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UK government goes open source
Thought this might interest some D*I*Y*P members. The BBC is reporting that the UK government has decided it should not be tied into proprietary software but embrace open source technology and its goals generally. Who'd have thought it?
Read that this morning
I read that this morning and was pretty excited about it. I would love to see Linux based OS's take over everyday use here in the US. The only thing preventing me from going to an Open Source OS on all my computers is that I am not a tekkie and the programs most uniformly used... Word, Excel, Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator... I am not sure how to make work or if it is even possible to do with and OS like Ubuntu. Although I have heard of something called Wine that can make all that software usable with and open source package but, once again, I am not a tekkie.
Something other
The Point of OSS is to provide something other than all that proprietary stuff--all of it. Office has OpenOffice.org. Photoshop has Gimp. Illustrator has Inkscape, and InDesign has.... well, .... nothing. And that's one problem with OpenSource. There are big holes where it lacks. And even where there are apps (Gimp, OOo) there are sometimes gaps between what the OSS can do, and what the commercial apps are capable. of. Case in point is InDesign. There are apps, but they are like drawing with burnt sticks on a cave wall in comparison. Another area of lack for Linux is video editing. And there's nothing to touch Keynote.
Not, mind you, that Linux can't fulfill the bulk of the needs for the bulk of the people. If all you do is web and email, with a smattering of other things, Linux is really well-suited to your needs. It is stable, simple to use, free of malware, and cheap--and even better, throw it onto your 5-10 yr old computer, and you can save money on the hardware.
And with governments climbing on board, I expect that we can see further advancements in the OSS software front. You don't need the expensive apps, unless you are a pro, or accustomed to them, and unwilling or unable to learn the new ways. (Or you are in love with the Mac OS and software) ;-)
Not a surprise..
The UK government was the first to pull together a set of best practices for IT that encompass more than just their own viewpoint. Take a look at ITIL.
Based on that previous bit of living history, it doesn't really surprise me that they're moving in a new direction with software. Clearly they are thinking about more than just how to keep X running for now..
Total Surprise or I Wish That That Were True
The UK government was the first to pull together a set of best practices for IT that encompass more than just their own viewpoint. Take a look at ITIL.
As a Brit who works/worked in IT for the last 35 years, including a period of time as a consultant bidding into government and governmental-related organisations where the presumptions was always "it must run on Windows"!, I simply do not believe that statement. For while there may be some government sponspored "best practices" in existence the one organsiation that seems to ignore them every single time a contract comes about is HMG itself.
Current "best practice" examples are the fiasco known as putting the 1900 census on the web; a system implemented by a company that was once a division of the MoD but someone privatised it. It failed within minutes of the launch.
Or an even more recent "success" is the common patient record system being rolled out across the National Health Service. Rolled out like a dog on a carpet more like. It's slow, ponderous, and has reduced the effectiveness of the medical staff that it was meant to assist.
Practically all local governemnt systems are written with the expectation that us British income and council tax payers are going to be stupid enough to use Internet Explorer. (I've had that argument with my local council and their idiocy of using a Windows only system for disseminating planning applications. And I keep meaning to issue an FOI request to find out just how much money they are wasting on Windozey licences.)
Pretty much every UK government IT project in the last 30 years has overrun and been over budget. And I don't mean slightly. I mean by huge margins and huge amounts.
Another "best practice" arising from central government IT gurus is the PRINCE project management methodology. As it's being used on the above examples one can easily get an idea of how much "best practice" there really is in it.
The examplar for governmental use of OSS is the Brazilian governemt. They've been open sourced for many years; at least 2001. Various local councils and government departments in Germany have a non-Windows policy; if it ain't open source they ain;t having it. India may already be doing the same thing; open source or nothing.
When the British government really rolls out open source software in more than name-only then maybe just maybe I'll be more upbeat; until that time I suspect that this is nothing more than grandstanding by an junior official.


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Non Negotiable by Vanessa Morman
A sexy, passionate love story played out during multiple missions of a secret unit, the Global Shadow Team (GST). Tasked with the investigation of an arms dealer, they learn of a terrorist plot for a celebrity heist which they soon find is only a distraction for their true agenda. When the team sets out to find an amnesia agent Lurton DeMilo, they find her in a very compromising position. Lurton's true love can only hope she'll remember him and the depth of their love. A changed woman, Lurton has no desire to learn of her past, but clings to her present. However, when a beautiful and mysterious woman with ties to Lurton's disappearance appears, secret past lives and current lives become ensconced in turmoil that will dramatically change their lives forever.

subset: commoncrawl


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Login with username, password and session length
Hello,I am new to CAD, as you may see with my question.I have marked a random (non-radius) curved line on the ground that is for a new fence that is to be installed.I need to now create a scaled drawing of that curved line for the fence contractor, so he knows how to build the fence in his shop.I marked a series of points on the curve, then took triangulated measurements, so I could re-create in the office.QUESTION:Does TurboCad have a feature where I can swing an arc of a certain length from each end of the curve - to see where they intersect - and thus re-establish that point(s) on paper?Thank you,Jamie
Henry,Yes, your description is exactly what I want to do.Jamie
Is there a way to select all the crosses at one time, so I can make them small enough to not be in the way, without having to change the cross properties one by one?Or perhaps there is a way to create layers, so that the crosses are on one layer, and the curve on another.
A second issue is that a couple of the points do not seem to be entirely accurate, and seem to distort the curve a little bit. Would it be better to simply delete that particular point, or is there a way to drag that point around a bit so that the perceived distortion is adjusted out of the curve.
Page created in 0.094 seconds with 24 queries.


