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The Museum of Modern Art's inclusion of fourteen video games in their new "Applied Design" exhibition is a worthy, forward-thinking gesture, but as an exhibit it doesn't quite work. To make any sense at all, games need to be not just played but played seriously, with a sweaty, childish abandon totally unlike the cool passivity of an art viewer. Tucked into a corner of MOMA's sleek architecture and design gallery, the games seem bedraggled, and (during my visit at least, and with the crucial exception of a few children) were played only tentatively. Some of them—hardy classics like Pac-Man and Tetris, and the minimalist Canabalt, which uses just a single button—remain vibrant even in these inhospitable surroundings. Others less so: the French science-fiction side-scroller Another World (originally known in the U.S. as Out of This World) is one of the most elegant games ever made, but played here it seems drab.
And some games weren't allowed in at all. These games—most notably the immensely popular SimCity, as well as its lunatic homemade successor Dwarf Fortress—were deemed "too complex or too time consuming," and are represented only by noninteractive video displays. This is about as satisfying as looking at pictures of food, but it is also in a perverse sort of way a real tribute: these games are still too big, too stubbornly new and strange and mysterious, to fit into a museum just yet. They can't be sampled; you must surrender to them.
Designed by Will Wright, who had made only a single previous game, and first released in 1989, SimCity casts the player as a slightly supernatural city planner, laying out roads and power plants and building zones in a simple, brightly colored interface with a distinct resemblance to MS Paint. You choose tax rates and ordinances from a series of menus, and try to balance traffic and property values and pollution and dozens of other factors on the way to creating a successful city—with the definition of "successful" rather up in the air. It has no "end," no plot, no set goal: you play until you are bored, or until your city seems to you to be perfect or maimed beyond repair. Along with its increasingly pretty and complex sequels (the 1994 SimCity 2000 is the one chosen for "Applied Design," and a new version of the game has just been released), it sold over eighteen million copies, and was, as John Seabrook wrote in his 2006 New Yorker Profile of Wright, "arguably the single most influential work of urban-design theory ever created."
SimCity also demonstrated a new way to conceive of video games. Most games provide players a linear narrative, and a series of what are essentially tests—of reflexes, logic, resource management, or brute perseverance—that the player must pass in order to proceed along the game's narrative. What Wright offered was a set of tools, and a world in which to use them. Instead of tests and rewards, it gives us something deeper and more meaningful: options, and consequences.
The course of a game of SimCity is a vast, proliferating expanse of decisions and results. How many hospitals does a residential area need? Why is no one moving into the new development? Is a coal power plant worth the pollution? What if there were more parks to balance it out? (And is that really how pollution works?) What will calm these rioters—more police, or lower taxes?
The successful player of the game of consequences is not an action hero, bursting through obstacles and defeating enemies, but a heroic manager, the kind of hero David Foster Wallace found (or really, that Wallace's "Infinite Jest" avatar Hal Incandenza found) in Captain Frank Furillo of the TV show "Hill Street Blues": "a hero of re-action…. He is a bureaucrat, and his heroism is bureaucratic, with a genius for navigating cluttered fields…. A 'post'-modern hero, a virtuoso of triage and compromise and administration." SimCity, candy-colored and user-friendly, beloved by children and installed in elementary schools, was in this way actually one of the least fantastical video games ever made. It turns out that many eight-year-olds would choose Robert Moses over James Bond sometimes.
The great lesson of SimCity, the fact the game was built to display, is the delight of city life, of urbanity in general. Even failing cities are beautiful in SimCity. Their streets are straight and well kempt, their deserted building zones are clean and peaceful and full of possibility. The colors are bright but not garish: the water blue, the land a flat green, the roads a soothing gray. The view the player has of them is from exactly the right height: close enough to see the bustle of the cars and trucks, the charmingly repetitive irregularity of the buildings, but too distant to see crime, pollution, frustration, or failure as anything more than slightly disheartening abstractions. It looks a bit like an animated tourist map, complete with color-coding, oversized landmarks, and a peculiarly American inattention to parking. The public mood can plummet, but there is never any depiction of the human suffering endemic to even successful urban areas. Pollution is tracked, but it has no long-term consequences.
Even when you are starting the settlement of the area entirely from scratch, what you are founding is always, and can only really be, a city, even when it has the population of a village. The vast fields and relative isolation and independence of rural life are essentially impossible to create in any sustainable way, and there is never any sense of a natural world displaced by the arrival of the metropolis. And though something reminiscent of suburbia can arise, it is an oddly antiquated, citified version of it, without the isolated residential enclaves and diffuse, distant commercial centers that often characterize it these days. It's a vision of the city as existing somehow independent of its inhabitants: a city of buildings, not people; a city serenely, joyously inhuman.
More fundamental than this, though, is the very particular worldview that animates all the SimCity games. The world Wright gives his players is one defined by a constant flickering interplay between progress and equilibrium, a gentle utopia of possibility. Decay is never a real threat. His cities never die, and if left to their own devices they pretty much go on as they were. The closest thing to failure is a genial sort of rut, an inability to make the city grow and progress the way you'd like; excepting perhaps the aftermath of a nuclear power plant melting down, there's never an irreversible collapse. Without extreme, juvenile levels of incompetence, you can't fail to make or maintain a city, you merely fail to make that city great. It's a commonplace that many urban planners found their vocation in childhood games of SimCity—and this at least rings true, for the game is nothing if not inspirational. Its world is infinitely soothing, its consistent message one of safety, surmountable challenge, hope, and stability.
The appeal of such fictional peace does have its limits, as it turns out. One can begin to suspect that all thriving cities look pretty much the same, that even the most successful equilibrium is simply boring. The popularity of "disasters"—the calamities, ranging from fires and airplane crashes to, in the more baroque later versions, locust swarms and U.F.O. attacks, that the player can purposely inflict on his city, or allow to occur randomly—bespeaks this creeping boredom. But it points as well to a desire to demonstrate the strength and elasticity of the world's stability. These disasters are designed to be manageable. There is a never an unfixable problem, never a ruin that can't be cleared and rebuilt. It is an almost comically American vision, a pure product of the Reagan dream: zero history, infinite future.
The best answer to SimCity, and its only challenger as the most interesting simulation game, is just across the way from it at the MOMA exhibition: Dwarf Fortress. It is not so much SimCity's monstrous offspring as its gifted, maniacal, extremely worrisome younger brother. Officially titled Slaves to Armok: God of Blood, Chapter II: Dwarf Fortress, this bizarre, brilliant game by a Texan named Tarn Adams (working almost entirely on his own) has been a public work-in-progress since 2006, in which time it has, according to a 2011 New York Times Magazine profile of its creator, been downloaded about a million times. If SimCity is the video game as toy—inviting, open-ended, and subtly but unmistakably limited—Dwarf Fortress is the video game as folk art masterpiece: eccentric, over-the-top, and oddly affecting.
Dwarf Fortress puts the player in charge of a fledgling Dwarven colony, initially comprising seven dwarfs—a number that can, with the births and immigration that come with successful play, rise into the hundreds, but just as easily plunge to one or zero. You watch from above, pausing the action at will to give orders using a byzantine array of menus, but never directly controlling any of the dwarfs. The central principle of the game is an attention to detail that is frankly obsessive. Dozens of plants and animals are simulated, and hundreds of types of ore are modeled in the soil. Every dwarf has individual character traits, religious beliefs, affections, moods, and skills, and every limb and tissue layer of their bodies is modeled and tracked. (For a while, the melting point for the fat layer of the dwarves' skin was set too low, resulting in instant death for any creature that got damp and then entered a warm room—baroque and violent bugs like this are very much in the spirit of the game).
Your dwarves can marry and reproduce; suffer from P.T.S.D.; bond with pets; or be taken by "fey moods" and lock themselves away to create artworks. They need constant alcohol intake to remain happy, and if they stay underground for too long will become allergic to sunlight (leading to the classic F.A.Q. entry, "Why is my fortress surrounded by vomit?"). Just starting up a new game requires a few minutes for the computer to randomly generate miles of terrain and thousands of years of local history. And this is it in its embryonic, alpha incarnation. Adams keeps an elaborate public to-do list for the game, whose entries vary in scale from the minute ("Wheelbarrows to haul more objects than can be carried") to the truly grand ("Have religions in the game correspond to forces or deities and let you play one"), and estimates that version 1.0 won't be finished for another twenty years.
As in SimCity, there is no real way to win the game. Instead of a series of comfortable equilibria, however, a game of Dwarf Fortress tends harshly, inevitably, toward ruin. The colony is overrun by invaders, or succumbs to disease, starvation, blood-feuds, or madness; a dragon takes up residence in the dining-hall, slaughtering every dwarf but one, who waits out the winter sealed in his room; a vast lava trap, constructed to deal with these threats, malfunctions, killing everybody; and so on. It is played alone, but its brutality, complexity, and unpredictability give its players a need for community—an urge to bear witness, to commiserate, to trade tips for using kittens as poison-detectors. Elaborate written accounts of Dwarf Fortress games, sometimes incorporating art or even animation, have become popular Internet reading material, perhaps more popular than playing the game itself.
Unfortunately, or perhaps fittingly, Dwarf Fortress has the most primitive and off-putting graphics and user interface of any game in at least the past twenty years. Much of its world is represented by nothing more than colored letters and punctuation marks: a capital "E" for a massive elephant, a green comma for some grass. Some menus are navigated with the arrow keys, others, unpredictably, with "+" and "-." Fans have created a variety of replacement graphics sets and interface add-ons, but they are patchy, limited improvements.
Even with these constraints, there have been some considerable Dwarf Fortress feats achieved over the years, a few surprising even its designer. One player managed to construct a working, fully programmable eight-bit computer within the game, using a vast underground array of gears, levers, pressure plates, and water pumps—leading to the obvious question of whether that computer could run Dwarf Fortress.
The profound and cynical depths of the game can be better seen in a more traditional achievement, however. A massive colony named FlareChannel, created by a player called QuantumSawdust (and enshrined in the Hall of Legends section of the online Dwarf Fortress forum), provides such a view. It is an enormous fortress containing a vast housing column, a gigantic magma-driven power plant, a glass-domed throne room, and a temple featuring, in QuantumSawdust's words, a "Sun Diagram mosaic… made out of marble, gold, obsidian, and trifle pewter." His longest description, though, is saved for the fortress's prison, with its "copper bridges, lava moat, water reservoir inside, and separate levels for different degrees of war criminals. The top houses the traitorous garbage dwarf who became a local leader of the goblin enemies, as well as the dragon he will soon be facing now that the Colosseum is complete."
But more than just the fact of these goofy, sadistic buildings (and they are all the more impressive once you've actually played the game, and spent hours trying to dig a decent hole and keep your one donkey from wandering away), two aspects of FlareChannel cut to the heart of the strange concoction that is this game. The first is that, for all his success in the game—and FlareChannel is about as successful as any Dwarf Fortress creation yet seen—QuantumSawdust does still not feel it is secure. He writes in the Dwarf Fortress forum that the vast families his dwarves have created make him "see the danger of tantrum spirals"—a well-known phenomenon in which an injury to one member of a family causes the rest of that family to run amok with grief and anger, potentially injuring members of other families, and so on—and that "I just have to hope my amenities for the dwarves make up for any disasters that occur."
The second is that the game is so intricate that many of the events it creates were intended by neither the player nor the designer. In one of the online accounts of FlareChannel's history, the fort's creator relates his "favorite story," which he calls "The Fable of Catten and Eagle." He tells of a single semi-tame giant eagle—one of many that fill the fort—who took an intense, inexplicable liking to Catten, a particularly competent dwarf, but also one entirely indifferent to the eagle. Twelve game-years later, Catten was caught outside during a dragon attack. The eagle rushed to his aid, blinding the dragon and then helping him kill it. They became friends, eventually died of old age, and "during the finishing of the Temple to Armok, Catten's clothes were mysteriously found on the roof, where no path could possibly have led." The writer theorizes that "on a rare night when others were asleep, Catten would climb aboard his old friend, strip naked, and fly around the towers." Though some part of all this was no doubt embellished in the telling, this account is still, crucially, more a report than a story; its origins are behaviors generated by the game, and observed and interpreted by the player.
Dwarf Fortress's cackling, clear-eyed brutality is both an implicit critique of the staid cheeriness of SimCity, and a powerful demonstration of the depth of Will Wright's achievement. Only a masterpiece could be twisted this far. It's a credit to the taste of the MOMA curators that both are included in the inaugural exhibition of games—but you should really just stay home, and play them.
Gabriel Winslow-Yost's writing has appeared in The New York Review of Books, where he is an assistant editor, and n+1, and he makes comics with the artist Michael Rae-Grant.
Image, of SimCity 2000: Electronic Arts. Image, of Dwarf Fortress: Tarn Adams.


