take you by the hand and explain things over and over, then you still argue with them. Perhaps one day you will write something positive.
to be fair, he does write something positive now and then - but not too often. Yet, I'd rather call him a fair bit stubborn than a troll.
Here's a great quote from the groklaw feedback: "KDE 4.X will be stable and secure only if and when Patrick Volkerding had finally included it in Slackware!"
Actually, Patrick Volkerding has already said that the next release of Slackware will be KDE 4.1 based. So it's not so far ahead! >:)
It is really awsome, it's shiny, glossy, sexy. It is A LOT more stable than 4.0 which I had before. 4.0 wasn't usable because of crashes and bugs, I was pissed of by it so many times, that I decided to go for 4.1 beta or GNOME. I went for 4.1 and it's much much better in terms of quality, but there are some issues yet. I hope that final version will be rock stable.
I think, that KDE4 will become a very, very good an well integrated Desktop-Environment and i can live with KDE 4.0.5 on Fedora9 because i have myself informed about the further development of KDE4.
My interest came from the series of "the way to KDE4" and some blogs from Aaron, especially "falling in love again" or so ...
... but, at that time, when the first Distributions (Kubuntu, Fedora and now openSuse) came with their first new releases, there is a gap of anouncements on the dot. Sadly, at that time, there are many "new" Users who can take a look at KDE4 without knowing about the state ... (KDE4 is the new incarnation of KDE3, as in Windows, not knowing that it was really new).
Whenever i will be informed about KDE, i first try the kde.org-website. It's a little bit unluky, that Danny has to take an outtime to manage his move and some very interesting news like KDE 3.5.10 are not communicated over kde.org(?) ...
In my opinion, some of the blog entries would have been introduced as an article on kde.org and so it give the community the chance to follow the direction the developers are going. And as not being a blog-entry, they will be reworked and clearer and officially ... (i know being proud, solving a problem and tell it the whole world).
I don't know anything about the flame wars, but i have read the blog "no more desktop icons". First, damn, what will KDE do? Second, after reading the full text: WOW, that's wonderfull so many possibilities to work with the folderview, now i can realy work with the four workspaces(?) ...
I think, many of the whiners haven't read the following text ... and they haven't read the explications.
And because there are more news outside kde.org, than here, i've found an intersting introducion of an german website (from June the 16.):
Link: http://www.pcwelt.de/start/software_os/linux/praxis/164195/der_neue_desk...
Schicker, bequemer, schneller und ressourcenschonender: der KDE-Desktop in der neuen Version 4 hat das Zeug dazu, zum Desktop des Jahrzehnts zu werden. KDE 4 ist auf jeden Fall ein Hingucker.
Es würde nicht verwundern, wenn dem kommerziellen Fensteranbieter aus Redmond die Knie schlotterten angesichts des soeben veröffentlichten KDE 4.
Hipper, comfortabler, faster and spare resources: the KDE-Desktop in the new version 4 has the possibility to become the desktop of the decade. KDE 4 is in all cases an eye-catcher.
It would not be astonished, if the commercial window-vendor out of Redmond is in a funk of the just now published KDE 4.
The translation may be not correct, but i hope it will ..., and it was just an entry to a detailed view to KDE4 ... (from a windows-centric magazine).
my thanks goes to all the developer, artwork-artists, translators and all the ppl i've forgotten, i think, that KDE4 will be a great DE and i will change to the KDE-PIM when 4.2 is out and it has made the full transition (now using thunderbird, because comming from windows).
Oh, another thing i've forgotten ...
If Plasma needs webkit, thats ok, but i like to have khtml.
I will prefer the KDE-way: look at what you realy need for plasma but implement it in khtml!
There was the time, as the flash-interface was broken cause Adobe supports only the Mozilla interface, and at that time i was using Firefox, but that was the only time i needed it.
With Webkit, i think, the KDE looses some control of the DE (as it is an integrated part of Plasma). I would think about it (what, if webkit changes all interfaces ...)
I will have a DE like KDE, because all could happen! And all is possible! At that time you depends on webkit, you will never be so FREE like now.
There has to be a decision like: aRts or phonon, webkit or khtml ...
If you don't need to rely on a rock stable system as a fedora 9-user you might want to look at kde-redhat (unstable) to update on kde 4.0.85 already (rc1 will come soon). It's running rock stable here and has lots of improvments so far.
Thank you for this advice!
I think i can wait until the end of July ... and i hope Fedora makes it soon possible ...
But the "Red Hat"-repository seems to be intersting, i will have a look. It's on my radar since 01/2008 but i'm not informed myself, if it's compatible ...
If the Team had announced that KDE4 was on its way for testing or previewing, then every single complain whould have been meaningless.
But the team announced that "The KDE Community is thrilled to announce the immediate availability of KDE 4.0." (http://kde.org/announcements/4.0/).
Then there is something wrong.
The announcement was a mistake as KDE4 completeness, stability and usability can be questionable.
KDE4 itself cannot be a mistake as the technology preview clearly shows the quality of the design and development.
Simply, what's been released as KDE4 is just a limited technology preview, while people was what you normally call "release".
See, when KDE 4 was released, I knew, I can't remember if it was on dot or on opensuse news, that it was released for early adopters, testers, and people to port their applications over, and it was said time and time again on dot to people that it was.
What was wrong, is time and time again people didn't listen, people, like one person who moans a lot on dot, argued with the KDE team, not listening.
So if you didn't know this is why it was released, then why did so many others know it was? Perhaps you should not only read dot but other distro news as well, and become informed like so many others
I'ld rather say it was a foreseeable unfortunate thing to release it labeled as 4.0 and saying at the same time a developer release. In the open source world alpha and betas are developer releases, x.0 releases are not. Having set the expectations pretty high before made it almost unavoidable to create confusion and disapppointment: Here we are, half a year later and *still* discussing that release and having seen verbal escaltions and insults, frustrated developers, ...
Isn't that proof enough that the idea behind that kind 4.0 release didn't work out?
"If we do something which is pioneering, we will get arrows in the back. But at the end of the day, a whole lot of people will have a whole lot of fun." -Randy Pausch
"And let it be noted that there is no more delicate matter to take in hand, nor more dangerous to conduct, nor more doubtful in its success, than to set up as the leader in the introduction of changes. For he who innovates will have for his enemies all those who are well off under the existing order of things, and only lukewarm supporters in those who might be better off under the new."
