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Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price attended the launch. Credit: @Melissa4Durack
WA launches Defence Science Centre
The WA State Government has established the Defence Science Centre (DSC).
Launched by Defence Issues Minister Paul Papalia, the DSC is a collaboration between the State and Commonwealth governments and WA's four public universities.
One of the DSC's key roles will be to act as a matchmaker between universities, government and industry to support security and technology development and capability requirements, with a particular focus on WA's defence industry.
The University of WA researcher Professor David Badcock is already working as part of a national research team looking at realising the benefits of augmented reality devices. Minister Papalia said the project, which seeks to understand risks and identify ways of realising enhanced capabilities through development of a prototype adaptive AR interface, is a prime example of how the DSC will link Western Australian researchers with cutting-edge defence technology.
The DSC will be governed by a board of academic and industry experts, chaired by Russell Potapinski, GM Intelligent and Autonomous Systems, Woodside. The centre will facilitate university-government-industry research and skills exchange via actively cultivating relationships and linkages.
DSC grants will be an important tool in supporting the facilitation of these exchanges and will set the conditions for commercial opportunities in industry, and business development.
The DSC is also partnering with the Australian Mathematical Sciences Institute's (AMSI) APR.Intern program to increase the number of internship projects undertaken by SMEs in WA's defence sector. This partnership will see 10 STEM PhD students placed into industry to undertake short-term focused research projects.
We have established the Defence Science Centre to create the right conditions for the development of cutting-edge science and innovation in WA
AMSI Director Professor Tim Brown welcomed the opportunity to partner with DSC to provide WA STEM PhD students with the opportunity to develop industry skills while helping drive real-world defence innovation.
"We are excited to open this powerful platform for Western Australian universities to complement specialist PhD training with defence industry experience while delivering real-world innovation solutions," Professor Brown said.
Minister Papalia congratulated all parties involved in the creation of the DCS, including Defence West, the Defence Science Technology Group, Curtin University, Edith Cowan University, Murdoch University and The University of WA.
"We have established the Defence Science Centre to create the right conditions for the development of cutting-edge science and innovation in WA," Minister Papalia said. "Developing a DSC in WA will greatly enhance collaboration between the academic and industry sectors, and makes us part of a broader national network of defence-related research.
"This will enable WA researchers to more easily link into projects, boosting our own State's capability and future-proofing WA's defence industry, keeping and growing skills and knowledge here and creating job opportunities for Western Australians."
"We welcome the establishment of the Defence Science Centre," Curtin University Deputy Vice Chancellor Research, Professor Chris Moran, said. "This new centre will play a critical role in strengthening our collaborative efforts to build WA's defence science capability and to grow the state's defence industry."
"ECU is committed to making a difference through programs that are relevant and responsive to the real world needs of our community," ECU Vice Chancellor, Professor Steve Chapman, said. "Defence has an important role to protect Australia and our national interests, which would benefit from our leading edge research in collaboration with our WA university partners and be greatly assisted by the establishment of the Defence Science Centre."
DST and L3 partner on undersea comms
Sapphire clock takes out DST's Eureka prize
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Timebanking will always invite and involve teamwork. With our Gathering With a Purpose series, you and a colleague will bring together a group of people in your own community, and use the materials and coaching we provide to hold an initial Potluck Gathering, followed by a series of 3 Learning Circle Gatherings.
The Gathering series includes tips on gaining skill as a story-teller, assignments that will provide you the opportunity to give & receive time credits one-on-one and as a group, an introduction to the timebank "Reciprocity Loop" and more. The Gathering introduces to the core values of timebanking in real time. You will learn through your own experience why so many people have found timebanking lifechanging. Through it all, you will be creating a sense of possibility that is stronger for you, for those who join you, and, last but far from least, for your community.
This 4-session workshop introduces timebanking's core values and operating principles.  It combines on-line learning that's easy to access, with in-person group sessions that will give you the chance to learn through real life experiences.
The initial gathering will help you and your group members come to know each other better and plan your timeline.  Share stories, review the elements and aims of the workshops, and come up with your first assignment to earn and spend time credits.
Between meetings, you will access online assignments. An online forum will keep your group connected.
"After a disaster like the 2016 Canterbury Earthquakes in New Zealand, it was difficult to know how to help. What is meaningful support to those in need? The Bridge2Rocks TimeBank contacted Hurunui TimeBank, and made connections with the North Canterbury Response Team. People were exhausted, needed meals. Our community responded with meals and cards of support which were delivered by their local response team to those most in need.
 With dialysis three times a week, Elaine believed she had nothing to give, but I knew otherwise. In talking with her I discovered that Elaine painted — not landscapes or portraits but beautiful pysanky eggs.   And while Elaine brought out her beautiful hand painted eggs to show me, she also showered me with goodies to munch on. It turned out she was a fabulous baker as well! Elaine was essential in her community — she was able to complete all the baking for another member's wedding all on time credits.
 I noticed that the light in the kitchen no longer worked. I thought maybe when the fridge blew, it blew out the lights, too. I knew enough not to mess around with electricity, so eventually I went to the Time Bank to see if someone was handy with electrical stuff. Indeed, there was. I got in touch with Bob who had the tools and the know-how, and 45 minutes later I had light in the kitchen!


With a network that includes 12 acute-care hospitals and more than 250 sites of care, Advocate is the largest health system in Illinois. Its hospitals are spread from the Chicago area to downstate Illinois. In November 2013, Advocate opened a shared center to centralize and standardize revenue cycle operations among the hospitals in its network. Ultimately, nearly 400 employees scattered among the 12 hospitals would work within the new facility.
Processes and systems as fragmented as the 12 individual business offices contributed to a surprising amount of revenue leakage. With an eye toward remedying these inefficiencies and inconsistencies, Advocate chose Xtend to help develop improved, standardized processes and train the staff of the new CBO.
Under the direction of a dedicated project management team, Xtend began working on all aspects of the project — beginning with identifying a site.
Using analytics, the firm examined metrics, account volumes, and clean claims rates to calculate the number of staff members that would be needed for billing, follow-up, denials, underpayments, customer service, and all of the other functions that Advocate wanted the CBO to handle. Then, in keeping with Advocate's commitment to offer all of its Chicago-area business office employees a position at the new CBO, the Xtend team created an efficient new organizational structure that worked for the existing employees, while also identifying employees who could transition into new roles.
Next, after reviewing all of Advocate's technology, Xtend identified solutions that could harness the different systems that had been set up for individual hospitals in order to streamline the work of the CBO.
Xtend also optimized and standardized processes that had evolved on a hospital-by-hospital basis within the Advocate healthcare system. For example, each hospital's business office had enjoyed local authority to write off accounts it deemed uncollectible. The Xtend team determined that some collectible amounts were simply written off automatically to contractual allowances.
Xtend helped design and implement policies to centralize writeoff authority and to eliminate automatic writeoffs. The team also helped Advocate realign its business office personnel, so that individuals became responsible for payer classes throughout the system's A/R inventory rather than for specific hospitals.
Finally, Xtend put in place systems that captured denials and rejections — giving Advocate the ability for the first time to document, report and track revenue and performance by financial class. As a result, Advocate staff could drill down to the level of the individual collector, find specific reasons for denials and rejections, and do something to reverse them.
With fewer writeoffs, Advocate needed more staff to handle the higher volume of collectible accounts. Xtend brought in a team of interim revenue cycle leaders to support each of the 12 hospitals during the transition and to provide an outsourcing solution to work accounts older than 90 days. Denied claims, once identified, were routed to dedicated specialists, who worked groups of related denials as a batch instead of as one-offs, saving time and driving better results.
While Xtend's teams helped resolve aging accounts, other Xtend personnel led process teams comprised of business office staff from each of the Advocate hospitals. Together, they documented existing processes at the 12 facilities and then designed new, standardized process flows to be used in the CBO. The collaborative approach helped create buy-in among the Advocate staff and prepared them to train others.
During the transition, Advocate was able to keep A/R at traditional levels and maintain cash collections, while freeing up the individuals who needed to be involved with building the CBO and with creating new groups that facilitated revenue integrity.
Thanks to new processes and technology, the CBO's staff has improved its productivity to handle great volume, collecting more accounts before they age out.
During the first year after the CBO opened, Advocate found that it had successfully reversed $100 million in revenue leakage.


