Even the Presidential election less than two weeks away, registered voters across the nation should exercise their Democratic right to vote. Since the beginning of July local and state political candidates attended hundreds of public events scattered throughout the OceanState, passing out campaign literature, putting up signs throughout their legislative districts, along with distributing bumper stickers to promote their candidacy on their supporter's vehicles. .
During this current election cycle AARP moved to push Congress to address the major issues surrounding Social Security and Medicare, gathering opinions from millions of Americans in thousands of communities across the nation.
Last March, AARP, the nation's largest aging advocacy group and its state groups, unrolled a new initiative to educate voters about the nation's two largest domestic programs, Social Security and Medicare and to gather their thoughts to forward to decision makers inside the Washington Beltway.
Following its national headquarters' lead, AARP Rhode Island geared up its final phase of its "You've Earned a Say," initiative, an effort to gather grassroots feedback from "Outside the Beltway" to bring to Congressional lawmakers as they continue their heated debates as to how to bolster the solvency of the nation's Social Security and Medicare programs. The educational initiative was created to fuel conversations at the state and national levels to ensure that workers in every state, who have faithfully contributed into Medicare and Social Security Programs, had a direct say in the future reforms of these programs.
AARP Rhode Island reached out to 130,000 Rhode Island members and its Washington, DC headquarters, to nearly 40 million members to raise awareness of the "You've Earned a Say" initiative. It's website, www.earnedasay.org, provided both factual and straightforward information as to policies that are being considered and enabled a person to share their ideas with Congress and those running against Congressional incumbents, as how to strengthen these programs.
So far, AARP's educational initiative brought over 3 million people into this conversation on Medicare and Social Security and held over 3,000 events. At the local level, AARP Rhode Island staff met over 4,000 aging baby boomers and seniors who shared their concerns about the future of these programs.
According to Connell, AARP's "You've Earned a Say" initiative was created to bring balanced information to voters — both the pros and the cons — about the policy options being debated during the upcoming Presidential and Congressional elections for both programs.
Earlier in this summer, AARP released a series of national surveys on the opinions of voters ages 50 and over, which found that these voters overwhelmingly think the candidates have not done a good job of explaining their plans on Social Security (67%) and Medicare (63%). Voters 50-plus – across party lines – say that getting more information on the candidates' plans on Social Security (72%) and Medicare (70%) will help them determine their vote on Election Day on Tuesday, November 6, 2012.
Through the reports and ongoing You've Earned a Say events, AARP worked hard to elevate the voices of Rhode Island voters and provide them with nonpartisan information about candidates' positions on issues important to aging baby boomers and seniors. In August, AARP launched the "You've Earned a Say: Vote for Retirement Security" 2012 Voters' Guides featuring information from presidential, senatorial and congressional candidates – in their own words – on their own specific plans to strengthen Social Security, Medicare and financial security.
This week, AARP Rhode Island volunteers delivered a 10 page report entitled "Rhode Islanders Have Their Say about Medicare and Social Security" to Rhode Island Members of Congress and congressional candidates. The state-specific report conveys the opinions of over 2,100 Rhode Islanders who have participated in the AARP initiative. National and state-specific versions of the report were also delivered to both presidential and congressional candidates in every state, as well as sitting lawmakers, so they could hear directly from their constituents about their views of how to strengthen these vital domestic programs.
Twenty eight percent say that they expect the benefits from participating in Social Security and Medicare will equal the contributions they paid while 28 percent will get less benefits. Forty four percent believe that they might get more back from these two programs the same that they contributed.
Thirty six percent of the respondents say that more funding is needed to maintain the same benefits while 13 percent fear that benefits will be slashed. Forty percent expect more funding is needed to shore up the program, but expecting a cut in benefits. Twelve percent have no opinion.
Finally, ninety one percent of the respondents want their voice heard by Washington policy makers but 47 percent do not expect it will make a difference. Nine percent are not interested in getting involved.
The majority of respondents (51 percent) called for some changes to be made now, but suggested that Congress should wait before making major changes. They (35 percent) also believed that higher paid workers aren't paying enough into the Social Security program and that the program should become solvent before bettered benefit are paid out (68 percent).
Additionally, the majority (70 percent) also called for a balanced approach when making revenue and benefit changes to ensure there is retirement benefits to future retirees. Fifty five percent also supported upper income workers get higher benefits because they contributed more into the system.
Most of the respondents (48 percent) also suggested that Congress move slow in making major changes to Medicare, only making small fixes now. Thirty six percent believe that the biggest challenge facing Medicare is rising health care costs. Seventy five percent agreed that all future retirees continue to get guaranteed coverage and care as those get now. As with Social Security, a majority (62 percent) also called for a balanced approach when making revenue and benefit changes to ensure Medicare is available to future retirees. Forty four percent say that premiums and funding from the genera federal revenues should not be used to cover increased health care costs.
Voting may be more difficult in this heated partisan political campaign where voters must learn to separate political rhetoric and negative innuendoes from the substance of issues. AARP's "You've Earned a Say" initiative is a successful attempt to give back power to voters, helping them become more knowledgeable about Social Security and Medicare in order to rise above negative campaigning. Your vote must be made by understanding the facts and not be influenced by the fiction of negative attack ads.
For the past six months, City registrar Kenneth McGill juggled his increased work load preparing for the September primary and upcoming Presidential elections while taking on the role of caregiver to his elder parents. Dividing his time between his ailing father who was afflicted with lung cancer and a blood clot in his heart, and his frail mother who has COPD, this new role added up to countless hours per day, taking care of both parents who were recently placed in nursing facilities.
With the passing of his 76-year-old father just a little over a week ago, McGill, age 51, who had never planned a funeral, was now forced into an uncomfortable role of making final arrangements. "Dad had been seriously ill for the past 6 months, and we knew what he wanted but it was never put down in writing," noted the aging baby boomer, who acknowledged the stress of attempting to balance the cost of the funeral while ensuring that his father's wishes were being carried out.
As a result of his father's recent death, McGill will go next week to Cheetham Funeral Home to now preplan his mother's funeral. "This makes a lot of sense because it will ultimately take the stress off my family," he says.
While my background is in the field of aging, I will admit that I also found it stressful attempting to get my elderly parents to enter pre-need funeral arrangements. After all, my three siblings and I were only trying to give our parents the opportunity to have a say in the minute details of their final arrangements.
For years my elderly father took care of my mother with dementia – and after numerous conversations with him about the "what if's…", more importantly what if mother outlives him… the day finally came that my father was willing to visit the local Dallas funeral home. With my confused mother at his side, my father, chose their caskets like he was purchasing a new car. He checked under the lid, thoroughly examined the lining and the wood, trying to make the best decision. Ultimately, he would not buy the cheaper model, but chose the 'nicer one', a littler higher up on the price list.
Of course, my father instructed the funeral director where their services should be held and who should be presiding over the ceremony. But what type of music, vocal, or instrumental did they want played? Or would they like a visitation service or would they like to name their pallbearers? All good questions asked by the director that all needed answers. These decisions might have been made right then and there on the spot, without the added stress of a loved ones' death setting the tone, but rather 'pre-planned' with careful thought. But in the end, and unfortunately for us, my father backed out.
My father's experience was not the norm because most aging baby boomers make it through the stressful process of pre-planning and prepaying in advance.
Ted Wynne, whose family has owned the Pawtucket-based Manning Heffern Funeral Home since 1868, sees a transient society where children are living in different states, fueling the demand for preplanning and prepayment. "Parents want to take the pressure off their children who live thousands of miles away from making the burial arrangement," Wynne says. "Thus, they pay up front or set aside money for future funeral and burial payments".
With an aging population, one or both spouses will end up in a nursing or assisted living facility, noted Wynne, a fifth generation funeral director. Initially, the social worker will educate the prospective residents to the importance of getting an "irrevocable trust contract", to pay for the funeral in advance. .
"It is pretty black and white," adds Wynne. "You figure out what you want, the cost, and then determine what you want to put in the contract." For others, it may take sitting down with the funeral director to help crystallize their funeral plans, he adds.
Bradford Bellows, Funeral director of Bellows Chapel in Lincoln, agrees with Wynne that seniors in nursing facilities are also good candidates for prepaying a funeral.
"The family watches their parents' funds dwindle to a point where they are forced to go on Medicaid." Prior to being eligible for Medicaid, the older parent or their children should prepay the funeral costs. Assets given to the funeral home are allowed to be given under Medicaid eligibility guidelines prior to going on Medicaid.
"Consumers must understand that prearranging a funeral is not the same as prepaying for one," Bellows adds, whose family has been in the funeral business in the BlackstoneValley for 191 years.
First, make sure that your Social Security number is indicated on our savings account or insurance policy where the monies are placed to prepay your funeral. If the funeral home ever goes out of business or goes bankrupt, the funds are still yours and are safe, and can easily be transferred to another funeral home.
Second, when you enroll in the Medicaid program, all the funds in your prepayment account must be used. Any excess funds will be returned by the funeral home the State of Rhode Island, to defray health costs incurred by the OceanState's Medicaid program.
Finally, once the funeral home opens the account or insurance policy, don't forget to get a copy of the Irrevocable Funeral Trust Agreement, showing the bank or credit union account number or the original insurance policy that was issued. This will give you proof that your advance payment has been set up for your funeral needs..
Life Insurance agent Christine Miller, a preplanning funding specialist at Pawtucket-based Lachapelle Funeral Home and a grief counselor at Beacon Hospice, notes that preplanning and prepayment for a funeral can reduce family stress. "Knowing your loved ones final wishes and not having the financial burden of a funeral can provide relief during a very difficult time, she added.
According to Miller, it is not uncommon to have individuals to call weekly to preplan their funerals. "Many people are surprised that at Lachapelle Funeral Home they can make small monthly payments rather than one lump sum and still have their funeral guaranteed," she noted.
For consumer tips on planning and prepaying a funeral, go to http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/products/pro19.shtm.
Making a difference in your community can be as simple as helping a family member, neighbor or friend who are in need of a little assistance. Those simple acts of kindness can have far reaching effects that are not always obvious – whether it be shoveling a side walk for a neighbor, donating canned goods to feed the needy, or volunteering for a nonprofit or civic group, are some examples of giving of ones self.
Semi-retired businessman and philanthropist Paul Audette brings his love for the City of Pawtucket with his detailed historical knowledge of the community, combined with 50 years of work experience. "He comes to the aide of those in need", notes Patty Zacks, who nominated this 83 year old inductee. "He never wants or expects to be recognized for his help," Zacks adds.
"His actions [to help] are led by his heart and done for the right reasons," says Zacks, who believes that he has oftentimes been the 'glue" that help keeps this community working together.
Mayor Donald R. Grebien, notes "He is a self-described ombudsman for the City and has worked in many instances to insure that a potential new business can navigate its way through the "red tape" to become a successful Pawtucket business.
Former President of the Pawtucket Rotary Club, Colin Murray, also recognized Audette's efforts to help others. "Because of his determination for making Pawtucket a better place to live and work, the Pawtucket Rotary Club awarded him the prestigious Paul Harris Fellow Award, the highest civic recognition that the civic group bestows upon a individual," he said.
According to Murray, Audette has been an advocate for the "voiceless" and has served as a volunteer ombudsman for the Alliance for Better Long-Term Care, was Chair of the City's Affirmative Action Committee, and worked for decades assisting the down and out in the community, providing financial assistance and helping them navigate the State's regulatory process. Audette, a Pawtucket Rotarian, exemplifies the Rotary International's motto, "Service Above Self," Murray says.
Murray adds that since 2006, as co-founder of a nonprofit group, Helping Hands, Audette has continued assistance to local organizations that help at-risk Pawtucket youth, the homeless, and the helpless. Organizations receiving assistance include Cross Roads, Pawtucket Boys and Girls Club, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Pawtucket Salvation Army and the American Cancer Society.
Janice McHale and her good friend, Jean Stipek, of Pawtucket, will also become 2012 inductees into the Pawtucket Hall of Fame.
Pawtucket resident Dawn P. Goff, who chairs the Winter Wonderland Committee, recognizes McHale and Stipek, for creating Pawtucket's premier winter event. After experiencing a winter festival in California, McHale and Stipek presented their idea to Mayor James E. Doyle, who gave them the "green light" to organize a "Winter Wonderland" in Pawtucket.
For over a decade these two Pawtucket residents directed the efforts of a dedicated group of volunteers. Goff noted that last year, Winter Wonderland turned 13-years-old, showcasing 425 lighted Christmas trees, along with 20 Victorian Houses sponsored by local businesses along with a number of lighted displays. The two December weekends were jam-packed with festive holiday entertainment, Goff says.
Winter Wonderland, drawing thousands of Rhode Islanders into Slater Park each December, began with "two people who had a vision in 1999", Goff adds.
Besides her activities with Winter Wonderland, McHale has served on the Pawtucket Riverfront Commission, the City's Parks and Recreation Commission, in addition to the Grand Marshall of the St. Patrick Day Parade in 2000.
John "Red" Pollard rode into American history while overcoming physical disabilities, such as partial blindness in one eye and worked with intense physical pain caused by severe riding injuries that fractured his bones. The man who rode Seabiscuit, humbly accepted his role in racing history. As noted by local horse trainer, Nino Calabro "Red had a way with the horses..". And Seabiscut was considered to be one of America's most recognized thoroughbred racehorses in the nation's history.
Attorney John J. Partridge who nominated the late Pollard, says "It is not often we can honor someone who lived a relatively quiet life while as a resident of Pawtucket, but was internationally acclaimed and twice memorialized in motion pictures, and more recently in a best-selling book [on the Times bestsellers list for a total of 42 weeks]." Pollard, who in his later years resided at 249 Vine Street in Darlington with his wife Agnes, raised their two children, Norah and John in Pawtucket and worked at the Narragansett Race Track. Today, Red and his wife Agnes' final resting place is in the City's Notre DameCemetery.
A native of Alberta, Canada, Pollard was inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame in 1982, says Tom Cosgrove, Archivist. "His name will be forever linked to the days when thoroughbred racing, boxing, and baseball were the only sports in America that truly mattered," states Cosgrove.
Finally, Pawtucket resident, Dale Rogers, nominated Lt. Colonel Henry Harrison Young, who becomes this years' Historical Inductee. "Young distinguished himself and his unit throughout the war by furnishing excellent intelligence on Confederate troop movements and by oftentimes even donning Confederate uniforms to either kidnap southern soldiers or gather valuable information for General Sheridan.
According to Roger's, the Civil War veteran was dispatched at the war's end to the Texas border to round up Confederate renegades who were making raids, where he lost his life in an ambush while crossing the Rio Grande River. A statute was dedicated to this Pawtucket resident at BurnsidePark in Providence, (across from the Biltmore, near the skating rink), for his heroics.
The Pawtucket Hall of Fame Dinner and Induction Ceremony will take place on Friday, October 26th at 7:00pm. at the LeFoyer Club on 151 Fountain Street. To purchase tickets ($30 each) please call Rick Goldstein, at (401) 728-0500, Ext. 348.


