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Improving Quality of Life

Center for Chronic Disorders of Aging (CCDA) at PCOM

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Center for Chronic Disorders of Aging

The mission of the Center for Chronic Disorders of Aging (CCDA) at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine is to improve the quality of life for all individuals suffering from age-related chronic diseases and disorders.

The CCDA promotes a better understanding of the nature of chronic disease processes by supporting basic and applied investigations, and providing educational opportunities for the community, scientists and healthcare professionals. The CCDA furthers its mission through an interdisciplinary approach combining scientific research, education and clinical application into chronic diseases and disorders associated with the aging process.

Currently, basic science and clinical research at PCOM use approaches that bridge the molecular understanding of diseases/disorders with the macromolecular implementation of corrective measures. Given a philosophy that is unique in the medical community — that being one of an holistic approach centered on the individual with regards to structure and function and how the balance between the two is maintained — the CCDA provides an all-encompassing approach to the problem at hand (see Translational Research).

What We Do

Training for the Future

The CCDA provides opportunities for advanced training of medical students, residents and graduate students in numerous disciplines addressing the most pressing needs of aged and geriatric individuals with chronic problems. These opportunities include an advanced understanding of the manifestations of the problems and insights into the preventive measures than can be taken. Included with prevention is a better understanding of the roles of nutrition, exercise and environmental enrichment with regards to their positive affects on the overall health of the individual.

Understanding Aging to Better Reduce Risk

There is a distinct need to understand the role of chronic diseases/disorders as a component of the aging process. Modern medicine is enabling people to live longer, but longer life results in an increase in age-related chronic diseases. These diseases/disorders may originate at any point in one's life span and thus study of these processes is required from birth to the end of life. There is renewed interest in determining what causes chronic disease and why the aging process appears to promote an increase in these types of diseases. The approach taken by the Center includes uncovering common features of disease processes that will result ultimately in better treatments and prevention of these problems. Improved holistic treatments can be designed to provide the individual patient with a level of specialized care that is based on knowledge of their particular genetic and environmental risk factors. Knowledge of these risk factors will provide the framework for the development of realistic approaches to prevent chronic diseases, thereby eventually eliminating their enormous impact on society.

Facilitating the Process of Healthy Aging

The current national emphasis on chronic diseases as well as the aging of the population in the United States mandates increased efforts in expanding basic and applied research into these combined entities. In addition, to facilitate these aims, we must increase our educational efforts for both health care professionals and the general populace.

The uniqueness of this Center lies in its combined approach of studying chronic diseases/disorders as they apply to the aging process and promoting the application of this knowledge by patients and healthcare providers alike. Current healthcare budgets and projected costs over the next 10-30 years make this a top priority in the USA as well as worldwide.

As populations continue to age, there are increasing demands on the current and projected resources and societal infrastructures that threaten to diminish the overall quality of life of these very populations. Thus, the CCDA will be a dynamic center for both research and education with emphasis on developing strategies to facilitate the process of healthy aging.

Contact the CCDA

4170 City Ave.
Philadelphia, PA 19131

Phone: 215-871-6961 | Fax: 215-871-6869


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Oracle says it didn’t ask employee to cook cloud accounts

The software and cloud company claims the employee was terminated for performance reasons

20151027 openworld oracle cloud signs
Stephen Lawson

Oracle has denied in a California federal court charges leveled by a former manager that she was sacked after she refused to cook accounts in the company’s cloud business and threatened to blow the whistle on the accounting practices.

The software and cloud computing giant appears to be fleshing out its original stand that the employee had been terminated for poor performance and not as a whistleblower, which would give her a number of protections under securities laws.

In a filing in June in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, Svetlana Blackburn, a senior finance manager for North America SaaS/Cloud Revenue, alleged that her superiors had instructed her to “to add millions of dollars in accruals to financial reports, with no concrete or foreseeable billing to support the numbers," an act that she had warned was improper and suspect accounting.

Oracle denied the charge in its reply on Tuesday to the complaint and also denied that Blackburn had ever told her supervisor that she would “blow the whistle” if ordered to proceed in the fashion.

The company’s lawyers wrote that the actions Blackburn complained of were not in retaliation, but based upon “legitimate, non-discriminatory, job-related reasons, including Plaintiff’s ongoing performance issues and failure to address same”. The filing refers to Blackburn's alleged "improper conduct" while working at Oracle and her "choice to file false and scurrilous allegations in this case."

The former employee was not a “whistleblower” under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, which protects employees from discrimination, because she did not make a report “to the Commission” as required by the language of the DFA, according to the filing.

Blackburn, whose employment was terminated after what she describes as a positive performance review in August 2015, accuses Oracle of unlawful retaliation under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the Dodd-Frank Act, which are laws that aim to prevent corporate accounting fraud and errors, and offer protection to whistleblowers.

Oracle has also denied Blackburn’s charge that her employment at the company came “to an abrupt end because she resisted, refused to engage in and threatened to blow the whistle on accounting practices she reasonably believed to be unlawful.” In her complaint, Blackburn had also charged that upper management was "trying (and trying to push her) to fit square data into round holes, in an effort to bolster ORACLE Cloud Services financial reports that would be paraded before company leadership as well as the investing public.” Oracle has denied this allegation as well in its filing.

There is some dispute about the date on which Blackburn’s employment was terminated, with her complaint claiming in some places that it was Aug. 26, though in other places it mentions Oct. 15. Oracle has stated that she was terminated on Oct. 15.

After Blackburn sued Oracle, company spokeswoman Deborah Hellinger said it was confident that all its cloud accounting is proper and correct. "This former employee worked at Oracle for less than a year and did not work in the accounting group. She was terminated for poor performance, and we intend to sue her for malicious prosecution,” she added.

Blackburn’s lawyer could not be immediately reached for comment late Tuesday.

To comment on this article and other PCWorld content, visit our Facebook page or our Twitter feed.
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Friday, April 16, 2004

>While I was reading this I suddenly had the (I would say sad) thought that despite all of any WC director's work, people who work there are probably not going to have the commitment level that she or he has since, ultimately, many folks don't work in writing centers as a carreer. It is for them, perhaps, just a weigh station. It is something to do before you get you finish up your work and move on to the real job.<

I'm new to PeerCentered, so I thought I'd begin by responding to this post. My title is English Instructional Skills Specialist for the English Learning Center at Palo Alto College, a position I've held for five years. Yes, that's right, five years. Awfully long time to pause at a "weigh station," don't you think?

I honestly didn't come into this job on my way to something else. I came into this job on my way OUT of something else. I taught high school for three years before I came to the community college. At the end of those three years, I'd had quite enough. I needed a change, so here I am. Initially, I didn't think beyond this position. When I came in the door, I was told that no one stayed here longer than two years. Most went on to obtain their MAs and secure faculty positions. That made sense enough, I suppose. I was in no hurry to do that. This is a comfy gig. I am full-time instructional staff, and I am also a member of the adjunct faculty. I have the best of both worlds. Why change?

After five years, I'm starting to see why. There is no way up or across for me. At this college district, there are no job descriptions that represent a promotion for me or even allow me to transfer laterally. I'm stuck exactly where I am. My only way out is the same way out that everyone before me has taken. Unless I can be content with what I have (which is lovely, don't get me wrong), I will find myself mired in a position that will cap out in salary in my tenth year and will offer me few new challenges once the center is well and truly established, which it should be at that point. My clock is ticking.

Note: I didn't come in the door with MA in hand. I came with a BA, graduate hours, secondary teaching certification, and adult ed experience. So why don't I have the MA and the faculty position yet?

I saw no need to press for the degree until recently. I took a course here, a course there, just to satisfy my own desire for knowledge. I had the career in my pocket, and the college has been quite content with me and my performance. Times are uncertain these days. Budgets are tight, and no one's job is safe. If I get the axe, where do I go?

Back to high school. I was good at that. I really was, but that's not where my heart is. I love the community college, and I'd like to stay. In order to stay, I think I'm going to have to grow, like it or not.