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Council staff's mega cycleathon for hospital charity in thanks for spinal support
Dozens of council staff have cycled hundreds of miles for Sheffield Hospitals Charity in recognition of a best friend's spinal care support.
The staff at North East Derbyshire District Council raised more than £470 for the Spinal Cord Injuries Centre at the Northern General Hospital with a sponsored cycleathon at some of the area's best loved leisure facilities.
Councillor Rosie Smith's best friend, Rosie Mayes received months of specialist support at the centre after suffering a serious car accident in 2009, prompting her to name Sheffield Hospitals Charity as one of the benefitting causes of her civic year.
"I have a personal reason for choosing the Spinal Cord Injuries Centre. My best friend suffered a spinal injury after being in a car accident and spent eight months in the centre.
"She received excellent care from the staff there. They helped her with physical and emotional rehabilitation. Learning to live with a spinal injury takes a lot of mental strength.
"I am thankful that we have a specialised centre so close to North East Derbyshire because it enabled her family to be with her every day and for her friends to visit regularly during her recovery. I would like to support the great work that the Spinal Cord Injuries Centre do by raising money for new equipment, such as specialised physiotherapy aides."The Spinal Cord Injuries Centre treats patients who have injured their spinal cord. It is the second largest specialist centre in the country and provides surgery, therapy and rehabilitation.
Each year more than 8,500 patients visit the Centre, from Sheffield and across South Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire.
The Centre houses three spinal wards, containing 64 beds. It provides a range of facilities to its patients including a dedicated outpatients facility, occupational therapy suite, surgical theatre, gym and hydro-pool.
To donate funds to support patients with spinal injuries, visitwww.sheffieldhospitalscharity.org.uk/donate
Author: Melody Mills
Health areas
Kidney care fundraiser takes on half marathon mission
Abby Batchelor, kidney care fundraiser for Sheffield Hospitals Charity is going the extra mile for renal patients.
Patients benefit from surgical robot, thanks to £1.3m donation
Patients will benefit from a new state-of-the-art surgical robot, following the charity's biggest ever donation.
Volunteer who lost son to CF calls on more to give time
A volunteer is calling out for people to consider giving their time, after learning first-hand how charity donations can benefit patients.
Nephew takes on treble run in one weekend to raise charity cash
The nephew of a lady who had a freak fall resulting in life changing injuries has taken on a 45 mile running challenge in one weekend.
Charity funds specialist advisor to support major trauma patients
Sheffield Hospitals Charity has funded a Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) advisor for patients who have suffered major trauma injuries.
Woollen octopuses needed to provide comfort for patients
An unusual demand for woollen octopuses has prompted Sheffield Hospitals Charity to launch an appeal to knitters.
Kidney patient's gig in memory of childhood pal raises thousands
A kidney patient has helped organise a musical bonanza in memory of his friend who also suffered with the condition.
Cricket fundraiser in memory of dad who died from sepsis
Married couple Vicki and Dan Willis have been bowled over by the success of their cricket fundraiser in aid of Sheffield Hospitals Charity.
Woman battling CF completes 10k charity hike
Ruth Palmer, whose life is severely restricted by Cystic Fibrosis (CF), has raised hundreds of pounds by taking part in Walk for Wards.
Friends' charity leap to help fund blood cancer research
A pair of plucky pals will plunge thousands of feet to thank staff for the care of their friend who was diagnosed with blood cancer.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Otro-Ford (spanisch für "anderer Ford") war ein spanischer Hersteller von Automobilen.

Unternehmensgeschichte
Das Unternehmen der Brüder de Vizcaya begann 1922 in Barcelona mit der Produktion von Automobilen. 1924 endete die Produktion.

Fahrzeuge
Das Unternehmen stellte Fahrzeuge her, die auf dem Ford Modell T basierten, der seit 1920 von Ford in Cádiz montiert wurde. Die Fahrzeuge verfügten über einen Vierzylindermotor.

Literatur

 David Burgess Wise: The New Illustrated Encyclopedia of Automobiles. Greenwich Editions, 2004, ISBN 0-86288-258-3 (englisch)

Ehemaliger Pkw-Hersteller (Spanien)
Ehemaliges Unternehmen (Barcelona)
Produzierendes Unternehmen (Barcelona)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Brooklyn House Nursing Home, Other human health activities, listed under "Other Human Health Activities" category, is located at Queens Road Attleborough Norfolk, NR17 2AG, United Kingdom and can be reached by (01953) 455789 phone number. Brooklyn House Nursing Home has currently 0 reviews.
Browse all Other Human Health Activities in Attleborough Norfolk.


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You asked: When was the first Greek organization founded?
When did Greek organizations start?
What was the first Greek organization?
When was the first sorority founded?
What is the oldest active fraternity?
Who started fraternities and sororities?
What year was the first social Greek lettered organization founded on campus at IU?
When was Kappa Gamma founded?
When was the first black sorority founded?
When were the black sororities founded?
What was the first black Greek fraternity?
Why are fraternities Greek?
How long has Greek life existed?
The very first fraternity, Phi Beta Kappa was founded in 1776, and was kept a "secret".
The fraternity as we know it today first began in the United States in the early 1700's. The first fraternity, Phi Beta Kappa (now a national honors society for students studying the liberal arts) was founded at the College of William and Mary as a secret society for students to gather outside of the classroom setting.
The first national, secret, Greek letter social fraternity is considered to be the Kappa Alpha Society, established at Union College in Schenectady, New York, on November 26, 1825, by John Hart Hunter.
The First To Be Called "Sorority": Gamma Phi Beta
Founded at Syracuse University in 1874, Gamma Phi Beta was the first women's organization to be called a sorority. The term was coined for the group by a male Latin professor, Dr.
The oldest purely social fraternity is the Kappa Alpha Society, formed at Union College in New York in 1825, followed quickly by Sigma Phi and Delta Phi, also at Union, Alpha Delta Phi at Hamilton College, also in New York, and Psi Upsilon, the oldest for which I have been able to find a flag.
IT\'S FUNNING: Your question: Is Rhodes College in bad neighborhood?
Well, in 1776, John Heath (then a student studying Greek at The College of William & Mary) found himself rejected by the two Latin secret societies on campus. Heath decided to take matters into his own hands and, along with some friends, created the first collegiate Greek-letter society, Phi Beta Kappa.
The second half of the 19th century witnessed the birth of fraternities and sororities on the IU campus. The first fraternity to be established at IU was Beta Theta Phi in 1845. In 1849 Phi Delta Theta was created, followed by Sigma Chi in 1858.
Каппа Каппа Гамма/Дата основания
Искать: When was Kappa Gamma founded?
When was Delta Gamma founded?
December 25, 1873, Oxford, Mississippi, United States
Delta Gamma/Дата основания
Искать: When was Delta Gamma founded?
When was Kappa Sigma founded?
December 10, 1869, The Lawn, Virginia, United States
Kappa Sigma/Дата основания
Искать: When was Kappa Sigma founded?
When did aka start using Greek letters?
Alpha Kappa Alpha shield; designed by Phyllis Wheatley Waters in 1920.
Founded January 15, 1908 Howard University
Type Social
Affiliation NPHC
Alpha Kappa Alpha is the first Black Greek-letter sorority, and it was founded on the campus of Howard University in 1908.
The first black sorority was formed on the campus of Howard University. The brainchild of Ethel Hedgeman, Hedgeman approached eight other women in the Liberal Arts School and soon Alpha Kappa Alpha was established as a Greek-letter organization in 1908.
IT\'S FUNNING: How do you get around Bulgaria?
Alpha Phi Alpha was founded in 1906 at Cornell University in New York. Alpha Phi Alpha is more than a Divine Nine member: it is the first black intercollegiate Greek fraternity in the nation.
Fraternities and sororities were established to further the social, scholastic and professional interests of its members. … Most fraternities and sororities adopt Greek letters to represent their organization, and as a result they are often referred to as Greek letter societies, or simply Greek organizations.
The first known fraternity was founded in 1776. John Heath, a student at the College of William and Mary, got rejected by the two Latin secret societies on his campus. He decided, along with some friends, to create the first collegiate Greek-letter society, Phi Beta Kappa.


The purpose of the Committee is to make recommendations to the Commission regarding consumer issues within the jurisdiction of the Commission and to facilitate the participation of all consumers in proceedings before the Commission. Meetings are open to the public and are broadcast live with open captioning over the Internet from the FCC Live web page.
The meeting site is accessible to people with disabilities. Meetings are sign language interpreted with real-time transcription and assistive listening devices available. Meeting agendas and handout materials are provided in accessible formats.
If you wish to comment on a pending matter before the Commission, please file your comment using our Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS) or through ECFS Express.
meeting of its eighth 2-year term, Oct. 14, 2016.
Progress Report of Technical Working Group on Closed Captioning and Video Description December 4, 2009.
For further information regarding the DCCVD Working Group, contact: Michael Jacobs, Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, Room 5-C737, 445 12th Street, SW, Washington, DC 20554. Phone: 202-418-2859 (voice) or 202-418-8233 (TTY); Email: Michael.Jacobs@fcc.gov.


