maudlin lucile: oromo news: Selamat Datang ke MPK2053 Current

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AHMAD SASHWANI BIN AZMI

MP111480

Critical Review

An article review of Yunfei? Chong ,2011.? ? The Research on how Chinese vocational education break through the current bottleneck of its development , Concurrent discussion on how to establish the mechanism of school enterprise cooperation in Chinese vocational education?. ????Zhengzhou Railway Vocational and Technical College

This article focuses on ?how to develop Chinese Vocational Education by establish the mechanism of school-enterprise cooperation . The authors have stressed the cooperation between schools and enterprises that appear to have a problem in creating a program of bilateral cooperation which respectively provide help to achieve a common goal or a win-win due to? the failure of the government to encourage partnerships between schools and enterprises.; government-lead ?. The author aims to highlight the collaboration between industry and academia like ?Dual System?? vocational education models in Germany that provide job internship ,one of the reason for difficulty of school-enterprises cooperation; administrative subordination;. Yunfei mentions that perhaps almost vocational colleges perfom actively, but it not accompany with enterprise or industry that did not contact the colleges forwardly.

This article is significant given that the difficulties of school-enterprise cooperation is lack of talent training as well as evaluated by educational expert. ?However as a result of somewhat abstract implications, the article would perhaps only be of interest on ?co-sponsorship mechanism and policy guarantee especially on government-lead.? The authors have used ?vocational education models to describe the government- lead in developing countries like ;Amerika, England, Germany and Japan; and to compare the efficient model of personnel training.Although showing differences in ??implementation but strives to achieve the common goal of providing provisions to ensure the training is going well.The author mention it provides good reference to strengthen the government ?lead, strengthen the legislation of vocational education, strengthen the overall plan and supervise, and establish the cooperation mechanism.

The author has started writing specifying keywords should be known and so began a discussion on the topic. The author have a very good in processing due to problems in school-enterprise Cooperation is more specific that can identify the cause of how the occurrence constraints to progress chinese vocational education. The topic has an objective to be achive.The author has made a claims that government-lead is the only way to break through the current bottleneck of vocational education development but ?an evidence was provided is not reliable. The conclusion also are drawn just a simple word and not complement. The principal of the text can be better organized

As a conclusion it can be said that the author has managed to transfer information on how to solve the bottleneck problem as experienced by chinese vocational education which should strengthen the school-enterprise cooperation.? To the success of this cooperation must be the government in terms of provision of assistance and reform The author seems to only look to the government-lead, although the schools are supposed to provide entrepreneurship education as recommended by Robert Kowasaki in her book, rich dad, poor dad where he suggested that education for entrepreneurship have since translated children from school. Similarly, vocational education should start at school with teachers who are trained as discussed by Qiu Feiyue and Lifang Le (2010). Quality education will produce a quality student . I am? agree with Malaysia system vocational school that was up grade to be a college and develop the teachers skill.

Source: http://citve1213.blogspot.com/2012/12/criticle-review-1-ahmad-sashwani-azmi.html

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Source: http://oromo-news.blogspot.com/2012/12/selamat-datang-ke-mpk2053-current.html

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Source: http://maudlin-lucile.blogspot.com/2012/12/oromo-news-selamat-datang-ke-mpk2053.html

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Source: http://kuntanay.blogspot.com/2012/12/maudlin-lucile-oromo-news-selamat.html

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Katt Williams -- Quentin Tarantino Has No Business Using the N ...

Katt Williams
Quentin Tarantino Has No Business Using the N-Word

EXCLUSIVE

In between getting out of jail and getting in the middle of a parking lot brawl, Katt Williams took the time to talk to TMZ about "Django Unchained" ... and threatened to beat the crap out of?Quentin Tarantino if he gets the chance.

Williams didn't voice his opinion in a polite way like Spike Lee did. First he threatened to punch QT in the face, then told us, "Quentin Tarantino thinks he can say the N-word. But I checked with all of Ni**adom and nobody knows where he got his pass from. I hope he didn't get it from Samuel L. Jackson and Jamie Foxx cause they aren't going to help you when I see you."

When our photog tried to compare QT to Steven Spielberg (who made "Amistad" in 1997), Katt shot back, "Quentin Tarantino is no Steven Spielberg. Steven Spielberg doesn't wanna be black, Quentin Tarantino thinks he is. So when he meets a real ni**a, we'll see if he is or not."

Quentin, you've been warned.

Source: http://www.tmz.com/2012/12/29/katt-williams-quentin-tarantino-django-unchained/

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snowflakes app by hado labs for iPad & iPhone

generating more than 9,000 artistic and beautifully realistic snowflakes, the app renders intricate, icy details. The post snowflakes app by hado labs for iPad & iPhone appeared first on designboom .

Read the original ... snowflakes app by hado labs for iPad & iPhone

This entry was posted in Aggregated, Blogs, Design. Bookmark the permalink.

Source: http://squa.re/2012/12/29/snowflakes-app-by-hado-labs-for-ipad-iphone/

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What Web Hosting Supplier Do You Need | Veritas India

Posted on December 29, 2012 by dufttuey508 in Internet

For selecting the an individual and that?s appropriate for your enterprise it?s essential to fully grasp the distinction among shared, co-located, unmanaged dedicated servers and managed committed hostings.

Seeing that from the collection of solutions and internet hosting groups made on the market, it will be increase being terribly essential to recognize the mammoth difference between the sorts of internet hosting and web hosting expertise introduced./p>

Whenever you are sharing just one server that has a range of other clientele of that organization it is usually labeled as as Shared hosting also acknowledged as virtual web hosting. The administration within the server is fully completed by host even though you protect your website site along with your account. And therefore the cost of these hostings tend to be a lot less as a large number of clientele are paying out to be used from the server. Nonetheless, their are a few aspect outcome of utilizing this kind of servers most notably other businesses utilizing the shared servers have the property of that server which might hammer the functionality of our internet web-sites if one of the several other prospects has colossal focused site traffic relating to the server. Other draw back of shared web hosting is usually that you won?t be able to install special computer software package deal plans apart from supported by servers on a lot of these machines, because the host demands to maintain a gradual environment for all of his users employing the identical server.

Dell and HP are illustration of Co-found web hosting. While you buy a server from a hardware seller, as talked about through, then produce this server to your host, it?s always generally known as as Co-situated web hosting. The host plugs your server into its community and its repitative energy processes. The host is just manages and maintains a watch on its network is accessible, and you simply (who buys the server) are responsible for all guidance and servicing of one?s server. A very good hosting company deals administration contracts to their co-area people to help their clientele to outsource noticeably of the allow to them andflip the arrangement related to maintained committed hosting. The only disadvantage of such hosting is the fact that most co-place hosts you should not provide this assist.

Unmanage committed internet hosting and co-spot hostings are essentially correlated. The only variation is the fact in unmanage committed web hosting you keep the products of a server from the host and not decide to purchase it. However just previous to deciding on this kind of net hosting plans it is advisable to be confident for the solutions they supply just as if they will likely give safety patches in your server or not. Unmanage devoted hosting is excellent for gaming servers (like Doom or Counterstrike servers) or hobbyist servers, although not so promising for institutions while it may possibly probably not give responsive, professional-degree expert services.

Once you retain the expert services of the server from a host delivering a sturdy phase of help and maintainance in the server that is certainly superior good assured, it undoubtedly is stated for being Managed targeted hosting. As you pick out maintained targeted web hosting foryour corporation you obtain establishments like server up-time monitoring, an equipment guarantee, basic safety patch updates including a great deal far more. On the other hand you have got to indicate notably about these service providers offered by the web hosting firm you utilize so you couldn?t be led in disguise picking out managed devoted internet hosting services.