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March 13, 2018
There are a fairly limited number of companies dominating the cloud world. Their names are known, western, and their performance is continuously compared. However, one of the most interesting and impressive cases is a behemoth from Asia, powering the minds of subway kiosks in Shanghai. What can the western world learn from how AI that lives on Alibaba cloud serves the everyday needs of over 24 million people populating Shanghai?
The Shanghai Metro system is reported to be the world's largest rapid transit system by route length, totaling 396 miles. It is the second largest by number of stations with 387 stations on 15 lines. It also ranks second in the world by annual ridership with 3.4 billion rides delivered in 2016. The daily ridership record was set at 12.231 million on March 9, 2018. Over 10 million people use the system on an average workday.
The ticket kiosks at Shanghai's frenetic subway station have a mind of their own.
Walk up to one and state your destination, and it'll automatically recommend a route before issuing a ticket. It'll even check your identification (a necessary step in China) by looking at your face. In the interest of reducing the rush-hour stampede, the system is setup to let you find information and buy tickets without pushing a button or talking to a person.
More impressive still, all this happens successfully in the middle of a crowded, noisy station. Each kiosk has to figure out who is speaking to it; zero in on that person's voice within the crowd; transcribe the incoming speech; parse its meaning; and compare the person's face against a massive database of photos – all within a few seconds.
To do it, the kiosks use several cutting-edge machine learning algorithms. The really interesting thing, though, isn't the algorithms themselves. It's where they live. All that image processing and speech recognition is served upon demand by a cloud computing system owned by one of China's most successful companies, the e-commerce giant Alibaba.
Alibaba is already using AI and machine learning to optimize its supply chain, personalize recommendations, and build products like Tmall Genie, a home device similar to the Amazon Echo. China's two other tech supergiants, Tencent and Baidu, are likewise pouring money into AI research. The government plans to build an AI industry worth around $150 billion by 2030 and has called on the country's researchers to dominate the field by then.
Read more of the enlightening article by Will Knight, Senior Editor, MIT Review.
While successfully meeting all the business requirements that had been set out, the PoC evidenced the considerable prerequisites for such a solution to be adopted by the industry – for instance, all account servicers would first need to migrate from batch to real-time liquidity reporting and processing, and bank office applications would need to be upgraded to feed the platform with real-time updates.
The PoC also showed that further progress is needed on the DLT technology itself before it will be ready to support production-grade applications in large-scale, mission-critical global infrastructures. For example, while 528 channels were required in the PoC to ensure Nostro accounts would only be stored on the nodes of their account servicers and owners, to productize the solution, more than 100,000 channels would need to be established and maintained, covering all existing Nostro relationships, presenting significant operational challenges.

subset: commoncrawl


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James Delingpole — Breitbart — March 8, 2014
The planet is not in danger of catastrophic man made global warming. Even if we burn all the world's recoverable fossil fuels it will still only result in a temperature rise of less than 1.2 per cent.
So say The Right Climate Stuff Research Team, a group of retired NASA Apollo scientists and engineers – the men who put Neil Armstrong on the moon – in a new report.
"It's an embarrassment to those of us who put NASA's name on the map to have people like James Hansen popping off about global warming," says the project's leader Hal Doiron.
Doiron was one of 40 ex NASA employees – including seven astronauts – who wrote in April 2012 to NASA administrator Charles Bolden protesting about the organization's promotion of climate change alarmism, notably via its resident environmental activist James Hansen.
During his stint as head of the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies, Hansen tirelessly promoted Anthropogenic Global Warming theory. He retired last year to spend more time on environmental campaigning and has twice been arrested with former mermaid impersonator Darryl Hannah for his part in protests against surface coal mining and the Keystone XL pipe line. While still head of NASA GISS he once described trains carrying coal as "death trains" "no less gruesome than if they were carrying boxcars headed to crematoria and loaded with uncountable irreplaceable species." Many NASA employees and former employees found his views an embarrassment. Continue reading here….


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For the discriminating, this Tuscan inspired two-story does not disappoint. It boasts an open floorplan with 5 bedrooms, spacious rooms, high ceilings, high-end finishes and flexible spaces. Built as a custom home for the present owners by one of Denver's best builders, it is very special indeed. The gourmet kitchen includes a cozy hearth room, counter seating, Viking side-by-side refrigerator/freezer, Viking 6 burner gas range, double deep sinks with instant hot water, soft close wood cabinetry with slab granite countertops and marble backsplash, Viking dishwasher, Viking warming drawer, Sharp microwave, and 2 Viking ovens. The grounds include a fountain, terrace with built-in kitchen and fireplace, and the walkout lower level boasts an outdoor living room with a 3rd gas log fireplace. Buyer will have preferential Crestmoor Swim & Tennis Club application opportunity
LIV Sotheby's International Realty.
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Balcony, Barbecue, Covered Patio, Fence, Sprinkler/Irrigation, Landscaping, Patio, Private Yard, Rain Gutters, Water Feature, Fire Pit
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Hi, I'm Sean. I love helping underdogs succeed — by relentlessly focusing on our customers, their often unarticulated needs, and how best to engineer software solutions that meet those needs. If you need me in your corner, I'm happy to serve!
Xbox Music & Xbox Video apps for PC, console, and phone. Despite fierce competition from market leaders such as Spotify and iTunes, I helped successfully launch new markets for our music storefront and roll out a simplified UI for our cloud-connected features. From a low at the onset of Windows 8, our apps' star ratings steadily increased during the 8.1 lifecycle.
The Windows 10 Store for music, movies, and TV. With our team newly formed in the Windows org and no existing code to build upon, I helped to define the experience architecture for these media types early in the 'Threshold' release and build our roadmap out to launch. Day by day, I led key UX partnerships with other first-party teams while translating the business needs of the Windows org into new product backlog stories for our team.
At the MEST Incubator in Accra, Ghana, I designed and taught a Scrum bootcamp to implement agile methodologies with resident startups Suba, SynCommerce, Kudobuzz, Asoriba, and Flippy Campus. Under the banner of customer centricity, I worked directly with co-founders and CEOs to wrangle in and transform their development practices, equipping their teams with a lasting competitive advantage.
With Suba in particular, I joined to run critical Scrum ceremonies for several sprints while we onboarded the team to a different tools stack to better support their new agile workflow, as well as providing UX guidance and sharing design best practices. Team productivity and app quality improved measurably with each passing sprint.
Here's a bit more background about how I think:


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Insurance Information
Special Touch employs multiple Xactimate Certified Estimators. We work with ALL insurance companies, as well as Contractor Connection. Below are just a few.
- Nationwide On Your Side
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- Amica
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In case you haven't been alerted already, it's National Running Day! I've posted before about how I started to run, so no need to go over that again.
HOWEVER, I will say I have never been more thankful for anything in my life. Never in my life would I have thought I'd be a runner, but 400+ miles later, here I am:
A MARATHON RUNNER. That's cool as hell to say.
I'm thankful for the friends who are also able to party until after midnight the same day they ran a marathon.
I'm thankful for the members of my run club who have been there for me through every awesome run, every horrible run, and every post-run beer.
INFINITELY thankful for my marathon training crew and all of the wonderful opportunities we were afforded.
Even when I hate running, I love it. A (somewhat) cheaper form of a therapy, a way to build relationships, a way to see this beautiful city, and simply, a way to stay healthy. Running is not for everyone, trust me, I know. But running is for me, and that's all I can ask for.
Tonight, Nike is re-launching their run club and, really, what better way to spend National Running Day? These miles are callin' my legs.


