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Joe Iafigliola Utilizes Big Data in Vendor Management
The April issue of DS News featured an article authored by Joe Iafigliola, Safeguard's vice president of vendor management, titled Using Big Data to Optimize Vendor Networks.
USING BIG DATA TO OPTIMIZE VENDOR NETWORKS
Flexibility and agility are the best tools of a field services provider
Changing markets require companies to adapt with agility and speed, or they will be left
behind as others adjust and take advantage of the situation. For example, consider the
photography industry. Everything from cameras and film, to how people consume
pictures changed with the advent of digital photography. However, some industry
leaders didn't see how the world was changing around them. Their inability to
acknowledge the digital wave and its impact on photography contributed to their
demise. And, once they finally accepted digital was more than a trend, their
competition was already firmly seated in the very market they had dominated for years.
This scenario plays out in every industry every day. The field services arena is no
different. As the industry matures, players need to be aware of how the world is
changing around them, what is driving this change, and how to remain relevant.
Changes seem to be coming from all directions. Today's regulatory environment is
continually evolving with new federal and state oversight. Local municipalities also
are enacting new ordinances and property registrations to deal with a shrinking tax
base and the glut of vacant properties that dot the landscape. Shifts in the market are
changing the way field service companies look and function. A couple years ago, many
field services companies worked from static reports. Now interactive visualization is
used to create graphic illustrations of information to help companies better manage
everything from compliance to workforce management.
They say necessity is the mother of invention, and nowhere is this truer than in the field
services industry. The industry is in a transition era. It's being reshaped by the
influence of strong economic, regulatory, and market forces; but the industry is also
agile and is adapting at breakneck speed.
Investments in business intelligence, technology, and quality control are spurring
innovations that were never thought of a couple years ago. These innovations are
having a significant impact on the ability to manage the boots on the ground—the field
services vendors who are working in our neighborhoods as the eyes and ears for
mortgage servicers.
APPLYING DATA TO FOSTER BUSINESS AGILITY
Field services companies gather millions of data points into their systems every day
from internal and external sources. Many are turning these nuggets of intelligence
into actionable information that can maximize the efficiency of complex vendor networks,
such as ensuring the correct number of vendors needed for each geographic region is
recruited and those vendors have the necessary skill sets. Each time an order is
completed, information is gathered and used for future analysis. For example, property
condition reports and on-time order completion can be analyzed to determine
contractor performance by geographic region. Work orders then can be allocated
based on performance history to continuously improve the quality and timeliness of
services provided to clients.
Data analytics also is being used to help clients make informed decisions about millions
of vacant, defaulted, and foreclosed properties across the country so they can
proactively address property issues, cutting down on ordinance violations and neighbor
complaints and eliminating blight. Safeguard Properties, one of the largest field
services companies in the United States, reports 15 to 20 percent of the defaulted
properties it inspects eventually become vacant or abandoned by their owners.
Mortgage companies are in a classic Catch-22 when it comes to vacant properties in
their mortgage portfolios that have been abandoned by their owners but have not
gone through the foreclosure process. Failure to identify and secure abandoned
properties in a timely manner can expose these properties to vandalism and
deterioration. On the other hand, securing a defaulted property in error, believing it
to be vacant, can expose a mortgage servicer to potentially significant financial and
legal liability.
Assuring inspections are thorough and inspectors proceed according to the most
current status of the property is critical. Field services companies that are able to
store and access a property's data history, such as property status, color, siding
material, and architectural style, as well as the number of garages a home has,
can improve the quality and accuracy of inspections.
But data can be misleading or drive the wrong decisions until it is turned into
information. By integrating current data with historical data, predictive analytics
can be applied to help identify trends and patterns to create agility in services and
network capacity to meet changing market and client needs.
Today business intelligence has shifted the focus from having a simple overview of
what's going on to now being able to deploy the data to discover causes, effects, and
solutions. But it all starts by asking the simple question: "What do we need to know?"
And then using data and technology to produce sound information to answer it.
INTEGRATING DATA AND TECHNOLOGY TO OPTIMIZE EFFICIENCY AND LOWER COSTS
The key combination necessary to grow and prosper in this new business landscape is
the ability to integrate the millions of data points and turn them into intuitive displays of
information. In fact, Gartner has forecasted an increase in information technology
spending in 2014 that will reach $3.8 trillion. Strategic investment in technology is the
real game-changer with expenditures in mobile technology leading the way. No longer
must a vendor be tied to a desktop or laptop to upload reports and photos. Advances
in wireless communication have severed the land line and offer vendors the freedom
to complete their work anywhere.
As consolidation in the field services industry continues, more emphasis is being placed
on efficiency, especially in managing vendors—the boots on the ground. Order
workflow has taken on a strategic focus as technology is allowing decisions to be made
at the property level. Heat maps that visually plot which contractors in an area have
extra capacity help to determine where work orders should be funneled. Supply chain
network designers utilize this information to determine where to issue work orders and
to which vendors. This information is overlaid with vendor quality results to determine
optimal order distribution. It also can alert to the need to change order flow and work
distribution to another vendor, if for example, a vendor runs into a capacity issue
related to a significant amount of work at a property and needs additional time before it
can take another work order. Data analytics and heat maps can identify the next best
choice and route work to a different vendor. Distribution of work orders verified by data
analytics reduces time loss, leading to faster response times, improved compliance,
higher quality of work, and ultimately, reduced costs.
For clients, this efficiency also translates into a higher return on their investments in the
form of lower field service costs. As banks place more and more emphasis on
reinvesting in vacant properties and getting squeezed by compliance burdens, field
service companies need to be cognizant of this new dynamic and savvy enough to
integrate data from the field with technology to create processes that optimize efficiency.
SELF-AUDITS: IMPROVING PERFORMANCE AND SATISFYING REGULATORS
Although market conditions have evened out as the country appears to leave the
financial crisis behind, the rules of the mortgage game are still changing. New and
tighter regulations are squeezing an already highly-regulated mortgage industry,
putting players at greater risk than previously experienced. This scrutiny not only
affects mortgage companies, but also cascades down to field services companies
and their vendors and employees. But it doesn't stop there. It cascades further
down to sub-vendors who must also comply with all regulatory requirements.
Field services companies are finding themselves in a unique position to help their
servicing clients maneuver through myriad of government regulations, as well as
strengthen their own risk-management requirements. Servicers today must
document nearly every process to demonstrate compliance. To monitor and
ensure compliance with internal policies and external regulatory requirements,
companies not only audit their own processes and outcomes, but also those of
their vendors and suppliers. And this has never been more important than in
today's mortgage servicing business.
The ability to maintain compliance ultimately rests on having sound processes. What
processes are in place to ensure client and customer confidentiality? Are vendors
and their subs licensed in the various municipalities in which they are working? Are
work orders being distributed in the most efficient way possible? The list goes on
and on.
Vendor audits add another level of oversight and are a useful tool in developing
competencies that can help vendors complete work accurately and on time.
A strong focus on compliance and quality control procedures helps assure all parties
involved—vendors, field services companies, mortgage servicers, and
investors—comply with all regulations and ordinances. This protects the condition
and value of vacant and abandoned properties, upholds the value and integrity of
surrounding properties and neighborhoods, and protects the most fragile
communities from expanding blight.
Being agile in today's business world means being adaptable. It means managing
ever-evolving needs and regulations. It means creating nimble operations that can
see the forest through the trees as market conditions shift. The common thread
that spans the field services industry is that property and neighborhood preservation
will continue to be vital to the servicing industry; and data, technology, and
compliance are the new forces driving the field services companies that will succeed
in this new world.
Please click here to view the article in PDF.
About Safeguard
Safeguard Properties is the largest mortgage field services company in the U.S. Founded in 1990 by Robert Klein and based in Valley View, Ohio, the company inspects and maintains defaulted and foreclosed properties for mortgage servicers, lenders, and other financial institutions. Safeguard employs approximately 1,700 people, in addition to a network of thousands of contractors nationally. Website: www.safeguardproperties.com.
HUD: FHA INFO #20-05: Reminder – Guidance Regarding Presidentially-Declared Major Disaster Areas
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) issued single family housing and news updates in FHA INFO #20-05.
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FEMA issued a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for areas in Puerto Rico affected by earthquakes beginning December 28, 2019 and continuing.
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Alan Jaffa
Alan Jaffa is the chief executive officer for Safeguard, steering the company as the mortgage field services industry leader. He also serves on the board of advisors for SCG Partners, a middle-market private equity fund focused on diversifying and expanding Safeguard Properties' business model into complimentary markets.
Alan joined Safeguard in 1995, learning the business from the ground up. He was promoted to chief operating officer in 2002, and was named CEO in May 2010. His hands-on experience has given him unique insights as a leader to innovate, improve and strengthen Safeguard's processes to assure that the company adheres to the highest standards of quality and customer service.
Under Alan's leadership, Safeguard has grown significantly with strategies that have included new and expanded services, technology investments that deliver higher quality and greater efficiency to clients, and strategic acquisitions. He takes a team approach to process improvement, involving staff at all levels of the organization to address issues, brainstorm solutions, and identify new and better ways to serve clients.
In 2008, Alan was recognized by Crain's Cleveland Business in its annual "40-Under-40" profile of young leaders. He also was named a NEO Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year® finalist in 2013.
Michael Greenbaum
Michael Greenbaum is the chief operating officer for Safeguard. Mike has been instrumental in aligning operations to become more efficient, effective, and compliant with our ever-changing industry requirements. Mike has a proven track record of excellence, partnership and collaboration at Safeguard. Under Mike's leadership, all operational departments of Safeguard have reviewed, updated and enhanced their business processes to maximize efficiency and improve quality control.
Mike joined Safeguard in July 2010 as vice president of REO and has continued to take on additional duties and responsibilities within the organization, including the role of vice president of operations in 2013 and then COO in 2015.
Mike built his business career in supply-chain management, operations, finance and marketing. He has held senior management and executive positions with Erico, a manufacturing company in Solon, Ohio; Accel, Inc., a packaging company in Lewis Center, Ohio; and McMaster-Carr, an industrial supply company in Aurora, Ohio.
Before entering the business world, Mike served in the U.S. Army, Ordinance Branch, and specialized in supply chain management. He is a distinguished graduate of West Point (U.S. Military Academy), where he majored in quantitative economics.
George Mehok
George Mehok is the chief information officer for Safeguard. He is responsible for all strategic technology decisions, new systems deployments and data center operations supporting a national network of more than 10,000 mobile workers.
George has more than 20 years of leadership experience dedicated to high-growth companies in the mobile telecommunications and financial services industries, spanning startups to global industry leaders.
George played a senior role in the formation of Verizon Wireless, leading the IT product development and strategic planning team. He led the integration planning for the Verizon merger including: GTE, Vodafone-AirTouch, Bell Atlantic Mobile and PrimeCo.
As chief information officer at Revol Wireless, a VC-backed CDMA wireless communications network operator, George's team implemented an integrated technology infrastructure and award-winning business intelligence platform.
George holds a bachelor's degree in political science and economics from Eastern Michigan University and an M.B.A. from The Ohio State University. He is a board member of Akron University's School of Business Center for Information Technology, in addition to an advisory board member for OHTec.
In 2013, George won the Crain's Cleveland Business CIO of the Year award for his team's work in completing a major acquisition and technology transformation at Safeguard. In 2015, George's team was recognized by InformationWeek's annual Elite 100 ranking of the most innovative U.S.-based users of business technology. The mobile inspection technology developed at Safeguard was selected as InformationWeek's "One of the top 20 ideas to steal in 2015".
General Counsel and Executive Vice President
Linda Erkkila, Esq.
Linda Erkkila is the general counsel and executive vice president for Safeguard, with oversight responsibilities for the legal, human resources, training, compliance and audit departments. Linda's broad scope of oversight covers regulatory issues that impact Safeguard's operations, pro-active risk mitigation, enterprise strategic planning, human capital and training initiatives, compliance and audit services, litigation and claims management, and counsel related to mergers, acquisition and joint ventures.
Linda's oversight of the legal department along with multiple compliance and human capital focused departments assures that Safeguard's strategic initiatives align with its resources, leverage opportunities across the company, and contemplate compliance mandates. Her practice spans almost 20 years, and Linda's experience, both as outside and in-house counsel, covers a wide range of corporate matters, including regulatory disclosure, corporate governance compliance, risk assessment, executive compensation, litigation management, and merger and acquisition activity. Her experience at a former Fortune 500 financial institution during the subprime crisis helped develop Linda's pro-active approach to change management during periods of heightened regulatory scrutiny.
Linda previously served as vice president and attorney for National City Corporation, as securities and corporate governance counsel for Agilysys Inc., and as an associate at Thompson Hine LLP. She earned her JD at Cleveland-Marshall College of Law. Linda holds a degree in economics from Miami University and an MBA. In 2017, Linda was named as both a "Woman of Influence" by HousingWire and as a "Leading Lady" by MReport.
Joe Iafigliola
Joe Iafigliola is the Chief Financial Officer for Safeguard. Joe is responsible for the Control, Quality Assurance, Business Development, Accounting & Information Security departments, and is a Managing Director of SCG Partners, a middle-market private equity fund focused on diversifying and expanding Safeguard Properties' business model into complimentary markets.
Joe has been in a wide variety of roles in finance, supply chain management, information systems development, and sales and marketing. His career includes senior positions with McMaster-Carr Supply Company, Newell/Rubbermaid, and Procter and Gamble.
Joe has an MBA from The Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University, is a Certified Management Accountant (CMA), and holds a bachelor's degree from The Ohio State University's Honors Accounting program.
AVP, Operations
Jennifer Jozity
Jennifer Jozity is the assistant vice president of operations, overseeing inspections, REO and property preservation for Safeguard. Jen ensures quality work is performed in the field and internally, to meet and exceed our clients' expectations. Jen has demonstrated the ability to deliver consistent results in order audit and order management. She will build upon these strengths in order to deliver this level of excellence in both REO and property preservation operations.
Jen joined Safeguard in 1997 and was promoted to director of inspections operations in 2009 and assistant vice president of inspections operations in 2012.
She graduated from Cleveland State University with a degree in business.
AVP, Finance
Jennifer Anspach
Jennifer Anspach is the assistant vice president of finance for Safeguard. She is responsible for the company's national workforce of approximately 1,000 employees. She manages recruitment strategies, employee relations, training, personnel policies, retention, payroll and benefits programs. Additionally, Jennifer has oversight of the accounts receivable and loss functions formerly within the accounting department.
Jennifer joined the company in April 2009 as a manager of accounting and finance and a year later was promoted to director. She was named AVP of human capital in 2014. Prior to joining Safeguard, she held several management positions at OfficeMax and InkStop in both operations and finance.
Jennifer is a graduate of Youngstown State University. She was named a Crain's Cleveland Business Archer Award finalist for HR Executive of the Year in 2017.
AVP, Application Architecture
Rick Moran is the assistant vice president of application architecture for Safeguard. Rick is responsible for evolving the Safeguard IT systems. He leads the design of Safeguard's enterprise application architecture. This includes Safeguard's real-time integration with other systems, vendors and clients; the future upgrade roadmap for systems; and standards designed to meet availability, security, performance and goals.
Rick has been with Safeguard since 2011. During that time, he has led the system upgrades necessary to support Safeguard's growth. In addition, Rick's team has designed and implemented several innovative systems.
Prior to joining Safeguard, Rick was director of enterprise architecture at Revol Wireless, a privately held CDMA Wireless provider in Ohio and Indiana, and operated his own consulting firm providing services to the manufacturing, telecommunications, and energy sectors.
AVP, Technology Infrastructure and Cloud Services
Steve Machovina
Steve Machovina is the assistant vice president of technology infrastructure and cloud services for Safeguard. He is responsible for the overall management and design of Safeguard's hybrid cloud infrastructure. He manages all technology engineering staff who support data centers, telecommunications, network, servers, storage, service monitoring, and disaster recovery.
Steve joined Safeguard in November 2013 as director of information technology operations.
Prior to joining Safeguard, Steve was vice president of information technology at Revol Wireless, a privately held wireless provider in Ohio and Indiana. He also held management positions with Northcoast PCS and Corecomm Communications, and spent nine years as a Coast Guard officer and pilot.
Steve holds a BBA in management information systems from Kent State University in Ohio and an MBA from Wayne State University in Michigan.
AVP, Business Development
Tim Rath
Tim Rath is the AVP of business development for Safeguard. He is responsible for developing innovative growth strategies for Safeguard and developing and overseeing potential partnerships, mergers and acquisitions.
Tim joined Safeguard in 2011 as project director and has filled numerous roles within Vendor Management, most recently serving as director of vendor management, a role he assumed in 2011.
Prior to Safeguard, Tim worked as director of supply chain at PartsSource Inc. in Aurora, Ohio, a provider of medical replacement parts, procurement solutions and healthcare supply chain management technology services. He also has held sales positions with Rexel, ComDoc, and Pier Associates, all based in Ohio.
Tim holds a degree in marketing and sales from The University of Akron in Akron, Ohio. He also earned his FAA Certified Commercial UAS (Drone) Pilot license in 2017.