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Commissioner Pai's Open Internet Forum in Texas
I had the opportunity to tune into FCC Commissioner Pai's Forum on Internet Regulation that was held in College Station, Texas on October 21. The "outside the beltway" discussion at Texas A&M University featured the Commissioner along with a panel of other experts discussing open Internet issues, possible regulatory options confronting the FCC, and the impact each would have on businesses and consumers.
Commissioner Pai introduced the discussion by stating the importance of leaving Washington, D.C. to hear from others around the country. He spoke about broad support for an open Internet and the four principles approved under Chairman Powell's leadership. He urged continued support for those principles, as well as support for investment in broadband, a focus on net capacity, and a need for transparency.
Texas State Public Utility Commissioner Donna Nelson spoke about how regulation serves as a substitute for competition. She explained, "When markets work well, we deregulate." She supports a minimalist approach, and believes that if there are healthy markets in broadband, there is no need for monopoly-era regulations under Title II. Stewart Youngblood of the Dallas Entrepreneur Center, on the other hand, offered a view in support of Title II as the best path for regulating the Internet, while the other panelists were split on which path the FCC should take to preserve an open Internet. Chelsea McCullough of Texans for Economic Progress strongly advocated against Title II, emphasizing the fact that heavy-handed regulation is not appropriate for the Internet. I thought it was interesting that panelist Joe Portman, President of Alamo Broadband, a small ISP, agreed that Title II is a terrible idea. He feels that there could be unintended consequences, noting that for small companies similar to Alamo, there would be many more burdensome requirements to comply with that would add to the operational costs. He summarized his thoughts with "if it ain't broke, don't fix it. ISP's aren't common carriers and shouldn't be regulated like one."
I hope that Commissioner Pai was able to achieve his goal of hearing from individuals that aren't just Washington, D.C. "insiders." It was an interesting panel that provided some unique voices and a variety of perspectives.
Pew Research "Killer Apps in the Gigabit Age"
This week, I attended a Pew Research event that featured the release a new study, "Killer Apps in the Gigabit Age." Lee Rainie, Director of Internet, Science and Technology at the Pew Research Center introduced a panel to discuss the study and "Killer Apps" topic. The panelists included moderator Larry Irving (Internet Innovation Alliance), Patrick Gusman (Startup Middle School), Morgan Reed (Association for Competitive Technology), Aaron Saunders (Clearly Innovative), and Scott Gottlieb, M.D. (American Enterprise Institute).
This new Pew study is one of a series that is taking a look at the web in 2014, the 25th anniversary of its creation. Pew researchers asked two key questions about apps for this study and had 1,464 experts respond to inform their research. The questions were: 1) Will there be new and distinctive technology applications that capitalize upon significant increases in bandwidth in the US between now and 2025? And 2) if you answered "no" explain why you think there will only be incremental change or hardly any change. If you answered "yes" describe what killer apps there might be as gigabit connectivity becomes available.
There wouldn't have been much of a study if respondents didn't answer "yes" – and 86% did, with interesting themes emerging. Here are the seven major themes that were found in their responses:
1) People's basic interactions and their ability to 'be together' and collaborate will change in the age of vivid telepresence—enabling people to instantly 'meet face-to-face' in cyberspace with no travel necessary.
2)
Augmented reality will extend people's sense and understanding of their real-life surroundings and virtual reality will make some spaces, such as gaming worlds and other simulated environments, even more compelling places to hang out.
3) The connection between humans and technology will tighten as machines gather, assess, and display real-time personalized information in an 'always-on' environment. This integration will affect many activities—including thinking, the documentation of life events ('life-logging'), and coordination of daily schedules.
4) Specific economic and social sectors will be especially impacted; health/medicine and education were mentioned often.
5) New digital divides may open as people gain opportunities on different timelines and with different tools.
6) Who knows? 'I have no idea due to rapid change.' 'The best Internet apps are yet to emerge.' 'If I knew, I wouldn't tell you, I would invest in it!'
7) Advances will be gradual for various reasons: Bandwidth is not the issue. The US will lag because a widespread gigabit network is not easily achieved.
The panelists were able to address and discuss some of the themes that were found in the study, including the idea that "new digital divides may open" despite advancements in technology. Each of the seven themes provide an interesting perspective on the evolving Internet ecosystem through a fresh and insightful lens.
DPI Panel on Muni Broadband: Do the Risks Outweigh the Benefits?
Last week, the Digital Policy Institute held a webinar titled, "Municipal-Run Broadband: Do the Risks Outweigh the Benefits?", where a panel of experts examined some of the legal and policy issues in the debate over municipalities operating broadband systems. Digital Policy Institute Senior Fellow Barry Umansky moderated the discussion and panelists included Michael Santorelli, (Director, Advanced Communications Law and Policy Institute, New York Law School, Randolph May (President, Free State Foundation), and David Merritt (Former City Council Member, Glenwood Springs, Colorado).
Randy May highlighted one of the most important messages of the debate when he explained that states have legitimate concerns regarding the determination of municipal broadband and that the FCC should not preempt their authority. He asserts that it is up to each individual state to consider its own needs and finances, rather than an interest of the FCC. David Merritt spoke about the experience of his own community and municipal broadband—the costs and challenges, and questioned whether it has been worth it. While the system is still in operation, it isn't meeting its revenue goals.
Michael Santorelli also raised some questions about the economics of municipally owned broadband networks in that they haven't measured up to claims of increases in jobs and economic growth. The information offered was quite interesting, and the discussion provided different perspectives on the debate over municipal broadband.
TPRC Panel on the Hill
On September 11, I served as the moderator of the TPRC's (Telecommunication Policy Research Council) panel on the Hill, which featured four policy researchers who discussed updating the Communications Act. The panel was held immediately prior to TPRC's 3-day annual conference that draws telecom and technology industry experts from around the world to present research on communications topics ranging from interconnection to privacy and security.
The researchers presenting papers on this panel included David Clark (MIT), Rob Frieden (Penn State University), Tejas Narechania (Columbia Law School), and Christopher Yoo (University of Pennsylvania). The panel was designed to provide some insights that might help inform decision making in the process of updating the Communications Act. The first two speakers discussed their papers that delved into Internet interconnection issues. Clark spoke strongly in support of the point that any interconnection issues can and should be resolved through business negotiations between parties and should not be regulated under any contraints. Frieden added the idea that negotiating issues could be resolved using the broadcast model, whereby broadcasters must-carry dispute resolution, which has worked in the past. Narechania discussed how the FCC and states have concurrent authority under Section 706 of the Act. This allows states to experiment in novel and social and economic experiments with broadband policy. He said we haven't seen that much happen yet, but this concurrent jurisdiction promotes experimentation in the states and is a model of cooperative federalism.
The fourth and final presenter, Christopher Yoo, offered his study comparing broadband service in the U.S. to Europe. In the past, many critics have claimed that broadband in Europe outperforms service in the United States. Yoo's findings dispute this conclusion. He found that overall the U.S. has better broadband coverage than Europe and has a higher rate and level of investment in new technologies and networks. At lower speeds, U.S. broadband costs were lower, and at higher speeds while our costs were higher, U.S. Internet users on average consume 50% more bandwidth that those in Europe. An additional finding was that the U.S. approach of promoting facilities–based competition and leaving build-out and modernization to private companies has been more effective in promoting next generation networks than the European model, which treats broadband as a public utility.
Although talk at the table was rather limited to their research papers, there also was no indication of support for an over-regulatory approach to an Open Internet. Support for the five principles for an open Internet, first drafted by Chairman Powell, seemed to solicit general agreement. This was a very interesting discussion, sure to be followed by a great TPRC program.
Zero-Rated Internet and Consumers
Last week, Washington Post reporter Nancy Scola wrote an interesting article about zero-rated apps and what they mean for data plans and the future of the Internet.
The article explains that in some cases consumers can access certain sites without it counting against their data plans. For consumers (most of whom are on some sort of data-limited mobile plan), this means they are able to extend their data plans and access some popular sites. Seems like a win-win. Of course, there is always another side to the issue, and concerns have been raised for consumers: 'In return for low-cost service, users are, in some cases, being corralled into a limited view of the Internet," explains Scola. She makes the point that there is an obvious pocketbook benefit to the zero-rated Internet because a growing number of mobile providers are moving toward data-capped plans. "According to a report from Allot Communications, while 35 percent of carriers offered unlimited data plans in 2012, now just 15 percent do." With so many consumers under data-capped plans, it is seemingly beneficial to having a zero-rated Internet option available.
New Paper on U.S. Innovation and Investment in Broadband
Earlier this week, George Mason University's Mercatus Center released an interesting paper on the state of broadband in the United States. Aalborg University Fellow Roslyn Layton and Free State Foundation Fellow Michael Horney authored the study, which is titled "Innovation, Investment and Competition in Broadband and the Impact on America's Digital Economy."
The paper addresses the question of whether or not U.S. broadband is falling behind the rest of the world. Are our costs higher? What about quality of broadband services compared to other countries? The paper's research found that when comparing prices, "Americans enjoy lower unit costs for connectivity." Layton and Horney also found a high level of innovation in the U.S. broadband market in networks, services, and technologies. The paper includes some interesting data on investment that reveals the ongoing investment U.S. companies are making in broadband technologies. "Providers in the United States invest at twice the rate of EU operators, and there is a growing gap between the United States and the EU in per capita spending on infrastructure." The authors additionally raise the issue of competition in the broadband market and conclude that competition in broadband is based on the level of technology, not the number of providers, so fixed and wireless broadband must both be considered. Concerns about limitations on data usage for mobile are addressed and innovations in technology that could offer solutions are discussed.
The paper offers some progressive solutions for building the broadband economy. One is a focus on market-based, technology-neutral approaches to encourage competition and maximize investment, rather than utility-style regulation. Another is to focus on Internet adoption rather than the deployment of the network. The paper reasons that most of those who don't use the Internet cite reasons of lack of usability or relevance, rather than lack of access or cost.
For the complete study, see: http://mercatus.org/publication/innovation-investment-and-competition-broadband-and-impact-america-s-digital-economy
MMTC Telecom Policy Conference
It was great to be able to attend some of the sessions at this year's Minority and Media Telecommunications Council (MMTC) Telecom Policy Conference, held in D.C. this week. There were Members of Congress, state legislators, FCC Commissioners, FTC Commissioners, industry representatives, and advocates addressing the key telecom topics before policy makers.
Some of the topics I found particularly interesting included the FCC's Open Internet proceeding (net neutrality), spectrum auctions, broadband access and availability, and big data, privacy and cybersecurity. Representative Butterfield (D-NC) spoke in support of an open Internet and the need for transparency and consumer protections. He does not believe, however, that Title II is the most appropriate route for the FCC to take. He also supports a review of the Telecom Act to update outdated rules and regulations. Florida State Representative Alan Williams spoke in support of universal broadband access and former Florida Representative Cliff Stearns discussed the importance of broadband for both job creation as well as education. He also offered his thoughts on the open Internet proceeding, supporting rules under 706, rather than Title II.
There was also an excellent panel featuring all four FCC Commissioners. Commissioner Rosenworcel discussed the important e-rate reforms at the FCC and the 3 "s's": 1) speed to every classroom 2) simplifying the process 3) and spending smart. Commissioner Clyburn defended the very important and valuable Lifeline program for low-income consumers and stated that the FCC reforms implemented to date have saved $2 billion. Commissioner Pai said that the key to success of the upcoming incentive spectrum auctions is participation: we need as many people at the table as possible. He also mentioned one of the important benefits of the IP transition: HD voice, a positive technology for those who have hearing loss.
The open Internet proceeding was additionally raised during a panel featuring Hill staff. Tim Robinson (Office of Representative Rush) said that consideration of reclassification of broadband under Title II is looking under the wrong bush. Shawn Chang, Chief Democratic Counsel for the House Commerce Committee, offered a slightly different view and said that the FCC has the authority to use 706 or Title II – and could always forebear under Title II. David Reidl (Chief Counsel, House Committee on Energy and Commerce) stated that the idea of Title II with the forbearance option may not actually work or be realistic.
On a panel addressing the issues of big data, privacy and cybersecurity, Nicole Wong (Deputy Chief Technology Officer, Executive Office of the President), said that big data isn't just about privacy, but is also about how it can be used unfairly to discriminate and impact our lives (job opportunities, getting loans and credit, etc.). Angela Simpson, NTIA, spoke about the importance of providing consumers with tools to educate and inform them about staying secure and maintaining their privacy online.
The MMTC conference offered an outstanding line-up of speakers addressing the key telecom issues of the day. I'm glad I was able to attend and hear the remarks of these distinguished speakers.
NCL/AAPD Symposium Panel on Technology and Disabilities
The National Consumers League and the American Association of People with Disabilities held a joint symposium last week on the topic, "Consumer Protection for People with Disabilities." I was pleased to attend the panel session addressing technology and disabilities. The panel had a extraordinary group of disability advocates, industry representatives, and a senior FCC staff member.
Industry representatives from Comcast, AT&T, and Verizon spoke about how their companies are working to develop products and services for the disability community. Tom Wlodkowski (Comcast) spoke about the companies mission to create the smart home, with ongoing testing of new products to assist disability consumers. Susan Diegelman (AT&T) talked about AT&T's work on universal design and their efforts to impact usability. Panelists mentioned the need for products and services to be accessible from inception – a very important point.
Karen Peltz-Strauss (FCC) and the disability advocates (Paul Schroeder of ACB, and Andrew Phillips of NAD), discussed the landmark CVVA (Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act and its many requirements. There was a discussion about groundbreaking technology that (on a mobile device) can recognize money, colors, and so on. It's a great tool for the sight impaired – and perhaps for any others requiring some assistance.
The panelists also briefly discussed the IP transition trials and how they will be helpful in gathering information to help smooth the transition to advanced services. There was also a discussion about the "Internet of Things" and the exciting new technologies that will be available. These innovative products offer new opportunities for the disability community. The symposium did a great job of raising important issues, while highlighting exciting new innovations in technology for the disability community.
Program on Tech Innovations and Policy
I attended an interesting program last week-Tech in Policy: Innovation Impacting Washington, hosted by The Hill publication. It was a short session chock full of policy makers and industry leaders. FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel kicked things off with remarks about the state of tech policy, addressing some of the key issues confronting federal telecom regulators. Her first comment was "the world is going wireless" – everything is all about wireless today. She also did a speed review of the many other issues at the FCC: spectrum, net neutrality, e-rate reform, merger reviews, and the future of Internet services.
FTC Commissioner Julie Brill spoke about data security and privacy – two sides of the same coin for consumers. Morgan Reed, Executive Director of the App Association emphasized the importance of having laws that will reassure consumers that their data is protected, but also that there is a flow of information to their devices that is helpful to consumers. I found it interesting to hear Catherine McCullough, Executive Director of the Intelligent Car Coalition, talk about connected cars. Crash avoidance technology, advanced dashboard equipment, mapping devices, and other high tech features are all available in cars today – and even self-driving technology. This technology in our vehicles is getting quite sophisticated, and these innovations are outpacing our regulatory structure. The concern is that regulatory policies could slow innovation in the intelligent cars space – and that would be unfortunate.
There were a few other speakers who discussed new innovative technologies. The morning session concluded with a presentation on the future of tech innovation from Allison Remsen, Mobile Future. It was a great program that emphasized a whole host of tech innovations for consumers.
NARUC and the IP Transition Trials
I participated on a panel discussing the IP Transition Trials at the NARUC Summer Meeting in Dallas, Texas this past week. The panel reviewed the trails impact on carriers and consumers. Other panelists included Frank Simone (AT&T), Rebekah Goodheart (FCC Commissioner Clyburn's Legal Advisor), Lyndall Nipps (Windstream), and Sam Kline (Granite Telecommunications).
Frank Simone opened the session with an overview of AT&T's plans for the trials in two wire centers: West Delray, Florida and Carbon Hill, Alabama. He highlighted AT&T's consumer outreach, public education, and other efforts to address key consumer concerns related to the IP transition. It was really important to hear about the work that AT&T is doing, and will continue to do throughout the trials, to inform consumers about the transition. Frank also informed us about an 800 number that consumers can call to get information about the transition, as well as to submit any concerns or complaints.
In the remarks that I offered, I stressed the importance consumers have with the transition process. At the top of the list are public safety issues (connecting to e-911 and battery back-up issues), disability access (compatibility with assistive devices), and making sure older consumers stay connected. It is also important to make sure that there is coordination with industry, state commissioners and the FCC, particularly in the collection and handling of consumer complaints.
Consumers are making the transition from traditional based telephone services to IP services at a rapid pace, and the trials will help identify and resolve issues that may serve as challenges for a balance of consumers who have not yet made the transition. This panel helped to identify how consumers and carriers will be working together to identify and resolve those issues, and I was pleased to be a participant.
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The BMW X6 combines the power and capability of an X model with the sporty, sleek design of a coupé. With the BMW xDrive, sending power from the BMW TwinPower Turbo engine to all four wheels, you'll effortlessly take on any road in any weather condition. Discover the X6 at BMW Snows Isle of Wight. Whichever model you choose it will come with BMW Business Navigation as standard.


