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Access Denied
Touch Of Evil
February 2013
Released: 2012, Pitch Black Records
Rating: 4.0/5
Reviewer: Robert Williams
Access Denied who formed in 2003 are a five-piece traditional metal band hailing from Sopot, Poland. TOUCH OF EVIL is the band's second full length release (and first effort for Pitch Black Records) Prior to signing with Pitch Black Records the band had previously self released two demo recordings and a DVD.
TOUCH OF EVIL opens with a short symphonic keyboard interlude that serves absolutely no real purpose in life. Then arising from the ashes comes the howling shriek of the band's singer Agnieszka Sulich on "Messenger Of Death" as she begins to belt out some mighty fine, goth tinged, mid-range vocals back dropped against a strong branding of melodic traditional heavy metal. "Suicide Mind" has some instantly infectious vocal lines and an equally impressive metallic onslaught with it's driving, pulsing rhythm. The next track is "One Night" for which the band have made a music video for (explicit version found on this disc). I personally feel the first two songs are stronger compositions and would have been better equipped as a single, as "One Night" is neither as catchy or memorable as the first two tracks and has a slight classic rock influence to it.
"Secret Pace" gallops along (baring a fair amount of Seventh Son era Iron Maiden influence) and is delivered powerfully and convincingly without coming off as contrived. I'd wager that Agnieszka Sulich alone is enough to set this band apart from the countless Maiden clones wandering the earth. She brings a unique presence and style to the band's style. "My Dreams" features some abrupt stop-start rhythmic changes and showcases the tightness of the rhythm section of drummer Dominik Frukacz and bassist Paweł "Wolv" Nejczew. There's also some nice dual lead work towards the end of this track featuring the guitar tandem of Jacek Kolankiewicz and Mateusz Krauze who at times remind me a bit of one of my favorite American traditional metal bands Twisted Tower Dire (and I mean that as a compliment). Look no further than "Violence Of Mind" for further proof of their axe shredding, blazing lead work. "Touch Of Evil" begins as a melodic acoustic guitar piece before moving into more gothic and symphonic sounding territory. This slow to mid-paced number builds, working the overall dynamic range appropriately. At times though things song leans more towards the Nightwish side of things more so than the rest of the album but it's still an enjoyable listen for the most part.
The cover art or graphics for TOUCH OF EVIL is simplistic and for lack of a better term generic. The inner CD booklet is a much better put together affair than that of the actual album cover and features some nice full color glossy photos of the band, lyrics, credits, special thanks per the usual. The album production is great. I couldn't tell you who engineered or produced the thing as credits appear to be in Polish, but the production is never lacking in any regard. I'd recommend this disc for fans of traditional heavy metal that are looking for something sounding fresh and unique. This is a great record and band and I'm looking forward to hearing more from them in the future.
Track Listing
1. Intro
Paweł "Wolv" Nejczew - Bass
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Previous review: » Accept - The Rise of Chaos


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Maritime College, 9
Farmingdale State, 8
Throggs Neck, N.Y. - The Farmingdale State men's lacrosse team fell to Maritime College 9-8 tonight in a Skyline Conference game in Throggs Neck, N.Y. The Rams fall to 3-7 overall, 3-2 in the Skyline with the loss, while Maritime improved to 4-4, 2-2 in the conference.
After trailing the Privateers 2-1 after the first period, Farmingdale played even with Maritime as both teams scored two goals in the second for a 4-3 halftime score. The Privateers notched four straight in the third to take an 8-3 lead and the Rams junior Chris Fiorenzo (Lindenhurst, N.Y./Lindenhurst) tallied his only goal of the night to cut the score to 8-4.
In the final period, Farmingdale scored two in the first five minutes for an 8-6 showing on the scoreboard. Maritime responded with a goal by Max Ferguson with 8:27 left to play. Rams senior Ryan LaFlare (Lindenhurst, N.Y./Lindenhurst) and junior Joe Meola (Rocky Point, N.Y./Rocky Point) each found the back of the net once in the final three minutes, but Ferguson's final goal of the night would hold on as the game-winner.
LaFlare led Farmingdale with three goals and one assist, while Meola tallied two goals and one assist. Senior goalkeeper Kevin Winters (Baldwin, N.Y./Baldwin) finished with 23 saves, including 10 in the third period.
Ferguson was the leader for Maritime with three goals. Lawrence Montreuil had three goals and one assist. Joseph Fasano finished with 14 saves in net for the win.
The Rams will now travel to Kings Point, N.Y. for a conference game against Merchant Marine on Tuesday, April 10th at 7:30 p.m.

subset: commoncrawl


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News Posts
Human Evolution and Why It Matters: A Conversation with Leakey and Johanson
by AMNH on
Celebrating decades of groundbreaking exploration in East Africa, renowned paleoanthropologists Donald Johanson and Richard Leakey shared the stage at the American Museum of Natural History on May 5 to discuss the overwhelming evidence for evolution in the hominid fossil record and why understanding our evolutionary history is so important. The discussion, before a sold-out crowd in the Museum's LeFrak Theater, was moderated by Dr. Sanjay Gupta, chief medical correspondent for CNN. The event was also live-streamed on amnh.org to a digital audience of several hundred viewers around the country.
May 11: The Buzz on Beekeeping
by AMNH on
Entomologist Gene Kritsky, author of The Quest for the Perfect Hive: A History of Innovation in Bee Culture, will join beekeepers Richard Blohm and Carl Flatow for a discussion about urban beekeeping at this month's Adventures in the Global Kitchen on Wednesday, May 11. He recently answered some questions about apiculture.
What is the earliest historic record of beekeeping, and where did it originate?The earliest historic record of beekeeping is from the Fifth Dynasty of Ancient Egypt. This relief, which is in the Neues Museum in Berlin, shows the taking of honey from horizontal hives, extracting the honey from the wax, and sealing in jars.
The oldest known beehives date from 900 BCE and were found in the ancient city of Rehov in Israel.
What significant innovation vastly improved beekeeping?
The most important innovation in beekeeping was the incorporation of the "bee space" in hive design. The "bee space" is the space that is too far apart for bees to glue shut, but too narrow for them to bridge with comb. This design permitted the development of a hive with moveable frames, which led to significant increases in honey production per hive.
Podcast: SciCafe: Robots Inspired by Nature and Beyond
by AMNH on
In the world of cutting-edge robot design, scientists are looking to biology and nature for inspiration. In this podcast, join Professor Dennis Hong, director of the Robotics and Mechanisms Laboratory at Virginia Tech, as he describes some of his more fantastic robots.
The talk was recorded at the Museum on April 6, 2011.
Carnegie Observatories' Wendy Freedman On Hubble and Size of Universe
by AMNH on
This spring, Director of the Carnegie Observatories Wendy Freedman spoke at the American Museum of Natural History's Hayden Planetarium about astronomer Edwin Hubble's discovery of the galaxies and the expansion of the universe, how astronomers measure vast distances, and how the Hubble Space Telescope is used to measure the size and age of the universe. Mike Shara, curator in the Department of Astrophysics, sat down with Freedman for an interview in the Hayden Planetarium to discuss the expansion of the universe, dark matter, and building the 25-meter telescope.
Minute Marsupial: Zeledon's Mouse Opossum
by AMNH on
Small enough to climb onto the inflorescence, or flower cluster, of a palm plant, this tiny mouse opossum belongs to a newly re-classified South American species: Zeledon's mouse opossum (Marmosa zeledoni). Minute marsupials like this one are rarely seen at flowers, but this species may be a pollinator for some neotropical palms.
Zeledon's mouse opossum was previously lumped together with the Mexican mouse opossum, Marmosa mexicana. But in a recent study partly funded by the National Science Foundation, Curator Rob Voss of the Division of Vertebrate Zoology at the American Museum of Natural History and colleagues examined roughly 1,500 mouse opossum specimens, some collected from as far back as the 1800s. They determined that what had been known as the Mexican mouse opossum could actually be subdivided into two different species.


