Combine the BLOGS

We understand that technical limitations prohibit enrolling more than 100 neighbors on each of the two (or maybe 3?) Century Village blogs.  Since both blogs are interesting, valuable, sources of information, it is time to migrate to a new blog service that will support many more of us simultaneously.

Pick a service, probably Wordpress based, migrate all the current users to that service, and block the existing blogs from the creation of new topics.  Keep the old blogs as an archive of valuable information and let the new blog thrive.

5 K WALK - RUN - PLANNING MEETING

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Dave Israel

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TO ALL OUR NEIGHBORS IN CENTURY VILLAGE.

WE ARE WISHING YOU ALL A VERY HEALTHY,
HAPPY AND PEACEFUL 2014 NEW YEAR!

Frank & Barbara Cornish

http://youtu.be/VhiF-PD4E_c

Best wishes for 2014. Meilleurs Voeux pour 2014.
André Legault

David, please explain to me why a building who rejected someone with bad credit, got fined $20,000.00

Hi David, I read with great interest about the family who was turned down because of poor credit in the UCO Reporter's President's Report .You said that the couple were members of a "Protected Class" and filed a discrimination complaint. Long story short, they were awarded $20,000.  On reading the list of Protected Classes, it appears to me, that every single person in the country falls into one category or another.  So my question is - what am I missing here?  Unless you are stating that being a member of a "Protected Class" overrides a poor credit rating, I have to assume something was left out of the article, because if not, something does not make sense here.  Please enlighten me!

A Response to "The Walls Come Tumbling Down" an opinion piece published in UCO Reporter- January, 2014 by Stewart Richland.

Mr. Richland, at about the halfway point of your 600 word essay, you (finally) expressed your two main ideas: that the ending of term limits for UCO officers was a mistake that you would like to see reversed, and that any future UCO votes on matters "critical to the welfare of our village" should require a ninety percent majority (or perhaps a ninety percent quorum) for passage.

The rest of your essay was about ostriches, Adolf Hitler, and your apparently sincere belief that anyone who disagrees with you is a "mind- bogglingly stupid", " low information reader" with "significantly smaller brain capacity than humans". Strong stuff, and maybe not the best way to sway public opinion.

Here is a piece of information from a " low information reader" with a "high information cellphone": ostriches do not "put their heads in the ground to escape predators" (ostriches.org, sandiegozoo.org, Wikipedia.org). Three minutes of Google fact-checking over your morning coffee would have shortened your essay by perhaps five hundred words. Resisting the urge to find novel ways to call people who disagree with you stupid would have further abbreviated (and sharpened) your point.

As a "teacher of history", I would have thought that you would have at least a passing interest in Government or Political Science. Requiring a ninety percent majority vote, in public or corporate government, would be paralyzing in effect. Just deciding what issues are "critical" enough to require this ultra-super majority would bring UCO business to a permanent standstill. Even merely requiring a ninety percent quorum would shut down UCO. Under such a rule,  the reinstitution of term limits, the very matter that you feel so strongly about, would never come to a vote.

Perhaps, Mr. Richland, the Delegates and Homeowners of Century Village are not as stupid as you think. 

Clubhouse Art Galleries

I really enjoy the current Art Committee Galleries in the Clubhouse, looking forward to the new collections at the end of January. See notice below.

Transponder / Barcode Reader gate

Will the new barcode reader gate be open 24/7  I hope so

PRPC FUND RAISER

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Dave Israel

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UCO REPORTER JANUARY 2014 - LIVE IN CYBERSPACE

January 2014 uco reporter by grafficx

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Remember to expand to full screen, click on rectangle at lower right of screen.

JOB TRAINING FOR SENIORS

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Dave Israel

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ON OR OFF THE FENCE?

I have been accused on the “other” blog of no longer being “on the fence” with regard to Dave Israel and his administration and given several questions to answer to Olga Wolkenstein’s satisfaction. A few comments…..

1. “On the fence,” to begin with, is purely an Olga assertion. I have never said it of myself. I have made no secret of my liking Dave or of being on the committee to reelect him this year and two years ago.

2. However, even for the moment assuming Olga’s charge of my being “on the fence” to be true, it was THIS that got me branded as a bigoted cockroach on their blog! (Granted I was No. 9 on the list, but, to put it in golf parlance, I made the cut!) Now any self-respecting cockroach on the fence about to get swatted would get off, and quickly, don’t you think? Sorry, Olga, I landed in Dave’s camp!