text:
Country Specific Guides
Telemedicine from Abroad
Start Your Adventure
Spain's Healthcare System: What you need to know
by Dr. Bulbena Cabre | Oct 5, 2022 | A Lived Adventure, Blog, Spain
Spain is a dream come true. Whether you want to explore the beaches of the Balearic Islands, walk the historic streets of Barcelona, Madrid and Seville, revel in the exquisite cuisine or simple enjoy a relaxed lifestyle, Spain has it all. With a wonderful weather all year round, an emphasis on work-life balance, and an affordable cost of living, Spain is now considered one of the top countries to live and work for expats.
Here I share important information about Spain's Healthcare System to complement my prior post on Medical Licensure in Spain for US-Trained physicians.
Spanish Health Care System
Spain's single-payer health care system is ranked seventh best in the world by the World Health Organization. Spain has the most efficient health system in Europe and is considered the healthiest country. Spain's healthcare system offers universal health coverage as a constitutionally-guaranteed right and no out-of-pocket expenses — aside from prescription drugs. Patients do complain about the long wait to see specialists and to undergo certain procedures such as a knee replacement or cataract surgery. In terms of socio-economic development relative to other similar countries, the Spanish health system is generally comparable in almost all dimensions: population coverage, global equity, access equity, technical quality and economic efficiency.
Primary & Specialist Healthcare Services
Primary Healthcare Services are usually available within a 15-minute radius from any place of residence. The main facilities are the healthcare centers staffed by multidisciplinary teams comprising of general practitioners, pediatricians, nurses, administrative staff, and in some cases, social workers, midwives and physiotherapists. The principles of maximum accessibility and equity mean that community primary healthcare also provides home care, when necessary and promotes health and disease prevention.
Specialist care is provided in specialist care centers and hospitals in the form of outpatient and inpatient care. Patients having received specialist care and treatment are referred back to their primary healthcare doctor. The primary care doctor then assumes responsibility for any necessary follow-up treatment and care, ensuring the provision of continuous care under equitable conditions, irrespective of the patient's place of residence and individual circumstances.
Private Healthcare
Private healthcare insurance for treatment at private hospitals and clinics is not widespread and mainly used to avoid the sometimes long waiting lists to see specialist doctors in the public healthcare system. Only around 10-20 % of the population has voluntary private insurance although some private services are contracted by the public sector. In Catalonia, due to historical reasons, there are a large number of non-profit, semi-public entities. Private healthcare companies often offer quicker service to patients but also value-added services such as private rooms, express mailing of test results and keeping patients informed via email and SMS messages.
Funding the Healthcare System
The Spanish healthcare system is principally funded through taxation. The country's total healthcare expenditure, amounts to 88,828 million euro, which accounts for 8.5 percent of the GDP. Public healthcare expenditure accounts for 6.1 percent of GDP and represents an expense per inhabitant of 1,421 euro. For comparison, health care expenditure in the US accounts for 19.7% of the GDP, an expense of 12,530 USD per person. The Spanish government provides financial support to each region based on population and demographic criteria.
Dr. Bulbena Cabre is a US trained psychiatrist who is originally from Spain. She trained at New York Medical College, Yale University and at the Icahn school of Medicine at Mount Sinai and works as an attending psychiatrist in NYC. She has applied for her specialty recognition in Spain and hopes to receive final recognition in the coming months.
If you want to move to Spain but don't know where to start, sign up for a Guidance Session with Dr. Bulbena Cabre. She will show you the ropes!
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text:
Government Sites Serve 42% of Online Americans
Analytics, Automated & MarTech | Retail & E-Commerce | Women
The "Cash-for-Clunkers" program, the healthcare debate, rising unemployment, the Swine flu and other issues drove more than than 81 million Americans, or 42% of the US internet audience,? to US-government websites in July 2009, according to an analysis of the government site category, by comScore, Inc.
The analysis also found that users are generally happy with their experience on government websites, though this satisfaction still lags levels achieved by many larger consumer sites.
Top US Government Sites
Though the net number of visits to government sites did not change vs. the same period last year, the distribution of visits to specific sites has shifted. With 7.1 million visitors, the Department of Commerce (which includes substantial traffic at Weather.gov and the site for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NOAA.gov) ranked as the most visited federal government web entity in July, though visits declined vs. a year ago.
The DOC sites are followed by those for the US Department of Education (ED.gov) with 7 million visitors, the National Institutes of Health (NIH.gov) with 6.9 million visitors, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS.gov) with 4.2 million visitors and the Social Security Administration (SSA.gov) with 3.3 million visitors.
Additional government site statistics:
CARS.gov, which did not exist one year ago, logged nearly 2.1 million visitors because of the recent "Cash for Clunkers" auto trade-in incentive, while visitors to the government's fuel economy website were up 208% over last year.
WhiteHouse.gov was up 88% vs. a year ago, to 1.1 million visitors, as Americans exhibited an interest in the policies and initiatives of President Obama.
Both branches of the legislature showed impressive gains, with Senate.gov up 93% and House.gov up 73%, most likely because of the current debate over US healthcare reform.
Demographic Profile of Visitors to Government Category
Visitors to the government site category skew slightly toward the female, older-than-age-25 demographic, with higher household income than than the average US internet user, comScore found. Specifically, females are 5% more likely than average to visit the category, while 35-54 year-olds are 20% more likely. Those in households earning at least $60K annually are 6% more likely.
"The internet has evolved into an important channel for Americans to interact with the federal government and its agencies," said Dan Lackner, comScore SVP.? Lackner added that President' Obama's January 21, 2009 directive to executive departments and agencies to use new technologies to dissemminate information to the public has spurred federal and state agencies and departments to invest more heavily in their web presence,and attempt to make their sites more citizen-centric and easier to interact with. "They are rapidly adopting and adapting best practices from the commercial sector and applying them to their own initiatives,"? he said.
Citizen Satisfaction with Government Web sites
According to related research from comScore, cosnumers generally give good marks about their experiences when visiting government websites. Customer satisfaction ratings on government sites (i.e. the percent of visitors saying they were satisfied) ranged from the low 70s to a rating of 81% for the Department of Education site, ED.gov, with approximately 71% of visitors saying they would recommend a government site to a friend.
comScore also reported that the overall average satisfaction rating for government websites is 76%, five to 10 percentage points behind consumers' ratings of the top e-commerce sites.
"Government website managers have made strides to improve the content and overall experience of visitors," added Lackner. "As [they] continue to embrace industry best practices, we can expect them to close the gap relative to their commercial counterparts."
In other research that shows the growing appeal of the US government, a recent survey by CareerBuilder.com found that four out of five US job seekers are now interested in government jobs.