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Categories ▾
−Pillow Cleaning7:00 am – 3:00 pm
The Glencoe VFW is sponsoring the Fluff and Puff Pillow Cleaning Service on Friday, Sept. 16th from 7a-3p at the VFW in Glencoe.+7:00 amPillow Cleaning
−Salad Luncheon11:00 am – 1:00 pm
You're invited to a Salad Luncheon on Friday, Sept. 16th at the Immanuel Lutheran Church of Brownton. The Church is serving assorted salads from 11a-1p. Cost is $8.+11:00 amSalad Luncheon
−Turkey Dinner4:30 pm – 7:30 pm
The First Presbyterian Church of Howard Lake is holding a Turkey Dinner on Friday, Sept. 16th from 4:30-7:30 pm. Adults are $12, Children 5-12 are $5. Also don't forget to shop the Bake Sale and Country Store. More info is at firstpreshl.org+4:30 pmTurkey Dinner
−125th Celebration5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Peace Lutheran Church of Hutchinson is celebrating 125 years on September 17th and 18th. On Saturday, Chuck Thiel and the Jolly Ramblers perform from 5-7 pm, along with a Hog Roast and a Polka Service. On Sunday, the 125th anniversary service is at 10:30 am, Celebration Dinner from 10:30-12:30 p (ticket deadline for CD is Sept. 8)+5:00 pm125th Celebration
−Hector Flight Breakfast7:30 am – 12:30 pm
Everyone is welcome to the Hector Flight Breakfast on Sunday, Sept. 18th at the Hector Airport. Serving Pancakes and French Toast breakfast from 7:30a-12:30p. The Ping Pong Ball Drop for kids is at 11:30 am. See Aircraft and take part in the Biggest Flight Breakfast in Minnesota.+7:30 amHector Flight Breakfast
−Grace Bible Church 125th Anniversary9:30 am – 12:30 pm
The Grace Bible Church of Silver Lake is celebrating their 125th anniversary on Sunday, Sept. 18. Worship starts at 9:30 am, Catered Meal at 11:30 am at the SL Auditorium, Program at 1:30 pm at the Church. To reserve a spot for the meal RSVP the Church.+9:30 amGrace Bible Church 125th Anniversary
−St. Matthew's Fall Festival10:00 am – 1:00 pm
St. Matthew's Lutheran Church, Fernando invites the community to their annual Fall Festival on Sunday, September 18. The day starts off with a Polka service at 10:00AM followed by a free will offering pork roast dinner served from 10:30AM -1PM. An auction will follow with homemade goodies, preserves & pies; fresh produce, hand crafted items & quilts, antiques and donated items. Also, there is a raffle for a print by Jim Hansel "Complete Serenity". St. Matthew's is located 6 miles south of Stewart on County Road 7. For more information, please visit www.stmatthews-fernando.com+10:00 amSt. Matthew's Fall Festival
−Fall Festival11:00 am – 1:30 pm
The Immaculate Conception Catholic Church of Watertown is holding their Fall Festival on Sunday, Sept. 18th. Enjoy a Homestyle Turkey Dinner from 11a-1:30p for just $10 for adults and 12 & under are $6. Listen to Live Music by Hillbilly Cadiliac, Shop the Silent Auction, Cash Raffle, Games and more!+11:00 amFall Festival
−St. John's Fall Festival11:00 am – 3:00 pm
St. John's Catholic's Fall Festival is coming up on Sunday, Sept. 18th from 11a-3p at their Education Center on Highway 12 between Dassel and Cokato. Roast Beef Dinner from 11a-2p, with Homemade Pie service. Adults 11 and up are $9, Kids 4-10 are $4. Also shop the food stand, Raffles, Silent Auction, Play Bingo and more!+11:00 amSt. John's Fall Festival
−Dedication Service2:00 pm – 3:30 pm
A Dedication service of praise and worship will be held at St. James Lutheran Church of Howard Lake on Sunday, September 18 at 2 PM. . The congregation invites the community to join them as they give thanks to God for the completion of their renovation project which involved repairs, restoration and decorating the interior of the church. Worship has returned to the sanctuary and everyone is invited to join in this celebration. An Open House will be held from 1:00 to 2:00 PM so those attending may have time to look throughout the church before the service begins. Enjoy refreshments following the service also+2:00 pmDedication Service
−Seraph Brass7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
The Hutchinson Concert Association presents "Seraph Brass" in Concert Tuesday, Sept. 20th at 7 pm in the Hutchinson HS Auditorium. Season Memberships are available at the door, or $20 individual Tickets are also available.+7:00 pmSeraph Brass
−Singing Friends Chorus7:30 pm – 9:00 pm
The Singing Friends Chorus is a fun-loving, 32-voice SATB community choir that rehearses in Norwood Young America and performs regularly in McLeod, Carver and Sibley counties. The chorus will begin rehearsing for its 13th annual Christmas concert on Tuesday, September 20th from 7:30 to 9:00 pm at All Saints Lutheran Church in NYA. New and prospective choir members are encouraged to join the Singing Friends at open rehearsals on September 20th or 27th to meet our members and try out this year's Christmas repertoire. For more information, contact: Karen de Boer, director, 320-300-8077.+7:30 pmSinging Friends Chorus
−Church Garage Sale8:00 am – 12:00 pm
St. Peter Lutheran Church of Watertown is having their Garage Sale Sept. 21-23. Hours Wednesday and Thursday 8a-7p, and Friday 8a-Noon.+8:00 amChurch Garage Sale
−Chicken Pie Supper4:30 pm – 7:30 pm
The Hector United Methodist Church presents their Chicken Pie Supper on Wednesday, Sept. 21st starting at 4:30 pm. Serving Chicken and Biscuits, Real Mashed Potatoes and Gravy, Homemade Baked Beans, and more. Adults are $10, Children 5-12 are $5, Take outs are available.+4:30 pmChicken Pie Supper
−Legion Auxiliary Meeting7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
The Hutchinson American Legion Auxiliary is meeting Wednesday, Sept. 21st at 7 pm at the Hutchinson VFW.+7:00 pmLegion Auxiliary Meeting
−Nustad Family7:45 am – 8:45 am
You can help support the Nustad family of Watertown. Tia Nustad and her two children lost their lives in a house fire and Watertown Fuel and Food will match donations up to $5,000. Stop in at the store to make a donation.+7:45 amNustad Family
−Bethel Lutheran Paper Drive8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Bethel Lutheran Church 77 Lincoln Ave N. Lester Prairie,Mn is having a Paper Drive Sept 22nd-Oct 3rd Bring your Paper,Phone Books Magazines ,Cereal Boxes ,Shredded Paper,Card Board,anything paper. Bring to Trailer in Parking Lot .PLEASE No Pizza Boxes with Food On Or String around Paper Funds raised will be used to buy a AED Automated External Defibrillator for the Church Questions Call 320-395-2125 or 952-467-2542+8:00 amBethel Lutheran Paper Drive
−Cry Out6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Please join Oak Heights Covenant Church on Friday evening, September 23, from 6-9:00 p.m. for the Cry Out!
Simulcast by *Revive Our Hearts* as they pray for God's mercy and supernatural intervention in our nation and the world.Cry Out! is a three-hour prayer meeting which will focus on five areas of prayer emphasis: personal, families, churches, our nation, and the world. Some of the speakers include Tony Evans, Kay Arthur, Joni EarecksonTada, and Dr Bob Bakke. More information on speakers and themes can be found at CryOut16.com.
The event is free. Any questions call Oak Heights at 320-587-8483.+6:00 pmCry Out
−Pillow Cleaning7:00 am – 1:00 pm
The Hutchinson American Legion Auxiliary is offering a Pillow Cleaning Service on Satuday, Sept. 24th from 7a-1p at the Days Inn of Hutchinson.+7:00 amPillow Cleaning
−Gun, Knives and Coin Show8:00 am – 5:00 pm
It's the Elks annual Gun, Knives, and Coin Show on September 24/25at the Mcleod County Fairgrounds in Hutchinson. Buy Sell and Trade on 320 tables. Food andBeverages available, $4 is admission.+8:00 amGun, Knives and Coin Show
−Festival11:00 am – 3:00 pm
Attend the annual Nobel Shadduck Fall Festival at Minnesota Pioneer Park in Annandale on Saturday, September 24, from 11-3. Wagon rides, games and fun activities for children, artisans, bake and preserves sale, tractor display, spelling bee in the School. 17 and under admitted free for this family-friendly event.+11:00 amFestival
−Oktoberfest4:00 pm – 8:00 pm
You are invited to the Plato Lions Oktoberfest on Saturday, Sept. 24th from 4-8pm at the King Pin Pub. Serving Brats, Sauerkraut, Potato Salad and Apple Dessert. Proceeds go to local projects.+4:00 pmOktoberfest
−Festival9:15 am – 1:00 pm
St. Boniface Church of Stewart's Fall Festival is coming up on Sunday, Sept. 25th. Mass starts things off at 9:15 am featuring the BASICS. Dinner and Festival follwing mass until 1 pm. Pork Loin Dinner served for $9, 4-10 yrs old is $5, Also take part in the Raffle, Kids Games, Barrel Train Rides and more!+9:15 amFestival
−Roast Beef Dinner10:00 am – 1:00 pm
The New Auburn Lions present their Roast Beef Dinner on Sunday, Sept. 25th from 10a-1p at the New Auburn City Hall. All Proceeds go to community projects.+10:00 amRoast Beef Dinner
−Fish Feed11:00 am – 1:30 pm
Enjoy a Door County Wisconson style Fish Feed at Mayer Lutheran High School on Sunday, Sept. 25th from 11a-1:30p. Cost is just a free will donation for Fish with butter sauce, Potatoes, Cole Slaw, and more! Proceeds go to the Orphan Grain Train.+11:00 amFish Feed
−Hospice Training8:00 am – 12:00 pm
Ecumen of Litchfield is having another Hospice Volunteer Training Session, Starting Wednesday, Sept. 28th. Sessions run from 8a-Noon in the Nordic Room at Ecumen. To register call Nicole at 373-6604.+8:00 amHospice Training
−Fall Bazaar8:30 am – 1:30 pm
The Holy Trinity Council of Catholic Women are hosting their annual Fall Bazaar on Saturday, Oct 1st from 8:30a-1:30p at the Holy Trinity HS in Winsted. Shop the Silent Auction, Crafts, Gifts, Bake Sale and more! Breakfast served starting at 8:30 am serving Egg Bake, Lunch runs from 10:30-1:15 pm serving Chili and Hot Dogs.+8:30 amFall Bazaar
−Obstacle Challenge and Scavenger Hunt12:00 pm – 4:00 pm
The Dassel Saddle Club presents their Fall Harvest Obstacle Challenge and Scavenger Hunt on Saturday, Oct 1st. Cost is $15 per rider or $15 per Family of Walkers. Obstacles run from Noon-4 pm.+12:00 pmObstacle Challenge and Scavenger Hunt
−Turtle Burger Fundraiser5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
The Darwin Rod and Gun Club presents their Turtle Burger Fun Night Fundraiser on Saturday, Oct 1st from 5:30-7:30 pm. Tickets are $8 at the door for a Build you own Burger with Beans and Chips. Also take part in the Raffle and Games.+5:30 pmTurtle Burger Fundraiser
−Oktoberfest Fundraiser7:00 pm – 11:45 pm
The Hutchinson Hockey Association is hosting an Oktoberfest Fundraiser on Saturday, Oct 1st from 7pm-Midnight at the York Farm Barn. Tickets are $20, for German Food, Games, Drinks, and Live Music by 2Manchu. There are also Free Bus Rides to and From the Barn.+7:00 pmOktoberfest Fundraiser


