Discover Taurus and Aquarius compatibility in love, friendship, and more. Uncover their unique strengths, challenges, and potential for a balanced relationship

US President Barack Obama and Republican Presidential nominee Mitt Romney debate on October 16, 2012 at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York. Undecided voters asked questions during a town hall format.; Credit: STAN HONDA/AFP/Getty Images

There continue to be questions about how moderators approach Presidential debates and about whether the extra time President Obama has received in the first two debates indicates moderator bias in his favor. 

I had chalked up the concerns to Republican hyper-partisanship, such as we saw with many Democrats criticizing Jim Lehrer for his moderating — as though Obama would’ve won the first debate if only Lehrer had asserted himself more.   However, even CNN has been doing significant follow-up on its own Candy Crowley’s performance in debate number two. 

Maybe it’s not just hardcore GOP loyalists who are questioning Crowley’s decision-making on when to cut in and when to allow the candidates to take more time. I thought she did pretty well, but there are plenty of critics.

As someone who has moderated hundreds of debates, I thought I’d share my thoughts on what we’ve seen so far in this election. Though I’ve never moderated a Presidential debate, with its incredible level of attention, concern about rules, and demands by campaigns, there are certain fundamentals regardless of the office or issue at stake.

Time Doesn't Matter...Too Much
First, as strange as this may sound, the time taken by each candidate has little to do with who has an advantage.   Yes, it’s always possible for a candidate to use another minute to fire off the defining line of the night. However, the well-practiced zingers or essential policy explainers are not left to the end of a candidate’s statement, as the clock is running out. 

I’m sure Mitt Romney wasn’t thinking after the last debate, “If only I would’ve had that extra 90-seconds, and Obama hadn’t gotten 90 more than he deserved.”  Both men front-loaded their major talking points and were going to get them in. Neither man could legitimately say he didn’t have a chance to make his strongest points. At some point, a time advantage could make a difference in who wins or loses, but an extra 90-seconds in a debate longer than 90-minutes isn’t going to do it.

Serving The Audience
As a moderator, you also have to think about what best serves your audience. I never guarantee candidates equal time, as it’s my job to serve the listeners, not their campaigns. I strive to get close to equal time, but can’t make any guarantee. Some speakers get to the point succinctly and have their points well put together. Others are messier in their arguments and eat up time just building up any head of steam. 

If the moderator holds to a strict time limit, you run the risk of frustrating listeners by cutting off the rambler just as the candidate is getting to the point. There are methods a moderator can use to help guide the speaker toward being more succinct, but there’s no guarantee the person will be able to comply.

Isn’t this inherently unfair to the succinct speaker? No. The purpose of the debate is to allow the ideas to compete.  It’s not a boxing match that’s about landing punches in a given time. The succinct debater has a big advantage, regardless of how much time the candidate has. That’s why Mitt Romney’s victory in the first debate was so lopsided — he won on the conciseness and clarity of his answers, coupled with Obama’s inability to get to his central points.  Obviously, there are those who thought Obama’s arguments were still more compelling than Romney’s, and that Romney lacked essential details.  However, for most viewers of the first debate, it was stylistically no contest.

Equal Time Is Not A Guarantee
When candidates are allowed to talk to each other directly, it’s very difficult to assure equal time. Even CNN’s clock that registers elapsed time for each candidate is subject to squishiness. Unless a debate is extremely formal, with carefully controlled time limits and a ban on candidates following-up with each other, you’re only going to have an approximation of time balance. I thought Crowley did pretty well to land the second debate with the balance she did. I’m not sure I could get it that close for a debate of that length. She had the added challenge of trying to determine when to cut in on President Obama’s lengthier answers. Also, Romney’s speaking rhythm allows more space for interruption. It’s tougher to break in on Obama.

Moderating Is A Balancing Act
Moderators are always trying to balance a need to move on to the next topic with allowing a candidate to answer an opponent’s charge. Sometimes, you open that door for a candidate, only to regret it later when the politician starts into a monologue, instead of confining the response to the previous challenge. Sometimes moderators, having gotten burned, will become less tolerant of such expansive rebuttals, as the debate goes on. Moderators are always juggling competing goals, and it’s a difficult job (at least for me).

Unfortunately, there are those who think debate moderators attempt to influence the outcome of the debate and the performances of the candidates. Maybe I’m naïve, but I can’t imagine any journalist who’s worked hard enough to get to the position of Presidential debate moderator subordinating his or her career in an effort to getting someone elected. Mainstream political journalism is like national sports reporting. You really don’t care who wins the Super Bowl, you want great story lines to explore with your audience. Yes, sports reporters have affinities for the hometown teams of their youth, but that can’t compete with the professional goal of covering great stories. 