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US carrier strike group, Japan escort division hold bilateral exercise for maritime security
The Ronald Reagan Strike Group and JMSDF Escort Division 12 conducted bilateral exercise at sea in support of regional security and stability in the Indo-Pacific, Oct. 24 through Nov. 2.
The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and U.S. Navy executed several exercises, strengthening interoperability between the two maritime forces.
"Conducting bilateral exercise with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force enables both navies to continue to strengthen the unique and seamless integration of our forces," said Capt. Steve H. DeMoss, commander, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15. "Bonded by our shared interests, shared values, and a commitment to freedom of the seas, the JMSDF and forward-deployed U.S. naval forces work together regularly to promote security and stability throughout the Indo-Pacific region."
The two forces demonstrated their partnership and combined sea power by focusing their naval officer exchanges on sea combat watch standing integration. U.S. Navy and JMSDF watch standers coordinated maneuvering operations, and tactical battle exercises that enhanced the ability of both navies to respond to maritime threats.
Rear Adm. George M. Wikoff, commander, Task Force 70, and DeMoss, were hosted aboard the Akizuki-class destroyer JS Fuyuzuki (DD 118) by Cmdr. Shusuke Kitaguchi, Fuyuzuki's commanding officer, and Capt. Kimihiro Ichiyanagi, commander, Escort Division 12. While on board Fuyuzuki, the senior leadership from both navies discussed the continued integration of their units and the partnership that has been built and strengthened for over six decades between the JMSDF and U.S. Navy.
"Continual, regularly-based, bilateral exercises between the U.S. Navy and the JMSDF contribute to enhanced tactical skills and interoperability with each other," said Capt. Kimihiro Ichiyanagi, commander, Escort Division 12 JMSDF. "In addition to the force and staff level accomplishments, I believe our synchronized bilateral activities at sea also help us to promote and maintain an open and stable Indo-Pacific region." Ichiyanagi and several of his staff members embarked aboard the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), and stood operational watches with DESRON 15, integrated into the strike group's planning and operational staff, and worked alongside U.S. Navy Sailors to increase the maritime force's interoperability. The bilateral exercise participants included Fuyuzuki, Ronald Reagan, the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruisers USS Antietam (CG 54) and USS Chancellorsville (CG 62). The Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group is forward-deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations in support of security and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. U.S. 7th Fleet is the largest numbered fleet in the world, and with the help of 35 other maritime-nation allies and partners, the U.S. Navy has operated in the Indo-Pacific region for more than 70 years, providing credible, ready forces to help preserve peace and prevent conflict. C7F.NAVY.MIL


When your clients provide public WiFi, they have anobl igation to protect users. But uncontrolled internet usage brings high risk. So what can MSPs do to protect their clients' public Wi-Fi from hacking and other threats? Download this infographic to find out.