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Empowering Excellence in Government through Great People.
We lead and serve the Federal Government in enterprise human resources management by delivering policies and services to achieve a trusted effective civilian workforce.
Find out more about Federal compensation throughout your career and around the world.
Staffing to align with your agency's mission
Review the Federal Employees Group Life Insurance (FEGLI) Handbook
Answering your questions about Healthcare and Insurance
"...The Director of the Office of Personnel Management shall serve as the Suitability and Credentialing Agent..." ~Executive Order 13467, as amended
"...primary executive branch service provider for background investigations..." ~Executive Order 13467, as amended
OPM's Human Resources Solutions organization can help your agency answer this critically important question.
Developing senior leaders in the U.S. Government through Leadership for a Democratic Society, Custom Programs and Interagency Courses.
Visit this federal site to search for our regulatory notices, proposed and final rules.
See the latest tweets on our Twitter feed, like our Facebook pages, watch our YouTube videos, and page through our Flickr photos.
The content available is no longer being updated and as a result you may encounter hyperlinks which no longer function. You should also bear in mind that this content may contain text and references which are no longer applicable as a result of changes in law, regulation and/or administration.
Washington, DC - In anticipation of the upcoming Republican National Convention in New York City, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) joined with the Federal Executive Board (FEB) in New York City to provide an emergency preparedness forum to further strengthen federal agencies' readiness in case of an emergency. A training forum of this nature was also provided by OPM in conjunction with the Boston FEB in preparation for the Democratic National Convention last month.
"OPM will continue to focus heavily on the issue of emergency preparedness and on ensuring the federal work force is trained and ready in the event of an emergency, be it natural or man-made," said OPM Director Kay Coles James. "The security of the federal work force is our highest priority, and we are fully committed to educating agencies both directly and through our outstanding FEB partners, as they move forward in addressing any weaknesses that may exist in their emergency planning efforts."
The OPM training forum focused on the need to conduct shelter-in-place and evacuation drills, as well as the importance of offering telework as a component of agencies' continuity of operations plans. It also highlighted additional human resource flexibilities available for use in emergency situations. Approximately 100 attendees from 34 agencies were trained, and a combined total of 605 emergency professionals from 142 agencies and sub-agencies governmentwide have been trained at OPM emergency preparedness forums.
"These training forums are a critical part of the federal government's planning efforts," said James. "Federal agencies stood ready to respond to any potential event in Boston, and we have fully been committed to training local agencies in New York to do the same, should events necessitate action."
Under James' direction, OPM has made emergency preparedness of federal agency professionals a priority. Since October 2003, OPM has conducted seven forums in Washington D.C., New York City and Boston to address agencies' authorities upon closure of the federal government. The sessions also focused on the authority of agency heads to designate emergency personnel.
The following agencies have been trained:
Administration for Children and Families
Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts
Agricultural Research Service
Air National Guard
Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service
Architect of the Capitol
Armed Forces Retirement Home
Broadcasting Board of Governors
Bureaus of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
Bureau of Customs and Border Protection
Bureau of Customs and Immigration Enforcement
Bureau of Industry and Security
Bureau of the Census
Bureau of the Land Management
Bureau of Transportation Statistics
Centers for Disease Control
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
Central Intelligence Agency
Civilian Personnel Management Service
Commodity Futures Trading Commission
Consumer Product Safety Commission
Court Services and offender Supervision Agency
Defense Contract Audit Agency
Defense Contract Management Agency
Defense Information Systems Agency
Defense Intelligence Agency
Defense Logistics Agency
Defense Threat Reduction Agency
Department of Agriculture
Department of Commerce
Department of Defense
Department of Education
Department of Energy
Department of Health and Human Services
Department of Homeland Security
Department of Housing and Urban Development
Department of Justice
Department of Labor
Department of State
Department of the Interior
Department of the Treasury
Department of Transportation
Department of Veterans Affairs
Election Assistance Commission
Employment Opportunity Commission
Environmental Protection Agency
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
Executive Office of the President
Export-Import Bank of the United States
Farm Credit Administration
Federal Aviation Administration
Federal Communications Commission
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Federal Executive Board
Federal Highway Administration
Federal Labor Relations Authority
Federal Maritime Commission
Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service
Federal Trade Commission
Food and Drug Administration
General Accounting Office
General Services Administration
Government Printing Office
Health Resources and Services Administration
Institute of Museum and Library Services
Internal Revenue Service
International Broadcasting Bureau
International Trade Commission
Library of Congress
Maritime Administration
Merit Systems Protection Board
Military Entrance Processing Command
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
National Archives and Records Administration
National Business Center
National Credit Union Administration
National Endowment for the Humanities
National Gallery of Art
National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency
National Institutes of Health
National Labor Relations Board
National Mediation Board
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Park Service
National Science Foundation
National Security Agency
National Trade Administration
National Transportation Safety Board
Natural Resources Conservation Service
Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
Office for Civil Rights
Office of Assistant Secretary of Administration and Management
Office of Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs
Office of Government Ethics
Office of Inspector General for Tax Administration
Office of Justice Programs
Office of National Security Coordination
Office of Personnel Management
Office of Special Council
Office of the Secretary of Transportation
Overseas Private Investment Corporation
Peace Corps
Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation
Program Support Center
Protective Operation Division for Security
Railroad Retirement Board
Research and Special Programs Administration
Securities and Exchange Commission
Selective Service System
Small Business Administration
Smithsonian Institution
Social Security Administration
Transportation Security Administration
U.S. Agency for Inter National Development
U.S. Air Force
U.S. Army
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
U.S. Courts
U.S. Inter National Trade Commission
U.S. Navy
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
U.S. Senate
U.S Coast Guard
U.S. Postal Service
Veterans Benefits Administration
Washington Headquarters Service
OPM leads and serves the Federal Government in enterprise human resources management by delivering policies and services to achieve a trusted, effective civilian workforce. By Empowering Excellence in Government through Great People, we provide leadership and support to U.S. agencies on issues including human resources policy and oversight, background investigations, federal employee benefits, retirement services, guidance on labor-management relations, and programs to improve workforce performance. For more information, visit OPM.gov or follow OPM on Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn.