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Information on AP Police Constable Results 2010 For Recruitment has been published on apstatepolice.org . The Andhra Pradesh (AP) State Police has announced the constable recruitment results 2010 for the various posts. All the candidates appeared for the exams to get a job in the department of state police can check their details.
Results, Jobs, Exams, News,Information
Results, Exam Results, Board Exam Results, University Exam Results, CBSE Results , Jobs In India, Govt Jobs In India, Sarkari Naukri and Latest news on the Web
PSGCAS Results 2010 of Comprehensive Exam at www.psgcas.ac.in
Details for PSGCAS Results 2010 For Comprehensive Exam has been published at www.psgcas.ac.in .Today the PSG College of Arts & Science (PSGCAS) has released the Comprehensive Examinations Results 2010. All the candidates appeared for theses exams can visit the official website and can download the results for the the UG and PG programmes.
Labels: Comprehensive Examination, Exam, PG, PSGCAS, PSGCAS Results, Results, UG
Burdwan University Result 2010 - 2011 For BA, BSc, BCom www.buruniv.ac.in
Details for Burdwan University Result 2010 - 2011 exam has been published on www.buruniv.ac.in . The Burdwan University has published the various BA,BSc,BCom examination results 2010 on their official website link as details given below:-
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Ignou Results - Ignou Bed Results 2010 for Entrance Test
Details for Ignou Results - Ignou Bed Results 2010 for Entrance Test. The Indra Gandhi National Open University IGNOU has declared the B.ed Entrance Written test Examination Results 2010. All the candidates appeared for the exams can easily download the full details from the official website link as given below:-
PTU Result September 2010 at www.ptudep.org Check on Mobile with SMS
Details for PTU Result September 2010 has been published at www.ptudep.org. The Punjab Technical University (PTU) has declared the Result for the examinations taken in the September 2010 and all details for the same are now available online all the candidates appeared for the exams can easily check their information through mobile and online as details given below:-
MSBSHSE SSC Result October 2010 at www.msbshse.ac.in Maharashtra SSC (10th Class) Result
The announcement of MSBSHSE SSC Result October 2010 has been published on the official website link at www.msbshse.ac.in . The Maharashtra SSC (10th Class) Result for October 2010 has been check only easily. The Maharashtra State Board of Secondary & Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE) Pune has declared and issued the details for the Maharashra SSC (10th Class) Examination results was held in October 2010.
Labels: 10th Result 2010, msbshse, MSBSHSE Results, Results, ssc, ssc results
Canara Bank Result 2010 for Probationary Clerks Recruitment Post Code-2
Today the Canara Bank Result 2010 has been announced. According to the Canara Bank written exam results 2010 for the posts of Probationary Clerks Recruitment Post Code-2 has been uploaded on the main official website link as details given below.
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Bihar Board Matric Result 2010
Details for Bihar Board Matric Result 2010. The Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) has announced the Matric result 2010 for Secondary (Class 10) Examination. According to the official announcement the details will be updated on the main website link on the below given address.
PSEB 12th Class Result 2010 www.pseb.ac.in
The PSEB 12th Class Result 2010 will be released on the www.pseb.ac.in. The Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) has declared the 12th Class Sr. Secondary Semester I Result 2010. And according to the official sources these all all information will be soon published on the main website link as given below:-
Labels: 12th results 2010, Exam, Examinations, PSEB, PSEB 12th, Results, Results 2010
www.rguhs.ac.in - RGUHS Results 2010 BSC Nursing 4th Year Exam
Details for the RGUHS Results 2010 of BSC Nursing exam has been published on the official website link www.rguhs.ac.in . According to the latest announcement by the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Science (RGUHS), Karnataka the B.Sc Nursing 4th Year Examination results 2010 can be downloaded from the main web link as provided by them.
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Murder and other traumas once more intrude on the lives of a London curate and her friends in Charles's uniquely small-town version of England's greatest city.
Driven from her home above the church hall by roof repairs, Callie Anson (Secret Sins, 2007, etc.) asks her vicar, Brian Stanford, and his wife to take her in. Their forthcoming lack of hospitality indicates what a poor choice Callie's made, but by then bigger problems have emerged through her reluctant involvement in the SIDS death of Muffin Betts, whose parents, after meeting on the reality series twenty-four/seven, have rocketed to wealth but not intelligence or maturity. There's worse news: Muffin was shaken so hard weeks earlier that her unsuspected injuries may have contributed to her death. Nor do the official investigators fare much better. Callie's boyfriend, Family Liaison Officer Mark Lombardi, is put through a bewildering variety of emotions when his sister Serena's philandering husband suddenly dies, and again when he learns that Joe di Stefano's death was murder. And Mark's friend, DI Neville Stewart, enters the case when he's dragged home from his honeymoon, with predictably disastrous effects on his new marriage. In a hundred short scenes whose cutting echoes the rhythms of daytime TV drama, Charles deftly interweaves stories of the suspects, officers and caregivers variously torn between their dreams of fame and peace and family ties that seem to promise anything but.
The mysteries, though authentic, never overwhelm the domestic dramas that unfold in Charles's Pine Valley-on-the-Thames.


text: David Kalakaua Small 197×320 Medium 395×640 Large 632×1024 Download TIFF Original 1481×2400 | (1.8 MB) Description Kalakaua was the last King of Hawaii, known as The Merrie Monarch. Keywords hawaii royalty, merrie monarch Galleries Famous People: K, Hawaii, Kings Source: Thos. W. Herringshaw, The Biographical Review of Prominent Men and Women of the Day (Chicago: Elliott and Beezley, 1889) 153


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Bredenkamp, G.J., University of, South Africa
Vol 41, No 2 (1998) - Original Research
Classification of the natural vegetation of Mtendere Game Ranch in the Chibombo District of the Central Province, Zambia
Abstract PDF
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Videos: Ranveer Singh & Akshay Kumar's Bromance Steals The Show At Twinkle Khanna's Book Launch
Actress-turned-author Twinkle Khanna recently launched her third book, Pyjamas Are Forgiving in an event in Mumbai. The launch launch party of her new book was attended by many Bollywood biggies including Karan Johar, Ranveer Singh and Dimple Kapadia. But something which one couldn't miss was Ranveer & Akshay's camaraderie at the stage.
The word bromancing is perfect for the two there, as they were seen laughing upon each other and pulling each other's leg.They amused audience with their silly banters. Dressed in his quirky style, Ranveer wore a dark green suit with big black patches over it while Akshay's outfit was a soothing combination of white and pink.
Check out the pictures:
In the above videos and pictures, the dashing duo can be seen enjoying the comraderie as the pap present went on a shooting spree to capture the fun moments between the actors. Ranveer and Akshay together pulled Twinkle's leg as they read out an excerpt from her book, titled Pyjamas Are Forgiving.
Doting husband Akshay also took to Twitter to promote her book. He wrote, "Pyjamas are forgiving in nature, it's jeans that really know how to hold a grudge." This and more such witty writing in the wife's latest book, #PyjamasAreForgiving. Released today, grab your copies [email protected] #CheerleaderForLife".
"Pyjamas are forgiving in nature, it's jeans that really know how to hold a grudge. " 😂😂 This and more such witty writing in the wife's latest book, #PyjamasAreForgiving. Released today, grab your copies now! 🤓 @mrsfunnybones #CheerleaderForLife pic.twitter.com/T65ljZ3nMG
— Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) September 7, 2018
On the professional front, Akshay was last seen in Reema Kagti's historical sports drama Gold. Now, he will start shooting for his next film, Good News in November. He will be working with Kareena Kapoor Khan in the film.
While Ranveer will be seen in Rohit Shetty's 'Simmba'. He will also be seen Karan Johar's magnum opus, Takht with Alia Bhatt, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Janhvi Kapoor, Vicky Kaushal, Bhumi Pednekar and Anil Kapoor.


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We believe that in order to reach kids we must go where they go and enter their world. Every week in our local area, Young Life staff and volunteers can be found at school events and practices and at kids' favorite hangouts. In many cases, they are the only adult friends kids have in their lives. Our work could not be done without your support. We are grateful for your gift to Young Life. Thank you for all you do to help us reach generations of kids who desperately need to hear a message of hope.
Thank you for supporting Young Life Missoula!
Would you help us share this video? #justtherighttime
Young Life Missoula | PO Box 472 Missoula, MT 59806-0472


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Alpine WSG- Water Soluble Granule Insecticide
|ePest Hero - Expert Rating
|Joe Jonovich
|Lead Entomologist
|No odor and clear non-staining formula. Is "non-repellent" so pests cannot avoid the residual. Pests also transfer this to others in the colony for better results. Alpine WSG also has a very friendly label that allows use indoors, on the exterior, and in the landscape.
|May take a week to see results. This product is deliberately slow acting so the pests will have time to take it back to the colony. Alpine WSG is also highly water-soluble so it wont last more that a few weeks. Alpine WSG is better used for fixing problems than for routine pest prevention.
|Expert Overview:
|This is the best spray out there right now for taking care of ant and roach problems. We always recommend trying baits first, but when you need a spray, this is one of the best for fixing ant and roach problems.
Product Description
From the pull-down menu at the right of the main picture you can select to buy the 200 gram tip and pour bottle or or a discounted price per gram a 500 gram gram bottle.
The 10 gram pouches have been discontinued by the manufacturer and are no longer available.
Alpine WSG Details:
This is the go-to product that professionals use for their most difficult ant and roach problems. Can be used indoors or outdoors.
Alpine® WSG Water Soluble Granule Insecticide is proven to control some of the most common insect pests, including ants, bed bugs, fleas, house flies and German cockroaches. Application include sites: attics, eaves and soffits, hard surfaces (e.g., sidewalks and driveways), siding, indoors to flea infested or potentially infested areas (e.g., rugs, pet beds or floors), or outside in yards for ants and fleas.
Alpine® WSG Water Soluble Granule Insecticide is also easy-to-use. It mixes into a clear, odorless solution that doesn't stain. Once mixed, it stays suspended and won't clog equipment.
General Information
- Works great on common pests, such as ants, bed bugs, fleas, house flies, and German cockroaches
- Flexible label that allows surface applications and broadcast treatments
- Non-pyrethroid and nonrepellent
- The same great efficacy you have come to expect from Alpine® products


