Thursday, May 31, 2012

Kim Kardashian, Drake Get 'Punk'd' Before MTV Movie Awards

'Movie Awards Punk'd Pre-Party' will air at 8 p.m. ET/PT this Sunday, June 3, on MTV.
By Gil Kaufman


Kim Kardashian
Photo: Tom Briglia/ FilmMagic

It's not a party until someone gets "Punk'd," right? That's why MTV has lined up a special episode of its signature hidden-camera show as a lead-in to the 2012 MTV Movie Awards.

The "Movie Awards Punk'd Pre-Party" will feature Kim Kardashian and Drake getting worked by Ashton Kutcher. The punking will air at 8 p.m. ET/PT this Sunday, June 3, on MTV and will be followed by the Movie Awards, hosted by Russell Brand, beginning at 9 p.m. ET/PT.

In between the "Punk'd" action, viewers will be taken to the Movie Awards red carpet, where actress, dancer and singer-songwriter Kat Graham will serve as Special Style Correspondent, working alongside MTV News' Josh Horowitz, Jim Cantiello and Sway Calloway. The crew will wrangle the stars as they walk the carpet and hang out backstage, interviewing the likes of Adam Sandler, Andy Samberg, Leighton Meester, Chris Colfer, Chloë Grace Moretz and more.

"I'm excited to be collaborating with my friends at MTV for the Movie Awards," Kat Graham shared. "I'm looking forward to being a part of bringing the show to the fun level it always arrives at. We're going to be bringing fashion/fierce/pop to a show honoring amazing talent, and showing how we do it the MTV way!"

Also joining the fun on the red carpet and as presenters are the leads of "Snow White and the Huntsman"
: Kristen Stewart
, Chris Hemsworth and Charlize Theron. MTV has been all over "Snow White," giving you an exclusive look at the movie as part of our Sneak Peak Week
.

Viewers will also be treated to never-before-seen footage from some of this summer's hottest movies, including the first trailer for "Perks of Being a Wallflower" and an exclusive peek at "Katy Perry: Part of Me." Stick around for a very special edition of MTV News' "Afterhours" series, where Elizabeth Banks will star in a "Hunger Games" spoof. "Hunger Games" and "Bridesmaids" are the most-nominated films.

The Movie Awards will also feature exclusive footage from "The Dark Knight Rises," with director/writer/producer Christopher Nolan and actors Christian Bale, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Gary Oldman on hand to celebrate the final chapter of the trilogy. Emma Stone is confirmed to receive the first-ever MTV Trailblazer Award during the telecast for carving out a unique and diverse Hollywood path through her varied and rich array of theatrical roles.

The Black Keys will be in the house to perform their hit single "Gold on the Ceiling," Wiz Khalifa and Fun. will also take the stage, and MTV Push artist Martin Solveig will serve as house DJ, creating movie-music mash-ups that will remix some of film's most-iconic theme scores, including "Star Wars," "Jaws" and "Pulp Fiction."

As a couch warm-up for the big show, MTV will present a weekend of marathons, including a special encore presentation of the first season of "Awkward," which will air Saturday from noon until 6 p.m. ET/PT. You can also check out a full-season catch-up of "Punk'd," starting Sunday at 3 p.m. ET/PT and leading right up to the "Pre-Party" special. Following the Movie Awards, MTV will premiere the second season of "Teen Wolf" at 11 p.m. ET/PT before the show moves to its regular time slot on Mondays at 10 p.m. ET/PT.

Already confirmed as presenters for the Movie Awards: Channing Tatum, Matthew McConaughey, Adam Sandler, Emma Watson, Andy Samberg, Leighton Meester, Logan Lerman, Ezra Miller, Emma Stone, Andrew Garfield, Kristen Stewart, Chris Hemsworth, Charlize Theron, Michael Fassbender, Mila Kunis and Mark Wahlberg. MTV fans hold the "Power of the Popcorn" awards in their hands, with voting available online through Saturday, June 2. As always, voting for "Movie of the Year" will remain open throughout the live show this Sunday, June 3.

Head over to MovieAwards.MTV.com to vote for your favorite flicks now! The 21st annual MTV Movie Awards air live this Sunday, June 3, at 9 p.m. ET.

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Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Is that a legal job interview question? It's murky

Forbes Images

While asking general questions about age or religion aren't clear-cut under discrimination laws, queries about a person's disability are not allowed.

By Eve Tahmincioglu

Are you pregnant? What religion are you? How old are you?

There are certain questions most of us don?t expect hiring managers to ask during a job interview because we think they?re too personal or even illegal.

But while such inquiries aren?t always legal no-nos, they can be hazardous.

Cynthia M. applied for a job at Florida insurer, and believed she was more than qualified for the position. But during the interview she was asked about her religion and probed about her marital status.

?I was asked point-blank if I attended church and ?which one?? ? said Cynthia, who didn?t want her full name used because she feared it would hurt her continued job search. She was also asked if she had a family.?When she told the recruiter she had a daughter, the interviewer asked, ?Is that all??

?That particular?interview was very brief and there was zero response to my carefully thought-out letter I sent after the interview as a follow-up,? she explained. ?I guess he didn't like that I was a single parent.?

A reader on our Facebook page, Linda Och, wrote recently that during a phone interview for a job she was asked her birth date and age. ?I never heard from the employer again. I feel it was the cause of my not hearing about a second interview,? she maintained.

?Is this not discrimination?? she asked.

While you can?t refuse to hire someone based on a characteristic that?s protected under the nation?s labor laws, including things like religion or age, questioning a job applicant about such things by itself isn?t going to get government discrimination defenders banging down any company doors.

What happens as far as hiring decisions after the questions are asked is what ends up getting employers in legal hot water.