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We will publish a notice anytime that we feel your banking continuity could be interrupted by a current issue or event.
Attention Traveling Customers: Our new fraud activity monitoring system, Shazam Falcon, may flag anomalous transactions that are outside of your home area, resulting in your Debit/ATM Card being disabled. If you will be travelling, please take this phone number with you in the event your card is declined or disabled: 866-508-2693.


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Okay, so I want to use jQuery to "slide out" a background image to the left and slide-in a new background image from the right -- they also need to start over when they're done. I also have some content inside of the div that this background will be for -- the content needs to slide out to the right and in from the left (so they are going the opposite direction of the backgrounds)
I haven't written up any of the related code yet, since this project has barely gotten out of the planning-stage.
Any help or advice or tutorials or plug-ins would be greatly appreciated.


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Cancer drugs of the new, molecular generation destroy malignant breast tumors in a targeted manner: They block characteristic molecules on tumor cells - receptors for the hormones estrogen or progesterone, or a co-receptor, called HER2, that binds to many growth factors. But about one in every six breast tumors has none of these receptors. Such cancers, called triple-negative, are particularly aggressive and notoriously difficult to treat.
Some of these therapy-resistant cancers have a potential molecular target for cancer drugs, a growth-factor receptor called EGFR, but an EGFR-blocking drug has proved ineffective in treating them. In a study published recently in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Weizmann Institute researchers propose a potential solution: to simultaneously treat triple-negative breast cancer with two EGFR-blocking antibodies instead of one. In a study in mice, the scientists showed that a certain combination of two antibodies indeed prevented the growth and spread of triple-negative tumors. The research team, led by Prof. Yosef Yarden of the Biological Regulation Department and Prof. Michael Sela of the Immunology Department, included Drs. Daniela Ferraro, Nade`ge Gaborit, Ruth Maron, Hadas Cohen-Dvashi, Ziv Porat, Fresia Pareja, and Sara Lavi, Dr. Moshit Lindzen and Nir Ben-Chetrit.
Of the different combinations they tried, the scientists found that the approach worked when the two antibodies bound to different parts of the EGFR molecule. The combined action of the antibodies was stronger than would have been expected by simply adding up the separate effects of each. Apparently, the use of the two antibodies created an entirely new anti-cancer mechanism: In addition to blocking the EGFR and recruiting the help of immune cells, the antibodies probably overwhelmed the EGFR by their sheer weight, causing it to collapse inward from the membrane into the tumor cell.
Deprived of EGFR on its surface, the cells were no longer receiving the growth signals, preventing the growth of the tumor. This approach resembles the natural functioning of the immune system, which tends to block essential antigens at several sites by targeting them with multiple antibodies. If supported by further studies, the two-antibody approach, in combination with chemotherapy, might in the future be developed into an effective treatment for triple-negative breast cancer.
|Contact: Yivsam Azgad
Weizmann Institute of Science