Jimi chills poolside after a relaxing swim!
Our furry pal, Jimi Houndrix, lounges poolside after going for a dip. Check out this awesome Jimi doggy paddle video!
Jimi Takes a Dip !
Click here for GREAT VIDEO!
Autism Dad trade paperback available at Amazon!


Due to family illness, this event has been cancelled.
Stay tuned for a reschedule.
Unless an inscription is requested, signed copies will ship immediately.
Bestselling author Lisa Patton digs deep into exciting new territory with Rush, a story about mothers and daughters, sisterhood, tradition, and doing the right thing.
When Lilith Whitmore, the well-heeled House Corp President of Alpha Delta Beta—the premiere sorority at Ole Miss—appoints recent empty-nester Wilda to the Rush Advisory Board, Wilda can hardly believe her luck. What's more, Lilith suggests their daughters, both incoming freshman, room together! What Wilda doesn't know is that it's all part of Lilith's plan to ensure her own daughter receives an Alpha Delt bid—no matter what.
Smart, sweet Cali Watkins is the perfect potential new sorority member…except for one thing. She's missing a very important ingredient—pedigree. Without family money Cali's chances of membership are already razor thin, but she's got an even bigger problem. If anyone discovers the dark family secrets she's hiding, Cali will be dropped from Rush faster than she can say Hotty Toddy.
For twenty-five years, Miss Pearl—as her "babies" like to call her—has been housekeeper and a second mother to the Alpha Delt girls, even though it reminds her of a painful part of her past she'll never forget. When an opportunity for promotion arises, it seems a natural fit. But Lilith slams her Prada heel down fast, crushing Miss Pearl's hopes of a better future. When Wilda and the girls find out, they devise a plan destined to change Alpha Delta Beta—and maybe the entire Greek system—forever.
Lisa Patton's Rush is a sharp, nuanced look at a centuries-old tradition with a harvest of heart, humor and honor mixed in between.
LISA PATTON is the bestselling author of Whistlin' Dixie in a Nor'easter, Yankee Doodle Dixie, and Southern as a Second Language. Born and raised in Memphis, Lisa attended the University of Alabama, where she was in a sorority. The proud mother of two sons, she lives in Nashville, Tennessee, with her husband and a little Havanese pooch named Rosie.


text:
"""Test the Advantage Air Initialization."""

from homeassistant.config_entries import ConfigEntryState

from . import TEST_SYSTEM_DATA, TEST_SYSTEM_URL, add_mock_config

async def test_async_setup_entry(hass, aioclient_mock):
    """Test a successful setup entry and unload."""

    aioclient_mock.get(
        TEST_SYSTEM_URL,
        text=TEST_SYSTEM_DATA,
    )

    entry = await add_mock_config(hass)
    assert entry.state is ConfigEntryState.LOADED

    assert await hass.config_entries.async_unload(entry.entry_id)
    await hass.async_block_till_done()
    assert entry.state is ConfigEntryState.NOT_LOADED

async def test_async_setup_entry_failure(hass, aioclient_mock):
    """Test a unsuccessful setup entry."""

    aioclient_mock.get(
        TEST_SYSTEM_URL,
        exc=SyntaxError,
    )

    entry = await add_mock_config(hass)
    assert entry.state is ConfigEntryState.SETUP_RETRY

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congressman Scott Taylor, joined by Representatives Bobby Scott (VA-03), Walter Jones (NC-03), and G. K. Butterfield (NC-01), sent a bipartisan letter to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), urging them to establish the Virginia Beach-Norfolk (VA-NC CSA) locality pay area by January 2019.
Since 2015, the Federal Salary Council has recommended to the President's Pay Agent that Virginia Beach-Norfolk be established as a separate locality pay area. However, despite receiving approval from the Pay Agent, OPM has yet to act on the recommendation, leaving this issue unresolved for the approximate 30,500 federal employees who live and work in this locality area.
"The over 30,000 Federal employees in our area serve largely in the defense sector, which means their work product is directly linked to our national security," said Congressman Scott Taylor. "The Federal Salary Council has found cost of living is outpacing their salaries. OPM must fulfill their end of this process to fill the pay gap for our neighbors who are federal employees."
"The Federal Pay Agent has determined that federal employees in our districts deserve a raise due to the cost of living outpacing regular federal salary increases. Federal employees are the backbone to our economy and are experiencing an unfair pay gap due to lack of action. I hope that the Administration will take immediate action to protect our national security and ensure that these workers receive the pay they deserve," said Congressman Bobby Scott.


text:
Mary Poppins Review - The Magical Broadway Musical Now On Tour
By Lisa Kinney
I admit I am a Disney loyalist, always have been and always will. Truly, I believe when Disney works their magic, you can expect a breathtaking, imaginative, extravaganza. That magic worked last night and is still working today. I've been humming, whistling, and unfortunately for those around me, singing about chimneys, spoons full of sweetness, and a certain tongue twisting, thrilling, word.
The Pratically Perfect Mary Poppins
Mary Poppins the musical, is a delightful, whimsical, and always endearing, adaptation of a well loved classic. I spent 2 ½ hours enthralled in a first rate musical that sent me on a journey full of charming surprises. Besides the magic show, witty comedy, colorful costumes, amazing set designs, and a bit of acrobatics; I was privileged to thoroughly enjoy some new music that was clever, catchy, and fit perfectly with the super nanny theme. Kudos to the whole kit and caboodle of magic users who put this production together. Talented people are still being born on this earth. Halleluiah!
Mary and Bert on the rooftop
One particular scene, set in the bank is a visual stunner. A crisp, black, grey, and white, color scheme including a magnificent illusion of the interior of a large building was incredible. The other "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" scene was in the second act, and had me wishing for a rewind button so that I could greedily live in that moment again and again. It was the chimney sweeps singing and dancing to a "Step in Time". I would never dare spoil it for you, so you will just have to see the magic for yourself, but it was so much fun, and the whole audience gave out an audible gasp at the perfect moment.
Step in Time with the Chimney Sweeps
Have I gushed enough? Well, to bring it all down to reality and an imperfect world, there were some problems, that slapped me out of my musical euphoria. Actor's mikes would not always kick on soon enough to catch the first few words, and unfortunately this tech problem happened several times. The happy ending is that I was quickly entranced, enchanted, and ensconced back in London within mere seconds of the sting. No harm done.
The new nanny and her bag of tricks
May I state here and now that I was and am completely and utterly under the spell of Rachel Wallace who beautifully and undeniably played the lead, Mary Poppins. Let me rephrase that: She is Mary Poppins and I am convinced beyond doubt, that she is living at the moment, incognito as Rachel Wallace. I am sure she was gracious enough to give Ms. Andrews some hints and insights into her personality and character those many years ago, when Julie Andrews was playing Mary. Surely the true Mary (disguised as Rachel Wallace) had hoped Disney could find someone to do her justice this time around for the theatre version but having seen the lack of nanny talent, she graciously stepped in. True magic needs to show itself every so often. Go see Mary Poppins. Ms. True Magic is showing herself at the Capitol Theater in Salt Lake City and it only happens once in a lifetime. This is your lifetime.
Bert, a man of many talents
MARY POPPINS is playing at the Capitol Theatre through September 25th.
Performances will run Tuesday through Thursday evenings at 7:30pm,
Fridays at 8pm.
Saturdays at 2pm and 8pm.
Sundays at 1pm and 6:30pm.
There will be a 2pm matinees on Thursday, September 1 and Friday, September 23.
There will not be a 6:30pm performance on Sunday, September 25.
Ticket prices start as low as $23.50. Special Premium Ticket Packages are available at select performances, and include premium seating and a complimentary souvenir program.
Tickets are available at the Capitol Theatre Box Office, 50 West 200 South Salt Lake City, Utah 84101, at ArtTix outlets and online at ArtTix.org
To charge tickets, call ArtTix at (801)-355-ARTS (M-F10am-6pm).
Orders for groups of fifteen (15) or more may be placed by calling (801) 703-2057.
Additional cities and tour dates:
San Antonio– Majestic Theatre
September 29 –October 9, 2011
Chicago– Cadillac Palace Theatre
October 13 –November 6, 2011
Toronto– Princess of Wales Theatre
November 10 –December 18, 2011