3. But to be serious, the point of having an open mind is to gather what information we can about a thing. To do this, we rely on all kinds of sources because there is very little most of us know firsthand. Sensible people “grade” their sources. If they find through experience that certain sources exaggerate, say stuff they don’t know, stretch the truth, mislead, or even outright lie, they give these sources less and less credence until finally there comes a day when they give these sources NO credence. Does this mean that everything these sources say is untrue? Of course not. It only means these sources have forfeited the consideration they were previously afforded because they cannot be trusted. We have only so much time in this world, and it makes no sense to try to track everything down that unreliable sources say or charge people with. And that is the situation I am in with regard to a vocal few in the “other” camp.

4. A few months ago Olga asked me several questions on their blog, and I answered them. The result was that Eduardo had a fit and took Olga to task (on their blog) for giving me a platform to state Dave’s many accomplishments! What did you expect of Hitler’s mother to say about her son? he said, metaphorically speaking. That had me rolling in the aisles. (I don’t mind Eduardo saying this metaphorically, by the way. He and I both like steamed clams and the Red Sox.) But another “Twenty Questions” to answer for Olga—with the promise of more where they came from?! I don’t think so, Olga. Sorry, but I am bowing out of your game.

In conclusion, my poem. Call it “Ode to Olga” if you want:

Olga, Olga

Olga, Olga, the woman never ceases

To engender strife.

With all of her invective,

When will she get a life?

She’s got it in for certain folk,

That’s pretty easily seen.

In the Reporter, on the Blog,

Watch out for Wolkenstein!

When Olga goes up to the mike

At the delegates meeting,

You know you are not going to get

A friendly morning greeting.

Finger pointing, charges fly,

“But, but,” you politely stammer.

It’s hard to know the best defense

When Olga lowers the hammer.

She’s like the neighborhood pit bull

Once she gets her teeth in you.

She chews you up and spits you out;

Those who’ve escaped are few.

Whether her prey is guilty

Matters little, I’ve a hunch.

Her modus operandi

Is to have someone for lunch.

Oh, Olga, Olga, don’t you ever

Tire of such a life?

And wish for peace and harmony,

Instead of constant strife?

NOTICE OF MEETING CANCELLATION - OPERATIONS COMMITTEE

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Dave Israel

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NOTICE RE. CALL BLOCKING

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ATTENTION: 800 numbers can see your phone number even if it is BLOCKED. Try calling 800-COMCAST with a blocked number. 

To block your number for one call only, dial *67 before dialing the 800 number.  Comcast will read out your number even if blocked.

Fred Hadley, CVWBR

*****SCAM ALERT******

*************BEWARE*******SCAM ALERT**********BEWARE**************
If you receive a call from someone claiming to be from Publisher's Clearing House saying THAT YOU HAVE AN UNCLAIMED PRIZE AWAITING YOU...IT IS A SCAM.
They are saying that they have a certified check for a large amount of money and a Mercedes in you choice of color. They are claiming to be calling from Jamaica or Las Vegas or where ever...One of the numbers they call from is 876-432-0838 and the person on this line claims to be named Peterson.
Do not fall for this. This person called a friend of mine, who asked me to check it out. I called the number (blocking my number from their caller ID) and made up a name and said it was my sister that had received the call...they went on and on about the check for over a million and a Mercedes Benz that they wanted to deliver etc. they are trying to get info, or money and steal your ID.
*************BEWARE********SCAM ALERT**********BEWARE**************

Recent Posts Widget...no longer listed?????

WAS EVA COERCED BY DAVE?

That which was on the “other” blog about Eva Rachesky being “coerced” by Dave Israel to not allow political gatherings at the pools has been repeated in the January UCO Reporter in a paid political ad by the Committee to Elect Esther Sutosfky UCO President, in a piece written by Esther. See page B6. It is in caps and reads:

“HE  [DAVE] HAS SHUT US OUT OF THE VILLAGE. WE  ARE  NOT ALLOWED TO USE  THE POOLS OR OTHER WPRF FACILITIES UNLIKE ALL PREVIOUS ELECTIONS.”

How interesting…. Except that any such culpability is denied not only by Dave, but also by Eva Rachesky in the same issue of the newspaper. From her column on page A20:

“I have been watching the political climate in Century Village and cannot help but shake my head at the unpleasantness of it all. Though I remain neutral, I must set something right as I recently came across my name in a post on a blog. It stated that I was coerced by Dave Israel to stop all political rallies at the WPRF pool areas. I am going on record to say that is ABSOLUTELY FALSE. I oversee the Recreational Facilities for WPRF, and there is nothing recreational about politics at the WPRF pool areas. I upheld that policy at the Deerfield Century Village® for the seven (7) years I was there, and I will uphold it here as well. The lesson to be learned: do not assume that everything you hear or read is true.”