text:
Current (https://current.org/2012/11/two-executives-join-npr-groundbreaker-belva-davis-leaves-kqed-tv-fajardo-departs-wmfe-tv-and-more/)
Two executives join NPR, groundbreaker Belva Davis leaves KQED-TV, Fajardo departs WMFE-TV and more . . .
Dru Sefton, Senior Editor | November 5, 2012
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NPR added new positions to its executive ranks with two appointments announced Nov. 1 by President Gary Knell.
Carrasco
Emma Carrasco, currently executive vice president of Republica, a Miami creative agency specializing in multiplatform marketing, takes over as NPR's chief marketing officer Dec. 3. Carrasco has 30 years of experience in advertising, branding, digital, promotions, communications and media. She has worked for Fleishman-Hillard in Los Angeles and New York and at major firms such as Univision, McDonald's and Nortel Networks. Carrasco serves on the board of directors of WPBT, the PBS member station in Miami. She will report directly to Knell and work to develop and lead implementation of a marketing strategy to expand the visibility of NPR and public radio.
Loren Mayor will join NPR as senior vice president of strategy. Since 2008, Mayor has been v.p. of strategy and ventures at PBS, where she oversees long-term and annual strategic planning, media strategy, corporate partnerships, major revenue initiatives, and licensing and sponsorship programs. Prior to PBS, Mayor spent five years at CPB, rising to vice president of media strategies and technologies. Her previous experience includes consulting for McKinsey & Co., primarily with clients in nonprofit and media.
Mayor will report directly to Knell as one of four executives assigned to the office of the president. Others are Joyce MacDonald, chief of staff and v.p. member audience partnership; Mike Riksen, v.p., policy and representation; and Keith Woods, v.p., diversity.
Carrasco will join Knell's executive committee, whose members are McDonald; Debbie Cowan, c.f.o.; Dana Davis Rehm, s.v.p. of marketing and communications; Monique Hanson, chief development officer; Margaret Low Smith, s.v.p. of news; Steve Moss, c.o.o. of the underwriting sales unit National Public Media; Joyce Slocum, chief administrative officer; and Kinsey Wilson, chief content officer.
Belva Davis, a pioneering African-American journalist and host of KQED-TV's public affairs show This Week in Northern California, will conclude her two-decade run on the program this week.
Her final show, airing Nov. 9, will feature an interview with famed writer Maya Angelou.
Davis began her journalism career in the Bay Area nearly 50 years ago. "Belva Davis is an icon of fair, thorough and local journalism," said John Boland, KQED president, "and she has opened up so many doors for women and African Americans in television and beyond. We count ourselves lucky to have had such a trailblazer as part of the KQED family." Davis has received more than a dozen journalism awards, including eight local Emmys.
She is widely recognized as the first female African-American broadcast journalist to rise to prominent on-air roles on West-Coast television. In her autobiography, Never in My Wildest Dreams: A Black Woman's Life in Journalism (Berrett-Koehler Publishers, 2011), Davis recalls a San Francisco station manager dismissing her from an early job interview simply by saying he "wasn't hiring any Negresses." She endured racist insults and trash thrown at her while she covered the 1964 Republican convention in San Francisco.
Davis persevered and went on to report on many important stories of the time, including the Free Speech Movement at Berkeley; the birth of the Black Panthers; the People's Temple cult and its mass suicides at Jonestown; assassinations of San Francisco Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk; the onset of the AIDS epidemic; and the terrorist attacks on the U.S. embassy in Tanzania that first put Osama bin Laden on the FBI's Most Wanted list. She has interviewed an array of A-list newsmakers such as Malcolm X, Frank Sinatra, James Brown, Nancy Reagan, Huey Newton, Muhammad Ali, Alex Haley, Fidel Castro, Dianne Feinstein and Condoleeza Rice.
Actor Bill Cosby, who had watched Davis on local television early in her career, wrote in her book's foreword: "Belva Davis was someone who sustained us, who made us proud. She was the first woman of color that many viewers came to know and trust, and she met that challenge with integrity and dignity and grace."
In a letter to viewers announcing her retirement, Davis said, "It was my interest in politics and fairness that fueled my career in broadcast journalism more than four decades ago. The need that the two remain intertwined is as important today as it was when I started."
This Week continues and will have a series of guest hosts until a new host is announced in early 2013.
WMFE President José Fajardo, who initiated the sale of the Orlando station's public television channel in 2011, is leaving Dec. 1.
Fajardo's departure was announced last month after the sale of WMFE-TV to the University of Central Florida was finalized.
Early in those negotiations, Fajardo told the WMFE Board that he was considering a move, according to Chair Bob Showalter. Fajardo "made it clear . . . that once WMFE became a radio-only operation he would initiate a dialogue with the board about his future," Showalter said in a statement. "José was clear that a new and smaller 90.7 would not need a highly compensated c.e.o. and to his credit he kept his word."
Fajardo arrived at WMFE in 1996 as director of radio programming, and became president in 2007. Previously, he was g.m. of KNCT in Killeen, Texas, and sales executive and operations manager for KTEM/KPLE, a commercial radio operation in Texas.
Gregg Whiteside is now a classical music host at WRTI-FM in Philadelphia, on the air from 6 to 10 a.m. weekdays. Whiteside began his career at WQXR in New York City, where he was chief announcer and morning host for 23 years. He hosted the national broadcasts of the New York Philharmonic and was the commercial voice of many of the city's top cultural institutions, including the Metropolitan Opera. For the past three months, Whiteside has served as interim morning host while the station conducted a national search to replace former morning host Dave Conant, who is now the station's general manager.
WFPL News in Louisville has hired Jonathan Bastian of Aspen Public Radio as local host and producer of Morning Edition. In Aspen, Bastian hosted All Things Considered. He's also the founder and host of Page by Page, a weekly author-interview program syndicated on pubradio stations across Colorado. Devin Katayama, who served as interim host of Morning Edition, is returning to full-time reporting.
Louisville Public Media also added two positions in its online division: technology director for its three radio stations, WFPL, WUOL and WFPK; and online managing editor for WFPL. Charles Spivey is the new technology director, overseeing all daily technical operations of broadcast transmitters and digital operations, as well as the licensee's IT strategy. Previously, Spivey was the technology officer at the National Center for Family Literacy in Louisville, and assisted the Center for Nonprofit Excellence in Charlottesville, Va., in teaching IT strategic planning for nonprofits. WFPL's new online managing editor is Joseph Lord. He will write and edit posts on WFPL.org, manage social media and facilitate the upcoming launch of the Public Insight Network. Lord reported for The Anniston Star in Alabama, the Tribune and Evening News in southern Indiana and Velocity, the weekly entertainment magazine for The Courier-Journal in Louisville. Most recently he was a digital news reporter for that newspaper. As Lord joins the staff, reporter Rick Howlett becomes WFPL broadcast managing editor.
The Association of Independents in Radio has elected three directors. Incumbent Amy Mayer, a journalist based in Greenfield, Mass., and current board secretary, returns for another three-year term. New directors are Rob Rosenthal, an instructor in the Transom Story Workshop of Transom.org, and Laura Starecheski, producer of State of the Re:Union. Two station-based pubradio managers joined the board as appointees: Ellen Rocco, g.m. of North Country Public Radio in Canton, N.Y., who serves on AIR's strategic development committee; and Bob Cross, head of finance at KUT in Austin, Texas, and chair of the human resource committee.
Michigan Radio News Director Vincent Duffy is the new chair of the Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA), the first public media news director elected to the position. Duffy served as chair-elect of the RTDNA during 2011. He takes over from Kevin Benz of the daily digital news magazine CultureMap Austin, who will chair the Radio Television Digital News Foundation, the educational arm of the association. The RTDNA is the world's largest organization serving the electronic-news profession, with more than 3,000 members including news directors, news associates, educators and students.
Barbara Hamm Lee is the new project manager of the CPB-backed African American Public Radio Station (AAPRS) service grant at the National Federation of Community Broadcasters. Hamm Lee will report directly to Ginny Z. Berson, NFCB's v.p. and director of federation services, and work with an advisory council of station managers and industry executives. Under the CPB grant, NFCB procures service contracts for stations licensed to Historically Black Colleges and Universities or that serve a predominantly African-American audience.
Please send People items to sefton@current.org
People in Public Media
Cara Williams Fry named GM for Northwest Public Broadcasting
Williams Fry most recently worked for WITF Public Media in Harrisburg, Pa.