text:
Second First Kiss Sneak Peek
Meet the Men of Rome
RomeAntically Challenged (book 1)
Hopeless Romantic (book 2)
Sweet Plains, Texas Series
Tucker's Crossing (Sweet Plains Book 1)
Christmas Kisses with my Cowboy (Sweet Plains novella)
Blame It on the Mistletoe (Sweet Plains, TX Book 2)
Nashville Heights Series
Promise Me You
The Eastons
Chasing I Do: Feel Good, Enemies to Lovers Romantic Comedy (The Eastons)
Definitely (Maybe) Dating: Laugh Out Loud Opposites Attract Romantic Comedy
Summer Affair: A Hilarious and Tender Friends to Lovers Romantic Comedy
Single Girl in the City: A Funny, Feel Good, Grumpy Boss, Romantic Comedy
Four Dates and a Forever
Sequoia Lake
It Started with a Kiss (Sequoia Lake #1)
Every Little Kiss (Sequoia Lake #2)
Destiny Bay
Last Kiss of Summer (Destiny Bay Book 1)
Feels Like the First Time (Destiny Bay 2)
Heroes of St. Helena
Need You for Keeps (Heroes of St. Helena Book 1)
Need You for Always (Heroes of St. Helena #2)
Need You for Mine (Heroes of St. Helena Book 3)
St. Helena Vineyard Series
Kissing Under the Mistletoe (A St. Helena Vineyard 1)
Summer in Napa (A St. Helena Vineyard 2)
Autumn in the Vineyard (A St. Helena Vineyard 3)
Be Mine Forever (A St. Helena Vineyard 4)
From the Moment We Met (A St. Helena Vineyard 5)
Sugar, Georgia Novels
Sugar's Twice as Sweet (Sugar, Georgia 1)
Sugar on Top (Sugar, Georgia #2)
A Taste of Sugar (Sugar, Georgia #3)
Book Teasers
The Short Stories
The Café Between Pumpkin and Pie
Faux Beau
Faux Beau Sneak Peek
Hallmark Movies
Autumn in the Vineyard
Summer in the Vineyard
Valentine in the Vineyard
VIP Reader Team
Barbara Vey Reader Cruise
Readers at the Roller Derby
InDscribe Conference
Marina Adair
#1 National Bestselling Author
Take Life by the Balls
Try on something new.
When Milly Smartt decided to walk a mile in her sister's shoes, she had no idea just how badly her feet would ache. She considered it a win that she'd been able to make it up the tiny slope and snap on her skis without breaking her neck. Or falling on her face. Or the other million ways a person might die when they decide to go skiing for the first time in twenty years. So she wasn't surprised when, standing on the iced-over powder, staring down the ten-foot slope, her legs began to wobble.
To clarify, she hadn't actually made it to one of the big-people slopes—that would require a ski lift, and the only way Milly's feet would ever leave the ground would be for a pedicure.
No, she'd opted for the bunny slopes.
"Shins out, hands forward, shoulders in front of your hips," the instructor, Kelly, called out.
Kelly had blue-streaked hair, enough body ink to fill a dictionary, and the patience of a kindergarten teacher on a field trip. Which was fitting since Milly was the only student over three feet tall. Yup, she was standing in the middle of a group of elementary schoolers, struggling to keep up.
Milly looked around at the snow-blanketed Sierras, the forest of deadly icicles hanging from the sequoias, and was surprised by how everyone hadn't keeled over and died of hypothermia. The big flakes that were coming down were hindering visibility, and the winds coming off the white-capped mountains had turned her nose Rudolph-red. In fact, she would sell her soul for a hot cup of cocoa—spiked of course.
Except Milly wasn't a quitter. Something she'd learned growing up with an independent, impulsive, don't-take-crap-from-anyone older sister, who never walked away from an adventure and never gave up when things seemed impossible. Zoe was the outdoorsy and outspoken sister with this bold look on life, which was how she'd lived—spontaneous. On the other hand, Milly was more introverted and bookish, and god, did she love a good plan—color-coded with itemized checklists.
But today wasn't about Milly's lists, it was about reconnecting with her sister's memory in the only way she was ready for. And that meant spending an afternoon in her sister's skis. No matter how ridiculous she looked in Zoe's Barbie-pink snowsuit and white snow cap.
She only had another couple of weeks to pack up her sister's belongings before her parents showed up on the doorstep and insisted on helping. Sorting through her sister's personal items was like sorting through her sister's life—which always brought on an acute sense of loss. But it was time to stop grieving and move on with her own life. It had been nearly nine months since Milly had walked away from her dream life in New York and returned to Sierra Vista to become Zoe's caretaker. Four months since cancer took her sister. And four months since Milly promised her sister that she'd live a full life—a life big enough for the both of them.
Then last week her dad had a heart attack and had to be airlifted to a bigger hospital in Reno. After spending three nights by his side, Milly was sent home at her parents' insistence. Milly would have argued but she'd landed a contract job to help plan an event in town. Still, after only a few days home, she needed a distraction from the stress of everything.
"Chase happy," Zoe had always said, and Milly was ready for some happy in her life.
"Using your poles, push yourself forward to get a little momentum going. As you pick up some speed, remember to use wedge turns for better control as you glide over the snow," Kelly instructed.
Nerves rioting in her stomach, Milly did as instructed. She gave a little push, a snail-pace push, and slowed to a stop less than three feet from where she'd begun, while the rest of the class zigged and zagged down the hill that, from Milly's angle, suddenly appeared to be a hundred-foot drop.
"Give it a little more elbow grease," Kelly said. "The goal is to make it to the bottom."
Milly glanced around and realized she was the only student still standing at the start of the run. Zoe would have laughed her ass off if she could see Milly now, scared shitless of a little adventure. Then she would've shoved Milly down the mountain, screaming for her to take life by the balls.
A twisting heartache knotted in her belly at the reminder of her sister. God, she missed her wit and brazen take on life. She also missed her over-the-top encouragement—which Milly could use a dose of right then.
Channeling her inner ballbuster, Milly took a deep breath, leaned her shoulders over her hips, and pushed forward with her poles. No longer at a snail's pace—she'd managed to upgrade to sloth mode—Milly watched as three fellow classmates passed her while taking their second run down the mountain.
"Remember to make a triangle with your feet, turning your toes in. The wider your stance, the slower you'll go," Kelly instructed from beside her.
Milly made a tight triangle—Pythagorean theorem tight—then dug her poles twelve inches into the powder, scooching herself forward ten feet and stopping with the front of her skis sticking out over the ledge of the hill.
She closed her eyes and blew out a nervous breath. "Baby steps," she whispered.
"Baby steps are for babies," the little girl next to her sang as she walked back up the hill. She was barely taller than Milly's ski poles but had the 'tude of a teenager.
"I am not a baby but a beginner, like you," Milly said primly.
"Then how come you haven't moved?"
"I've moved." Nowhere near as much at the others, but she'd moved just enough to remain upright.
"Not enough to zig or zag like Miss Kelly told us to," her powderpuff of a bully said.
Milly gave a little hop and landed with her skis slightly to the right. "Zig." She hopped angling them to the left. "Zag. Happy?"
Powderpuff rolled her eyes and said, "Baby," then took off down the slope, zigging and zagging like she was an Olympian.
Frustrated with herself, and feeling as if she were letting Zoe down, Milly bent at the waist to tighten her bindings, only she leaned too far forward. The slight shift in position caused the front of the skis to slide until Milly was teetering on the edge of the world.
"No, no no!"
"Yes, yes, yes," the Universe said and suddenly she wasn't teetering, she was moving. Slow at first, then picking up speed. As the trees raced by, Milly tried to remind herself the rules of skiing.
"Zig and zag, Milly. Zig and zag." Forcing her feet to turn, Milly zigged to the left, but that put her on a direct route for the parking lot, so she zagged to the right. Only she zagged too hard, overcompensating and picking up speed. She tried to turn but her legs weren't listening. Maybe because they had morphed into two big trembling wet noodles.
"On your left," she hollered as she zipped past two of her classmates, nearly taking them out at the knees.
"Kelly," she hollered over her shoulder, one octave away from manic. "What do I do?"
"Turn your feet in to make a triangle. Like a slice of pizza," Kelly hollered back. But Milly's legs stayed knees forward, pointed straight ahead.
Milly looked down at her feet, willing them into a pigeon-toe, but nothing happened. It was like her body wasn't getting the memo that if they didn't point in, they were going to die. And how embarrassing would it be to die on the bunny slope.
"Fore!" she called out to everyone around her, her gut telling her she was using the wrong sports metaphor. "Avalanche on the move!"
People scattered out of her way as Milly's arms, neon-pink poles in hand, flailed in the air, grasping for balance as she barreled forward like Lindsey Vonn in the 2010 Vancouver Games. She nearly buzzed a massive sequoia, veering at the last minute, setting her on a direct course with—
"Oh shit."
—the stone wall of Sierra Vista Lodge, a luxury ski resort based at the foot of the most treacherous runs in all the Sierra Nevada mountains.
The faster she went, the more imposing the wall became, until she was certain she was going to die. And wouldn't that piss Zoe off. For Milly to die before at least trying to live balls-to-the-wall. Zoe would accuse her of purposefully dying rather than facing a few of her fears—like ski lifts.
Milly prepared herself for impact, raising her arms in front of her face and closing her eyes. Except when she plummeted into the wall with an oof, she fell forward, rather than bouncing back, in a landing that was softer than expected.
"Ow," she moaned, putting her hands in front of her to push herself up. Instead of snow, her hands came into contact with hard ridges and valleys. Warm, hard ridges and valleys. Raising her head, she blinked up into the most mesmerizing green eyes she'd ever seen. Eyes that were swimming with concern and a tiny bit of recognition.
"Milly?" her unexpected savior said.
"Am I in heaven?" she asked, and that concern flipped to amusement, but the recognition remained.
"Why? You hoping to see me in heaven?" His voice was rough and low, like tossed gravel on steel, and so familiar she'd recognize it anywhere. It was her first crush.
Lucas Macintyre. Who also happened to be her newest, and only, client—at the moment.