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Cannes feeling the economic meltdown pinch
If hotel capacity is any gauge, this year's Cannes film fest looks to be a lot less crowded, Variety reports.
A month before the start of the fest, most key hotels along the Croisette — including the Majestic, Carlton, Palais Stephanie (the former Noga Hilton), Grand and Martinez — still have rooms available. And — sacre bleu! — some are even dropping their mandatory 12-night minimum stays during the run of the festival.
In any other recent year, trying to book a room at this late date would elicit howls of laughter, or at least a firm "non" from the reservation desk at the Hotel Majestic. With the shortest walk to fest and market venues and the best view of the famous red-carpeted steps of the Palais, the Majestic is perpetually the earliest booked property in Cannes.
And the Majestic is not alone. All the major hotels, along with smaller ones, are feeling the pinch. Even Hotel du Cap is still accepting reservation.
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Republicans to Add NPR Funding to 'You Cut' Budget Slashing Contest
Citing an evident threat to free speech following the firing of Juan Williams from National Public Radio, House Minority Whip Eric Cantor said Friday he's going to include NPR's federal funding into a contest that lets Americans vote on top programs for Republicans to cut from the budget.
Cantor introduced You Cut in May. A weekly poll of sorts, participants choose from among five items that House Republicans will offer on the floor for an up-or-down vote.
Cantor, R-Va., said Friday that his adding NPR funding into the You Cut vote will enable Americans to "let it be known whether they want their dollars going" to the public broadcasting network.
"Whether it's people walking off 'The View' when Bill O'Reilly makes a statement about radical Islam or Juan Williams being fired for expressing his opinion, over-reaching political correctness is chipping away at the fundamental American freedoms of speech and expression," Cantor said.
"NPR's decision to fire Juan Williams not only undermines (free speech), it shows an ignorance of the fact that radical Islam and the terrorists who murder in its name scare people of all faiths, religions and beliefs," he continued.
So far, Republicans have had little success in cutting government programs chosen by You Cut voters. Since they do not have the majority in the House, Republicans are effectively prohibited from bringing legislation to the floor. However, winning the majority in the Nov. 2 midterm election could change all that.
In theory, if past You Cut "winners" had been slashed, government would have cut more than $145 billion from the budget. Among past winners for the budget knife are the federal employee pay raise -- worth $30 billion; mortgage guarantors Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, whose reforms would be worth another $30 billion, according to House Republicans; and a repeal of the health care provision that allots $15 billion to pay for IRS agents to enforce the new law.
Smaller cuts included a prohibition on sleeper car subsidies to Amtrak -- worth $1.2 billion -- and collection of unpaid taxes by delinquent federal employees -- an estimated $1 billion in money returned to Treasury coffers.
Since NPR announced Wednesday that Williams was terminated for appearing on Fox News' "The O'Reilly Factor" and admitting that people on airplanes wearing full "Muslim garb" make him nervous, several Republican lawmakers have called for defunding NPR, which receives about 1-3 percent of its budget from federal grant money.
On Thursday, Rep. Doug Lamborn, R-Colo., noted that he introduced legislation in June to defund the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which receives about 13 percent of its funding from taxpayers and awards NPR some grant money.
Lamborn said that in 2010, taxpayers subsidized CPB with $420 million, and it has has requested $608 million for their next funding cycle beginning in 2013.
"Why in the world, in the era of trillion annual dollar deficits, should the taxpayer have to subsidize it to the tune of more than $400 million a year? It doesn't make sense," he said. "Even if NPR were truly neutral, which we see is not the case, taxpayers should not subsidize something that can stand on its own two feet."
But NPR only gets a small amount of that CPB money. Federal grants, including money from the National Endowment of the Arts, total about $3.3 million of NPR's $166 million annual budget, the Associated Press reported. Most of its budget is funded by affiliates, corporate sponsors and major donors.
On Friday, Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., the ranking member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, said he would appreciate liberal billionaire George Soros fully funding NPR.
Soros, who's funded several Democratic and leftwing causes over the years, is giving $1.8 million -- through his Open Society Foundation -- to National Public Radio member stations to hire reporters to work on state government stories.
Issa said the contribution demonstrates that NPR no longer needs taxpayer money.
"With NPR benefiting from the generosity of people like MoveOn.org financier George Soros, it's obvious that NPR is now a self-sustaining entity that no longer needs to rely on federal funds," he said in a statement.
"Once NPR is free from the umbrella of accepting, receiving and being eligible for taxpayer dollars, maybe Soros can fully finance NPR's fall schedule with spin-offs of some of America's favorite shows such as, 'Dancing with the Czars' or 'Socialist Survivor' and 'Lost: The Obama Presidency,'" Issa said.


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In a tournament in Parksville, BC, the Ridge Meadows PeeWee C6 Rustlers arrived ready to play.
In their first game they beat Oceanside 5-1 and they came away from their second game against Mission with a winning score of 12 – 2.
On day two of the tournament they faced a tough Juan de Fuca team and played a great game with a 6-1 win. They were just getting rolling and it was time for game 4.
They came away beating Cowichan Valley with a score of 9-0 and first place in the standings.
The gold medal game against Powell River was a nail biter. A Ridge Meadows goal in the first period was matched by a Powell River goal in the 3rd.
Regulation time ended in a tie and a 5 minute 4 on 4 overtime period ended with no goals. In a 5 player shootout, Ridge Meadows scored two goals and their goalie fended off all of Powell River's shots.
Congratulations to the Ridge Meadows PeeWee C6 Rustlers on an amazing end to an even more amazing season.
They won a Christmas tournament in North Vancouver, their League's Regular season banner for their tier, and the Playoff Championship banner for their tier, followed up by the RMMHA Sportsmanship award for their conduct both on and off the ice.


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Students with an eye for beauty hone their artistic skills and learn elements of design, often earning local and statewide recognition. Student work is recognized during our annual spring Art Show.
The Performing Arts Department of Divine Child High School engages students in the techniques and tools to be a successful performer and showcase their mastery in the performing arts while promoting a faith based education. We strive to foster the skills students need to succeed in the classroom, and on the stage. We are committed to educating the students on the culture of the performing arts in our community and throughout the world.
The Latest in Arts
Fine & Applied Arts
Our Heritage
For nearly 60 years, Divine Child's Fine Arts Department has been the driving force behind our dedication to creative excellence. Countless Alumni have gone on to turn their artistic passions into lifelong careers. View the gallery to enjoy our students work.
Divine Child continues to have one of the premier high school Fine Arts programs in Southeast Michigan. With many classes to choose from, our students have the opportunity to hone their skills in a variety of artistic mediums.
Fine Arts Courses
Advanced Ceramics
Advanced Design
Advanced Drawing
AP Art History
Commercial Illustration
Independent Art
Intro to Woodworking
Oil Painting
Watercolor Painting
Applied Arts Courses
Advanced Clothing
Advanced Quilting
Applied Arts Assistant
Clothing 1
European Cuisine
Food Prep Techniques
Independent Clothing
Pastry Arts
Quilting 1
Senior Food Prep Techniques
Video Technology
Our Heritage
From our first production of Little Mary Sunshine in 1966 to 2018's Disaster! A Musical, Divine Child's Theatre Department has been developing award-winning thespians and thrilling audiences with Broadway productions. Our alumni have gone on to study theatre at The University of Michigan, Wayne State University, Western Michigan University, and other top-rated national theatre programs.
Today, Divine Child's Theatre Department is thriving, with hundreds of Falcons taking part in our epic productions. Our newly renovated auditorium boasted full-houses for both our Fall Drama and Spring Musical productions.
Theatre Courses
Acting 1
Acting 2
Introduction to Theater
Choirs and General Music
Our Heritage
Divine Child High School Bands have been providing the musical backdrop for DC events for five decades. Whether performing locally, nationally, or internationally, our Falcon musicians have joyfully shared their considerable talent and represented Divine Child with pride.
This year, Divine Child High School Bands celebrate 52 years of musical excellence with over 100 musicians carrying on DC's proud musical tradition.
Divine Child High School Bands
Brass Ensemble
Concert Band
Jazz Ensemble
Liturgy Ensemble
Marching Band
String Orchestra
Symphonic Band
Percussion Ensemble
Marching Band
The Pride of Falcon Country!
The DC Marching band boasts over 100 students and provides musical entertainment at all home varsity football games, all school pep rallies, parades, and special events.
2018-2019 Band Registration
Click HERE to access the registration form for all bands.
Click HERE to access the 2018-2019 Schedule.