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Submission + - James Bond film 'Skyfall' inspired by Stuxnet virus (foxnews.com)
Velcroman1 writes: No smartphones. No exploding pens. No ejector seats. No rocket-powered submarines. "It's a brave new world," gadget-maker Q tells James Bond in the new film "Skyfall." The new film, released on the 50th anniversary of the storied franchise, presents a gadget-free Bond fighting with both brains and brawn against a high-tech villain with computer prowess Bill Gates would be envious of. What inspired such a villain? "Stuxnet," producer Michael G. Wilson said. "There is a cyberwar that has been going on for some time, and we thought we'd bring that into the fore and let people see how it could be going on."


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Blue Blood: A Debutante Dropout Mystery (Debutante Dropout Mysteries #1) (Paperback)
Mixing a dash of Dallas society, a pinch of Janet Evanovich, and murder in the land of big hair, Blue Blood is the first installment in award-winning author Susan McBride's sassy Debutante Dropout mystery series.
To the dismay of her high society mother, Cissy, Dallas heiress Andy Kendricks wants no part of the Junior League life—opting instead for a job as a website designer and a passel of unpedigreed pals. Now her good friend Molly O'Brien is in bad trouble, accused of killing her boss at the local restaurant Jugs.
Though no proper deb would ever set foot in such a sleazy dive, Andy's soon slipping into skintight hot pants and a stuffed triple D bra to gain employment there and somehow help clear Molly's name.
But Andy's undercover lark soon brings her into too-close contact with all manner of dangerous adversaries—including a shady TV preacher, a fanatical Mothers Against Porn activist … and a killer who is none too keen on meddling rich girls.
Praise For…
"BLUE BLOOD is delightful, witty and oh-so-proper (not!). Susan McBride has Dallas society on its designer-clad toes!"
"Susan McBride kept me laughing all the way through this delicious romp of a mystery."
"BLUE BLOOD is a wry, dead-on social commentary masquerading as a can't-put-it-down mystery. Highly recommended...."
"Susan McBride has an engaging new heroine in Andrea Kendricks."
"Andrea Kendricks...is a treasure."
"BLUE BLOOD has it all--suspense, humor, friendship, snobbery and televangelists...BLUE BLOOD is positively gripping."
"All mystery readers should applaud!"
"A totally fun ride...McBride has created a fresh new voice that fans of the genre undoubtedly will enjoy."
"Off to a smashing start...keeps the reader smiling."
"McBride has created a delightfully wacky amateur detective in BLUE BLOOD. The writing is fresh, funny, and entertaining."
"A very witty and clever mystery...I, for one, can't wait for the next installment."


text:
Attorney General Brown Vows To Investigate Price Gouging
LOS ANGELES -- California Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced that the Department of Justice is prepared to investigate and prosecute businesses that attempt to "wrongfully profit" from the devastating fires that have swept Southern California.
"It is illegal to exploit the state of emergency for personal gain," said Brown.
Brown pointed out that California's anti-price gouging statute, Penal Code Section 396, became immediately effective after the state of emergency was declared on Sunday, October 21, 2007. Brown issued a warning to those who might try to illegally raise prices for goods, services, or hotels.
"Fires have ravaged communities across Southern California," Attorney General Brown said, "and the state's anti-price gouging law is now in full force. Anyone who tries to wrongfully profit from the suffering of others will be investigated by the California Department of Justice."
Penal Code Section 396 prohibits charging a price that exceeds, by more than 10%, the price of an item before the declaration of emergency. This law applies to those who sell food, emergency supplies, medical supplies, building materials, and gasoline. The law also applies to repair or reconstruction services, emergency cleanup services, transportation, freight and storage services, and housing and hotel accommodations.
Violations of the price-gouging statute are subject to criminal prosecutions which can result in one year imprisonment in county jail or a fine of up to $10,000. Violators are also subject to civil enforcement actions including civil penalties, injunctive relief and mandatory restitution.
The attorney general will coordinate any prosecutions with local district attorneys' offices when violators should be prosecuted locally.
Consumers who believe they have been victimized by price gouging should immediately file a written complaint with the Attorney General's Public Inquiry Unit: http://ag.ca.gov/contact/complaint_form.php?cmplt=CL or by calling (800) 952-5225.


text:
MONTREAL - Orange means different things to different people. Those who dislike it often say it is in-your-face, immodest. But those who love it bask in its beauty. They say it takes the best of the two prime colours of which it is composed: the drama of red and the sunniness of yellow. We talked to four Montreal designers and orange-lovers explain the allure of orange. Here is:
Neeti Bhatia
Yoga teacher, Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre, Montreal
The brick façade of the yoga centre stands apart from the hustle and bustle of the rest of The Main. It is painted the palest shade of orange.
In Hinduism, saffron orange is the colour of asceticism. It is the colour of the robes worn by renunciates. These wandering monks, called sadhus, hand over their worldly wardrobe on the way to finding moksha, or liberation, which is the fourth and final stage of Hindu religious.
"Orange is the colour of fire. It signifies the burning of the physical and a moving toward the spiritual," explains Neeti Bhatia, who teaches yoga and vegetarian cooking at the Sivananda Centre, where only the swamis, who have left behind material and physical attachments, are permitted to wear orange. (Bhatia and others who work at the centre wear yellow and white, colours symbolizing purity and learning.)


text:
The Bradbury Bruiser 12-mile trail race is tomorrow. I'm excited about it, especially with the weather looking perfect. It'll be nice to have done all three races in the series and earn my "Bad Ass" t-shirt (given I don't face plant, break something and not finish the race).
Want the legs to be as fresh as possible tomorrow, so just set out on a short out-and-back route from my house on the trails and fire roads at a very easy pace. The Adidas Adizero XTs felt more broken in, primarily in the flexibility department, so that's good. They should work well for tomorrow.
Ran 4.5 miles @ 8:27/mile pace.
Trails and fire roads.
Mostly flat.
Mid 70s, sunny.
Adidas Adizero XT, shorts, singlet.