To me this is just another example of the false, exaggerated and misleading charges coming from this “vocal minority” mounting Esther’s campaign. And just another reason to doubt ANYTHING they say.

ABOUT DEBATES

 I have seen a number of debates in my short lifetime. I remember—starting with the Nixon-Kennedy debates—the presidential debates; and I remember watching many debates on Firing Line on television.

It’s tough being the incumbent in a political debate for two reasons. First, no matter how well you have done, your opponent can always claim you should have done more and avoided mistakes, many of which became clear only through hindsight. Other mistakes are simply part and parcel of having to constantly make judgment calls. Criticism is cheap, and shallow thinkers are often taken in by it.

A second reason debates are tough on political incumbents, notably so at the presidential level, is that there are secrets a responsible executive cannot reveal lest he jeopardize the very care for his constituency he has sworn to uphold. This is a fact of life. Nuclear war during the Cuban missile crisis was avoided in large part through “back channel” agreements. Rapprochement with China was achieved by Nixon-Kissinger only through, at first, secret negotiations. Yes, that’s right—transparency is a good thing in general; it’s not a good thing in this world we live in in some instances. We need to understand this.

I do not know if Dave Israel and Esther Sutofsky will debate, but I can understand why she is urging, goading, trying to shame him (almost begging him, it seems!) into debating. The challenger can say virtually anything, make baseless accusations, and appeal to those who are negative and critical of everything. I believe Esther is doing this already, which is too bad, because often a challenger DOES have something to say. But how separate the chaff from the wheat when there is SO MUCH chaff and vile name-calling, etc.? It's the overload of this that makes me give Dave's opposition little credence.

That’s how I see it, to which I would add only one thing, though a non sequitur: Apparently Esther is going to have knee replacement surgery. I have had that (both knees), and I wish her the very best going through the surgery and rehab.

ESTHER'S LATEST TIRADE

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Just read Esther Sutofsky's latest tirade against David Israel and myself.
David Israel cowering. What a load of garbage she spews. Has anyone every seen David cowering from any issue. As for a debate I heard about a possible one ages ago if Esther is willing. David debated Dan Gladstone for the last election. Why would he not want to debate Esther.  As for my writing on the malcontent blog. I guess they did not approve  what I wrote because it disappeared, Esther. I did not take it off. Your crazies did. Esther did not get the greatest ratings from Rate My Teacher. One of the remarks, "a nasty who thinks she knows it all" Not the exact words but close enough. I would not vote for Esther for dog catcher.
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BANNER'S ON BUILDINGS

At this time of year, when many of us entertain friends & relatives from outside of our community
who in passing various locations comment on the appearance of buildings..particulary one on the
main road, who I would imagine has the building's consent  to display a banner, promoting a
candidate for Office....What if every building within choose to display their political choices?
Unlike one's private home, where one can display their preferences, providing it meets community,
 town or state standards, this outlandish practice should be abolished .
To my knowledge no standards are in effect for Our Community....don't you think the time has come
to establish one?  All comments welcome...

THE BUCHER VOICE - PSA - SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS

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Dave Israel

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Enjoy, relax and a Merry Christmas to all!

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http://youtu.be/gyH3fongvck

Safety For Bicycles and Electric Wheel Chairs

PRPC MEETING - SAVE OUR GOLF COURSE - DECEMBER 19, 2013

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Dave Israel

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FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION UPDATES

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News from the Federal Trade Commission - December 2013