Niccolò Machiavelli - 1513
I think the release of 4.0 was the right thing to do at the right time and I hope it will continue this way. I don't think the KDE team anticipated the reaction from some users, which can be avoided next time. It's not easy, but it can always be done better. More and even simpler communication is usually the trick.
"Releasing KDE 4.0 was a mistake"
No, it wasn't. But it was released too early und the users did not read the fine print saying "KDE4 is Beta".
(did you notice the slogan? I am not only coward, I am a poet too ;-))
Software porting to a newer library is usually a nightmare. Newer libraries might remove functions or even modify the behaviour of some functions which is usually tricky to work around. The difference between Qt 3 and 4 is huge, but I am sure they had very good reasons to break compatibility. Some people dont understand that it was both difficult and important for KDE to move to Qt4. Opera browser, a cutting edge software is still using Qt 3, this should give you an indication on the amount of work needed to port to Qt4.
I simply don't get the reliance on plasmoids to fill every niche of the desktop.
Folder view here, menu there, clock there. The problem with that is: There is no decent way of managing when and what of these beasties is visible (at least I haven't found one in the numerous times I gave KDE4 svn a spin) as there is no instance that could elevate a plasmoid above everything else - because you might need to have a look at it but at the same time have the rest of the "proper" windows accessible.
And here is the problem: A load of functionality previously offered by fully fledged windows (even if some were only connected with mini-icons the window opened from them were fully functional) with decoration, task bar entries and easy switching to and from has been transformed into these functionally hampered and thus mostly useless plasmoids! So it becomes a hard decision to maximise the image window in which you are editing a picture while at the same time you'd need access to some plasmoid contents.
Why do so many things have to be exempt from the usual window management? Why can't I switch by pressing Alt-Tab from one window to the contents of a plasmoid (which has replaced a former functional small application) and back to my application again?
They might be the newest design fad but for me they are the downfall of KDE4 and a major disapointment. I have been a fan of KDE and Qt since early days and I hope some common sense will reappear. My hopes of that happening are dwindling rapidly though...
Uhm, looking at the development pace, I wouldn't worry much about that, and I assume things will be addressed by the 4.2 time.
But I must admit that the things pointed out by Karl are pretty true, and there is to me a 'usability' problem. The "plasmoid" layer behind the regular windows layer is not practical when you have to use/refer to both at the same time (you can switch the active one, I know, but you don't have 'handle' the content of both).
And. I know that Plasma is not only what you see, but a simple and maybe dumb question rises in my mind: why can't be plasmoid live within the "regular windows" area? I mean, what real gain has - say - twitter plasmoid over a normal twitter window? This is just a question about Plasma in general.
For the rest, I think that user's rants will begin to calm down with 4.1 released.
" as there is no instance that could elevate a plasmoid above everything else - because you might need to have a look at it but at the same time have the rest of the "proper" windows accessible."
I don't know if that's enough for you, but the Plasma Dashboard (Ctrl+F12) puts all the plasmoids above the rest.
I won't comment on the rest of the post, while not "trolling" is totally useless to identify problems (generic descriptions/opinions don't cut). Also, calling things "newest design fad" won't get your voice heard much, I'm afraid.
Beside the words used, I find the "Why do so many things have to be exempt from the usual window management?" argument quite interesting.
Ctrl+F12 is a switch that allows you to manage a separate layer. I find this a bit unpractical.
And, just my two cents: people has been rude, and almost everyone here knows the whole story. Now, don't we jump on the other side, criticizing every single word used. "Upset" and "Troll" are two separate adjectives (not directly to you, Luca, but just in general).
"Beside the words used, I find the "Why do so many things have to be exempt from the usual window management?" argument quite interesting."
Currently, as I see it, it's mostly because everything is rather new. I would also like some integration between KWin and Plasma (for example, confining windows to specific activities, like KWin does for virtual desktops), but as I see it, it's just a matter of time. Like KDE 4.0 was just the beginning, 4.1 is merely a continuation of an ongoing process.
Yes, the "4.2 will address it" was a prefix to me.
For example, I like the Vista solution, where at least some of the plasmoids can stay "almost-on-top". This may be achieved through additional panels, as long as autohide will be implemented again.
4.1 should had fixed everything, it won't.
after 4.1 developers will tell that 4.2 will solve everything, it won't.
This is how things are, KDE developers decided to drop a well used structure (kicker+kdesktop) for something new that is taking more than anyone would have wished for, and that includes developers themselves. Sad, but there is nothing we can do, plasma is still on it's infancy.
Now about plasmoids being on desktop, I have to agree.
O do not see the point of having a program on my desktop if it is hidden 99% of the time for a program, as I always runs programs maximized.
I see the point of plasmoids on panel, but one desktop... it just seems like someone used apple dashboard, yahoo or google widgets, liked tha idea and made the whole kde4 desktop based on that.
Man, those are just toys! I still did not see any plasmoid that is really usefull (exept for those on panel to replace kicker).
One guy is creating a kopete conect list to be keept in desktop... why if I can just open kopete windows and have it? WHY?? oh god why??? (life without drama is not fun - death in discworld). :D
> KDE developers decided to drop a well used structure (kicker+kdesktop) for something new
Not decided to, but had to drop. Unmaintained applications get removed from KDE's main modules.
I've seen several new developers come forward as new maintainers of other applications they wanted to stay in KDE, so obviously nobody even outside the KDE developer community at that time wanted to keep working on kicker or kdesktop.
> I see the point of plasmoids on panel, but one desktop
Congratulations! You have just discovered, all by yourself, one of the most important aspects of Plasma: container independence.
You like things displayed on your panel, some others might want to have some on the desktop, somebody complete different might want some on the overlay/dashboard, there might even be people who want to always-on-top.
Instead of coding stuff several times, developers can now code once and let us users choose where we want to see the GUI portions. Nice, huh?
Yes, yes, yes.
As a technology for developers, Plasma shines.
For the user, not that much (YET!) :D