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Mary Ruth Hammond
Accident at 400 North and Main Street
Western Music takes center stage
Work continues on strip mall north of Denny's in Tooele
New trooper takes charge at Tooele office
UP Lt. Mike Rapich
Lt. Mike Rapich has taken over the reins of the UHP's Tooele office — but don't expect to see him sitting behind his desk too often.
"I enjoy being out on patrol," Rapich said Monday. "I'm still young enough that I like to be out with my troopers and with the public."
Born in Bountiful, Rapich moved with his family to Green River, Utah when he was six years old.
"My dad, who is also with the Utah Highway Patrol, was transferred to Green River," Rapich explained.
Even though there were only 100 students from 7th- through 12th-grade at the Green River high school, Rapich said he loved growing up there.
"I played basketball, baseball and ran track," he said. Then, with a modest grin in adds, "My high school was so small that everyone got to play."
Lt. Rapich says baseball was his favorite sport and he coaches in the local National Baseball League for boys ages nine through 12. His oldest son, Jeremy, is 12. Wyatt, who is six, will start playing machine pitch ball this coming spring.
Karrie Rapich, the lieutenant's wife, is employed at Mountain America Credit Union in Tooele.
Although Lt. Rapich is new to the Tooele UHP office, he and his family has lived in Tooele County for the past six years. They lived in Tooele two years before moving to Stockton.
"We like horses and we love the rural atmosphere," he said. It was while he was still in high school that Lt. Rapich knew he wanted a career with the UHP. Because his dad was a UHP officer, he said the career choice wasn't a difficult one to make.
Following high school graduation, Rapich joined the Coast Guard where he worked in law enforcement and search and rescue. He was stationed off the coast of Florence, Ore., and that's where he met his wife.
After Rapich completed his tour of duty with the Coast Guard, he and Karrie came back to Utah. Six months later he was hired by the UHP. Until his new assignment earlier this month, he worked out of the Salt Lake office.
Rapich attended Weber State University and the College of Eastern Utah. He is currently working on a bachelor of science degree from Colombia College in Salt Lake City.
The lieutenant said one of the reasons he loves serving in Tooele County is because of the camaraderie between the law enforcement agencies.
"In Salt Lake County, most departments work on their own," he said. "Here in Tooele County, all the agencies work together. We investigate together, go on break together, and we all help each other. I enjoy that a lot."
With his new assignment, Rapich is supervisor of two UHP sergeants and a total of 11 troopers, as well as UHP secretary, Nora Ostler.
"We have Sgt. Andrew Nelson in Wendover and Sgt. Troy Marx in the Tooele office," he said. "We have four troopers in Wendover and seven in Tooele."
Ironically, Sgt. Nelson is also from Green River, Utah and he and Lt. Rapich both graduated from the high school there in 1988, Claiming he has "the best job in the world," Lt. Rapich said he has no intention of leaving Tooele County. "I expect that both my sons will graduate from Tooele High School," he said. "My wife, our sons and I all love this area."
And even though Green River is about 200 miles away, Rapich smiles as he adds that even his dad has transferred to the Salt Lake City area.
"My dad is now a captain and serves as head of the Utah Police Academy in Salt Lake City," Rapich said.
To qualify for the Utah Police Academy, a potential law enforcement official must have a four-year college degree. The academy then puts each cadet through an intensive 18-week training.
Lt. Rapich said his dad also likes this area of the state — so staying in Tooele County is almost a certainty for the new head of the Tooele UHP office.
Attorney's office prosecuting more than usual murder cases