When Zoe discovered she had just a few months to live, Milly relocated to Sierra Vista to live in the family's weekend home. Not wanting to miss even a moment, Milly took personal leave from her job as a logistics coordinator for a publishing house in New York. She liked problem-solving and spreadsheets and anything color-coded. The way she viewed the world, like it was a big Tetris puzzle waiting to be solved, made her good at what she did. And even with the stress associated with her job, she loved what she did.
Her boss allowed her to telecommute for a time, but when it became too difficult Milly had to choose. She chose Zoe, and she'd choose her again, but there were times that Milly wondered what her life would have been like had she stayed in New York.
Would Dillon have followed through on the engagement? Would she have landed the promotion she'd been working toward? Mainly, would she be happy?
Everything had moved so quickly. One second, she was on her way to ticking off life's boxes—dream job, dream husband, dream house—the next she was a caretaker to her sister. A job which had consumed the past nine months of her life.
After a while, her work friends had stopped calling, as if unsure what to say as the grief extended from weeks to months or somehow afraid that they'd remind her of her sister's death. Not that it would have mattered. She remembered every waking moment of every day. Some of the sleeping ones too.
Her life was stuck on pause while the rest of the world moved forward without her.
"I'd be lucky if I saw tomorrow at this point," she said to him.
His eyes lowered and she followed his gaze, realizing that she was cupping his pecs, one massive muscle in each hand, like she was copping a feel.
"Oh my god. I am so incredibly sorry. This is so unprofessional." She tried to jerk her hands back, but his arms wrapped around her, holding her firmly against him.
"I'm the one who caught you."
"You caught me?"
"I couldn't let you crash into the wall, now, could I?" he said in a warm tone that had the power to turn Siberia into one big puddle. "That was a pretty epic run."
"Followed by an epic fall."
"Which is why you should take a minute to make sure you're okay."
"I should be asking you that."
His eyes twinkled with mischief. "Never been better. Hey, Milly."
At the sound of her name rolling off his lips, all kinds of warm fuzzies ignited—in her southern region. Parts of her that she thought had gone on a permanent vacation were stamping their passport and arriving home.
"Hey," she breathed, feeling like a teen all over again.
Having a crush on one of her clients—especially when he hadn't so much as given her a hint of reciprocated feelings—was a bad idea, which was why she'd never acted on it. That didn't mean she didn't take a moment to appreciate how good he looked in a pair of jeans and black snow jacket. It was strange seeing him out of his usual suit and tie uniform.
She wasn't sure if it was seeing him outside of the office in such a casual setting, or that she'd lost her glasses in the snow, but he looked bigger, broader. Then there were the slight crinkles around his eyes as if smiling was his day job. And he was smiling now.
She slowly became aware of their position. She was on top of him, her thighs resting between his spread hips, all their good parts lined up. Clearly, she'd hit him head-on. "I should, um . . ." Using his yummy chest for leverage, she rolled off him, landing with a thud into a snow angel position. Her skis were standing up like roadkill, her poles scattered around her, and her snow cap lying limply a good foot from them.
He gracefully got to his feet and lent her a hand, pulling her up. Even through the double layers of gloves, a spark ignited. If he noticed, he didn't let on.
"Thank you," she said, dusting the snow off her butt.
"You need any help with that?"
Milly froze and met his gaze, pleasure and uncertainty playing a game of tug-of-war in her belly. Was he flirting with her? Was Lucas Macintyre really flirting with Milly Smartt? She wasn't sure. It had been so long since she'd flirted with a man, she didn't even remember what it felt like. The last man she'd flirted with was Dillon, who had bailed when life got hard.
Play it cool, she told herself. But her mouth didn't get the message and before she could stop herself, she asked, "Are you flirting with me?"
Gah! As a logistics specialist she had excellent communication skills. Normally. Around him she became a blundering geek. Heck, she was surprised that he'd contracted her at all. She'd stumbled through her presentation, but her strategic approach to their upcoming Sierra Vista Cup—a snowboarding and ski competition—won her the job.
He looked down on her. Those crinkles deepened. "Do you want me to be flirting?"
She stood there, mouth gaping like a fish, because did she want him to be flirting with her? She needed this contract and she didn't want to make things awkward—hard task since she was the queen of awkward. A title she'd worked hard to change. Sometimes she was successful. Around sexy, flirty guys? Not so much. So she went for honest. "I'm not sure how to answer that."
He laughed, a low rumble of a laugh. "Let me know when you decide."
He was even more funny and charming than she'd realized. Out of his suit he seemed taller and more filled out. Damn, the man was gorgeous. The last time they'd spoken about something other than ski wax and porta-potty deliveries, they'd both been teenagers, not even legally old enough to drink. That didn't stop them though. Her sister, Zoe, and his wilder identical twin, Jaxon, always made sure that the kegs were flowing.
Not sure how react to that kind of laugh, she blurted out, "How's work going?"
His smile dwindled. "Busy."
"Are you excited about the Sierra Vista Cup?" she asked. "I can't believe it's almost here."
It was just four weeks away and Milly was starting to sweat. Oh, she was on top of everything, but overseeing all the moving parts of an event that size was intimidating—and all encompassing. So that fun Milly was supposed to be chasing had taken a back seat.
"I'm guessing you're not entering," he teased, and she laughed.
He picked up her snow cap from the ground and settled it on her head, tugging at the dangling ties. "I like your hat."
"It's Zoe's." Millie looked down at her snowsuit and swallowed hard as a memory of her sister flittered through her mind. Memories of her sister that were slowly fading away. Milly didn't want to remember those final images, but she didn't regret spending every last minute caring for Zoe. Even when Milly's fiancé walked away because her life was too much for him.
"I found it cleaning out her things." Her eyes welled up and she knew she was about to lose it. She'd gotten better with talking about her sister, she really had. But after today, after attempting, once again, to live life full-out, it was all too much.
"I'm sorry about your sister," he said quietly.
"I don't want to talk about it. Today is about having a good time." Her breath caught. "I just wanted to clear my mind before I clear out the rest of Zoe's room. . ." She waved her hand in front of her face. "I don't even want to think about it, which is why I came here, hoping a lesson would take my mind off everything." She felt her throat closing in, a panic attack barreling down on her like a freight train.
Then he rested a hand on her shoulder and said, "Do you smell that?"
She took a deep inhale. "What?"
"Can you smell it?"
She took another breath. "I can't smell anything."
"It's the scent of a fun, carefree day."
Realizing what he'd just done for her, she swallowed hard. He'd distracted her. She was breathing regularly, and the panic was gone. "Oh, you're good."
Where her ex had chosen to walk out the door when she had a panic attack, this guy soothed her anxiety with his calm and reassuring patience. In that moment she didn't feel that her life was too much.
"That's the Macintyre way." The adult male confidence was sexy as hell. He bent over and plucked her glasses from the ground, shook them off and snugged it on over her nose—which brought him into twenty-twenty view—and into breathing distance. He smelled like pine and fresh snowfall. "How about that ski lesson?"
"Oh no." She shook her head. "I've had enough snow for one day."
"You didn't even make it to the slopes."
She looked back at the imposing mountain and shook her head. "Close enough for me."
"Well, then can I buy you a hot cocoa?" His gaze dropped to her mouth and a vaguely sensuous lightness passed between them. "Actually, I'd like to do something else." He stepped closer.
"Like what?" She was strangely flattered by his interest.
"You know what or you wouldn't have been sneaking peeks at my lips for the past five minutes."
"I didn't have my glasses on, who knew where I was looking." Even saying the words, she felt a hive break out on her forearm.
"Now, that's a lie."
"Maybe I have been sneaking peeks, but I'm a little out of practice. I haven't been with someone in a very, very, very long time."
This time his eyes definitely dropped to her lips, then back to meet her gaze. "How about we go to Bigfoot's Brews and grab a hot cocoa."
She blinked—three times. "Are you asking me out?"
He moved even closer, resting a big, manly hand on her hip. "Is that a yes, Mills?"
Before she could answer, his phone blew up with texts. One after another in rapid succession. He took a deep breath and sighed. "Dammit, I have to go. That's my sister bugging me about tonight's dinner."
"Is that like telling me you have to wash your hair?"
"No. This convo is to be continued at a time when my family isn't hounding me."
"I get it." Oh, she really got it. She too was the good kid and knew what it was like to give up what one wanted in order to be what others needed. Lucas's brother was a lot like Milly's sister, a free spirit. Just like his troublemaking playboy of a twin, her sister used to find trouble like nobody's business. Which was why she'd always felt a connection with Lucas. "Family always comes first."
His expression changed into something more serious. "It's not always that easy."
Wow. It was as if they were speaking the same language. She really got what he was saying. And that made him all the more attractive. She'd never been attracted to just the physicality; it'd always been the thing between the ears. And she was definitely attracted to that right now. Still, when he bent to pick up her poles, she couldn't help but admire his ass. And maybe it was a combo of brains and brawn.
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Someone just bought a World Series ticket for $6 on StubHub!! What, wait?!
Please enjoy this sweet coming of age tale where a 32-year old baseball fanatic finds riches beyond his wildest dreams only to have them dashed by a site that uses the word "Stub" in it's name.
Don't worry though, like all worthwhile stories there's a happy ending to this mess. In fact, the man's not only rewarded with bountiful riches, but they're handed over to him on a frickin' silver platter.