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If you have lived a prominent, interesting life in the entertainment industry, or as a business leader or public official, your personal story may be a highly marketable asset. Proposals to write, publish or base a film on your life story are worthy of consideration. To protect your career, legacy and integrity, you should have experienced legal counsel you can trust.
Protecting Our Clients' Legacies And Financial Interests
At the Law Offices of Barry K. Rothman, in Los Angeles, California, our attorneys have been protecting the interests of prominent artists, performers and business leaders for more than four decades. You can count on insightful guidance in full view of your definition of success in any transaction. We emphasize:
- Evaluation of life story rights proposals based on the bidder's resources and reputation, structuring of royalties and other compensation, and other critical factors
- Thorough analysis of the market value of your biographical material and the timing of any granting of rights
- Protection of your right to review and approve the use of personal material prior to its publication or distribution
- Careful consideration of the impact of various projects on your family, career direction, and overall financial and personal priorities
- Negotiation of development and production agreements optimally suited to clients' needs
Decades Of High-Profile Experience · Trusted By Legends And Their Families
Our experience includes long-term, full-service representation of numerous prominent entertainment industry clients — actors and musicians, filmmakers, producers, and performers in other fields. We also negotiate contracts and handle litigation for production and development companies.
Life story rights agreements can be among the most important contracts you ever enter. To work closely with a lawyer who has the knowledge and perspective to help you make sound legal decisions, call 310-557-0062 or contact us online and request a free consultation.


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Notice is hereby given of the Apollo Bay Chamber of Commerce Inc Annual General Meeting.
The meeting will be held on Monday 20 November, Captains at the Bay, 21 Pascoe Street, beginning at 7pm
All Executive Committee positions will be declared open and members are welcome to nominate for a position. The President will deliver our annual report and the financial report will be tabled.
Light refreshments will be served.
If you would like to attend, RSVP to Roderick Poole, email@example.com
Download a Nomination Form 2017 if you wish to nominate for membership of the Executive Committee. If you are not a member, download a Membership Form 2017.
If you can't make the meeting in person, a proxy form can be downloaded here. Note that proxies must be submitted at least 24 hours prior to the meeting and can only be given to a current member.


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The Economic Hardship application is a request for off–campus employment due to severe economic problems beyond your control. You must see an international student advisor.
It is very difficult to obtain an Economic Hardship waiver.
- Download the form and instructions. Go to File/Save As in your browser to save the form to your desktop so that you may retain changes and email the form to others.


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Getting Lost In Those Whiskey Nights…
Music News
As I mentioned in my last blog post, we've been working hard as ever both in the studio and on-stage, and I'm excited to share with you some of what we've been working on.
As I've transitioned from playing solo to playing with a band, it's been clear that a fresh rebranding was needed to match our equally fresh sound. So we got to thinking about how much of our music influenced by classic American songwriters, as well as how often we are playing at breweries and distilleries. Through some creative collaboration, we finally felt that "Under the Influence…Of Great American Songwriters Show" accurately depicted both our sound and its ties to fine drinking establishments.
To go along with this new "Under the Influence" brand, we've gathered together a few whiskey barrels and old crates that are in much need of some staining and stenciling – a fun project, if you ask me! And that's not all – we've got more effects underway. So for those of you looking to attend our upcoming shows, you can expect the same quality performance (even some longer sets), but boosted with a little more style.
I'm also very excited to share a bit about one of our recently recorded tunes called "Whiskey Nights." I have to say, this song has been a real treat to bring to life. I wrote it years ago, but decided to keep it in my back pocket until October 2016. Of course, working with Glenn and Rich at The Spot Studios was just the ticket to help capture the song's essence.
I always enjoy hearing other folks' interpretations of my songs, and "Whiskey Nights" is no exception. But for the sake of this post, I'll share a few of my thoughts on it. "Whiskey Nights" doesn't really focus on one single person or event, but rather a culmination of many years' observations. It's about the slow and steadiness of getting lost in whiskey nights – the fogginess that can come with life and love.
We're still putting the finishing touches on "Whiskey Nights" in the studio, but if you've attended any of my shows recently, you may have heard it already. I can't wait to share the mastered version of it, and am excited to share the band's upcoming releases as well!