text: DOWNLOADS Article (PDF-174KB) The Management Innovation eXchange (MIX) is a Web-based open-innovation project dedicated to catalyzing the creativity of thinkers and practitioners interested in reinventing management. That's not an undertaking for any one individual or organization—it's everybody's problem, which is why the MIX is designed as a collaborative platform both to surface bold ideas and make progress on a set of make-or-break challenges. Earlier this year, the MIX introduced the first-ever management-innovation contest, the M-Prize, around three such challenges: redefining the work of leadership, increasing trust, and taking the work out of work. MIXers from all over the world contributed hundreds of entries. Few of the submissions are world changing, some are half baked, and a couple are truly off the wall. But so many of them are bold and original, sometimes even audaciously imaginative, that they confirm our deeply held belief that everyone wins when everyone shares. Sidebar LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Email Five more innovative ideas Several other innovations were honored in the M-Prize competition. Two of them are real-world case studies, similar in scope to the highlighted stories from Microsoft, Portsmouth's public housing authority, and Tongal. The other three are "hacks"—boundary-pushing proposals for changing the way organizations work and leaders lead. "Not just an ordinary day at the beach: organizational innovation and employee empowerment at the Bank of New Zealand" Chris Bayliss, now at National Australia Bank, tells the story of an ongoing experiment at the Bank of New Zealand to transfer control from headquarters and regional executives to some 200 branch managers. By combining simple changes (allowing the managers to set their own hours) with more radical ones (eliminating an entire layer of company hierarchy), Bayliss and his team encouraged branch managers to view themselves as owners and not merely employees—a shift that promoted grassroots innovation and a tighter focus on frontline customer relationships."Getting rid of the busy work so you can get to work" In this case study, Pfizer's Jordan Cohen describes pfizerWorks, an online support system designed to free up time for knowledge workers at the company to focus on higher-value activities. The system allows employees to outsource low-value "busywork"—for instance, creating presentations and conducting straightforward data analysis—to external service providers at the click of a button. In its first year, pfizerWorks delivered over 65,000 hours of productive time back to Pfizer workers and yielded considerable cost savings."The Bossless organization: from bosses to mentor investors" Tory Gattis, the founder of OpenTeams, contends that senior managers should act like angel investors or venture capitalists—trusted advisers who allocate time and resources to projects they think are likely to bear fruit for the organization. Meanwhile, employees should act like teams of entrepreneurs, pitching proposals to "investors" (management) and sharing accountability for each project's failure or success."The judgment factory: reverse engineering dangerous judgments in turbulent times" The motivation for this hack stems from authors Erika Ilves and Annie McQuade's experience with companies in mergers and other stressful situations where employee concerns become acute. "The judgment factory" introduces a tool that guides employees to look at the raw data upon which they base their conclusions. The authors, co-founders of Source Integral, argue that the technique can help reel in unsubstantiated fears and quickly begin to restore trust."Risk Capital as Commons—distributive and networked governance" David Koenig, CEO of The Governance Fund Advisors, argues in his hack that distortion is inevitable when senior executives take a "top down" approach to communicating the organization's appetite for risk. Instead, he suggests companies should give small, networked groups responsibility for defining their own capacity for risk-taking, raising the capital needed to take those risks, and then maximizing the returns on those investments. The approach aims to cultivate greater ownership and freedom inside smaller and smaller subsets of the organization, thereby maximizing the potential for innovation while managing downside risks. Judges for the M-Prize included CEOs and thought leaders such as Bill George, Terri Kelly, John Mackey, Tom Malone, and Leighton Reid. McKinsey is a knowledge partner of the MIX but was not involved with the judging. Here are three of the winning stories, which offer insights for management innovators everywhere. Five other management innovations also were honored and are summarized in the sidebar, "Five more innovative ideas." Readers interested in learning more about any of the eight winning entries should visit the M-Prize home page. Redefining leadership in public housing Portsmouth is one of England's largest and most densely populated urban areas—once home to Charles Dickens and Arnold Schwarzenegger and now to "17,000 blocked toilets and 100,000 dripping taps," says John Seddon, an occupational psychologist and management thinker. Several years ago, he began working closely with Owen Buckwell, who as head of housing for the Portsmouth City Council manages those toilets and taps, as well as all of the upkeep for some 50,000 people living in government-built council homes. In late 2006, Buckwell and Seddon began pursuing a single compelling purpose: "to carry out the right repair at the right time" for tenants. The lever of change was a new management system designed to respond quickly to demand, measure value created for tenants (rather than costs or government-mandated targets), and reflect actual work flows (rather than fitting work to rigid standards and protocols). Within just a few months, Buckwell and his team built a process in which tenants could call up for service, get a real human being on the first ring, and schedule service at exactly the time they desired (not a half-day window, a two-hour window, or even a 15-minute window). The tradesperson providing the service would show up equipped with all the correct parts required to do the job—and ask if anything else needed fixing. Buckwell and his team accomplished this feat by shifting away from a paper-based daily printout of jobs for plumbers, glaziers, carpenters, and other craftsmen. A sophisticated visual system now matches the demands of customers (which ones want what jobs at what times) with the supply of tradespeople by highlighting when each is likely to come free from his or her current job. Large screens at headquarters provide transparency, and "the system works as a single piece flow, with each tradesman getting one job at a time" to avoid bottlenecks and delays. The result: astonished customers, intense gratitude, hand-delivered flowers and chocolates, and a growing sense of trust between tenants and council. The story by the numbers is equally impressive: days to complete a repair dropped from 60 to 7, while the proportion of problems fixed on the first visit rose to 99 percent, from 45 percent. The proportion of calls from tenants complaining of failure shrunk to 13 percent, from 60 percent, and the tenant satisfaction rate rose dramatically to 9.93 out of 10—all while the cost per repair was slashed by more than half. Finally, the housing council's culture has shifted from one of "learned helplessness and cheating to meet targets" to one that encourages employees to show up with their initiative and imagination fully engaged; a new ethos that emphasizes action has taken hold. "Owen always had a sneaking suspicion that people go to work to do a good job," says Seddon. "It turns out he was right."Increasing trust at Microsoft Four years ago, Ross Smith, then director of Microsoft's 85-person Windows Security Test team, conducted a series of one-on-one meetings with his people. He came away deeply impressed by the talent and enthusiasm within the team but deeply distressed that his workplace didn't come close to offering the freedom and support required for everyone to bring all of their creativity, imagination, and energy to work. Then Smith and some colleagues stumbled upon a trove of research around the role of trust in innovative organizations. It hit them like a thunderbolt. Every quality and behavior they sought to cultivate—freedom to try new things, permission to question, the ability to see old things in a new light, support for risk taking, and a tolerance for failure—was rooted in trust. But how to create something as elusive, emotion laden, and fragile as trust? Smith asked his group to come up with a list of behaviors that influenced trust in day-to-day work. The list reached 150 items but failed to energize the group. So Smith and his colleagues devised a simple Web-based game that walked players through a series of forced choices between trust-inducing behaviors and then compiled the collective responses to create a rank ordering of the behaviors. With the prioritized list as a starting point, Smith encouraged the group to collaborate on a "trust playbook" wiki. The wiki included examples and scripts for specific trust-influencing behaviors, such as "praise publicly, correct privately," that had been highlighted as important. As simple as this process seemed, it opened up crucial awareness around the importance of feeding trust every day—and gave the team a vocabulary to "call out things we wouldn't normally have talked about," recalls Smith. The playbook was just a start. Smith and his team also introduced Web-based tools for sharing information, bidding out problems, and pitching new ideas. They experimented with collaborative productivity games as a way to inject a sense of fun, improve management processes, and instill new behaviors. And they regularly reinforced the spirit of idea sharing and experimentation without fear through weekly pizza meetings, a separate forum for employees with less than two years on the job, and a book club. What have been the results? Smith reports that the group's retention numbers saw a 20 to 50 percent rise against historic norms and peer organizations. Productivity also spiked 10 to 60 percent. Morale, as measured by "laughter in the hallways," soared. And the initiative has yielded a number of innovative offshoots. For example, an idea-sharing forum connected one team member who had built a prototype customer feedback game with another who was trying to use native language speakers to enhance the quality of international versions of Windows. The two collaborated to build a game in which people check and correct the phrasing and cultural nuances of translations. Across Microsoft, the Windows Language Quality Game attracted 4,600 players, who completed half a million tasks in just four months. Although Smith has moved on to another part of Microsoft (as test director for Lync, a unified communications server product), his initiative continues to attract people from all around the company. From the outset, this humble, deliberately nebulous trust-building effort had a name—42Projects, in honor of Jackie Robinson's uniform number, among other things—that transcended organizational boundaries.1 1. Jackie Robinson was the first African American Major League Baseball player. He played second base for the Brooklyn Dodgers from 1947 to 1956 and was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962. Regardless of the department or role of participants, they find in 42Projects a source of identity and collaborative energy that's rare inside large corporations.Taking the work out of filmmaking James DeJulio, a former Hollywood filmmaker and producer, launched Tongal in May 2009. It's a disruptive start-up aimed at revolutionizing the development of filmed content (from 30-second advertisements to feature films) by creating a platform for talented individuals to share their ideas, work together to create something that gets seen by the world, and get paid for it. Clients offer up a deadline-driven challenge to the Tongal community—create a "future of insurance" sci-fi video for Allstate, film a favorite movie scene spoof for the makers of Bianca (a breath spray), tell an inspiring story and evangelize the cause of microlending pioneer Kiva.org. Then each project is broken down into stages. In the first (idea) phase, users submit short concepts for the project. The best five ideas advance to the next phase and the authors get a cash prize; they also earn a percentage of the prize money their submission generates in subsequent rounds. In the second (pitch) phase, members submit more fleshed-out narratives for any of the winning ideas, and, again, the best five get a cash prize and advance. In the third phase, members create polished videos based on any of the winning pitches, and a jury of judges hand-picked for each project selects the top five for a cash award. At the same time, members can view the submissions and predict winners. The most accurate forecast gets a prize. Finally, in the exhibition phase, members compete to distribute the videos. The most viral one gets a prize—and creator, client, and community "marketer" all win. In the first year of operation, Tongal has attracted 5,000 registered members from 40 countries around the world and so far has run 24 contests, with prize purses as large as $15,000. Clients like both the product (not nearly as polished as that of agencies, but full of unexpected ideas and edge) and the economics ($5,000 for five videos and their distribution on the Web versus $630,000 for airing a 30-second prime-time spot). Tongal isn't just a disruptive business model; it's also an instructive design for work in an age when architecting participation is every leader's job. Tongal distinguishes itself from most crowd-sourcing platforms by the fact that you can't win without building on the ideas and contributions that came before (or after) you. Tongal's designers strive to create connection and transparency wherever possible on the site, from its leaderboard to vibrant forums for each project. What's more, you don't have to win to win. Whether you submit an idea in the first round, create a video, or just jump in to promote a winner in the exhibition phase, you still reap rewards, connect with the creative community, and stretch some creative muscles. As inspiring and instructive as stories like these are, they are just a start. At the MIX, we dream of organizations that can spontaneously renew themselves—where the drama of change is not accompanied by the wrenching drama of a turnaround, where innovation pulses through every activity, where every individual feels inspired by noble goals, and where collaborative cultures breed intense involvement. But of course, these aren't just dreams: they are do-or-die challenges for every organization that hopes to thrive in the future.