Note from Editor: This project is another in our "Tribute to Tinplate(tm)" series, a tribute to the tinplate villages and trains that surrounded so many Christmas trees in the early 1900s.
Like the Lewis Park Station project, we are combining Paul Race's lithograph-inspired downloadable graphics with Howard's careful construction tips and plans.
A photo of the original structure that inspired this project is shown at the left. I'll try to get a better photo next time I see one at a train show. You can tell that we didn't aim at a precise reproduction, more something to evoke the era. In addition to an option for simplifying the windows (described below), we attempted to replicate what the colors might have looked like when this antique structure was shiny and new. You may also have seen the original in a green-roofed version. If you prefer that, you'll be glad to know that we provide graphics for a green roof as well. Howard liked this project so much, he built one of each, and is working on other options we hope to add later.
Although a person good with tools could use our plans and graphics to build our "Tribute to Tinplate" structures from sheet tin, we show how to do it with cardboard. Ironically, this reflects yet another tradition - when tinplate trains and towns were in vogue, Japanese companies manufactured heavily-shellacked cardboard houses and stations that you could use to supplement your tinplate empire. Today's putz house collectors call these old Lionel and Ives-inspired cardboard houses "Lackies," because of the lacquer that made them almost as shiny as the metal structures that inspired them.
This project was designed to look good with vintage trains. When Paul sent me the original graphic, he gave me many options to choose from, including different roof colors. We also negotiated a little about the way I wanted to do the windows. The end result is that there are several different ways to build this project, and Paul about lost his mind trying to sort them all into an article that still made sense. But this way, you have almost as many choices as I did when I started building my cottage, and you can make a totally unique version if you wish.
Here's an example: Paul's original idea was to reproduce the "recessed" windows of the original by cutting out the windowframes on the building walls and gluing more windowframes in behind them.
The original windows are stamped from separate pieces of sheet metal and inset slightly. For the most authentic appearance, cut out the windowframes, go over the cut card stock edges lightly with a fine black marker, and glue the insert in from behind. If you plan to illuminate the building, you can even cut out the black parts of the inserts, being careful to leave the shaded edges. If you like the way Howard's buildings look, simply use the blue-window version and keep the walls in one piece. Notice how the additional shading and highlights help provide a 3-D appearance.
Clean solid cardboard, such as from cereal boxes or posterboard. I especially like to use a thick cardboard, like the back of a writing tablet, for the roof.
Acrylic paint for the underside of the roof pieces. I mixed a color that was about the same as the darkest shingle on the roof.
Many early O-gauge and O27 trains are more like toys than models, so the "scale" of the trains and accessories are all over the map. A few pieces even are closer to HO (1:87) in scale than they are to O (usually 1:48). On the other hand, some accessories made to go with O27 trains are half again as large as they should be, since they're holdovers from earlier Standard Gauge products. So if you want your tinplate-inspired projects to look right with your existing equipment, you probably want to do a "mockup" first, as I did. Choose the scale you feel mostly likely to prefer, and print out a copy of Paul's graphics for that scale in black and white (saving your color cartridges). Then cut and fold the printout to make a mockup you can set next to your trains and other accessories before you begin the final structure.
Because the blue-window version I chose doesn't require a lot of window-frame cutting, my mockup went together pretty fast. I decided that the O scale version looked a little too big next to my Marx equipment. So I used the S scale graphics, which are about 75% as big. But then my O scale people looked silly near the porch, so I used an O scale porch. If you're using later Lionel, which is bigger than my Marx tinplate trains, you might prefer the O scale building and porch.
By the way if you want a larger version to go with standard gauge or large scale trains, contact Paul and tell him whether you want the classic or blue-window version. Or you might be able to print the S-scale graphics at 2X on a large format printer. But those files are just too big to host permanently.
This project has a structure pattern that you will need to cut out and transfer to cardboard, as well as graphic sheets that you will use to finish the building's appearance. Again, doing a mock-up to make certain the finished structure will look right with your existing equipment is very important.
You may print the structure pattern on any sort of paper, since you're simply using this to transfer the plan to your cardboard medium. However the "lithograph" graphic should be printed on acid-free heavy paper or card stock.
For a more "authentic" result, you might consider printing out the "classic" versions with the black window panes, then cutting out the windowframes in the building's side, and gluing the other window frames in from the back to give the "inset" effect of the original. On the other hand, you may prefer the blue window frames and fake shadows that are shown in the title photo.
Sound confusing? Sorry. Once Paul does up a graphic he thinks folks might find useful, he tries to make it available. You may find it helpful to know that, the text links in bold will download the files used in the project as it was photographed for this article.
Note: Some of these graphics are so large that for the O scale version we had to split them into two files. If you're working on an O scale structure, and you can't find one of your printouts, please doublecheck to make certain you printed each O scale file.
For Optimum Printing - We have used professional "vector" graphics when possible to make certain that you get the highest resolution graphic, whatever scale you use. In most cases, you can get the best result by right clicking on the text name of the graphic you need, then saving the pdf file to your hard drive. That way you won't have to download the file again if you accidentally print the plans or graphics the wrong size, which is easy to do with some printers.
Then navigate to the folder with the graphics and click on the file name. Adobe Acrobat Reader should open up. Make certain that the graphic is set to print at 100% and that "scale to fit" or some such option is not checked. More information about verifying the correct size of your printed graphics and plans is listed under the "Building a Mockup" section below.
A note about Copyright - However you use these plans and graphics for your personal use, please keep in mind that the lithograph graphics are copyright 2009 by Paul Race and is not to be copied, re-used, republished, or repurposed without prior permission and appropriate credit. Commercial use without prior permission is illegal and expressly forbidden.
Big Indoor Trains(tm) is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. Paul likes making resources like this available to hobbyists, but they are expensive and time-consuming to produce and publish, and it's frustrating to see other folks profiteering off his hard work. In other words, if you like having this kind of resource available and you'd like to see more, please respect the creator's rights.
First, make certain that the plans you have printed are the same size as the graphics you have printed. Sadly, it is very easy to download all the right graphics, then click the wrong button (such as "fit to page") when you go to print. Worse yet, a few printer drivers make all of those decisions for you unless you click on the "advanced" button or some such.
As silly as this step may sound, use cheap paper to print the plans, then print the graphics in draft mode in black and white (to save toner cartridges). You can try holding both sheets up to the light, but sometimes it's hard to get a complete "picture." Remember, when you score and fold the frame pieces, the actual structure should be a bit wider in each direction than the pieces you cut out, because you need to compensate for the thickness of the cardboard you are using. Paul's wall graphics extend the wall pattern beyond the fold lines to compensate for any minor differences, but don't count on that compensating for any major discrepancies.
The best way to be sure you have plans in the same scale as your graphics is to fold the graphics along the fold lines, then cut them out and hold up to the frame pieces. Again, the frame should be slightly smaller, especially horizontally. If it isn't you should adjust the size when you transfer the plans to the card stock. Mismatched sizes between graphic and plans is a problem that is much easier to head off than it is to solve once you've cut out the building frame.
Then while you have the cheap printout cut out anyway, tape or glue it together and set it alongside the stuff you already have to be sure it's the size you want. If not, select a different scale and try again.
Transfer the plans you have chosen to appropriate pieces of cardboard. In most cases, a thick, solid piece like the back of a writing tablet is best. Using a Xacto-type knife and a straight edge, carefully score every place where a fold is indicated. Then cut the pieces out. As an example, the dormer, porch, and chimney pieces in the photo to the left have been scored and cut out.
I cut out the backing pieces for the side and end walls before I mounted the graphics to them. Note that you should adjust the lateral measurements of the backing pieces so that they are slightly less than the size of the lithograph sheet.
I scored the folds and glued the walls together in a rectangle. Then I carefully applied the "wrap" to one wall at a time, starting with the ends. To keep "bubbles" from developing, spread a thin layer of glue across the entire surface to be glued. Consider using clothespins or the like to make certain the wrap doesn't shift during the drying process.
In my case, I actually made two of these at the same time, so I could work on one while the other one was drying, and so on.
Once you have the house walls built up as shown above, cut a piece of scrap cardboard to test the fit of the roof. When you decide exactly how large you want it, measure carefully, and be certain to score where the tip of the roof will be before you cut out the outside edges.
Fold the roof carefully and glue the shingle graphic on the roof piece, again making certain that a thin layer of glue completely covers the surface to be glued, so that no bubbles may form. You may find it more precise to glue one surface of the roof, let it dry, then fold the roof to the correct angle, and figure a way to brace it there before you glue the other surface down.
Make certain that as the glue dries, the roof stays bent at the correct angle to fit over the structure properly.
When the glue is dry, turn the roof upside down and carefully trim the excess graphic paper. Then paint the edges and underside of the roof with the color you have chosen. In my case, I reduced the hurry-up-and-wait aspect of this by building two of these houses at the same time.
Once you have the roof ready to glue onto the building (or at least to sit on it), test the cardboard backing for the dormer to decide if it looks like it sits right on the roof. Make any adjustments that are necessary, and glue the graphic on, starting with the center panel, then doing the "wings."
Check the fit of the dormer roof, then apply the graphic and finish the dormer roof like you did the roof, including trimming the graphic and painting the underside and edges. Note: Paul hasn't supplied a green dormer or porch roof, so if you do a version with a green roof, simply print off an extra set of green shingle paper, and slice and dice it as necessary.
The porch roof is simply a small version of the dormer roof, so that should be easy. However, there is a "tight fit" on the porch graphic. You want the corners to be between the vertical rows of "bricks" that frame the window openings. So depending on how thick your cardboard is, you may have to adjust the dimensions of your "frame" a couple of times to get it right.
Another complication is that you pretty well have to cut out the (gray) openings of the windows and doorway after the graphic is glued on. Then you'll want to touch up the edges of the graphic sheet and the cardboard. A deep red that complements the color of the "bricks" surrounding the windows would be a good choice. The photo to the right shows the porch pieces while I was testing them for fit, before I finished touching up the edges and adding the details shown in the next paragraph. If you click on the title photo, you'll get a better idea of what the finished porch looks like.
Additional Details I printed an extra graphic and cut out a row of bricks to add to the bottom. When I was sure of the porch's dimensions, I built up the porch "floor" by sandwiching together several layers of cardboard. Then I used the "chimney brick" paper Paul provided to add bricks to the interior of the porch. None of these details are on the original metal building, but I thought they added interest and "believability" to the structure.
Apply the printed brick graphic. I wrap the cap something like a christmas package, so that the seams are underneath, not on the top or edges.
The base is a rectangular "box" built up from corrugated cardboard. The building foundation can be made from foam board or corrugated cardboard. It must be cut to fit just inside the cottage. Eventually it provides plenty of surface for glueing the building to the base.
Make the base from three or four layers of corrugated cardboard glued together in a sandwich.
When the base is built, cover it with white bond paper just like you would wrap a gift, except that all surfaces of the paper cover must be glued down to the box. A glue stick works great for this.
After you have built the base, cut the foundation piece out of corrugated cardboard and set it loosely on the base. Position your station over it to make certain it is a secure, but not overly tight fit.
Once you're certain of the fit, prime the base and paint it with several coats of paint in the color of your choice. Do not glue the foundation in place until you have built the cottage and made sure of the fit, however.
Once you have tested all of the fits, it's time to glue your structure together. Work on a piece or two at a time, so you're sure one part isn't sliding out of place while you're paying attention to something else. Again, the hurry-up-and-wait aspect of this stage of the project is reduced if you are working on two buildings at once.
Wait until the glued-on graphics are thoroughly dry, then spray the structure. Use several light coats of a clear glossy indoor/outdoor acrylic finish. This protects it somewhat from moisture and dust and also helps reduce fading. In addition, it makes the lithography pattern "pop." Do not such a heavy coat in one pass that you cause any streaks, runs, or drips, though, or you'll have to start over.
Of course the structure will really come to life when you add accessories and put it into some sort of setting, even a simple one.
Cape Cod This is a simpler version of the tin house on this page, inpired, in part, by the Plasticville Cape Cod.
Building a Vintage "Lithograph" Station Our first "Tribute to Tinplate" article pays tribute to the lithographed stations of a century ago. Free downloadable commercial-grade graphics and instructions are available in several scales. Instructions for building this project inexpensively from scrap cardboard are also included, although you could build it from tin if you really wanted to.
New Feature - Building a Tinplate-Inspired Lamp Post The ideal accessory for the Lewis Park Station, or any station or city hall on your railroad or holiday village. No, they don't actually light, but they are cheap and easy to build and add a great deal of vintage interest to any setting. Free downloadable plans are available in several scales.
New Feature - Building a Tinplate-Inspired Watchman's Shanty Back in the day before automated crossings, these were common sites alongside busy rail crossings. Howard's exclusive design pays tribute to a series of tinplate structures that go back a hundred years and include three different scales. His free plans and instructions will help you dress up any indoor railroad or holiday village.
New Feature - Building a Tinplate-Inspired Railroad Crossing Sign This is the ideal accessory for the Watchman's Shanty project. Based on a series of products that are now available only as expensive collector's items, this easy and almost-free project will add texture, interest, and period to any model railroad or holiday village.
Build a Vintage-Style Cardboard Stone Cottage - This building project is made like the vintage cardboard houses folks used to set around their Christmas tree in the early 1900s (before glitterhouses became common), but its design was inspired by a building that shows up on the "Isle of Sodor." The building uses free downloadable graphic paper to put a realistic stone veneer on an old-world cottage and fence. It works with Christmas villages, or with a little customization, would dress up any indoor railroad. A "brick cottage" option is also shown.
Note: Family Garden Trains™, Big Christmas Trains™, Big Indoor Trains™, Big Train Store™, and Trains-N-Towns™ are trademarks of Breakthrough Communications™ (www.btcomm.com). All information, data, text, and illustrations on this web site are Copyright (c) 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 by Paul D. Race. Reuse or republication without prior written permission is specifically forbidden.