Federal Trade Commission sent this bulletin at 12/16/2013 02:10 PM EST

Having trouble viewing this email? View it online.      Not App-propriate The creator of one of the most popular apps for Android mobile devices has agreed to settle FTC charges that the free app deceived people about how the company would share geolocation information. Goldenshores Technologies, LLC, managed by Erik M. Geidl, is the company behind the “Brightest Flashlight Free” app, which Android users have downloaded tens of millions of times. The FTC’s complaint alleges that the company deceived people by not disclosing in its privacy policy that the app transmitted users’ precise location and unique device identifier to third parties, including advertising networks. Mobile Cramming Wise Media, its CEO, Brian M. Buckley, and Winston J. Deloney have settled FTC charges that they crammed more than $10 million in unauthorized charges on telephone bills. The FTC’s complaint alleged that Wise Media billed people for so-called “premium services” that sent text messages with information like horoscopes and flirting tips. The settlement includes a $10 million judgment that is partially suspended due to the defendants’ inability to pay. Buckley will be required to surrender nearly all his assets along with any remaining assets of Wise Media, valued in excess of $500,000. Tax IDT Awareness Week The FTC has named Jan. 13-17, 2014, Tax Identity Theft Awareness Week. The Commission will host national and regional events designed to raise awareness about tax identity theft, and provide people with tips on how to protect themselves and what to do if they become victims. Tax identity theft accounted for more than 43 percent of the Commission’s identity theft complaints in 2012, nearly double the number received in 2011. Payment Processor The FTC has announced a proposed settlement resolving allegations that a payment processor used unfair tactics to maintain scores of merchant accounts for Infusion Media Inc., which perpetrated the “Google Money Tree” work-at-home scheme. Using merchant accounts set up by Process America Inc. and its owners, Infusion Media placed more than $15 million in unauthorized charges on people’s debit and credit card accounts. Payment processors and Independent Sales Organizations (ISOs) enable merchants to charge consumers’ credit cards for products and services. In exchange, payment processors and ISOs get paid for each transaction the merchant processes. Mobile Device Tracking The FTC will host a workshop about mobile device tracking on February 19, 2014, from 10 am to noon in Washington, DC. Businesses can track shoppers’ movements throughout retail stores and other attractions by identifying signals emitted by their mobile devices. Companies can determine whether a visitor is new, what paths they take, the length of time they spend in a location, and how often they visit. In most cases, this tracking is invisible to visitors, which raises questions about the privacy and security risks of these technologies. Do Not Call Data Book According to the recently released National Do Not Call Registry Data Book, the National Do Not Call Registry contained more than 223 million actively registered phone numbers at the end of Fiscal Year 2013 – up from the 217 million numbers registered at the end of FY 2012. The Data Book also reveals that the highest number of monthly complaints – more than 370,000 – were submitted in October 2012. The number of monthly complaints related to “robocalls” ranged from nearly 147,000 per month to more than 234,000 per month. Alternative Scoring Products Workshop The FTC is hosting a workshop about alternative scoring products on March 19 from 10 am to noon in Washington, DC. Companies use predictive scores for a variety of purposes, ranging from identity verification and fraud prevention to marketing and advertising. People are largely unaware of these scores, and have little to no access to the underlying data that make up the scores, raising potential privacy questions.                                  "When consumers are given a real, informed choice, they can decide for themselves whether the benefit of a service is worth the information they must share to use it. But this flashlight app left them in the dark about how their information was going to be used." — Jessica Rich, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection Directory Fraud At the FTC’s request, a federal judge has temporarily stopped an operation that bilked more than $14 million from small businesses and churches for unwanted listings in online business directories. The FTC seeks to end the illegal practices and make Mohamad Khaled Kaddoura, his associates and 15 companies they ran return money to the victims. The scheme has generated more than 13,000 complaints to the FTC. Double Trouble A default judgment against Business Recovery Services LLC and a consent judgment against Brian Hessler, its owner, bans them from selling recovery services. The FTC alleged that their operation bilked victims of previous scams by falsely claiming it could help them recover money they lost. Car Balk A federal court has ordered Matthew J. Loewen and his companies to pay more than $5.1 million to people they allegedly duped into paying hundreds of dollars to sell their cars. The defendants falsely claimed to have buyers lined up for sellers’ cars, and that they would provide refunds if the cars weren’t sold. The court also permanently banned the defendants from telemarketing and payment processing.     IN OTHER NEWS: FTC Sues Funeral Home for Failing to Disclose Prices As Holiday Shopping Season Gets Underway, FTC Reminds Internet Retailers to Ensure Consumers Have Access to Warranty Information FTC Settlement Bars Marketers from Using Deception to Sell Business Opportunities Two I Works Billing Scheme Marketers Agree to Settle FTC Charges                 More >     SHARE THIS: Getting your money back after a tech support scam. http://go.usa.gov/ZCTh Most teens who drink get alcohol from adults who could have prevented underage drinking. Learn how you can help. http://go.usa.gov/ZCb4

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WI-FI AT THE POOLS

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In response to Gary. Eva was not at the delegates meetings when WiFi was discussed, our president, Dave was. Give credit where credit is deserved. I thank Dave for WiFi. As for information there is enough around, Gary, you just need to look for it. You can Google it even. I am very grateful to have a president at UCO who is a forward thinking person and wants to keep our village going forward with technology and not keep us in the past, Gary. How much more do you think you would get for your condo if you could tell a prospective buyer that there is WiFi in the village. How negative can you get, Gary!

UCO OPEN MEETINGS - DECEMBER 2013

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Dave Israel

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Scent-free Performances - unfortunately not yet!