subset: commoncrawl


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Will Tablets Be the Key for Corporate Mobile Banking?
In February's Bank Systems & Technology digital issue, we looked at the current state of mobile banking for corporate customers, and examined some of the reasons why it hasn't been as quickly adopted as on the consumer side.
We also talked to several industry experts about what could change that. One of those people, Patricia McGinnis, director of the commercial and enterprise payments solution at Mercator Advisory Group, believes tablets will be the driving force behind the eventual widespread adoption of mobile banking by commercial customers.
McGinnis, like others we talked to, believes the larger screen and more robust functionality will be able to provide corporate treasurers and executives with a commercial banking experience currently unavailable on a smart phone.
Below is a brief video interview I conducted with McGinnis on how the tablet may revolutionize corporate mobile banking.
Bryan Yurcan is associate editor for Bank Systems and Technology. He has worked in various editorial capacities for newspapers and magazines for the past 8 years. After beginning his career as a municipal and courts reporter for daily newspapers in upstate New York, Bryan has ... View Full Bio


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Pianist Pamela Howland will present a program featuring the music of Chopin, Debussy, and Gershwin titled CHOPIN'S LEGACY. She will play selected Mazurkas and Nocturnes of Chopin, several Debussy pieces including her favorite "Clair de lune," and some fun American works for piano. She will perform and demonstrate just how all of these pieces stem from the genius of Chopin!
Visit www.pamelahowland.com to learn more about our guest-musician.
Free concert. No registration required.
Call 336-703-2990 for more information.
Walkertown Branch Library Auditorium
Saturday, September 21st, at 1 pm
2969 Main St Walkertown NC 27051
Click here for driving directions
Photo courtesy of Pamela Howland
About Pamela Howland:
PAMELA HOWLAND is a gifted American pianist who breathes life and vitality into classical music for audiences of any age or background. Vivacious, imaginative, sensitive and just a trifle unconventional, she is that rare classically trained performing artist who thrives as an entertainer. Her passion for promoting classical music has led her to develop a unique style of performance which allows her audiences to go away educated and entertained, feeling they have learned something about themselves as well as the music. (Pamela Howland…on a fascinating musical journey – Fred Child, host of "Performance Today" on American Public Radio).
Trained at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music and the Eastman School of Music, where she received the Doctor of Musical Arts in Piano Performance and Literature, she has appeared from coast to coast in the United States as both soloist and chamber musician, and was a North Carolina Touring Artist from 2002-2007. Highlights include featured return engagements in Paris, Vienna, and Warsaw, a tour of Colombia, South America, and live solo appearances on National Public Radio broadcasts in Minnesota, New York, and North Carolina. She has appeared with the Winston-Salem Symphony, Charlotte Repertory Orchestra, and Wake Forest University Orchestra, and held faculty positions in New York, Minnesota, and North Carolina where she is currently a part-time Assistant Professor in the Wake Forest University Department of Music. Her twelve CDs reflect her eclectic tastes, from standard solo classical music to Christmas tunes, from African-American spirituals to a combination of French poetry and music (www.pamelahowland.com).
Pamela Howland has had a long love affair with Chopin. In 2009 she premiered her original one-woman show REMEMBERING FREDERIC: A Musical Conversation between Chopin and George Sand at the Graz Chopina piano festival in Warsaw, at the invitation of Jarek Cholodecki. What began as one's musician's desire to create an unusual classical music/theatre performance in celebration of Chopin's 200th birthday led to many enthusiastically acclaimed performances (Pamela Howland weaves a special magic…I was spellbound and enchanted – Rosemary Harris, Award winning actress of stage, screen, and television). Subsequently, she created her documentary film, REMEMBERING FREDERIC: The Genius of Chopin. Premiered at the RiverRun International Film Festival in 2012, it is the story of Howland's search as a pianist to bring the world, music, and relationships of Frederic Chopin to life for modern audiences. (Howland is elegant in appearance, in her playing, and as a voice-over…fast-paced…succinct interviews, short musical clips…lovely...images of portraits, and of buildings and monuments in France and Poland – Music Media Monthly).
She first visited Warsaw in 2006 when she came to Poland with her family to find the birthplace of her grandfather. Howland has returned several times since that lifechanging visit, including a trip in October, 2012 for performances and film screenings sponsored by the Smolna Neighborhood Association and the U.S. Department of State/American Embassy. Most recently, she performed Chopin-Debussy-Gershwin concerts in Warsaw at the Belgian Embassy and for World Music Day, June 2013.