2. You?ll want to affirm along with your Host?s Community if your internet hosting company supplied has blackholed IPs.
It has been experienced tremendously very often that hosts dont treatment plenty about that is unquestionably web hosting on their networks, as prolonged to be the customers devote their bill.As the result of which a great number of hosters unknowingly let porn websites, spammers and servers that produce safety challenges on their network. For sake of getting giant sum of source of income the internet hosting organizations allow for this type of web internet websites on their server which offers a bad impression on the shoppers generally after they undergo such web online sites through your world wide web web-site or when your community can get blackholed for spamming. And when your community can get blackholed other networks will refuse e-mail originated out of your IP as its blacklisted.

So its critical to look at with any hosts you are taking into account to observe if their networks are blackholed or not.

a couple of. Allows not compare and contrast measurements with balance (its not very important, an even larger organization signifies quite a bit considerably more secure)
Its not requested that if your web site hosting organisation you picked is mostly an immense internet business it will be a good deal a great deal more protected and safe. There could in fact be implications like personal bankruptcy, agency given out or another thing. Hence previous to deciding upon an acceptable net hosting business you should get answers to your down below necessary inquiries:

May be the hosing small business aged enough in such a group?

Whether or not or not the ownership of this organization experienced been the precise similar in the earlier?

Regardless of whether they are simply profitable and dollars stream constructive web hosting corporations from operation-produced revenuepoint of standpoint?

4. Amount must not be your only priority as deciding upon an online internet hosting business.
As we say you GET Everything you Pay out FOR. Comparable is utilized for world wide web hosting providers. You are taking a menace of unknowingly choosing an internet hosting small business which would only source you with a smallish backlink for the Web in terms of guidance if you priortize only price tag tag even while selecting an internet internet hosting expert services.

five. A high quality Internet internet hosting group presents you with redundant resources centres.
It?s essential to ensure which the web internet hosting opportunity decided on has its possess data facilities which can be rather responsive and very repititive in its function. When addressing smaller suppliers it is best to affirm which the information and facts middle answers offered by them are fully redundant in regards to energy and connectivity and obtain suitable answers on the concerns pointed out under:

The web hosting organizations have how quite a lot of lines coming into the center?

Do the connections arrive up considering the conventional utilisation? Maximum capacity operating servers generally are slow.

Certainly is the electricity provide redundant towards the servers?

If electrical strength is eliminate down do they administration their servers with generators or UPS on-web resource site?

Will be the community destination from the servers totally secured? What variety of protection steps do they supply?

six. The Host providing web site internet hosting products realistically ought to be adaptable.
It?s very crucial the hoster understands that providing top notch servers to their clients? businesses are incredibly vital. It is advisable to deal with a hoster that has a sufficient abilities to help a diverse assortment of software applications, and a single specific who will solve your problems and supply highly effective solutions throug his adventure. Over the head the host and his workers with whom you will deal in possible has good enough specialised knowlegde relating to support administrator so that you may likely possibly not be still left unhappy speaking to them whilst fixing your server affiliated situations.

7. The Testimonies are classified as the most efficient way toknow with regard to the variety of assist you certainly will get.
Inquire from a future host to offer you with perfect effects tales of customers who may have taken equivalent organizations as yours. As recommendations and references will assist you a complete whole lot to grasp in regards to the operating know-how while using the website web hosting service you picked.

Imaginative Web Solutions is online internet hosting organization that focuses on shared internet hosting and maintained dedicated web hosting for organisations nationwide during the using the net retailing, net advancement, e-learning, economical companies and via the internet merchandising and advertising industries, as productively as for governments, non-earnings and civic establishments. Discuss to us For an enquiry.

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Source: http://www.veritasindia.com/what-web-hosting-supplier-do-you-need

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Things To Remember When Hiring a Concrete Contractor - Home ...

When it comes to home remodeling, or renovations, often times people don?t consider some of the preliminary stages. For instance, many don?t remember to call in a concrete contractor to help with the foundational work that many other items need to be built on. Furthermore, many forget to include the yard in their search to fix things up properly. If you or someone you know wants to fix up a home and haven?t really taken the time to research hiring contractors yet, consider the following things to remember when it comes down to investing money.

First and foremost, make sure that you find a reputable concrete contractor, before you spend money on a project. This is going to be the most crucial thing that you can do in order to get your work accomplished within a good overall time frame. By making sure that the company you hire is licensed, bonded, and has some years of experience, you can gain peace of mind that that you will be able to move forward with relative ease. If you don?t, you could have a project that may be done haphazardly or could end up being hung up with complications. That will in turn cost you more money to fix than the initial plans call for, so make sure that you don?t hire someone that is known for taking shortcuts.

The second to remember is that concrete requires it?s own separate contractor to get it done well. If you need stairs, platforms, or just about anything mapped out with concrete, you can?t just go with any old company to help you out. Make sure that you seek out an expert that will be able to help you get the job done that you need. There is a finesse to making this type of work shine, and while it might be easy to mix, it?s hard to get right without cracking, breaking or anything that would mire the visual aesthetics.

The last thing to remember is to make sure that you get an estimate and you talk to professionals when it comes to your ideas.

Don?t just go with a company that says yes to everything, because your ideas might be impossible to do. Think about the scope of possibilities so that when you get an estimate it?s reasonable. If you?re looking at a great deal of concrete and you aren?t concerned with financial options, you will still want to get an estimate so that you can gauge the customer service that you?re going to receive if you move forward with any major project.

Whether you?re doing renovations, in the middle of construction, or you just want to change things up in your yard, you can hire a concrete expert to help you get the job done, but make sure that you are selective and go with someone that is going to accomplish the work within a reasonable amount of time at a price that you can afford. Without being selective, you will find problems with the construction process.

Source: http://home-improvement.ezinemark.com/things-to-remember-when-hiring-a-concrete-contractor-7d382ad91736.html

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Top 10 Blog Posts of 2012

As another year comes to an end it?s time to reflect on the previous year and create new goals for the coming year. Video conferencing has become ever present, cloud services are continuing to grow and collaboration technology is becoming even cooler.? Here is a look at some of the top blog posts from 2012. We hope you enjoyed reading them as much as we enjoyed writing them!

Have a wonderful and safe New Year and we?ll see you in 2013!

Top Blog Posts of 2012:

IT Conundrum: Do It Yourself or Embrace the Cloud?
The prevalence of cloud services has sparked a debate among IT professionals about whether to handle all IT components in-house or to outsource components to cloud service providers.

Video Conferencing Adoption ? The Time Has Come!
An integrated approach to video conferencing adoption must be implemented because the impact of new technology reaches beyond the equipment and affects the people and the process within an organization.

The Exponential Power of Video Conferencing
Understanding the Collaboration Curve, and how casual interactions among colleagues and business partners spark creativity, can help organizations drive innovation within their organization.

Video Conferencing and Fighting for Freedom
A patriotic (and personal) look at how communication has changed and video conferencing has helped military members stationed overseas stay in touch with friends and family.

Stop Being Such a Video-phobe!
Getting over the hurdle of being afraid or making excuses not to be on video can be challenging; but in the end the advantages of using it far outweigh any negative feelings you may have.

Using Collaboration to Increase Customer Lifetime Value
The more companies converse with customers and the stronger the relationship is; the more apt customers are to provide honest feedback which can help drive innovation.

Telemedicine Reimbursement ? The Time is Now!
Health care organizations throughout the world continue to implement telemedicine; however a major challenge has been the lack of parity from insurance organizations.