?Pre-employment inquires about a person's race, sex or?pregnancy, national origin,?religion?or age are not technically illegal under the laws we enforce as long as they are asked of all people,? said Justine Lisser, a spokeswoman and senior attorney for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Dads, are you feeling pressure to do it all?

?Employment decisions made on those bases -- such as denying employment to all pregnant women, or everyone who isn't a Christian, are illegal, however,? she continued.??When investigating a charge of discrimination, the EEOC will look at these types of pre-employment inquiries as indications of discriminatory intent.?

Nigel Telman, an attorney with Proskauer, an employment law firm that represents employers, said questions related to protected categories such as age or religion may seem innocuous to some hiring managers but can end up causing problems down the line. ?An applicant who didn?t get the job can allege they told the employer something about a protected characteristic,? he noted.

Indeed, if there turns out to be a pattern pointing to discrimination against a certain group or groups, such questions may become substantiation of illegal practices.

In the case of Texas Roadhouse, questions by hiring managers about age are part of anecdotal evidence in the age-discrimination case against the restaurant chain brought by the EEOC last year.

The EEOC case alleges that managers were instructed to hire younger job applicants, and that?older unsuccessful applicants nationally were told: ?There are younger people here who can grow with the company? and ?You seem older to be applying for this job.?

Texas Roadhouse officials did not immediately return a telephone call requesting a comment.

While asking general questions about age or religion aren?t clear-cut under discrimination laws, queries about a person?s disability are not allowed.

Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, employers are prohibited pre-employment inquiries about an applicant?s disability, according to the EEOC. ?

The agency states on its ?pre-employment inquires? web page that:

  • Employers generally cannot ask disability-related questions or require medical examinations until after an applicant has been given a conditional job offer.?
  • Employers are permitted to ask limited questions about reasonable accommodation if they reasonably believe that the applicant may need accommodation because of an obvious or voluntarily disclosed disability, or where the applicant has disclosed a need for accommodation.

In addition, it?s illegal to ask questions about genetic information or family medical history under the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act, the EEOC?s Lisser pointed out.

And, she added, ?It is also illegal for an employer to advertise?for specific characteristics such as sex, age or race.??

Given that personal questions could lead to claims of bias, you?d think employers would have abandoned the practice already.

?Some managers need a reminder that these questions are hazardous to the company,? said Richard Howard, an employment attorney with Meltzer Lippe.??Hiring managers should absolutely steer clear of questions regarding age, race, religion, pregnancy, and marital status.?

Has a hiring manager ever asked you an inappropriate question related to age, race, religion, pregnancy, health, or marital status? Share your story below.?

(Are you worried about an upcoming job interview? Join us for a live web chat today at 9:30 am ET with communications expert Mark Jeffries, author of ??What?s Up With Your Handshake?? Sign up for the chat here.)

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SpaceX and Intelsat announce first commercial contract for Falcon Heavy rocket

SpaceX and Intelsat announce first commercial contract for Falcon Heavy rocket

SpaceX hit one pretty big milestone recently -- to put it mildly -- and it's now already back with another fairly significant one. It's announced today that satellite service provider Intelsat has signed the first commercial contract for its Falcon Heavy rocket, which is currently slated to undertake its first launch sometime in 2013. Details on the contract itself remain decidedly light at the moment, but SpaceX will apparently be launching at least one Intelsat satellite into geosynchronous transfer orbit (or GTO) sometime after it's completed its launch tests, and Intelsat says it'll be working closely with SpaceX in the lead up to the launch to ensure that the rocket meets its standards. You can find the official announcement after the break.

Continue reading SpaceX and Intelsat announce first commercial contract for Falcon Heavy rocket

SpaceX and Intelsat announce first commercial contract for Falcon Heavy rocket originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 May 2012 18:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Why 'bath salts' are dangerous | Health X Pert Articles-Health care ...

On Saturday night in Miami, a naked ?zombie-like? man attacked another man , biting off parts of his face. The attack was halted only when police shot and killed the attacker, identified as 31-year old Rudy Eugene. What would make someone attack another man like an animal? Armando Aguilar, president of the Miami Fraternal Order of Police, suspects that the attacker was under the influence of? drugs known as "bath salts." These aren?t the same bath salts to make your tub water smell nice. ?Bath salts? is just a fake name, but users know it?s not really for the bath. Dr. Nora Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse described bath salts as an "emerging and dangerous product" in February 2011, urging parents, teachers and the public to be aware of the potential dangers associated with these drugs, which had already been linked to numerous visits to the E.R. and calls to poison control centers in the U.S. In October 2011, these "bath salts" and its related products were put on schedule 1 of the Controlled Substances Act, which means that the drug has no legitimate use or safety in the U.S. and is highly addictive. Bath salts contain amphetamine-like chemicals such as methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV), mephedrone, and pyrovalerone. They?re referred to as a ?designer drug of the phenethylamine class? by the Drug Enforcement Administration. Other drugs in this class include amphetamines, mescaline, and ephedrine. MDPV comes in a powdered form that is inhaled, swallowed or shot into a vein. Bath Salts are sold as "cocaine substitutes" or "synthetic LSD". When MDPV gets to the brain, the effects include producing feelings of empathy, stimulation, alertness, euphoria, sensory awareness and hallucinations. Other reported effects include rapid heart rate, high blood pressure, and sweating. According to the DEA, MDPV has been reported to cause intense panic attacks, psychosis, and a strong desire to use the drug again. ?Addictive substances, whether they are bath salts, alcohol or other drugs, can have horrific and costly consequences. Sometimes these consequences can result from only one use; other times they are a result of the complex brain disease of addiction," says Susan E. Foster, vice president and director of policy research and analysis at The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University. "Together, risky use of addictive substances and addiction constitute our nation?s largest and most costly health problem. ?In the interest of health and public safety, Americans must begin to understand that substance use is a preventable public health problem and addiction is a treatable disease," she added. In 2009, reports began surfacing about teens and young adults abusing synthetic stimulant products sold as Bath Salts, ?plant fertilizer," energy-1, Ivory Wave, Red Dove, Purple Wave, Blue Silk, Zoom, Bloom, Cloud Nine, Ocean Snow, Lunar Wave, Vanilla Sky, White Lightning, Scarface, and Hurricane Charlie. The Drug Enforcement Administration's forensic monitoring system found two reports of MDPV in 2009. In 2010 that figure jumped to 338 cases. Between January through September 2011, the numbers skyrocketed to 911 MDPV cases, spanning 34 states. Filed under: Addiction , Mental Health Tagged: Ann J. Curley ? CNN Medical Assignment Manager