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Jeremy is the co-founder and CEO of Purpose, a profit-with-purpose business that builds movements to address the world's biggest challenges. Purpose is currently building global movements to fight cancer (with LIVESTRONG) and to eliminate nuclear weapons in 20 years (with Global Zero, a new initiative led by more than 200 world leaders and endorsed by President Obama). Purpose also works with some of the world's biggest brands to mobilize their consumers for social impact, and is currently incubating new consumer movements to help the green economy achieve scale. Through the use of social technology Jeremy has moved millions to act their conscience. As part of Net Change Week, hear how Jeremy has applied the value of idealism to produce the world's largest people-powered change campaigns.
MaRS – Building Canada's next generation of global technology companies. marsdd.com


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EXCLUSIVE! Padma Talks Losing Baby Weight: 'I Look Like A Big Woman — That's Okay, I Had A Baby!'
Baby weight didn't get Padma down. "I didn't feel the pressure to be stick thin right away because I was healing," she told HollywoodLife.com EXCLUSIVELY!
"I actually was doing sound editing for the show and saw myself on camera," Padma, a model and host of Top Chef, admitted t0 HollywoodLife.com EXCLUSIVELY at the 2nd Annual Blossom Ball at the New York City Library on May 20. "Today I'm 12 weeks after giving birth, but I went back to filming the show just after 6 weeks. There was a big difference. I look like a big woman, and I do, and that's ok — I had a baby. It's alright. I didn't really feel the pressure to be stick thin right away because I was healing."
"To be honest, I liked being bigger," Padma confessed. "I think that women who are round and big are also very sexy. I felt very voluptuous and very sensual. I didn't feel like I needed to be bone thin again. I felt that I had gone through the process of motherhood from being a girl to being a woman and I think there's all kinds of value in all body shapes."
But, even though Padma thinks "all body shapes" are sexy, that hasn't stopped her from trying to get back in shape. "I'm nursing, that's a lot of it," she said. "I also continue to work really hard at it. I run up and down the emergency stairs in my building. I go on the treadmill, jump rope. I try to watch what I eat obviously. It's hard."
Despite the fight to get her old self back, Padma keeps her daughter and herself surrounded by the people who love her and give her moral support. "My mother has actually been spending a lot of time with me," she said. "I believe one of the things that's great is to have as many generations in the family involved with the child. So, my mother has very generously taken a leave of absence from work and spent the last 6 months with me.
And the mother daughter devotion has taught Padma a lot about being a mother herself: "The thing I learned from my mother is just be very physical with children and to hold them and to really nurture them. Give them a sense of security and well being just by body heat. I've noticed that my mother does that with her granddaughter. I remember that from when I was little."
Her family also helped Padma prepare for the arrival of her daughter: "A member of my family made me a beautiful baby iPod with a lot of classical music — both Indian classical music as well as Mozart and Mendelssohn," she explained. "I would stick the little iPod buds in my pants and I would just make the baby listen. Just a little bit, not to much, becaue amniotic fluid I am told is very sound conductive."
Padma also had one other ritual she used consistently throughout her pregnancy. "I read a lot," she said. "I read the New York Times out loud. I hope [that it will help her when she's older]. You just do the best that you can."
Now that she's a mom, Padma is enjoying every minute of motherhood, remaning grateful for the beautiful gift of her baby girl. "My pregnancy wasn't an easy or an ideal one, and I just wanted to do whatever was healthy for the baby," she explained. "There was a point where I just wanted to make sure everything, not unlike every mother in the world, that everything went fine."
Padma — we wish you the best of luck during this beautiful journey. But, we are still curious to learn the identity of your baby-daddy. We can't wait until you share who he is!
– Lindsey DiMattina


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Question: I really did not appreciate the blind item bomb you left before Christmas about an actress on a TV drama dying. Just please tell me it's not Caroline from The Vampire Diaries and all will be forgiven. —Amy
Ausiello:Caroline was not the subject of the mini-blind item. However, that doesn't necessarily mean she isn't going to die. Hope that was helpful!
Source: TV Line


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This Sword's Gone To Heaven
Tameem Antoniades talks Heavenly Sword, Ninja Theory's next-gen answer to Ninja Gaiden.
Few development studios have the creative luxury of developing a title for 18 months without publisher input, but that's exactly what Just Add Monsters [editor's note: since renamed Ninja Theory following the break-up of owner Argonaut] has been able to do since it started prototyping Heavenly Sword early last year. Building on the experience gained in developing the excellent, but overlooked Kung Fu Chaos, the small Cambridge-based team found publishers unreceptive to another cartoony fighting game. Realising this, JAM began work on the prototype of a more mature-looking sequel entitled Kung Fu Story, full of crazed destruction and improbable but easy to pull off moves straight out of your favourite kung fu movies.
But despite an evidently slick and promising pitch, once again publisher reaction was muted and JAM elected to take heed of publisher advice and get working on a fighting game with the same kind of style and substance in gameplay terms, but with a realistic look and feel - and using next generation technology. But given that this was in early 2003, and midway through a hardware life cycle, JAM realised that to produce a game based on all-new IP would prove to be a tough sell for publishers looking for sequels and licensed games. Far better to concentrate on the next generation, where original IP is traditionally embraced by the early adopters looking for something new - and hence the publishers eager to have something on the shelves to cash in on the period when there are usually precious few games available.
And so Heavenly Sword was born; a next generation fighting game designed for next generation consoles, but on a high end PC. Details of the game still remain sparse, but JAM's design director Tameem Antoniades gave a world exclusive debut showing of a specially prepared teaser trailer to the attendees of his Wednesday afternoon talk at this week's European Developer Forums. That trailer and another are now available through Eurofiles.
The game stars a young girl, "In a land of sword and heroes" the trailer croaks movie style, and using the power of an ancient sword must "make the ultimate sacrifice to save her world". "I'm not ready to die yet," she cries, and in a quick-fire sequence that reflect the exceptionally lavish visual grandeur we see a game of immense promise and style, mass battles, flags waving, hundreds of armoured men charging across a battlefield, rocky landscapes and the murmured reply and shuffling of (not so brave?) warriors asked to be volunteers. Could it be they know full well the task in front of them? Get your first glimpse of Heavenly Sword in screenshot form here, and trailer form here - a game Antoniades hints may feature online fighting.
Read on for more details on Heavenly Sword in this exclusive interview, and look out for more news on Just Add Monsters' next generation project in the future.
Eurogamer: What's the basic high concept of Heavenly Sword, and what do you think will make it stand out of the next generation crowd?
Tameem Antoniades: The core message in my European Developers Forum talk was about how we will be able to create sophisticated and powerful experiences that can rival the power of film and literature. This is what we are working towards.
You can probably gather from the materials I showed at the talk that the core gameplay is all about ultra-stylish combat against overwhelming odds. The combat is already surpassing the likes of Ninja Gaiden in terms of depth, style and variety and we still have a long way to go. Think Half-life with swords against obscene amounts of enemies.
Eurogamer: Can you reveal anything at this stage about the main characters and the overall aim of the game?
Tameem Antoniades: Not yet. The stuff we have shown with the EDF talk doesn't give any of the critical gameplay, story and structure elements away. It's too early for that.
Eurogamer: Do you envisage this will be ready in time for the next gen launch? If we assume the launch period will be early 2006?
Tameem Antoniades: Our publisher will have to decide the best time to launch is. We are pretty flexible as long as we never compromise quality.
Eurogamer: During your talk at EDF, you mentioned that the manpower and man hours to develop a next gen title increases exponentially. Has that been the case with JAM, and have you seen a corresponding increase in staff?
Tameem Antoniades: Kung Fu Chaos took about four to eight people three months to prototype. Heavenly Sword took 22 people nine months to prototype not including the professional actors, musicians and Foley artists. It's getting crazy.
Eurogamer: There was no mention of online in your presentation, and indeed you pointed out that online is still a tiny fraction of the market. Is it safe to say this is not being designed with online in mind? Do you feel it's still too much of risk to go overboard with the online experience at this point?
Tameem Antoniades: We are designing one engine for the next gen life-cycle which we believe will last a lot longer than this gen. Retro-fitting online at a later date is unbelievably complex so we are building online play from the get-go. Namco recently said that online 1-on-1 fighting is impossible. We are experimenting with online fighting with lots of players and it's looking perfectly feasible to us.
Eurogamer: Do you expect Heavenly Sword to be signed soon?
Tameem Antoniades: We have now moved away from the prototype and are in pre-production and we need to sign the game in order to bring on board the best talent out there and scale up our team. So yes, this is our focus at the moment and I hope to bring you some good news soon.
Eurogamer: Can we assume that what we saw will work comfortably on an Xbox 2 or PS3?
Tameem Antoniades: We are working on PC at the moment but treating it like a console. Given Moore's law, what we have up and running is probably only a fraction of the power that we can expect from the next-gen platforms. In terms of content and visuals, it is only a prototype and as such represents only a fraction of what we at JAM are capable of.


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Year —
Client —
A magical experience to understand Google Photos
D3 produced an in-store experience to promote Google Photos in a casual and memorable way. The goal was to develop an interactive display that could bring the convenience and magic of the image search app.
Photo: D3
A touch that reveals images
Touching one of the display objects triggered the app search that showed photos related to the theme. An intuitive way to see the new functionality within the app itself.
Photo: D3
The beauty of details
D3 designed the display, objects and lighting of the piece placing Android as a premium brand inside the store.
Photo: D3
The wood's magical touch
The developed electronics allowed to transform the wood objects into capacitive buttons that, with only one touch, activated the search.
Interactive shop window
In addition to the display present in 20 stores, we also made 4 shop windows using the same technology and functionality.
Photo: D3
The idea of this project and the first prototype were created during a Mesa&Cadeira that brought together professionals with different backgrounds from Google, Fast Shop and D3. The goal was to create a passionate experience related to Google Photos search.


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The stand-up picture frame and a real eye-catcher on your desk: your photo as an elegant acrylic glass block. The crystal clear acrylic glass looks attractively delicate and yet it stands really solidly on the table or shelf thanks to its 18 mm thickness. A magnetic metal sheet fixes your photo and makes swapping the photos child's play: simply pull the metal sheet off the back, change the photo, replace the metal sheet on the magnet – done. Order your acrylic photo block stand-up picture frame now online!
Available in the formats 9x13 cm, 10x15 cm, 11x17 cm, 13x18 cm and 20x30 cm, all the ifolor photo formats fit perfectly into the acrylic photo block. For both portrait and landscape format photos: your acrylic photo block is set up in no time at all and shows off your favourite photo beautifully.
Acrylic glass is mainly known for its robustness. Thanks to the high-quality material with a diameter of 18 mm, the photo frame stands solidly without any supports in both portrait and landscape format.
You can change your current favourite photo in the ifolor photo block at any time. Simply place the photo you want between the acrylic glass sheet and magnetic stainless steel back. The four magnets attached to the back hold both sides of the acrylic block securely together. This prevents the photo from slipping or falling out of the high-quality stand-up picture frame.
Select the photo block in the format you want, place your favourite photo in the ifolor acrylic photo block and fix it with the magnetic back. Whether it's placed in portrait or landscape format, the acrylic block stands solidly and skilfully shows off your photo.