Yes, most journalists in mainstream media probably have a stronger cultural and political affinity for Obama, as he’s more like them. However, it doesn’t mean a journalist is going to sacrifice the better story to intentionally provide a benefit to the President.

This content is from Southern California Public Radio. View the original story at SCPR.org.

J. Martinez & Company offers an explanation of the differences between Jamaica Blue Mountain coffee and High Mountain.

[The Conversation Africa] Turmoil following presidential and parliamentary elections in Mozambique has been severe. Preliminary official results from the 2024 elections indicated a landslide win by the ruling party, Frelimo. These results are widely contested, with various reports of irregularities.

Carnival's budget-friendly cruises are a stark contrast from its sister brand Seabourn's luxury voyages.

Handre Pollard and Manie Libbok are obviously two very different players, but attack coach Tony Brown views them as the same when it comes to driving the Springbok attack.

The prefrontal cortex is critical for decision-making across species, with its activity linked to choosing between options. Drift diffusion models (DDMs) are commonly employed to understand the neural computations underlying this behavior. Studies exploring the specific roles of regions of the rodent prefrontal cortex in controlling the decision process are limited. This study explored the role of the prelimbic cortex (PLC) in decision-making using a two-alternative forced-choice task. Rats first learned to report the location of a lateralized visual stimulus. The brightness of the stimulus indicated its reward value. Then, the rats learned to make choices between pairs of stimuli. Sex differences in learning were observed, with females responding faster and more selectively to high-value stimuli than males. DDM analysis found that males had decreased decision thresholds during initial learning, whereas females maintained a consistently higher drift rate. Pharmacological manipulations revealed that PLC inactivation reduced the decision threshold for all rats, indicating that less information was needed to make a choice in the absence of normal PLC processing. μ-Opioid receptor stimulation of the PLC had the opposite effect, raising the decision threshold and reducing bias in the decision process toward high-value stimuli. These effects were observed without any impact on the rats’ choice preferences. Our findings suggest that PLC has an inhibitory role in the decision process and regulates the amount of evidence that is required to make a choice. That is, PLC activity controls "when," but not "how," to act.

OM workers use London charity shop to reach out to surrounding Turkish and Kurdish communities.

Aprilia has introduced the Tuono 457 at this year's EICMA, a bike closely related to the RS 457. While they share many features, there are notable distinctions. The Tuono 457 stands out with its unique design and colour options. Unlike the

Hollywood power couple Ben Foster and Laura Prepon have decided to part ways after six years of their marriage and the actor requested that their prenuptial agreement be upheld and that assets and debts be divided equally.

Regardless of your job title, your role can make a difference. It comes down to leadership and understanding how to champion ideas and build trust.  Read on for advice from 12 CEOs, founders, presidents and thought leaders to learn how you maximize every opportunity to make an impact at work.

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A very interesting post on how cross cultural differences between makers of airplanes Boeing and Airbus (located in small power distance countries) and pilots from South Korea (large power distance country) caused series of dangerous situations and accidents in the late 90’s. Planes produced by Airbus and Boeing are supposed to be flown by 2 …

Continue reading "How cross cultural differences caused Korean Airlines problems"

About the difference between carboyhydrates and how fiber can detox your body.

Pickleball is taking the country by storm; luckily, a real storm doesn’t have to keep you from playing. Learn the difference between playing inside and outside.

Which video intercom to choose? Before choosing an intercom, let’s understand where and why we will put it. In a private house or apartment? Let’s say an apartment. In modern multi-tenant buildings, in most cases, apartment intercom systems are already installed. It can be an access intercom, a video surveillance system, automatic gates, security, and [...]

The post 5 Differences Between IP Video Intercom and Analog appeared first on Braves News World.

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The Classic 650 Twin is the latest model from Royal Enfield to use the 648cc parallel-twin engine. Its design and feature-set are shared with the evergreen Classic 350 but most of the fundamentals are borrowed from the Shotgun 650. We list all the differences between the two 650s.

Classic vs Shotgun: design and colours

When the Shotgun 650 debuted, it didn’t really fit into any particular genre of motorcycle, with Royal Enfield describing it as a blank canvas for the custom scene. The Shotgun’s engine, exhaust and other bits are blacked-out on all its paint options for a mean, modern look. 

On the other hand, the Classic 650 Twin stays true to its name and has a charming, retro design. There is a lot of chrome on the bike and the colour palette is also very tastefully retro. 

