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by Joseph Ahernin Blog
Infant mortality is used as an indicator of child and maternal health, and also an indicator of the quality of the health of a community's residents. The infant mortality rate is calculated using two components: deaths within the first year of life, compared to the number of live births. Fetal deaths, sometimes referred to as stillbirths, miscarriage, or fetal demise, do not include live births and therefore do not impact the infant mortality rate.
In 2016, the infant mortality rate was 5.9 infant deaths per 1,000 live births in the United States and 7.4 infant deaths per 1,000 live births in Ohio. Infant deaths are further subdivided into neonatal deaths (within 28 days of birth) and post-neonatal deaths (from 28 to 364 days after birth). The neonatal death rate was 4.0 per 1,000 births in the US and 5.2 in Ohio. The post-neonatal death rate was 2.0 in the US and 2.3 in Ohio.[1]
How births are counted can make a big difference in mortality rates. Read more here. Click To Tweet
After hearing speculation that Ohio's infant mortality rate might be unusually high due to reporting differences, we sought to examine the definitions of "live birth," "stillbirth" and "fetal death," and the standards for reporting each. As medical technology and expertise have increased the viability of extremely preterm (less than 22 weeks) and extremely low birth weight (less than 500 or 1,000 grams) deliveries, we may now see more live births which in other circumstances would have resulted in fetal deaths (miscarriages or stillbirths). This could, in turn, have a statistical impact on the infant mortality rate. In addition, institutional and other factors may influence whether a birth is officially reported as a live birth or as a fetal death. The remainder of this paper will explore some of the research in this area.
Live Birth and Fetal Death Definitions
The official definitions of live birth adopted by The World Health Organization (WHO)[2] and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)[3] are nearly identical. In both definitions, a live birth can occur, "irrespective of the duration of pregnancy," meaning that there is no lower limit for gestation. Almost all U.S. states and territories use substantially the same definition.[4] Eight states, Ohio[5] among them, omit the phrase "irrespective of the duration of pregnancy" or its equivalent. However, since none of these states specify any other limitation, it is assumed for the purposes of this report that there remains no lower limit on gestation for any state. All states require the reporting of a live birth regardless of gestation or weight.
After hearing speculation that Ohio's infant mortality rate might be unusually high due to reporting differences, we sought to examine the definitions of "live birth," "stillbirth" and "fetal death"
On the other hand, there is some variation among countries and U.S. states regarding reporting of fetal deaths.[6] In Ohio, registration is required for any fetal death of at least 20 weeks' gestation, in which case it is also called "stillborn."[7] In 2016, there were 904 fetal deaths recorded in Ohio.[8]
Comparisons of Infant Mortality
Although the official definitions are consistent, among countries, states and even hospitals, there are differences between what is reported as a fetal death and what is counted as infant mortality. When extremely premature and extremely low weight births are removed, the U.S. infant mortality rate does improve. However, it remains above those of many comparable countries.
* In a data brief published by the National Center for Health Statistics in 2009, unadjusted infant mortality rates for 2005 show the United States ranking 30th out of 31 countries. The U.S. rate was 6.9 infant deaths per 1,000 births, compared to 3.1 per 1,000 for Norway. When births under 22 weeks gestation were excluded to correct for reporting differences, the U.S. rate dropped to 5.8 per 1,000, compared to Norway's 3.0. However, the U.S. still ranked poorly, 18th out of 21 countries. The study did not conclude that differences in reporting determined the poor U.S. ranking. Instead, it cited the relatively high proportion of preterm births (less than 37 weeks gestation) in the U.S. and its high infant mortality rate among full-term births (37 or more weeks).[9]
* A similar study using 2010 data from the U.S. and 25 other countries from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) found that unadjusted infant mortality was higher in the U.S. (6.1 per 1,000) than in all other countries in the comparison. Excluding births with a gestation of less than 24 weeks reduced the U.S. rate to 4.2 per 1,000. However, nine of 11 comparison countries still had lower rates than the U.S. Again, the high rate of prematurity (even after excluding gestations of less than 24 weeks) and the high infant mortality rate among full-term births in the U.S. were found to be the major factors related to this country's poor ranking.[10]
* A study comparing neonatal mortality (deaths within 28 days of birth) in 25 countries in 2004 was published in the British Medical Journal in 2012. The U.S. ranked 22nd using unadjusted data, with a rate of 4.47 neonatal deaths per 1,000 live births. When births of less than 1,000 grams were excluded, the U.S. rate fell to 1.61 per 1,000 and the U.S. ranking rose to 10th Comparing infant mortality (deaths within one year) across 18 countries, the U.S. ranking rose from 16th to 12th place when births of less than 1,000 grams were excluded.[11]
* Comparisons between the U.S. and four European countries (Austria, Belgium, Finland and the U.K.) using data from 2000 to 2005 show that unadjusted infant mortality rates were higher in the U.S. by a range of 1.4 to 3.6 deaths per 1,000 live births. When the data set eliminated births at less than 22 weeks and less than 500 grams, excess infant deaths in the U.S. fell to a range of 1.1 to 2.1 per 1,000 compared to the European countries.[12]
Doctors and medical professionals are responsible for distinguishing between a live birth/neonatal death and a fetal death. The classification of each case can be influenced by institutional and other factors. It is not clear the degree to which classification practices differ among Ohio hospitals, but studies in other states indicated that the issue is most likely to impact neonatal infant mortality when death occurs within 28 days of birth.
* In some maternity hospitals in New York City, live births are reported regardless of gestational age; in others, gestational age (usually, 23 weeks) is taken into account. In a comparison of these hospitals' neonatal mortality data from 2007-2009, the neonatal mortality rate for hospitals which did not restrict reporting was 3.54 deaths per 1,000 live births, significantly higher than the rate of 2.68 for those which considered gestational age. When births under 23 weeks gestation were excluded, there was no significant difference in rates between the two groups of hospitals.[13]
* A North Carolina study analyzed fetal deaths and infant deaths occurring less than 24 hours after birth, using data from 31 hospitals in the state from 1995 to 2000. The study found that the birth hospital was an important predictor of whether the death was classified as fetal or infant death. "Among the 31 hospitals selected for study, there was a nearly 15-fold variation in the probability of events being classified as early neonatal versus fetal death after controlling for numerous other factors that may be associated with this outcome."[14]
* A state-by-state comparison of fetal and infant deaths from 1999 to 2002 showed that for deliveries of less than 500 grams and at least 20 weeks gestation, states with lower fetal death rates had higher infant death rates within 24 hours of live birth. Six states (Rhode Island, Delaware, Kansas, Maine, Connecticut and Maryland) had a significantly higher likelihood of deaths being classified as live birth/infant death than fetal death.[15]
It is clear from these examples that, despite near-uniformity in definitions, in practice there remains much ambiguity about birth outcomes at the lower end of viability. The impact of disparities in reporting live births is often greatest for small geographical areas such as counties.[16] Some of the authors of the studies cited here have suggested that comparisons of infant mortality and fetal death be made only for births or deaths of similar gestational age. Controlling for extremely low weight and extremely premature births does improve the U.S. rate, but we remain behind many other countries. Rather than measurement differences, the international studies attributed the U.S.'s higher rate to the number of deaths following full-term birth and higher rates of prematurity.
Across Ohio, there are two to three times as many neonatal deaths (during the first 28 days) than post-neonatal deaths (between 29 and 364 days) and prematurity-related conditions are the leading cause of infant mortality in Ohio. Efforts focused on helping women carry pregnancies to term are likely to have a greater impact on reducing infant mortality than statistical changes. However, greater uniformity in the practice of reporting live births and fetal deaths will also improve the validity of Ohio data and cross- jurisdictional comparisons.
[1] Neonatal and post-neonatal rates are for 2013 in the U.S. and 2016 in Ohio.
[2] "Live birth refers to the complete expulsion or extraction from its mother of a product of conception, irrespective of the duration of the pregnancy, which, after such separation, breathes or shows any other evidence of life – e.g. beating of the heart, pulsation of the umbilical cord or definite movement of voluntary muscles – whether or not the umbilical cord has been cut or the placenta is attached. Each product of such a birth is considered live born." http://who.int/healthinfo/statistics/indmaternalmortality/en. Accessed 7/16/2018.
[3] "Live birth means the complete expulsion or extraction from its mother of a product of human conception, irrespective of the duration of pregnancy, which, after such expulsion or extraction, breathes or shows any other evidence of life such as beating of the heart, pulsation of the umbilical cord, or definite movement of voluntary muscles – whether or not the umbilical cord has been cut or the placenta is attached. Heartbeats are to be distinguished from transient cardiac contractions; respirations are to be distinguished from fleeting respiratory efforts or gasps." Kowaleski J. State definitions and reporting requirements for live births, fetal deaths, and induced terminations of pregnancy (1997 revision). Hyattsville, Maryland: National Center for Health Statistics. 1997
[4] Vermont has no statutory definition of live birth
[5] ORC 3705.01 (A)
[6] "Fetal death means death prior to the complete expulsion or extraction from its mother of a product of human conception, irrespective of the duration of pregnancy and which is not an induced termination of pregnancy. The death is indicated by the fact that after such expulsion or extraction, the fetus does not breathe or show any other evidence of life, such as beating of the heart, pulsation of the umbilical cord, or definite movement of voluntary muscles. Heartbeats are to be distinguished from transient cardiac contractions; respirations are to be distinguished from fleeting respiratory efforts or gasps." Kowaleski, op. cit.
[7] ORC 3705.01 (B); 3705.20
[8] "Ohio Resident Fetal Deaths by County of Residence and Year of Occurrence, 1986 to 2016," Ohio Department of Health.
[9] MacDorman MF, Matthews TJ. Behind international rankings of infant mortality: How the United States compares with Europe. NCHS data brief, no. 23. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2009
[10] MacDorman MF, Matthews TJ, Mohangoo AD, Zeitlin J. international comparisons of infant mortality and related factors: United States and Europe, 2010. National vital statistics reports; Vol. 63 No. 5. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2014.
[11] Joseph KS, Liu S, Rouleau J, et al. Influence of definition based versus pragmatic birth registration on international comparisons of perinatal and infant mortality: population-based retrospective study. BMJ 2012; 344:e746 (Published 17 February 2012)
[12] Chen A, Oster E, Williams H. Why is infant mortality higher in the United States than in Europe? American Economic Journal: Economic Policy. 2016 May; 8 (2) 89-124.
[13] Ramsay SM, De SK (2016) The Definition of Life: The Impact of Physicians' Reporting Practices on Neonatal Mortality Rate in New York City. J Neonatal Clin Pediatr 3: 014.
[14] Woods C, Davis D, Duncan S, et al. Variation in Classification of live birth with newborn period death versus fetal death at the local level may impact reported infant mortality rate. BMC Pediatrics 2014, 14:108
[15] Ehrenthal D, Wingate M, Kirby R. Variation by state in outcomes classification for deliveries less than 500g in the United States. Matern Child Health J (2011) 15: 42-48
[16] Goval NK, DeFanco E, Kamath-Rayne BD, Beck AF, Hall ES. County-level Variation in Infant Mortality Reporting at Early Previabla Gestational Ages. Pediatr Perinat Epidemiol 2017 Sep; 31(5): 385-391.
Payment, access two focal points of Joint Medicaid Oversight CommitteepreviousMay Dugan's Trauma Recovery Center to receive $25,000 prizenext
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Toss grated zucchini with eggs, Parmesan & crackers for Zucchini Pancakes. Cook in skillet. Top with sour cream. Serve up Zucchini Pancakes—and take a bow.
Use hands to squeeze as much liquid from zucchini as possible. Place zucchini on double thickness of paper towels; drain.
Whisk eggs in medium bowl until blended. Add onions, cheese and pepper; mix well. Stir in zucchini and cracker crumbs.
Heat oven to 225ºF. Heat 2 tsp. oil in large nonstick skillet on medium heat. Spoon about 3 Tbsp. zucchini mixture into skillet; flatten with back of spatula to 3-inch round. Cook 3 min. on each side or until golden brown on both sides. Place on ovenproof platter; place in oven to keep warm. Repeat with remaining zucchini mixture, adding remaining oil as needed.
Serve pancakes topped with sour cream.
Serve with a seasonal fruit salad.