See original here:
Why ?bath salts? are dangerous

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Assad to Annan: peace plan depends on 'end of terrorism'

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Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Western nations expel Syrian envoys over massacre

In this photo provided by the Syrian official news agency SANA, Syrian President Bashar Assad, right, meets with Kofi Annan, the U.N.-Arab League Joint Special Envoy for Syria, in Damascus, Syria. The meeting Tuesday followed a massacre in Houla, Syria, last week in which more than 100 people were killed, some of them women, children and entire families gunned down in their own homes. Following the meeting, Annan told reporters "We are at a tipping point." (AP Photo/SANA)

In this photo provided by the Syrian official news agency SANA, Syrian President Bashar Assad, right, meets with Kofi Annan, the U.N.-Arab League Joint Special Envoy for Syria, in Damascus, Syria. The meeting Tuesday followed a massacre in Houla, Syria, last week in which more than 100 people were killed, some of them women, children and entire families gunned down in their own homes. Following the meeting, Annan told reporters "We are at a tipping point." (AP Photo/SANA)

French President Francois Hollande addresses reporters during a joint press conference with Benin and African Union President Thomas Boni Yayi, left, at the Elysee Palace in Paris, Tuesday May 29, 2012. Francois Hollande says Syria's ambassador is being expelled amid continuing violence by Syrian government forces against civilians and opposition members. (AP Photo/Jacques Brinon)

French President Francois Hollande addresses reporters during a joint press conference with Benin and African Union President Thomas Boni Yayi, unseen, at the Elysee Palace in Paris, Tuesday May 29, 2012. Francois Hollande says Syria's ambassador is being expelled amid continuing violence by Syrian government forces against civilians and opposition members. (AP Photo/Jacques Brinon)

A demonstrator carries a sign reading "Thank you Germany" in front of the Syrian embassy in Berlin Tuesday, May 29, 2012. Governments around the world expelled ambassadors and top Syrian diplomats Tuesday in an unusually coordinated blow to Syria's leaders, after a particularly gruesome massacre in which the United Nations says families, including children, were shot at close range in their homes. The ambassador to Germany, Radwan Loutfi, was given 72 hours to leave Germany on Tuesday. Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said Germany and its allies hope "that this unambiguous message does not fall on deaf ears in Damascus." (AP Photo/dapd/Clemens Bilan)

Demonstrators pass the Syrian embassy in Berlin with their car while waving with German flags and an old Syrian flag (1932-1958 and 1961-1963) Tuesday May 29, 2012. Governments around the world expelled ambassadors and top Syrian diplomats in an unusually coordinated blow to Syria's leaders, after a particularly gruesome massacre in which the United Nations says families, including children, were shot at close range in their homes. The ambassador to Germany, Radwan Loutfi, was given 72 hours to leave Germany on Tuesday . Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said Germany and its allies hope "that this unambiguous message does not fall on deaf ears in Damascus."(AP Photo/dapd/Clemens Bilan)

BEIRUT (AP) ? Eyewitness accounts from the Syrian massacre emerged Tuesday, describing shadowy gunmen slaughtering whole families in their homes and targeting the most vulnerable in poor farming villages. Western nations expelled Syrian diplomats in a coordinated move against President Bashar Assad's regime over the killing of more than 100 people.

U.N. special envoy Kofi Annan met with Assad in Damascus to try to salvage what was left of a peace plan, which since being brokered six weeks ago has failed to stop any of the violence on the ground.

Survivors of the Houla massacre blamed pro-regime gunmen for at least some of the carnage as the killings reverberated inside Syria and beyond, further isolating Assad and embarrassing his few remaining allies.

"It's very hard for me to describe what I saw, the images were incredibly disturbing," a Houla resident who hid in his home during the massacre told The Associated Press on Tuesday. "Women, children without heads, their brains or stomachs spilling out."

He said the pro-regime gunmen, known as shabiha, targeted the most vulnerable in the farming villages that make up Houla, a poor area in Homs province. "They went after the women, children and elderly," he said, asking that his name not be used out of fear of reprisals.

Assad's government often deploys fearsome militias that provide muscle for the regime and carry out military-style attacks. They frequently work closely with soldiers and security forces, but the regime never acknowledges their existence, allowing it to deny responsibility for their actions.

U.N. peacekeeping chief Herve Ladsous said there are strong suspicions that pro-Assad fighters were responsible for some of the killings, adding that he has seen no reason to believe that "third elements" ? or outside forces ? were involved, although he did not rule it out.

The Syrian regime has denied any role in the massacre, blaming the killings on "armed terrorists" who attacked army positions in the area and slaughtered innocent civilians. It has provided no evidence to support its narrative, nor has it given a death toll.

Following his meeting with Assad, Annan called on the government and "all government-backed militias" to stop military operations and show maximum restraint. He also called on the armed opposition to stop all violence.