The Promise of Unified Communications and the Cloud
A look at some of the roadblocks that prevent true ubiquity of UC solutions throughout enterprise organizations and how cloud service can help overcome some of these challenges.

The New Science of Building Great Teams
An interesting take on building effective teams and achieving a high level of cohesion among team members. How we communicate is actually more important than what we communication.

The Essential Role of Human Resources
HR departments can utilize video conferencing solutions in a variety of different ways to increase communication and expedite many of the functions within the department.

Source: http://blog.ivci.com/2012/12/27/top-10-blog-posts-of-2012/

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Deep emotions run beneath Russia's adoption ban

The Duma's bill to ban US adoptions of Russian children, which passed another legislative hurdle today, appeals to Russian pride and concerns about the US.

By Mike Eckel,?Correspondent / December 22, 2012

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during a news conference in Moscow, Russia, Thursday. Putin says a draft bill banning US adoptions of Russian children is a legitimate response to a new US law that calls for sanctions on Russians deemed to be human rights violators.

Misha Japaridze/AP

Enlarge

You usually can judge Vladimir Putin?s dislike of a reporter's question by the intensity of his expression. Such was the case this week at his annual news conference, when he greeted with a hard scowl the subject of pending Russian legislation that would ban Americans from adopting orphaned children. Mr. Putin unleashed invective on the fact that consular representatives aren?t allowed to visit adopted Russian children in the United States.

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?I believe that is unacceptable. Do you think this is normal? How can it be normal when you are humiliated? Do you like it? Are you a sadomasochist or something? They shouldn?t humiliate our country,? he told reporters in Moscow.

As is often the case in Russia, there is the issue of what is going on versus what is really going on. And as is often the case in Russia, it?s complicated.

There is very little doubt as to the goal of the legislation, which passed its third and final reading in the lower house of parliament Friday and must still be signed by Putin. The bill is named after Dima Yakovlev, the toddler who died of heat stroke in 2007 after his adopted father forgot him in a locked car in Virginia for nine hours. The father, Miles Harrison, was acquitted of involuntary manslaughter in the death of Dima, whose adopted name was Chase. His acquittal in 2008 sparked banner newspaper headlines, incendiary TV news reports, and howls of outrage in Russia.

Lawmakers in the State Duma made it clear that today's legislation is a direct response to the US ?Magnitsky Act,? a law designed to sanction a particular group of Russian officials connected to the death of a whistle-blowing lawyer in a Moscow prison.

In other words, a law designed to punish people tied to a lawyer?s prison death has been answered with a law to prevent people from adopting orphaned children, many of whom have have developmental or other disabilities and will otherwise end up living much of their lives in orphanages that often resemble state mental hospitals of a bygone era.

Adoption is a searingly emotional issue for Russians, and one easily manipulated by the Kremlin. The institution of adoption is relatively uncommon in Russia, for cultural and other reasons. And judging by headlines in the Moscow tabloids, and the rhetoric of some state lawmakers, you?d think that Americans adopt Russian children to eat them.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/csmonitor/globalnews/~3/V_elSV87HO8/Deep-emotions-run-beneath-Russia-s-adoption-ban

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Christmas provides Connecticut town a break from mourning

NEWTOWN, Connecticut (Reuters) - Christmas has helped some people in the grieving Connecticut town of Newtown cope a little better with the shooting tragedy that killed 20 schoolchildren, while others have yet to feel the holiday joy.

Smiles returned for those taking a respite from the mourning now that funerals for the victims have concluded. For the crestfallen, the holiday spirit was absent in a town that just buried its children.

"We're getting through this with our faith and our prayer. People are smiling a little more now," said John Barry, owner of an information technology staffing company. "The week was so horrible. Now it's time to celebrate Christmas."

This largely Christian town was shaken on the morning of December 14, when a 20-year-old gunman armed with a military-style assault rifle shot dead 20 children aged 6 and 7 and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School. It was the second-deadliest school shooting in U.S. history.

Little is known about the shooter, Adam Lanza, who also killed his mother before the rampage and later himself to create a death toll of 28 in a tragedy that has revitalized the debate over U.S. gun control laws.

The sadness has moved some to act. Makeshift monuments to the dead have popped up all over town, funds have been raised, and many visitors have made a pilgrimage to Newtown, offering support.

"It doesn't feel like Christmas. It's too sad to feel like Christmas," said Joanne Brunetti of Newtown, who was staffing a 24-hour candlelight vigil in the center of town early Christmas morning. "I got my shopping done a lot later than usual. I just felt like my heart wasn't in it."

At another monument across town, Tim O'Leary of nearby Danbury, Connecticut, said reading the memorials to the victims only helped "a little."

"It (Christmas) shouldn't even be happening," O'Leary said. "Life has changed as we know it."

MISSING ANGEL

The mood was more uplifting at Christmas Eve Mass on Monday night at Saint Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church, which held its biggest service at the high school auditorium.

Parishioners Dan and Michelle McAloon of Newtown decided to go Christmas caroling this year for the first time, gathering other families and children to roam a neighborhood where the families of three victims live.

"We were just spreading some cheer, trying to make the situation a little better," Michelle McAloon said.

"They all smiled, and they all cried a little," she said of the victims' families.

"Everybody said we are doing it again next year," Dan McAloon said of the carolers. "It's going to become a tradition."

Nine families from the parish lost someone in the shooting, and at least four of those families came to the big Christmas Eve Mass, Monsignor Robert Weiss said.

"There is reason to celebrate," Weiss said after the service. "Hopefully when people start to see their extended families, or people from outside of Newtown, or even go out of town, they will be able to. You can't get away from it in this town," he said.

Christmas Eve Mass featured a pageant that told the Christian story of Jesus' birth. One of the more poignant moments came when people applauded a group of two dozen little girls dressed as angels. They all knew shooting victim Olivia Engel, 6, was supposed to be among them.

"I highly recommend that before you rip open those gifts, say a prayer for those children," Weiss told parishioners. "Then give your own children a hug."

(Reporting by Daniel Trotta; Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe and Eric Beech)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/christmas-provides-connecticut-town-break-mourning-121258627.html

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Bird Removed From Chinese Zoo For Yelling Obscenities

Myna birds, native to Southeast Asia, are prized for their ability to repeat human phrases. In a zoo in Hubei, China, one such bird was known to spout off courteous, friendly sayings to visitors: things like ?hello,? ?good fortune,? and goodbye. According to?China Daily,?sometimes it ?even sang a song.?

But then the unthinkable happened. One day, the adorable Myna bird got wise, stopped being nice, and began yelling profanities at whomever would listen. ?The Myna has a good memory,? zookeeper?Li Yun said. ?Maybe some tourist taught the bird this bad language.?

In any case, the zoo?s staff decided to take the renegade bird off of display, and move it to an isolated room for some Clockwork Orange-style rehabilitation. Zookeepers played tapes of ?polite phrases? for the Myna, and plan to deprive any future offenders of food.