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Jayhawks in the Pros (Week 14)
LAWRENCE, Kan. – Throughout the course of the season, kuathletics.com will check in with the seven former Jayhawks who are playing in the National Football League. This week's edition is highlighted by offensive tackle Anthony Collins, who started his first game of the season.
Dezmon Briscoe
Wide receiver Dezmon Briscoe, who played at KU from 2007-09, is in his second season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Briscoe recorded three catches for 20 yards in Tampa Bay's 41-14 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars Sunday at Everbank Field. This season, Briscoe has 23 catches for 292 yards and three touchdowns. In his professional career, the former Jayhawk receiver has 29 catches for 385 yards and four touchdowns. He was originally a sixth-round draft pick by the Cincinnati Bengals in 2010 and was signed by Tampa Bay following training camp last year.
Briscoe's Profile Page
Offensive lineman Anthony Collins, who played at KU from 2005-07, is in his fourth season with the Cincinnati Bengals. Collins started his first game of the season Sunday in the Bengals' 20-19 loss to the Houston Texans at Paul Brown Stadium. In his NFL career, Collins has played in 36 games, making 17 starts at offensive tackle. He was originally a fourth-round draft pick by Cincinnati in 2008.
Collins' Profile Page
Defensive back Chris Harris, who played at KU from 2007-10, is in his first season with the Denver Broncos. Harris made two tackles and defended a pass in Denver's 13-10 overtime victory over the Chicago Bears Sunday at Mile High Stadium. Harris has played in all 13 games for the Broncos this season, making 51 tackles, an interception and five pass breakups. He was signed as an undrafted free agent by Denver this year prior to training camp.
Harris' Profile Page
Kerry Meier
Wide receiver Kerry Meier, who played at KU from 2006-09, is in his second season with the Atlanta Falcons. Meier played on special teams in Atlanta's 31-23 win over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday at Bank of America Stadium, but did not record any stats. Meier has played in 11 games this season, but is still looking for his first NFL reception. He missed the entire 2010 season with an injury after being a fifth-round selection by Atlanta in the 2010 NFL Draft.
Meier's Profile Page
Moran Norris
Fullback Moran Norris, who played at KU from 1996-2000, is in his 11th NFL season overall and his third with the San Francisco 49ers. After starting in San Francisco's Thanksgiving Day game, Norris was inactive for the second-straight game as the 49ers lost to the Arizona Cardinals, 21-19. In his career, Norris has played in 138 regular-season games and recorded 198 receiving yards on 57 catches; he has also rushed for 67 yards on 28 carries. He was originally drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the fourth round of the 2001 NFL Draft.
Norris' Profile Page
Darrell Stuckey
Safety Darrell Stuckey, who played at KU from 2006-09, is in his second season with the San Diego Chargers. Stuckey was not active in San Diego's 37-10 win over the Buffalo Bills Sunday at Qualcomm Stadium. He has played in 11 games this season and made 10 tackles – all on special teams. Stuckey is up for the Pro Bowl this year, being listed on the ballot as San Diego's special teams' representative. Fans can vote for Stuckey by using the link below. He was a fourth-round draft pick by San Diego in the 2010 NFL Draft.
Stuckey's Profile Page
Vote for Stuckey
Cornerback Aqib Talib, who played at KU from 2005-07, is in his fourth season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Talib missed his first game of the season Sunday in Tampa Bay's 41-14 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars at Everbank Field. Talib is a candidate for the Pro Bowl as the Buccaneers' representative for the NFC team at cornerback. Using the link below, fans can vote for Talib. In his pro career, Talib has recorded 161 total tackles, defended 46 passes and tallied 17 interceptions, including three he's returned for touchdowns. He was a first-round selection by the Buccaneers in the 2008 NFL Draft.
Talib's Profile Page
Vote for Talib


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Two named to interim administrative posts
MORGANTOWN, W.Va.—
Two faculty members in West Virginia University's Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources have been appointed to interim administrative posts.
Matthew Valenti, professor in the Lane Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering, has been named interim department chair, effective July 1.
Valenti began his career as a faculty member in the Lane Department in 1999 after receiving his doctorate in electrical engineering from Virginia Tech earlier that year. He has received numerous awards throughout his career, including the 2013 WVU Foundation Outstanding Teaching Award and Fellow status from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. Valenti currently serves as a faculty representative on the WVU Board of Governors, past faculty chair for WVU's Faculty Senate and director of the Center for Identification Technology Research.
He replaces Brian Woerner, who will continue to serve as a member of the Department's faculty.
"Brian has made many significant advances and he has guided the Lane Department through several ABET accreditation renewals," said Gene Cilento, Glen H. Hiner Dean of the Statler College. "Under his leadership, the Department has grown significantly, has strong academic and research programs and has been able to recruit excellent faculty."
Joshua Brady, associate director of mining extension, has been named interim director of the Department of Mining and Industrial Extension, effective May 15.
A member of the Extension faculty since 2014, Brady directs operations at WVU's Academy for Mine Training and Energy Technologies, training more than 4,000 miners annually. He previously served in safety-related positions with Murray American Energy Corporation, CONSOL Energy and the U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration.
Brady earned a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering and technology at Fairmont State University and will earn a master's degree in safety management from WVU this May. He replaces Jim Dean, who had served as director 25 years and will continue as an extension agent.
"During his tenure, Jim has worked to improve and maintain the quality of our mining and industrial extension programs," Cilento said. "He has made significant advances and has guided the Department through significant growth. With a changing mining industry, Jim focused on ways to maintain the vitality of the Department and has been able to recruit a great staff over the years to support Departmental activities."
-WVU-
mcd/04/24/19
For more information on news and events in the West Virginia University Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources:
Email: EngineeringWV@mail.wvu.edu
Phone contacts:
College Relations Office: 304-293-4135
Office of the Dean: 304-293-4157
Other College administrative and department offices: Administration
Matthew Valenti
WVU, West Virginia Manufacturing Extension Partnership to hold cybersecurity workshop in Beckley
A ten year partnership leading innovation in space exploration
Asphalt Pavement Association funds creation of new faculty chair at WVU
WVU researchers thirsty for reducing fresh water use by power plants
WVU robotics team on top again, wins second NASA competition in 3 years
© 2019 West Virginia University. WVU is an EEO/Affirmative Action employer — Minority/Female/Disability/Veteran. Last updated on May 1, 2019.


Almost everyone in journalism seems to agree: internet comments are broken.
But what does it mean to fix comments? Of course, we don't want racism, misogyny, harassment and violent and unpleasant language on news websites. Is simply cleaning up the space enough? What is the journalistic purpose of engagement and community?
The Coral Project is a collaboration between Mozilla, The New York Times and The Washington Post, funded with a grant from the Knight Foundation. We're building open source tools and practices for publishers of all sizes to form better communities around their journalism.
What is the role of the audience in your journalistic mission?
To the first question, we've heard a broad spectrum of responses.
They're the reason we do this.
They pay for our journalism.
They give us feedback when they don't like something.
They read and share what we do.
To share their knowledge and ideas with us and with each other.
The second question is more difficult. Dreaming big is hard when you lack the technical resources to manage current problems and improve existing tools — which is the situation for pretty much everyone to whom we've spoken. That's why The Coral Project exists. We want to help you to dream, and then to build open source tools for you to make it happen. And maybe the tools we build don't all look like comment boxes.
How do we decide what to build?
We've interviewed many people across the news industry, using design thinking principles to understand the needs of different people in news communities.
You can see the main user needs we've collected here, arranged by role. They aren't in any particular order, and we won't tackle all of them in the 21 months we have left.
Did we miss something? Tell us in the annotations space on this page, so we can add it to our board.
Each publisher can choose which products they want to install on their version of Coral. We haven't yet decided what exactly each of the products will be — that's coming next.
We're bringing our team together in New York (some work remotely) to work on next steps, including a product roadmap, a relaunched website and a deliberate strategy for working in a more open and collaborative way from here.
We also need to answer the questions we're asking of others: what is the role of the community in our mission?
Coral is coming. Let's dream together.


The Library Board consists of five members appointed by City Council for terms of four years.
The Library Board has exclusive control of the expenditure of all money collected or donated to the Library Fund and exclusive control of all library property and the supervision, care and custody of the grounds, buildings, etc. The Library Board prepares and adopts bylaws rules and regulations with approval of the Mayor and Council. Rules and Regulations may be amended by Council.