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Content Management Systems
Why not create a webiste once and then use internal staff members to keep it up-to-date?
To do that with traditional tools, your staff will need to be trained in Web page design - a significant investment. A custom content management system will allow even untrained staff to add content - even complex Online magazines - to a website without difficulty.
A database stores all the content and dynamic PHP pages can generate the required web page for your customers.
Dynamic Menus
A modern menu system using the latest Javascript libraries allow you to create good looking but functional menus while the HTML of the page is very friendly to search engines. That makes your rankings better overall. A good example of this is an OSCommerce site we did for Astounded.
Press Releases
These follow a simple template. Text is added and pictures can be uploaded with the admin menu system. The system also controls distribution of an HTML and plain text email of the release to the mailing list.
Evaluation Forms
A web questionaire evaluation form for events organised by the company collects results and provides statistical analysis grouped by event. We've done this for Christopher Lewis Associates.
A clean bespoke template with page modifications for this hosted CRELoaded site


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So you've decided to conduct an online survey.
You know why you're doing it, who you're going to ask, and what you want to learn.
Now comes the fun part: Creating the survey and writing questions that will get you the answers you need. Sounds easy enough, doesn't it? But don't take this step too lightly. After all, if you don't ask your questions the right way, you won't get the answers you need.


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A monumental task as Egypt has more than five thousand years of rich history. When I asked how many digital images would be available, Yasser Elshayeb, said "infinity as administrators could put as many pictures and tags for sites as they want". The ultimate goal of the project would be to expose the database of information on Cultural and Natural Heritage to the normal everyday user, producing a mapping layer for the visualization of Cultural and Natural Heritage sites.
This would include tangible (historical books, drawings and photographs) to the intangible data (folklore, paintings, musical heritage). There is a great potential to use it as a guiding tool (for tourists and public) or for spatial analysis on the proximity of sites (for researchers). The next step for the team would be to produce the tool in the form of a Mobile Application (on iOS and Android). Eventually tourists would be able to locate, see tweet, post and visit.
The cultmap project is part of bigger consortium of European projects making up the INDICATE or the International Network for Digital Cultural Heritage e-Infrastructure with 10 partners from Italy, Spain, France, Greece, Slovenia.


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Over the last decade, there have been many court challenges to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's treatment of criminal immigrants. Not all criminal defense attorneys track these changes or understand the severe consequences that immigrants face if they are convicted of a crime.
At Saenz-Rodriguez & Associates, we monitor the decisions coming from criminal courts, immigration courts and the U.S. circuit courts of appeal on criminal immigration matters. If you have been charged with a crime, we will protect your rights during criminal proceedings and defend your immigration status.
Protecting Your Immigration Status At All Costs
Without adequate legal representation, you could be placed into deportation proceedings, lose your student or exchange visitor status, or lose your job. Further, if you have left the United States, you may not be allowed to come back, even if you have your green card.
Our skilled immigration attorneys review every detail of the criminal charge, and work with the prosecutor to obtain a plea agreement that minimizes or eliminates any immigration consequence, protecting your immigration status at all costs.
We Handle Complex Criminal Immigration Issues
The consequences of a criminal conviction depend on whether the crime involves "moral turpitude" or "is classified as an aggravated felony." Both of these terms are subject to frequent change and redefinition. Because the courts are continually refining the meaning of these terms, it is important to conduct a thorough review of the charge, statute and police record with a trusted attorney.
Our Dallas, Texas, criminal immigration defense lawyers have extensive experience in this area with over 20 years of immigration law practice. We will help you understand your options and work with you to find a resolution. There is no "one-size-fits-all" solution or answer when an immigrant is charged with a crime. The right course of action for you depends upon your current immigration status, whether you have left the U.S. already, any history of criminal or immigration violations, and a great many other factors.
Contact Us
For a lawyer who understands immigration law thoroughly and will fight tirelessly for your best interests, choose Saenz-Rodriguez & Associates. Schedule an initial consultation for a personalized discussion about how we can help you. Call 214-646-1208.
Se Habla Español
Dallas County • Collin County • Ellis County • Denton County


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!! History Commons Alert, Exciting News
A portion of President Obama's 'long form' birth certificate. [Source: White House / WorldNetDaily (.com)]President Obama releases his "long form" birth certificate for public view, in an attempt to put questions about his citizenship to rest. White House communications director Dan Pfeiffer says in a statement: "The president believed the distraction over his birth certificate wasn't good for the country. It may have been good politics and good TV, but it was bad for the American people and distracting from the many challenges we face as a country." In 2008, Obama released an official copy of his birth certificate (see June 13, 2008), but many so-called "birthers" have said that "short form" certificate did not fully prove his Hawaiian birth. In his statement, Pfeiffer notes that the "short form" certificate is "the same legal documentation provided to all Hawaiians as proof of birth in state, and the campaign immediately posted it on the Internet.… When any citizen born in Hawaii requests their birth certificate, they receive exactly what the president received. In fact, the document posted on the campaign Web site is what Hawaiians use to get a driver's license from the state and the document recognized by the federal government and the courts for all legal purposes. That's because it is the birth certificate. This is not and should not be an open question." Pfeiffer says: "At a time of great consequence for this country—when we should be debating how we win the future, reduce our deficit, deal with high gas prices, and bring stability to the Middle East, Washington, DC, was once again distracted by a fake issue. The president's hope is that with this step, we can move on to debating the bigger issues that matter to the American people and the future of the country.… Therefore, the president directed his counsel to review the legal authority for seeking access to the long form certificate and to request on that basis that the Hawaii State Department of Health make an exception to release a copy of his long form birth certificate. They granted that exception in part because of the tremendous volume of requests they had been getting." [Hawaii Department of Health, 8/4/1961 ; Associated Press, 4/27/2011; White House, 4/27/2011] Signed, Certified as True and Valid - The certificate is signed by the delivery doctor, Obama's mother, and the local registrar. It certifies that Barack Hussein Obama II was born at 7:24 p.m. on August 4, 1961, to Stanley Ann Dunham Obama at Kapiolani Maternity and Gynecological Hospital in Honolulu. It does not mention religion. Obama's father, Barack Hussein Obama, is noted as being born in Kenya, and his mother as being born in Wichita, Kansas. The Hawaiian registrar certifies the new photocopy of the document provided to the White House on April 25 as being a true and valid copy. The White House also releases a letter from Obama on April 22 requesting two certified copies of his original certificate of live birth. The Hawaii Department of Health does not, by law, release the actual birth certificate, but the department makes an exception for Obama given his "status as president of the United States." Also released is a letter from Loretta Fuddy, Hawaii's director of health, approving the request. In her approval letter, Fuddy wrote that she hopes the release "will end the numerous inquiries" received by her office. "Such inquiries have been disruptive to staff operations and have strained state resources," Fuddy wrote. Obama's personal lawyer, Judith Corley, flew to Hawaii to pick up the documents and brought them back to Washington. She returned with the documents around 5 p.m. April 26. Obama: 'We Do Not Have Time for This Kind of Silliness' - Obama says during a morning press conference that he has been both amused and puzzled by the degree to which his place of birth has become an issue. "We do not have time for this kind of silliness," he says. "This issue has been going on for two, two and a half years now. I think it started during the campaign. I have watched with bemusement, I've been puzzled at the degree at which this thing just kept on going." The country needs to come together to work on critical issues, he says, but "we're not going to be able to do it if we are distracted. We're not going to be able to do it if we spend time vilifying each other. We're not going to be able to do it if we just make stuff up and pretend that facts are not facts. We're not going to be able to solve our problems if we get distracted by sideshows and carnival barkers." Trump Takes Credit, RNC Blames Obama for Controversy - Billionaire entrepeneur and television host Donald Trump has reignited the controversy in recent weeks (see February 10, 2011, March 17, 2011, March 23, 2011, March 23, 2011, March 28, 2011, March 28-29, 2011, March 30, 2011, April 1, 2011, April 1, 2011, April 1-8, 2011, April 7, 2011, April 7, 2011, April 7-10, 2011, April 7, 2011, April 7, 2011, April 10, 2011, April 14-15, 2011, April 21, 2011, April 26, 2011, and April 26, 2011) as part of his apparent 2012 presidential campaign bid. Though neither Obama nor Pfeiffer mention Trump by name, he takes full credit for the release. "He should have done it a long time ago. I am really honored to play such a big role in hopefully, hopefully getting rid of this issue," Trump says during a visit to New Hampshire. Trump says he is not yet convinced of the certificate's authenticity, saying that he and his people are "going to look at it. We have to see if it's real, if it's proper.… It's amazing that all of a sudden it materializes. Why he didn't do it when the Clintons asked for it. Why he didn't do it when everyone else was asking about it, I don't know." However, Trump says he is "sure it's the right deal" and is looking forward to moving on to more important issues such as OPEC and China. Trump and other "birthers" have alleged that the long form birth certificate contains information Obama wanted to hide from public view, when in fact the two different versions of the certificate contain virtually the same information. The long form includes the signatures of Obama's mother and the attending physician. Republican National Committee chairman Reince Priebus calls the issue a distraction, but blames Obama for playing "campaign politics" by addressing it. "The president ought to spend his time getting serious about repairing our economy," he says. "Unfortunately his campaign politics and talk about birth certificates is distracting him from our number one priority—our economy." [Associated Press, 4/27/2011; Associated Press, 4/27/2011; USA Today, 4/27/2011; WorldNetDaily, 4/27/2011] Trump also demands that Obama release his complete college transcripts. [Real Clear Politics, 4/27/2011] Questions from CNN - Some observers feel the White House may have been spurred to release the certificate in part because of questions about the controversy from mainstream media reporters. On April 26, White House press secretary Jay Carney was asked a question about Obama's birth status by CNN's Ed Henry, at the same time CNN's Anderson Cooper was airing a "definitive investigation" into the controversy that debunked the "birther" conspiracy theory and attacked Trump for feeding the controversy. Carney called the question "preposterous" and the controversy "a distraction" that had been "settled," but Henry continued to pursue the issue. [Huffington Post, 4/26/2011]
Entity Tags: Judith Corley, Loretta Fuddy, Jay Carney, Reince Priebus, Hawaii Department of Health, Barack Obama, Sr, Donald Trump, Ann Dunham, Barack Obama, Dan Pfeiffer, Ed Henry
Timeline Tags: Domestic Propaganda, 2012 Elections
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Or triple your number of call backs by tweaking the subject line of your emails?
It's possible. And it's easier than you think.
Most people think big results require big effort. I call it the "No Pain, No Gain" Syndrome, but that philosophy is flat out wrong. By spending just a little more time and effort to set up your test — often as easy as brainstorming another email subject line — you can dramatically improve your results.
Best of all, you only have to do the test once. But you get to enjoy the rewards forever.
This is how top performers radically accelerate their careers.
Top performers I know are constantly testing every aspect of their careers:
- The job hunt: Am I talking to the right people? Is my resume as good as it could be? Are my outreach emails perfect?
- At work: Am I making enough? How do I know? How can I get more responsibility?
- Broad career: Am I making a big enough impact? What are my peers doing?
As you can guess, regular little tests produce regular big results. And there are actually simple tests you can implement to get dramatic results in your current job…or to find a new Dream Job.
You can start this week by implementing the strategies I outline in this 34-minute presentation, including:
- How I created the Ramit 1-2 Punch (and boosted my results in one campaign from 0% to 82.5%)
- The 4 most common reasons people don't test
- The 3 things you need to do to test successfully
- Strategies for designing tests to get rapid feedback (versus waiting months to see if a test worked)
First, here's a 5-minute sample, which will show why most career experts don't know what they're talking about as well as how I've used testing to PROVE my methods work.