"We are at a tipping point," Annan told reporters in Damascus. "The Syrian people do not want the future to be one of bloodshed and division."

Cranking up the pressure on Assad, the Obama administration gave Syria's most senior envoy in Washington, the charge d'affaires at the Syrian Embassy, 72 hours to leave the United States. Britain, Canada, Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Bulgaria also expelled Syrian diplomats.

"We hold the Syrian government responsible for this slaughter of innocent lives," State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said in Washington. "This massacre is the most unambiguous indictment to date of the Syrian government's flagrant violations of its U.N. Security Council obligations."

The massacre in Houla could prove to be a watershed moment in the Syrian crisis, which began in March 2011 with peaceful protests inspired by the wave of uprisings sweeping the Arab world.

Nearly 15 months later, the country is in many ways unrecognizable from the days before the revolt. Assad, once considered a potential reformer in a region filled with aging dictators, is a global pariah. A country that once boasted it was the safest in the Middle East is riven with violence, some of it reminiscent of the worst days of the Iraq war. The economy is in tatters. Syrians are facing price increases for basic goods and endure regular power cuts.

And in some haunting cases, neighbors who have lived side by side for years are turning on each other, driven by sectarian hatred that so many months of violence is laying bare.

According to witnesses, the massacre, which began late Friday in an area about 40 kilometers (25 miles) northwest of the city of Homs, had dangerous sectarian overtones.

The victims lived in the Houla area's Sunni Muslim villages. But the shabiha forces allegedly behind many of the killings came from an arc of nearby villages populated by Alawites, an offshoot of Shiite Islam.

Most shabiha fighters belong to the Alawite sect, to which the Assad family and the ruling elite also belong. This ensures the gunmen's loyalty to the regime, built on fears they will be persecuted if the Sunni majority gains the upper hand.

Sunnis make up most of Syria's 22 million people, as well as the backbone of the opposition. Even as much of the opposition insists the movement is entirely secular, disturbing reports from the ground suggest religious tensions are boiling over.

The volatile sectarian divide makes civil war one of the most dire scenarios.

Activists say as many as 13,000 people have been killed in the uprising. The U.N. put the toll at 9,000 as of March ? one year into the revolt ? but many hundreds more have died since.

On Tuesday, the U.N.'s human rights office said most of the 108 victims of the Houla massacre were shot at close range. The U.N. report indicated that most of the dead were killed execution-style, with fewer than 20 people cut down by regime shelling.

Deaths from heavy artillery can be blamed on regime forces with relative confidence because rebel fighters do not have such weapons. But it is more difficult to determine who is behind the close-range killings ? particularly as Syria sharply restricts media access.

Still, the U.N. cited survivors and witnesses blaming the house-to-house killings on shabiha. Witnesses also told the AP that shabiha were behind the attacks.

"What is very clear is this was an absolutely abominable event that took place in Houla, and at least a substantial part of it was summary executions of civilians, women and children," said Rupert Colville, spokesman for the U.N. High commissioner for Human Rights.

"At this point, it looks like entire families were shot in their houses," he said.

It is not clear what touched off the convulsion of violence. Houla activists reached by Skype said government troops shelled the area after anti-government protests on Friday and clashed with local rebels. Later, shabiha from nearby villages swept through the area, stabbing residents and shooting them at close range.

Videos posted online by anti-regime activists show explosions in Houla and dismembered bodies in the streets, then row upon row of the dead laid out before being buried in a mass grave. Some videos showed dozens of dead children, some with gaping wounds.

According to the state-run news agency, SANA, Assad on Tuesday blamed terrorists and weapons smugglers for scuttling the peace plan, which called for a cease-fire and dialogue with the opposition. The regime denies there is any popular will behind the country's uprising, saying foreign extremists and terrorists are driving the unrest.

Although Damascus has remained largely impervious to international condemnation over the course of the uprising, Tuesday's diplomatic squeeze will increase pressure on Syria's remaining allies, including Russia.

Russia has provided a key layer of protection for the Syrian government in the uprising. Russia and China have used their veto power to block U.N. resolutions against Assad. But Russia has grown increasingly critical of Damascus in recent months, and the Houla massacre has prompted some of the strongest condemnations yet from Moscow.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is traveling to Germany and France this week and is likely to come under even greater criticism for his support of the regime.

"We have to continue our work with the Russians," British Foreign Secretary William Hague said. "We will continue to discuss this with Russia. Russia has particular leverage on the regime and therefore has a particular role in this crisis."

Despite some shift in Russia's stance recently, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Tuesday the Houla massacre must not be a pretext to push for military intervention from outside. Instead, he urged all sides to focus on the Annan plan.

Hague said that the situation in Syria is more complicated than what international powers faced in Libya last year, when a U.N. resolution ushered in NATO military intervention against dictator Moammar Gadhafi's regime.

White House spokesman Jay Carney said the Obama administration remains opposed to military action, reasoning that it would lead only to more carnage. He said the U.S. will continue offering non-lethal assistance to the Syrian people and said Tuesday's coordinated move to expel Syrian diplomats was a signal of the international community's "absolute disgust" with Assad's rule.

Assad still commands a strong army that has proven largely unwilling to turn on him. The entire structure of the state has been built to preserve Assad's power, with the military, the police and security services ? even the economy ? tied up with the survival of his presidency.

But as the violence engulfs the country, many see Assad's departure as the only way out.

Fawaz Zakri, a member of the opposition Syrian National Council, urged action by the U.N. Security Council, saying the world body "must do something to save the Syrian people's souls."