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Release Date 22 July 2022
The genesis of the idea for Bob Marley & The Chineke! Orchestra came via the acclaimed cellist and 2016 BBC Young Musician of the Year Sheku Kenneh-Mason OBE. Although now a full time solo artist and no longer an active Chineke! member, it was Kenneh-Mason's pioneering and original arrangements of Marley's No Woman, No Cry and Redemption Song that initially captured the attention and appreciation of Tuff Gong and the Bob Marley estate. The Chineke! musical journey, via Abbey Road Studios, had begun.
1 Exodus
2 Stir It Up
3 One Love
4 Get Up, Stand Up
5 Is This Love
6 Redemption Song
7 Top Rankin'
8 Satisfy My Soul
9 I Shot The Sheriff
10 Turn Your Lights Down Low

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Republican senator from Florida and Democratic senator from West Virginia introduce bill protecting state and local governments passing anti-BDS legislation from lawsuits.
The bill is an updated version of a measure introduced in February by Manchin and Mark Kirk, a Republican senator from Illinois who was defeated in November.
Among the bill's 17 co-sponsors are Sens. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., Robert Menendez, D-N.J., and Benjamin Cardin, D-Md.
Manchin praised the bill as a way to protect American and Israeli security and economic priorities in a statement announcing the bill.
"This legislation is an important step forward in reassuring Israel that we are protecting our shared national security interests, while also protecting our joint economic interests," Manchin said.


text:
namespace armnn
{
// ConstLayerMemoryOptimizer: Create a unique MemBin for each MemBlock and assign it an offset of 0
    class TestStrategy : public IMemoryOptimizerStrategy
    {
    public:
        TestStrategy()
                : m_Name(std::string("TestStrategy"))
                , m_MemBlockStrategyType(MemBlockStrategyType::MultiAxisPacking) {}

        std::string GetName() const override;

        MemBlockStrategyType GetMemBlockStrategyType() const override;

        std::vector<MemBin> Optimize(std::vector<MemBlock>& memBlocks) override;

    private:
        std::string m_Name;
        MemBlockStrategyType m_MemBlockStrategyType;
    };

} // namespace armnn

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Behind The ScenesESPN HistorySportsCenter
The finishing musical touch to great moments, 'DaDaDa, DaDaDa' becomes theme of new SportsCenter marketing campaign
Ana Livia Coelho September 23, 2013
This weekend, ESPN debuted a new ad campaign for its flagship program, SportsCenter, that celebrates fans' emotional connection with the show and focuses on the iconic sound all fans associate with it.
Entitled "DaDaDa DaDaDa," the TV spots feature a wide range of professional athletes, amateur athletes and fans who call out their "DaDaDa" moments. A wide range of achievements are shown in the spots as "DaDaDa" moments. "DaDaDa" is meant to signify a significant achievement – something compelling enough to earn its way onto SportsCenter. The idea for the initiative, created in collaboration with creative agency Wieden + Kennedy New York, was developed following a year of research aimed at understanding the role SportsCenter plays in fans' lives.
"One fan said that the SportsCenter music is like the ice cream truck music for adults — people hear it and come running," said Aaron Taylor, senior vice president of marketing at ESPN. "That really resonated with us – we wanted to take something that is part of our culture ["Da,Da,Da"] and shine a light on it, and I think that's what we've done here."
[doptg id="129″]
The iconic theme song behind the show, from which the melody's six notes are front and center in this campaign, was introduced in 1989 and created by former ESPN music director John Colby, a Grammy- and Emmy-winning composer, producer, music director and keyboardist.
The new campaign precedes SportsCenter's move into a new state-of-the-art studio in 2014. "DaDaDa" will complement the existing "This is SportsCenter" campaign, which launched in 1995 and includes a library of more than 400 spots.
Front Row also spoke with Chantre Camack, events talent director, special events marketing, who provides interesting behind-the-scenes insights:
• Golfer Bubba Watson posted a #DaDaDa moment of his own before he actually shot the commercial as "practice" that was a direct shout out to us in anticipation of the shoot. Additionally, Watson ran into tennis star Rafael Nadal, who was in Bristol shooting a "This Is SportsCenter" commercial on the same day.
• The Washington Redskins' portion of the ad was filmed the day of the Monday Night Football preseason game. Some of the plays Robert Griffin III called, as a part of the commercial, were nicknames for members of his offensive line.
• The guy with Oklahoma City Thunder star Russell Westbrook is actually one of his best friends from home, Donnell Beverly. The two attended Leuzinger High School in Lawndale, Calif. together. Beverly played at UConn from 2007-2011.
• The portion of the ad featuring pitcher Clayton Kershaw was shot on Aug. 23, the day after his Los Angeles Dodgers played the Miami Marlins. In the trailer, Kershaw and his wife were asked what his nickname was and he said he didn't have one. Kershaw said he didn't know where "the Claw" came from and everyone in the room figured it came from a combination of his first and last names, nothing to do with his pitching style.
"Share Is Where ESPN Really Shines."


Medical Imaging Students Take Home 1st Place Trophy!
Meet Bailey, a proud (and furry) member of the Paws for Wellness Program and Jessica, Student Nurse. Both making time for a little stress relief during exam week!
Check out the scenes from the Berks Regional Nursing Alliance Symposium Day recently held at Reading Hospital School of Health Sciences.
Check out the photo gallery from this year's event!
We are pleased to introduce the first students inducted into the Pennsylvania Sigma Chapter of Lambda Nu National Honors Society for Radiologic and Imaging Sciences.
Saturday, October 14, 2017, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Saturday, December 2, 2017, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Saturday, March 3, 2018, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Saturday, May 5, 2018, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.