(Photo: Erik Dunham)

Source: http://feeds.animalnewyork.com/~r/animalnewyork/~3/XB7i4m62k9M/

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NBA ??? Belinelli e Gallinari trascinano Chicago e Denver, vincono anche Miami, Lakers e Golden State

? 19/12/2012Posted in: NBA News, News

WASHINGTON ? ATLANTA 95 ? 100

CLEVELAND ? TORONTO 99 ? 113

BROOKLYN ? UTAH 90 ? 92

MIAMI ? MINNESOTA 103 -92

CHICAGO ? BOSTON 100 ? 89

MILWAUKEE ? INDIANA 98 ? 93

DALLAS ? PHILADELPHIA 107 -100

DENVER ? SAN ANTONIO 112 ? 106

LOS ANGELES LAKERS ? CHARLOTTE 101 -100

GOLDEN STATE ? NEW ORLEANS 103 ? 96

Migliori prestazioni:

PUNTI: Jennings (Mil) 34, Duncan (Sas) 31, Bryant (Lal) 30

RIMBALZI: Howard (Lal) 18, Duncan (Sas) 18, Love (Min) 18

ASSIST: James (Mia) 11, Vazquez (Noh) 11, Noah (Chi) 10

About zianello

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/playitusa/~3/MlHgmjs586s/

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Seattle Mayor Wes Uhlman names Cesar Chavez First Citizen of Seattle on December 19, 1969.

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Source: http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=1345

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Ryan's Rally: We Got This ? Koons Automotive Heartfelt Donation

?

Koons Automotive donates Sienna Van!

Koons Automotive. What a wonderful, caring, and sincerely humble organization! Really, just a great group of people working for a great company. Yesterday they donated a new ?adapted? van with all the fanfare and celebration. It opens up a whole new world for Ryan and my family.

It was overwhelming? in a good way.

Also, it was deeply heartfelt. I could see and feel the joy in the Koons team that they made such a difference in our lives. Their happiness for us was practically overflowing. They were never boastful. It was entirely just so touching. So genuine. So loving. I never wanted them to leave and was sad to see them go.?

Krystal Koons and my family enjoying the van.

Krystal Koons, the company spokesperson, wouldn?t stop talking about the letter my daughter, Kari, wrote. Every time the media asked her what it meant to Koons, she immediately turned the focus back to our family. She would speak of her admiration of our family?s love and devotion. I was so proud of Krystal for doing this.

Perhaps this is why I have what?s akin to a junior high school crush on her. Her being a hot blonde has nothing to do with it! I swear!

I hope it wasn?t weird how much I was hugging her (hehehehe). I?m well on my way to being the dirty, old man my wife always claimed I?d become.

But (more) seriously, I just have some much respect for her and all the Koons people who came to our home yesterday. A classy, top-notched group. People who are easy to look up to and appreciate. Good people with outstanding morals and ethics. There also must be a special shout-out to David Telfer, who did most of the legwork over the past six months to make this happen.

This video (make sure you have your flash player enabled), to follow, is from ABC News Channel 7.

This is from NBC Channel 4 News.

I have big plans for the van. It is my biggest wish to get some nearby office space so Ryan and I can ?go to work? everyday. Yes, Ryan will wear a bow tie, as will I. We have so much to offer society and we now have a means to get us out and about. Sure, this is a lofty goal (given the cost of leasing square footage in northern Virginia), but I will make it happen. You can count on this. Sure, it will be good for me in so many ways. Moreover, it will be great for Ryan. Not to mention, a huge benefit for society.

But first, I?m bringing back a family tradition of driving to a nearby town to view holiday lights. We use to do this every year. It was always a big night for us, with holiday music on the radio, a plateful of cookies, and a thermos of piping-hot cocoa as we took in the wonderful decorations.

Again, Krystal Koons, David Telfer, and the entire Koons team? thank you. We are fortunate you included us in your life. You made such a difference for us. You can always count on the loyalty of my family and the many followers known collectively as ?Team Diviney?.

Related articles

Source: http://ryansrally.org/2012/12/18/koons-automotive-heartfelt-donation/

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Google-FTC Antitrust Inquiry Might Drag On Until Next Year

Google may have to wait a bit longer until negotiations in its antitrust case with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission finally draw to a close. The New York Times reported that the FTC is unlikely to finish until January, according to sources briefed on the investigation. At the beginning of this week, observers speculated that a settlement was in the works after Google reportedly promised to change some of the business practices that the FTC had called into question.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/_DQX5B4TBPI/

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2013 Toyota RAV4 Test Drive

On-Sale Date: January 2013

Price: $24,145 to $29,225

Competitors: Honda CR-V, Chevrolet Equinox, Ford Escape, Nissan Rogue, Jeep Compass, Hyundai Tucson, Mazda CX-5

Powertrains: 2.5-liter I-4, 176 hp, 172 lb-ft

EPA Fuel Economy (city/hwy): 24/31 (FWD), 22/29 (AWD)

What?s New: The RAV4 is the OG of the small crossovers. Well, as OG as a four-cylinder wagon can be. Still, the 1995 RAV4 was the first car-based crossover, and it paved the way for the auto industry?s move from truck-based SUVs to the gentler-riding, lighter-duty, and much more fuel-efficient vehicles of today. But as much respect as the RAV4 deserves, it has been rolling for six full model years without a facelift. Not anymore.

Few bones remain unchanged from the old RAV4, even though the new RAV4?s chassis shares a common lineage based on the current-generation Corolla. Toyota?s goal was to make the RAV4 more fun behind the wheel without affecting the car?s versatility. Dropping the third-row-seat option might seem less versatile, but cargo capacity increases 0.4 cubic feet to 73.4 with the second-row seats folded. That?s with the spare tire housed inside the vehicle and with a smaller overall RAV4.

Ordering a new RAV4 is dramatically simpler. Just pick front- or all-wheel drive and check off the box for XE, XLE or Limited trim. The single engine option, shared with the Camry, carries over from before: a 2.5-liter four-cylinder rated at 176 hp. That big four comes mated to a six-speed automatic, which replaces the ancient four-speed. The V-6 and hybrid powertrains are gone. The strategy makes sense considering that most of the RAV4?s competitors, including the best-selling Honda CR-V, offer a single powertrain and a straightforward trim strategy.

Tech Tidbit: The RAV4 debuts Toyota?s latest all-wheel drive, called Dynamic Torque Control. It?s largely the same as the Active Torque Control system used on the outgoing RAV4, with an electronically controlled coupling mounted ahead of the rear differential to send torque rearward when needed. But the new AWD shifts the focus from saving you from foul weather to better overall handling. The signals that command the rear coupling are sent more frequently and take into account additional information sent by the engine, transaxle, and electronic power steering systems. A new Sport mode sets the Dynamic Torque Control parameters for quicker response and improved handling by sending 10 percent of torque to the rear as you turn into a corner. This mode also sends up to 50 percent of the available torque to the rear axle to help rotate the vehicle through the corner and mitigate understeer. The Sport feeling is further enhanced by reducing steering assist, sharpening the throttle response, and dialing back the stability control system.

Driving Character: It only takes a few minutes behind the wheel of the previous, third-generation RAV4 to understand the improvements made to this new one. The windshield, steering wheel, and driving position of the old car are all more upright. It?s as though you are perched up high, driving a little bus. The steering feel is heavy and the car rolls quite a bit in the corners.

The new RAV4 drives as though Toyota had borrowed a bunch of Mazda engineers and told them to zoom-zoom the entire vehicle. The 2013 is agile; corners fly by with the suspension keeping the little Toyota flat. And yes, pressing that little Sport button on the dash makes the experience even better. This RAV4 is another step in a recent trend of surprisingly fun Toyotas. Yes, the RAV4 has gained a few pounds (up 75 pounds on base front-drive models), but the four-cylinder and six-speed automatic combination is sprightly enough for dicing through the city streets or slogging up a mountain road. And the 6-speed?s top two gears, both overdrive, make for a relaxed (and quiet) engine on the freeway.