Last night (Dec 14) we attended the wonderful performance of the 'Sounds of Soul' at the clubhouse.

As the four of sat down in the middle of section B - we noticed a very strong perfume scent surrounding us - and knew it was going to be a tough night.  One of us had to mask her breathing with a handkerchief - which she kept to her face throughout the entire performance. About 10 minutes into the performance, my wife had an asthma attack (difficult to prove - I know - but only asthma sufferers know for sure) which forced her to leave, recover her normal breathing, and return to an empty - but scent-free seat near the back exit.

Whenever we had announcements for a scent-free performances - the audience would always applaud loudly. Of course, we no longer have the announcements -much to the relief of the perfume wearers!  In fact I never saw - nor heard of- any enforcement of scent-free environment (does anyone know of someone who was turned away?). I think we need to stop focussing our energies on enforcing a moral code - such as dress lengths above the knee - ( which I have observed to be enforced) - to placing our energies into creating a healthy environment for all of us at the clubhouse performances.

Alex 

WiFi At The Pools

Thanks, David,  for the wonderful WiFi at the pools. What a pleasure to be able to take my tablet to the pool and check my Email. Can't wait to have it in the entire village. Keep up the good work!

INSURANCE INFORMATION - COMPARE APPLES TO APPLES - DON'T BUY LESS COVERAGE AT HIGHER PRICES

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Dave Israel

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Answer to a question on part two

This was posted on Part Two:

Wellness Seminars ??

On Channel 63 there is a list of good Wellness Seminars starting Dec 6, sez call Karen Conder - but no phone number.

Where and when are these, its not the Medical Ctr, I tried there. Help

CENTURY VILLAGE FLEA MARKET....... SAT. DEC 14TH.........

GIANT FLEA MARKET

SATURDAY DEC 14, 2013

COVENTRY “C”

9:00 AM – 3:00 PM

RAINDATE SUNDAY, DEC 15, 2013

SET-UP AFTER 8:00 AM ONLY

EVERYBODY WELCOME

LOTS OF VENDORS

NEW AND USED MERCHANDISE

SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE

GOOD THINGS ARE HAPPENING

On December 2, I received a brief e-mail from Dave Israel, UCO president, saying that Ted Herrie’s CAM Report was attached. What a neat thing his reports are! A lot of us see things as we travel the Village roads and walkways––a damaged light pole, for instance. We wonder what caused that and when it will be fixed. Ted’s reports often answer these questions, and they fill us in on other matters that perhaps we haven't thought of––for example, the progress being made in switching from our present transponder system, which is becoming obsolete, to another entry access system, and how we're coming along in getting our road signs made legal size. 

Three cheers for you, Ted, and three cheers as well for Dave Israel for making the dissemination of reports like this easily available by e-mail.

DELEGATE ASSEMBLY DECEMBER 6, 2013 - LIVE IN CYBERSPACE

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Delegate Assembly 12-6-2013 part 1 from David B. Israel on Vimeo.

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Part 1
 



Delegate Assembly 12-6-2013 part 2 from David B. Israel on Vimeo.

Part 2

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Delegate Assembly 12-6-2013 part 3 from David B. Israel on Vimeo.

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Dave Israel

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WI-FI TOWN HALL - NOVEMBER 22, 2013

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WiFi part 1 from David B. Israel on Vimeo.

Part 1

WiFi part 2 from David B. Israel on Vimeo.

Part 2
 



WiFi part 3 from David B. Israel on Vimeo.

Part 3
 

 



WiFi part 4 from David B. Israel on Vimeo.

Part 4

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Dave Israel

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GRACE HOPPER - ADMIRAL OF THE CYBER SEA - HAPPY BIRTHDAY - NEVER STOP LEARNING

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Grace Murray Hopper (December 9, 1906 – January 1,

 1992) was an American computer 
scientist and United States Navy Rear Admiral. A pioneer in 
the field, 

she was one of the first programmers of

the Harvard Mark I computer, and developed the

first compiler for a computer programming language. 

She conceptualized the idea of machine-independent 

programming languages, which led to the development 

of COBOL, one of the first modern programming languages. 

She is credited with popularizing the term "debugging" for fixing 

computer glitches (inspired by an actual moth removed from 

the computer). Owing to the 

breadth of her accomplishments and her naval rank, she is 

sometimes referred to as "Amazing Grace". 

The U.S. Navy destroyer USS Hopper (DDG-70) is named 

for her, as was the Cray XE6 "Hopper" supercomputer.

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Dave Israel

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