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GET KEN'S BOOK FOR FREE
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Look at how much ink Broadway Producers and Investors got.
I get my NY Times Sunday Arts and Leisure section delivered to me on Thursday. Yep, in case you didn't know, the sections of the Sunday Times that aren't "headline dependent" are printed well in advance, and as a courtesy provided to those folks out there that fill it with ads, the Times will get it to you earlier.
When I got my copy last week and saw the headline, "I Want To Be A Producer (Me, Too!)," and the accompanying story, I was intrigued.
When I finished the copy of the front page, I flipped to the "continued on" page, and I literally yelped out a "Holy moses!"
The article, about Broadway Investors and how so many have transitioned to above-the-title producers, had another two plus full pages on the inside of the paper.
(The cynical side of me wondered whether the Times gave it that much space to try to encourage more Broadway Investors to become Producers so they'd buy more NY Times ads!)
It's a fascinating article, centered around last year's Tony Award winning Cinderella Story, A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder. The article reveals that they had trouble raising money as opening night loomed, and the Producers cut some super aggressive deals with investors while the show was in previews to make sure the show got what it needed to open. And, in one of the best turnarounds I've seen in the last couple of decades, it snags the most Tony Nominations of any musical, and then gets the Best Musical trophy on top. And sales took off.
It's such a dramatic story that it could be a musical itself.
I know there is a faction of folks within the business that sneer when they hear stories about Producers reducing the "value" of the above-the-title Producer slot . . . and I recently heard a rumor that the Broadway League might be considering a "minimum raise" in order to get a credit on a show (there is already a minimum required in order to get membership into the League.)
And while, sure, if an investor comes to me and says, "I do this for the credit, and on my last show, I got that credit for X," it makes it harder to stick with the numbers I've laid out to receive credit.
But, and this is the rub, every show is different. And if some shows need to offer more aggressive title deals to make sure the show happens, then who-the-eff cares?
I vary the deals on my own shows all the time.
When I produced Macbeth, I had to raise the money in 6 weeks, and more importantly, we were only doing 6 shows a week for 14 weeks, so the risk was higher. So I reduced the threshold for the above-the-title slot to only $100,000 as a way to mitigate the risk for Producers/Investors (while we didn't recoup, which I announced here, we did get to 90%).
On Somewhere in Time and Gettin' The Band Back Together, the above-the-title slots are a much more customary $500k, but I reduce those amounts depending on when the Producers and Investors get involved (before we announce the theater gets a lower threshold versus those that get involved after we announce the theater).
When products are different, terms, including titles, are different. And I don't believe we can "legislate" that with required minimums, just like we can't legislate other parts of the Producer deals. What's the difference between offering a title for a lower than usual amount or offering better financial terms? Or the number of opening night tickets? Just because one is visible and one isn't?
And if more Producers means we get to see more risk on Broadway (this all started with Spring Awakening, and I for one am so glad that show made it to Broadway), then it should be applauded.
We are Producers. We are business owners. We are entrepreneurs. And we should will do whatever it takes to get our show off the ground.
To read the article, click here.
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August 18, 2014 Broadway Vocabulary, Producing
I thought it was an excellent, "insidery" showbiz article, and I certainly noticed your name dropped in there! Gentleman's Guide is a fascinating example of an underdog made good. Clearly, it's a constant hustle to raise the capital needed to mount a major production today, and you're right, there is a great story to be told about all the wild characters required to finance a show. An article like this makes me respect even more the work that you do to provide entertainment for audiences like me. Even if a show doesn't make its money back, it still has the opportunity to reach people and say something meaningful, and I believe theater is about much more than money. (Though money is nice too).
senorvoce says:
With all the worry and fuss about billing and credit and the like, it's clear why a lot of important things get missed. Since it's all about the egos of the investors, let's stop pretending that making art is really at the heart of it all, and that's fine, after all. The unbridled narcissism of the one percenters is fine if it can be funneled into something useful, like putting on Broadway shows.
Polo says:
"The unbridled narcissism of the one percenters is fine if it can be funneled into something useful, like putting on Broadway shows."
Excellent comment. The whole Broadway model, I believe, is for the 1%. A new musical has an 80% chance of failure. If it is an 'original' musical your chances for failure are about 95%, So the best odds for success are acquiring the rights to a previously known work that audiences already recognize. That's the current model, IMO. But who can afford to buy the 'rights' to these popular movies or books so that they can be musicalized? Only the wealthy, it seems to me. So even for the writers/creators to stand a chance of success they must fork money out to 'adapt' something, if they're lucky. Most creators could likely never afford to acquire the rights to the existing work. It is a game for the 1%.
Shauna Hagan says:
When I saw the article, I thought – Ken is going to love this one!!
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Canadian Silver Maple Leafs are one of the most popular silver coins in the world. These coins are the highest purity silver bullion coins to ever be produced at the mint, with each coin guaranteed by the Royal Canadian Mint to contain .9999 of pure silver.
Every one of the Canadian Silver Maple Leafs in this collection is in Gem Brilliant Uncirculated condition. They make great investment pieces and investors love to buy them in large quantities. They are also very popular with collectors who love to add them to their Silver Dollar collections.
The Silver Maple Leaf coin has a very unique look that makes it differ from other Gem Brilliant Uncirculated coins. Each Maple Leaf Silver Dollar is minted using highly polished coin blanks, which makes the background a shiny, satin finish that is loved by collectors.
Queen Elizabeth II is beautifully portrayed on the obverse side of this proof-like Silver Maple Leaf. The reverse side of this silver coin features a stunning single maple leaf, which is the national symbol of Canada.


Haircut with Highlights or Color at Amanda's Salon - Amanda Mazza (Up to 45% Off). Three Options Available.
A new hair color can transform your entire look—as well as your haircare routine. Learn how to get the most mileage out of your color with Groupon's quick tips.
No one wants to watch their hair color—and all the money they spent on it—slide down the drain with every shower. But it's hard to avoid. One of Pantene's senior scientists told Good Housekeeping magazine that up to 80% of color fade is due to "water alone, not shampooing or scrubbing." This is because dye changes not only the color, but the structure of hair: in order to penetrate the strand, it must first strip away its outer layer of lipids. The result is hair that's more porous, actually soaking up more water from the shower and weird dreams from the brain. Not all colors fade at the same rate—red dye's molecules tend to be larger than those of other colors, leaving them less likely to burrow deep into the hair shaft and more likely to hitch a ride on a stream of water.
Though some fade is inevitable, you can minimize the damage simply by shampooing less often, rinsing with cooler water, and—most importantly—sticking to products designed especially for color-treated hair. You can further protect your hue by cutting down your exposure to hot styling tools, direct sunlight, chlorine, saltwater, and stylists who work at the bottom of a seaside hotel's pool. You can also take preventive measures: washing tresses with a clarifying shampoo one day before coloring can strip away buildup so that color can work itself deeper into strands.
Promotional value expires 90 days after purchase. Amount paid never expires. Not valid for clients active within the past 12 months. Appointment required. Merchant's standard cancellation policy applies (any fees not to exceed voucher price). Limit 1 per person, may buy 1 additional as gift. Limit 1 per visit. Valid only for option purchased. All goods or services must be used by the same person. Ombre and balayage offered with purchase of full-color option for additional fee. Additional fees may apply depending on hair length, texture, and density. Merchant is solely responsible to purchasers for the care and quality of the advertised goods and services.


text:
CTS-V WITH A VENGEANCE By HAROLD OSMER
What possessed Cadillac to put a 400 horsepower LS2 Corvette engine into its successful midsized CTS sedan? And who thought up coupling that V8 to a Tremec 6-speed manual transmission? In a Cadillac? I want one of these. The CTS-V comes in fully loaded trim with exterior/interior color packages as the only true options available. Standard equipment highlights include full leather seats with suede center inserts, heaters, power memory position controls, and split-folding rears. The sunroof had an express open feature that was as simple to use as it should be. Power window controls also had an express option allowing a driver to fully open and close each window with one touch. A Bose® multi-disk CD changer AM/FM/XM 8-speaker stereo provides many listening alternatives for long or short trips. General Motors' intuitive navigation system works very well.
For all its bells and whistles, the CTS-V interior remains uncluttered. Missing are the faux wood trim, flashing lights, and other annoying gimmicks that would otherwise distract you from enjoying the driving experience. The large textured black dash and supple leather trim pieces reinforce the CTS-V's sporty, refined approach to transportation. Around town the CTS-V responds with agility and a willingness to please. Be careful where you point this car because that's exactly where it's going. Those of us accustomed to lesser vehicles will find this tendency to do as told a bit unnerving at first and amazing at last. Steering is light with adequate feedback. It's good fun to push this car to the point of flirting with StabiliTrak system engagement. Decent torque and rear wheel drive offer welcome controllability beyond any front-drive system. To repeat, I want one of these. Power is useful in virtually any gear at any reasonable speed. So long as the engine has not stalled and the clutch is out, the CTS-V will go. There is enough feedback rumble from the dual exhaust to keep you on your toes, but not so much as to be juvenile.
Over a 400 mile freeway excursion, the CTS-V proved itself to be as comfortable a car as one would expect from Cadillac. Gone is the mushy boat feeling from Cadillacs of old. Drivers beyond six feet two inches will have a tight fit, but the remaining 85% of the population won't have any trouble at all. After driving for several hours and making a brief pit stop, getting back into the CTS-V was a pleasure. In long possession of a reputation for building large, comfy cars, Cadillac has been working hard to shake its tired image of producing the "old man's car" and has offered up some terrific, evolving pieces over the past several years. If you've not driven a Cadillac lately, take a Saturday afternoon trip to your local dealer and treat yourself to a test drive. While there, check out the CTS-V. But be forewarned: you'll want one. - Harold Osmer SUMMARY JUDGMENT Cadillac's CTS-V won't be playing second fiddle to any other machine.
SIDEBAR COMMENT I guess there isn't a car out there that can't be improved upon with a healthy dose of power. The poster child for this theory sits before us. Only mad men like Doctor Frankenstein could imagine something this radical, this evil. Implanting an engine with 400 horses into the otherwise well-behaved CTS creates a monster. I can see it now, villagers everywhere gather with pitchforks and shovels to eradicate the unholy creation from the town. I can almost see the lightening in the background under a dark, rainy moonless night illuminating the castle, which houses the reborn and rebadged Cadillac as the new CTS-V. All the while the insane visionary that gave birth to this car is shaking both fists at the sky chanting loudly "It's alive". Okay, enough sci-fi. The Cadillac is truly transformed to a performance machine. The growling motor sounds intimidating without being obnoxious. The six-speed is easy enough to operate, and with so much power any gear is just fine almost regardless of speed. The lockout that forces the shift pattern from first to fourth is maddening until one is accustomed to it. While the interior still feels like entry-level luxury, the road going ability is up to snuff with any number of cars with performance pedigrees. There is a sweet pleasure watching pricier vehicles getting eaten alive by this car. Sadly this takes some of the thunder away from the Corvette, but even with the juice the CTS-V is endowed with it can't match the racecar moves that the low, lightweight Vette offers. The semi-subtle exterior changes such as the grill announce the arrival of the car to those who know what to look for. Everyone else who isn't up to speed on the latest offerings from the Cadillac division had best be on their toes, as something wicked this way comes! - John Grafman
For more information about Cadillac products, go to www.cadillac.com. SPECIFICATIONS Name of vehicle: 2006 Cadillac CTS-V, 4-door sports sedan Price: Base $50,675, as tested $51,395 Standard equipment: Sunroof, full leather seating, power front seats w/heaters and memory function, split-folding rear seats, cruise control, AM/FM/XM multi-disk CD changer with navigation system. Options include: NONE. Engine type: LS2 6.0L EFI V8, 10.9:1 compression, 6600 rpm redline Horsepower: 400 @ 6000 rpm Torque: 395 lb.-ft @ 4400 rpm Drive configuration: Rear wheel drive, All-speed brake and engine traction control StabiliTrack computer-controlled 4-channel stability control system Transmission type: Tremec T-56 6-speed manual Suspension: Front: Independent short/long arm, coil over dampers with anti-sway bar Rear: Independent modified multi-link with ant-sway bar Wheels and tires: 18 x 8.5 aluminum wheels, P245/45 R18 W-rated Goodyear Eagle F1 EMT (run-flat) Brakes: 4-wheel 14-inch discs with 4-piston Brembo calipers Steering: Power assisted rack-and-pinion steering Overall length/wheelbase: 190.1 inches/113.4 inches Overall width: 70.6 inches Overall height: 56.7 inches EPA mileage estimates City/ Highway: 15/23. 93 octane recommended