You see, some people DO come to the writing center looking for a career. The problem is that the writing center just isn't a very good career option, not unless this is something you are coming to near retirement. Chances are, you won't be looking to grow, advance. You'll be safe and snug. Writing centers are good at providing safe and snug. Careers, unfortunately, can't really be safe and snug if they are to be truly successful. They must be a little risky, mustn't they?

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Tuesday, April 26, 2005

Gender in the Center

Although it says that my name is Peter, this is actually Jo from the Western Washington University writing center.

To echo Jen in the last post, I too have recently participated in a writing center conference. Unlike Jen, however, who is a seasoned veteran at leading conference sessions, I was a newbie. I was working with two fellow writing assistants (tutors), and our conference was on gendered communication in the writing center.

I must admit that to me, gender dynamics, like Hamlet, are everywhere in our lives. Not everyone agrees with me, however. Many people participating in our conference thought that gender had absolutely no effect on their practice as members of the writing center community. Most people pre-conference felt that both their own gender and the gender of the person they were working with didn't really matter when it came to writing and tutoring.

At the Western Washington University writing center, however, we found some pretty interesting numbers involving our own staff and the demographic of people who use our writing center. Although our campus is 55% female and 45% male (pretty standard around the nation), we found that 72% of writers using the center were female. Interestingly, almost 70% of our staff is female as well, and on a larger scale, national writing center Directors are 80% female.

Why do we experience this disparity? Is it because writing center pedagody is geared towards a type of communication that is more stereotypically associated with women? Are women more willing to ask for help on their writing? Is it that writing centers in general are targeted for the humanities rather than the sciences, where women typically make up the majority? What other factors play in here?

  1. Anonymous4:41 PM

    I wonder if there are more women in the writing center because men, stereotypically, never ask for directions, and therefore wouldn't come to a writing center.

  2. Peter, do you have the numbers for gender of writers you see in the center? I'm curious. I don't think we've ever looked at that stat here.... I've read some interesting stuff on gender communication--I imagine one of the most popular writers on the subject is Deborah Tannen (*You Just Don't Understand*). I wonder if anyone has applied some of her theories to writing center work? I would imagine so???

    Sherri at Whatcom

  3. Whoops, duh! I just saw the percentage you gave regarding gender of writing center users. Sorry, I missed that the first time. Maybe I'll go through and count up our stats from last quarter....


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Home » Enjoying » Events

Welcome to this year's selection of Activities and Events hosted by the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority. We have a variety of exciting activities where you can explore the National Park and appreciate its wildlife, landscape, history and culture. Our programme tries to offer something for everyone so use the search facility to find something to suit you.

You can also view our events in Coast to Coast.

Castlemartin on Foot

Starting at 09:30 14 April and finishing at 16:00 14 April

Explore the dramatic coastline, wildlife and history of this unique place with an experienced and knowledgeable local guide.
Secret coves and majestic coastal scenery sit side-by-side with a mosaic of grassland habitat and forgotten ruins.This is a 6.5 moderately strenuous walk.

Over 18s only. No dogs please. There are no toilets available on the Castlemartin Range.

BOOKING ESSENTIAL: You must pre-book all places on any trip on the Range.

Event Reference : 6530

Booking : 01437 720392

5 remaining spaces

Meet at: Castlemartin Merrion Camp - Merrion SA71 5EB
Held at: Castlemartin Merrion Camp - Merrion SA71 5EB
Finish at: Stack Rocks - SA71 5EB

Recommended Kit:
Binoculars / Packed lunch / Walking or Hiking Boots / Warm clothing advised / Water / Drink / Waterproof Jacket /

Adults £6.00
Seniors £6.00

Return to list or explore the map


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Retro 51 Tornado Vintage Metalsmith Franklin Review

Retro 51 Tornado Franklin.jpg

Most of us can agree that the Retro 51 is one of the finest and most accessible roller ball pens on the market today. Brad did a great job of reviewing the classic model in 2012. The point of this review is to showcase the art and beauty of the Franklin version of the Vintage Metalsmith series of the Tornado line. Let me just say, I completely agree with the people that say the Schmidt refill that Retro 51 use in these pens is absolutely fantastic. Like Myke, this isn't my first Retro 51, and it likely won't be my last. They're like the Pringles of pens: once you pop, you can't stop.

Once I decided that I wanted to try one of the more expensive Retro 51 models, I had to decide which of the three in the metalsmith line. I really liked the looks of the Lincoln and the Jefferson, but I decided to take a chance on the Franklin because I liked the subtle ivy relief on the barrel. This is a hunch that I'm extremely happy I followed. The pictures on the JetPens website don't do this pen justice. In person, it's much more elegant and gorgeous.

A few things are different about this pen than the regular lacquer version. For one, it's just a teensy bit heavier, but not in a bad way. For me, the texture of the ivy relief on the barrel makes for a more enjoyable writing experience. It gives my fingers something to hold onto. The metal barrel also adds gobs of class to the already classy pen. I've gotten more than a few compliments on this pen, even from people who don't care about pens. This is an object of beauty, and it also happens to offer one of the best writing experiences for the money.

If I had any negative comments, it would be that this pen is a little more expensive than the regular line of Tornados. It's not much, though -- just a few dollars. To me, the few extra dollars is more than worth it. I actually bought a Jefferson version of the pen as a gift for someone else, so I can say that I prefer the looks and feel of the Franklin. Don't get me wrong, the Jefferson is still a gorgeous pen, but it has a different look.

Retro 51 certainly have a lot to offer in the way of variety, but keep the Franklin in mind if you're thinking of expanding or even starting a collection.

Retro 51 Tornado Franklin 2.jpg

(You can find more from Jeff online at Draft Evolution, Twitter, and

Posted on February 5, 2014 and filed under Pen Reviews, Retro 51.


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Iraqi union leader: “War not over for our workers”

LOS ANGELES – “U.S. troops are gone from my country but the war is not over for Iraqi workers,” said a union leader from that country in an interview here Sept. 9.

Hassan Juma’a Awad, president of the Iraq Federation of Oil Unions, was in town as a guest at the AFL-CIO’s 2013 convention where he spoke at a special event organized by U.S. Labor Against the War.

Hassan Juma’a said that workers in his country are routinely denied their right to organize unions and to speak out about working conditions. And he said oil workers whom he represents are engaging in a full-fledged battle to prevent big multinational oil companies from completely taking over the nation’s oil industry. Until the U.S. invasion of Iraq the oil companies were nationally owned. BP, ExxonMobil and others have systematically been grabbing control over the industry ever since the U.S. invasion, he said.

“They started out by coming in as consultants and in some cases now essentially control the major oil fields. There are $43 billion in oil profits that should be going to solve the lack of electric power and housing in the post-war cities and towns of Iraq,” he said, “but the gangster element in control now after the U.S. invasion has ensured that the Iraqi people haven’t seen a dime of that money.”

“The situation is such that the people of Iraq gain very little from their own oil industry and in fact have to ask how does it benefit us at all?” he said. “We get environmental problems, higher cancer rates, but the money doesn’t go to improving conditions for the people.”

Iraq’s Ministry of Oil, doing the bidding of the multinational oil companies, filed criminal charges against him earlier this year alleging that the strikes he has led undermined the Iraqi economy. But after the government failed to produce evidence, a judge threw out the case in July.

Previously, government charges against Hassan Juma’a were dropped after an international solidarity campaign organized by the AFL-CIO’s Solidarity Center and U.S. Labor Against the War. The campaign eventually garnered support from 150 organizations in 24 countries, and by winning dismissal of the charges he avoided three years in prison.

“I am happy to be back here with my brothers and sisters in American unions,” he said. “When I visited in 2005 it was with good results.”

His visit that year with other Iraqi union leaders was important in getting the AFL-CIO to pass a historic resolution calling for the end of U.S. participation in the war in Iraq. “Workers in Iraq were critical in the struggle to end the U.S. occupation of my country,” Awad said. “We appreciate the support of the American unions and the American people. We need your continued help in our fight for union rights and democracy and we are well aware that many of the bad things that happened to our workers – the attacks on their right to organize, the privatization of their resources – these are now battles for you too.”