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with the maple bacon cupcake!
I decided to do my spin on it for the challenge.
Here are my ingredients
You know I'm all about semi-homemade!
I started by taking about a half cup
of sweetened coconut and spreading it on a small baking sheet.
I place it under the broiler for about 2 minutes.
I am here to help so,
don't go off to throw a load of
laundry into the dryer while this is cooking.
It toasts up
QUICK, seriously QUICK!
Here is the second batch of coconut all nice and toastedy.
Next, I prepared the cake batter per the instructions on the
back of the box using just egg whites.
I added one and a half teaspoon of maple flavoring to the batter.
I then coarsely chopped up 5 slices of cooked bacon.
You can, and I should have, use more if you'd like.
Add to the batter making sure it is all nicely distributed.
For the first batch I filled the cupcake cups
and then put some of the toasted coconut on top.
For the second batch I just put it right in the batter.
I liked them much better with the coconut in the batter.
I had preheated the oven to 350.
After placing the cupcakes in the oven, I dropped
the temperature down to 325 and baked for 20 minutes.
They came out perfect!
For the frosting I followed this recipe from Karlynn from
The Kitchen Magpie
My favorite icing is buttercream and when she says
hers is the best, I just gotta agree!
Sure, I could have gone with a tub of frosting but,
I don't like the artificial taste of tubbed frosting
so, I went for homemade!
little magic bottle of sweetness but, it was new to me!
The Denver Cupcake Truck uses it on their cupcakes
and it makes a cupcake a CUPCAKE!
Plus, they are sparkly and I like sparkly things.
I frosted, added the shimmer gems and more of the toasted coconut
and topped them with a sliver of bacon.
placed on one of the candlesticks I scored on my big thrifting day?
So, how do they taste?
Let's just say that,
I no longer have to hunt down
the Denver Cupcake Truck!
Or, pay big bucks for a fancy cupcake!
Mr. B thought they were BETTER
than the Cupcake Truck!!
So, even if I don't win the challenge,
I scored big points at home!
He said that the addition of the coconut took them
right over the top!
So, there you have it, my gourmet, semi-homemade
Coconut, Maple Bacon Cupcakes.
I hope you give them a try yourself cuz I know,
You're Gonna Love It!
Click here to see where else I may be partying this week.
And don't forget to come by on Tuesday's
for the link party.


text:
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White Envelope Included
At Papier, we collaborate with artists and illustrators to bring you (and your loved ones) the best birthday cards. We're all about quality, so we print our designs on premium paper that looks and feels just splendid. Did we mention you can customise them too?
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Panamera Turbo
Combined fuel consumption: 9.4 – 9.3 l/100 km
CO2 emissions: 214 – 212 g/km
Panamera 4S
Combined fuel consumption: 8.2 – 8.1 l/100 km
CO2 emissions: 186 – 184 g/km
Panamera 4S Diesel
Combined fuel consumption: 6.8 – 6.7 l/100 km
CO2 emissions: 178 – 176 g/km
911 Turbo
Fuel consumption combined: 9,1 l/100km
CO2-emissions combined: 212 g/km
Cambiar idioma:
© 2016 Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG.
* The latest Porsche models are designed to operate on fuels with an ethanol content of up to 10%. Data determined for standard specification and in the NEDC (New European Driving Cycle) in accordance with the Euro 5 and Euro 6 (715/2007/EC and 692/2008/EC) measurement method. The figures do not refer to an individual vehicle nor do they constitute part of the offer. They are intended solely as a means of comparing different types of vehicle. You can obtain further information about individual vehicles from your Porsche Centre.
Consumption figures were obtained on the basis of standard equipment. Special equipment may affect consumption and performance.


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2) "Who Do You Love" by..." >
Streaming Radio for Philadelphia
More Music. Fewer Interruptions. Just what you want to hear.
Welcome to iradiophilly! Philadelphia's Internet Radio Community
Welcome! Start listening now for FREE! The music is always on, so choose a radio station and click to listen. You can find fun Events around Philly and
you can list yours on our Events page FREE. We will also promote cool
Philly shows, events and fundraisers on the air FREE. There are also great opportunities to become a sponsor or advertise. iRadioPhilly supports
the Philadelphia music and arts scene. If you are a local musician or
performer, send us your stuff. We will play it on our BYO radio station,
Philadelphia's Local Stage. We're designing the radio stations and iradiophilly to reflect Philadelphia's music tastes, so we'll want your input. We're glad you're here. Invite your friends.


text:
A 3ml sample of Diplomat Pine Tree fountain pen ink, labeled with the name of the ink brand and color, in a plastic ink sample vial with a dip at the bottom to allow you to easily get every drop. Diplomat Pine Tree ink is a deep, rich shade of brown.
Having trouble deciding between colors? Use our Ink Comparison Tool to quickly and easily view different colors side by side.
Volume - 3ml
Vial Material - Plastic
Color Group - Brown
Create an account with us and you'll be able to:
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text:
Our Cookies Policy has changed.
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on all our websites and mobile applications.
This includes cookies from third party social media websites if you visit a page which contains embedded content from social media. Such third party cookies may track your use of the websites.
We and our partners also use cookies to ensure we show you advertising that is relevant to you.
If you continue we will assume that you are happy to receive all cookies on the websites.
Iščete nasvet ali ideje?
da vam pomagamo!
Izpolnite obrazec in kontaktirali vas bomo v najkrajšem možnem času.


text:
Nonstop Couriers Location : Philadelphia PA US Mus... READ MORE
UNITED PARCEL SERVICE Location : Hometown PA US Tr... READ MORE
UNITED PARCEL SERVICE Location : Washington PA US ... READ MORE
PepsiCo Location : Harrisburg PA US Must have car ... READ MORE
Shell recently announced that they will be building a $6 billion ethane cracker plant near Pittsburgh. This plant will boost employment, economic development, and commercial real estate, while encouraging more shale drilling throughout the region.
The upcoming construction of the new multi-billion dollar Shell ethane cracker plant in Beaver County, PA, means that there are unlimited opportunities for everyone who is involved in any aspect of regional business development. Marcellus Utica Connection is seeking strategic partners to launch marketing initiatives and connect the different industries that will most benefit during this time of unprecedented growth.