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Anti-FTA protesters defy police ban
Thousands of farmers and workers yesterday clashed with riot police across the country in the second massive demonstration in a week against a free trade deal with the United States. Despite stern warnings from state authorities, about 120,000 anti-FTA protesters took to the streets in Seoul and six other major cities including Busan, Daegu and Gwangju, the Korea Alliance Against the Korea-U.S. FTA said.
About 10,000 protesters, including 5,000 farmers from rural regions, converged in central Seoul to press for an end to the trade negotiations and reform of the government`s agricultural policy.
Around 50,000 policemen were mobilized to prevent rallies nationwide including some 10,000 in Seoul, the police agency said.
Collisions took place at some highway tollgates as police tried to block farmers from entering Seoul.
To keep regional activists from reaching Seoul, 13,000 policemen were at guard at over 1,000 tollgates.
The police was also on high alert following last week`s massive rallies. Over 73,000 farmers, workers and activists collided with riot police in 13 cities in one of the most violent protests in recent years. As protesters used sticks and stones, 63 people were injured, including 35 police officers and 21 protesters, causing some 670 million won ($720,000) in property damage nationwide.
The anti-FTA coalition of about 300 civic groups has been banned from staging further rallies after the turmoil.
Pledging a peaceful demonstration this time, the alliance requested the police to permit its second rally, but their request was turned down. Despite the rejection, activists are also planning even more protests on Dec. 6, as Seoul and Washington prepare to open the fifth round of formal FTA talks.
Seoul and Washington have held four rounds of discussions so far on the proposed FTA, aiming to conclude the talks by March 2007 at the latest.
Korea`s anti-FTA activists and farmers are opposed to the talks, fearing that the deal will damage their livelihoods by enabling a flood of cheap U.S. farm products to enter the country.
After declaring a "zero tolerance" policy toward violent rallies, the government has been seeking to take harsh measures not only against anti-FTA protests but all other potentially violent rallies.
Blocking tollgates leading to Seoul, the police prevented several small groups of regional protesters from joining the demonstration in Seoul.
About 40 members of a construction labor union in Daegu and 33 farmers from North and South Gyeongsang Provinces were forced to return home.
A member of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, one of the nation`s umbrella unions, was arrested in Daejeon for violence against two policemen who tried to block him from entering Seoul.
"We have already asked leaders of the alliance to halt all demonstrations. We have no other means but to forcibly disband all protests under lawful procedures," the police said.
State police have already summoned 170 activists involved in last week`s violent rallies. Since 163 of those protesters failed to show up, the police are planning to request arrest warrants.
Labor workers joined in yesterday`s unrest with the KCTU launching its second general strike opposing government-led labor bills and the FTA.
Some 36,000 union members of Hyundai Motor, the nation`s largest carmaker, and Ssangyong Motors joined in yesterday`s walkout.
The radical labor group launched a general strike last week, demanding the government scrap new labor regulations. The KCTU continued additional partial strikes throughout last week.
The government`s new labor bills were agreed to by representatives from labor unions, employers and the government on Sept. 11 without the participation of the KCTU. The three parties had agreed to delay two of the most controversial measures - dropping full-time union officers from company payrolls and permitting multiple trade unions at a single company - until the end of 2009.
Threatening to escalate industrial actions, the KCTU has been demanding immediate implementation of the multiple union system and insists that the issue of paying full-time union officers should be left to individual companies.
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As A.I. and healthcare mobile apps slowly indulge in our lives, mobile app developers face monitoring challenges and cyber security threat.
Let's fast forward to the next few years, you walk into a hospital, list out all your symptoms, the doctor feeds it into the computer, pulls out the latest research, suggests an MRI or a Xray which then through another computer is able to detect even the minutest problem which is impossible to detect for humans. You are then taken to another computer which based on your minute diagnosis and medical history compares the data to the best research on the diagnosed ailment enables your doctor to prescribe a treatment protocol specifically tailored to your needs. Your healthcare mobile app will obediently send you necessary alerts and updates based on the Artificial Intelligence's analysis of your behavioral pattern. This is not the plot for the next Matrix but your visit to the hospital in the next 5-10 years. All thanks to the sky-rocketing research in the A.I. bolstered Healthcare sector. Born of curiosity, be it newbie startups to big dogs of technology sector, Artificial Intelligence is now running on everyone's mind. While a robot defeating a human at a board game might be amusing, A.I. machines monitoring your health becomes a matter of life and death.
This deep learning technology, that once was just a subject of curiosity is now culminating our healthcare reports. While Artificial Intelligence is yet not reliable enough to replace human doctors and mode of providing care, advancing research from tech giants such as Apple and Google explicit promising results.
Google's A.I.healthcare project Camelyon16 was able to detect 92.4 percent of tumors after scanning 400 slides. In fact, the algorithms were able to detect tumors in two slides which were mistakenly labeled 'normal.' What's impressive is the detailed diagnosis, Artificial Intelligence-based machinery can conduct. This has enabled Google's A.I. to detect tumors as minute as 100 x 100 pixels on images sized at 100,000 x 100,000 pixels. Whereas Apple's ResearchKit data offering a new method of self-reporting for more than 50,000 users who are using the crowdsourced medical information to treat all kinds of ailments. In fact, the results are so reliable and impressive that 7,600 of these mobile app users enrolled in a six-month study.
Apple and Google aren't the only ones to dig their claws into the future altering technology- Artificial Intelligence. CBI insights report nearly 22 companies are developing new A.I. health care programs for imaging and diagnostics. As for life-threatening diseases like cancer, an IBM-backed group called Pathway Genomics is developing a simple blood test using Artificial Intelligence that can detect certain cancers at an early stage.
Apart from aiding healthcare mobile app users in self-diagnosis, Artificial Intelligence is branching to all sorts of healthcare services including impressively accurate detection of presence or absence of tuberculosis (TB) in chest x-ray images, pathology, ophthalmology (eye diseases), and cardiology. AiCure is using A.I. technology and facial recognition technologies to monitor the timely medications prescribed to the patients and sends them alerts accordingly. A.I. based mobile apps such as the Caféwell Concierge app employs IBM's Watson's natural language processing (NLP) to monitor its users health and through mobile apps send timely alerts. This is just the beginning as more and more venture capitalists invest in the technology, the A.I.innovations in the healthcare mobile sector are advancing to surpass the experienced caliber of human doctors. Considering how Apple introduced the first iPhone in June 2007 and the extent to which the company has grown in just ten years, the power of Artificial Intelligence will surely to be life-altering. But with great power comes bigger responsibilities and at present, A.I. technology is battling with major challenges.
At the top of the list lies the challenge for cybersecurity experts is to protect the vulnerable clinical data. The biggest problem with the existing AI model is their security system that is vulnerable to hackers. The clinical data along with financial data, security pins, geographical locations and debit card information. While one can change their debit card, it becomes a little impossible to change your mother's maiden name. The revolution in healthcare with the interconnection of systems, cloud computing, Internet of Health Things (IoHT), mobile apps and clinical practices such as remote monitoring, telemedicine, and working from home is yet vulnerable to sophisticated attacks employing social engineering techniques (e.g. Phishing) that can shadow "traditional" defenses such as anti-virus, rule, and signature-based detection systems.
Artificial intelligence security experts, however, are not lagging too far to come up with solutions. While education and awareness of the system are essential, Information Governance is the key to redefine mobile policies and monitor regulation of critical data present, both in transit and at rest. The A.I. systems must be up to date to ensure an effective security system. Monitoring the critical data and relaying healthcare mobile app users, the updated policies are just as important.
Vikram is an experienced wunderkind, who embraced technology at a very early age, and today he is at the helm of it. Mobile apps are something that excites him the most, and now he is up to give this vertical the best shot. He routinely catches up with the new apps and comes up with the top apps that can excite you to the core.