Photo: Iraqi union leaders gather in Irbil, Iraq, for a meeting sponsored by Solidarity Center (Hassan Juma’a is wearing white shirt, row 1, third from left). U.S. Labor Against the War

John Wojcik
John Wojcik

John Wojcik is Editor-in-Chief of People's World. He joined the staff as Labor Editor in May 2007 after working as a union meat cutter in northern New Jersey. There, he served as a shop steward, as a member of a UFCW contract negotiating committee, and as an activist in the union's campaign to win public support for Wal-Mart workers. In the 1970s and '80s he was a political action reporter for the Daily World, this newspaper's predecessor, and was active in electoral politics in Brooklyn, New York.


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300 items @ 50% Off

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Rolla’s is a classic denim brand celebrating authenticity and simplicity and applying it to a frivolous and free modern lifestyle.

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Get all the latest denim, tee and shirts for men by Rolla’s online at Peppermayo.

This item cannot be returned.
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Human rights defender sentenced to 33 years and 148 lashes

When it comes to religious belief, I try not to be judgemental. After all, if it’s harmless and gives people comfort, why condemn it. Organised religion is a different story, often trying to impose its teachings and practices on society. We see this in many countries, in particular the US. This is especially so where there is no separation between state and religion. One such country is Iran. According to Amnesty International, … Read more

My experience with religion

My experience with religion is interesting (at least to me). I was brought up as “no religion” by my parents, one of whom was a failed Catholic, the other with barely any comprehension of religion. I and my brothers were sent to Sunday school so that our parents could have some “afternoon delight”, but after the required ten weeks to score a bible, we stopped going and went to play instead. After … Read more


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Curli Dog Harness Vest Cord Tan

An elegant and comfortable tan step-in dog harness with durable corduroy outer material and air-mesh lining.
Article number:
Delivery time:
2-5 business days
Incl. tax

Dog Harness Vest Cord Tan

This dog harness is made of durable corduroy. The lining is lightweight and breathable air mesh material.

This dog harness is an model where your dog simply steps into it. It is easily adjustable in size by using Velcro and it is very easy to put it onto your dog quickly. On the back, the dog harness is provided with a velcro closure. Also, the harness has a ratchet system which is attached to the cross-stitched bindings for a perfect pressure distribution. You can attach the leash to the two lightweight D rings.

 For added safety and visibility , we recommend the optional Curli Luumi LEDs. They have been especially designed to attach to the Curli Dog Harnesses.

Each dog harness of Curli features a special DogFinder ID.
This means that each harness is equipped with a unique code that you can find under the label.
This code can be registered free of charge at Curli with all the details of the dog.

If the dog has run away, the finder can locate the owner of the dog on the Curli website

Colour: Tan.

Determine the right size for your dog: to measure is to know, click here for details!

Available in the following sizes:

Size chest
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XXS 28-32 cm
XS 32-36 cm
S 36-41 cm
M 41-46 cm
L 46-53 cm
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Beoordeling Petsonline: 9.1 / 10 (2212 beoordelingen) op


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C3 Initiative: "Chester Made" Information-Gathering Sessions

19 - 28 Feb 2015
CHESTER, Pennsylvania

Artist-led story circles held by the Chester Cultural Corridor team created this downtown asset map of arts, culture and creative expression. Photo by Paul Fritz, Consulting City Planner.

Supported by The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage, the Chester Cultural Corridor Initiative takes a novel approach to city planning, using theater and community dialogue to inform the revitalization of the Chester Cultural Corridor (C3) along Avenue of the States between City Hall and Widener University.

A "Chester Made" Artist-Facilitator Ensemble will ask youth, seniors, artists, cultural leaders, healers, local historians, business owners, and Widener's campus—and many more—to share personal stories of meaningful cultural and creative experiences in Chester to map locations where "art and culture happen." These stories will form the basis of a cultural asset map that will ensure "Chester Made" arts and culture are visible and celebrated—and attract support for large-scale public art projects and other campaigns for cultural revitalization in the downtown corridor.

During each of the five Information-Gathering Sessions, groups will share their stories in story circles, experience short image theater pieces based on those stories, and collectively reflect on shared values, experiences, and visions for creative expression and cultural engagement in Chester.

The overarching goal is to include and to hear from local community members who rarely attend public meetings or participate in traditional methods of data collection, in an effort to rebuild an overall positive community identity, and to create conditions for grassroots social change and economic development.

February 19, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Boys & Girls Club of Chester
201 East 7th Street, Chester, PA

February 21, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
The Artist Warehouse
504 Edgemont Avenue, Chester, PA

February 26, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
True Vine Missionary Full Gospel Baptist Church
701 Morton Avenue, Chester, PA

February 27, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Chester Senior Center
721 Hayes Street, Chester, PA

February 28, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Entrepreneur Works Delaware County
1350 Edgemont Avenue, Suite 1300, Chester, PA


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Barbour New Tyne Crew Neck Sweater

(MKN0789) PM ref: 906873

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The men’s Barbour New Tyne crew neck sweater is made from 100% lambswool with 5 gauge knit and a flag label at side seam. This robust, versatile sweater is taken from Barbour's Classic Collection and is reminiscent of the traditional fisherman’s sweater; it proves a popular choice year after year, as it's an ideal choice for layering under Barbour jackets for additional warmth. It features ribbed neck and cuffs, along with taped shoulder seams.

Key Features

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A Soulful Strategy = Greater Social Impact

Through a strategic process PHILLINNOVA empowers your organization to create a cohesive culture, connection and collaboration - the formula for maximum impact and contribution.

Stakeholder Strategy Session

An organization is the sum of its parts - staff, members of the board, volunteers, donors and those that you serve.  The success of your organization is greatest when all stakeholders share a passion for and commitment to your mission, vision and development strategy. Stakeholder Strategy Sessions engage all stakeholders in the creation of an organizational culture that builds a foundation for sustainable fundraising and development.

Founders Forum

The Founders Forum was created as an opportunity for nonprofit leaders to come together, remove their protective armor, and engage in a peer-to-peer mentoring mastermind. Often founders and executive directors wear many hats in their organization. The Founders Forum provides a safe space to share best practices, learn from challenges, and support  other daring nonprofit leaders.  Forums are virtual and are held once a month to create a platform for peers to hold each other capable and to assist one another in their individual growth and the expansion and capacity building of their organizations.

1:1 Monthly Coaching

Through 1:1 coaching, nonprofit leaders have the opportunity to strengthen specific areas of their organizations that will increase efficiency and impact, such as:

Abundant Mindset - Possibility/vision

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Join a community of innovative social impact leaders!

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Prenuptial Agreements

Are you planning to pop the question?

If you are, make sure you do not just put a ring on their finger – give consideration to a prenuptial agreement.

That is the advice of solicitor Hayley Eachus, who is a member of the Family Law team at Phillips.

She says rather than being regarded as something unromantic and mercenary, prenups should be considered by anyone contemplating marriage.

Marriage is about love and sharing the rest of your lives together, but in the eyes of the law, it is a contract between two people and it deals with the financial consequences of the marriage ending.

Naturally, you are not going into marriage thinking that your relationship might break down, but unfortunately that happens more frequently nowadays, so here are just a few good reasons why you should have a prenup:

If you are much wealthier than your partner, then a prenup can ensure that your partner is marrying you for who you are and not for your money.

If you are remarrying and you have children from a previous marriage, own a home or other significant assets, then a prenuptial agreement can ensure that when you pass away, your assets are distributed according to your wishes, and that neither your first family, nor your new family are cut off.

If you own part of a business and your marriage ends, your spouse could end up having an interest in your share of your business if you do not have a prenup. You and your business partners may not want this to happen.

It may seem tough to talk about your loving, committed relationship as if it were a business arrangement and it may seem unromantic, but if you can sit down and discuss your future plans and expectations, logically rather than emotionally, you will find it much easier.  This may also prevent highly contested divorce proceedings, if you were ever to separate.