___

Associated Press writers Zeina Karam and Ben Hubbard in Beirut, Angela Charlton in Paris, Frank Jordans in Geneva, Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations, Albert Aji in Damascus, Syria, and Selcan Hacaoglu in Ankara, Turkey, contributed reporting.

Associated Press

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Top Star Magazine: Self Improvement Blog: Motivation to Exercise ...

Many people make mistakes when they start off exercising. At the beginning, they exercise too much and they set too drastic goals. So that is why they lose their motivation too fast. They think that is too hard to sustain motivation to exercise and they give up.

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Monday, May 28, 2012

MS SQL Technology Business Software Primer for MS SQL ...

By Sheldon Needle

Evolution of Construction Software Platforms

Construction software was first developed for non mainframe hardware in the 1970?s.? At that time programs were written in cobol, business basic, or a programming language? specific to the hardware manufacturer. There were compiled languages that translated code as they ran on the computer. These languages ran in a Unix (or Unix like) environment on mini computers, then micro computers (now called PCs) in what was called a ?dumb terminal? environment. All program code resided on the mainframe?s hard drive and the terminal simply sent instructions and then received data from the hard disk ?server.?? What we call operating systems were developed by the hardware manufacturer and were specific to that hardware.

In the 1980s, construction software vendors were able to take advantage of newer operating systems like MS DOS (which originally only ran on the IBM PC). MS DOS became the standard operating system for all PCs ?and allowed vendor software to become hardware independent.. This simplified hardware and software purchases for consumers except those who insisted on Apple or other closed systems.

Network software, which allowed individual PCs to share files and programs, was introduced in 1984 but was unreliable at first. Several companies competed in this arena including Novell, IBM and Microsoft.

New databases evolved in the 1980s such as Pervasive SQL, Foxpro, Filemaker and others.? These relational databases represented a great leap forward from flat file data bases which relied on many separate tables to function. Visual Basic and C++?? were the standard programming languages in the 1990s.

In the early to middle 1990?s, Microsoft introduced MS SQL Server which was originally an offshoot of Sybase SQL.? Microsoft developed it into the most reliable and powerful PC based database? on the market. A software vendor who wants to be compatible with the latest Microsoft technology should run under the MS SQL Server database.

But bear in mind, SQL is not the same for everyone. There are systems which employ a SQL database but are not native SQL meaning that data is read by SQL for purposes of using SQL Query language for ?its stability and speed. But to use all the Microsoft toolset for reporting, query, import and user interface functions requires a native SQL database and use of the Microsoft Visual Basic .NET programming language.

What are the MS SQL Server Components?

SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS)

SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) is a server-based report generation software system from Microsoft.? This component does not require a programmer to build reports. This ease of use is achieved because the Report Builder and the database tables are synchronized under one common system.

SSRS has support for building and extending management reporting where end users have tools to build their own queries and dashboard reports.? In addition, application programs can embed necessary reporting with Reporting Services saving the user from having to create SQL queries.

Reporting Services can supplant the need for Crystal Reports which is the defacto standard for custom reporting for mid-market products. But many users are not able to master Crystal Report for anything beyond very simple reports.

SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS)

SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) is a component of the Microsoft SQL Server database software that can be used to perform a broad range of data migration tasks.? SSIS has the ability to take data from any external system text file by using a built in mapping function that can be modified or extended to handle any external program data.

Examples of using SSIS might be for field people to enter their time and materials usage for a contract and have it feed into a payroll system or to import time and materials data entered to Excel. Another example would be for a contractor to take data from a weigh scale system and import it ?to their ERP software for billing the customer.

Visual Basic .NET (pronounced dot net)

Visual Basic .NET is an object-oriented programming language that can be viewed as an evolution of the classic Visual Basic (VB).? .NET greatly extends the power of users to expand and enhance the user interface along with the ability to interact with the system and configure various capabilities. These capabilities used to require heavy duty programming. Examples include creating user tables and linking them to standard reporting functions, changing field labeling, adding user defined fields, data filtering, grouping menu items and data, and removing columns from queries by users. It also facilitates configuring the user interface to create user-based menu workflows.

Cloud computing

With a true cloud application all data and programs reside with the software vendor and a PC is used to run the applications over? the web. All that is necessary to run any function of the program is a PC with an internet connection.

A hosted cloud solution is different. The program and data resides on a dedicated remote host computer.? Remote PC connections to the host computer is done over the internet using either a Citrix or Terminal Server which is vendor-hosted. This eliminates the need for a local network installation and all the hardware and technical support to keep it running smoothly.

Some construction vendors have functional applications that are web-based, while other applications require the traditional client server installation. This client server installation can be self-hosted (server is on premise) or vendor-hosted (cloud).? Thus, depending on what?s needed, some users will access data from their locally installed software and others will use the internet (web-based or cloud users).? Web-based applications offer a user experience based on a web entry screen, while a hosted (either self or cloud) solution offers WinForm (based on .NET Framework) entry screen.? Some specific applications, e.g. construction project management software, may run entirely over the web. Even though an integrated solution is preferable, provisions can made for these applications to be linked and integrated as needed (especially using SSIS).

Conclusion
In light of this historical review, you may be wondering what this means to you as a software buyer. Should you only evaluate solutions using a SQL database and .Net platform? Not necessarily. Older technologies are alive and well in the construction software space and continue to adequately serve the market because many contracting firms haven?t yet realized the need for the most cutting edge developments. But some construction software vendors have already begun looking to the future for development inspiration, choosing to migrate their applications to a .Net platform and cloud computing environment. The big take-away here is this: when evaluating new construction software, be sure to least consider the solution?s current technology platform while gaining an understanding of the vendor?s plans for future development.

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After Short Season, NBA Playoffs Begin In Earnest

After a compressed National Basketball season due to a labor lockout, the playoffs have been full of exciting basketball. Robert Siegel talks with sportswriter Stefan Fatsis about the NBA conference semifinal matchups.