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Archives (by title)
Three Coins in the Fountain (1954)
Maggie McNarmara, Dorothy McGuire, and Jean Peters star in this Academy Award nominated film about three American secretaries working abroad in Rome, Italy.
Charade (1963)
Audrey Hepburn and Cary Grant star in this delightful romantic comedy involving spies and missing money. Set in Paris. Walter Matthau also makes an appearance as a CIA agent.
The Best of Everything (1959)
Original tagline: "These are the girls who want the best of everything...but often settle for a lot less!" Mid-century drama following the lives of three young career women living in New York City.
High Society (1956)
Bing Crosby, Grace Kelly and Frank Sinatra star in this delightful musical comedy remake of the beloved classic The Philadelphia Story (1940).
Far From Heaven (2002)
Set against a spectacular autumn palette, Juilanne Moore, Dennis Quaid, and Dennis Haysbert star in this compelling drama which grapples with issues of race and homosexuality in conservative 1950s Connecticut.
Death In Venice (1971)
An aging German music composer sojourns to Venice in hopes of improving his health and finds himself enraptured by the beauty of a young adolescent boy. A visually mesmerizing film.
Based on the novel of the same name, Eva Green stars as a young, charismatic teacher at an all-girls English boarding school.
Mrs. Henderson Presents (2005)
Based on the true story of the Windmill Theatre in London, Judi Dench stars as a wealthy, eccentric widow who purchases a theatre and turns it into a somewhat Moulin Rouge-esque venue that featured nude performers.
Desk Set (1957)
The introduction of computer technology renders the reference jobs of three women potentially useless. Stars Katherine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy.
Sylvia (2003)
A biopic of writer Sylvia Plath set in the 1950s starring Gwyneth Paltrow and Daniel Craig.
Howard's End (1992)
Emma Thompson, Anthony Hopkins and Helena Bonham Carter star in this E.M. Forster classic set in turn-of-the-century England.
Manhattan townhouse of William Ivey Long
I've been posting too much about fashion lately. Feeling the need to go back to posting about interior design.
William Ivey Long is an acclaimed 5-time Tony award winning costume designer who has worked on over 50 Broadway productions, including Hairspray, The Producers, Guys and Dolls, and Chicago just to name a few. I came across photos of his NYC townhouse and just fell in love. Fell in love!!! It's rare that I come across a house which I would move in immediately and keep everything as it is. This is one of them. The aesthetic is mostly traditional, with some Victorian flourishes, and a few whimsical keepsakes.
The entry opens to a wide hallway lined with framed photos and prints. Because the furnishings are kept traditional and understated, the large crystal chandeliers don't make the space seem ostentatious at all and fit right in quite nicely.
This is the front parlor.
Another view of the front parlor. Gorgeous moldings. Notice the ceiling!
This is the second, back parlor. Love the dark wood wainscotting and trim.
Another view of the same back parlor.
China cabinet with an assortment of teacups.
Hallway. Love how there are books everywhere, much like my own place.
The library. Surprisingly simple and cozy. Tony awards line the mantel.
The master bedroom. Ancestral 1835 American Renaissance four poster bed.
Another shot of the bedroom.
Another view of the canopy bed and table accessories.
The guest bedroom. Don't you feel like you're at a quaint country B&B?
Bathroom on the top floor. I like the claw-foot tube but I would've installed a separate walk-in shower for convenience.
Now, some miscellaneous items:
Some grooming collectibles on the dresser in the bedroom and his grandfather's stickpin doll.
Hat pins and vintage cigar cases.
Bikes stored in the front parlor, next the entry.
And finally, Mr. William Ivey Long himself, sitting in his bedroom.
source: NYSD
3 Coins in the Fountain (1954)
My Ratings:
Production Design (wardrobe/hair+makeup & set design & milieu) = 8
Performances/Direction = 6.5
3 Coins in the Fountain is about the (love) lives of three American secretaries working abroad in Rome, Italy. It was nominated for a Best Picture Oscar but won for Best Cinematography and Best Original Song. The title is derived from the notion that if you throw a coin in the Trevi Fountain, it will ensure that someday you'll return to Rome.
Here they are, the three woman, throwing the coins.
At a cocktail party. It's really difficult to see but the last dress (far right) has fantastic criss-crossing at the waist.
So let's look at each of these secretaries individually. First we begin with "Maria" (Maggie McNamara) who is the youngest of the three and the newest arrival. She gets involved with a playboy Prince (Louis Jourdan who later went on to star in Gigi (1958)).
(left) I like how the white blouse underneath is tightly wrapped at the waist using the same fabric. A nice substitute for a belt.
Cute white blouse with nice Sgt. Pepper-ish detail in the front.
LOVE the sleeve on this dress! Notice how it gathers and the button detail.
Hmm...this dress is a bit too marmish. But she was meeting the mother of her Prince boyfriend so maybe it was appropriate for the occasion.
(left) Love this robe! Love how the tie (rope? belt?) wraps around several times at the waist and then ties in the back.
At the opera. Gorgeous orange chiffon wrap.
A view of the lime colored dress she had on underneath.
Now we move onto "Anita" (Jean Peters) who was seen out on a date with an Italian coworker (Rossano Brazzi whom we also saw in Summertime). He gets fired because in-office dating was not allowed and she gets really upset because now they can't afford to get married.
Love this beautiful yellow satin dress with white polka dots. Not exactly appropriate for a casual picnic but so what!
Here's a better view of the orange belt, which is also made out of fabric and matches her orange cardigan. I think the dress just goes so well with her hair and skin tone, doesn't it?
(left) Here's Anita in another beautiful dress. I love the green color and notice the button details on the shoulder!
A better view of her green dress.
(right) Here's a better view of the sleeves on the blouse that we saw earlier at the cocktail party.
And finally we move onto "Frances" (Dorothy McGuire) who was my favorite out of all three because she's the one I can relate to the most personality-wise. She's the level-headed, mature one and had been in Rome for 15 years working as the secretary for a distinguished writer. She is secretly in love with him but he's too preoccupied with his work to notice. She's also considered "the old maid" even though she's only in her mid-30s.
This may seem like a boring dress but I really like it. Notice the trim on the collar and sleeves.
A better view of the detail in the sleeves. I just love this. It also satisfies my mild obsession with safari-esque clothing.
Here is another beige dress made out of jersey (I think). The material is very soft and body-hugging but it fits her perfectly.
Also, did you notice the thin white stripes? Also, that's Clifton Webb to the right.
(left) That silk tan dress with the frontal pleats looks almost identical to something I own. Sorry, there's wasn't a full-length shot of it. I also LOVE her multi-stranded pearl necklace with two different colored pearls - one blue to match her sequined hat and another that's tan to match her dress!
In her long, flowy nightgown. I wish this was what I wore to bed everynight...and not those pajama pants with Winnie the Pooh characters...oops, revealing too much. But they're classic Pooh so at least that's more commendable than the later, modern version.
(far right) And lastly, we have Frances in a beautiful blue satin dress with white polka dots. Notice how the belt is again made out of the same fabric! I am really loving this concept.
Now, here are two other women that I wanted to highlight. Both are elderly woman and we rarely see well-dressed "women of age" anymore. Even though I'm still in my 20s, I love to collect images of fabulous older women for inspiration. It gives me something to look forward to as I get older.
Below is "La Principessa," the mother of the Prince whom Maria was dating. Her pale blue chiffon gown is simply gorgeous. I like the gathering at the bust and I like how she wears it with a black lace shawl.
Here's a view of the long bell sleeve. The dress reminds me of something out of a fairy tale.
(left) Below is the wife of the executive in charge of the secretarial firm which employs the three main characters mentioned above. I really like this dress for the gathering at the collar.
And here she is at the opera. A very beautiful black sleeveless evening gown with a turquoise lace bodice worn also with a sheer black wrap. Very elegant and sexy and surprisingly age appropriate!
And lastly, 2 measly images for my interior design readers (so sorry I've been neglecting you lately!). Here an interior shot of the writer's residence. I love the use of broken pediments over door frames indoors and notice the marble wall paneling! (well, they're supposed to be marble, not sure if they really where...). Also notice how they made use of the tiny area between the arch and the wall (left) by painting it and adding an ornate pattern.
Love all the lamps with chinoiserie patterns on them. Also that lamp (far left) intrigues me. It juxtaposes the traditional (frilly lampshade covered in green lace) with the modern (spiral metal pipe/base). Interesting...
Sex and the Single Girl (1964)
It's intolerably hot, humid, and sticky so let's end this week with a raunchy sex comedy befitting of this weather.
Sex and the Single Girl stars Natalie Wood as a 23 y.o. psychologist (with a PhD! :::rolls eyes:::) who just recently wrote a bestselling book by the same name encouraging women to "own their sexuality." Tony Curtis plays a sleezy, underhanded magazine writer set on exposing her either as a virginal fraud who actually knows nothing about sex or relationships or as a nymphomaniac floozy who's thrown all her morals out the window (yeah, because apparently a girl can't be anything in between).
I will get the scoop, I will!
It's got all the stereotypical criteria of a fun, screwball comedy - mistaken identities, marital strife, suggestive sexual innuendos, and over-the-top, tongue-in-cheek performances. It's also got heavyweights Richard Quine as the director, Joseph Heller (yes, of Catch-22 fame) as the writer, and Lauren Bacall, Henry Fonda, and Mel Ferrer as supporting actors. Natalie Wood was adorable and Tony Curtis....erghh...well, Tony Curtis should only be shot in black & white but whatever, I'll deal. And it's got loads of allusions - almost too many - to the box office hit Some Like It Hot (1959) in which Curtis starred with Jack Lemmon and Marilyn Monroe so it would help if you've seen that too.
So let's start off with the interior/set design. I know I've been neglecting my design enthusiasts in favor of fashion lately and I apologize. I'll concentrate on Dr. Helen Brown's (Wood) office and apartment since hers are more interesting. The color scheme for both is a very chic and modern black & white. Notice her desk has black trim/sides and white rattan (?) frontal screen. The black & white carry over to the chairs, lamps, rug, and upholstery.
Black & white striped seat back. Also, notice the white phone.
Black & white striped chaise lounge.
Now we move over to Dr. Brown's apartment, where we seen more black & white. Striped drapes. White sofa. White lamps. White walls. White carpet. Black & white end tables...the list goes on and on. Btw, nice symmetry with the lamps/sofa/console table set-up.
Her bedroom. Love the ornate black headboard with the scrolled pillars. There are better shots of it in later images where I talk about her robe. Also, charcoal drawings of women hang on the wall; appropriate since she's an advocate of female empowerment in the bedroom.
In stark contrast, sleazy Bob Weston's (Curtis) apartment is full of color. Green armchairs, red rug, dark metallic lampshades, and warm mahogany toned wood furniture. It's also very cluttered, full of whimsical collectibles.
Ignore the scantily clad woman on the right and focus on that gorgeous antique book stand!
This isn't Bob's house - it's actually his next door neighbors' - but I like the rack (left) that holds the hats and canes/walking sticks.
Okay, now we can move onto the clothes!
We start with Dr. Brown, whose obsession with black & white carries over into her wardrobe too. Except for one outfit at the very end, those are the only two colors she wears. Note, cute glasses, rhinestone hair pin and large cocktail rings.
Pearl earrings, white wool coat, black gloves, scarf + purse.
B+w houndstooth coat, black fur hat + stole + gloves. And cat-eye sunglasses, which she has already taken off.
White cashmere sweater, b+w checked tweed shirt, long black leather gloves, long pearl necklace.
This white satin cocktail dress is sooo gorgeous. Fantastic bust detail - notice, small rhinestone pendant dangling from the center. Also, long white gloves and a large pearl bracelet over the glove (right). And white telephone again.
This little sexy number is supposed to be a robe! I like how they used rope as the tie. Also b+w striped sofa pillow.
A full-length shot of the "robe." Whoa, look at that slit up the side. Also, you can see her headboard in better detail in this image.
Completely black outfit.
Side view of her tall pillbox (?) hat. Nice damask upholstery on the settee. And the screen panels in the background.
Finally here she is wearing a gorgeous canary yellow dress. It's the only outfit she wears that isn't b+w in the whole film. I suppose one can say that the donning of such a bright, happy color is indication that she's finally fallen in love.
The fabric is so feminine and flowy and notice the chiffon scarf attached to one shoulder.
Now we move onto Lauren Bacall who plays Sylvia, one half of the husband-wife team who lives next door to Bob Weston. Henry Fonda plays her husband Frank but his outfits are uninteresting so I don't have many images of him. Sylvia and Frank quarrel all the time, mostly because Sylvia tends to get very jealous. Frank is in the women's hosiery business so he's surrounded by beautiful leggy models all the time. Bob (Curtis) eventually uses Sylvia & Frank's marital problems to his advantage and poses as Frank to get to Dr. Brown, becoming one of her patients.
Sylvia in two different shades of purple/violet. Notice that magnificent stone (marble?) fireplace in the background. The mantel also contains a large mirror flanked by ornately carved figures.
You can barely see it, but notice that small strip of ribbon across the top of the lampshade (left). I like that idea. Very DIY. Also, white telephone again. Oh, and that's a dress she's wearing, not a robe.
Sylvia in a yellow sleeveless button-up dress. I think it's made of wool.
Close-up of Sylvia's typical 1960s hairstyle.
Sylvia's grayish tan dress with matching capelet.
Here's her hair partially pinned back.
In a glamorous black sequined dress.
Pink coat + white gloves and handbag. Like the large shiny buttons on the coat.
Below is Bob Weston's secretary. A complete airhead but a delight nevertheless. She had the best hairstyle out of all of the characters in my opinion.
The back of her hair.
She's knitting when she should be working. Also, notice the pretty cup full of newly sharpened pencils.
The matching beret is so cute.
Here is Gretchen, Bob Weston's "girlfriend." They just casually together, nothing serious. She always has really big hair in every scene.
Another up-do but this time, she has a headband underneath.
Really cute equestrian inspired outfit, with the olive green plaid coat, black leather gloves, and hat.
A full-length view of that same outfit.
Never mind who the girl is below. She's not very important. But look at her hair. Oh dear, what is going on there? Look at all these meticulously constructed curls.
Side view of her up-do.
Just for laughs, here is Dr. Brown's secretary who, after reading her book, undergoes a "transformation"....
...by letting her hair down and adding color to her wardrobe!
Okay, maybe she went a little too far...not really age appropriate...
Oh, and one last thing. Here is Frank & Sylvia's anniversary cake. I think the boxing ring is a cute idea - because they fight A LOT. It's always a boxing match between those two.
Okay, I'm off to upstate NY for a few days to help usher the lil' bro into college. He'll be attending my alma mater so I have to show him around, tell him where all the best bathrooms are on campus, how to sneak food out of the dining halls, the best places to take naps between classes, etc. - you know, all the important stuff. He's almost a decade my junior and I can't believe how quickly the years have flown by. I shall return next week!
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When visiting Grafton and staying at the Hampton Inn & Suites, a hotel near Cedarburg, WI, you will find numerous restaurants in the area. Whether you are looking for a quick bite or a nice, restaurant to enjoy dinner in there are many options within close distance to our Grafton hotel. Our friendly hotel team is also more than happy to help suggests something to suit your tastes -- just ask.