If you are redecorating your room, you need to pick the right colors. Knowing how colors look and work together can make the difference between a chaotic look and a tasteful one. Overuse of bold colors can create a room that is too loud.
If you have hard floors such as concrete, stone or tile, area rugs that are stylish will make the space seem warmer on your feet and keep you feeling cozy. Ensure you rotate the rugs on a regular basis in order to evenly minimize wear and tear due to traffic. This will make your rugs last longer.


Georgia 8. Republicans had a hard time finding a credible challenger to Democratic Cong. Jim Marshall. But now that state Rep. Austin Scott is in the race, this district becomes dramatically more interesting. Marshall has proven his skill since he was first elected in 2002, but he faces a difficult test this year. Marshall has done better in presidential years (2004 and 2008) than in midterms (2002 and 2006), and four years ago, during a huge Democratic wave nationally, he almost lost his seat. Move from Lean Democrat to Toss-up/Tilt Democrat.
Texas 17. Democratic Rep. Chet Edwards is a survivor, but he's never been in a hole this deep. Multiple polls show him trailing by double-digits, and it's unclear whether his attacks on GOP challenger Bill Flores will be enough to allow Edwards to pull this one out. Flores deserves to be favored. Move from Toss-up to Toss-up/Tilt Republican.
Texas 23. There is now enough evidence that Cong. Ciro Rodriguez (D) is in a tough fight to move this race from Democrat Favored to at least Lean Democrat. Challenger Francisco "Quico" Canseco (R) lost in the GOP primary in 2008 but now founds himself the nominee in a much better year for Republicans. Keep your eye on this race, since Canseco now appears to be a threat to the incumbent.
Washington 3. This open Democratic district looks more vulnerable now than it did before the primary. While Democrat Denny Heck finished first in the balloting, three Republicans combined for over 53 percent of the vote – and an 11-point margin over the total Democratic primary vote. Since Republican Jaime Herrera appears to have an edge in the race, move this contest from Toss-up to Toss-up/Tilt Republican.
This story first appeared in RothenbergPoliticalReport.com on August 23, 2010.


text:
Ashley Long (n. 8 iunie 1979, Londra) este o actriță porno britanică. Ea a început cariera de fotomodel la magazine pentru bărbați, unde erau prezentate femei tinere în poziții erotice. Ulterior a început să apară în filme pornografice. Pentru rolul jucat în filmul Compulsion regizat de  Axel Braun, ea va fi în anul 2003 premiată.

Premii
 2003: XRCO Award "Best Actress (Single Performance)" in "Compulsion"
 2004: AVN Award "Best Couples Sex Scene - Film" in "Compulsion" (alături de Kurt Lockwood)
 2004: AVN Award "Best Group Sex Scene - Video" in "Back 2 Evil" (alături de Julie Night, Nacho Vidal & Manuel Ferrara)

Legături externe

Nașteri în 1979
Actrițe porno britanice
Actrițe porno
Actrițe britanice
Oameni în viață

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


You may not know it because you see and experience it every day, but we have certain mannerisms and practices that are unique to us. Have you ever wondered why they don't put Last Supper paintings in dining rooms in foreign movies? The answer is simple: tayo lang kasi talaga ang gumagawa niyan.
In this article, we list down five of the most popular quirks and habits we have as Pinoys.
We do this simply because it's convenient! Pointing with your fingers can be a waste of energy and besides, 'di ba sabi nila masamang mag-turo?
Again, it's much easier and less energy-consuming to nod instead of say "Hi!" or "Uy, musta?". Pero siyempre, 'pag ang class muse or si principal ang nakasalubong, kailangan mabilis ka mag isip ng greeting.
Bakit nga ba? Nag-kakahiyaan ba? Malamig na ba yung food kaya ayaw na kainin? O sadyang nagiging mapagbigay lang tayo kapag last piece na?
At some point in our lives, we all have discovered how our mamas and titas hoarded soaps, shampoos, ketchup packs, and sometimes even towels, as soon as we get home after that memorable beach or out-of-town trip we had as kids.
These words are the temporary substitutes sa mga salitang nasa "dulo ng dila" natin. It can be confusing hearing this at first but as you grow old, you'll somehow develop telepathic powers and magegets mo na din siya.
Do you have more to add to this list? Send us a PM at facebook.com/KuyaJRestaurant and share it with us!


SPENCE, Taylor singled through the left side.
BJERK, Sophia reached on a fielder's choice; SILVEYRA, Sara advanced to second; SPENCE, Taylor out at third ss to 3b.
Ramirez, Genesis reached first on a fielding error by 3b.
KYLER, Halle pinch ran for KUFTA, Kelli.
KANE, Lauren reached on a fielder's choice.
SIMMS, Rion singled up the middle, RBI; KANE, Lauren advanced to second; KYLER, Halle scored.
SPENCE, Taylor singled; SIMMS, Rion advanced to second; KANE, Lauren advanced to third.
Gulvin, Veronika to p for Noriega, Felisha.
EVANS, Shelbi reached on a fielder's choice, RBI; SPENCE, Taylor advanced to second; SIMMS, Rion advanced to third; KANE, Lauren scored.
SILVEYRA, Sara tripled down the rf line, 3 RBI; EVANS, Shelbi scored; SPENCE, Taylor scored; SIMMS, Rion scored.
BJERK, Sophia grounded out to 2b, RBI; SILVEYRA, Sara scored.
CLARE, Lindsay doubled to left center.
KUFTA, Kelli to 1b for KYLER, Halle.
Krantz, Kayla singled to right field.
Goldstein, Tyler reached first on a fielding error by ss.
Ramirez, Genesis singled to third base; Goldstein, Tyler advanced to third.
Felix, Carissa singled, RBI; Ramirez, Genesis advanced to third; Goldstein, Tyler scored, unearned.
EVANS, Shelbi singled to center field.
SILVEYRA, Sara walked; EVANS, Shelbi advanced to second.
SILVEYRA, Sara advanced to second on a wild pitch.
CLARE, Lindsay singled to right field, 2 RBI; SILVEYRA, Sara scored; EVANS, Shelbi scored.
HENSLEY, Hayley pinch ran for CLARE, Lindsay.
Krantz, Kayla hit by pitch.
MCKEON, Shannon to 2b for SILVEYRA, Sara.
Thies, Teah doubled to right field.
CLANTON, Kelly pinch hit for SPENCE, Taylor.
CLANTON, Kelly singled to second base.
SPENCE, Taylor to cf for CLANTON, Kelly.
HENDRICKSON, Lauren pinch hit for EVANS, Shelbi.
FREEMAN, Hailey pinch hit for BJERK, Sophia.
EVANS, Shelbi to c for HENDRICKSON, Lauren.
BJERK, Sophia to 3b for FREEMAN, Hailey.
Lazatin, Alyssa singled through the right side.
Krantz, Kayla singled to left field; Lazatin, Alyssa advanced to second.


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Is there a full moon or something?
I'm making a craft for Augie Dawgs (blogpost coming soon) and I have this spool of ribbon to use. It says 4 yards. I think to myself...awesome....48 feet of ribbon, there's enough to make 2 of this craft!
I'm sewing and my phone beeps. It's GlitterGurl's Facebook status. What? Don't all of you subscribe to your kids status updates? How else are you going to stalk them?
For the record, 4 yards of ribbon is not 48 feet, it's 12 feet! And a foot long...12 inches lady!
Ready to Ditch Your Car?
Upromise Celebrates its 10th Anniversary!


I consider the presence of Mark Hamilton´s thinking in my life to be very positive and influential. He has enlightened my views on such things as becoming a value creator, my Friday night essence (a writer and an entrepreneur), organizing my professional and business life according to mini days and forward thinking. His Neothink Inside Secrets regarding biological immortality and the Settlement of the Civilization of the Universe opened my life to a new direction. It will become more exhilarating. I think we are now ready to get rid of immoral politicians, rulers and professional value destroyers, and start achieving a new way of living on Earth, through the Coming of the Civilization of the Universe where we become Zons, creators of universes, and where jobs of the mind, romantic love and incredible achievements in businesses, medicine, science and arts, would drive the humanity to levels never ever dreamed of before. Neothink is the great philosophy of a true visionary and warrior, Mark Hamilton, who has fiercely fought the irrational forces of mysticism for more than 30 years now. It will bring a Twelve Visions World, where the use of the Prime Law as the Fundamental of Protection will end all wars on Earth and establish the commencement of a forever lasting new peaceful era on this planet.
As defined by Mark Hamilton, the purpose of human life is to prosper and to live happily, thus the new one world government will have the function to provide the conditions that let us, individuals, fulfill that purpose. The Prime Law will forbid the use of initiatory force, fraud or coercion by any person or group against any individual, property or contract. And I, unfortunately, do know what it feels to be a victim of initiatory force and fraud by the oppressing dark forces of evil, called it organized religion, white collar criminals, whatever.
Today´s governments and religions will be out competed by Neothink dynamics, including God. Neothink is our way out from the present´s world economic turmoil through its proposals of hard money and sound economic policies. The Great Replacement Program (Neothink entrepreneurs taking temporary absence to manage public affairs) and the Protection Only Budget, are some of Mark Hamilton´s plans that guaranteed it.
Neothink will make everybody rich including the poor by reducing the costs of every production process thus decreasing prices and allowing people much more discretionary income. Neothink will eliminate obscure and limiting government regulations that hinder progress and the geniuses of society to thrive and achieve great amounts of technical breakthroughs that will fast forward us to the Civilization of the Universe. Neothink, by the way, is curing the fatal disease of mysticism worldwide. The clash between fundamentalist Islamic terrorists and the Western World proves that mysticism is in fact the most dangerous and threatening factor against our once untouchable freedoms.
Neothink settles the whole range of philosophical and economical foundations of how we will live our lives for the next three or four thousand years. We all will use our minds differently. Objective value creation will be everywhere.
Cheers (thumbs up), from me to you, Mark Hamilton, for having lifted my spirit with your writings, and for unleashing my full potential as a producer of values. Thanks for helping me grow internally! You have brought great doses of hope and happiness to my existence with the priceless teachings contained in your three Heirlooms! Time will test proof this!