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Aurora police chief injured in motorcycle crash
The Aurora police chief remains hospitalized at a Lincoln hospital following a motorcycle crash on Interstate 80.
Bryan Medical Center spokeswoman Lori Lee said Godfrey Brokenrope was in critical condition Friday morning. Brokenrope was flown to the hospital after the accident, which occurred about 5 p.m. Thursday on eastbound I-80 near Seward.
Nebraska State Patrol spokeswoman Deb Collins says the motorcycle couldn't stop in time to avoid slower traffic and crashed in the median.
Brokenrope has been Aurora's chief since 2006.
He started his law enforcement career in the U.S. Army in the Military Police Corps in 1981.
Brokenrope's wife, Deb, and three children said on his Twitter account, "Thanks everyone for all your thoughts and prayers. We very much appreciate and need them. Thank you all."


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Tough and exciting in Yokohama! I struggled getting my body back after the tough conditions in Egypt a week earlier.
It's great to be back in Yokohama for the 3rd time.
I was aggressive today, trying to make something by pushing the pace in the swim and creating a breakaway of 7 athletes. Unfortunately no one was really committed to work other than Gomez and myself. We got caught and I attempted a breakaway with two other athletes which looked good for a while but athletes attacking from behind made it hard to stay off the front.
After a hard swim and bike I am happy to hang in there for 14th after it all came down to the run with 50 plus athletes.
I look forward to freshen up leading into London in two weeks time.


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Irrigation and Aquifer Management in Illinoisby Stuart J. Cravens, Illinois State Water Survey, United States,
Steven D. Wilson, Illinois State Water Survey, United States,
Document Type: Proceeding Paper
Part of: National Water Conference
The ground-water resources in eastern Kankakee and northern Iroquois Counties, Illinois, have been used for irrigation for over 50 years. During the drought of 1988, 131 irrigation wells irrigated 12, 143 acres and withdrew an estimated 5.6 billion gallons of ground water. Over 120 domestic wells were reported to have water-supply interruptions. Interruptions of domestic supplies have been reported with increasing frequency during the 1980's. A regional assessment of the ground-water resources was also completed in 1988, identifying areas of both significant and negligible seasonal water-level declines. The magnitude of these declines can be attributed more to differing hydrogeologic conditions than to pumpage. Proper management of the resource will require incorporation of the variable sustained yield of the aquifer into the decision making process.
Subject Headings: Irrigation | Groundwater management | Groundwater | Water resources | Water supply | Wells (water) | Droughts | Seasonal variations | Illinois | United States
Services: Buy this book/Buy this article
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Moving onward!
Here we go! Things are rolling forward again, and I'll do my best to keep it moving. It'll still be slow, definitely no more than one update per week, sad to say. At the moment I just can't commit to more – this quarter I'm doing animation on student films (as usual), studio classes (also usual), and a Real Job (new!). The job unfortunately eats up a serious little chunk of time. We'll see how things go. I'll keep working on touching up the website, and will definitely try to figure out what's wrong with the RSS feed this time. But for now, it's good to be back to any kind of updates :)


text: Hope for men and women behind bars... Men and women behind bars have very special spiritual needs. Leading young people to the Word of God instead of crime or bringing comfort to a prisoner who is already a believer, these specialized Bibles are an integral part of any Prison outreach program. The Christian Prison Fellowship helped Biblica to create this line of targeted outreach tools for use in prisons. Inject new life into your Prison Ministry with these paperback Bibles, New Testaments and booklets. Many are filled with testimonies from other prisoners as well as study guides to help new believers on their journey in His word. Here you will find our line of NKJV, NVI and NIrV Bibles, leaflets and booklets created specifically for Christian prisoners.


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I've been a bad blogger again...I could tell you a whole lot about the summer, but instead I'll just give you some pics of the highlights!
|At the Battle Creek Air Show--so cool!
|Our first chicken...yum.
|My birthday present:-) Isn't it so pretty?
|Some dune jumping at the Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore.
|Sleeping Bear Nat'l Lakeshore. This place was voted "The Most Beautiful Place in America", and for good reason. Who would ever want salty sticky oceans over this has got to be out of their mind.
|The kids preparing for our group photo on our annual family camping trip--quite a crew! Hoffmaster State Park, right on Lake Michigan, is one of our favorites.
|Ezra got to celebrate his 8th birthday at the campground!!
|Our first GORGEOUS tomato from the garden...a Bonnie's Best weighing in at almost 1 pound!
|The monarch caterpillar...we got to watch it make its chrysalis! Still waiting on the butterfly!


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So I treated myself to a new Kobo Touch last night. I've had a chance to read on a Kindle, original Kobo, and iPad, so the Kobo Touch was more or less a stab at the expected. I would have certainly ordered another Kindle, but after finding myself wandering around Chapters, I just bit the … Continue reading
Monthly Archives: September 2011
A Treat From Japan
Sometimes, no make that many times, it's the little things. A caring gesture, a sweet look, a rib squishing hug, or thoughtful trinket. In this case, it's a care package of (what I assume to be) delicious treats from Japan. Having just received the package today – after which I ran around like a school … Continue reading