A legal professional like Hayley will help you to understand the different kinds of issues that might be covered in a prenup. The better informed you are, the easier it will be for you to explain things to your intended spouse.


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September 27, 2015

The Mass has ended and the journey home begins

Farewell, Holy Father.

Pope Francis wrapped up his whirlwind tour of Cuba and the United States on Sunday, and is on his way home to Rome.

He grabbed a window seat after boarding the jetliner that will carry him across the Atlantic Ocean, then waved through the window at the crowd at Philadelphia International Airport.

A few minutes earlier, he thanked a volunteers and supporters at a gathering in an Atlantic Aviation hangar.

As his final papal Mass in the United States drew to a conclusion, Francis blessed the multitudes who came to Center City on Sunday, asking them to follow the teachings of the church and for their prayers for him.

The crowd of pilgrims was estimated by some media agencies as close to a million; they had streamed into the city throughout the day.

Vice President Joe Biden and his wife, Jill Biden wave to volunteers from the World Meeting of Families at Philadelphia International Airport on Sunday night, before saying goodbye to Pope Francis. (Larry Kesterson, Pool / AP)

SEPTA officials said they were ready for the mass exodus of the churchgoers from the Ben Franklin Parkway.

"So far, so good," said spokesman Manny Smith. "No glitches. Our post-event service has seen the largest crowds at Walnut-Locust, Jefferson Station and 30th Street Station. Things have been moving quickly. We're boarding the trains successfully and keeping things moving."

There was a large queue at the Walnut-Locust station, but Smith said it was clear at the platform level trains on the Broad Street Line service came through every five minutes. When crowds swelled, 25 buses were called in to express riders to AT&T Station.

Starting at 5 a.m. Monday, SEPTA expects to return to a normal weekday schedule. Smith advised bus riders to check the agency's website for potentially significant detours on Center City routes due to remnants from the weekend's security apparatus. On Monday, Regional Rail lines will operate on a Saturday schedule, with additional trains for the Cynwyd and Newark lines.

"We learn from every big event," Smith said. "For Made in America earlier this summer, crowds left the Parkway all at one time, so we are prepared for this. In the planning and buildup to [the] papal event, our staff also looked back to our experience from the parting crowd from the Phillies World Series parade in 2008."

Delaware River Port Authority officials announced Sunday that the Benjamin Franklin Bridge will reopen to vehicular traffic beginning at 4 a.m. on Monday. The accelerated reopening will allow for normal operation during the Monday morning rush hour.

Pedestrians will be able to access the Ben Franklin Bridge foot walk overnight and throughout the day tomorrow.

Officials at Philadelphia International Airport said travelers flying out on Monday should arrive three hours early for international flights and two hours for domestic flights.

Christian and Mary Cortez, of Morristown, New Jersey, drove to a SEPTA station and took a train into Philadelphia for the papal Mass. They plan to head home the same way.

They found SEPTA to be clean and the people-friendly.

"People are saying God bless you, welcome and enjoy," Christian Cortez said. "SEPTA is good."

The Eucharist was distributed at many points along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway during the Papal Mass, Sunday, September 27, 2015. (Thom Carroll / PhillyVoice)

Jenny Suarez, of Colchester, Connecticut, took Amtrak into Philly. She is staying the night with a friend before heading home tomorrow.

John Nicholas, of Philadelphia, missed the Mass while waiting in line at a security checkpoint for hours. But he said he had no problems taking SEPTA into Center City.

"I'm just going to walk or take SEPTA," he said. "SEPTA wasn't bad getting here. The only problem was getting in. There wasn't enough checkpoints."

"It wasn't a problem getting out, but we didn't like going up Chestnut instead of Market," said Mary Delorenzo, 65, of Bensalem, who waited almost more than three hours to get through security to the papal Mass. Market Street was closed at 22nd and throngs of attendees were rerouted to Chestnut Avenue.

"It was a mess," said Mary McCandless, 63, about entering the Mass. "They should have consulted with Disney World. They can do this everyday."

"Getting in was a nightmare but, getting out, this is just fine," said Tricia Indelicato, 32 as they made their way out of Center City.

The crowd filled Spring Garden Street after the end of the papal Mass on Sunday evening. (PhillyVoice staff)

Those leaving the Mass said the event was overwhelming.

Stella Carmen and her brother, James Santos, came from Texas together to represent their family, one of the pope's themes.

"It was very family," said Santos. "Families were all around us."

Carmen said it was "very emotional," especially at the point in the Mass where "peace be with you" was said and the entire audience reached out to each other.

Check back for more on this developing story.


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Weddings are special to us! The way we see it, after your wedding day is over, you only walk away with two things: your marriage and your wedding photos. We hope that you choose a team who helps you relive your priceless, timeless memories again and again. At PHOCO, we don't take this responsibility lightly and we would be honored to capture your wedding day just as it unfolds. In the process, we also hope to become more than just your photographer or videographer, we will be friends, or as we call it, PHRIENDS!

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Debian Is Back To Discussing Init Systems, Freedom of Choice
Written by Michael Larabel in Debian on 17 October 2014 at 08:20 AM EDT. 62 Comments
The init system discussion is back on in the Debian camp... A vote will be taking place in two weeks to look at preserving the "freedom of choice of init systems."

Ian Jackson called for a general resolution yesterday similar to what was proposed in March about preserving the freedom of choice of init systems. This isn't about trying to fight again over Upstart vs. systemd as the default init system but is about making sure Debian packages don't depend on a single init system.
This GR seeks to preserve the freedom of our users now to select an init system of their choice, and the project's freedom to select a different init system in the future. It will avoid Debian becoming accidentally locked in to a particular init system (for example, because so much unrelated software has ended up depending on a particular init system that the burden of effort required to change init system becomes too great). A number of init systems exist, and it is clear that there is not yet broad consensus as to what the best init system might look like.

This GR does not make any comment on the relative merits of different init systems; the technical committee has decided upon the default init system for Linux for jessie.

This time around there were enough votes by members of Debian's technical committee so this resolution will be put for a vote in two weeks after the discussion period has ended.
About The Author
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Michael Larabel is the principal author of and founded the site in 2004 with a focus on enriching the Linux hardware experience. Michael has written more than 10,000 articles covering the state of Linux hardware support, Linux performance, graphics drivers, and other topics. Michael is also the lead developer of the Phoronix Test Suite, Phoromatic, and automated benchmarking software. He can be followed via Twitter or contacted via

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Some System76 Hardware Beginning To See Coreboot Support
Written by Michael Larabel in Coreboot on 8 February 2019 at 09:11 AM EST. 2 Comments
Several System76 laptops are beginning to see Coreboot support! This is a nice sign of progress in making System76 hardware more attractive to Linux/open-source users though they aren't yet shipping Coreboot on the systems by default.

Felix Singer has begun work on porting Coreboot for various motherboards used by different System76 laptops. It's exciting to see and hopefully will expand to most of their product portfolio.

Under review for upstream Coreboot since last week is Clevo N130WU / N131WU support, which is used by the System76 Galago Pro. The Clevo N130WU is also used by Tuxedo Computer's InfinityBook 13 Linux laptop. All core functionality appears to be working for this Coreboot port.

System76 is also now hosting their own Coreboot Git repository where this work is taking place. Within there is a port for handling the System76 Darter Pro 5, Galago Pro 2, and Galago Pro 3 laptops. Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be any Coreboot activity yet on supporting their new Thelio line of desktop computers.

There is also a new coreboot-collector utility being worked on by System76 that is a Rust-written utility for collecting various motherboard information to assist in working on Coreboot motherboard ports.

This is certainly exciting to see and will hopefully extend to other System76 products and ideally to begin shipping with Coreboot as a replacement to proprietary BIOS for their systems in the future.
About The Author
Author picture

Michael Larabel is the principal author of and founded the site in 2004 with a focus on enriching the Linux hardware experience. Michael has written more than 10,000 articles covering the state of Linux hardware support, Linux performance, graphics drivers, and other topics. Michael is also the lead developer of the Phoronix Test Suite, Phoromatic, and automated benchmarking software. He can be followed via Twitter or contacted via

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Public Project | Closed | Total Prize Pool $6,250

Design your own suitcase for BG Berlin (Updated)

#MeetTheWorld | Urban Contemporary Traveling Lifestyle

$6,250 Total Prize Pool

1. Clients Choice Awards

$5,000 pool prize for 10 winner designs selected by the client for $500 each. *License fee included.