Copyright ? 2012 National Public Radio?. For personal, noncommercial use only. See Terms of Use. For other uses, prior permission required.

ROBERT SIEGEL, HOST:

There are no games scheduled tonight in the National Basketball Association playoffs, which is certainly a blessing for tired players, and it might be tired fans, too. The Miami Heat, the San Antonio Spurs and the Oklahoma City Thunder have all advanced to the two conference finals. The Boston Celtics and the Philadelphia 76ers meet tomorrow to determine the last NBA semifinalist. And sports writer Stefan Fatsis joins us now, as he does most Fridays. Hi, Stefan.

STEFAN FATSIS, BYLINE: Hey, Robert.

SIEGEL: The playoffs follow what was a condensed regular season that didn't begin until Christmas because of a labor lockout. I know this isn't a front-burner story anymore, but is it fair to say that playing on short turnaround so much probably led to some pretty big injuries that influenced the season?

FATSIS: You know, I'm not convinced that that's the case. I'm sure there are players that were banged up, and you're banged up no matter how long the NBA season or how compressed it is. But to sort of pin the long season for Derek Rose of the Chicago Bulls, for instance, his blown-out ACL in the first round of the playoffs, I don't think is fair.

What we're seeing now, though, is some pretty good basketball. I think a lot of people were worried that the season would require an asterisk, or as Bill Simmons of ESPN wrote, a footnote at least. But so far, there have been compelling storylines, mostly competitive and entertaining playoff series and at least three championship-worthy teams still standing. There are no flukes.

SIEGEL: One of those competitive series ended last night with Miami eliminating the Indiana Pacers in six games. Which do you think is the case, Stefan, the Heat shouldn't have taken six games to eliminate Indiana, or the Heat are right where they should be...

One of those competitive series ended last night with Miami eliminating the Indiana Pacers in six games. Which do you think is the case, Stefan - the Heat shouldn't have taken six games to eliminate Indiana or the Heat are right where they should be and they may yet be real competition for Boston or Philadelphia?

FATSIS: You know, I think the Heat are right where they should be, and we saw that in the last three games. And after the first three games of that series, people were writing Miami's obituary, quite gleefully given LeBron's past failures in the playoffs. Indiana was up two games to one. Chris Bosh of the Heat went down with an injury. Dwyane Wade had a terrible game. And then, oh my goodness, in the last three games of the series, Wade and James averaged 33 points apiece per game. They tore apart a tough Indiana team - acrobatic dunks, impossible passes. And not to give the other series short shrift, but it's hard to see how an aging and gimpy Celtics team or a spunky but undermatched 76ers teams can stop Miami from getting back to the finals.

SIEGEL: Of course, one view of these playoffs is that it hardly matters who wins in the East, the two Western Conference teams, San Antonio and Oklahoma City, really look great. Would either Western team be the favorite of the finals, do you think?

FATSIS: You know, against the Heat I don't think so. But you cannot deny that the Spurs and Thunder have been fantastic. San Antonio took out the Los Angeles Clippers, who were looking pretty entertaining; Oklahoma City took out the Los Angeles Lakers and Kobe Bryant in five games. San Antonio is winning by an average of almost 14 points per game, Oklahoma City by eight points. The advanced metrics reflect even more dominance by these two teams.

SIEGEL: And there's a great contrast in the Western series now. San Antonio has the seasoned veteran Tim Duncan - it's a fairly old team. And on the other hand, Oklahoma City, a great young team.

FATSIS: Yeah. Let's look at Duncan, though. Thirty-six years old, he's looking great. And the reason is that Gregg Popovich, the coach of the Spurs, has found a way over the last few years to minimize Duncan's minutes on the court but maintain the fact that this offense runs completely through him. This team is on fire. They've won 18 straight games overall, 29 of the last 31 that they've played, and long-term, the San Antonio Spurs over the last 15 years have won at a greater rate than any team in NBA history. And not coincidentally, 15 years ago is when they drafted Tim Duncan.

SIEGEL: And, of course, they have lots of other terrific players besides Duncan. Oklahoma City has two great young players.

FATSIS: They do. Kevin Durant - 15 years younger than Tim Duncan. He's won three straight scoring titles. They've also got guard Russell Westbrook. These two guys, unlike Duncan, seem to need no rest. They played the entire second half of the last two games against the Lakers. Unlike the Spurs who really spread it out - use 10 players - the Thunder go to Durant, Westbrook and the guard James Harden to create their scoring opportunities. This is youth against skill and age. The consensus seems to be on the hot Spurs over the exciting Thunder, but we'll see.

SIEGEL: OK. Have a great weekend, Stefan.

FATSIS: You too, Robert.

SIEGEL: Stefan Fatsis joins us most Fridays to talk about sports and the business of sports.

Copyright ? 2012 National Public Radio?. All rights reserved. No quotes from the materials contained herein may be used in any media without attribution to National Public Radio. This transcript is provided for personal, noncommercial use only, pursuant to our Terms of Use. Any other use requires NPR's prior permission. Visit our permissions page for further information.

NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by a contractor for NPR, and accuracy and availability may vary. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Please be aware that the authoritative record of NPR's programming is the audio.

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Shelling on Syria opposition center kills 30: activists

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Sunday, May 27, 2012

Psychic Visions for Today - Psychic Mind Spirit

Here are some psychic visions for today.

Relationships

Many relationships are breaking apart, this is nothing new, but what is new are the reasons for the break up. One of the partners seeks to grow and to become more, while the other wants to stay the same with no improvement or self development. There is a difference in tastes and interests. This creates relationship conflict.