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'Stop It With the Garbage, Rudy': Kellyanne Conway's Husband Destroys Giuliani's Obstruction Argument
by Matt Naham | 12:21 pm, May 3rd, 2019
White House counselor Kellyanne Conway's attorney husband George was not about to let Rudy Giuliani's obstruction argument go unanswered on Friday.
Giuliani took to Twitter on Thursday night to say that he was disappointed with Fox News Senior Judicial Analyst Judge Andrew Napolitano.
I consider Judge Napolitano to be a friend so I write this with regret. An obstruction case where there is no proof of an underlying crime is questionable. If you add to it nothing actually obstructed, there's no case. Judge reconsider your position. This is a Weismann.
— Rudy Giuliani (@RudyGiuliani) May 3, 2019
"I consider Judge Napolitano to be a friend so I write this with regret. An obstruction case where there is no proof of an underlying crime is questionable," Giuliani said. "If you add to it nothing actually obstructed, there's no case. Judge reconsider your position. This is a Weismann."
Napolitano has been highly critical of both Attorney General William Barr and President Donald Trump of late, arguing that there doesn't need to be an underlying crime to commit an obstruction of justice offense.
"Under Attorney General Barr's view, you cannot obstruct an investigation of yourself unless you committed the crime for which the government is investigating you. That, of course, is absurd," he argued. "It would mean that President [Richard] Nixon, who was charged with obstruction of justice for interfering with the investigation of Watergate, would have had to have committed the Watergate burglary himself."
Harvard Law Professor emeritus Alan Dershowitz opined that Napolitano was wrong because Trump was acting within his authority as head of the executive branch — unlike Nixon.
"The act itself has to be illegal. It can't be an act that is authorized under Article Two of the Constitution," Dershowitz countered. "Nixon obstructed justice because he acted outside his authority — destroying evidence, paying hush money, ordering his subordinates to lie to the FBI."
An example given was the firing of FBI Director James Comey. Trump himself, however, admitted that the firing had to do with "this Russia thing." We also know that he asked Comey to let an investigation into then-national security adviser Michael Flynn go.
In Napolitano's view, however, Special Counsel Robert Mueller's report detailed obstruction of justice offenses.
When the president asked Corey Lewandowski, his former campaign manager, to get Mueller fired, that is obstruction of justice. When the president asked his then-White House counsel to get Mueller fired and then lie about it, that's obstruction of justice. When the president asked Don McGahn to go back to the special counsel and change his testimony that's obstruction of justice… But ordering obstruction to save himself from the consequences of his own behavior is unlawful, defenseless and condemnable.
Enter George Conway.
… or to retaliate for someone's past participation in a federal proceeding. Here's a key passage, referring to Sections 1512 and 1513 of the criminal code:https://t.co/wkyHcF5wCG pic.twitter.com/SAoiqJsJm9
"There's a section of the DOJ manual that nicely captures what obstruction of justice is about. It's got nothing to do with whether there's an underlying offense," Conway began. "It's all about whether someone is trying to wrongly influence a participant in federal proceeding."
"There doesn't have to be an underlying offense; the proceeding can be about trying to figure out whether there was an underlying offense. This isn't hard," he added. "And … there's also a whole section of the manual devoted to the basic proposition that obstruction doesn't have to be successful to be obstruction."
Conway came armed with DOJ receipts and U.S. Code:
Sections 1512 and 1513 eliminate these categories and focus instead on the intent of the wrongdoer. If the illegal act was intended to affect the future conduct of any person in connection with his/her participation in Federal proceedings or his/her communication of information to Federal law enforcement officers, it is covered by 18 U.S.C. § 1512. If, on the other hand, the illegal act was intended as a response to past conduct of that nature, it is covered by 18 U.S.C. § 1513.
And again, from the DOJ's criminal resource manual on "inchoate obstruction of justice offenses" (inchoate means a "type of crime completed by taking a punishable step towards the commission of another crime"):
Several of the obstruction of justice provisions prohibit "endeavors" to obstruct. Section 1503 of Title 18, United States Code, prohibits "endeavors" to tamper with jurors and officers of the court. The omnibus clauses of sections 1503 and 1505 prohibit "endeavors" to obstruct justice as well as actual obstructions of justice. Section 1510 of Title 18, United States Code, prohibits "endeavors" to obstruct criminal investigations through bribery.
Although "endeavor" might be thought of as a synonym for "attempt," the Supreme Court has concluded that "endeavor" is broader than "attempt." United States v. Russell, 255 U.S. 138 (1921). In Russell, the Supreme Court held:
The word of the section is "endeavor," and by using it the section got rid of the technicalities which might be urged as besetting the word "attempt," and it describes any effort or essay to accomplish the evil purpose that the section was enacted to prevent . . . . The section . . . is not directed at success in corrupting a juror but at the "endeavor" to do so. Experimental approaches to the corruption of a juror are the "endeavor" of the section.
The conclusion offered in the manual: "It follows that an endeavor to obstruct justice need not be successful to be criminal."
"So stop it with the garbage, Rudy," Conway concluded.
Special Counsel Mueller, as we know, didn't accuse Trump of obstructing justice but didn't exonerate him either, and gave the following explanation:
Because we determined not to make a traditional prosecutorial judgment, we did not draw ultimate conclusions about the President's conduct. The evidence we obtained about the President's actions and intent presents difficult issues that would need to be resolved if we were making a traditional prosecutorial judgment [emphases ours]. At the same time, if we had confidence after a thorough investigation of the facts that the President clearly did not commit obstruction of justice, we would so state. Based on the facts and the applicable legal standards, we are unable to reach that judgment. Accordingly, while this report does not conclude that the President committed a crime, it also does not exonerate him.
Mueller detailed numerous incidents related to obstruction, some of which we mentioned above, that were under his microscope. Mueller also noted that a sitting president cannot be indicted, per the DOJ's longstanding guidelines.
With obstruction, a prosecutor needs to be able to prove "corrupt intent" beyond a reasonable doubt.
As Mueller noted, there needs to be an "obstructive act," a "nexus between the obstructive act and an official proceeding" and "corrupt intent."
"The word 'corruptly' provides the intent element for obstruction ofjustice and means acting 'knowingly and dishonestly' or 'with an improper motive,'" the Mueller report explained.
Trump's lawyers argued, as Dershowitz did, that that the President "cannot obstruct justice by exercising his constitutional authority to close Department ofJustice investigations or terminate the FBI Director." They also said that Trump's actions over the course of the investigation could be attributed to him being upset about a cloud hovering over his presidency for something he didn't do (i.e. conspiring with Russia).
Mueller answered that, "In analyzing counsel's statutory arguments, we concluded that the President's proposed interpretation of Section 1512(c)(2) is contrary to the litigating position of the Department of Justice and is not supported by principles of statutory construction."
"As for the constitutional arguments, we recognized that the Department of Justice and the courts have not definitively resolved these constitutional issues," he added.
[Image via SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images]
george conway, rudy giuliani


The Stables is located centrally a few minutes walk from the bus and ferry terminals and An Lantair Arts Centre.
The property is compact on two levels and has all the essentials required to enjoy your stay. The Queen size zip and link bed can be configured as two single beds. There are also 2 single bed settees which can be utilised if required.