2. Community Awards

$1,000 pool prize for the top 10 community rating designs for $100 each.

3. MVP Award

$250 prize for the best designer performance.

4. Special Awards

 A set of BG Berlin suitcases for each of the clients choice award winners.

BG Berlin is an innovative German luggage and travel accessories brand from BENGA International GmbH. The brand focuses on contemporary art and they are fascinated by culture, design and fashion for the free and spirited traveller. The reason they’re different is because they have created an art ‘society’; a community that follows the above, travel and arts interests. Within this community you are given the opportunity to showcase your talent. Sharing common interests but from different viewpoints, this is an exclusive approach to exposing your unique abilities.

BG Berlin’s current best seller collection was designed by Pictosis creators, designers & artists from around the world trendsetting in different markets.

Are you ready to #MeetTheWorld?

Now, is time for you to get onboard once again! Don’t miss this exciting opportunity for the new crowdstorm design project where the BG Berlin URBE Suitcase Collection 2018 will be designed, produced and launched into markets next year! You too can be one of the winning designers & artists who will see their creations in real life enjoyed by travellers all around the world.

The brand is looking for contemporary, cool, fresh and creative artworks to be printed on the front and back sides of the suitcases to set a new trend in the travel market.

Get your creative mojo going! BG Berlin travelers are from around the world, they love to standout from the crowd with their urban fashion lifestyles & outfits, they love to meet new people, share art, design & global culture.

• Cool

• Fun

• Creative

• Contemporary

• Fresh

• Provocative

• Colorful

• Timeless

Mandatory Requirements

• You must use templates files from download material section(see below).

• Your designs images max file size 5MB in 2000 x 2000px / 300dpi (.png or .jpg).

• Covers images of your designs max file size 5MB in 2000 x 2000px / 300dpi (.png or .jpg).

• All images must be uploaded only here in Pictosis.

• If selected as a winner, you must provide original files (.ai or .psd) to receive your prize.

• All intellectual property from all artworks & designs must belong to it’s author, otherwise, they will be immediately disqualified.

* Offensive content addresses to any idea, project or user will be removed and/or banned(block) from this platform and from all it’s social networks, as well as all violent content against human rights, animals rights and/or nature.

This is an open public crowdstorm design project to all creatives / designers from all around the world. The start date is Monday Aug-14-2017 at 9am & it ends Sunday Oct-31-2017* at 23:59pm.

Selection & Jury

All the “Clients Choice Winners” will be selected by “BG Berlin Team Members”, and “Community Award Winners“ will be selected by the “Platform Rating Star System“ shown in each entry. The proposals that do not fill out all mandatory requirements will be removed from the final round selection.

There are no maximum entries allowed. All participants are allowed to enter multiple times with a different design/artwork per time. Therefore if selected more than once participants can gather more $ in prizes if their designs/artworks are selected by the jury as “Clients Choice Winners” of this project as well as selected as “Community Award Winners“.

All 20 winners  will be announced on Tuesday Nov-07-2017* by email and will also be posted on the Pictosis platform, social media & blogs.

Special Prizes

All “Clients Choice Winners” will receive 1 set(x3) of the new URBE 2018 Collection of suitcases. “Community Award Winners“ & “Clients Choice Winners” will be featured in BG Berlin ArtSociety Catalogue, BG Berlin new website(wip) & BG Berlin 2018 Campaign as well as featured on the Pictosis platform, social media & blogs.

Monetary prizes will be sent 2-3 weeks after winners announcement date(once original design files delivered) and will be done via the following options:

• PayPal

• WireTransfers (bank txn fees deducted from money prize)

• ETH (ethereum cryptocurrency) (eth/usd fixed price at payments date).

©Copyrights & Licenses | Intelectual Property | Rules & Legals

* All rights for commercial use from winner designs & artworks will be assigned 100% to BG Berlin for unlimited and unrestricted use, even though, all credits as the creator, designer & artist of winner entries will belong to it’s authors.

 * Authors from projects that were not selected as winners will keep all copyrights and intellectual property from their entries and will not be able to use their designs & artworks after 6 months once the crowdstorm design project is closed in case the client wants to buy more proposals from participants. If participants use their proposals outside Pictosis or in any third party client or platform, it won’t be consider or included for future client licenses.

* If Client requires, crowdstorms projects may extends submission times for any reason the brand needs to do so.

* Payment times may vary according to the time Client pays to Pictosis platform as well as soon all winners © papering it’s done & masters files delivered.

* By participating in this project, you agree and accept all content above in this document.

Download Material

• Template for your designs

• Template for your covers

Follow BG Berlin in Social Medias

Clients Feedback

BG Berlin team is loving your designs proposals so much that they are very happy to announce a new $250 prize for the favorite designer of this crowdstorm design project adding also to more 2 weeks for you to submit your outstanding designs.

We have received a lot requests from designers around the world for time extension and BG Berlin really wants to give the creative community the opportunity to create together in this crowdstorm for 15 more days.

We know we were close to the final days and we really apologize for any inconvinience but we truly believe that as this we are more inclusive with all creative community as a lot of you asked us to give you some more time to participate.

That’s why we also added the MVP award prize that will give $250 to the most value player of this outstanding crowdstorm design project for BG Berlin Urbe Suitcase Collection 2018.

Last but not least, BG Berlin gave us some hints of what they would love to see for this upcoming crowdstorming days to mix concepts to define the final winner designs for their new collection.

  • Iconic/Cultural
  • Reminder/Flashback
  • Legendary/Society
  • Modern/Contemporary
  • Retro 80’s-90’s(not vintage)
  • Commercial
  • Timeless
  • Simple

All this points refer to concepts & designs that have a connection with people through time, society and global culture, that’s why the best example for this are their current collection designs such a: “Tv Set“, “Caution“, “Oldschool“ that are their best selling in the global market.

So, that being said, let’s play to create, design & collaborate together with all our talent and skills to make this BG Berlin Urbe Suitcase Collection 2018 the best of the year!

Good luck to all of you & thank you for all your incredible work!

We love you!

Pictosis Team

BG Berlin meeting the world!

Check out this photos from their social medias accounts, you can find a lot more pictures from there to get inspired to create your killer designs for the new BG Berlin URBE Collection 2018.

BG Berlin Collection 2015-2017

Check out & enjoy this bestsellers clients choice winner designs created here in the platform for BG Berlin Collection 2015-2017, get inspired & create your killer designs for the new BG Berlin URBE Collection 2018. Are you ready?


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Who We Are & How We Create

Group Photo on Breast Cancer Awareness Day

Chalkwoods CW3 - Made in the USA from sustainably-managed wood

Conscious Business in Action

We believe in the potential of corporate culture to be a positive, uplifting force on the planet. As a result, we are always looking for new and better ways to operate in harmony with our planet.

We are mindful makers. We build frames to last and print every image with purpose so our customers can be inspired for a lifetime. We're proud to be a zero landfill company which means that nothing from our creations end up in a landfill. We use upcycled materials and constantly innovate our packaging so you feel more care and less environmental impact.

Having Fun, Doing Good & Being Awesome

Founded By Artists for Creators of All Kinds

As professional Artists, our founders, Steve & Joan Feinsod, faced a constant challenge: Where to find affordable picture frames that met their high standards of quality. They couldn't find it, so they created it.

Collaboration, Creativity, Community & Consciousness

Our values drive everything we do, in every way, everyday. We are constantly evolving based on this foundation and it's what drives us to be good to our customers, our planet and to each other.

Redefining Business & Creating Space to Thrive

Graphik Dimensions Ltd., the parent of pictureframes.com, is a team of wonderfully passionate, creative, intelligent, talented, & caring individuals. Could you be the next member of team awesomeness?