The latest model is noticeably better in tedious bouts of freeway traffic as well. The new interior is much improved, with soft-touch materials right where your hands and elbows want them. The steering wheel (finally) tilts and telescopes. You can lower the driver?s seat, replacing the old RAV4?s bus-like driving position with one more suggestive of a sedan. The interior feels roomier than before, although the specs say the headroom is down by an inch or so in both rows, and legroom is now 1 inch less in the back seat. Hip room is also down by a sizable 3.5 inches for rear passengers. All this sounds like a fairly large sacrifice, but we had little trouble finding comfort in the back seat (even with a nearly 6-foot frame).

Favorite Detail: Toyota finally abandoned the dowdy styling that plagued past generations of RAV4. This new one just looks good. The sheet metal has curves, the fenders are bulging, and the nose is angular and sporty. It?s a real departure from many of Toyota?s mainstream vehicles.

Driver?s Grievance: The new RAV4 has lost some ground clearance, dropping from 7.5 inches to 6.3. Yes, we know crossovers rarely, if ever, venture off-road. But an Audi Allroad, which is basically a tall station wagon, has 7.1 inches?more than this new RAV4. A Subaru Forester has 8.9 inches of clearance. We suspect there might be a few Vermont, Colorado, or Montana RAV4 buyers that will miss that 1.2 inches during a serious winter storm.

Bottom Line: Toyota has made transformative changes to the RAV4. In both style and substance, the company?s smallest crossover has gone from stodgy to sporty. The new RAV4 is finally fun to drive and has become one of the best-looking vehicles in the class. We?d opt for the XLE trim, which comes with padded interior bits and a power tailgate, since it seems to be the sweetest spot in terms of price and comfort. The downside? The new RAV4 is expensive. Its base price of $24,145 is more than Hyundai?s Tucson and Honda?s CR-V. Even so, the new Toyota is entertaining and practical.

Source: http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/reviews/drives/2013-toyota-rav4-test-drive-14873288?src=rss

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Tim Grobaty: A more perfect union, with fewer guns

A BETTER-REGULATED MILITIA: It is time, apparently, to ban rocks.

Rocks, tire irons, sections of 2x4s, arsenic, kitchen knives and iron skillets. All these things, in the wrong hands, can kill, we were reminded idiotically by way too many people last Friday and in the days following the massacre at Sandy Hook.

The level of debating-skill sophistication always plummets, along with the national mood, each time one of these assault weapon-enhanced mass killings takes place. The rapidity with which gun advocates remount their arguments in favor of their weapon of choice and in passionate defense of the breathtaking range of their killing efficiency makes one imagine that they're dispatched like an army by the National Rifle Association, even as the NRA stood semi-graciously mute for a while after the latest school murders.

The depthless observation that "guns don't kill, people do" is still hauled out after all these years as a reason to not regulate the innocent gun, which only wants to sit in a nice walnut case all day or maybe do a little varmint huntin' now and then.

The fact is, that guns really don't kill on their own. We'll give 'em that one. But a shooter can do a lot better job as a killer with a gun. And the more rounds that gun's magazine can hold, the easier it is for that person to kill more people. Make it a semi-automatic (full automatic is ideal, but, thanks to a stray bit of sanity, illegal for most of us to own) and you

can kill with your eyes closed. Guns don't kill, people do. Together, they make a great team.

The next level of deep thought is, again, woefully predictable and illogical. Stop us if you've heard it: Knives kill people (well, no, people kill people, but we get what you mean), tire irons kill people, rocks kill people. And here's the topper: Automobiles kill people. Are you going to outlaw knives and rocks and cars?

OK, no, we're not - nor is anyone, or hardly anyone - seeking to outlaw guns. After all, we need our well-regulated militia in order to defend ourselves against a government gone amok, as per the poor and abused Second Amendment, whose authors are kicking themselves in their graves for not having the foresight to anticipate an AR-15 assault rifle, never mind that weapon being maddeningly available at some 1,700 Wal-Marts, the nation's No. 1 seller of firearms in the U.S.

People - some of us - are merely seeking regulation. What kind of regulation? Anything at all would be nice: Banning assault rifles of any stripe would be a good start. Closing the second-market means of buying guns without so much as a cursory background check by purchasing firearms at guns shows and on the Internet. Limiting the capacity of the gun's magazine to however many rounds it takes to defend your home or kill a deer. Making background checks a tad more thorough - in some civilized countries you're required to have a couple of people vouch for you when you apply for a gun.

Gun control is not going to end killing. Killing will go on as a long as there's still a rock left on this planet. It's not going to end mass murders. But it will save lives. That's undeniable. How many lives will it save? We don't know. What's the number gun fanatics need to have in front of them before they'll agree that regulation is necessary?

Did we say "gun fanatics?" We meant "gun nuts." Too often these aren't mere Second Amendment defenders who cleave to every clause of the constitution. Here, we're talking about the people who fear that their prized arsenal of sophisticated weaponry will be snapped up by bellicose pacifists in Washington and who go into a hoarding frenzy at the first rumors of peace.

When our president gave his beautiful and gently stern eulogy in Newtown on Monday, you could hear pickups firing up all across the country as people flocked to gun stores and discount chains with smiley-face icons to pick up an armload of assault rifles and other firearms - and plenty of ammo, because those bad boys can spew out a couple hundred rounds per minute even if you have a lethargic trigger finger.

Gun sales spiked ferociously after the Aurora, Colo., theater slayings; they spiked when Obama was re-elected; they're spiking now.

And it's all because Obama is hinting that the country might be moving in the direction of compassion and common sense. For some people, that's a frightening prospect. For the rest of us, it's a reason for - what's the word that's always used? - hope.

tgrobaty@yahoo.com, 562-714-2116 or twitter.com/grobaty

Source: http://www.presstelegram.com/news/ci_22218310/tim-grobaty-more-perfect-union-fewer-guns?source=rss

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Jeffrey Donovan Welcomes a Daughter

The Burn Notice star and his wife Michelle are proud parents of their first child, a rep for Donovan tells PEOPLE exclusively.

Source: http://feeds.celebritybabies.com/~r/celebrity-babies/~3/D4pkxtqm-uE/

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Radio host, former Major League Baseball pitcher Frank Pastore dead

Frank Pastore (Hand in Photo)

Christian radio show host and former Major League Baseball pitcher Frank Pastore died Monday from complications following a November motorcycle accident.

The death came nearly a month after the Nov. 19 crash on the Foothill (210) Freeway in Duarte. The accident occurred as Pastore was on his way home from his daily radio show at the studios of KKLA 99.5 FM in Glendale.

Officials at KKLA, which announced Pastore's passing on its website, could not be reached for comment late Monday.

A brief and prophetic audio clip from Pastore's final show accompanied the death notice.
?You guys know I ride a motorcycle, right? So at any moment ... I could be spread all over the 210,? Pastore said. ?But that's not me. That's my body parts.?

Pastore said that his faith in Christ left him with no doubts his soul would live on after physical death.
?I just lost my beautiful husband,? Pastore's wife Gina said. ?But it's comforting to know he's home with the Lord now.?

Gina didn't mourn alone Monday. KKLA was inundated with callers expressing their grief.

?People are calling in and crying and mourning with us,? she said. ?I want to thank so many people for their outpouring of love and support. ?That's really helped to sustain our family during this difficult time.?

Condolences and tributes also flooded the Internet in the hours after news

of Pastore's death broke.

Among those acknowledging the passing was national radio and television personality Hugh Hewitt.
?My friend and radio colleague Frank Pastore has died,? Hewitt posted in his Twitter account. ?He was a terrific man, a great broadcaster and a wonderful husband and dad, RIP.?