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Preparing for a disaster: When remote employees overload your VPN
What happens if your VPN is overloaded with remote employees? Use this tip on preparing for a disaster to keep your workers connected to your network.
Companies that support a work-from-home policy may be figuring on a nominal number of employees taking advantage of that option (perhaps 10 to 20% of the employee population). Their wide area network's (WAN) remote access resources are usually configured to provide sufficient bandwidth and network licenses to support such a situation.
Preparing for a disaster
Back in 2009 when the swine flu outbreak posed a threat to employee health, IT and network managers suddenly found themselves facing the potential threat of a dramatic increase in employees wanting to work from home. Given that their remote network infrastructures were designed to support a specific number of users, network managers had to sharpen their pencils and devise ways to handle a sudden burst of remote employee access requests.
Recognizing this concern, in 2009 Cisco conducted a survey, "Securing the Mobile Workforce," to learn how many businesses could permit all their employees to work remotely in the event of a natural disaster, pandemic or weather-related cause. They discovered that three out of four firms could not handle a sudden expansion of remote access to all employees. This is surprising, considering 71% of the survey respondents cited improved employee productivity and better work/life balance as the primary reasons for employee remote access. Further, 62% said that their current remote access solutions had resulted in increased employee productivity; 57% saw an increase in employee satisfaction; and 42% realized a reduction in overhead costs.
What happens when VPN demand is too much
While remote access is certainly an important business continuity (BC) strategy, the technical implications of a surge in remote access usage can be significant. While the technology to support remote access, usually virtual private networks (VPNs), is well established, several factors must be evaluated in an out-of-normal situation. The first is the availability of bandwidth to support the simultaneous usage of network resources by dozens and maybe hundreds of users. The second is the availability of licenses and network ports to handle the additional users. Both will take time to deploy, and in an emergency there may not be enough time. The results? Now-remote employees waiting for access may experience declines in productivity; this could spell disaster for the company.
How to support a surge of remote workers during a disaster
What options are available to address this situation? First, ask your network service providers what options they have available to handle surges of network access requests. Next, ask your network equipment suppliers what options they have available to provide an emergency supply of network licenses and ports. Also, ask the same vendors what options they have for you to quickly acquire (e.g., within 24 hours) the additional hardware and software to handle a surge. Incorporate the responses from your carriers and equipment vendors into your existing service-level agreements (SLAs) as part of your disaster recovery (DR) activities. Investigate similar offerings from other carriers and equipment vendors. It may be appropriate to contract with a second carrier, as well as alternate equipment sources. Contact major DR service firms, such as SunGard Availability Services and IBM Business Continuity and Resilience Services, to investigate their offerings.
More on preparing for a disaster
IPsec vs. SSL in planning for failover VPN continuity
Practice makes perfect in disaster planning
Another option to consider is managed network service firms that provide remote access resources. Users with an emergency surge can connect to their corporate networks via secure VPNs the third party manages. One such example is PositivePRO, from ANXeBusiness Corp., a managed service for secure remote access by remote and mobile employees.Users download PositivePRO Connector software onto any server or PC/laptop. This accesses a VPN tunnel that connects to an ANX point-of-presence (POP), which then securely connects to the company's network infrastructure. This is an example of yet another way cloud technology can provide disaster recovery and business continuity support.
Meeting VPN demands
If you're concerned about the possibility of a surge in demand for remote network access, especially from DR and BC continuity perspectives, the time to start planning is now. Several options are available, as we have discussed. Examine the alternatives, compare pricing and availability, evaluate what changes your existing WAN infrastructure may need, and perhaps consider a hybrid arrangement (e.g., added infrastructure plus a cloud-based backup for heavy surges). Be sure to update your DR and BC plans accordingly, and include remote access in your DR test programs.


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A few weeks ago I listened to the newest Hillsong Album, "This is Our God", and a particular song stood out to me. I played "Desert Song" over and over on my iTunes as I learned the words and made the declarations in the song my own. Today as I was searching for samples of the new Hillsong Kids DVD I cam across a moving video that puts a story to an already incredible song. The video speaks for itself but I am amazed at the rawness of it, in the face of a very difficult experience, a simple expression of faith and trust is made. Obviously the journey of healing is at its most elementary stages but through it God is still more than worthy of praise. The video is over 8 minutes long so watch it when you have time and when the song plays in the second half listen to the words that take on new depth and meaning.
Verse 1:
This is my prayer in the desert
And all that's within me feels dry
This is my prayer in my hunger and need
My God is the God who provides
Verse 2:
And this is my prayer in the fire
In weakness or trial or pain
There is a faith proved
Of more worth than gold
So refine me Lord through the flames
And I will bring praise
I will bring praise
No weapon formed against me shall remain
I will rejoice
I will declare
God is my victory and He is here
Verse 3:
And this is my prayer in the battle
When triumph is still on it's way
I am a conqueror and co-heir with Christ
So firm on His promise I'll stand
All of my life
In every season
You are still God
I have a reason to sing
I have a reason to worship
Verse 4:
This is my prayer in the harvest
When favor and providence flow
I know I'm filled to be emptied again
The seed I've received I will sow


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The girls and I attended a baseball game with our friends Angie and Cassidy Johnson. This year Aly was finally brave enough to pose with Sox the Fox while Brooklyn Was to scared to go anywhere near him.
We went to the balloon glow over labor day weekend the girls loved the balloons so much that I could not even get them to hold still for a picture they kept turning to watch the balloons light up.


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Basic Backup - SnapProtect for Microsoft Hyper-V
Perform a Backup
After configuring the virtualization client and a subclient, perform the following steps to run your first full backup of a single virtual machine immediately.
- From the CommCell Console, navigate to Client Computers | virtualization_client | Virtual Server | Hyper-V | backup_set.
Right-click the subclient and click Backup.
- On the Backup Options dialog, select Full as backup type and Immediate to run the job immediately.
Click OK.
- You can track the progress of the job while it is running from the Job Controller tab.
- After the backup job completes, you can view job details by right-clicking the subclient and selecting Backup History.
- On the Backup History Filter dialog, click OK.
- You can view the following details about the job by right-clicking the job:
- Items that failed during the job
- Items that succeeded during the job
- Details of the job
- Events of the job
- Log files of the job
- Media associated with the job
What Gets Backed Up
- Virtual machines
- VHD/VHDX files
- Snapshot files
- Configuration files for virtual machines
- Metadata required for granular recovery of files (NTFS and ext3 volumes only)
- VHDX formatted hard disks with sector size of 4K bytes without metadata
What Does Not Get Backed Up
- Pass-through disks
- Windows Storage Spaces
- Hard links (only for disk-level backup)
- Virtual machine smart paging files
- Certain virtual machines in which Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS) fails to create a shadow
- Devices residing in a guest virtual machine over iSCSI or vHBA
- Shared VHDX files