If you find yourself in this situation you only have two choices. You either put up with the crummy relationship, or decide to move on.

Increase in People Creativity

There is an explosion of creative energy you can tap into if you see fit. The internet, music, dance, and many areas of business are sky rocketing thanks to this burst of creative energy. The creative impulse leads to expansion in the direction it is applied, so naturally you begin to see increase along certain lines.

In the present day many are on the path of self growth. People are trying out courses, weekend workshops, retreats, home study, and working at mind, body, and spirit development. Truth seeking is on the increase with many attending spiritual retreats and the search for the right guru continues.

Introspection

More and more are getting into meditation. This is a tried and tested method for concentration improvement. Meditation relieves stress and speeds up mental clarity. I highly recommend meditation everyday. Living the spiritual lifestyle is in.

Going Backwards

In the coming few months a large segment of the population will go backwards due to the high cost of living. High petrol prices and the falling value of the Euro will create this economic pressure. A best course of action is to acknowledge one?s present karma and take steps to fix it. Suffering is one of the fastest ways to burn away karma, but there is no point suffering needlessly if you can avoid it.

Military Attacks

I saw a vast army of navy warships traveling at top speed to the Persian Gulf. Their mission is to protect the oil. These warships are heavily armed. They were moving at break neck speed so things are looking desperate in the Arabian Oil fields.

Increase Tarot Readers

I see an increase in Tarot Card Readers. More will understand how powerful the tarot is in its divination process and will begin to take it up. The tarot cards are one of the easiest systems to master. The way the cards are positioned gives one much insight into any type of psychic question. It truly is empowering to use them in life, as you gain the upper hand in knowing where the energy is going to flow. Each card has a symbol with a meaning for you. The cards offer us an opportunity to find out the truth in a world of lies.

Feel The Energy

We live in a time of transition. If you learn how to feel the energy you will be that much more ahead. Energy has certain qualities that help determine future outcomes, and with a bit of practice you become good at figuring out what is coming next. Hindsight is good, future seeing is better. All situations and life experiences contain a certain amount of energy.

Well, that is it for psychic visions for today,
bye for now.

Jim Cassa http://blogboogie.com/
? Jim Cassa 2012 All rights reserved

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How You Can Benefit By Securing The Personal Training Long Island

by Andrea Rivas on May 26, 2012

Taking advantage of the offers for personal training Long Island residents can use, can be very beneficial. Those who get expert guidance in their fitness plans are far more likely to attain their weight loss and overall health goals. This is due in large part to the fact that they are privy to essential details on how to condition and tone the human body optimally.

One very important benefit of working with professional fitness instructors is that you can dramatically reduce the risk for sustaining a physical injury. There is a tremendous amount of very important information that can be gleaned from a skilled, fitness professional. Learning how to protect your body, however, is likely the most important of these.

Students are taught proper techniques for protecting their knees and hips. Fitness experts can inform the of how to avoid straining specific much muscle groups through approved bending techniques and by using the right muscle groups. This helps people to avoid hyper-extension of the knees.

It is also beneficial to learn how to warm the body up properly before engaging in physical activities. When warm-ups are performed, people can enjoy a broad range of motion and a reduced risk for injury. Many individuals do not understand the importance of warming up and this is often what causes exercise related injuries.

Cooling the body down is essential as well. When the body is properly worked out, the heart rate will have increased and the individual is likely to have broken a sweat. A cool down routine can be created by a professional that will help you to gradually restore your heart rate to normal and stretch and relieve the muscles.

These things together can help to reduce the amount of soreness that you experience after working out. When your exercise activities make you feel agile and strong, rather than tired and store, you will stay motivated longer. Due to this fact, securing the services for personal training long island fitness professionals are offering will help you to stay true to your workout goals.

Learn more here: personal training long island

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The First Google Project Glass Video


Last month, Google announced Project Glass and how it was going to revolutionize the way we interact with the world forever. While Google still has a long way to go before the AR experience is complete, it has released the first video sample from Project Glass, posting the video on YouTube in 720p.

Now, because the video was shot with the camera on the glasses themselves, we still have no real idea what the prototype looks like at this point. That said, we can see the video quality that the glasses can capture and I?d say that it?s comparable to something like the Flip MinoHD. The sample video is with the employee jumping and flipping on a trampoline, so those with motion sensitivities might want to skip this.

I did notice a couple of moments where the video pauses or hiccups briefly, but this is a prototype and this is the first video sample. That said, since the glasses do appear to stay fixed on the Google employee?s head as he does his flips, at least we can say that Project Glass offers a decent fit for active types.

[Source]


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Saturday, May 26, 2012

Pictures: History of Auto Fuel Efficiency

Link Information - Click to View

Pictures: History of Auto Fuel Efficiency
Today?s global demand for more efficient cars follows two centuries of shifting attitudes toward fuel-guzzling vehicles, from Model T to Rambler, from Hummer to Prius.

Source: National Geographic News
Posted on: Friday, May 25, 2012, 8:53am
Views: 3

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Getting an Education in Student Loans | Math For Grownups

How about these scary statistics:

1. In the U.S. student loan debt is huge. Last year alone, students took out $117 billion in federal student loans. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau estimates that the total U.S. debt has now exceeded $1 trillion. And this debit is not simply because new students are going to school. Nope, it?s also because folks with?college degrees are behind in their loan payments, which increases the total interest costs. (The New York Federal Reserve estimates that 1 in 4 people with student loan debt is behind in their payments.)

2. The cost of a college education is rising fast. From the 1999 school year to the 2009 school year, tuition and room and board at public institutions rose 37% and at private insituations rose 25% (adjusting for inflation).