text:
Featured post
A 'Dear John' Letter
'Dear John -- Oh how I hate to write…' We all know that old song, about a girl who is jilting her beau in favour of his brother. This ...
About Me
- Satima Flavell
- I am a writer, editor, reviewer and dance teacher based in Perth, Western Australia. You might enjoy my books - The Dagger of Dresnia, the first book of the Talismans Trilogy, is available at all good online book shops as is Book two, The Cloak of Challiver. Book three, The Seer of Syland, is in preparation. I trained in piano and singing at the NSW Conservatorium of Music. I also trained in dance (Scully-Borovansky, WAAPA) and drama (NIDA). Since 1987 I have been writing reviews of performances in all genres for a variety of publications, including Music Maker, ArtsWest, Dance Australia, The Australian and others. Now semi-retired, I still write occasionally for the ArtsHub website, and I still teach dance at Trinity School for Seniors, an outreach program of the Uniting Church in Perth.
My books
The first novel of my trilogy, The Talismans, is available as an e-book from Smashwords, Amazon and other online sellers. I do have paperbacks of The Dagger of Dresnia at the low price of $AU25 including postage within Australia. I also have a short story, 'La Belle Dame', in print - see Mythic Resonance below. Book two of the trilogy, The Cloak of Challiver, will be available again shortly. The best way to contact me is via Facebook!
Buy The Talismans
The first two books of The Talismans trilogy were published by Satalyte Publications, which, sadly, has gone out of business. Book one, The Dagger of Dresnia, is up on the usual bookselling web sites as an e-book, and I have a few hard copies to sell to those who prefer Real Paper. Book Two, The Cloak of Challiver, will be available soon. The easiest way to contact me is via Facebook.
Buy Mythic Resonance
Mythic Resonance is an excellent anthology that includes my short story 'La Belle Dame', together with great stories from Alan Baxter, Donna Maree Hanson, Sue Burstynski, Nike Sulway and nine more fantastic authors! Just $US3.99 from Amazon. Got a Kindle? Check out Mythic Resonance.
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For Readers, Writers & Editors
- A dilemma about characters
- Adelaide Writers Week, 2009
- Adjectives, commas and confusion
- An artist's conflict
- An editor's role
- Authorial voice, passive writing and the passive voice
- Common misuses: common expressions
- Common misuses: confusing words
- Common misuses: pronouns - subject and object
- Conversations with a character
- Critiquing Groups
- Does length matter?
- Dont sweat the small stuff: formatting
- Free help for writers
- How much magic is too much?
- Know your characters via astrology
- Like to be an editor?
- Modern Writing Techniques
- My best reads of 2007
- My best reads of 2008
- My favourite dead authors
- My favourite modern authors
- My influential authors
- Planning and Flimmering
- Planning vs Flimmering again
- Psychological Spec-Fic
- Readers' pet hates
- Reading, 2009
- Reality check: so you want to be a writer?
- Sensory detail is important!
- Speculative Fiction - what is it?
- Spelling reform?
- Substantive or linking verbs
- The creative cycle
- The promiscuous artist
- The revenge of omni rampant
- The value of "how-to" lists for writers
- Write a decent synopsis
- Write a review worth reading
- Writers block 1
- Writers block 2
- Writers block 3
- Writers need editors!
- Writers, Depression and Addiction
- Writing in dialect, accent or register
- Writing it Right: notes for apprentice authors
Interviews with authors
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Monday, 2 April 2012
Do you know about Writer Beware?
Monday, April 02, 2012 | Posted by Satima Flavell
By and large, it's considered unprofessional for an agent to try to sell services to potential clients. There are many, many agents around - some with the best of intentions but with very little professionalism - who add extra services to their practice because the agency itself isn't making enough to live on. That being the case, can that person be the best possible agent for you? I suspect not. Personally I think full MS assessments are a waste of money in any case. I only offer 'mini-assessments' because you can usually see a writer's main problems within the first twenty pages or so. After that, the process turns into mentoring while the writer improves his or her skills prior to a full edit.
Remember, too, that you can go on altering a book in line with conflicting advice until you've actually wrecked the story. No two critiquers will ever agree completely on what's needed to 'fix' a book, and quite often their views will be diametrically opposed. Ultimately, you have to rely on your own judgement. So take all advice – whether you've paid for it or not – with a pinch of salt.
If in doubt as to an agent's credentials, check out Writer Beware. This highly respected website tells you just what you should and shouldn't get from an agent. Every writer should be aware of Writer Beware - it's one of the best sites for learning some of the ins and outs of the publishing game.
It's also not a bad idea to Google for an agent's name before submitting to see if anyone complains of bad experiences with the agency in question. The whole publishing game, including agents, is fraught with traps for the unwary.
Getting a foot in the door with a reputable agent has always been hard and at present seems to be almost impossible. But perhaps you don't really need an agent. In Australia, Penguin, Allen & Unwin, Hachette and Momentum (a new e-book arm of PanMacmillan) are all currently open to unagented subs, as are several small presses. Good luck!
Labels: agents, Writer Beware
4 comments:
- Helen V. said...
Useful reminders, Satima.
- Monday, April 02, 2012
- Jo said...
The more I read, the more I am glad I am not a writer. When I see the problems of already published writers not being able to get published and read all the things that people experience, no thanks.
- Monday, April 02, 2012
- Satima Flavell said...
Yes, writing can be a very frustrating profession to aspire to or to engage in! But, as you've shown with your wonderful blog, there is more than one way to pluck a chook:-).
- Tuesday, April 03, 2012
- Satima Flavell said...
You're right, Helen - WB has to be one of the best resources around and we need to remember to check it now and then!
- Tuesday, April 03, 2012
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text: Usually my Lily isn't a puker, but now it happened twice that she threw up her breakfast. And every time, I knew it was going to happen because she announced it by crying really loud and painfully, as if she was suffering horribly. :eek: Wonder why she does that, maybe because the nausea is causing her so much discomfort. She seems to hate it so very much! :(