It's About More Than Just Cutting Wood

Lauri Feinsod, CEO & Co-Owner

Geo Krieg, President & CTO

Robyn Feinsod, Creator of Opportunities & Co-Owner

Redefining Business as Usual

Family-owned & operated since 1965. Founded by Artists for creators of all kinds.

Triad Family Business Award - 2017

Great Place to Work National Award

Triad Top Women-Owned Business Award - 2017

Sustainability Award

Triad Most Admired CEOs Award

Done Good Conscious Business Award

Manufacturer of the Year

Fast Growth Award

Our Promise

We frame it. You love it.

Your custom creation is guaranteed 100%, no matter what. So if you don't love it, simply return it within 45 days of delivery and we'll replace it or refund your total. No hassles or hoopla.

Beautiful, Inexpensive & EASY

"I cannot say enough good things about your company. I had to get my frames in a hurry. They had to be beautiful, inexpensive, and easy to put together. Your company met all three criteria. Great service, terrific selection, fast shipping. Thanks for everything."

– Joann, Marketing Director

Excellent Service

"I've had excellent service from your company, and this attention to a large order, and discount is part of the special care and attention I really appreciate from you!"

– Chuck

Very Happy!

"I am telling you, these are the best prints I have ever seen in my life! I got my shipment today and I am so very happy! I don't think I will ever print anywhere else. Your quality is beyond what I ever expected!! Thank you!"

– Johnathan

Amazingly Helpful & Efficient

"The team at Graphik Dimensions has been amazingly helpful and efficient with my large scale framing job needs. They delivered exactly what was ordered, on time and at a great price."

– Mike, Graphics Production Manager

Thanks for Making Me Look Good

"I could not be happier with how our framed prints turned out. Your website was so easy to use and I'm impressed with the manner of shipment as well. This was the first time I used pictureframes.com and I'll definitely be using you again. Thanks for making me look good to my senior leadership team!"

– Emily, Marketing Manager


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Homer announces bid for re-election

Mar 12, 2019 -- Posted by : kraig

Cory-Homer-263x263.jpgCory Homer, a resident of Matamoras for over 20 years, has announced his bid for re-election on the Delaware Valley School Board.

Cory graduated from Delaware Valley High School in 2008 and is currently the Vice-President of the School Board. While attending DV, he was actively involved in a number of different activities including football, Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA), and Relay for Life.

Cory graduated from Lebanon Valley College in 2012 with his Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. While at LVC, he was named first-team All-Conference, first-team All-Region, and received All-American Honors in football. He continued his studies at Marywood University, subsequently earning his Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology. While in graduate school he worked as a direct patient care specialist at St. Joseph’s Center and played semi-professional football.

Cory is currently the Dean of Institutional Effectiveness and Marketing, Enrollment Management, and Distance Learning at Sussex County Community College. In this role he has oversight over assessment and research across all institutional and academic areas of the college, and has spearheaded various strategic planning and economic projection initiatives. He has presented at a number of different higher education conferences, and serves as a Peer-Reviewer for the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. He is additionally pursuing his Ph.D. in Psychology with an Emphasis in the Integration between Technology, Psychology, and Learning.

Cory has been actively involved in community service within Pike County since a young age. He has been a firefighter and rescue diver for the Matamoras and Westfall volunteer fire departments for the past 12 years, and is currently the Dive Master for Westfall Volunteer Fire Department. He has umpired for the Babe Ruth Baseball League, coaches for the Pike Area Youth Athletic Football League, and serves on the Pike County Chamber of Commerce Business Education Committee.

“I am forever grateful for the Delaware Valley School District which has given me so much. In partnership with my fellow Board members, specifically Jack O’Leary and Dawn Bukaj who are also seeking reelection this year, I hope to continue to add insight and work with members of the community to continue upon the rich history and tradition that our schools are known for.”

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Pindar Vineyards

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Summer Blush 4-pack Cans

Our famous Blush Wine, imitated by many but never duplicated. This semi-dry Rosé is made with Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, with a unique subtle strawberry flavor.  Refreshing and simply delicious with light summertime foods.

Now availalbe in a convenient 4-pack (equal to 2 bottles of wine).  Great for the beach, pool side or on the boat.

Taking pre-orders now for delivery or pick-up after April 1st.  Limited availability.

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Home » Coolsculpting Results Jefferson

Do I Have Time to See the Results of CoolSculpting Before the Holidays?

Summer may have just ended, but the holidays are already around the corner - and if you’re determined to look your best, you might be interested in CoolSculpting for body contouring. It makes sense; after all, CoolSculpting can help tackle those stubborn pockets of fat that won’t respond to your diet and exercise regimen. So [...]

By | 2018-11-02T12:26:40+00:00 September 30th, 2018|CoolSculpting|0 Comments
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Pittsburgh Legal Back Talk

Legal topics of interest to lawyers and consumers with a Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania focus.

1628 Posts and Counting

Old but Still Useful — to Someone Else.

Posted by Cliff Tuttle| March 18, 2019 | © 2019

No. 1,628

Spring cleaning is a time for decision.  When you buy a new computer you know that you will never plug in the old one again. Yet, you keep it. After all, it may be worth something.  Years ago, you could give it to your nephew.  But now your nephew has better electronics than you do.  So you continue to keep it and it takes up space.

Image: mariafarmcountrykitchen.com
Even when neatly stacked, its still clutter, isn’t it?

Most of us cannot bear to throw away things that are still in good shape and useful. There are exceptions. I know one person who often leaves perfectly good stuff by the curbside for pickup.  People stop (sometimes within minutes) and load it in the back of their vans.

Yards sales used to work.  However, today everybody else has attics and basements full of stuff. It has to be very good or very, very cheap.  Eventually, cheap becomes free — just like the stuff at the curbside.

One solution, a temporary one, is to rent storage space. Another is to hire that company that specializes in making things disappear. Some resolve to throw away things of equal volume when purchasing something that is not quickly consumed.  I know only one person who actually does this, already mentioned above.

It is hard to imagine that your grandparents (or great grandparents, if you are still young) usually didn’t have a problem with consumer goods crowded them out of living space.  Yes, there were always hoarders, but they were considered to be aberrations.  It wasn’t a general problem until relatively recently. Goods became cheap and plentiful and we became wealthy enough to buy mass quantities of them in the decades after World War II. It took a half-century for this condition to become serious and then acute.  The word “declutter” only made it into the OED in 2015.

Is it any easier to imagine that our grandchildren (or great-grandchildren) will live in fully decluttered homes?  Do you think that the off-site storage industry will ever go the way of Blockbuster?  Short of nuclear war, that is.

Nevertheless, you may have noticed that there are, even today, certain people of all generations choosing to live in a  relatively clutter-free environment. Perhaps they are less materialistic and more aware of the distinction between living space and storage. Its too early to call it a trend. Nevertheless, it is comforting to know that it can be done.

Focus, Luck and the Zone.

Posted by Cliff Tuttle| March 16, 2019 | © 2019

No. 1,627

Image: business horsepower.com

Everywhere we turn, we are being advised to focus.  I read recently that Bill Gates and Warren Buffet were asked the secret of becoming a billionaire at a party. Without hesitation,  both instantly and simultaneously replied, “focus.”

Wonderful.  But have you recently tried to focus your total mind on something for more than a few minutes?  Its not easy. No, its very hard.

The human mind is constantly making connections and pulling up memories. It does this automatically, without trying. Your mind wanders even when you are consciously trying to stay on topic.

Try driving your car and focusing on the road ahead.  Before long, maybe only a few seconds later, you discover to your dismay that you are no longer thinking exclusively about the task of driving.  Very frustrating. You try to focus and constantly fail. You try again and fail within minutes. Can it even be done?

Think back to when you first learned to drive.  You were paying strict attention then because you were learning a new skill and were constantly aware of the ever-present danger.  Every move you made had to be performed with deliberation. If you stopped thinking about what to do, you could drive right into the back of the car ahead.  Or, if you suddenly slammed on the brake too hard, the car behind you might drive into you. What riveted your attention so well?  Fear.