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"Kanab, Magically Unspoiled," is the message on the welcome mug given to us by the Kane County Office of Tourism. Those two words capture the essence of this small town making Kanab the perfect base for exploring southwestern Utah.
We found Kanab by accident. We were looking for a town to stay in that offers easy access to Grand Canyon's North Rim. There aren't a lot of options. Though still accessible, the park was officially closed for the season as was the Grand Canyon North Rim Lodge. Jacob Lake, the closest place to stay outside the park was too isolated to work as a base. Page, Arizona, another option, at the edge of Glen Canyon, is touristy and didn't appeal to us. Plus, its location wasn't accessible to the other places we wanted to visit. Then, bingo! We discovered Kanab, 90 minutes from the North Rim and close to other places on our itinerary, the small "magically unspoiled" town seemed just right.
Kanab the perfect base for exploring southwestern Utah
What makes Kanab the perfect base for exploring southwestern Utah? Location, location, location! Plus, the small town is laid back with a lot of charm. Our goal was to visit the North Rim as well as Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks. What we discovered is we needed much more than our three nights and two full days in the area. We missed a lot of what this geologically rich area has to offer including Cedar Breaks National Monument, Paria Canyon Wilderness, Pipe Spring National Monument and Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park. While we'd heard of some of these places before traveling to southern Utah, others were new to us.
What we did while based in Kanab
Day one
Grand Canyon North Rim
We set out for Grand Canyon's National Park's North Rim on an overcast, chilly day – the only one we had the entire time we were in Utah. We stopped at Jacob Lake to get a picnic lunch. They were serving breakfast so our only option was pre-made sandwiches, we reluctantly got one to share; it was going to be our only lunch option unless we wanted a late lunch.
We arrived at the North Rim late morning; the weather hadn't improved. Because the park was officially closed for the season (the road stays open until closed by snow), it wasn't very crowded. Almost everyone we'd talked to who'd been to both sides of Grand Canyon said they preferred the North Rim to the South one. Steve really loved discovering a different view of the canyon and wants to explore the area more. Probably because I went in with high expectations I came away a bit disappointed. I'd like to go back and see it on a sunny day. A big plus for the North Rim: because it's more difficult to access, is will always be less crowded than the South Rim. To fully experience Grand Canyon, see it from both North and South Rims and if you're truly adventurous hike down or take a mule ride to the canyon bottom.
After chatting with Deborah Hurst, General Manager at Parry Lodge, where we were staying, the evening before, we decided to return to Kanab the long way around via the Vermilion Cliffs, Navajo Bridge and Page. It was a good decision!
Vermilion Cliffs
We headed back through Jacob Lake and then detoured towards the Vermillion Cliffs. Part of this route is in Utah and part in Arizona. The red rock cliffs are imposing. On a sunny day the colors would have been more vivid, but even on a cloudy day the cliffs are worth seeing. They are part of Vermilion Cliffs National Monument, 260,000 acres on the Colorado Plateau, running from the Kaibab National Forest on the west to Glen Canyon National Recreation Area on the east. Within this vast area visitors will find Coyote Butte, home to The Wave, Paria Plateau and Paria Canyon. Paria Canyon offers two slot canyons to hike. Paria Canyon, at 38 miles long, takes a few days to hike. The 12 mile long Buckskin Gulch canyon is more doable. Of course, you don't have to hike the entire canyon. On the way into Buckskin, while still hiking through a dry river bed, look for paths diverging from the main one. Some of them lead to petroglyphs. If hiking these slot canyons check the weather. You don't want to be caught in them during flash floods. Much of Vermilion Cliffs National Monument is remote with roads that need a high-clearance four-wheel drive vehicle. The geologic formations are reported to be stunning. We drove along the southern end of the cliffs, stopping to take photos and read historic markers.
Navajo Bridge
We pulled off the road at Navajo Bridge which spans Marble Canyon, the canyon that is set on the Colorado River between Glen Canyon and Grand Canyon.. Navajo Bridge crosses the river downstream from Lee's Ferry, the only spot for hundreds of miles where the river is easily crossed. The first bridge, now a pedestrian walkway, opened in 1929. The new bridge replaced the original in 1995. We stopped at the visitor center on the west end of the bridge and got out and walked onto the old bridge which offers a great view of the canyon as well as the new bridge. It's a great photo opp. Back in the car we crossed the river on the new bridge.
We intended to check out Horseshoe Bend, south of Glen Canyon. After seeing a crowded parking lot and lots of people we decided to pass it by.. After seeing photos of it I'm kicking myself!
Day two
Red Canyon
We thought that visiting both Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks in one day might be too much. When we asked people which one to choose the uniform answer was we had to see both. The best thing anyone said to me when I asked about the two was that at Bryce you're looking down at the canyon and at Zion you look up.
We headed to Bryce Canyon first. The 90 minute drive from Kanab took us through beautiful rock landscapes. The most noteworthy was Red Canyon. While you can spend time hiking the trails through these stunning red rock formations, we drove through stopping a few times to capture photos.
Bryce Canyon National Park
Arriving at Bryce Canyon National Park we started up the road through the canyon. As the canyon overlooks are on the left side of the road going up we decided to head to Rainbow Point (elevation 9,115 feet above sea level) at the top and work our way back. It was a somewhat overcast day and I discovered emerging from of the car, pretty chilly. I donned a pair of UGGS, a wool jacket, a sheepskin ear-band and gloves. I was toasty and ready to roll. Our first view of the canyon with its needle-sharp hoodoos, some so clustered they look like skyscrapers in a futuristic red city, literally took my breath away. It's magnificent! From Rainbow Point we drove down the road and stopped at each of the 13 viewing points, emerging from the car, cameras in hand, to try to capture the canyon's beauty. The drive is 36-miles round-trip; with heavy traffic it can take a while. Because it was off-season, the park wasn't too crowded when we visited.
Zion National Park
We learned a valuable lesson at Zion National Park. Don't go on a weekend in October. We thought it was far enough off-season that there wouldn't be crowds. Wrong! Even this late in the season, traffic through the park was bumper to bumper. The road is narrow and very twisty in places. There are rock formations on both sides of the road that we wanted to get pictures of but it was difficult to find pull-outs with space to park. Most photos were shot from the slow-moving car.
Zion offers a 7-mile scenic drive through the canyon. From February through November access is via shuttle bus only. In December, January and February cars are allowed to drive this road. We wanted to take the shuttle ride but the parking lot was so crowded we couldn't find a parking spot. Our takeway: if we head to Zion again, we'd plan to arrive thing in the morning before the crowds or visit off-season. Zion is beautiful, but it was too crowded on the day we went to be enjoyable. Kanab is a bit over a half-hour from Zion making it very easy to get to from there. Our best advice: go early in the day or off-season.
The Wave - next time!
We hadn't heard of The Wave in Coyote Canyon until we arrived in Kanab and didn't get to see it. If you want visit this remote spot plan ahead. Part of Vermilion Cliffs National Monument, it's under the protection of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and is one of the hardest public places to access in the United States. Why? The Wave, a "fantasy land of sculptured sandstone," is fragile. To preserve the BLM only issues 20 permits a day. Each admits up to six people (whose names must appear on your application). The first 10 are issued via online lottery. Feeling lucky? The second 10 are given out the day before you want to visit. The lottery drawing is held at 9am at the BLM Grand Staircase Visitor Center in Kanab. Winter offers a better chance of winning the lottery but an inquiry to the BLM office yielded the information that even off-season 30 to 40 people may appear for the lottery each day. The BLM website suggests that "This extremely rugged and remote region is best experienced with a guide and off-road outfitter, which can be arranged through the Kanab Visitor Center." South Coyote Butte also requires a permit to visit, also subject to a lottery. We were told it's necessary to have a high clearance four-wheel drive vehicle to explore this area as it's a long hike in if you don't have one. Will James of Dreamland Safari Tours in Kanab says that if you can't get a permit for The Wave, White Pocket, on the Paria Plateau near The Wave, doesn't require a permit. While less known, White Pocket, is in his words, "as good or better than The Wave." He says it's 80 times larger than The Wave with more geological diversity.
Leaving Kanab
All too soon our time in Kanab came to an end. We wished we could have stayed longer. We wanted to visit many of the other natural wonders that are easily accessed from this charming town. On the way out of town, early on Sunday morning we were greeted by the beautiful sunrise above. What made it even more special is that I've been trying to see a colorful sunrise for years and never managed to capture one. It was a special ending to our stay. Kanab's tourism website sports the exclamation, "Abra Kanabra!" We agree; the area is nothing short of magical making Kanab the perfect base for exploring southwestern Utah.
We thank the following for their photos:
Dreamland Safari Tours for The Wave photo
Janice Chung of France Travel Tips for the Horseshoe Bend photo


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From Cortez in the south-west corner of Colorado, I headed east on highway 160 for about an hour to the town of Durango and the San Juan National Forest. You can easily spend a few days exploring Durango and the surrounding area. Take a step-back in time on the narrow gauge steam engine railroad and travel from Durango to the famous 19th century mining town of Silverton and back. If you enjoy water sports, try kayaking or tubing for a few hours on the gently flowing animas river that runs right through downtown Durango. In the Summer, the San Juan Mountains are full of hikers and mountain bikers exploring the many miles of rugged trails. In the winter, skiers and snowboarders compete for the perfect-line in the deep, fresh white powder! Durango is also home to Ft Lewis College, a small public liberal arts college. I love college towns. They always seem to have a great vibe and contribute an eclectic group of people and activities, especially the arts and sporting events, to any town! I spent 3 nights at a great dispersed campsite about 8 miles outside of town in the mountains, just above the Animas Overlook point. I hung my hammock between two aspen trees and enjoyed incredible views of the valley below in the evenings and explored the local hiking trails and the Animas River during the day!
After a few awesome days in Durango, I drove 25 miles north on highway 550, climbing to 12,800 feet elevation to the picturesque old mining town of Silverton! As I wandered the dirt streets and visited the many shops, I felt like I was back in the 1880s, except for maybe the numerous modern automobiles. An old stagecoach passed with a cowboy at the reins and a couple of tourists in the back. The old Hotels and Saloons still maintain their 19 century brick facades and western charm. I bought a coffee at the Brown Bear Cafe and continued my journey north toward Ouray.
The drive from Silverton to Ouray is perhaps one of the most beautiful scenic drives anywhere! There are 360 degrees of beautiful views, you really can't find a bad view even if you try! I stopped at a few view points for pictures. The recent heavy-rains have given new life to the many colorful wildflowers that blanketed the mountain-sides!
I arrived at the Ouray Look Out Point for the mandatory "I was here" photograph and then descended a few hundred feet to the town below. Ouray is often referred to as the Switzerland of America and rightly so! The steep, jagged granite peaked mountains loom imposingly in all directions and seem to almost hold the town captive. They offer few signs of escape except for the river that dissects the town from south to north! Ouray is an amazingly beautiful place! I could easily visit every year! Each 4th of July weekend the town hosts a Jeep Rally and seems to always be full of 4×4 enthusiast during the non-winter months. I explored many of the 4×4 trails in the mountains above town and climbed to 12,980 feet elevation to Yankee Boy Basin. The alpine meadows were full of wildflowers and beautiful icy waterfalls! I camped at the Thistledown Campground at 8,800 feet for two nights. As luck would have it, it rained cats and dogs both nights I camped. Fortunately, my hammock kept me off the ground and dry, while my down sleeping bag kept me warm! I highly recommend a down sleeping bag to anyone wanting to venture into the mountains. They are expensive but well worth the money. They remind me of the saying, pay once cry once! After my second night of rain I decided to hit the Ouray Hot Springs at the north-end of town. For only $12.00 you can enjoy the supposed therapeutic-waters all day! I visited early in the day, long before the hundreds of other tourist descend on the hot springs. After a few hours of soaking in the 98 degree waters I now know why one of the first things the Romans built when they established a town was a Roman Bath! You guys got it right!
After a few days of 4x4ing, hiking, and soaking in the hot springs, I continued on 550 north to Montrose and then headed west on highway 50 to Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. The Black Canyon is a must visit Park! It is perhaps not as well known as the Grand Canyon, but it is equally beautiful and much less crowded! I drove the canyon rim road and stopped at half a dozen view points, until I reached the last one, High Point. Make sure you have your Day-Hike Backpack ready and take the 3.0 mile hike! There are incredible views every 100 meters or so and all are different! After my hike, I drove down to the river that formed the canyon over the last 2 million years. The roar of the river against the granite canyon walls was almost deafening, but seemed to calm you at the same time! Everytime I visit Mountains I seem to get more and more pulled-into their spell… I don't know what it is but to me Mountains are like water, they grab hold of you and pull you in!