Aerial photographers/videographers will also benefit from the extremely small form factor of the AnamorphX-GP. When paired with a brushless gimbal on a multirotor, this adapter will allow users to capture sweeping cinematic footage from the air without investing in a heavy lifter or incurring the added risk of flying 10's of thousands of dollars of gear around.
The GoPro anamorphic adapter also maintains the waterproof integrity of the GoPro 3+ housing allowing for underwater anamorphic footage! Surfers, divers, and other aquatic adventurers now have the ability to capture true 2.39:1 anamorphic format videos. Add cinematic style the next time you drop in on a beautiful double overhead that is barreling perfectly in front of you!
Like to jump out of airplanes, off cliffs, or from bridges? Capture it even more dramatically with the AnamorphX-GP! No need to change out your GoPro mounts or rigging. Simply attach the Letus anamorphic adapter to a GoPro 3+ housing and shoot! No bulk or weight of a traditional anamorphic camera setup.
The Letus AnamporphX-GP for the GoPro Hero 3+ opens up endless possibilities for capturing 2.39:1 cinematic footage for any film maker at any level. So wether you are sending a weather balloon to the edge of space or just spending the weekend at the beach with the family, take your GoPro to the next level with the Letus AnamorphX-GP!
In 1080p shooting mode, the Letus AnamorphX-GP will convert the GoPro's standard 16:9 aspect ratio footage into a cinematic 2.39:1 aspect ratio without the need for cropping (post production de-squeeze is required and can be done with the free GoPro Studio Software).
*Note: The Letus AnamorphX-GP will help correct the heavily distorted images caused by dynamic stretch. However, the fisheye effect caused by the use of GoPro's wide lens will remain uncorrected. This holds true with 1080p shooting as well. The lens of the GoPro itself will still produce barrel distortion in the corners even with the AnamorphX-GP.
The adapter can be attached to the GoPro via the GoPro Hero3+ housing (not included) or the Letus ANX-GP lens mount (optional).
a. How to install the ANX-GP onto the GoPro Hero3+ housing?
- Open the housing to access the 4 screws that hold the lens onto the housing. Using the Torx5 screwdriver provided to unscrew these screws.
- Remove the lens and replace with the Letus ANX-GP adapter. Do NOT remove the seal gasket. If you remove the seal gasket, your housing will no longer waterproof.
- Align the adapter so that the Letus logo side is on top view.
- You can use the same 4 screws to attach the ANX-GP into place or you can use the 4 flat head screws provided to scecure the adapter onto the GoPro Hero3+ housing.
- IMPORTANT: It's crucial that you do a leak test prior to using the complete unit with the GoPro underwater. Immerse the GoPro housing with the new ANX-GP installed without the camera inside for 5-10 minutes and check for any leakage.
b. How to attach the ANX-GP directly only the GoPro lens with the ANX-GP lens mounts?
- Use the 4 screws provided to attach the ANX-GP onto the ANX-GP lens mount.
- Slide the unit onto the GoPro lens (without housing) and align the adapter so that the Letus logo side is on top view and the edges of the adapter parallel with the edges of the camera.
- Use the 2.5mm Allen key to tighten the adapter onto the lens.
2) What recording mode can I use when using the ANX-GP?
You can use any recording modes that your GoPro model allows. However, with GoPro Hero 3 and 3+ Black edition, in the 1080p Superview and 1440p mode, you will experience a slight crop on the 4 corners of the images. This is due to the physical limitation of the super wide lens used in these modes. This phenomenon is called Total Internal Reflection (TIR). You can read more about that here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Total_internal_reflection. What this means is that it will not matter how big the adapter is, these 4 corner crops will be there. This however does not mean that you cannot use these recording modes. When used 1080p Superview or 1440p Wide mode, the 4 corners will disappear (cropped out) with the fisheye removal process available in post. With the use of the ANX-GP, you will be able to use these modes (with fisheye removal processing) without the fisheye distortion, yet you will retain the same field of view.
3) How to process anamorphic footage in GoPro Studio?
i. Your footage is now ready to be exported or further edited as desire.
Notes: With footage recorded in 1080p Superview mode, you do not need to apply the 4:3 to Wide preset. The image in this mode had been dynamically stretched from a 4:3 to 16:9 aspect ratio.
The ANX-GP has been coated with a special coating that helps creating lens flares that are uniquely to anamorphic lenses. To clean the lens adapter, only use lens cloth, wipe or solution that specifically designed for camera lens cleaning.
I've used this adapter with and without the standard housing on my GoPro Hero 4 Black Edition fitted with 5.4mm IR cut lens. Overall solid build quality at a reasonable price. It's a portable setup that I can practice shooting Anamorphic anytime that I want.


How bad is the West Nile Virus this year in Louisiana?
Louisiana has had more recorded cases this year than in 2017, but the numbers are far lower than the peak in 2012.
Fifty-three cases of West Nile Virus had been reported in Louisiana as of Aug. 11, according to a recent report from the state Department of Health.
East Baton Rouge Parish had the most cases in 2018 (12), followed by Caddo (seven) and Ascension (seven), and Ouachita and St. Tammany (both six).
At this time in 2017, there were only 21 total human cases of the virus. The total for 2017: 57. The most recorded cases in one year is 397 in 2012. The department started collecting West Nile Data in 2002, according to health department data.
"When we first started collecting data, it was such a new virus that more people were getting tested," said Martha Whyte, a regional medical director and administrator with the Louisiana Health Department. "You see those numbers dropped off."
Whyte compared the virus to the flu.
"We're seeing a higher number of cases than we did last year," she said. "It's gonna come every year and some years are worse than others. And a lot of times, it has a lot to do with how much we're actually testing the people."
The virus is spread to humans most commonly through mosquito bites. You'll mostly like see the virus during "mosquito season," which runs from summer through fall, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The state breaks down the virus into three categories: neuroinvasive disease, fever and infections that show no symptoms.
About 80 to 90 percent of people with the virus show no symptoms. A few will show serious symptoms associated with the neuroinvasive disease.
Thirty-one of 53 reported cases in Louisiana were in the neuroinvasive category as of Aug. 11.
More cases of West Nile Virus probably go unreported in Louisiana because most people show no symptoms, Whyte said. It takes anywhere from three to six weeks from the time you're bitten to being diagnosed. If you have symptoms, you'll start showing symptoms around two weeks, she said.
"Those are the people who actually have the worst infection," Whyte said. "They are the ones that have either the meningitis or encephalitis."
Betty Humphries, an 80-year-old Shreveport resident, said Friday that she suffered from the worst of the West Nile symptoms.
"I guess maybe I'd gotten bitten by a mosquito," she said. "I water my yard and stuff. I sit on the porch and have coffee."
Humphries said she first started feeling sick July 29. Her head hurt. She could hardly get up and walk. The next day, her sister took her to an urgent care medical center.
"My bloodwork was just all over the charts," she said. "They thought I might have West Nile."
A blood test later confirmed she had the virus, and a spinal tap confirmed other symptoms.
"I had a spinal tap and it showed that I had like meningitis and a form of encephalitis too," she said.
No vaccines or medications will treat the virus in people, the CDC reports. Humphries said she's starting to feel better even though she didn't sleep much Thursday night.
"You just have to hope that your system can fight it off," Humphries said. "It's unbelievable. ... It just takes all of your energy."
In Caddo Parish, the department of animal services and mosquito control is responsible for mosquito prevention, including within the city limits of Shreveport.
The parish has a mosquito control manager who performs daily tests to determine where mosquito larvae are developing, said parish spokesperson Krystle Grindley. That determines, in turn, what areas will be sprayed.
Spraying helps but works only when mosquitoes are flying, Whyte said.
"It is not as effective as the pellets they put in standing water. It helps but only works on the mosquitos flying when it is in the air," Whyte said.
The Louisiana Department of Health advises people to shut exterior doors, remove standing water and wear bug repellent and long sleeves when out during the cooler parts of the day. Mosquitoes are usually out in the heat of the day.
"You can't get rid of mosquitoes in Louisiana," Whyte said.


text:
Q: Why do IPSec VPN Compression and Windows Remote Desktop not work together? I just discovered a strange problem. I connect to a remote network via VPN. Within this VPN is a separate Microsoft Small Business Server (which does not provide the VPN, another device does this). So the setup is:
Windows with third party VPN Client <-> (WAN) <-> VPN Gateway <-> SBS
I can ping the SBS and I can access the shared folders just perfectly fine when connected to the remote network via VPN. Also all other programs I use work just fine. This works with IPSec compression activated and deactived as well, in both cases without problems.
The only thing that does not work if having IPSec compression enabled is the remote desktop connection between my Windows client and the SBS. It works as it should, however, if the IPSec compression is disabled. The only error I get from the RDC in this case is the nonsense message "An internal error has occured".
How can the SBS remote desktop fail (but everything else works fine) if the compression/decompression is handled between the VPN Gateway and my VPN client? Shouldn't this be one "layer" deeper? The Remote Desktop application should not even know that the data was compressed and decompressed, should it?
Is there any way to have RDC and IPSec compression work together?