But after all those years of driving, you no longer fear the road.  The danger is still there.  Every time you get behind the wheel you risk life and limb. The odds of killing yourself have hopefully greatly decreased, but they are not completely erased. If you drive enough miles, even with great care, some day the probabilities will eventually catch up with you. That moment  could come today, next week or years from now.  Hopefully, we will all stop driving before it inevitably happens. Think about that every time you turn the key and you are sure to become a more mindful driver.

You will look for children darting out between the parked cars. You will observe other drivers wandering into your lane.  Your mind will still automatically wander, but less. And you will catch yourself daydreaming and pull your consciousness back to the here and now.

Some people approach their whole life like that careful driver.  They are constantly looking for potholes to avoid. They try to anticipate problems before they become emergencies. They are mindful of risks.  They might even be a little afraid.

But life involves more than risks and dangers. Remember, there are also opportunities. Recognizing and acting upon them also requires us to pay attention.  The luckiest people are constantly aware of changes in their environment. If you are busy bemoaning your bad luck, you may miss the good luck that is following right behind.

Therefore, if you want to focus, constantly ask yourself questions about the topic at hand.  Take notes and review them.  Send emails. Talk about the subject with others.  Write about it in a formal, coherent and meaningful way. Edit and improve what you have written.

Several hours later, you may discover that you have been “in the zone.” Its a great feeling!

Power Trips

Posted by Cliff Tuttle| March 12, 2019 | © 2019

No. 1,626

Allegheny County Controller Elsa Wagner is a powerful politician.  She is used to shaking things up, making noise and making the news.  But she just endured a few painful, public lessons in the use of power and the pain is not yet over.

• When the police come to the door in the middle of the night, you must maintain your cool.

• Listen carefully before speaking.

• Don’t raise your voice.

• Don’t touch.

It seems rather elementary, doesn’t it?  But Ms. Wagner rather than quietly dealing with the situation, she made a series of poor decisions.  She didn’t assess the power dynamic of the situation properly and she paid the price.

The power equation in such a situation overwhelmingly favors the police.  But, even in then, it was not divided 100% – 0%.  Ms. Wagner had the benefit of her vulnerability.  She was a respectable, middle aged woman who was a guest in a high-end hotel, wakened in the middle of the night, in her pajamas.  All she had to do was be meek, polite and cooperative.

She didn’t have the upper hand, but she had enough power  to bring this incident to an end.  Instead, she wasted her limited but adequate resources and brought about a very bad outcome.

Pittsburgh in a nutshell, from Wikipedia

Posted by Cliff Tuttle| March 9, 2019 | © 2019

No. 1,625

You can cite Non-precedential decisions for persuasive value, starting in May.

Posted by Cliff Tuttle| March 8, 2019 | © 2019

No. 1,674

The Superior Court has prohibited citation of non-precedential decisions for some time.  Unfortunately, there are a substantial number of them.  The Appellate Rules Committee, however, has amended the Rules and comments to permit citation of all non-precedential appellate cases for their persuasive value, beginning in May 2019.  This follows the practice of the Commonwealth Court.

New Rule 126 contains an additional guideline regarding citations of non-precedential authorities.  The brief writer should indicate the purpose in citing the case, which shall be inserted parenthetically after the citation. Single judge opinions of the Commonwealth Court, which are considered non-precedential (except in election cases) may also be cited for persuasive value.

However, non-precedential cases may also be cited for the purpose of arguing law of the case, res judicata, collateral estoppel or noting a prior criminal proceeding that relate directly to the case at bar, but are not, by their nature, applicable in cases involving other litigants and other fact situations.

Brief writers are also encouraged to cite to Lexis and other on-line but unofficial compilations of caselaw. In addition to citing the beginning page of a case, we are also encouraged to cite to the specific page where a quote or discussion of the issue addressed appears.

You, the Witness.

Posted by Cliff Tuttle| March 5, 2019 | © 2019

No. 1,623

You raise your right hand and swear an oath to tell the truth.  Then you have a prolonged conversation, in front of everyone, with your lawyer.  He/she asks questions, you answer.

Image: ncaph.com

It seems simple enough.  But here are a few things you should know and keep in the front of your mind.

  1.  You are on stage. You are being observed.  Sit up straight.  Be serious but polite. But be yourself — on your good behavior.
  2. Visit the rest room before the proceedings begin.  Check your hair in the mirror. Straighten your tie.  Don’t wear a hat in the courtroom.
  3. Listen to the whole question before you begin to answer. Pay attention.  Don’t make the common mistake of thinking you know what is being asked from the first few words.
  4. Answer the question you are asked.  Don’t seize an opening to digress from the point at issue.
  5. Don’t be in a hurry. Don’t get ahead of the question. It may take a series of questions to reach the point. If the questions are well-prepared, they will enable to you testify seamlessly to a series of facts that lay a foundation.
  6. Be aware that it is usually necessary to lay a foundation before introducing documentary evidence. You may be asked if you signed a certain contract or took certain photographs and when that act was performed. It is ok to look at the document or documents for a few seconds before answering.
  7. Don’t grab an opportunity to take a personal swipe against your opponent.  Don’t try to joke.  Attempts to be funny or appear lighthearted usually fall flat.
  8. Be aware that there are topics that your lawyer does not wish to bring up, even though you see an opening to do so.
  9. Your lawyer cannot ask you leading questions.  When he or she asks you to tell the story of the relevant events on a particular day, do it. But don’t ramble on and on.  There will always be another question.
  10. If the opposing counsel interrupts your testimony with an objection, stop talking, even in mid-sentence.  Wait for the judge or presiding officer to rule on the objection.  If the objection is overruled, you may continue with your answer.  If the objection is sustained, wait for another question. Never try to talk over the other lawyer, or especially the judge or presiding officer. Don’t try to squeeze the objectionable testimony in later.  There would be another swift objection and (at minimum) you will look bad for trying. This is especially true when a jury is hearing the case.  The judge may threaten sanctions.
  11. On cross-examination, the questioner is able to ask leading questions.  Answer them truthfully but carefully.
  12. If the questioner cuts you off, or refuses to allow you to explain, your lawyer has the opportunity to return to the subject with re-direct examination after the cross-examination is over.
  13. Don’t overlook the possibility that your lawyer may prefer to address a particular subject through testimony of another witness.
  14. Don’t allow yourself to be drawn into an argument with the opposing counsel, even if he or she is treating you unkindly.
  15. Don’t turn to another witness or your lawyer for help with an answer.  If another witness is testifying, don’t call out the answer or start waiving your hand.  Write it down and hand your note to your lawyer.
  16. Be aware that your lawyer is listening to the proceedings and concentrating on the next thing to say when the other side is presenting its case. Do not try to talk.
  17.  Never gasp out loud or express surprise or derision while your opponent is testifying.
  18. Do not discuss the case with anyone but your lawyer while in the courtroom.  If the opponent says hello, acknowledge the greeting politely.  If the opponent wants to talk, tell him or her to talk to your lawyer.
  19. After the case is over, gather up all of your belongings and leave.  You can talk with your lawyer afterward, at a suitable location.  Remember, corridors have ears.  So do elevators.

Give me a break department: What self-respecting dog would put up with wearing this?

Posted by Cliff Tuttle| March 3, 2019 | © 2019

No. 1,622

What’s the side pocket for?  Poop bags? Treats?

Waiting in Line for US Supreme Court Argument is a Profession.

Posted by Cliff Tuttle| February 28, 2019 | © 2019

No. 1,621

If you want to sit in the gallery at the Supreme Court for oral argument in important cases, you may have to arrive early. That is, 48 hours early.  Students are paid by somebody with a strong interest in cases involving religious liberty to hold places.  There are only 250 seats available to the public on a first-come-first serve basis.  They were in line yesterday for oral argument on the case involving the war memorial cross.  The same group has been in line for similar cases, including the same-sex wedding cake case, according to an article posted by CNBC.

Unintended Consequences: Eastern Texas may Become a Tech-Wasteland

Posted by Cliff Tuttle| February 24, 2019 | © 2019

No. 1,620

Image: Apple Store on Boylston Street, in downtown Boston.