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In recent years, consumers have increasingly turned to online retailers to get their holiday shopping done, a move that allows them to take advantage of many great deals and avoid the masses of people at brick and mortar retailers.
Unfortunately, things may be a little more expensive this year. UPS, which handles millions of packages during the peak holiday season, has announced that it will be adding a new surcharge to certain deliveries in November and December. The company says the extra money will help it manage the drastically increased volume it sees during the holidays by expanding air and truck cargo capacity, temporary facilities, and seasonal personnel.
"We're focused on helping our customers achieve success during some of their most important selling seasons," said UPS Chief Commercial Officer Alan Gershenhorn. "To meet their requirements, UPS flexes its delivery network to process near double our already massive regular daily volume, and that creates exceptional demands."
New peak surcharges
The increased surcharges start from November 19 to December 2, when consumers will pay an extra $0.27 for ground shipments sent to residential addresses. All fees will be dropped for a little under two weeks from December 3 to December 16, but UPS will bring them back for all types of delivery from December 17 through December 23.
A table including the shipping types, dates, and prices for the peak surcharges can be viewed below:
UPS says that it will also be adding the peak surcharge to any package delivered between November 19 and December 23 that it classifies as "Large" or that exceeds the maximum size or weight limits. The company encourages consumers who are shipping items beyond the maximum size limits to consider using UPS Freight instead of its regular service.
Online retailers
While the peak surcharge doesn't seem like much – only just under $1 at the most – it is sure to complicate things for online retailers.
Companies like Amazon, which often offer free shipping during the holiday season, will have to choose whether to eat the additional cost, raise prices on its site, not offer deals that are as attractive as they were in the past, or pass the cost onto consumers. And since we're talking about millions of deliveries across the U.S., it's not hard to imagine that consumers will feel the effects in some way.
Keep an eye on your inbox, the lastest consumer news is on it's way!


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AUGUSTA, Ga. – The Augusta University baseball team wrapped its Peach Belt Conference series with the USC Aiken Pacers on Sunday afternoon with a 6-0 loss at Lake Olmstead Stadium.
The Augusta (11-27, 7-20 PBC) loss gave USCA (24-13, 15-6 PBC) the series sweep.
Senior slinger Matt Meeks (1-4) pitched six innings for the Jaguars and struck out five, while allowing nine hits for four runs (three earned). Jags seniors Cody Pugh and Ben Parr pitched late in the game for AU in relief appearances.
Leading the league in hits and plate appearances, Jags junior Devin Bilardello went 2-for-4 at the plate, while juniors Patrick Watson, Harrison Moore, and senior Brent Alford each recorded one hit.
USCA put up unanswered runs in the first, fourth, and ninth inning for the shut out win. AU heads to Newberry, S.C. on Tuesday, April 10 for a 6:00 p.m. non-conference game against the Newberry Wolves.
Fans of Jaguar Athletics can subscribe to the email listserve by clicking here. Fans can follow Augusta University at www.AugustaJags.com and receive short updates on Facebook at Augusta University Athletics and on Twitter at @AugustaJags


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Observing heuristics - Cucumber Podcast
This week on the Cucumber Podcast, Sal Freudenberg and Matt Wynne speak to Rebecca Wirfs Brock. Rebecca is probably best known as an author of Designing Object-Oriented Software (1990) and Object Design (2002).
For the past couple of months, Rebecca has jumped on the Cucumber Pro mob (read mob programming) to watch the team, notice heuristics, and contribute. The conversation follows that journey and how other teams can notice heuristics and ultimately deliver higher-quality software.
You can find Rebecca on Twitter - https://twitter.com/rebeccawb
You can also listen and download the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher or wherever you get your podcasts.
Join us in our Slack channel or on Twitter


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In the middle of the Pacific Ocean lies the island of Futuna as part of the Vanuatu archipelago. Its people consider themselves to be people of the land. They have adjusted to living in the hostile environment by making their homes among the steep cliffs.
The time has come for Roland to show his son Renaldo the traditional ways of his people. Most important to know is that every season has its own particular food. This upcoming season is flying fish season. The traditional method of catching flying fish emulates a method developed long, long ago, by an island demigod named Hachichiki. As part of learning the island custom, Renaldo is instructed in the ways of making a large lantern used for catching flying fish.


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Business Strategy and Marketing
Tern Television Productions
Tern is Scotland's largest production company, with core competencies in television development and production, financial and contract management, and sales. However, it lacked a profile in the Los Angeles entertainment industry. Even after participating in group meetings with studios and networks, Tern had not succeeded in creating relationships or pitching business proposals when it approached Quinn Media Management for help.
To create new income streams through format sales, royalties, and U.S. production fees, we advised Tern in redrafting their television contracts to create ownership rights and exploitation opportunities, and prepared a feasibility study for supplying programming to the U.S. market.
Our research identified two successful reality/alternative programs for the U.S. market: How To Find a Husband in Ten Weeks and Spa of Embarrassing Illnesses.
Within a year, we assisted Tern in establishing relationships with twelve production companies and networks, pitching three shows and introducing Tern's company and leadership.
The UK version of How to Find a Husband will air on the U.S. channel Fine Living beginning in April 2009, while five companies have requested we pitch a U.S. adaptation of the program using an American star. Meanwhile, using sales materials created for the American Market, Tern optioned SPA OF EMBARRASSING ILLNESSES to U.S. production company 44 Blue.