text:
Source: Commercial-Review, Portland, Indiana, February 28, 1974, page 1.
3rd '74 traffic fatality
Salamonia man killed
According to Jay County Sherriff Harold Loy, who's heading the investigation, he was notified of the accident at 7:50 a.m. He said LeMaster was found dead in the back seat of his late-model auto.
Loy said it appeared to him LeMaster, who was a
senior, had been dead for "approximately three to four hours" before police were notified. He said the accident happened 2 ¼ miles east of the Ball State University . Lower Salamonie Church
The LeMaster auto, said Loy, was located in a ditch next to a large tree, which had apparently been struck head on. He said the force of the impact sent the driver against the windshield and then back into the backseat. The vehicle was considered a total loss.
Loy said death may have been instantaneous, but a coroner's examination was delayed until after noon because Jay County Coroner, Dr. James Fitzpatrick, is out of the state, and Deputy Coroner, Dr. R.E. Schenck, was in surgery.
No details of the report have been released at this time, although LeMaster's body was taken to the Baird-Freeman Funeral Home in
, where it was to be examined. LeMaster was to be transferred to the Williamson & Spencer Funeral Home, which is handling funeral arrangements. Portland
Assisting Loy on the accident investigation are Jay County Police Captain George Meehan, and First Lt. Jerry Bell; Police Reserves: Gerald Jellison, Charles Frasher, and Floyd Life; and Indiana State Police Trooper, Walter Boguske.
Born June 8, 1949 in
, LeMaster, the son of John L. LeMaster Jr. and Helen (Pease) LeMaster. On Aug. 31, 1968, he was married to Jean Shreeve. A member of the Indiana National Guard, LeMaster belonged to the Salamonia Christian Church. He was also a member of the Independent Order of Foresters. Portland
Surviving besides his wife are one daughter, Lisa, and two sons, Dean and Shane, all at home; his mother, Mrs. Helen LeMaster, RR 6, Portland; four brothers, Leland LeMaster, RR 6, Portland; Terry LeMaster, RR 2, Winchester; Douglas LeMaster, Salamonia, and his twin, Gary LeMaster, Warsaw; one sister, Mrs. William (Kay) Addington, RR 6, Portland, and grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. John L. LeMaster Sr., Salamonia.
Funeral services are set for Saturday at 1:30 p.m. at the Williamson & Spencer Funeral Home with Paul Albertson, Port Jefferson, Ohio, officiating. Burial will follow in the
. Salamonia Cemetery
Callers will be received at the funeral home after 3 p.m. Friday.


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I think he is hot
He could probably last for hours in the sack
I think he is hot
He could probably last for hours in the sack
He's soo hot!!!! I was thinking the same thing too!!
Guys who play football (American football) are really hot
Basic. Average. 50/100.
Nice pic
In his autumn, before the winter, comes man's last mad surge of youth
Google Images "Johnny Manziel Heisman Trophy winner"
Like I said, he is not traditionally 'gay' handsome but I'm stereotyping
He has a wonderful ass... I have watched it hopping over defenses all year... he will be a pleasure to watch play for the next few years for the Aggies... although there is no way in hell I would wanna be a freshman with a Heisman... he is going to be a marked man.
Johnny Football is not really Sir Ron's type, but if he demanded access to Sir Ron's orgy bed, I would certainly let him in.
And if he insisted on Sir Ron giving his erect genitals oral service, Sir Ron would not refuse.
And if he wanted Sir Ron to swallow his seed...Sir Ron certainly would not spit it out.
And if Johnny Football was looking to use Sir Ron's anal cavity as his pussy-of-the-day, Sir Ron would not fight it.
Hmmmmmmmm, maybe he is my type afterall!
The Three Musketeers... Bashful, Chrisglass, and Ronboy!
I've yet to read you refused your bed to anybody
Magna Veritas
Manti Te'o should have won. He is almost completely responsible for taking Notre Dame from a team that wasn't on anyones pre-season top 25 teams, to a 12-0 season and a trip to the BCS championship game. Go Irish!
I come into this thread for pics but was disappointed LOL
Nontraditional Hansome Guy >>>>> Homely zit face. He does have a fine set of ears on him though, like handle bars for a speedy little cock sucker.
So i'd bang the guy above, the poster above, and the guy that snatched a trophy.
And what's "nontraditionally" handsome about him other than his ears anyway?
"Theres death on the horizon,
and Ill run to behold your sacrifice..."
Oh, come on. I'd hit it, and so would most of you behind that Internet screen of judgement! :P
#439th oldest member on JUB.
Loving the size he's put on! His chest, arms and waist! He could do whatever he wants to me! http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...cht-Miami.html


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Capture Images from the Command Line
ImageSnap is a Public Domain command-line tool that lets you capture still images from an iSight or other video source. You might remember Axel Bauer's original isightcapture tool (that is no longer supported but still works on most systems). With ImageSnap I hope we'll be able to move forward and add features, adapt to the ever-changing Apple architectures, etc.
Follow the file release RSS feed...
Copy the imagesnap file to someplace on your path like /usr/local/bin, or leave it in a "current directory," and call it with ./imagesnap instead.
To capture an image simply run the program from the command line.
$ imagesnap Capturing image from device "iSight"..................snapshot.jpg
To specify a filename, make that your last argument:
$ imagesnap icu.jpg Capturing image from device "iSight"..................icu.jpg
If you have multiple video devices attached to your computer, use the -l ("el") flag to list them:
$ imagesnap -l Video Devices: iSight DV
To select a specific video device use the -d device flag:
$ imagesnap -d DV Capturing image from device "DV"..................snapshot.jpg
To output a jpeg representation to standard out (stdout), use a dash for the filename:
$ ssh email@example.com /usr/local/bin/imagesnap - > snapshot.jpg $ open snapshot.jpg
Thanks to Bas Zoetekouw for adding timelapse capability. Freebie: if you want to convert the fielnames, which have dates embedded in them, to a simple serial number for use with QuickTimer Player 7, try this:
for f in *.jpg; do mv $f ${f:0:14}.jpg; done
All commands:
USAGE: imagesnap [options] [filename] Version: 0.2.5 Captures an image from a video device and saves it in a file. If no device is specified, the system default will be used. If no filename is specfied, snapshot.jpg will be used. Supported image types: JPEG, TIFF, PNG, GIF, BMP -h This help message -v Verbose mode -l List available video devices -t x.xx Take a picture every x.xx seconds -q Quiet mode. Do not output any text -w x.xx Warmup. Delay snapshot x.xx seconds after turning on camera -d device Use named video device
Clever Scripts
MacOSXHints.com has had a number of useful hints over time on what to do with command line capturing from an iSight camera (using the original isightcapture tool). The ideas apply the same to ImageSnap. Here are some of the hints out there:
- An advanced script/web solution to track stolen Macs
- Take iSight snapshots during invalid login attempts
- Some perl scripts to help track stolen computers
- Capture laptop screenshots to remote devices
- Snap and upload iSight pictures on wake from sleep
You could also make a sneaky Automator workflow that takes a picture discreetly, if you don't want to use the Apple "Take Video Snapshot" action which presents a preview window. Use the Run Shell Script action, and echo the filename to the next component:
Image Formats
The following image formats are supported and are determined by the filename extension:
- JPEG (*.jpg, *.jpeg)
- TIFF (*.tif, *.tiff)
- PNG (*.png)
- GIF (*.gif)
- BMP (*.bmp)
- v0.2.5 - Added option to delay the first snapshot for some time. Added a time-lapse feature (thanks, Bas Zoetekouw).
- v0.2.4 - Found bug that caused crash on Mac OS X 10.5 (but not 10.6).
- v0.2.3 - Fixed bug that caused crash on Mac OS X 10.5 (but not 10.6).
- v0.2.3 - Fixed bug that caused all images to be saved as TIFF. Not sure when this bug was introduced.
- v0.2.2 - Added ability to output jpeg to standard out. Made executable lowercase imagesnap.
- v0.2.1 - Changed name to ImageSnap from ImageCapture to avoid confusion with Apple's Image Capture application.
- v0.2 - Multiple file formats (not just TIFF). Faster response.
- v0.1 - This is the initial release.
A Note About Public Domain
I have released this software into the Public Domain. That means you can do whatever you want with it. Really. You don't have to match it up with any other open source license—just use it. You can rename the files, do whatever you want. If your lawyers say you have to have a license, contact me, and I'll make a special release to you under whatever reasonable license you desire: MIT, BSD, GPL, whatever.
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Click or flick through the above image to see High Street through the years (iPhone app users can tap the 'Photos' tab).
IT might just be a few new white lines, but Wodonga's new-look High Street has been given a big tick of approval from the city centre's vendors.
WHAT DO YOU THINK? Have your say by leaving a comment below.
THE man who pioneered High Street's reduction to single-lane traffic yesterday said it was a good start but more needed to be done.
David Engwicht ended his $150,000 a year council consultancy on the city's main street in early 2009, saying he was frustrated by the lack of progress and felt snubbed by a new council.
The "placemaker" said from Brisbane that the move was no stroke of genius but the result of trial and error.
"We were flying by the seat of our pants back then," Mr Engwicht said.
"Trying to find a solution to slowing the traffic on High Street, Lounging on High allowed us to trial the idea and it was an immediate success.
"Now when I'm talking to town planners I tell them trials rather than talkfests are the best way to test an idea."
While Mr Engwicht's ambitious $5.1 million makeover of the city's main street was dumped four years ago, he said some of those ideas were still relevant.
He said removing line markings, traffic signs and getting away from straight roads would reduce speeds further.
"The key is making people feel they are driving through a room than down a corridor," he said.
"Getting rid of traffic artefacts — line markings, traffic lights and speed humps can all help achieve that."
Cr Anna Speedie also paid homage to Mr Engwicht's vision.
"These ideas were all trialled during Lounging on High and, to David's credit, they worked then and appear to be working now," she said this week.
"What we saw there was the traffic slowing when we reduced High Street to one lane."
Wodonga Council's planning and infrastructure director Leon Schultz said he expected further work in High Street to focus on landscaping.
"We had a budget of $100,000 for this work and believe we won't have spent all that money," he said.
"We will look at what we can do to create even greater interest in the street.
"We will look at how we can better landscape High Street."