Marginal Revolution picked up a rumor that the two Apple stores located in eastern Texas will be closed and noted that they happen to be located in the favorite forum of patent case plaintiffs.

“In 2016, Marshall, Texas with a population of only 24,000, was home to an astonishing 25 percent of all patent filings in the U.S. In May of 2017, however, the Supreme Court ruled unanimously in TC Heartland v. Kraft Foods that plaintiffs can’t forum shop to find a friendly court. Instead patent plaintiffs must file in districts where the company  being sued is incorporated or where it has an established place of business.

Businesses are now responding to the Supreme Court’s rule by shifting their establishments. Apple, for example, looks like it will close both of its retail stores within the Eastern District of Texas and instead open a new store in Dallas, just south of the Eastern District of Texas border.”

There are amazing implications here. Marshall Texas and environs may be destined to remain an economic desert.  No new headquarters for technology companies.  No retail outlets either.  Think of what that could mean to the City of Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania if the Western District became an attractive forum for patent plaintiffs.  The robotics industry and other CMU spinoffs might move away.  Google might move its office. On the other hand, what if our District Court developed a reputation for a strong defense bias in patent cases?  Would that suggest an opposite headquarters siting trend?

In the early 21st Century, a city without an Apple Store is no-place.

Who is Soliciting Whom?

Posted by Cliff Tuttle| February 23, 2019 | © 2019

No. 1,619

Robert Kraft and numerous others are charged with “soliciting” at a Jupiter Florida massage parlor.  The police were running a sting operation for the purpose of shutting down several businesses that were fronts for human trafficking operations.  Obviously, the real perpetrators are the owner/operators of the enterprise that was engaged in providing prostitutes for hire.

keep looking »

CLIFF TUTTLE has been a Pennsylvania lawyer for over 45 years and (inter alia) is a real estate litigator and legal writer. The posts in this blog are intended to provide general information about legal topics of interest to lawyers and consumers with a Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania focus. However, this information does not constitute legal advice and there is no lawyer-client relationship created when you read this blog. You are encouraged to leave comments but be aware that posted comments can be read by others. If you wish to contact me in privacy, please use the Contact Form located immediately below this message. I will reply promptly and in strict confidence.

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Tuesday May 15, 2012, 5 - 7 pm

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With the coming of the HTC Touch2 we have not only a new device, but a new version of the Windows Mobile operating system. Will this rush in a new wave of love for the Windows Phone?

The Touch2 follows HTC's trend of updating handset models without having to stretch to a new and exciting name. The HTC Touch was, as the name suggested, a full touch Windows Mobile model with HTC's TouchFLO running over the top. Two-years later, and here we have the Touch2, a Windows Mobile model with HTC's TouchFLO running over the top...

The handset takes on a slim and compact profile, measuring 104 x 55 x 12.9mm and weighing 110g. The compact dimensions are partly due to the 2.8-inch QVGA (240 x 320) resistive touchscreen display. It is small for a modern touchscreen phone and the resolution isn't the highest out there. This is shown up especially by Windows Mobile, which hasn't quite embraced the slick user interface you'll find elsewhere.

The Touch2 sits reasonably well in the hand, with soft curved back edges. Although it is constructed entirely from plastic, it seems to pull it off, feeling of solid construction.

The top sees a 3.5mm jack and around the back is the 3.2-megapixel camera, but no flash. A stylus can be found lurking in the bottom right-hand corner and a microSD card slot on the left. It's that bizarre sort of slot that wants you to take the back cover off to access it, but still has an external flap.

Ranging across the bottom of the screen is the zoom bar, allowing you to zoom in and out of web pages, maps and pictures so long as you are using the right application to view them, with multi-touch still not supported by Windows Mobile. Beneath these range a line of hard controls, flanked by the two regular calling buttons.

You might have heard that Microsoft suggested that Windows Phones (or those running Windows Mobile 6.5) should all have a Windows button and a back button, which you'll find here. The Windows button sits next to the Home button, giving the HTC Touch2 a wicked split personality.

Press the Home button and you spring into HTC's wonderful Dr Jekyll TouchFLO skin. Press the Windows button and Mr Hyde crawls out in the form of Windows Mobile 6.5. We are being facetious perhaps, but only because of the disappointment that comes with this latest iteration of Windows Mobile.

HTC's TouchFLO skin is something we like. We've seen it before on a number of devices and it is perfectly useable. It doesn’t have the wow factor that you get with their latest Android device the HTC Hero, but is makes Windows Mobile much more accessible. We only wish it integrated further into Windows Mobile.

Through TouchFLO you get access to contacts, messaging, mail, the Opera browser, photo and video viewer, music, weather, Google Map search and program launcher. These can be edited to suit your requirements, so you can add your contacts and programs of choice to give quick access.

In some cases you get a bespoke application (like the Opera browser over Internet Explorer) and sometimes it just takes you into the application behind. Browsing the Internet is a little awkward through both browsers. One of the new features in Internet Explorer is being able to force a "desktop" or "mobile" mode, but you have to route through several layers of menu to get there, and the lower resolution display doesn't do the small view any justice.

Pressing the Windows button (or tapping the Start logo in the top left corner) launches you into Windows Mobile 6.5 proper. Windows Mobile 6.5 isn't a major departure from 6.1 (hence the same 6.x designation). Microsoft have been talking about these changes since February 2009, aiming to improve the experience for touch users, over the somewhat cumbersome system that needed a stylus for almost everything.

In that vein you now have the honeycomb Zune-alike Start menu full of icons, so you can scroll and tap what you want. Thereafter the experience is very mixed: some applications respond well to touch, some are terrible. All too often you are faced with the same old drop down menu style, for example to select a file location, which is nigh on impossible to do with a finger.

Addressing the changing needs of smartphone users, Windows now has its own Marketplace so you can quickly find applications for your phone. It works very much as the Android Market or App Store does, offering searching, including a "free" filter, so you don't have to browse the paid-for apps.

Windows Mobile 6.5 ushers in a collection of cloud support too, offering backup and sharing options, although it is surprising to find that photo and video sharing, i.e., to YouTube or Facebook, isn't supported at OS level by default. You have to enable MyPhone before these options appear, presumably because Microsoft sends the images from the online space rather than from the device itself. You also get remote options to find you phone and wipe the data, as offered on the iPhone and more recently phones like the Motorola DEXT.

HTC has done it's best to improve the keyboard. You get three options, 12-key, 21-key and full QWERTY which you can select as you wish. The response from a finger isn't great, it doesn't compete with the iPhone or the HTC Hero, but you get used to it. Predictive text entry tried to second guess you and will speed things up somewhat. However, the stylus does make for very quick entry – especially if you are practiced. Much as we dislike using a stylus, at times you get the feeling you need it here.

In terms of hardware specs, the HTC Touch2 is very much a phone of the moment. You'll find HSDPA, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. There is an FM radio too, not something you always find on smartphones. You also get GPS (with a 14-day trial of Copilot).

The 3.2-megapixel camera ia average, but the lack of flash limits its use indoors or in low light. The results aren't great and don't compete with those phones designed for taking photos. Video capture comes in at a maximum resolution of 352 x 288 pixels, again, which could be easily bettered.

The battery life isn't the best. Using it throughout testing, we found it needed charging overnight, which is pretty much average for this type of device.

With the HTC Touch2 you get a compact device that will appeal to those who need to have a Windows Mobile device to support their office activities or business on the move. Whilst you can find this in other devices, there is no doubt that syncing with Windows 7 was an absolute breeze. Document support, Exchange email and PDF readers are all to be found here. The 3.5mm jack and radio will also make it appealing to commuters.

The HTC TouchFLO interface sweetens the deal somewhat, making this a Windows Mobile phone that is more pleasurable to use than a raw Windows device. But that said, if it is just a touchscreen device that you are after, with an interest in browsing and sharing your media on the move, then there are more compelling offerings elsewhere.

HTC Touch2 deals

HTC Touch2
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