On his Facebook page, BIOLA University President Barry Correy remarked that, ?Frank Pastore had a heart for the Gospel and understood in the deepest ways the profound impact of a Christian worldview not only on our lives and on our educational institutions, but on our culture.?

?He was a voice of reason and of engagement, and he was able to articulate with clarity and listen with sensitivity. As a ?94 graduate of BIOLA's M.A. in philosophy program, we considered Frank part of our family. He will be profoundly missed, not only by BIOLA, but by countless others who depended on him day in and day out to help them think clearly and Christianly about the big issues of the day.?

Pastore had been in a coma since the accident and had been recently transferred to a hospital in Upland from Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center's intensive care unit, hospital spokeswoman Rosa Saca said.

A CHP investigation concluded that the crash was an accident, and nothing criminal such as impaired driving was suspected, CHP Officer William Bury said. The driver who hit Pastore was neither arrested nor cited.

On KKLA's website, the radio station asked listeners to ?Please continue to pray for Gina and the family.?

In addition to his wife, Pastore is survived by son Frank Jr. and daughter Christina.

The 55-year-old Upland resident, who played baseball at Damien High School in La Verne, graduated from BIOLA University in La Mirada in 1994 and from Claremont Graduate School in 2003.

Funeral services are pending.

?Frank was all about the Gospel,? Gina Pastore added. ?I just pray God will continue to use his legacy.?

brian.day@sgvn.com

626-544-0812

Source: http://www.dailynews.com/news/ci_22211350/radio-host-former-major-league-baseball-pitcher-frank?source=rss

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In decision-making, it might be worth trusting your gut

Public release date: 14-Dec-2012
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: David Ruth
david@rice.edu
713-348-6327
Rice University

Researchers from Rice, George Mason and Boston College compare intuitive and analytical decision-making

Turns out the trope is true: You should trust your gut -- as long as you're an expert. So says a new study from researchers at Rice University, George Mason University and Boston College.

"How expert someone is within a particular domain has a positive impact on their ability to make an accurate gut decision," said Rice's Erik Dane, lead author of a study published last month in the journal Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes. However, he added, "Even if you're an expert, intuitive decision-making is better for some types of tasks than others. Tasks that can be solved through predetermined steps, like math problems, are not as conducive to intuitive decision-making as less-structured tasks, which may include certain strategic or human resource management problems."

"Although there's been a lot of research on the concept of intuition, there's relatively little research directly comparing whether it's best to 'trust your gut' versus taking time to make a decision," said Dane, assistant professor of management at Rice's Jones Graduate School of Business. So the researchers took on the task of examining circumstances in which intuitive decision-making is effective compared with analytical decision-making.

They conducted two studies, one in which participants rated the difficulty of basketball shots and one in which participants judged whether designer handbags were real or fake.

In the first study, 184 undergraduate students (79 males, 105 females) watched 13 video clips of basketball shots taken during two college basketball games and were given 10 seconds after each shot to rate its difficulty on a scale from 1 to 10. Beforehand, the researchers had estimated the difficulty of the shots by collaborating with the men's basketball coaching staff (one head coach and three assistant coaches) at a highly successful NCAA Division I college basketball program.

Participants were assigned to either an "intuitive" group -- they based their decisions entirely on their first impression -- or an "analytical" group. The analytical group was given two minutes before the exercise to develop a list of factors that would determine the difficulty of a basketball shot, such as the number of defenders near the shooter, whether the shooter is stationary or moving, and the point value of the shot. They were told to base their decisions on these factors.

To measure participants' expertise with basketball, the researchers assessed (via a questionnaire) the extent to which they had played the sport. Given that the task entailed judging shots in the same manner as successful basketball coaches, the researchers wanted a measure that would separate those who had simply watched a lot of basketball from those who had actual experience playing the sport. They determined that playing competitive basketball for at least three years of high school classified participants as "experts"; the rest were classified as low in expertise.

They found that, indeed, intuition was more effective for those with high expertise. In the intuitive group, those who had played competitive basketball for three years in high school performed better on the task. In contrast, there was no significant difference in the analytical group between those with high and low expertise.

In the second study, the researchers turned to a different expertise domain: designer handbags. They recruited 239 undergraduate students (120 males, 119 females) to make decisions about whether designer handbags were authentic or counterfeit.

The participants made their decisions by looking at -- but not touching -- 10 designer handbags, including two authentic and three counterfeit Coach handbags and three authentic and two counterfeit Louis Vuitton handbags. All handbags were either brand new or very lightly used.

Participants were again split into an intuitive group and an analytical group and instructed to judge whether the handbags were real or fake. The intuition group was given five seconds to view each handbag and told to base their decisions entirely on their first impression. The analysis group was told to ignore any first impressions or gut instincts and base their decisions on careful analysis. Prior to the task, participants in the analysis group were given two minutes to list the features they would look for to determine whether a given handbag was real or fake, such as material, stitching and color. This group was given 30 seconds to make their decision for each bag.

The researchers assessed the participants' expertise based on the total number of Coach and Louis Vuitton handbags each participant owned and determined that owning more than three made them an expert for this study.

Once again, the researchers found that intuition was more effective for those with high expertise. In the intuition condition, participants with high expertise demonstrated higher task performance. In the analysis condition, those with high expertise performed no better than those with low expertise.

Across both studies, participants who possessed expertise within the task domain performed on average just as well intuitively as analytically. In addition, experts significantly outperformed novices when making their decisions intuitively but not when making their decisions analytically.

###

Dane and his co-authors hope the research will advance scholarship on intuitive decision-making and help people understand when they should trust their gut to make decisions.

The research was funded by Rice University and co-authored by Kevin Rockmann, associate professor of management at George Mason University, and Michael Pratt, the O'Connor Family Professor at Boston College.

The study, "When Should I Trust My Gut? Linking Domain Expertise to Intuitive Decision-making Effectiveness," is available online at http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0749597812000994.

---

[ | E-mail | Share ]

?

AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Public release date: 14-Dec-2012
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: David Ruth
david@rice.edu
713-348-6327
Rice University

Researchers from Rice, George Mason and Boston College compare intuitive and analytical decision-making

Turns out the trope is true: You should trust your gut -- as long as you're an expert. So says a new study from researchers at Rice University, George Mason University and Boston College.

"How expert someone is within a particular domain has a positive impact on their ability to make an accurate gut decision," said Rice's Erik Dane, lead author of a study published last month in the journal Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes. However, he added, "Even if you're an expert, intuitive decision-making is better for some types of tasks than others. Tasks that can be solved through predetermined steps, like math problems, are not as conducive to intuitive decision-making as less-structured tasks, which may include certain strategic or human resource management problems."

"Although there's been a lot of research on the concept of intuition, there's relatively little research directly comparing whether it's best to 'trust your gut' versus taking time to make a decision," said Dane, assistant professor of management at Rice's Jones Graduate School of Business. So the researchers took on the task of examining circumstances in which intuitive decision-making is effective compared with analytical decision-making.

They conducted two studies, one in which participants rated the difficulty of basketball shots and one in which participants judged whether designer handbags were real or fake.

In the first study, 184 undergraduate students (79 males, 105 females) watched 13 video clips of basketball shots taken during two college basketball games and were given 10 seconds after each shot to rate its difficulty on a scale from 1 to 10. Beforehand, the researchers had estimated the difficulty of the shots by collaborating with the men's basketball coaching staff (one head coach and three assistant coaches) at a highly successful NCAA Division I college basketball program.