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We are a free and open multilingual dictionary that provides instant definitions from many respected reference resources such as the Random House College Dictionary, Princeton WordNet, Wiktionary, Webster Dictionary, U.S. National Library of Medicine, DOD Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms and many more.
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Plan and share activities for IYC 2011
Want to submit your own activity or comment?
In order to do so you need to be part of the IYC network. Please log in or sign up now.
Join the IYC Network
In this section, your ideas for IYC2011 can start to become reality. Here, you can submit activities for consideration and, after a short review, they will be listed below and any related events will populate the IYC calendar. Activities listed here have a clearly defined theme and describe how, when, and where they will take place.
If you are not quite ready to submit a plan, keep working at it and come back soon. And remember, you can always browse and search this forum to find out what others are planning and even add your own comments to the discussion.
Currently viewing all activities tagged with demonstrations - See all activities


text:
Alicia Keys pregnant with 2nd child
Associated Press
NEW YORK – Alicia Keys is getting ready for another big release: her second child.
A representative for the Grammy-winning performer confirmed Thursday that the singer is pregnant.
Keys posted a photo with her baby bump on Instagram early Thursday, which also marked her fourth wedding anniversary to producer-rapper Swizz Beatz, who also posed in the picture.
Keys wrote that their anniversary was sweeter because they've "been blessed with another angel on the way." She didn't offer any more details about the pregnancy.
She gave birth to her son, Egypt, in 2010.


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This investment was made when British International Investment was named CDC Group.
First Aluminium Nigeria manufactures a wide range of aluminum products.
For further information on the fund, the fund manager, and the expected impact of the fund's investment, click here.
Key facts
- Status:
- Active
- Region
Since 2012, we've only invested in Africa and South Asia. Investments outside these regions are from our pre-2012 portfolio.
- Africa, West Africa
- Countries:
- Nigeria
- Sector
We have seven priority sectors. However, we continue to invest outside these sectors, largely in the most challenging regions, as new investment supporting any sector helps to underpin the private sector, and create jobs and livelihoods for people.
- Manufacturing
- Investment type
We provide capital in three broad ways: direct equity, debt, and intermediated equity (principally through investment funds).
- Intermediated investment
- Fund:
- Synergy Private Equity Fund II
- Fund Manager:
- Synergy Managers (Mauritius) Limited
- Start date
For direct investments, this is the date British International Investment committed capital to the business or project.
For funds, this is the date that British International Investment committed capital to the fund.
For underlying fund investments, this is the date that the fund invested capital into the business.e
- February 2019


text:
|Danville, Calif.
|High School:
|Monte Vista HS
2011: Bhavik Kanzaria competed in six meets for the Gauchos...Kanzaria ran a 24:47 at the Stanford Invitational, good for an impressive 33rd-place finish...Ran new best 24:26.8 at the Big West Championships 8k, placing 15th overall...At the Pre-Nationals 8k, he placed 82nd with a time of 25:34....Competed in the NCAA Division 1 West Regional 10k, placing 82nd with a time of 31:06. 2010:Finished 121st at the NCAA West Region Championship with a time of 33:39.18 10k course...Clocked a 25:21.4 to finish 122nd at the NCAA Pre-Nationals in Terre Haute, Ind....Placed 50th at the Big West Championship meet in a time of 26:01.3. 2008: Bhavik Kanzaria redshirted his freshman season at UCSB.
High School
Competed in the East Bay Athletic League (EBAL) and was named to the All-League team in the 1600m and 3200m in both 2007 and 2008...Was All-League in cross country his senior season...Also awarded All-North Coast Section honors in 2007...Was a member of Monte Vista's relay squad that set the school's distance medley record at the Arcadia Invitational. The squad took third overall.
Kanzaria graduated from Monte Vista with high honors, and was also a roundtable winner in video and applied design...Enjoys backpacking and camping.
Career Bests
8k- 24:26.8 (Big West Championships, 10/29/11)
10k- 31:05.5 (NCAA DI West, 11/13/10)


text:
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Glazing & North London Glazier offer FREE Information, advice and Estimates / quotations for broken glass, broken window, glass, glass replacement, double glazed units, double glazing, shopfront doors, shopfront windows, plate glass, and glass repairs including lead lights. With a team of highly trained and experienced professional glaziers in the glass and glazing industry for North London, we pride ourselves on our fast and efficient services matched only by our competitive prices for your glass replacement windows and doors. Offering a professional 24 Hour service throughout North London & surrounding area's. As North London glaziers we realise that you, our customers don't want to have to wait for their windows to be repaired and as such we make great efforts to ensure that our North London vans are always fully stocked of glass so that we can make sure that all work (where ever possible) is completed on our first visit.
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AFV Club AC35020 1:35 Jungle Green Extra Thin Die Cut Camouflage Net
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Condition: Factory New
Operational Status: Functional
Original Box: Yes
Manufacturer: AFV Club
Model Number: AC35020
The Trainz SKU for this item is P12316588.
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Motorola Atrix 4G owners will not get the Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich update the company promised them, according to a newly revised upgrade chart. The phones will continue to run Android 2.3 Gingerbread, dealing another blow to the integrity of Google's upgrade program.
The Atrix 4G was one of a few lucky devices tapped to receive the Android 4 upgrade in the third quarter of this year. However, the quarter has come and gone, and Motorola seems to think there's no point in pushing its luck with the older Atrix 4G; the phone, released in first quarter of 2011, will remain in Gingerbread-land.
Two years seems to be the danger zone for Android upgrade viability in the eyes of manufacturers. When the roadmap was first laid out, Motorola shut out several phones which would turn two years old just as ICS updates started to roll out, including the Droid 2 and Droid X, released in the summer of 2010.
Motorola's lack of follow-through reflects poorly on Google's rapidly fading promises that it will get its software updates under control. This broken promise is particularly dismaying since Motorola is now Google's own house brand, albeit one held at arm's length. We'll have to keep taking Motorola's (and everyone else's) device upgrade schedules with a big fat grain of salt.