Two Indian firms could get a boost from tech majors in what might turn out to be the first direct investment in the country by Google Inc and Alibaba.
Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba is in talks with Indian online marketplace Snapdeal over a potential cash investment, a person familiar with the negotiations said.
The source, who declined to be named because talks are not public, said on Wednesday that negotiations were "ongoing".
Alibaba is "looking, but there's still no deal", the source added.
Alibaba could not be reached immediately for comment, and a Snapdeal representative declined to comment.
Alibaba and Snapdeal have spoken in the past, a second person familiar with the matter confirmed. Investor interest was "high", the source said, without giving any detail on any current negotiations.
Media reports have said Snapdeal is seeking $1 billion in its latest funding round to fuel growth as it competes with bigger rivals Flipkart.com and Amazon.com.
In October last year, Snapdeal secured a $627 million investment from Japan's Softbank, itself an early backer of Alibaba. Alibaba, which has been eyeing the Indian market for months, has yet to invest directly in the e-commerce space.
SoftBank also has an investment in mobile advertising venture InMobi, which is in talks for a Google buyout, a source with direct knowledge of the matter said.
Discussions between Google and InMobi, who have not made their negotiations public, are in early stages. The source, who asked not to be named, said Google had not yet detailed its terms and conditions for the deal.
InMobi helps companies target the users of phones and mobile devices in their advertising.
Google and InMobi were negotiating issues that included how many unique users InMobi has, a key to its value, the source said.
"They are ironing out issues on what InMobi's parameters are, and whether it matches Google's," the source said, adding that InMobi would likely be valued at around $1 billion.
InMobi and Google both declined to comment.
Google Capital, the group's investment arm, has set up shop in India's Silicon Valley, but the parent company has yet to invest directly in the country's Internet and e-commerce sector.
"Advertising is a big revenue generator for Google. As people move from browser or desktop searches, mobile advertising is becoming more important," Neil Shah, an analyst at Counterpoint Technology Market Research, said.


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WhatsApp wants Apple's privacy labels to apply to iMessage as well
By Oliver Haslam
WhatsApp message thread on iPhone X (Image credit: Luke Filipowicz/iMore)
Apple now requires apps to tell users what kinds of data they collect.
WhatsApp says it wants the same rules to apply to first-party apps, like iMessage.
Updated December 9, 2020, 11:00 PT: I'm told that Apple will be providing the same privacy detail for its own apps, just as it asks third-party developers to do. However, apps that don't have their own App Store page will have the same information made available on Apple's website. I'm not quite clear on how discoverable those details will be for users, though.
Apple now requires apps to tell users about the information they collect as part of its ongoing privacy push, but not all app developers are happy about it. Facebook-owned WhatsApp is one such app that now has to inform users about the data it collects, but it's already throwing shade.
While WhatsApp submitted all the information needed to keep it in the App Store, published a post that went into further detail. But speaking with Axios, a WhatsApp spokesperson went on to say that they believe Apple's own apps should have to play by the same rules.
Currently, only apps installed via the App Store have to include the new privacy nutrition labels. That means iMessage doesn't.
"We think labels should be consistent across first and third-party apps as well as reflect the strong measures apps may take to protect people's private information," a WhatsApp spokesperson told Axios.
"While providing people with easy to read information is a good start, we believe it's important people can compare these 'privacy nutrition' labels from apps they download with apps that come pre-installed, like iMessage."
WhatsApp, perhaps rightly, worries that when people see the data it collects they will instead begin using iMessage – an app that doesn't say anything about collecting data.
WhatsApp's view is that the terms may spook users about what data WhatsApp actually collects, giving it a competitive disadvantage to iMessage.
Of course, it's highly unlikely that iMessage collects anything like the amount of data that WhatsApp does, but the underlying point might still be valid. Should iMessage have to play by the same rules even though it comes pre-installed?
At a time where Apple is under constant scrutiny for alleged anticompetitive behavior, the answer to that question could well be a 'yes.'
Oliver Haslam has written about Apple and the wider technology business for more than a decade with bylines on How-To Geek, PC Mag, iDownloadBlog, and many more. He has also been published in print for Macworld, including cover stories. At iMore, Oliver is involved in daily news coverage and, not being short of opinions, has been known to 'explain' those thoughts in more detail, too.
Having grown up using PCs and spending far too much money on graphics card and flashy RAM, Oliver switched to the Mac with a G5 iMac and hasn't looked back. Since then he's seen the growth of the smartphone world, backed by iPhone, and new product categories come and go. Current expertise includes iOS, macOS, streaming services, and pretty much anything that has a battery or plugs into a wall. Oliver also covers mobile gaming for iMore, with Apple Arcade a particular focus. He's been gaming since the Atari 2600 days and still struggles to comprehend the fact he can play console quality titles on his pocket computer.
Apple Talk (general)
I don't think that iMessage should have a privacy label. That is something that comes with iOS, so there is no decision making process for the user. The labels are things that apply to apps in the App Store. I think that would only server to confuse people ... like my mother in law. ... then I would have to answer more questions.
If Apple wants to promote its approach privacy then it should be want to highlight how it doesn't collect data. Sunlight! It's a badge of "honor" where as the badge of dishonesty will be worn by the likes of WhatsApp (Facebook) et al