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Update The Textbooks: There's A New Organ In Town
Published by Australian Spinal Research Foundation at May 18, 2017
Scientists at the University of Limerick in Ireland have conducted a review which has resulted in a strong proposal for the reclassification of the mesentery. That's right: it appears there's a new organ in the body. Whilst it hasn't officially been reclassified yet, momentum is underway with reputable publications such as Gray's Anatomy jumping aboard the reclassification bandwagon.
Once upon a time, the mesentery was treated as a fragmented structure. Parts of this structure included the ascending, transverse, descending and sigmoid mesocolons, along with the mesoappendix and the mesorectum. These tissues were individual structures that bore similarities in that they were a double fold of peritoneum that attached the intestines to the wall of the abdomen.
Professor J Calvin Coffey, Professor of Surgery at the University of Limerick in Ireland, has done a lot of work examining those tissues, and the literature dedicated to them. His recently published work has thrown new light on the mesentery; Coffey found the mesentery to be one continuous structure rather than a fragmented one [1]. His evidence, including a detailed review and microscopic examination of the mesentery, was published in Harvard's Lancet [2] and has prompted a reclassification of the mesentery in the latest edition of Gray's Anatomy [1].
The reclassification may seem purely semantic, but Professor Coffey points out that it actually provides some insight as to the function.
"During the initial research, we noticed in particular that the mesentery, which connects the gut to the body, was one continuous organ. Up to that it was regarded as fragmented, present here, absent elsewhere and a very complex structure. The anatomic description that had been laid down over 100 years of anatomy was incorrect. This organ is far from fragmented and complex. It is simply one continuous structure [1]."
Furthermore, Professor Coffey remarked that, "if you understand the function, you can identify abnormal function and then you have disease [3]."
"The continuous nature of the mesentery, for example, may serve as a means for disease to spread from one part of the abdomen to another [3]."
Far from being a simple change in terminology, this new discovery could contribute to a greater understanding of function, dysfunction and disease. But there is still work that needs to be done. Scientists have not settled on which body system the mesentery should be classified in. "Whether the mesentery should be viewed as part of the intestinal, vascular, endocrine, cardiovascular or immunological systems is so far unclear, as it has potential roles in all of them [3]," the authors of the study wrote.
The exact function of the mesentery is yet to be clearly defined, according to the review [2, 3]. However, with brains like Coffey looking into it, we can only hope this mystery will be solved in time.
[1] Corless, N, (2016), "Irish Surgeon Identifies Emerging Area of Medical Science, University of Limerick, http://www.ul.ie/research/blog/irish-surgeon-identifies-emerging-area-medical-science retrieved 10 January 2017
[2] Coffey, JC, O'Leary, DP (2016), "The mesentery: structure, function and role in disease," The Lancet Gastroenterolody and Hepatology, http://www.thelancet.com/journals/langas/article/PIIS2468-1253(16)30026-7/abstract
retrieved 10 January 2017,
[3] Miller, S (2017), "Gut Decision: Scientists Identify New Organ in Humans, Live Science, http://www.livescience.com/57370-mesentery-new-organ-identified.html retrieved 10 January 2017
Case Study Reveals Remission of Headache Associated with Sexual Activity in a Woman After Chiropractic Spinal Manipulation
Back pain , Physiotherapy. Woman Chiropractic pain relief adjustment /Kinesiology treatment . Osteopathy practitioner
Thoracic Spinal Manipulation and Pulmonary Function in Stroke Patients
Stroke Study Published


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Celebrating Spartans: Alfred Hershey
by: Daniel Hamburg
Posted: Feb 25, 2016 / 04:37 AM EST / Updated: Feb 25, 2016 / 04:37 AM EST
EAST LANSING, MI (WLNS) – 6 News has the story of a Spartan who many say is a founding father of molecular genetics.
Among the nearly 600 Nobel Prize winners since 1901 only one received his degree from Michigan State.
Alfred Hershey was born in 1908 in Owosso. Dr. Hershey got his Bachelor's Degree in 1930 from what was then Michigan State College and received his PhD in bacteriology in 1934.
His famous blender experiment with Martha Chase in 1952 proved that DNA, not protein was the code for life.
That experiment led him to win a Nobel Prize for medicine 17 years later.
"What you could do is you could put the DNA in these little slots."
MSU professor Chris Waters, who teaches microbial genetics, says Hershey's findings led to the field of genetics, and opened the door to modern forensics, cancer research and much more.
Hershey was the first one to sort of develop these techniques for separating DNA and actually having ways to quantify the size of DNA and working on it.
The ideas and techniques that Hershey discovered are still used by Michigan State students.
"I mated in a p-cast vector to knock out the toxar gene of bibliocholera."
Masters student John Shook is trying to understand how bacteria cause disease and design new antibiotics that target them.
Shook and others say they're inspired by walking in the same footsteps as Hershey.
"What I'm doing in lab every day came from a guy who got his education here. It's just incredible, unbelievable."
"It's really cool to me that someone from this small town went and like totally changed the world."
He changed the world starting from a small town, to a Big Ten university and beyond.
"His contribution really can't be overstated in terms of the contribution to biology that he's had."
A contribution that's more significant than any award.
"A Nobel Prize is great, but to say okay, you discovered what the genetic code of life is, I mean that's changing, you know knowledge as we know it."
Michigan Headlines
Michigan will cut marijuana licensing fees in 19 cities, including East Lansing
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Take a closer look at a bird's wings, feet, and beak. Learn how these body parts and other adaptations are essential for a bird to survive in the wild! Join us for LIVE bird banding starting at 7:30 a.m.
Will be cancelled if raining.
Let's go foraging down by the Little Blue River. Meet at the 24-Highway shelter house. Bring your cameras, smart phones, ID books and water bottles. There are no facilities at this site.
Ever wondered how to use natural items to use as dyes? Deb Cambron from Herbs 'n Handspun will provide an indigo dye demonstration followed by the creation and use of a dye vat. Participants should bring a 100% cotton T-shirt or any other 100% natural fiber item/fabric to dye.
Join us as we celebrate National Pollinator Week by participating in project 'Bee Spotter'. We will learn about the importance of native bees as pollinators and then head outside to collect data that will be used to learn about bee populations in our area. Smart phone or camera recommended.
Deb Cambron from Herbs 'n Handspun will provide an in-depth presentation on the history of indigo, its use, chemical composition, and dye process. The presentation will be followed with the development of the dye vat and then actually dying items. Participants should bring a 100% cotton T-shirt or any other 100% natural fiber item/fabric to dye.
Join Little Stinkers as the group takes a look at the daily life of a box turtle through the book, "Box Turtle at Long Pond," by William T. George. Find out how the turtle uses what is in its environment to make a meal, only to lose that meal in order to avoid being eaten by a raccoon. Written from the turtle's perspective, this story is a great introduction to pond ecology. Then stay and enjoy the Turtle Box Races. This program is designed for the preschool child up to second grade. To make a reservation, call 888-283-0364 or register on-line at www.mdc.mo.gov/twinpines. For further information, call 573-325-1381.
Vertebrate? Invertebrate? What's that? Join the Nature Nuts and learn the difference between these two divisions of the animal kingdom and the types of animals that make up these groups. Be sure to wear clothing and shoes appropriate for the outdoors. Nature Nuts is designed for ages 7 to 12. To make a reservation call 888-283-0364 or register on-line at www.mdc.mo.gov/twinpines. For further information, call 573-325-1381.
Insects: Can You See Me Now? How About Now?
How does a bug make light? Battery acid? Alien soda? Perhaps its glow-in-the dark slime! "Lightning Bugs" are synonymous with a good time on those warm summer nights. Come on in to find out why & what fires up the beetles you see at night.


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The failure of this toga-clad TV pilot completely changed Star Trek and Batman
By: H&I Staff Posted: August 9, 2019, 8:48AM
James T. Kirk and Bruce Wayne. The Enterprise captain and Batman. Two of the most colorful characters, on two of the most colorful TV shows of the 1960s. Can you imagine Star Trek without William Shatner? Could any actor other than Adam West so perfectly pull off the camp tone and "POW!" fisticuffs of Batman?
Well, Spock and Robin nearly had entirely different performers beside them. Audiences would have watched Jack Lord as Captain Kirk and Lyle Waggoner as Batman. The ripples from those castings would have likely altered Hawaii Five-O and Wonder Woman… and so on and so forth. The butterfly effect could have changed the entire course of genre television. Hollywood history is riddled with fascinating "What if…s" like that.
And to think, it all came down to the fate of Alexander the Great.
The TV pilot, not the Macedonian ruler from the fourth century B.C.
In 1964, ABC looked to bring the sword-and-sandal epic to the small screen. By then, the craze that had begun with The Ten Commandments and Ben-Hur was beginning to wane, but Cleopatra had cleaned up at the box office in 1963. "I am Spartacus!" was still echoing in the collective memory of armchair adventure seekers. Italian studios were cranking out dozens of cheap Hercules flicks. It made good sense to cast two handsome upcoming actors for some weekly Biblical action.
William Shatner, a Shakespearan-trained Canadian, was coming off a couple of popular appearances on The Twilight Zone when he was cast in the title role of the mighty Alexander. Adam West was arguably a little more successful — having landed a regular role on The Detectives from 1961–62, and having recently wrapped up work on a sci-fi movie called Robinson Crusoe on Mars — but landed the gig as Alexander's fun-loving underling and general, Cleander.
The concept behind the series was akin to Maverick, in that lead actor would alternate week-to-week, just as James Garner and Jack Kelly took turns. Only in this case, the audience would switch back-and-forth between the exploits of Cleander and Alexander in the year 333 B.C.
"We did the pilot and Bill was the lead as Alexander and I was the kind of sidekick guy," West explained to The Los Angeles Times in 2011. "I was going to have the next episode and it was supposed to go like that from there."
The two baton-passing leads had entirely different takes on the final results.
"I was deeply, deeply, horrendously disappointed when this series didn't sell," Shatner admitted in the same article.
"It turned out to be one of the worst scripts I have ever read and it was one of the worst things I've ever done," added West. Ouch. That says a lot coming from the guy who starred in The Happy Hooker Goes Hollywood.
The network seemed to side more with West. Not only was the pilot not picked up, but it also sat locked up in a vault for four years. In 1968, the pilot finally aired as a TV movie, only to capitalize on the fame that Shatner and West had accrued from Star Trek and Batman.
Though Alexander flopped, Shatner and West both got to dabble a bit more in the sword-and-sandal genre on their respective shows. The Star Trek episodes "Who Mourns for Adonis?" and "Bread and Circuses" reference ancient Greek and Roman history… in space. Batman got to sock King Tut in his tunic a few times.
But imagine how different television might have been with the two of them as B.C. buddies!