To earn this distinction, these five lawyers received the highest annual ratings from peer attorneys in their respective practices nationwide — for excellence in their abilities, professionalism, and integrity. They will be featured in various regional and national publications, including The Wall Street Journal, Chicago Tribune, Philadelphia Inquirer, and Miami Herald.
Robert Friedman serves as chair of Cozen O'Connor's Private Client Services Practice Group and concentrates his practice in the areas of estate and trust planning and administration, including business succession planning and tax and charitable planning. Robert is a fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, and he is a member of the Advisory Committee to the Pennsylvania Joint State Government Commission on Decedents' Estates Laws.
Mark Gallant is co-chair of Cozen O'Connor's Health Care Practice Group concentrating his practice in client counseling and litigation involving federal and state regulation of health care providers and third-party payers. Prior to entering private practice in Philadelphia in 1988, Mark served as the deputy chief counsel to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services in Washington, D.C., where he managed all litigation under the Medicare and Medicaid programs for the federal government nationally. Prior to that, Mark served for more than 10 years with the Civil Division of the U.S. Justice Department and U.S. Attorney's Office in D.C.
Jeffrey Pasek maintains a national practice representing employers in all facets of labor and employment law, including the negotiating and drafting of employment agreements for c-suite executives.
Joseph Tilson, chair of Cozen O'Connor's Labor & Employment Department, is also one of the co-managing partners of the firm's Chicago office. This is the third time in the last six years that Tilson has been named by Best Lawyers as a "Lawyer of the Year." His practice entails representing employers in large scale employment litigation and labor arbitrations. In the past 35 years, Tilson has tried more than 150 jury and non-jury cases before a full range of courts, administrative agencies and labor arbitrators. Tilson was recognized in 2016 as one of "Nation's Most Powerful Employment Lawyers" by Human Resource Executive/LawDragon, and has consistently achieved a Tier 1 Labor & Employment Ranking from Chambers USA.
In addition, 62 Cozen O'Connor lawyers, including the above five "Lawyers of the Year," have been selected as Best Lawyers, and will be included in the 2017 edition of the Best Lawyers in America.
Established in 1970 and ranked among the top 100 law firms in America, Cozen O'Connor has more than 700 attorneys who help clients manage risk and make better business decisions. The firm counsels clients on their most sophisticated legal matters in all areas of the law, including litigation, corporate and regulatory law. Representing a broad array of leading global corporations and middle market companies, Cozen O'Connor services its clients' need through 26 offices across two continents.