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Moonshot: The Story Of The Light Car Company Rocket
It was the car Gordon Murray had always wanted to build: an ultra-light performance road car whose power-to-weight ratio was determined by the weight rather than the power, with an absolutely minimal mass and designed with no rules or regulations in mind other than the bare minimum to make it road-legal. Starting with a clean sheet of paper and little more than the desire to build the lightest production road car of all time, Murray and racing driver Chris Craft went on to produce one of the most extraordinary cars ever made.
Credit: Duncan Hamilton ROFGO
Their story is told in Clive Neville's "The Light Car Company Rocket - The Singular Vision of Two Men", a richly illustrated book from Porter Press which tells the complete story of the Rocket, a car of which only 47 examples were built. If you've ever wondered what it really takes to build a race car for the road, or why even genius ideas sometimes struggle to make it into production, read on...
Written by Hector Kociak for The Apex by Custodian. Edited & produced by Charles Clegg and Guillaume Campos. Many thanks to Porter Press (https://porterpress.co.uk/) for lending The Apex the book to review.
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Gordon Murray and Chris Craft in 2012. Credit: António Carlos Moreira
The story of the Rocket as told in "The Light Car Company Rocket" is not about two men wanting to conquer the world of supercars with a market-leading (albeit quaint) creation. In fact Chris Craft, a successful racing driver, and famed designer Gordon Murray simply wanted to build a road car for themselves which gave them a thrill like no other. The tale begins in the early 1970s, after Craft had raced the Murray-designed Duckhams LM Cosworth car for Alain de Cadenet at Le Mans in 1972. While the blocky yellow racer was not destined for any great success that year, it was a rapid and effective design which got Craft and Murray thinking about the production of a light and pure racing car for the road.
The Gordon Murray-designed Duckhams LM Cosworth which Chris Craft raced for Alain de Cadenet at Le Mans in 1972. Source: The Ascott Collection // Credit: unknown
It would take 15 years before anything else was done; Murray would make his legacy as a supreme F1 designer at Brabham and McLaren, and Craft would continue racing alongside various business ventures. It was only in the summer of 1989, shortly after Murray had left the McLaren Formula 1 team to work on what would later become the McLaren F1, that the pair decided to embark on the Rocket project. According to Neville's account, the decision was taken at Murray's chateau in the Dordogne one night after consumption of most of a case of wine and a fair amount of whisky, with the important discussions taking place in the jacuzzi (rather like the editorial meetings at the Apex!). The first designs were sketched out somewhat shakily at the kitchen table at night, in the hazy awareness that Murray would only have around four to six months to devote to the project before responsibilities at McLaren would make further work impossible. Or so they thought!
A Selection of Early Gordon Murray Sketches for the Rocket. Source: Porter Press // Credit & Copyright: Gordon Murray Design
It was evident from the beginning, at least to Murray, what the Rocket was supposed to be: the lightest road car of all time, lighter than Chapman's Lotus Seven, with an unbeatable power-to-weight ratio, an open cockpit, and styling reminiscent of a 1950s racing car. He drew on his experience in Formula 1 to design a fully triangulated space frame made of mild-steel tubing, the dimensions and loadings of which were calculated entirely by hand in an era before the arrival of CAD. In a stroke of bold innovation for the time, the car would also be powered by a compact, all-alloy Yamaha FZR1000 EXUP motorcycle engine, which critically would be a fully stressed member of the chassis. 385kgs of car and 1000cc of engine - it was a potent combination.
Gordon Murray testing the Rocket in 1992. Source: Traction Products. Inc / Weismann Marine LLC
With the assistance of master fabricators and engineers Bob Curl, Tony Mundy, and Peter Weismann, the Rocket came together slowly over time as a collection of smart design decisions, workarounds, and some phenomenally clever engineering. This included a newly designed transaxle deploying two concentric gear shafts which also provided the Rocket with five reverse gears (and the ability to hit around 100mph going backwards!), completely bespoke suspension, Formula 3 brakes, and no driver aids. And then you had the unique body shell, tweaked for months and then painstakingly scaled up from sketches by Bob Curl and cast in glassfibre using traditional wooden buck methods. All in all, the design cycle of the Rocket took 18 months and many, many late nights from Gordon Murray and the team, with the first prototype (R001) gingerly taking to a car park in April 1991. They just don't make them like this any more.
Launch and Production
Gordon behind the wheel. Credit: Chris Weismann
The life of a small car company is perilous to say the least, and even with an illustrious team behind it, the hand-built Rocket would prove a challenge to produce in large numbers. A star-studded launch event at London's Design Museum in June of 1991, introducing the world to the Light Car Company, led to huge interest in its exciting new car, not least from enthusiasts like George Harrison and Rowan Atkinson. The press releases extolling the virtues of the Rocket claimed that it could be delivered at a cost of £28,000 - which turned out to be a gross underestimate. Worst of all, at the time of the Rocket's launch, it hadn't really been properly road tested...
Promotional photographs including the Light Car Company's facility at Stanford in the Vale, Oxfordshire, as well as one with Nigel Mansell driving a Rocket with Michael Aspel on the British TV series, This Is Your Life. Credit: The Light Car Company
A concerted effort was made to iron out final niggles while production cars were being assembled by hand at the company factory at St Neots near Cambridge (chosen because of its proximity to Titan Motorsport and Arch Motors, who assisted with the production of the Rocket's highly bespoke space frame and components). No one chassis was exactly like another, and while the car was fastidiously well engineered, the assembly process was decidedly manual and nothing like a rapid modern production line. While an agonisingly slow drip of completed cars emerged from the St Neots factory, test chassis R001 nonetheless continued to be thrashed by journalists and receive plaudits despite a revised price of £38,000. The raw thrill of the driving experience, relying on delicacy over sheer power, was truly unlike anything else on the road. Jeremy Clarkson summed up the response of the specialist press best in Performance Car magazine: "Sell your Elan, sell your bottom, peddle drugs, become a pimp, hold up an airliner but, for God's sake, get yourself a Rocket!".
Unfortunately for the Light Car Company, slow small-scale production over the years was not helped by a recession which hit in mid-1993. With only around 18 cars delivered and the order book drying up by that point, the prospects of the business became rather shaky. Production was moved to Harlow in Essex and later to Stanford in West Oxfordshire, with a mere handful of cars built in the mid-1990s. Luckily the Rocket continued to be popular as a cult vehicle, so much so that despite an abortive announcement of a one-make Rocket race series in 1995/6, further investment was found to keep the production of the car going until 1998 - just about.
By the early 2000s, changes in vehicle legislation meant that it was increasingly difficult to produce Rockets to original specification. The last batch of Rockets (using a number of original chassis which had lain unused since the late 1990s) were produced at Chris Craft's production premises in Chigwell between 2006 - 2011, with a number of necessary modifications and substitutions to bring the componentry into the modern age.
The Legacy of the Rocket
Jay Leno is an owner and big advocate for the Rocket. Credit: Jay Leno's Garage & unknown
While Neville concludes the story of the Rocket in 2011 (which is when the text was completed), as the author admits, it has taken the best part of a decade to source the photographic materials for it from the personal archives of those involved with it. Luckily this seems to have been time well spent, as they provide strong supporting evidence for the claim that the Rocket was a landmark in the history of the performance car.
If you study the photographs and design sketches from the Rocket's design process and production carefully, you see a vehicle designed by a group of people for whom quality was of the utmost importance; the fit and finish of the components, the attention to detail, and the ultimate efficacy of the design of everything from the spaceframe to the cockpit elements is extraordinary. While car enthusiasts these days are familiar with the idea of motorcycle-powered performance cars, as well as mind-bending road racing creations like the Ariel Atom, the Rocket was the first to pave the way (and some would still say the best).
Credit: Porter Press
Neville's book is a joy to leaf through, not least because of the insight we get into just how much painstaking work went into producing even the simplest, lightest, and purest sports car Gordon Murray could conceive. It makes a convincing case that the Rocket is still under-appreciated in enthusiast circles, and has a place on any automotive bookshelf. It is certainly enough to have prompted us at the Apex to pick up our phones in search of an elusive test drive. And if you won't take our words for it, take Gordon Murray's, as quoted in the final pages: "It's the car I always wanted to build, and it turned out much better than I ever expected!".
To find out more about Clive Neville's "The Light Car Company Rocket - The Singular Vision of Two Men" please visit the Porter Press's website at https://porterpress.co.uk/collections/rocket/products/light-car-company-rocket.
The ApexGordon Murray


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2MATCH URL: https://assets.rappler.com/1E2C8CA2A254424B83E48FBA09545170/img/AECD3855FD5E4D1180363FFBF76DBB02/rappler-iq-150x150.jpg
TIMELINE: Efforts to make the Philippines a US state
None of the attempts to make the Philippines a US state have been successful, or taken seriously, so far
Loren Bustos and Vanessa Cabacungan
Published 8:37 AM, April 23, 2014
MANILA, PHILIPPINES – Did you know that there have been attempts to make the Philippines a state of the United States of America?
Since the Philippines came under US rule in 1898, some ilustrados (upper class Filipinos) advocated the annexation of the Philippines to the US, but didn't succeed.
Pro-US statehood movements persisted even after the US granted independence to the Philippines in 1946.
Several organizations have lobbied for US annexation, and even made it a campaign platform. None of these efforts succeeded or were ever taken seriously.
Let's trace some of the movements that pushed for the Philippines' US statehood. These accounts are based on news clippings from local and foreign publications.
September 19, 1971 - Former congressman Rufino Antonio launches via a newspaper advertisement the Philippine Statehood USA movement, which claims 1.25 million supporters. Its target is to reach 10 million members by 1973 to enable a plebiscite that will vote on the country's statehood. The annexation to the US is believed to save the Philippines from "disasters" such as graft and corruption.
May 8, 1972 - Congressman Joaquin Roces moves for a congressional investigation on the movement, which most legislators dismiss as a joke.
May 14, 1972 - The Statehood Philippines Movement registers as an official political party. This move is said to be a step toward fulfiling a claim that the group will field candidates in the next elections if the planned 1973 plebiscite does not materialize. (No plebiscite or elections are held because of the imposition of Martial law in September 1972.)
1981 - Banking on a campaign platform of US annexation of the Philippines, the Federalist Party's Bartolome Cabangbang runs for president against then reelectionist Ferdinand Marcos. He obtains 4% of total votes; Marcos gets 88%.
August 30, 1986 - The first International Statehood Conference is held in Arizona, USA, where Philippine and Puerto Rican delegates push for 51st and 52nd statehood. The conference aims to develop a process that will expedite both country's statehood dreams.
January 30, 1988 - The New Philippine Movement for US Statehood (or Statehood Movement), composed of Filipino-American members, formally petitions the US Congress to declare the Philippines as the 51st Federal State. The group informs the US Congress of its plan to submit a petition with 15 million signatures.
July 4, 1988 - Statehood Movement supporters meet in an international convention in New York City to formalize the link up of all groups supporting the annexation of the Philippines as a US state.
October 18, 2003 - Members of United Supporters of America (USA), a group that seeks to make all Filipinos US citizens, march to the US Embassy in Manila in support of US President George W Bush who is in the country for a state visit. The group is blocked by the police.
December 5, 2003 - USA leader Elly Pamatong declares his intention to run for president in the 2004 elections, and promises to make the Philippines a part of the US if he wins. He is declared a nuisance candidate.
March 2004 - The Third Option Proponents (TOP) Party, another organization that advocates the Philippines' US statehood, is founded.
January 17, 2007 - TOP chairman Brigido Asuncion Buenafe files his candidacy for the 2007 senatorial elections using the nickname "Mr RP-statehood-USA." Like Pamatong in 2003, he is declared a nuisance candidate.
November 27, 2009 - Pamatong again files his candidacy for the 2010 presidential elections using the same platform. He is again declared a nuisance candidate.
November 25, 2013 - Philippine Statehood USA publishes an online petition calling for supporters of the country's US statehood. The petition runs until December 1, 2016. – Rappler.com
Loren Bustos and Vanessa Cabacungan are Rappler interns.
Filed under:Ely Pamatong•Joaquin Roces•Rufino Antonio•US state•USA•annexation•Philippines


This week I've chosen Vanessa Hudgens as my style crush. I love this summer outfit. Its so relaxed and looks effortless on her. I've always been utterly jealous of her tumbling dark locks and her bohemian style, so this was an obvious choice for me. I chose this outfit in particular, because not only is it chic and simple, and easy to copy, it was a slight hiccup on her part.
If you see any more of the pictures from this day, you'll know that poor Vanessa was papped wearing her ever-so-lovely shirt dress inside out! If that's not enough, she had also forgotten to remove the tag from the inside too. Paps also picked up on the fact she had a plaster hanging from her leg, which is a little disgusting, granted, but I thought that was a little harsh. She is human after all. I decided to spare her of her embarrassment this time and not show you the pictures, but if you want to see them I'm sure you won't struggle with a quick search. Anyway – if that was anyone of us, we would of turned a shade of scarlet, panicked, and ran to the nearest toilet to sort it out, but Vanessa carries on with her day, signing autographs, and looking beautiful.
Hope you like it. Remember to let me know if there's a celebrity you want me to feature next time!
Who cares if she wore it inside out..she's probably set a new trend by doing it!