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Probability is a concept that is generally easy to understand intuitively, but can be difficult to define rigorously. When it is defined and studied carefully, it can lead to counter-intuitive results. Even elementary ideas of probability can be widely misunderstood, making it a good way to dishonestly bolster a weak argument.
When properly used, probability and its more "applied" cousin, statistics, can be powerful tools for discerning empirical truth. Indeed, essentially every field of modern science relies heavily on statistical analysis of data, which in turn relies on probability.
In the area of apologetics, ideas of probability lie at the heart of some arguments for the existence of God, especially the tornado argument and, to varying degrees, various cosmological arguments.
Definitions of probability
There are two main interpretations of probability, each of which leads to a different definition of probability:
- Relative frequency
- The long-run relative frequency of occurrence of a random event (the fraction of the time it happens in a long run of repeated "trials") can be defined as the probability of the event.
- Example: "A 'fair' coin has a 50% probability of coming up 'heads'."
- More information: Wikipedia:Frequency probability
- Degree of belief (a.k.a., personal probability)
- The degree to which one believes a statement to be true can be defined as the probability of that statement.
- Example: "I'd say there's about a 20% probability that the human race will end up nuking itself out of existence."
- More information: Wikipedia:Bayesian probability, Wikipedia:Probability interpretations
Although the degree-of-belief "definition" might seem quite weak, it can be made rigorous by carefully considering, for example, how much one would be willing to bet in a game where one would gain a certain amount of money if the statement turns out to be true. It can be shown that any internally consistent method of choosing one's wager must obey the laws of probability.
Conditional probability
One of the most widely misunderstood concepts in probability has to do with conditional probability, the probability of one thing happening (or being true) given that something else definitely happens (or is true).
- Example: "The probability that a king has been drawn from a well-shuffled deck of playing cards given that you know it is a face card is one-third."
This is because once you know a face card has been drawn, 4 out of the 12 face cards are kings, giving a probability of 4/12, or 1/3.
Conditional probabilities are often the result of narrowing the population of interest. Consider the following two statements (using made-up figures):
- "10% of convicted criminals are atheists."
- "Only 5% of theists have ever been convicted of a crime."
Given this information, does it look like atheists are more likely to be criminals than theists? Maybe twice as likely? On first glance, it might seem so. However, notice that the two percentages treat criminal conviction quite differently. In the first statement, the population of interest is convicted criminals and we are looking at what fraction of that population are atheists. In the second statement, the population of interest is theists and we are looking at what fraction of that population have the characteristic of being convicted criminals. In other words, each percent is calculated as a fraction of a population having a certain characteristic, but neither the population nor the characteristic is the same in both statements. This means the figures are not directly comparable.
Now consider the additional statement:
- "90% of convicted criminals are theists."
You can compare this figure directly with statement #1 above, because they are using the same population: convicted criminals. But the comparison is not very informative because the two statements give exactly the same information (if 10% of criminals are atheists, then 90% must be non-atheists, or what we're calling "theists" for convenience sake). So we still don't know whether atheism or theism is associated with criminal conviction.
To get an accurate impression of what's going on, the question we really need to ask is:
- What percent of atheists are convicted criminals?
If we can answer that, then we can directly compare the probability of an atheist being a criminal with the probability of a theist being a criminal. Those probabilities (percents) will be calculated for two different populations (and thus need not add to 100%), but they will reflect the prevalence of the same characteristic in those two populations.
Unfortunately, we need one more piece of information to answer the latter question:
- What percent of the population are convicted criminals?
Actually, we can get the answer just as easily from knowing what percent are atheists or theists, but let's go with the above question. Anyway, the answer, which is also being pulled out of thin air for the purpose of this example, is:
- 3. "5% of the population are convicted criminals."
So here's a table that matches all the information we've been given. All percents are calculated out of the total population.
To be finished later...


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An American citizen who is a member of al-Qaida is actively planning attacks against Americans overseas, U.S. officials say, and the Obama administration is wrestling with whether to kill him with a drone strike and how to do so legally under its new stricter targeting policy issued last year.
The CIA drones watching him cannot strike because he's a U.S. citizen and the Justice Department must build a case against him, a task it hasn't completed.
Four U.S. officials said the American suspected terrorist is in a country that refuses U.S. military action on its soil and that has proved unable to go after him. And President Barack Obama's new policy says American suspected terrorists overseas can only be killed by the military, not the CIA, creating a policy conundrum for the White House.
Two of the officials described the man as an al-Qaida facilitator who has been directly responsible for deadly attacks against U.S. citizens overseas and who continues to plan attacks against them that would use improvised explosive devices.
But one U.S. official said the Defense Department was divided over whether the man is dangerous enough to merit the potential domestic fallout of killing an American without charging him with a crime or trying him, and the potential international fallout of such an operation in a country that has been resistant to U.S. action.