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Church member mistakenly shares s3x tape to church WhatsApp group
Screenshots making the rounds online, purportedly taken from the WhatsApp group of a church, show a sex tape mistakenly sent by a member to the group.
Members of the church in Ghana were shocked when the explicit media was delivered to their phones.
It was sent by a member called Brother Rudolph with the caption, "Mood."
Members quickly expressed their shock, asking Brother Rudolph what he had sent to the group.
Apostle Walter, the Head Pastor of the church, also expressed his displeasure.
The member quickly apologized and blamed it on his friend before deleting it. However, it had been captured by members and is now making the rounds online.
Fans of Remo Stars allegedly attack Bendel Insurance players and match officials for time-wasting (Photos/Video)
Senator Shehu Sani marks two years of being voted out by members of the constituency


If you've been following the news, you probably realize that it has been a busy year for organized labor. The percentage of unionized workers in the private sector has fallen to historic lows, leaving unions with fewer dues-paying members, and motivating them to adopt new tactics to stem the decline. Exploiting a more favorable environment created by recent NLRB decisions promoting unionization, unions are turning their focus to grassroots organizations, social media, and previously uncharted geographical territory in an effort to revitalize their base.
This article describes some of those efforts, focusing on new strategies to organize American workers. Unions are struggling to find ways to reach younger Americans, who will be the future of the workforce. Companies that wish to remain union free may need to adjust their strategies as well. Reviewing your organization's policies, and the way you communicate with your employees, will be crucial to achieving that goal.
For the first time in more than a decade, the National Labor Relations Board is operating with a full complement of five confirmed Members and a confirmed (rather than appointed) General Counsel. This General Counsel spent the majority of his pre-Board career as an attorney for the International Union of Operating Engineers, unlike the most recent GC who spent most of his career working at the Board.
What do these changes mean? The current Board and GC will be actively pursuing alleged violations of the National Labor Relations Act in an effort to spur unionization. We can expect a much more union-friendly environment than in years past. Unions will certainly look to the Board for favorable rulings and to the GC for Advice Memos that support their cause.
The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) has contributed more than $2 million to New York Communities for Change, which funds the Fast Food Forward movement. Fast Food Forward staged protests in several major cities this year, demanding $15 per hour for workers in the fast-food industry.
Building partnerships with non-labor organizations, unions hope to teach young Americans to band together towards achieving a common goal. The challenge for organized labor will be to translate these efforts into concerted activity in the workplace.
day, the AFL-CIO began the Facebook engagement, which attracted nearly 150,000 views of posts in the first four days. The SEIU has more than 40,000 followers on Twitter, up from only 5,400 followers in September 2010.
Why are unions employing social media to reach workers? The AFL-CIO has stated that "The survival and future of the labor movement is directly tied to our ability to engage the next generation of workers and develop the next generation of union leaders." With more than 50 million active Twitter users in the United States, unions have begun ramping up their efforts to reach a younger audience through social media. We expect to see these efforts continue to grow over the next year, as unions become more social media savvy.
Recognizing that "the U.S. labor movement has never successfully developed a concerted and coordinated effort to organize workers in the 11 Southern states making up the Southern Region," the AFL-CIO has resolved to develop (and implement) a southern organizing strategy.
anywhere they believe they can be successful. This includes the South, despite the protections of right-to-work laws.
Clearly, unions have begun shifting their focus and priorities. What does this mean for your organization? It means that as unions find more efficient ways to reach out to your employees, your company should carefully evaluate your labor-relations policies and communications. Have you updated your social-media policy based on evolving NLRB rules?
Have you reviewed your confidentiality and off-duty access policies recently? Have your supervisors and managers been trained to respond to questions about your company's position on unions?
As our workforce continues to move towards an online community, has your organization revisited its online presence? Does your company have active Facebook, Twitter, or other social-media accounts? How do you share your successes with the world, and with your workforce? Do you monitor online forums for negative information about your organization?
Next year, unions will be using new technologies in an attempt to gain the support of a younger workforce. Now is the time to consider whether you are adequately prepared to meet the new face of organized labor.
Matthew Korn is an attorney in the firm's Columbia office representing employers in all areas of employment, labor and health and safety law. Matthew litigates both single-plaintiff and class and collective actions arising under a variety of federal and state employment laws. Matthew advises clients on day-to-day employment issues arising under statutes such as Title VII, the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN), and the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Additionally, he assists employers with traditional labor matters, including union avoidance campaigns, unfair labor practice charges, grievance arbitrations, and collective bargaining negotiations. Matthew's experience working as in-house counsel at a multinational, publicly traded company has provided him with the unique ability to view employment law problems from the client's perspective so that he can provide practical business advice and solutions to firm clients. Prior to joining the firm, Matthew worked for the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), litigating mine safety and health cases before the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission. Matthew uses this experience to counsel clients during government investigations, implementing proactive safety programs, and throughout the litigation process.


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Kennedy Space Center pays tribute to John Glenn
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35) - Astronaut John Glenn was remembered on Friday at the Kennedy Space Center. Though the mood was somber, it was actually more of a celebration of an American hero.
Glenn, who died Thursday at age 95, was the first American to orbit the Earth, in 1962, and was the oldest man in space, at age 77 in 1998. A U.S. Marine and combat pilot, he also served as a Democratic U.S. senator, representing Ohio, for more than two decades.
A wreath was set upon a pedestal to honor the World War II and Korean War veteran. People took photographs and got a chance to get up close and personal with some Hall of Fame former U.S. astronauts.
"The thing that sticks out about John is, I got to give him the first tour of the brand new space shuttle. When I was an astronaut down in Houston, they asked me if Senator Glenn was coming down and would I like to give him a tour of the space shuttle?" said John McBride, a former astronaut and retired captain with the U.S. Navy. "That's my fondest memory of him. We had a lot of good times together in Washington."
"They made it all possible. I think we stand on their shoulders and continue to build on those who went before us," said Bob Cabana, director of the Kennedy Space Center. "They're all remembered well. I 'm really going to miss John."
Glenn will lie in state in Ohio's capitol building before a celebration of his life of military and government service and two history-making voyages into space.
The public viewing at the Ohio Statehouse and a memorial service at Ohio State University's Mershon Auditorium are planned for late next week. The dates and times were being worked out Friday, said Hank Wilson, of the John Glenn College of Public Affairs. Statehouse officials meet Monday to authorize the public viewing.
President Barack Obama on Friday ordered flags at federal buildings and on ships around the world flown at half-staff until sunset on the day of Glenn's internment. Glenn is to be buried at Arlington National Cemetery near Washington, D.C.