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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 After the CT scan the doctor came and told me I have cancer :: Женское счастье!
canada goose store Your opposition to it isn't because it destroys the beauty of the country the natural beauty. What's honors it music create pollution kills fish what does the I'm look what what enthusiasts and that gave us canada goose outlet boston any good. Don't the value to do this didn't look canada goose store.


text:
Q: Can HTTP response customized in IBM ODM can http status code and message be customized in IBM ODM ?
i see we can do exception handling in ODM, but the message goes to error logs and i dont see a way to customize http response and message (link attached blow)
https://www.ibm.com/support/knowledgecenter/SSQP76_8.10.x/com.ibm.odm.dserver.rules.designer.run/shared_optimizing/tsk_excpt_custom.html
My Analysis :
please correct me if i'm wrong
1) Technical Exceptions are automatically handled with 400 and 500 status codes, i don't see any way to customize it
ex:
{
    "code": 500,
    "message": "An error occurred during the execution of the ruleset. Make sure that the request is valid, and review the ruleset and execution object model if applicable.",

}

{
    "code": 404,
    "message": "An error occurred during the initialization of the execution, make sure that the ruleset matches the execution requirements.",
    "details": "Cannot get the information about the ruleset /project/1.0/service/1.1. Make sure that you have deployed the ruleset and that the enable property is set correctly.\n",
    "errorCode": "GBRXH0501E"
}

2) Business Exception can only be handled with Http response 200, creating additional exception object and passing error code and message in it
Ex:
{
    "status": null,
    "Exception": {
        "code": 400,
        "message": state 'NJ' does not contain any business logic,
                 }

}


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Chicago. October 14, 2003. Ronnie is busy setting up the apartment for the foster child that he and Chris will be welcoming into their home tomorrow. However, Chris has gotten completely sucked into the television, as it's not everyday that the Cubs are in the play-offs for the World Series. A crucial moment in the game coincides with a crucial moment in their relationship, and they must decide where they go from there.


text:
import http from 'http';
import express from 'express';
import cors from 'cors';

import bodyParser from 'body-parser';
import socketIO from 'socket.io';

export function getApp() {
    const app = express();
    app.use(bodyParser.json());
    app.use(cors());

    const server = http.Server(app);
    const io = socketIO(server);
    return { app, server, io };
}


Particularly for those who cannot claim wage losses. For stay at home parents, retirees or the unemployed, pain and suffering often comprises the most considerable part of a compensation claim.
In and of itself, the pain and suffering of an individual can be subjective and very difficult to prove.
Without getting to complex, the ISV scale is used to calculate Pain and Suffering Damages in Queensland.
For general personal injury claims (i.e. motor vehicle, pedestrian, slip & fall, product defects), your ISV range can be determined from the civil liabilities act Schedule 4.
However, if the incident occurred at work, your ISV range can be determined from the Worker's Compensation and Rehabilitation Regulation at Schedule 9.
Be sure to read up on the other areas of compensation available to you to maximise your overall settlement amount.


text:
First Pachysphinx modesta Ecloses
The first of our four post-diapausing modest sphinx (Pachysphinx modesta) pupae has eclosed into a female.
Almost two months after taking out of cold storage (3/12/17), one of the four pupa eclosed into a female late at night today. We had a feeling it was going to emerge several days prior, as the pupa abdomen had become very loose and the weight had dropped significantly. The other three pupae are beginning to feel this way too and may follow soon in eclosion.
When the moth emerged, it crawled frantically around the incubator before settling down and expanding its wings. It is a very large moth, one of the largest sphinx in North America. Its body is a creamy light tan and the abdomen is green beneath the scales which can be seen when it flexes. The wings are a similar color to the body, except the dorsal hind wings are red. The shape of the moth is very similar to that of Smerinthus ophthalmica, but more slender and tapered. The wings are narrow and triangular. Unlike Smerinthus species, this moth doesn't have the large eyespots on the hindwing, and thus it behaves differently when disturbed. The moths with eyespots, would immediately spread their wings and curl their abdomens when disturbed to reveal their large eyespots, but the modesta doesn't have much of a reaction at all.
Hopefully the male pupa will eclose soon so we can get a pairing.
Taking Pachysphinx modesta Pupae out of Cold Storage
We have taken our four Pachysphinx modesta (modest sphinx) pupae out of cold storage for spring breeding.
Now that the weather has begun to warm up and the willow (Salix) trees are almost full-leafed, we have taken our four Pachysphinx modesta pupae out of cold storage. We actually began with six pupae - three male and three female, but are now down to one male and three female because one died shortly after receiving it due to a cremaster injury during shipping, and the other died mysteriously at some point in cold storage. For roughly three months, the living four have been overwintering at about 4 °C in the refrigerator and are now at room temperature which has recently been well above average for this time of year, at about 20-24 °C during the day. This dramatic spike in temperature should surely break them out of diapause synchronously, especially with daily spraying to mimic the high spring humidity that they would normally experience. We also made sure that the room they are in experiences a natural photoperiod which should also help with synchronization and diapause breaking. Assuming they begin development shortly after today, then we expect them to eclose some time in mid April at which time we will obtain pairing and eggs which will hatch at the end of that month. However, in this particular strain's native New Jersey, modestas probably don't fly until June due to the longer and colder winters there, though it is fine having them eclose as early as April here in coastal California since it should be quite warm and host plants should be abundant by then.
Overwintering Saturniid & Sphingid Pupae
We have begun overwintering our Saturniid (giant silkmoth) and Sphingid (sphinx) pupae.
It's a little late to begin doing so, but we finally got around to overwintering our diapausing pupae in the refrigerator at 40 F (4-5 C). The species we were sure would need this overwintering treatment were cecropia (Hyalophora cecropia), polyphemus (Antheraea polyphemus), imperial (Eacles imperialis), modest sphinx (Pachysphinx modesta), achemon sphinx (Eumorpha achemon), and white-lined sphinx (Hyles lineata) since the stocks orginated from regions with very cold winters. The only diapausing Saturniid/Sphingid pupa we didn't put in the fridge was Smerinthus ophthalmica since it was obtained locally and it does not even get close to 40 F here.
To overwinter the pupae of the six mentioned species, we simply dumped them all in various airtight contaners lined with paper towels with a drop of water. Dissapointingly, when we weighed the cecropia cocoons just to see if any had died since the time that they spun in July and August, we discovered two had lost a significant amount of mass and were therefore likely dead. All the other pupae/cocoons of the other species seemed alive. We will probably take them out of the fridge once the trees start growing leaves again (March or April 2017) and will check on them every few weeks just to make sure no mold forms.
- Alan
Modest Sphinx Pupae Arrive
Our Modest Sphinx pupa (Pachysphinx modesta) have arrived from New Jersey.
Today we had six Modest Sphinx pupae arrive from a New Jersey source, shown below. Three are female and three are male. The pupae came coated lightly with dirt as the breeder must have allowed the caterpillars to pupate in soil, but we tried to wipe them clean as best we could so we could see the details better. The pupae closely resemble our Smerinthus ophthalmica pupa, which belongs in the same subfamily, Smerinthinae (comparison shown below). The P. modesta are redder and much larger, with slightly wider wings, but almost every other feature are the same. The pupae shape is thick and less tapered than the other two Sphingidae subfamilies. Some of the P. modesta pupae had a few small deformities on the anterior dorsal side, possibly due to the bumpy soil surface. Also, one of the males leaked hemolymph at the cremaster, which was broken off (possibly during shipping), but it is alive and will hopefully survive*. The female and male pupae are not dimorphic as far as we could tell except for a slight size difference; females weighed 4.3, 4.5, and 4.9 while males weighed 3.3 4.3, and 4.4. However, inspection of the gonophore on the ventral posterior end makes it extremely easy to sex them. The females have semi-merged segments at the end with a single slit on the fourth abdominal segment after the wings, while the male segments are well defined with a pair of small kidney shaped spots on the fifth segment after the wings.
*Update 11/7: the male pupa with the broken cremaster is clearly dead now.
Regarding some background information on the species, Pachysphinx modesta is a very large sphinx moth in the Smerinthinae tribe ranging in much of North America except for the south western United States where it is replaced by P. occidentalis (Western Big Popolar Sphinx), though the two are sympatric in parts of their range. The wingspan of P. modesta is 76-120 mm (3 - 4 11/16 inches) according to Bugguide and BAMONA and are mostly gray except the hindwings, which have a crimson patch. Like other Smerinthinae and Saturniidae, the adults have vestigial feeding organs and are short lived. The caterpillars are like typical Smerinthinae larvae, being green and granulated with a triangular head capsule, but have less elongated bodies. They feed on poplar, aspen, and cottonwood (Populus) and willow (Salix).
This species is univoltine in the north so the pupae are in diapause, meaning we will have to overwinter them until next spring. It gets quite cold where they are originally sourced, so we will have to refrigerate them soon. For now, we just placed them in an airtight container with the rest of our Sphingid/Saturniid pupae. When they close next spring, we plan to pair them to obtain eggs and rear them on willow (Salix) just like we have reared our S. opthalmica caterpillars.


I'm so sorry. I'm here if you want to talk.
Loss of a loved one is so hard. It's been almost 10 years for me losing my Dad and it's still very hard. I wish I had magic words to make you feel better. There are none.