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Reading A-Z resources organized into weekly content-based units and differentiated instruction options.
Realistic (fiction), 1,095 words, Level S (Grade 3), Lexile 720L
The International T-Shirt Challenge features two friends who challenge each other with weekly questions. This week's puzzler, labeled the International T-Shirt Challenge, challenges one of the friends to spend $500 on T-Shirts in five different countries. Using his weblog, he attempts to get information from kids all around the world to help complete the challenge. Photographs, illustrations, and charts support the text.
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Use of Kurzweil 3000® formatted books requires the purchase of Kurzweil 3000 software at www.kurzweiledu.com.
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Reading Strategy
Use the reading strategy of making, revising, and confirming predictions to understand the text
Interpret Charts : Interpret charts
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Sieving Metal & Chemical Powders
Treibacher uses Russell Finex sieving and ultrasonic technologies to achieve consistent product quality
Treibacher Industrie AG produce a range of materials featured in nearly all areas throughout the world including car paint, dental fillings, ceramics and detergents. Due to the nature and characteristics of many powders, materials can often clog fine meshes, reducing sieving efficiency and damaging sieving equipment.
Russell Finex have been supplying Treibacher with sieving equipment since 1989. When Treibacher decided to invest in the expansion of their Tungsten Carbide production line, Russell Finex was the first choice to supply them with new sieving machines. The Finex Separator™ with the unique Vibrasonic® Deblinding System was selected because the Vibrasonics® could be finely tuned to accommodate the characteristics of particular powders, enabling Treibacher to achieve reliable, repeatable product quality for very fine particle sizes.
Recommended products
Finex Separator
Vibratory separators for grading wet or dry materials up to five fractions in one ope…
What our clients say
"In order for us to ensure high product quality, we needed to select the best processing method available. Our long standing relationship with Russell Finex meant that we knew we could rely on them to deliver a sieving solution to fit our requirements."Jürgen Eckhart, Treibacher Industrie AG


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The Blunderbuss is a single shot firearm that can be crafted from simple materials in 7 Days to Die. It is a simple weapon and easy to create relatively early in the game. This weapon requires Blunderbuss Ammo and will hold one shot. It will reload automatically if the player is carrying the correct Ammunition or it can be done manually at any time using the reload key (default key R ).
During close combat, the Blunderbuss is extremely powerful and deals a high amount of damage to enemies. It has a slight spread of the shot which allows the Weapon to hit multiple targets at once when used at a short range. The weapon is only useful at very close combat though and has almost no effect at medium range.
Required Items
Before a player can craft a Blunderbuss they will need to obtain the following items:
Crafting Recipe
The required items are placed into the crafting grid in the positions as shown below.
|Crafting time: 0:15
Other Uses
The player can place a Blunderbuss into a Forge and it will be melted down into iron.
A Blunderbuss can be scrapped by placing it into the center of the crafting grid to craft Scrap Iron.
|Scrapping time: 0:04
- The Blunderbuss was added in version alpha 11, and is the first firearm that requires no Gun Parts to create.
- The Blunderbuss, like all weapons, can destroy blocks and structures.
- The player must reload the Blunderbuss between each shot.


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Crazy Hearts: Nashville
Crazy Hearts: Nashville follows the lives of aspiring country music artists and insiders as they balance life, love and their pursuit of stardom, one gig at a time. Music, struggle, romance and drama fuel this iconic city, and the series goes backstage into the lives and lyrics of several up-and-coming musicians as they raid the Nashville social scene every night partying and singing the blues while waiting for their big break. Fiery relationships and stiff competition among these rowdy songbirds cause rivalry both on-stage and off, and there is no shortage of love triangles in this town.