My favorite part was exploring the world of music production for the very first time. I loved how I got to make my own style of music.
My favorite part of the project is making music cause it's fun and interesting. I love how I got to make my own music style.
This track contains a thick tempo. Throughout the track we hear the bass as well as a lot of electric instruments.We also can hear the drums being played and multiple beats as well.
My favorite part about making this was getting to use different sounds, loops, and instruments in Garageband.
The texture of this song is thin, there are 2 people singing. The instruments you hear throughout the song are drums,guitar, flute and some electronic instruments.(small ensemble) Throughout the song the tempo is slow.
My favorite part of the project was making our original tracks. Making the tracks, listening to beats and seeing what it sounds like all mixed in together. It was fun and cool to make. It was a rewarding project and I'm proud that I made my original track.
My favorite part of this entire project was using my creative brain skills to put a nice piece together. My piece was more of a party beat for a cajun type of party. You can hear multiple instruments in my beat such as horns, saxophones, bass, and shakers. Overall I feel that I did a nice job on my project.


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New Speaker: Dame Kelly Holmes
January 9, 2020 | Katrina Hinrichsen
Women of Silicon Roundabout is proud to announce that Dame Kelly Holmes, Double-Olympic Gold Medallist, will be a keynote speaker at this year's event. We're excited to have her join us and our other influential speakers this June in London!
About Kelly Holmes
Col Dame Kelly Holmes (MBE mil) is one of Britain's most recognisable and admired athletes. She has won Olympic, World, Commonwealth and European medals, and added the ultimate sporting trophy to her cabinet at the Athens Olympic Games - Double Olympic Gold.
Kelly is not only known for her medal and records, but also for her gutsy, committed approach to athletics and her ability to overcome injury and illness in order to stay at the top of her discipline. Her strength and courage has won her many fans both within the sport and outside of it.
She's also won various awards, including an MBE in 1998 for services to the British Army, Olympic Gold in the 800m and 1500m races at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens - becoming the first woman ever to do so - and was honoured by the Queen in the 2005 New Year's honours with a Damehood. In 2019, her book 'Running Life: Mindset, Fitness & Nutrition for Positive Wellbeing' was awarded Sports Health and Fitness Book of the Year at The Telegraph Sports Book Awards 2019.
Discover more about Kelly Holmes
What will she be speaking on?
Dame Kelly will be discussing 'Mindset and Attitude' at Women of Silicon Roundabout, held at the ExCeL in London. As a prominent athlete, Kelly knows all about what it takes to get yourself into the right frame of mind and how important it is to achieving your goals.
From her time as a Sergeant in the British Army to her illustrious running career, she has repeatedly demonstrated that she has the fundamental element for success - the ability to be focused.
Kelly is a passionate speaker on employee wellbeing and mental health, motivation, inspiration, sports, entrepreneurship and diversity & inclusion. Her keynote speech will inspire all of our attending female (and male) professionals to get into the right mindset to attain and leverage success in their career.
Who else is speaking?
We are excited to have a broad range of high-level speakers at this year's Women of Silicon Roundabout event, sharing tips, insights and real-life case studies from some of the most pivotal companies in the world.
Take a look at our current list of speakers - more are always being added so check back from time to time.
So what are you waiting for? Women of Silicon Roundabout is the flagship event in the world's largest conference series for women in the technology sector, welcoming 7,800 attendees and 200 speakers.
Make a note of your favourite speakers and sessions on our Women of Silicon Roundabout agenda and book your place now for one of the most significant events for pioneering women in tech.
You can follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, or Facebook to keep up to date with everything in our Women in Tech World Series.
speaker technology event kelly holmes


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Echinolampas rangii is een zee-egel uit de familie Echinolampadidae.

De wetenschappelijke naam van de soort werd in 1837 gepubliceerd door Charles des Moulins.

Irregularia

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Commify is one of Europe's largest providers of business messaging solutions. We help over 45,000 companies communicate with their customers and staff, through a wide range of products, including SMS, email, voice, mobile/web and payments. We're also investing heavily in the business messaging technologies of the future.
As well as operating in many territories and with companies of all shapes and sizes, we operate primarily in two distinct customer segments: Self-serve and Solutions.
Self-serve customers are typically (but not always) SMEs; they seek out our brands online, and have a limited requirement for account management post-purchase. They utilise our SMS services and associated products including mobile-optimised landing pages and surveys, for both marketing and transactional applications.
Solutions customers have more complex requirements and work with us to build sophisticated, often multichannel solutions. These projects regularly win awards for innovation and driving successful outcomes. As well as dedicated account management, solutions customers may require PCI compliance and ISO 27001 accreditation.
In order to serve both segments in the same territory, we operate a multi-brand strategy, to ensure maximum relevance and sales and marketing effectiveness.
Our strategy is to have at least one self-serve brand and one solutions brand in every key territory. This ensures EVERY BUSINESS in each country in which we operate can harness the power of mobile messaging in a way which is appropriate for their needs.
We're growing fast, both organically and through acquisitions. And through our investment in marketing and account management, we are rapidly growing the messaging ecosystem, every day helping companies take their first steps in mobile communications or existing customers unlock powerful new use cases.


Spectacled Hare-wallaby Lagorchestes conspicillatus. Just north of Rabbit Flats, Tanami Rd, NT. Photo: Dave Price.
Some bittersweet news this morning when I got into the office. Dave Price, photographer extraordinaire and regular contributor to our newsletters and blog posts, has sent in some more pics. Unfortunately, he and wife Bess found a roadkilled Spectacled Hare-wallaby Lagorchestes conspicillatus, just north of Rabbit Flats on the Tanami Road. Initially they thought it might have been a Mala Lagorchestes hirsutus, but these are sadly now almost certainly gone from the wild in this area. The Spectacled Hare-wallaby is still holding out though. This is a slightly larger animal which is easily identified by the prominent rufous "spectacles" for which it is named.
Interestingly, in 1997 a population of Spectacled Hare-wallabies was discovered in the south-west of Papua New Guinea, making it one of very few macropods that isn't endemic to Australia.
Spectacled Hare-wallaby. Photo: Dave Price.
It's always a shame to see wildlife killed on the road, but I guess it at least shows us that they're still out there and gives us a chance to see some of these more elusive animals close up. We'd love to hear from anyone else that has found an out-of-the-ordinary roadkill. If you do a bit of driving and find anything of interest drop us a line and let us know about your discovery.


In a trip to a small village of Morocco, a nice old lady invited me to drink tea in her house. When I went there she was knitting a hat of the most vibrant and rich colors and patterns that I had ever seen. I was really impressed.
The lady laughed loudly seeing my reaction and said, "it is only a hat", but for me that hat with those beautiful colors and patterns was a celebration of life. When I asked her if she sells the hats, she said "No, people in my village do not need such hat. They can all make it themselves. I´m making it for my grandson."
I thought that it was a real shame that the art expressed by this nice lady could not be seen by others. How many people around the world are making incredible things without being seen or appreciated by others?
That was the beginning of Artmosfair.
Well, the definition of art could be very complex, but it could also be very simple. Art is creating harmony and beauty and comes from people's passion and feelings.
Art can be handycraft made by the old woman in the village to art leveling Da Vinci, but will always reflect the culture.
It is the mission of Artmosfair to promote all kind of art from all cultures. Nothing is too small or too exclusive.
We are a group of enthusiasts who love art and crafts and share this vision that by helping each other we can spread the beauty and joy of different cultures expressed in crafts and art.


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QB1??
Author Topic: QB1?? (Read 8160 times)
ubbulls98
Signed Recruit
Little help here, do we know who's starting at QB this Saturday?
bowz
Re: QB1??
Game notes state Kyle Vantrease followed by Dominic Johnson....
http://www.ubbulls.com/sports/fball/2017-18/files/2017_Gamenotes_Miami.pdf
Coaches probably didn't want to burn his redshirt year but faced a tough choice during the game. Now that it's burned, I would assume we can still redshirt him next year right?
Quote from: admin on October 18, 2017, 12:54:12 PM
First there is no such thing as "burning a redshirt year". All students are allowed five years from the first enroll full time at either a community college or four year institution to play a sport for four seasons. (If the student enters the military or performs a mission such as the Mormons do at BYU those years do not count against the five year time frame. Although most redshirt years in football are the first year enrolled in a school they can be at time while a student.
The term redshirt comes from allowing a 5th year to play when a student was injured, probably getting the name from the red cross. It also goes back to when people graduated in four years but were unable to play because of injury. The practice has become abused so much that we now have to deal with the phrases true freshman and fifth year senior.
ukbro00
All MAC Performer
Quote from: BrooklynBull on October 18, 2017, 03:03:21 PM
In short, yes we can redshirt him next year. I'm not sure how the history of the term or your lack of liking it, relates to the original question.
Winner of the 2011 UBFan NCAA Bracket Challenge
All Rookie Team
The first redshirt was actually from a player that wanted to practice with the team, but wanted to wait until the upperclassmen graduated to use his eligibility. The term red shirt came from the team that this player was on, the Nebraska Cornhuskers, having red uniforms. His did not have numbers on it. A red shirt.
http://www.huskers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=944901
http://usatodayhss.com/2017/what-does-it-mean-to-be-a-blue-shirt-recruit
So, thunder through, Go Blue! Give a Cheer, never fear!
Board's dead...
Any update on QB1 or QB2?
The State University of New York.
Blue. White. Damn Right.
zigo230
Drew Anderson's Instagram page shows him in a hospital bed with a gown on hooked up to an IV. I dont imagine we will see him playing anytime soon. Unfortunately.
Vantrease #1 on the depth chart
Tyree still out it looks
myBuffalo
Quote from: zigo230 on October 24, 2017, 08:51:08 PM
What kind of surgery does he need? This is crazy, how are we supposed to know what's going on? Has there been any medical updates, any Bflo News updates? We have had no definitely diagnosis for Tyree - at least a body part, no medical update for Drew - why are we kept in the dark about these things?
Lets Go Buffalo!
Quote from: myBuffalo on October 25, 2017, 08:20:26 AM
HIPAA.
Do you guys think we've seen the last of Drew Anderson in a Bulls uniform? Assuming he makes a full recovery, he probably deserves to be starting somewhere in his final year(s) of eligibility based on performance. It will not be here with Tyree as the future.
I know nothing about his situation so just throwing it out there....
Am I wrong to think here...he's still on the team, he's still a member of the team. Regardless of playing time, along with a ton of other players, he made a commitment to the team. I'm not naive that it doesn't happen elsewhere several times over, but to think this is flat out his last year because Tyree is the starter, seems more unlikely than likely.
I haven't taken the time to check out the history, but if he (Drew) has already used his redshirt, and he transfers after this year, he will have to sit out, unless he goes FCS. Now if he hasn't already used his redshirt, he could transfer, sit a year, and then play. Or, if he is a graduate transfer he could move and play next year.
I hope Drew and Tyree are afforded a legitimate (I backed off the caps, but you get my point) QB competition next spring. May the best man win, if so! If Lance is in love with Tyree, I trust he will have the integrity to tell Drew.
Quote from: ubbulls98 on November 08, 2017, 12:55:18 PM
He has only one year of eligibility left after this season. He played one year at a JUCO plus 2016 and 2017 at UB. Given his experience is a few games it is unlikely that he would be that much of a draw for another FBS school to play in 2019.