Also See: Royal Enfield Shotgun 650: Bullseye, or a shot in the dark?

Classic vs Shotgun: suspension, wheels and tyres

Both bikes use the same engine, main frame and brakes but other cycle parts are a major area of difference. The Classic 650 Twin trades the Shotgun’s 18/17-inch alloy wheel combo for a more retro 19/18-inch wire-spoke wheel setup. Where the Shotgun rolls on tubeless CEAT Zoom Cruz rubber, the Classic runs on new MRF Nylohigh tyres, developed specifically for it. 

The Classic is suspended by a 43mm telescopic fork up front in contrast to the USD fork seen on the Shotgun. While the suspension componentry has changed, the travel has stayed the same at 120mm. Both bikes use twin shock absorbers at the rear, with 90mm of travel.

Classic vs Shotgun: weight, dimensions

At 243kg, the Classic 650 Twin is the heaviest model in Royal Enfield’s portfolio today. The Shotgun isn’t much lighter at 240kg, although it carries 13.8 litres of fuel, 1 litre less than the Classic. With an 800mm perch, the Classic also has a slightly taller saddle than the Shotgun’s 795mm seat. Ground clearance has seen a big step up on the Classic at 154mm, compared to the 140mm available on the Shotgun.

Also See: Royal Enfield Classic 650 Twin review: All-Time Classic?

Aprilia finally took the covers off the much-awaited Tuono 457 at this year’s EICMA, and it shares a lot of similarities with the RS 457 on which it is based. However, there are a couple of key differences. 

RS 457 vs Tuono 457: design, colours

The biggest visual difference between the Tuono 457 and the RS 457 is the design. Unlike other Tuono models and their RS counterparts, the 457 features a brand-new headlight. Instead of the triple-pod headlight seen on most Aprilias, the Tuono 457 uses a single-pod headlight with sharp LED DRLs flanking it. 

The Tuono has very few body panels outside of the tank and the tail section. Where the RS 457 has a fully-faired design, the Tuono only has two small, angular panels on each side. It is available in two colours – red and white – while the RS 457 comes in three.

RS 457 vs Tuono 457: seating position 

The Tuono is a naked bike, meaning it trades the RS’ clip-on ‘bars for a traditional handlebar. This should result in it having a more upright, all-day comfortable riding position compared to the RS’ more committed stance. 

RS 457 vs Tuono 457: mechanical differences

The engine, main frame, suspension, brakes, and electronics are shared between the Tuono and RS 457. Both bikes even have the same 800mm seat height and 175kg kerb weight. But there are some nuanced differences. Fuel capacity on the Tuono 457 is slightly lower, at 12.7 litres, compared to the 13-litre tank seen on the RS. The Tuono also has slightly shorter gearing, with a larger rear sprocket, which should result in stronger acceleration and a small drop in outright top speed.

Also See: Royal Enfield Classic 650 vs Shotgun 650: differences explained

The debate on what differentiates art from design is complex and has been going on for many years. Artists and designers share knowledge on the usual topics, but the reasons for giving light to their work are completely different. Some designers consider themselves artists, but few artists consider themselves designers. So what exactly is the […]

The post Art and Design: Is There A Difference? appeared first on The Design Inspiration.

What kind of church and facilities would you have built if money were no object and you were committed to addressing all of your community’s needs? Now what did you actually build? The difference between your dreams and your reality could, among other things, be a measure of the effectiveness (or ineffectiveness) of your capital campaign and overall leadership program. Anthony Scott joins Bill Marianes to talk about Capital Campaigns and how to run them.

Hear a personal testimonial from a surprising beggar, and learn from four dedicated Orthodox Christians who are making a difference in this mission field: Fr. Justin Mathews of Reconciliation Services, Chrysanthe Loizos of St. Herman House - FOCUS Cleveland, trauma counselor Jennifer Hertberg, and Dorrie Papademitriou of MudGirls Studios

Racism is a serious wrong that no one should argue. However, from an Orthodox Christian point of view, it is a far deeper wrong than is ever portrayed in the public debate. Join Michael as he explains why racism goes against the core of Christianity, and through story and anecdote describes why it seems is so hard for us to celebrate and embrace differences.

Original guilt, immaculate conception, the Filioque, papal authority: Sometimes it can be difficult to explain the differences between Orthodoxy and Catholicism. OCF Student Media Leader Tasya Lysack and Fr. Brendan Pelphrey will be speaking about other Christian denominations for the next few episodes of Orthodox Apologetics, and today they discuss the answers to common questions our peers might ask us about the differences between Orthodoxy and Catholicism.