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Woman dies, driver hurt in crash
Staff Writer
Sturgis Journal
A Fort Wayne, Ind., woman was killed in one-vehicle crash Saturday on U.S. 20, about a half-mile west of LaGrange.
According to sheriff's deputies, Debra Freiburger, 56, died at the scene of the crash, which occurred just after 6 p.m. She was a passenger in a GMC Yukon, which left the highway and struck a tree.
The driver, 62-year-old John Freiburger, was pinned in the wreckage before being freed by firefighters. He suffered a broken pelvis, hip, leg and ribs, and was flown from Parkview LaGrange Hospital to Parkview Regional Medical Center.


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This is the tenth part of a series on what Situationist Contributor David Yosifon and I call "deep capture." The most basic prediction of the "deep capture" hypothesis is that there will be a competition over the situation (including the way we think) to influence the behavior of individuals and institutions and that those individuals, groups, entities, or institutions that are most powerful will win that competition.
Previous posts in this series (which are summarized at the bottom of this entry), reviewed a sample of the evidence indicating that pro-commercial dispositionism has been widely accepted as the presumptive starting place for policy analysis. The previous post in this series described the strategy of relying on credible third-party messengers. This post suggests how that strategy may have influenced legal theory and law.
(Situationist artist Marc Scheff is providing the remarkable illustrations in this series.)
* * *
There is a vast range of interconnected evidence (too vast to do justice to in this subsection) of pro-commercial interests investing to deeply capture the many "credible third parties" that might influence the many "targeted audiences" (including all of us) to accept pro-commercial worldviews. In this subsection we will focus on a small sample of that evidence. Although the sample is small, it will hit close to home for much of our audience and will, we hope, strike a more direct and personal chord than the Galileo discussion may have.
Consider the world of legal scholarship. Large business interests have attempted to locate, create, and sponsor the production and dissemination of pro-commercial legal scholarship by legal scholars who have served as credible, if often unwitting, spokespeople for business ends. More specifically, consider some of the evidence regarding the goals and influence of the John M. Olin Foundation.
According to the Olin Foundation's Web site,
the general purpose of the John M. Olin Foundation is to provide support for projects that reflect or are intended to strengthen the economic, political and cultural institutions upon which the American heritage of constitutional government and private enterprise is based. The Foundation also seeks to . . . encourag[e] the thoughtful study of the connections between economic and political freedoms, and the cultural heritage that sustains them.
To advance that goal the Olin Foundation has, among other things, awarded tens of millions of dollars to prominent law schools for the promotion of law and economics scholarship. Over the past twenty years, Olin money has established law and economics programs, or "centers," at several prominent law schools: the University of Chicago, Yale, Stanford, Harvard, Columbia, Georgetown, Duke, the University of Michigan, the University of Pennsylvania, George Mason, and the University of Virginia. In 1999, a year in which the Foundation paid out almost $20 million in grants to organizations around the country, \Harvard Law School's John M. Olin Center for Law, Economics, and Business was in the middle of a four-year, $6 million grant, Yale Law School's John M. Olin Program in Law and Economics was in the middle of a three-year, $1.9 million grant, and the University of Chicago Law School's John M. Olin Program in Law and Economics was in the middle of a six-year, $2.5 million grant. In May 2003, Harvard received another grant from the Olin Foundation, this time for $10 million, "the largest foundation grant in the law school's 186-year history."
Olin money, as we will describe in more detail in subsequent work, has a significant influence not only in encouraging certain types of scholarship, but also in increasing the credibility of that scholarship. It establishes "centers" dedicated to law and economics theory, provides funding for journals through which law and economics scholarship can be stamped with the legitimacy of "peer review" by other legal economists, finances a series of workshops to encourage efficiency-oriented scholars to share and test their views at elite law schools, and gives scholarships and fellowships to top law students who participate in law and economics seminars and produce law and economics scholarship. In short, Olin money has helped to create and advance a critical mass of legal scholars, who begin with the strong dispositionist axioms of neoclassical economics, who write largely for one another and policymakers, and who view themselves (and are viewed by many others) as the only genuinely social scientific members of the legal academy.
The success of the Olin Foundation's funding of law and economics seems fairly dramatic. Professor Steven Shavell, the director of Harvard Law School's Olin Program, recently provided one measure of that achievement. Professor Shavell surveyed the academic appointments at the "top 10" law schools over the last decade. Of forty-three total placements, he found that, twenty-three were Harvard Law School graduates, and ten of those had been Olin fellows. As Professor Shavell told the Boston Globe, "[i]n the long run, we're going to have a heck of an impact on who's teaching at the leading law schools, and what the students are learning."
We would go further. The Olin Foundation and the law and economics scholarship that it has subsidized have already had "a heck of an impact." Indeed, the scholarly project that the Olin money has sponsored is the same project that is widely understood today to be the dominant paradigm for policy analysis. Professor Shavell has emphasized that the economic analysis of law "has changed the nature of legal scholarship, influenced legal practice, and already proven its tremendous value in policymaking and business." Furthermore, the Olin Foundation's Board of Trustees recently declared that their contributions have "supported a wide range of scholars and writers who significantly changed the content and direction of American academic and political discussion."
Of course, the fact that the Olin Foundation poured millions of dollars into promoting law and economics does not necessarily imply that those investments played a significant causal role in the stunning success of the now-dominant paradigm. It may be, as most of its proponents presume, that law and economics was destined for greatness solely on the merits, and that Olin money simply facilitated an inevitable process that was already underway.
* * *
There are several reasons to suspect, however, that the Olin Foundation's support, combined with numerous other situational influences, has played a pivotal causal role in the success of the law and economics movement. First, the success of law and economics appears to map closely with the precise ambitions and strategies of the key individuals behind the Olin Foundation: John Olin, the founder of the organization, and William Simon, its longtime president. After leaving his position as Treasury Secretary in the Nixon and Ford Administrations, Simon wrote two best-selling books that outlined his conservative and pro-commercial beliefs and his agenda for implementing them. Simon was a prominent, early exponent of the dispositionist, neoliberal worldview that seeks to promote private enterprise and to minimize the role of government–a worldview shared by John Olin. They also shared a belief that American universities at the time produced ideas and graduates that were dangerously antithetical to those ends. To Simon, this problem was tantamount to a war of liberty versus totalitarianism–a war with three fronts:
1. Funds generated by business . . . must rush by multimillions to the aid of liberty, in the many places where it is beleaguered.
. . . .
. . . [Foundations established by such funds must] serve explicitly as intellectual refuges for the non-egalitarian scholars and writers in our society who today work largely alone in the face of overwhelming indifference or hostility. They must be given grants, grants, and more grants in exchange for books, books, and more books.
2. Business must cease the mindless subsidizing of colleges and universities whose departments of economics, government, politics and history are hostile to capitalism and whose faculties will not hire scholars whose views are otherwise.
. . . .
. . . America's major universities are today churning out young collectivists by legions, and it is irrational for businessmen to support them.
. . . .
3. Finally, business money must flow . . . to media which are either pro-freedom or, if not necessarily 'pro-business,' at least professionally capable of a fair and accurate treatment of procapitalist ideas, values and arguments. The judgment of this fairness is to be made by businessmen alone–it is their money that they are investing.
These are the three fronts on which to act aggressively if we are to create a sophisticated counter-force to the rising despotism. One of my own first actions on leaving the post of Secretary of the Treasury was to accept the job of president of the John N. [sic] Olin Foundation, whose purpose is to support those individuals and institutions who are working to strengthen the free enterprise system.
Thus, Simon, with the support of the Olin Foundation, was trying to alter the playing field on which academic debate takes place–and trying to do so situationally. Furthermore, he understood that the dispositionism of law and economics is pro-business and that many alternative views, otherwise successful in the marketplace of ideas, are not. Simon presented American individualism, much as ad agencies presented the Marlboro Man, as the American tradition and the source of America's greatness. However, like the Marlboro Man's creators, Simon seemed to appreciate that such individualism, to be embraced as deeply as Philip Morris, Simon, and others desired, had to be heavily promoted, and reinforced if it is to be widely accepted. And he further understood that the situation can and should be manipulated by, among other things, choosing particular academics, programs, and scholarly camps to give "grants, grants, and more grants in exchange for books, books, and more books."
In light of Simon's (and thus the Olin Foundation's) pro-business mission, there is good reason to believe that the Olin Foundation's sizeable law and economics investment was money well spent. The point is strengthened when one considers that the Foundation engaged in a kind of "stage financing" of these programs: grants were intended to last for only a few years, at which point the Foundation would consider whether to renew its contribution to a particular program. The fact that the Foundation continued to renew many grants provides strong evidence that it believed that its investments were generating worthwhile returns in terms of encouraging pro-commercial worldviews (and discouraging alternatives) among students, academics, and policymakers.
* * *
Part I of this series explained that our "deep capture" story is analogous to the (shallow) capture story told by economists (such as Nobel laureate George Stigler) and public choice theorists for decades regarding the competition over prototypical regulatory institutions. Part II looked to history (specifically, Galileo's recantation) for another analogy to the process that we claim is widespread today — the deep capture of how we understand ourselves. Part III picked up on both of those themes and explains that Stigler's "capture" story has implications far broader and deeper than he or others realized. Part IV examined the relative power (measured as the ability to influence situation) of large commercial interests today, much like the power of the Catholic Church in Galileo's day. Part V described other parallels between the Catholic Church and geocentrism, on one hand, and modern corporate interests and dispositionism, on the other. Part VI laid out the "deep capture hypothesis" a bit more and began loosely testing it by examining the role that it may have played in the "deregulatory" movement. Part VII provided some illustrative examples of how atypical "regulators," from courts to hard-hitting news networks, reflect and contribute to deep capture. Part VIII contrasted different cultures for evidence of commercial interests in promoting dispositionism. Part IX described the strategy of employing third-party messengers.