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CHECKLIST FOR OUTSOURCING AGREEMENTS This checklist will help you ensure that you included all relevant clauses in an outsourcing agreement. Please ask your lawyer to review any agreement or contract before signing it. Definition of the relationship, goals and objectives of both parties boxshadowdwn Exclusive of other vendors checkbld Protect market position of customer Scope of services to be provided boxshadowdwn Define services and deliverables to be provided to customer by vendor boxshadowdwn Define services excluded boxshadowdwn Define service levels (i.e., performance standards) and remedies boxshadow
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UCAS Code C801 (BA), C800 (BSc) Part-time study available Fast-track your degree Study abroad opportunities
Our innovative and award-winning psychology course will give you the edge and the skills for your career.
Key facts
Why do we behave the way we do, and what drives our behaviour? If you're interested in the mind, and in human (as well as animal) behaviour, then Psychology is for you.
Our award-winning Psychology course sits at the cutting edge of inter-disciplinary scientific research. We focus on important societal problems such as detection of criminals and improvement of health outcomes. After introducing Psychology to you as a biological and social science, we'll cover topics as diverse as brain functioning, development and social behaviour. You'll develop a deep knowledge and understanding of mind and behaviour.
Our course was recognised by the British Psychological Society for our innovative, student-led teaching initiatives and commitment to integrating employability. They described our course as being 'at the forefront of the student-led teaching experience in Psychology across the UK', and commended our staff, who 'clearly care about the wellbeing and development of their students, and provide a nurturing learning environment'.
The knowledge and practical skills gained from our Psychology degree will offer you a wide and diverse choice of careers.
Absolutely go for it! The courses are amazing, the professors are supportive and the facilities are great, too!
Nicole Engeler, BSc Hons Psychology
Learning in high-end specialist labs
You'll get hands-on experience in designing and conducting a number of experiments, individually or in groups researching:
You'll also be working in high-end specialist labs that involve:
Pre-school Kindergarten
You will have the opportunity to study aspects of child development through our Pre-School Kindergarten that provides a safe and fun environment for children aged nine months and two years to five years old. You'll gain in-depth experience for designing and running simple experiments with children attending our Psychology Kindergarten.
Placement opportunities
In Year 4 you'll have the opportunity to undertake a placement with a host organisation. You'll enhance your employability by engaging in work-based learning environment spending a day per week over a seven week period. During the course of the placement, you will submit a written report, blog/journal entries and give an oral presentation about your experience in your final year conference.
The Psychology Single Honours, and all Psychology Combined Honours degree courses, are accredited with the British Psychological Society (BPS). They confer eligibility for Graduate Basis for Registration, provided the minimum standard of a Second Class Honours is achieved. This is the first step towards becoming a Chartered Psychologist.
The Alan Baddeley Prize: A prize of £100 is awarded to the Psychology student with the best final year project.
The British Psychological Society Undergraduate Award: This prize is awarded to the Psychology student with the highest overall grade. The prize is free membership of the BPS for one year, a copy of the Society's Book of the Year and a certificate.
The George Butterworth Prize: A prize of £100 is awarded to a Psychology Final Year student for outstanding wider achievement.
The Neville Moray Prize: A prize of £100 is awarded to the best combined Honours Psychology Final Year student.
The Peter McEwen Prize: A prize of £100 is awarded to the best Single Honours Psychology Final Year student.
The McCall/Whittaker Prize: A prize of £100 is awarded to the Psychology student for recognition of outstanding demonstration of Psychologically Literate Citizenship.
Research Based Learning Prize for Outstanding Demonstration of Integrating Research into Learning: a prize of £200 is awarded by the Faculty.
SQA Highers
AABB – by the end of S5
AABBB – by the end of S6
GCE A-levels
IB Diploma
32 points
BTEC (Level 3)
Widening access students
Widening access students may be eligible for an adjusted offer of entry. To find out if this applies to you go to our widening access pages.
Care-experienced applicants will be guaranteed an offer of a place if they meet the minimum entry requirements.
SQA Advanced Highers
ABB - one sitting
GCE A-levels
IB Diploma
35 points
Essential subjects
To include Psychology
Scottish HNC/HND
Year one minimum entry - Bs in graded units.
Access courses
University of Stirling access course - for mature students only. You must pass the course with 50% or above.
SWAP access course - for mature students only. Please check the SWAP progression routes document for details.
Email our Admissions Team for advice about other access courses.
Foundation Apprenticeships
Considered to be equivalent to 1 Higher at Grade B
English, Welsh and Northern Irish HNC/HND
Merits and Distinctions
English, Welsh and Northern Irish access courses
Access to Higher Education - 60 credits, minimum 45 at QCF Level 3, pass at 60% or above.
Year 2 entry
Entry into Year 2 may be possible depending on your HNC/HND course. To find out more go to our articulation pages.
Other qualifications
Advanced entry may by possible depending on your qualifications. To find out more go to our advanced entry page.
General entrance requirements apply
If you've taken exams over two sittings, repeated an exam, or been upgraded, the entrance requirements may be higher.
If English is not your first language you must have one of the following qualifications as evidence of your English language skills:
Last updated: 5 December 2019
For more information on ways that you can meet our English language requirements, including options to waive the requirement, please read our information on English language requirements.
Pre-sessional English language courses
If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this course, our partner INTO University of Stirling offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for entry to this degree.
Find out more about our pre-sessional English language courses
We focus on important societal problems, such as detection of criminals and improvement of health outcomes, so our degree is relevant to real-life issues. We cover topics as diverse as brain functioning, development and social behaviour, ensuring you develop a deep knowledge and understanding of mind and behaviour.
Semesters 1-2 will include an introduction to Psychology as the scientific study of mind and behaviour.
In Semesters 3 and 4, the taught modules are designed to emphasise the links between different parts of the subject. A module on The Social Mind explores the psychology of human and non-human communication; a module on the Brain and Behaviour – Health Psychology explores abnormal psychology from the perspectives of Neuroscience and Clinical Psychology. Also included in Semesters 3 and 4 is an introduction to Psychological Research Methods. In Semesters 5-8, you'll take advanced modules in all of the core areas.
Your final year will focus on an individual research project and you'll be doing cutting edge research, supervised by an academic mentor. You can choose from a wide variety of topics that interest you and build your employability skills for the job market. There're also opportunities for placements with prospective employers, and for engaging in student-led teaching.
Psychology at Stirling is internationally renowned for our high-quality research and this feeds into our teaching. Our modules will teach you how research furthers our understanding of mind and behaviour.
Members of the department are passionate about making sure students are involved in the learning process.
Heather Branigan, BSc (Hons) Psychology
Recommended reading
The essential text for Year 1 of the course, is:
Schacter, D., Gilbert, D., Wegner, D. and Hood, B. (2016). Psychology. (2nd European ed.). London. Palgrave. ISBN 978 1 137 40674 3
Non-essential reading to support written assessments (also used in 3rd and 4th semester psychology modules):
Beech, J. R. (2009). An interactive approach to writing essays and research reports in Psychology. John Wiley and Sons Australia Ltd.
Forshaw, M. (2012). Critical Thinking For Psychology. Jon Wiley and Sons Ltd.
The modules listed below are those currently intended for delivery in the next academic intake of this course. These may be subject to change as the University regularly revises and refreshes the curriculum of our taught programmes.
We've been awarded five star excellence for our teaching by the QS World University Rankings 2018. Our teaching was also rated as 'Excellent' in the last national teaching assessment and has received commendations from both the British Psychology Society and independent external assessors.
Everything you learn will reflect the latest thinking and developments in Psychology. Our teaching is delivered using lectures, workshops, small discussion groups and practical sessions such as laboratory work or field work.
There is an opportunity for fieldwork and placements (travel costs may be incurred).
Modules on the course are assessed through a combination of coursework and examinations. Assessment types include essays, individual practical reports, group practical reports, oral presentations, poster presentations and popular science articles.