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BREAKING: Perry drops out, endorses Gingrich
CNN Political Reporter Peter Hamby
(CNN) - Texas Gov. Rick Perry suspended his struggling presidential campaign Thursday and threw his support to Newt Gingrich, a development that could alter the dynamics of the Republican race just two days before the tightening South Carolina primary.
"I believe Newt is a conservative visionary who can transform our country. We've had our differences, which campaigns will inevitably have, and Newt is not perfect, but who among us is?" Perry said at a press conference in Charleston, South Carolina.
Tune in Thursday at 8 p.m. ET for the CNN/Southern Republican Presidential Debate hosted by John King and follow it on Twitter at #CNNDebate. For real-time coverage of the South Carolina primary, go to CNNPolitics.com or to the CNN apps or CNN mobile web site.
Follow the Ticker on Twitter: @politicalticker
Perry said "there is no viable path forward for me in this 2012 campaign."
"I have no question that Newt Gingrich has the heart of a conservative reformer, the ability to rally and captivate the conservative movement. The courage to tell those Washington interests to take a hike if that's what's in the best interest of our country," Perry said.
Shortly after Perry's speech, the former House speaker said he was "honored and very humbled to have Perry's endorsement.
"He understands exactly the mission of defending and expanding freedom and he understands that every citizen has different ways to participate," Gingrich said at a press conference in Beaufort, South Carolina.
Perry made the final decision Wednesday night and spoke with Gingrich on the phone shortly before he held the press conference Thursday morning, one source close to the Perry campaign said.
"He believes we need a conservative for president and Mitt Romney is not conservative," the source said.
Speaking to reporters Thursday after the announcement, Perry's spokesman Ray Sullivan said the governor will return to Austin and remain there through the weekend. While there are no plans for Perry to campaign for Gingrich at this time, he said those plans will be re-evaluated after Saturday's South Carolina primary.
Asked if Perry's wife, Anita, agreed with the governor's decision, Sullivan said the family is all "supportive."
The move comes two days before the South Carolina primary and hours before the final debate ahead of the voting, which will take place on CNN Thursday night.
The campaigns of Gingrich and Rick Santorum reached out to the Perry campaign Thursday morning in an "aggressive effort" to get his endorsement, according to a source close to Perry.
Perry placed fifth in Iowa and last in New Hampshire - a state in which he did not actively compete - and had said he would launch a bid to win in South Carolina.
"South Carolinians are looking for a conservative candidate that will get this country back working again and I am it," Perry told CNN last week.
On Wednesday, CNN asked Perry about a poll that showed him with only 6% support among likely voters in the South Carolina primary. He insisted he was continuing with the effort to have a strong showing in the state.
"We're convinced that that's our goal, so the idea that we're going to do anything else, other than try to impact this election is - that's why we got in it," he said. "We didn't get in it because it was our purpose in life to be the president of the United States. We did it because it was our purpose to serve this country, and that's what we've been called for, and that's what we're going to continue doing."
When Perry entered the race in August, he immediately did well in the polls. But a series of gaffes, particularly at debates against his rivals, sent his support plummeting.
On Thursday, his campaign website continued to say "help Rick Perry win South Carolina and get America back on track."
Perry's official campaign Facebook page was filled with posts, largely from disappointed voters.
- CNN's Dana Bash, Mark Preston, Josh Levs and Ashley Killough contributed to this report.
FIRST ON CNN: Perry dropping out of GOP race
Polls: South Carolina primary tightening hours before crucial debate
Gingrich as compares Romney's 'desperate' attacks to 2008 campaign
Romney the establishment, Santorum the 'rebel,' ad says
Filed under: 2012 • Rick Perry
GonzoinHouston
Good job! That should keep the race competitive. Stock up on popcorn!
January 19, 2012 11:19 am at 11:19 am |
GROVER NORQUIST IS A ENEMY OF THE STATE
They really don't like you Willard!!! They're going to gang up on you now. Your not true blood republican.
Gov. Rick Perry is ALREADY a winner and will always be a winner.
alrightly then!!!! Game on.
Truth and Nothing But the Truth
Perry has supporters??? After all of his screw ups??? Very surprising.
So one idiot endorses another. I didn't see that coming...
Myth Romney & his Million$$$ for President of Caymen Island
Romney is the worst candidate ever! Glad he did NOT get Perry's endorsement!!!!
Hit the road jack and dont you come back no more no more no more.
Rudy NYC
If I were Perry, I would support Santorum. If it were a Republican, I would support Gingrich. If it were me, I would put the whole lot of them onto bus and send them on their merry way.
Larry in Houston
At least McCain knows the newter is truely dangerous for this country.. There will be more gridlock, and the same old grind in D.C. the newter is an old re-tread. We are getting a new scoop each hour, Rick Perry out, Sanitarium won Iowa, now the Newter as a swinger with Calistas permission and not the wife, that will air tonight on ABC. What will the christain values folks think or say? This is very revealing. This really works well with the religious conservtative base.
Woman In California
Good for you governor – I wouldn't endorse that con artist Romney either.
Noocrat
What the heck is a conservative reformer? Sounds like an oxymoron.
What is a conservative reformer? Sounds like an oxymor0n.
CanadaONE
Wait until you see Romeny's tax returns – he will blow you away – he is not part of the 1% he is part of THE .3 %
WE HAVE HIS FINANCIAL PAPERS IN CANADA
AND THIS IS THE PERSON WHO IS TO REPRESENT THE AVERAGE AMERICAN????????
good bless Amercia – they are going to need all the help they can get
Texas two step back to Texas you jerk! and stay there.
This is getting to be a real joke. No one wants Mitt but can't find anyone else either. This could go on forever. Which is ok maybe the more people that see these nut jobs will realize we have an adult in the whitehouse and he is trying to fix the economy while these clowns bash each other. Obama?Biden 2012
Jariv
Gingrich is what is wrong with Government. People like him create a bad government. He will never win anyways.... I promise you that.
Rick Perry drops off... As shocking as Paula Dean has Diabetes.
Who would want Perry's backing?! Glad it went to GinGrinch.
Switters
His support? All 2%?
Duke One
Governor Perry, we will greatly miss you !! You STILL have be BEST RECORD of all the candidates. Endorsing Gingrich is the best anti Romney choice. May God continue to bless you and your family !!
thank god he dropped out!!!! he was making texas look bad
Good for Romney ....bad for Newt....Well written speech by Perry s secretary....I am going to miss him saying OOPS.
jaqueen
rad666
Why do losers quit and then support someone they were against?
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Boise State Gets Up Early, Holds On Late for 73-64 Win over Nevada
By Andrew Dieckhoff February 1, 2020 10:54 pm
By Andrew Dieckhoff | February 1, 2020 10:54 pm MT
[jwplayer 9FEfL71c]
Game Recap: Boise St. 73, Nevada 64
Justinian Jessup ties Jimmer Fredette for MW 3-point record
Contact/Follow @andrewdieckhoff & @MWCwire
Nevada's furious comeback attempt comes up short in Boise
Following a 73-64 home victory over Nevada, Boise State has moved into a second-place tie in the Mountain West with Colorado State. The Broncos improved to 7-4 in league play, prevailing at ExtraMile Arena behind 24 points from junior guard Derrick Alston, Jr.
Justinian Jessup added 17 points for the Broncos and added a special individual honor in the process.
The loss drops Nevada (13-10, 6-5 MW) into a share of fifth place with Utah State, as the Aggies fell to undefeated San Diego State on Saturday. The Wolf Pack were gifted another memorable offensive performance from Jalen Harris, who dropped 30 points for the third time this season.
Unfortunately for Harris, the rest of the Pack barely managed to outscore him. No other Nevada player reached double digits in scoring.
Nevada's chances in this contest took a major blow when senior guard Jazz Johnson was announced as a late scratch due to injury. Without Johnson, the team struggled from beyond the arc and were unable to recover from a 32-10 Boise State run to start the game.
The Broncos (15-8, 7-4 MW) proceeded to give back most of that lead, letting Nevada creep back into the game slowly throughout the middle twenty minutes of the contest. With 10:57 to play, a Lindsey Drew layup brought the deficit to just three points, at 48-45.
But Alston, Jessup, and company would not allow the Wolf Pack to bring the game level. The deficit ebbed and flowed over the last few minutes, with Nevada coming within four points of Boise State after a Drew three-pointer with 4:37 left in the second half.
Jessup answered that triple with one of his own—and it was a special one, at that.
Justinian Jessup ties Jimmer Fredette's Mountain West 3-point record with 4:13 left in the game. The triple gives Boise State a 65-58 lead.
— Rachel Roberts (@ByRachelRoberts) February 2, 2020
The senior's three-pointer with 4:13 to play was the 296th of his illustrious career in Boise. That number ties the Mountain West record set by former BYU star Jimmer Fredette. Jessup missed his only subsequent attempt from beyond the arc, so Fredette will hold onto at least a share of the record for at least a few more nights.
That record will almost certainly soon be Jessup's alone.
More important than any individual accolades, however, is how this Boise State team has bounced back from a somewhat shaky start to the season. The additions of Abu Kigab and RayJ Dennis into the starting lineup has provided a spark to Leon Rice's lineups, and questions about the Broncos' depth have been answered satisfactorily over the past few games.
For Nevada, this is another disappointing result on the week, following a heartbreaking defeat on Wednesday against Colorado State. Certainly, the absence of Jazz Johnson can explain away some part of this loss to Boise State, but the Wolf Pack have made an unfortunate habit of squandering chances to separate themselves in this league.
Instead, they now slip back in the standings and enter a dangerous zone in which a first-round bye in the Mountain West Tournament is suddenly at risk. The top five schools in the league receive a bye in the first round of the conference tournament.
Still, Nevada faced the difficult task of facing two teams on a positive streak in enemy territory.
Jalen Harris is by far the best guard in the MW and it's not even close
— Hallice Cooke (@Hallywood_13) February 2, 2020
Despite taking two losses in rapid succession, the Wolf Pack still boast arguably the best offensive player in the league in Harris. If Johnson returns quickly, and he can join with Drew and Nisre Zouzoua to lend Harris some scoring support, Nevada should be able to stay in the top five.
For Boise State, besides moving up in the Mountain West leaderboard, the win provided some catharsis following an 83-66 loss to Wolf Pack in Reno.
Boise State travels to Laramie on Tuesday night to face last-place Wyoming (6-17, 1-10 MW). The Cowboys just picked up their first win of the Mountain West season as they snapped an eight-game losing streak with a road victory over San Jose State. The Broncos should hold an advantage over Allen Edwards' club, but the unfriendly confines of Arena-Auditorium could prove a difficult backdrop for an easy win. Boise State won the first matchup between the schools this season, coming away with a 65-54 victory at home back on New Year's Day.
Nevada returns home to Lawlor Events Center as Air Force (9-13, 3-7 MW) comes to town on Tuesday night. Just a few weeks ago, the Falcons were feeling good after knocking off Utah State and Boise State over a three-game span. More recently, however, Dave Pilipovich's squad has sputtered to a four-game losing streak that includes defeats against Fresno State and San Jose State. Still, this team boasts an offense that has the capacity to hang around with Nevada. That was on full display back on December 7, when Nevada cruised to a 100-85 victory in Colorado Springs.
Andrew is a current USBWA member, covering college basketball for multiple outlets, including Mountain West Wire of the USA TODAY Sports Media Group and Busting Brackets of the FanSided Network. He also runs the Dieckhoff Power Index, a college basketball analytics system, and provides bracketology predictions throughout the season.
More Mountain West Basketball!
abu kigab, boise state nevada, boise state nevada game, boise state nevada recap, boise state nevada score, bsu nevada recap, bsu nevada score, derrick alston, jalen harris, Jazz Johnson, Justinian Jessup, lindsey drew, Mountain West Basketball, mountain west scores, mw basketball, mw cbb, MWC Basketball, mwc scores, rayj dennis, Boise State, Mountain West Basketball, NCAAB, Nevada
Boise State Secured Home Win Over Fresno State, 63-53
Mountain West Basketball: Boise State vs. New Mexico--Preview, Prediction, Odds
2w ago
Mountain West Basketball: Nevada vs. Boise State--Preview, Odds, Prediction