All of these statistics ? and more ? have some economists worrying that student loans are the new economic bubble. Like the tech and real estate bubbles, if this one bursts, the country could be in for another deep recession, this time with the federal government holding the bag.

So what the heck are colleges, parents and students doing to slow down this fast-moving train? Elgin Community College?(ECC) in Elgin, IL is getting proactive, requiring financial aid counseling to students who are seeking federal student loans.

?The feedback has been positive,? says?Amy Perrin, ECC?s director of financial aid and scholarships. ?Students have expressed appreciation for educating them on the loan basics, budgeting, percentage interest rates and expected monthly payments.?

But student expectations are still a big issue. ?We?ve had several students walk in with an inflated idea of what they ?want? to borrow ? and walk out with a better understanding of what they ?need? to borrow,? Perrin says.

Student loans aren?t free money. And unlike other debts, these loans can follow a person forever, since they cannot be discharged?in bankruptcy. It?s not just the math that trips students up.

?There seems to be a conflict between the Department of Education?s regulations and the student?s reality,? Perrin says. ?The loan advising meeting covers many concepts, including creating a budget, interest rates, monthly payments, the student?s rights and responsibilities, and the consequences of default. After meeting with the staff, they should have a good understanding of the basic financial concepts of borrowing a student loan.?

So how can math help? A solid understanding of interest payments is critical here, and although there are online calculators that can help students estimate the total cost of these loans, students must have some basic math skills in order to use them. Perrin also suggests that parents and schools work harder at developing financial literacy skills.

?Parents can definitely play an important role in educating their children on basic financial concepts such as budgeting, how to open a checking account, why having a savings account is important and explaining ?wants? vs. ?needs,?? she says. ?Additionally, high schools should infuse financial literacy concepts into their classroom curriculum to further communicate the importance of wise financial decisions. High schools can partner with colleges to offer financial aid awareness events for parents and students.?

This student loan debt isn?t going anywhere any time soon. Unless we turn on our math brains and really deal with the numbers behind these scary statistics, our country could end up in another ugly economic place. Here?s hoping that other colleges require students to attend these programs?so that college degrees can actually mean something more than a monthly debt that must be paid off.

I?ll be the first to admit that my understanding of student loans is limited. So if you have questions, I completely understand! Post them here, and I?ll find the right expert to answer them.?

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Best Things To Do In Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik, is truly the "Pearl of the Adriatic" and is one of the more remarkable places to visit. There's plenty to do in Dubrovnik, whether it's soaking up the sun, visiting places of history or having fun in the sea.

Here are their top things to do in this jewel of the Adriatic.

Scale the Town Walls: No visit to Dubrovnik would be complete without a leisurely walk around the city walls. Built between the 13th and 16th centuries and still intact today, these powerful walls are the finest in the world and Dubrovnik's main claim to fame.

Visit St John Fort, the Maritime Museum and Aquarium: Combine your trip to the Walls of Dubrovnik with a visit to the St John Fort. It contains Dubrovnik?s Maritime Museum and the Dubrovnik Aquarium. St John's Fort dates back to the 13th Century and has grown extensively over the centuries. It traditionally formed part of the seaward defence of the city of Dubrovnik, a bulwark against pirates and invaders.

Visit Dubrovnik Cathedral: Dubrovnik Cathedral, or the Church of the Assumption, is actually the third church built on the site. The first, a Byzantine-style building, was constructed in the 6th and 7th centuries, before a Romanesque church replaced it in the 12th century. Then, the 1667 earthquake wrecked the structure. The final incarnation assumed the Baroque fashion soon after. Aside from the architecture, the artwork is of particular note, which includes Titian's The Assumption at the main altar. For about 10 HRK (or about $2 USD), you can explore the treasury that has amassed a large collection of previous reliquaries and several body parts of St. Blaise.

Rector's Palace: The Gothic-Renaissance Rector's Palace was built in the late 15th century and is adorned with outstanding sculptural ornamentation. It retains a striking compositional unity despite being rebuilt many times. Notice the finely carved capitals and the ornate staircase in the atrium, which is often used for concerts during the Summer Festival. Today the palace has been turned into a museum with artfully restored rooms, portraits, coats-of-arms and coins, evoking the glorious history of Dubrovnik.

Seaside Drinks at Buza: To get there, follow the signs that say cold drinks- they will lead you to a hole in the fortress wall. The Cafe hugs the rocks and fortress walls which translates into a great view of the sea and passing ships. It also means drinking and cliff jumping. If you have a few hours to burn do yourself a favour and pencil this into your plans.

Enjoy the Dubrovnik Summer festival: The Dubrovnik Summer Festival is a music and drama event held from July to August each year. The festival takes place on more than 30 open air stages in palaces, churches, monasteries and forts around the city.

Explore Adriatic: Day trips to Mostar and Montenegro are very popular. Excursions to Mljet, Korula and the Elafiti Islands and Cavtat are also very famous. Cavtat is Dubrovnik's quite neighbor to the South. If you are looking for a quiet day trip that will provide private swimming opportunities and more authentic Croatian shopping, Cavtat is for you.

Visit Lokrum: A small, lush, uninhabited yet beautiful island which lies about 700m off Dubrovnik's spectacular coastline. With just a short 10 minute ferry ride from the port of Old town to Lokrum, this island can provide a few hours of fun in the sun and some nice hikes along Lokrum's many cliffs.

About the Author:
Loula Barrington is the author of this article about Holidays in Dubrovnik . Find out her favourite Luxury hotels in Dubrovnik. She travelled extensively and has lived in several European, North American and African countries.

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Friday, May 25, 2012

Marine reserves boost fish: Australian study

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gary johnson gary johnson stephen curry hes just not that into you hes just not that into you texas longhorns texas longhorns

Indian rupee hits another new record low

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