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Led by
Monday, June 24 | 9:00 am – 12:30 pm
Seminar: State of the Practice of Machine Learning and Deep Learning for the Public Sector
Chairs:
Ronald Schmelzer, Managing Partner, Principal Analyst, Cognilytica
Kathleen Walch, Managing Partner, Principal Analyst, Cognilytica
Seminar Description: Artificial Intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and deep learning (DL) are transforming the way we work, live, and interact with each other. The emergence of these cognitive technologies are transforming the way public sector agencies and citizens interact with each other. But putting AI, ML, and DL into practice and getting beyond the buzzwords is a challenge. This seminar focuses on providing attendees with a current state of the ML and DL markets, and will discuss the state of the practice with real use cases and methodologies to make AI projects a tangible success for public and private sector organizations.
Attendees will learn:
How to dispel popular myths about intelligent automation and learning systems
About your AI options, who are the players, and what are the key technologies
From world-class machine learning experts who are developing innovative public sector applications today
Insights into what makes AI projects a success across a wide range of agencies
A roadmap for successful AI adoption within their agency or enterprise, and
About emerging cognitive automation and intelligent automation approaches
8:00 am - 6:30 pm Registration Opens
8:00 Morning Coffee & Pastries
9:00 The Myths, Realities, & Future of AI
Speakers: Kathleen Walch, Managing Partner, Principal Analyst, Cognilytica
While artificial intelligence has been around for decades, it's only recently that machine learning, deep learning, and other cognitive technologies are at the point where they can be practically realized by organizations. This session sets the bar for what AI represents today and provides definitions and level-setting of terminology. We bust some myths about AI, point to real-world applications of AI in large scale implementations, and explore how AI will impact our future illustrating what an AI-enabled future will look like.
The key takeaway of this seminar is a self-assessment for an AI Project Fit. Attendees will learn:
How to dispel the myths around Artificial Intelligence
The 4-Part AI-enabled vision of the future
Cognitive technologies and their impact on government agencies
The new realities of our cognitive technology future
Matching AI vision to reality
9:30 A Roadmap for Successful AI Adoption
Organizations of all types want to incorporate AI, machine learning, and cognitive technologies into their operations and processes to augment human workers, increase efficiencies, reduce costs, and achieve the goals of more intelligent systems. But, figuring out how to successfully run an AI project can be daunting. This session will help attendees learn how to successfully identify key problem areas that AI technologies can address, the six primary adoption patterns for AI and cognitive technologies with use cases for each pattern, as well as iterative approaches to AI implementation. At the end of the session, attendees will leave with an AI Implementation Roadmap to help successfully start and complete your adoption of AI projects.
The key takeaway of this session is to provide you with a self-assessment of your AI implementation roadmap. Attendees will learn:
The six primary adoption patterns for AI and cognitive technologies
Iterative approaches
How to deal with AI threats
10:00 Networking Break
10:30 Panel: State of the Practice of Intelligent Automation in Government
Bots aren't just physical - they can be software as well. AI-powered software bots are doing everything from tedious entry of data to more sophisticated multi-step processes that have previously required significant human labor. In this panel discussion, we hear the insights of several leaders in the emerging intelligent automation and cognitive automation space and hear first-hand how AI and machine learning are being applied to complex processes. Learn about Robotic Process Automation (RPA) solutions, intelligent automation offerings, and emerging cognitive automation approaches, and how agencies and organizations of all types are using software bots to help automate various processes and tasks.
Moderator: John Moore, Senior Site Editor, TechTarget
Panelists: Kathleen Walch, Managing Partner, Principal Analyst, Cognilytica
Mitchell Winans, Special Assistant, Office of Procurement, U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
Captain Michael Kanaan, Co-Chair for Artificial Intelligence, Defense, U.S. Air Force
Tim Janssen, AI Governance Lead for Operations, National Security Agency
11:15 State of the Technology - AI Vendor Ecosystem
Arti Garg, Director, Emerging Markets & Technology, AI, Cray, Inc.
The vendor landscape for AI and machine learning technologies is getting very crowded with thousands of companies offering solutions, and new vendors emerging monthly. However, these vendors are offering a confusing array of solutions that can be a challenge to understand for organizations looking to implement AI projects. In this session, we explore a rational classification system for AI vendors, how to evaluate AI vendors to meet the needs of various AI projects, and understand how the landscape is developing over time.This session will present:
A comprehensive classification of the AI vendor ecosystem
The various infrastructural considerations for AI projects
A proven process to help you choose the right vendor(s) for your project(s)
11:45 State of the Practice: AI Methodologies
Organizations and agencies are looking to put AI into practice, but the main challenge is that AI projects are not like typical application development projects. In this session, we will discuss best practices and approaches to manage AI projects, the data-centric nature of AI solutions, and the specific requirements for particular AI implementation patterns. We will present a methodology that combines the best of Agile and CRISP-DM approaches, pitfalls to watch out for with AI adoption while addressing governance, transparency, and ethics concerns, and how to deal with emerging AI threats.
Attendees will learn an Agile/CRISP-DM methodology adapted for AI, including discussions on:
Data-centric vs. application-centric AI approaches
Learning from others: examples of AI projects at scale
How to provide governance & transparency around AI, and how to establish an AI ethics process
- Healthcare needs (HIPAA, data protection/privacy and security)
What are the pitfalls in AI adoption?
- There is what's known as the "Golden data" on threats available to train against
- Dealing with AI threats
12:15 Seminar Closing Remarks
12:30 Enjoy Lunch on Your Own
Monday, June 24 | 1:30 – 5:00 pm
Seminar: AI & Cybersecurity
Chair: Bob Gourley, Co-Founder and CTO, OODA LLC
Seminar Description: AI is being used today to improve the ability of organizations to defend themselves. It is also being used by adversaries seeking advantage. The age-old game of attack vs defense continues. But something is different now. Organizations are finding that their AI solutions need special protections. AI needs to be developed in the most secure manner possible. Adversaries who can access training data can manipulate it to drive outcomes of machine learning. Algorithms themselves must also be protected. Many AI solutions have been shown to be biased and/or bigoted. And in some cases, the solutions will generate results that are unexplainable, making security and compliance even more complicated.
1:30 pm Seminar Introduction: When AI Goes Wrong
Bob Gourley, Co-Founder and CTO, OODA LLC
1:50 Fireside Chat: AI for National Security Missions
Jason Matheny, PhD, Founding Director of the Center for Security and Emerging Technology, Georgetown University
This session will include a 20-minute overview of how AI could affect defense and intelligence missions, followed by a fireside chat between Bob Gourley and Jason Matheny.
2:15 AI in Government IT
David Bottom, CIO, Intelligence and Analysis Office, US Department of Homeland Security
2:40 Panel: AI in DoD and the IC
In this session noted experts in practical AI will continue our examination of AI for national security, this time with a focus on how real world commercial solutions can be used today to optimize outcomes for DoD and the IC.
Moderator: Bob Gourley, Co-Founder and CTO, OODA LLC
Lewis Shepherd, Senior Director, National Technology Strategy, R&D, VMware Research
Justin Fier, Director of Cyber Intelligence and Analytics, Darktrace
Todd G Myers, Automation Lead, CIO-T, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency
Teresa Smetzer, CEO, Smetzer Associates LLC and former Director of Digital Futures, CIA
3:15 Networking Break in the Exhibit Hall
3:50 Panel: AI, Automation, and the Challenges of Misinformation and Disinformation
Humans may look back at our era and determine collectively our exponential era wasn't ready for AI and the Internet's impacts on how we interact as societies and how we share information. Participants will consider basic human rights in our digital era – and the challenges of confirmation biases, cognitive easing, and other concerns that give rise to the spread of misinformation out of context and other disruptive influence that polarize and create 'social wedges' impacting human communities and organizations. Looking towards the future, this talk identifies ways for open, pluralistic societies to overcome the challenges of us humans now connected globally without succumbing to surveillance capitalism, surveillance states, or censored societies that erode basic human rights associated with our pluralistic communities. President Lincoln is recorded as having said "I do not like that man. I must get to know him better" – which when applied to the 21st century means that all of us must find ways to engage with empathy, grace, and understanding for our digital future ahead.
Moderator: David Bray, PhD, Executive Director, People-Centered Internet Coalition; Senior Fellow, Institute for Human-Machine Cognition
Panelists: Brett Horvath, President, Guardians.ai
Sara-Jayne Terp, Data Scientist, Bodacea Light Industries
Jen Sovada, Chief of Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Talent Management, US Air Force
4:20 Using Machine Learning to Detect Insider Threats
David Noever, PhD, Senior Technical Fellow, PeopleTec, Inc.
To detect a trusted individual who might do malicious things with authorized credentials has been classified as one of the toughest and most costly cybersecurity problems. Even accidental incidents generate average damages of millions per year for small organizations. This talk will demonstrate some machine learning approaches to solve classically challenging insider threats, including re-discovering Enron fraud instances from email only and finding leakers or saboteurs before they act.
4:45 AI & Cybersecurity in the Public Sector Call to Action
David Bray, PhD, Executive Director, People-Centered Internet Coalition; Senior Fellow, Institute for Human-Machine Cognition
Our exponential era is creating ripple effects that impact how we co-exist as communities and societies. Exponential changes require organizations intentionally to design how they operate using AI to decrease the time required to bounce back from unforeseen events. Our exponentially changing world is putting more people online and connecting more devices daily, which also makes it nearly impossible to forecast exactly how many new risks and potential vulnerabilities are being created in the process. This closing call to action will focus on how each of us can be positive #ChangeAgents to respond quickly to a variety of events that may not typically fall under the domain of security, yet still require a prompt response to be resilient. For the future ahead, it is important to address the various challenges that will multiply with AI alongside the Internet of Everything, as well as consider how the public and private sectors must build bridges to develop resiliency for the Internet with academia, nonprofits, and the general public.
4:45 Seminar Closing Remarks
5:00 Welcome Reception in the Exhibit Hall
6:00 Attendee Roundtable Discussions
6:00 Meetup Groups
Seminar: Conversational Interfaces - State of the Practice of Intelligent Assistants
Chair: William Meisel, PhD, President, TMA Associates
Seminar Description: Speech recognition and natural language processing technology allows interacting with digital systems using human language in text or speech. An organization can use the technology to improve customer service, not only in the call center, but through chatbots on web sites, apps on mobile phones, messaging services, home speakers, through the major personal assistants, and more. The technology can also make personnel more effective within organizations in tasks such as using software systems or on-the-job training. This seminar discusses innovative applications deployed by agencies and the tools available to help develop conversational solutions and practices that make those solutions effective.
1:30 pm The State of the Practice in Intelligent Assistants
William Meisel, PhD, President, TMA Associates
The AI technology behind talking and texting with computer applications using human language ("natural language understanding") has matured. Amazon's Alexa and Google Assistant exemplify the advanced use of this technology, but companies are increasingly using more limited versions to help both customers and employees.
This session will present the state of the technology, how some companies are taking advantage of it, and tools that help deploy company-specific intelligent assistants without a research project. Topics covered include:
The state of speech recognition and natural language processing technology
Examples of deployed digital assistants and their effectiveness
Available tools for building customer service chatbots and automated assistants
Available tools for building employee support applications ("Augmented Intelligence")
Other applications for today's natural language processing
Trends in intelligent assistants
2:15 Applying Conversational Data to Public Sector Applications
Ian Beaver, PhD, Lead Research Engineer, Intelligent Self Service, Verint
In this talk, the benefits of conversational self-service for several government agencies over the last 13 years are highlighted, as well as the positive effect that anonymous communication with autonomous agents can have on users. By providing conversational self-service options, users can find answers to sensitive questions without fear of judgment and agencies can collect more holistic feedback on what users really want to know from them.
3:40 Power to the People: How AI is Transforming the Ways we Interact with Government Organizations
Eduardo Olvera, Director of User Experience, Nuance Communications
By 2020, Gartner predicts that 85% of customer relationships with companies will be managed without human contact. This desire to "self-serve" rings true with government agencies and municipalities already deploying AI-powered natural language understanding (NLU) solutions to interact with their constituents via virtual assistants, live chats, conversational IVR systems and more. This session will address:
Role that AI plays with self-service across channels
Real-world deployments
Predictions for an AI-powered future
4:15 Opportunity Knowledge Mining – An Untapped Force Multiplier
Kevin Tupper, Data & AI Technology Specialist, Microsoft
The benefits of working with data to enable better communications amongst personnel. Going beyond the static frequently asked questions (FAQ) type of document or laborious searches of scanned reports, what knowledge exists within agencies today that helps identify new topics, capture evolving interests, and anticipate future needs? How can this knowledge be surfaced and presented as a human interface?
Agenda,Speaker,Sponsor updated
Global Information, Inc. - International Marketing Partner of AI World Government 2019