Participants were assigned to either an "intuitive" group -- they based their decisions entirely on their first impression -- or an "analytical" group. The analytical group was given two minutes before the exercise to develop a list of factors that would determine the difficulty of a basketball shot, such as the number of defenders near the shooter, whether the shooter is stationary or moving, and the point value of the shot. They were told to base their decisions on these factors.

To measure participants' expertise with basketball, the researchers assessed (via a questionnaire) the extent to which they had played the sport. Given that the task entailed judging shots in the same manner as successful basketball coaches, the researchers wanted a measure that would separate those who had simply watched a lot of basketball from those who had actual experience playing the sport. They determined that playing competitive basketball for at least three years of high school classified participants as "experts"; the rest were classified as low in expertise.

They found that, indeed, intuition was more effective for those with high expertise. In the intuitive group, those who had played competitive basketball for three years in high school performed better on the task. In contrast, there was no significant difference in the analytical group between those with high and low expertise.

In the second study, the researchers turned to a different expertise domain: designer handbags. They recruited 239 undergraduate students (120 males, 119 females) to make decisions about whether designer handbags were authentic or counterfeit.

The participants made their decisions by looking at -- but not touching -- 10 designer handbags, including two authentic and three counterfeit Coach handbags and three authentic and two counterfeit Louis Vuitton handbags. All handbags were either brand new or very lightly used.

Participants were again split into an intuitive group and an analytical group and instructed to judge whether the handbags were real or fake. The intuition group was given five seconds to view each handbag and told to base their decisions entirely on their first impression. The analysis group was told to ignore any first impressions or gut instincts and base their decisions on careful analysis. Prior to the task, participants in the analysis group were given two minutes to list the features they would look for to determine whether a given handbag was real or fake, such as material, stitching and color. This group was given 30 seconds to make their decision for each bag.

The researchers assessed the participants' expertise based on the total number of Coach and Louis Vuitton handbags each participant owned and determined that owning more than three made them an expert for this study.

Once again, the researchers found that intuition was more effective for those with high expertise. In the intuition condition, participants with high expertise demonstrated higher task performance. In the analysis condition, those with high expertise performed no better than those with low expertise.

Across both studies, participants who possessed expertise within the task domain performed on average just as well intuitively as analytically. In addition, experts significantly outperformed novices when making their decisions intuitively but not when making their decisions analytically.

###

Dane and his co-authors hope the research will advance scholarship on intuitive decision-making and help people understand when they should trust their gut to make decisions.

The research was funded by Rice University and co-authored by Kevin Rockmann, associate professor of management at George Mason University, and Michael Pratt, the O'Connor Family Professor at Boston College.

The study, "When Should I Trust My Gut? Linking Domain Expertise to Intuitive Decision-making Effectiveness," is available online at http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0749597812000994.

---

[ | E-mail | Share ]

?

AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-12/ru-idi121412.php

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Player suspensions tossed out in bounty case

NEW ORLEANS (AP) ? Four players embroiled for nearly 10 months in the NFL's bounty investigation of the New Orleans Saints no longer have to worry about suspensions or fines, and can try to move on with their careers on the field.

Off the field, the fallout from the dispute could endure for some time, particularly in federal court.

In a surprising rejection of his successor's overreaching punishments, former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue threw out "all discipline" current Commissioner Roger Goodell had imposed on two current Saints, linebacker Jonathan Vilma and defensive end Will Smith, and two players no longer with the club, Browns linebacker Scott Fujita and free-agent defensive lineman Anthony Hargrove.

Tagliabue, appointed by Goodell to handle player appeals in the matter, essentially absolved Fujita, but agreed with Goodell's finding that the other three players "engaged in conduct detrimental to the integrity of, and public confidence in, the game of professional football."

The 22-page ruling Tuesday allowed both sides to claim victory more than nine months after the league first revealed the Saints' bounty scandal to shocked fans, describing a performance pool operated by former Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams that, among other things, rewarded hits that injured opponents.

The four players punished by Goodell have maintained they were innocent of taking part in bounty program from the beginning, saying they never intended to injure anyone on the field. Vilma even has filed a defamation lawsuit against Goodell in U.S. District Court in Louisiana, and his lawyers, Peter Ginsberg and Duke Williams, said they intend to continue to pursue those claims "vigorously."

"Commissioner Tagliabue's rationalization of Commissioner Goodell's actions does nothing to rectify the harm done by the baseless allegations lodged against Jonathan," Vilma's lawyers said a statement. "Jonathan has a right and every intention to pursue proving what really occurred and we look forward to returning to a public forum where the true facts can see the light of day."

While no other players have yet filed similar lawsuits, Hargrove's agent, Phil Williams, said this week that "the NFL dragged (Hargrove's) name through the mud and lied about him," costing him an entire season of his career.

Hargrove was cut by Green Bay shortly before the regular season. His agent said a number of other teams inquired about signing him, but only after they were confident that bounty matter had been resolved. That has finally happened, as far as the NFL is concerned, but there are only three weeks left in the regular season.

Vilma, suspended by Goodell for the entire current season, and Smith, suspended four games, have been playing for the Saints while their appeals were pending. Fujita who was facing a one-game suspension, is on injured reserve. Hargrove's suspension initially stood at eight games but was reduced to seven with credit for his first five games missed as a free agent, essentially reducing the ban he'd been facing to two games.

Appearing on "CBS This Morning" on Wednesday, NFL Players Association chief DeMaurice Smith said the NFL should issue an apology to the players.

"The investigation that the League did was sloppy, the investigation that they did was more outcome-focused than frankly process-focused," Smith said. "First and foremost, they should say they're sorry because they've maligned the character of good players."

Tagliabue's ruling did nothing to vindicate Saints coaches or the organization. Rather, the former commissioner criticized the Saints as an organization that fostered bad behavior and tried to impede the investigation into what the NFL said was a performance pool designed to knock targeted opponents out of games from 2009 to 2011, with thousands of dollars in payouts.

A "culture" that promoted tough talk and cash incentives for hits to injure opponents ? one key example was Vilma's offer of $10,000 to any teammate who knocked Brett Favre out of the NFC championship game at the end of the 2009 season ? existed in New Orleans, according to Tagliabue, who also wrote that "Saints' coaches and managers led a deliberate, unprecedented and effective effort to obstruct the NFL's investigation."

The former commissioner did not entirely exonerate the players, however.

He said Vilma and Smith participated in a performance pool that rewarded key plays ? including hard tackles ? while Hargrove, following coaches' orders, helped to cover up the program when interviewed by NFL investigators in 2010.

"My affirmation of Commissioner Goodell's findings could certainly justify the issuance of fines," Tagliabue said in his ruling. "However, this entire case has been contaminated by the coaches and others in the Saints' organization."

Tagliabue said he decided, in this particular case, that it was in the best interest of all parties involved to eliminate player punishment because of the enduring acrimony it has caused between the league and the NFL Players Association. He added that he hoped doing so would allow the NFL and union to move forward collaboratively to the more important matters of enhancing player safety.

"To be clear: this case should not be considered a precedent for whether similar behavior in the future merits player suspensions or fines," his ruling said.

Tagliabue oversaw the second round of appeals by players, who initially opposed his appointment.

The former commissioner found Goodell's actions historically disproportionate to past punishment of players for similar behavior, which had generally been reserved to fines, not suspensions. He also stated that it was very difficult to determine whether the pledges players made were genuine, or simply motivational ploys, particularly because Saints defenders never demonstrated a pattern of dirty play on the field.