In this episode, Fr. Anthony reads the fifth chapter of St. John Chrysostom's On the Priesthood. The translation is by Rev. W. R. W. Stephens, M.A., (Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers of the Christian Church Volume IX, edited by Philip Schaffer, D.D., LL.D.), lightly edited to take out some of the archaicisms (and maybe add a modern word or two). Enjoy the show!

Fr. Theodore Paraskevopoulos explains the reason we celebrate the Sunday of Orthodoxy.

What accounts for the differences between the Eastern and Western churches? Many things of course, but primarily the development in the West - through those such as Anselm and Aquinas - of an emphasis on human reason and intellect in the pursuit of theological understanding. Returning briefly to our discussion of Rome and the Eastern Church, we contrast rationalism with the Eastern tradition that bows to the Mystery of the Incomprehensible, that proclaims that "theologians" are pure in heart through love of God (the eastern Church grants the title of Theologian to only three Saints in all of Church History), and we begin to see how steeped our modern culture and we ourselves are in scholastic thinking.

Listen to reflections written by Fr. Nicolaie about M's experience with panhandling and the Church's loss.

We investigate ambiguity for symmetric difference nondeterministic finite automata. We show the existence of unambiguous, finitely ambiguous, polynomially ambiguous and exponentially ambiguous symmetric difference nondeterministic finite automata. We show that, for each of these classes, there is a family of n-state nondeterministic finite automata such that the smallest equivalent deterministic finite automata have O(2ⁿ) states.

Through the unparalleled espousal of theory of planned behaviour, this study intends to significantly add to the current knowledge on social networking sites (SNS) in <i>eWOM</i> information and its role in defining intentions to buy green products. In specie, this study seeks to first investigate the part played by <i>attitude towards SNS information</i> in influencing the <i>acceptance of SNS information</i> and then by <i>acceptance of SNS information</i> in effecting the <i>green purchase intention</i>. Besides this, it also aims to analyse the influence exerted by first <i>credibility of SNS information</i> on <i>acceptance of SNS information</i> and then by <i>acceptance of SNS information</i> on <i>green purchase intention</i>. In doing so, it also examines how well the age of the SNS users moderates all these four associations.

Prior work demonstrates the importance of introducing young children to programming and engineering content before gender stereotypes are fully developed and ingrained in later years. However, very little research on gender and early childhood technology interventions exist. This pilot study looks at N=45 children in kindergarten through second grade who completed an eight-week robotics and programming curriculum using the KIWI robotics kit. KIWI is a developmentally appropriate robotics construction set specifically designed for use with children ages 4 to 7 years old. Qualitative pre-interviews were administered to determine whether participating children had any gender-biased attitudes toward robotics and other engineering tools prior to using KIWI in their classrooms. Post-tests were administered upon completion of the curriculum to determine if any gender differences in achievement were present. Results showed that young children were beginning to form opinions about which technologies and tools would be better suited for boys and girls. While there were no significant differences between boys and girls on the robotics and simple programming tasks, boys performed significantly better than girls on the advanced programming tasks such as, using repeat loops with sensor parameters. Implications for the design of new technological tools and curriculum that are appealing to boys and girls are discussed.

Power differences affect implementation of information and communication technology (ICT) in a way that creates differences in ICT use. Involuntary non-use of new ICT at work occurs when employees want to use the new technology, but are unable to due to factors beyond their control. Findings from an in-depth qualitative study show how involuntary non-use of new ICT can be attributed to power differences between occupational groups in the same organization. The findings suggest that experience is a moderating variable and that closeness to formal power holders as well as closeness to the new technology increases the probability for expert control of the ICT-organization processes. These power differences favor ICT experts over ICT novices and result in a high-quality learning environment for the ICT experts characterized by autonomy, inclusion, and adequate work processes and technological solutions. The ICT novices try to navigate in a learning-hostile work environment characterized by marginalization through expert control, isolation, and inadequate work processes and technological solutions. This led to involuntary non-use by the ICT novices, while the experts became more proficient in ICT use. These findings give managers facing a technological organizational change tools to understand important mechanisms for implementing the change in their own organization, and help them take the right actions to integrate new technology and new organization of work.

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He's having kind of a “glow-up” as I'm getting older.

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The National Council for Voluntary Organisations says Fair Collective had completed the work it had been contracted to deliver but the consultancy disputes this

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Alexandria, VA — Workers of all ages face mental health challenges, yet younger generations are feeling them more frequently, according to the results of a recent survey.

St. Louis – Military personnel with concussions caused by explosions had outcomes similar to personnel with concussions from other causes, according to a study from Washington University in St. Louis.