After 4 hours' flight, I arrived at Tel Aviv International Airport at 15:30 PM. The immigration control was not strict. My last visit in Israel was in January 1999 in order to attend the same meeting as this time. The meeting name was ICI (Innovations in Cardiovascular Interventions), which was held in Tel Aviv on December 3rd to 5th, 2006. I was directly invited from Professor Chaim Lotan, who was the President of the meeting. During the last visit, I did not do any cases and did only lectures. However, I was asked to do 1 CTO case as well as a lecture on CTO PCI this time.
Professor Lotan is the Professor of Interventional Cardiology in Hadassah-Hebrew University Hospital in Jerusalem, which is the biggest hospital in Israel. The hospital building is huge. Many Jewish people living and working in US are donating much money to the hospital. It is run by the Rothschild Foundation, The Women's Zionist Organization of America, inc., Hadassah Medical Organization and Israel Government.
I left the Hilton Tel Aviv Hotel early morning and moved to Jerusalem. It took more than 1 hour on highway by car from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. I could not find any scenery which suggested Israel was under war. I was surprised to know that the Hadassah Hospital was so huge. The case arranged to me had a CTO lesion in the middle LAD. Unfortunately, the collateral filling from RCA through the septal branches was poor. I decided to take an antegrade approach. The catheter laboratory was not wide. However, all of the staffs were very kind. Actually, my case was the 1st live case during the meeting.
The moderators in the auditorium were supreme. Those world-famous physicians like Patrick Serruys, Martin Leon, William Wijns, Alexander Abizaid and Yaron Almagor were there as well as Professor Lotan. After crossing the subintimal space of the CTO lesion, I could finally re-enter the tip of the guidewire into the distal true lumen. After the predilatation by a 1.5-mm balloon, I confirmed the position of the tip of the guidewire by using an IVUS examination. The guidewire was really in the distal true lumen. Thus, I put 2 stents in the part of the CTO lesion. However, unexpectedly, the flow to the distal true lumen, in which the distal part of my guidewire was, did not recover fully. Anyway, I had nothing to do else. I finished the case.
I received an award for the participation from the catheter laboratory staffs. I could not spend time there, since I had to return to the Hilton Hotel, where my lecture presentation was planned from 12:30. The traffic returning to Tel Aviv was so bad.
I delivered a talk on PCI for CTO lesions. There was an old friend of mine in the audience. He is an inventor for NIR stent. I talked with him. Meantime, I could see Professor Lotan.
The sunset was beautiful. I had to hurry to move to the Tel Aviv Airport to take El Al flight of LY 0081 to Bangkok departing at 22:10. Again, I received careful examination by the Security. I love this beautiful and historical country, Israel.
I arrived in Bangkok New Airport at 14:00 on December 5th. However, I had to spend almost 8 hours there to take the returning flight of JL 0718 to Tokyo departing at 22:30 there. I checked in the Transit Hotel in Bangkok Airport. However, I do tell that it is not a good idea to spend time in the Airport, since it is almost impossible to make an effective connection with Internet there. Finally, I returned to Tokyo at 06:15 AM on December 6th Wednesday 2006, and then I went to my hospital to work.


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