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Wales and Snowdon
Compact but geologically diverse, Wales offers myriad opportunities for escaping into nature. It may not be wild in the classic sense but there are plenty of lonely corners to explore, lurking behind mountains, within river valleys and along surf-battered cliffs. An extensive network of trails makes Wales a hiker's paradise.
Castles are an inescapable part of the Welsh landscape. They're absolutely everywhere. You could visit a different one every day for a year and still not see them all. The scenery is superb: fine beaches, tumbling rivers and the mountains, lakes and waterfalls of Snowdonia. This part of Wales really packs it in, from rugged mountain trails to coastal paths, old industrial sites and heritage train lines. The gem is Snowdonia National Park, where the mightiest peaks south of Scotland scrape glowering skies.
On this tour, you stay in two different locations, firstly in the picturesque and unspoilt village of Beddgelert. Small and friendly, it boasts a full range of amenities. The second part of your tour is in the quaint village of Aberdaron, renowned for its beauty, whitewashed houses, blue seas and rugged cliffs forming an amazing backdrop. A stream meanders through the heart of the village and an old stone hump-backed bridge forms the medieval version of a traffic moderator.
Beyond the scenery, it's the interactions with Welsh people that will remain in your memory the longest. Perhaps you'll recall sitting in a Caernarfon cafe, listening to the locals chatter in the ancient British tongue. Or that time in the pub, screaming along to the rugby with a red-shirted mob. They talk a lot in Wales about 'hiraeth'. A typically Welsh word, it refers to a sense of longing for the green, green grass of home.
Wales, Great Britain and Ireland
Self Guided Dates
Daily from March to October
Moderate with harder options
Accommodations with breakfast, luggage transfers, route notes and maps, local support
Aberdaron


The latest ACTION passenger figures obtained by the ACT Greens reveal the Red Rapid has quickly grown to become the fourth most popular bus route in the ACT.
The ACT Greens negotiated the introduction of the Red Rapid as part of its commitment to more frequent buses, guaranteed through the Parliamentary Agreement with the ACT Labor Party.
"Red Rapid buses transported over 150,000 passengers between October and December 2011," said Greens Transport Spokesperson, Amanda Bresnan MLA.
"The Red Rapid is a great foundation for bringing better, convenient public transport services to Canberra, particularly to Gungahlin residents who've missed out on decent buses for a long time.
"Improving frequency and reliability in Canberra's public transport system is key. The Red Rapid runs every 15 minutes, taking passengers from Gungahlin through to the City, Barton and Fyshwick. From mid-2012 it will run every 10 minutes in peak hour.
The busiest routes are 2, and the Blue Rapids.
For mine I can't see "Red Rapid" without thinking of a certain unsavoury South Park episode, but I suppose that's my cross to bear.
What I found interesting was that no-one seemed to notice (or care) when the Chief Minister admitted that the new articulated buses will replace existing articulated buses. What this will mean in practice is that Red Rapid peak services probably won't be serviced using artics, because all of those buses are already allocated to school and Xpresso services. By simply replacing existing buses, they will still be used exactly where they are being used now.
Being the fourth busiest ACTION route is actually not a ringing endorsement of route 200 – it's the only route to operate every 15 minutes during the day, yet services which run half hourly (2, 313, 312) carry more passengers. Which is not to say that it isn't busy during peak times, just questioning whether a 15 minute frequency during off-peak is entirely necessary.
Also, it's worth pointing out that the Network 12 is only expected to commence on 28 May – the start date is not yet certain.
The artics are also too long for bike racks, hence why none of the existing fleet (some of which will be kept) don't have them either.
The greater frequency of services on Flemington Road cannot come soon enough. The crowding on peak buses is ridiculous. If you get on anywhere after the Gungahlin town centre, you can forget sitting down. And for Harrison/Mitchell people it's hello front doorstep.
Why are the bus's always late?
I'm on a 312 and the bleeding bus is never on time in peak hour. Then it takes and HOUR to get from Evatt to Woden.
Actually I'm surprised that it is only an hour. For the distance, that's pretty good compared to some other trips. Out of curiosity, without knowing where in Evatt you are, would it be better for you if there was a direct bus route perhaps down the Barton highway or Ginninderra Drive and you made your own way (or caught a slow and circular suburban bus) to a connecting stop along these routes?
Lower Narrabundah residents will benefit from the new Red Rapid bus stop on Canberra Ave near Nyrang St in May.
The downside is that Kingston Railway Station is no longer on the route. Is this a portent that the Kingston Railway Station & rail-line will be demolished and taken back to just over the Monaro Highway?
How fast do you realistic think it should take?
When you break it down 1 hour isn't all that unreasonable for the journey you mention. That is 25 minutes in the suburbs collecting passengers on the way to Belconnen, then 20 mins from Belconnen to Civic and 15 Civic to Woden.
I can see a way to cut 5 minutes off the trip, that is by avoiding UC and Haydon Drive (as the 333 of old used to), but not much else to reduce the time. The sad thing with buses is a) they need to go around the burbs to collect passengers, and b) need to drop them somewhere, either way it isn't going to be super fast. Maybe what you want is a point to point service, which umm many have and it's called a car. Not as cheap in the long run though.
I really hope that data from MyWay is going to be used to make the information published in timetables more accurate. Now that the buses have GPS systems installed, ACTION should be able to see what real world timings are like compared to the published timetable, and if necessary adjust the timetable.
I'd also like to have the option to see when the bus normally arrives at my particular stop, instead of having to estimate how long it'd take to get from the closest timing point to my stop.
I really hope that the work ACTION are doing to develop smart phone apps flows down to every aspect of their online presence (which at the moment, is pretty sub standard), and the power of having GPS enables buses is fully utilised.
Imagine how quick interchanges would be if the rapid buses worked like trains.. Swipe on before the bus came and swipe off after you get off!
Why are the bus's always late? I'm on a 312 and the bleeding bus is never on time in peak hour. Then it takes and HOUR to get from Evatt to Woden.
The Red Rapid is SO busy in the mornings that the drivers have to call the depot with a 'full bus' report at my stop every morning (approx 3 stops into the route).
Bring on 28 May when it will run every 10 minutes!
Only 3 that most people know about.
You can only access the fourth line by running very fast between Platforms 5 and 4 and into the Burmese Curry House, thereby entering a hidden platform.
How is it only the fourth busiest? Perhaps one of the top four is the trip to Sydney.
just shows the increased frequency means people are more likely to catch buses. how bad the previous system was at getting information.