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Doctors: Blood clot located in Clinton's head
Staff Writer
State Journal-Register
WASHINGTON — Doctors treating Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton for a blood clot say the clot formed in her head but they stress that they are confident she will make a full recovery.
In an update Monday on Clinton's condition, her doctors say the blood clot did not result in a stroke, or neurological damage. The clot is located in the vein in the space between the brain and the skull behind the right ear.
Clinton's doctors say that to help dissolve the clot, they are treating her with blood thinners. They say she will be released once the medication dose has been established.
In their update, the doctors say the 65-year-old secretary of state is making excellent progress and is in good spirits.


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Defending champ Rafael Nadal into French Open 3rd round
PARIS — Eight-time champion Rafael Nadal improved his French Open record to 61-1 after beating big-hitting Dominic Thiem of Austria 6-2, 6-2, 6-3 on Thursday.
The Spaniard's only defeat at Roland Garros was in the fourth round against Robin Soderling five years ago. He was never in danger of losing this time, but was occasionally on the back foot as Thiem went for his shots throughout the match and broke the top-seeded Nadal's serve twice.
"It was a dangerous match, dangerous opponent today," Nadal said. "I am happy with the way I resisted. When I had to play long points I did well. When I had to attack and move him, I think I did well."
Although Nadal broke Thiem's serve seven times overall, Thiem's powerful groundstrokes caused Nadal problems and he applauded the 20-year-old Thiem as he left center court.
With Nadal serving at 5-1 in the first set, Thiem saved a set point with a backhand volley at the net, then forced a break point with a forehand winner into the right corner and won the game with a replica stroke on the next point.
Nadal sealed the second set with a forehand winner down the line, but Thiem broke him again and then held for a 3-1 lead in the third.
That prompted Nadal to step up a gear and secure two consecutive breaks.
"I continued to deploy an attacking style and him move around the court," Nadal said. "I put pressure on him."
Nadal, who sealed victory on his second match point, next faces either Leonardo Mayer of Argentina, who beat Russia's Teymuraz Gabashvili 6-2, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4.
Fifth-seeded David Ferrer of Spain, last year's runner-up to Nadal; Briton's Andy Murray, seeded seventh, and No. 12 Richard Gasquet of France also advanced to the third round in straight sets.
Ferrer beat Italy's Simone Bolelli 6-2, 6-3, 6-2; the two-time Grand Slam champion Murray followed up with a 6-3, 6-1, 6-3 win against Australia's Marinko Matosevic, and Gasquet won 7-6 (5), 6-4, 6-4 against Carlos Berlocq of Argentina.
Ferrer next faces No. 32 Andreas Seppi of Italy, while Murray faces No. 28 Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany.
Also, 19th-seeded Kevin Anderson of South Africa beat Axel Michon 6-2, 6-3, 6-2 and American Donald Young won 6-1, 7-6 (1), 6-3 against No. 26 Feliciano Lopez.
In the women's draw, fifth-seeded Petra Kvitova won 6-4, 6-4 against Marina Erakovic, No. 6 Sixth-seeded Jelena Jankovic won 7-5, 6-0 against Japan's Kurumi Nara, and No. 10 Sara Errani of Italy — a runner-up in 2012 and semifinalist last year — won 6-2, 6-4 against Germany's Dinah Pfizenmaier.
Frenchwoman Kristina Mladenovic, who beat second-seeded Li Na — the former champion — in the first round, followed up with a 7-6 (5), 3-6, 6-3 win against American Alison Riske.
No. 15 Sloane Stephens of the United States; No. 23 Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic, and former French Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia also advanced. Kuznetsova faces Kvitova in the third round.


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