"The relationship of the discipline for the off-field 'talk' and actual on-field conduct must be carefully calibrated and reasonably apportioned. This is a standard grounded in common sense and fairness," Tagliabue wrote in his 22-page opinion. "If one were to punish certain off-field talk in locker rooms, meeting rooms, hotel rooms or elsewhere without applying a rigorous standard that separated real threats or 'bounties' from rhetoric and exaggeration, it would open a field of inquiry that would lead nowhere."

Saints quarterback Drew Brees commented on Twitter: "Congratulations to our players for having the suspensions vacated. Unfortunately, there are some things that can never be taken back."

The Saints opened the season 0-4 and are now 5-8 and virtually out of the playoffs after appearing in the playoffs the three previous seasons, including the franchise's only Super Bowl title to conclude the 2009 season.

Shortly before the regular season, the initial suspensions were thrown out by an appeals panel created by the NFL's collective bargaining agreement. Goodell then reissued them, with some changes, only to have them overturned.

"We respect Mr. Tagliabue's decision, which underscores the due process afforded players in NFL disciplinary matters," the league said in a statement.

"The decisions have made clear that the Saints operated a bounty program in violation of league rules for three years, that the program endangered player safety, and that the commissioner has the authority under the (NFL's collective bargaining agreement) to impose discipline for those actions as conduct detrimental to the league. Strong action was taken in this matter to protect player safety and ensure that bounties would be eliminated from football."

The players have challenged the NFL's handling of the entire process in federal court, but U.S. District Judge Ginger Berrigan had been waiting for the latest appeal to play out before deciding whether to get involved. The judge issued an order Tuesday giving the NFLPA and Vilma until Wednesday to notify the court if they found Tagliabue's ruling acceptable.

The NFLPA indicated that it was largely satisfied by how the process worked out, so some federal court claims against the NFL could be dropped on Wednesday, even as Vilma's defamation claims remain.

"We are pleased that Paul Tagliabue, as the appointed hearings officer, agreed with the NFL Players Association that previously issued discipline was inappropriate in the matter of the alleged New Orleans Saints bounty program," the NFLPA said in a statement. "Vacating all discipline affirms the players' unwavering position that all allegations the League made about their alleged 'intent-to-injure' were utterly and completely false."

NFL investigators had concluded that Vilma and Smith were ringleaders of a cash-for-hits program that rewarded injurious tackles labeled as "cart-offs" and "knockouts." Witnesses including Gregg Williams said Vilma made a $10,000 pledge for anyone who knocked Favre out of the NFC title game in January 2010. However, Tagliabue found it was not clear if the pledge was genuine or simply a motivational tactic.

"There is more than enough evidence to support Commissioner Goodell's findings that Mr. Vilma offered such a bounty" on Favre, Tagliabue wrote. "I cannot, however, uphold a multigame suspension where there is no evidence that a player's speech prior to a game was actually a factor causing misconduct on the playing field and that such misconduct was severe enough in itself to warrant a player suspension or a very substantial fine."

The NFL also concluded that Hargrove lied to NFL investigators to help cover up the program. The players have from the beginning denied they ever took the field intending to injure opponents, while Hargrove has said he never lied about a bounty program, because there wasn't one.

Goodell suspended Gregg Williams indefinitely, while banning Saints head coach Sean Payton for a full season.

Tagliabue's ruling comes after a new round of hearings that for the first time allowed Vilma's attorneys and the NFLPA, which represents the other three players, to cross-examine key NFL witnesses. Those witnesses included Williams and former Saints assistant Mike Cerullo, who was fired after the 2009 season and whose email to the league, accusing the Saints of being "a dirty organization," jump-started the probe.

Smith said he was pleased that Tagliabue vacated his suspension.

"I continue to maintain that I did not participate in a pay-to-injure program or facilitate any such program," he added. "I appreciate that Mr. Tagliabue did not rush to judgment, taking into consideration all facts presented to him, before ruling ? something that was clearly not done by Commissioner Goodell in previous hearings."

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/player-suspensions-tossed-bounty-case-090530053--nfl.html

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Long-Lasting Love: Celeb Couples Who've Made It Work

Not all Hollywood romances fizzle under the spotlight -- check out pairs (SJP & Matthew! Gwen & Gavin!) who've stood the test of time

Source: http://www.ivillage.com/long-lasting-celebrity-couples/1-b-351031?dst=iv%3AiVillage%3Along-lasting-celebrity-couples-351031

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Facebook ignores 'minimal' user vote, adopts new privacy policy

21 hrs.

Wilson Rothman , NBC News

As we reported Monday, Facebook users' seven-day voting period on the new privacy policy came to an end with far less than the 30 percent required to sway Facebook's opinion. Yes,?668,872 people voted, and of those,?589,141 said they were opposed to the new documents. But Facebook confirmed today in a blog post that it had "decided to adopt the proposed updates" to the?Statement of Rights and Responsibilities (SRR) and Data Use Policy.

There was, however, a silver lining for the?Facebook activists who spelled out their beefs in comments. Facebook says it?amended the documents based on user?feedback. "For example,?we added new language to clarify our proposed updates on sharing information with our affiliates and our privacy controls," wrote Elliot Schrage, VP of?communications, public policy and marketing for Facebook. (You can see more of the changes made by Facebook following user comments here.)

"While participation in the vote was minimal, this experience illustrated the clear value of our notice and comment process," Shrage wrote.

If you've been following along, this means that Facebook will definitely?discontinue votes of this kind, though presumably it will keep asking for feedback in the form of likes and?comments.

The whole process was a stark reminder of how huge Facebook is, not to mention how ineffective the 30 percent vote?policy was from the start. As Shrage wrote:

We made substantial efforts to inform our users and encourage them to vote, both through emails and their news feeds.?Despite these efforts and widespread media coverage, less than one percent of our user community of more than one billion participated. As stated in both policies, the results are advisory unless more than 30 percent of users vote.

Now that the policy is going into effect, it's high time you read it over. Right here is Facebook's?full text of the Statement of Rights and Responsibilities, and here is its full data use policy.?

If you don't have a magnifying glass and a lawyer handy, start with this brief explanation, from our very own Helen Popkin:

The new policy will allow Facebook to obtain data about you "from our affiliates or our advertising partners" (with whom you've already shared your personal info, such as websites, memberships, etc.), to "improve the quality of ads."?

Plenty of sites already do this, matching your info (which you've provided, technically of your own free will) to show you ads your most likely to respond to, and to report to those ad partners how you did respond.

Among other concerns are those outlined by the?Electronic Privacy Information Center?not-for-profit group, which focuses on emerging?privacy issues: less control over the kinds of messages users let Facebook send via @facebook.com?email, potentially leading to increased spam; sharing of user?data with "affiliates" such as the Facebook-owned Instagram; and the removal of the user voting policy, despite the fact that it was impossible for users to reach the high bar.

"Although Facebook?s existing voting mechanism set an unreasonably high?participation threshold, scrapping the mechanism altogether raises questions about Facebook?s?willingness to take seriously the participation of Facebook users," wrote EPIC, in an open letter to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg.

As always, it's important to try and grasp as much of this stuff as possible, but it's also vital that you take care what you post on any social network. And if you don't like it, the best way to show that is to not use it.

This episode's final question, which we have put to Facebook, is if they'll do away with the ballot-inspired governance?logo (seen above), now that user?balloting will no longer be part of the site's governance.

Wilson Rothman is the Technology & Science?editor at NBC News Digital. Catch up with him on Twitter at @wjrothman, and join our conversation on Facebook.

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/technolog/facebook-ignores-minimal-user-vote-adopts-new-privacy-policy-1C7559683

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