In Semester 8 you'll have the opportunity to apply for a Psychology placement. Successful applicants undertake a 50-hour placement with a host organisation. You'll be assigned a mentor in the organisation who'll agree the schedule for completion of the placement and discuss the precise roles, responsibilities and expectations of both the student and mentor during the placement. Support is provided by a series of workshops and through review meetings and feedback from the placement coordinator or module coordinator.
Psychology at Stirling offers a wide variety of exchange opportunities during Year 3 of the degree course. We have established links with universities in North America and Australia, allowing students to continue their studies while gaining valuable experience of different cultures and education systems. Student destinations in 2018/19 included universities and institutions in Australia, Czech Republic, Canada, Hong Kong, USA and Malta.
Fees shown are per year (Fees are different for each course)
Scottish/EU Students
Although you're liable for annual tuition fees, students domiciled in Scotland or the EU will be able to apply to the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) to have tuition fees paid by the Scottish government on their behalf. If you're unsure of your fee status, you can check your eligibility online.
You will be liable to pay tuition fees for every year you're in attendance, and your fees will be held level upon entry. Please note if you need to extend your period of study, you may be liable for an additional fee.
Important note for EU students
The Scottish Government has confirmed that EU students enrolling in the 2019 and 2020 academic year will be entitled to free tuition fees in Scotland. EU students will retain that status for the duration of their four year degree. The future fee status of EU students enrolling in UK universities will depend on the timing and terms of the UK's exit from the European Union. The University will make decisions on fee levels for EU students enrolling in 2021 when further guidance is available from the Scottish and UK governments, and will publicise information about fee levels and financial support available on our University and Europe information pages.
While students should be aware this may mean a change from the current position where EU students are treated with equivalence to Scottish students, it is also important to note that any changes would also require changes to existing UK and Scottish legislation. Current indications are that the UK would leave the EU at the earliest in 2020, so any changes would not take effect before the academic year 2020/21.
*This tuition fee is set by the Scottish Government, and may be subject to change.
Students from England, Wales and Northern Ireland
If you're domiciled in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, you'll be able to apply for financial assistance, including a loan to cover the full cost of your tuition fees, from your relevant funding body.
You will be liable to pay tuition fees for every year you're in attendance, and your fees will be held level upon entry. Please note if you need to extend your period of study, you may be liable for an additional fee.
If you successfully complete Years 1-3 of your course, you will also be eligible to receive an Honours Year Scholarship valued at £9,250 to cover the tuition fee costs of your fourth and final year of study. Learn more about the Honours Year Scholarship.
There is additional funding available for students from England, Wales and Northern Ireland – please see Funding opportunities below.
*This tuition fee may be subject to change depending on guidance provided by the UK Government.
Overseas (Non-EU) Students
You will be liable to pay fees for every year you're in attendance, and your fees will be held level upon entry. Please note if you need to extend your period of study, you may be liable for an additional fee.
You should expect to pay fees for every year you attend. Fees are subject to revision and may increase annually. Students on programmes of study of more than one year should take this into account when applying.
See what funding opportunities and loans are available to help you with tuition and living costs.
Students domiciled in Scotland and the EU
The University of Stirling offers undergraduate funding opportunities for students domiciled in Scotland or the EU. To find out if you're eligible to apply for an award, use our scholarship finder.
Students domiciled in England, Wales and Northern Ireland (RUK)
The Undergraduate Choice Scholarship provides a £1,000 cash award to all students from England, Wales or Northern Ireland who meet the conditions of their offer and select the University of Stirling as their Firm or Insurance choice on UCAS.
The University also offers the Undergraduate Merit Scholarship, which is awarded to selected students and provides a £1,000 cash award per year for years 1-3 of study. To be considered for the Merit Scholarship, students require a minimum of AAB at A-level or equivalent.
In addition, students from England, Wales and Northern Ireland who enter in year 1 and progress successfully through years 2 and 3 will receive our Honours Year Scholarship, which covers the cost of undergraduate tuition fees in the Honours year of study.
You don't need to apply for the awards listed above - we'll automatically identify your eligibility as part of the admissions process.
To explore other scholarships and learn more about funding opportunities, use our scholarship finder.
Students domiciled overseas
The University of Stirling offers generous undergraduate funding opportunities for overseas students. To find out if you're eligible to apply for an award, use our scholarship finder.
There are some instances where additional fees may apply. Depending on your chosen course, you may need to pay additional costs, for example for field trips. Learn more about additional fees.
If you're domiciled in the UK, you can typically apply to your relevant funding body for help with living costs. This usually takes the form of student loans, grants or bursaries, and the amount awarded depends upon your personal circumstances and household income.
EU and overseas students won't normally be able to claim living support through SAAS or other UK public funding bodies. You should contact the relevant authority in your country to find out if you're eligible to receive support.
We aim to be as flexible as possible, and offer a wide range of payment methods - including the option to pay fees by instalments. Learn more about how to pay.
An estimated 15-20% of Psychology graduates eventually become professional psychologists. Graduates can specialise in
Many other careers will see psychology as a useful degree, such as:
We help and encourage students to be active learners, working with academic staff as collaborators, and developing a portfolio of skills and practical experiences that are attractive to prospective employers. The knowledge and skills you'll get from our Psychology degree will offer you a wide and diverse choice of careers.
In studying psychology you'll develop key skills that are highly valued by employers, such as interpersonal and communication skills, numeracy and computer literacy, presentation skills, time management and critical thinking.
By the end of the course, you'll have enhanced:
We have links with many local businesses and organisations in both the public and private sectors who have provided placement opportunities for our students in areas such as education, social care, healthcare and counselling.
I chose Stirling because it gave me the opportunity to study exactly what I wanted, and to study English to prepare me for an international world. I would not have had this amazing chance at home.
Studying at Stirling has been a defining time in my life. I now know what direction I want to take my career, I have made great friendships and built a strong connection to Scotland.
What I really like about my course is that we've got the flexibility to choose our own research. Stirling has given me the confidence and skills to get into my dream career.
Are you interested in more than one of our courses? You might not have to choose between them. Here at Stirling, we believe in choice and offer more than 220 course combinations.
Psychology can be combined with any of the following courses:
|UCAS code for this combination: CC18
|Business Studies
|UCAS code for this combination: CN81
|English Studies
|UCAS code for this combination: QC38
|European Languages
|UCAS code for this combination: CR89
|Film and Media
|UCAS code for this combination: CP83
|Human Resource Management
|UCAS code for this combination: NC68
|UCAS code for this combination: CN85
|UCAS code for this combination: CG81
|UCAS code for this combination: CV85
|UCAS code for this combination: LC28
|UCAS code for this combination: CL83
|Sports Studies
|UCAS code for this combination: CC68
Find out more about degree flexibility and how you can take combined courses


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It's official: This is my favorite season. We briefly touched on my fondness for Fall in posts past, but this time it's for real. So much amazing stuff has been packed into the last month, from a new job to a sleeve of tattoos (at ease, concerned friends, the tats are temporary Tattlys) that I had to exhale and unload it here, purely for your viewing pleasure. Hence, the title of this post, which comes from one of Dan Brown's designs for the infinitely great tat line.
For starters, take a look at Tattly's new temporary tattoo parlor. I visited a week ago, and it's the best thing on Brooklyn's Bergen Street in my humble opinion.
It's got everything from a snazzy gilded sign out front to a legitimate-looking you're getting tatted parlor chair to (most importantly) rows and rows of tattoo selections. Whether you're feeling cartoon dinosaurs, blooming bouquets, art supplies, or friendly words of advice, you can make an appointment for a full sleeve or slap on a single tat and be on your way.
Big thanks to Carly for letting me tag along—my thirst for temporary tats has been satiated for a few weeks.
This past weekend, Car and I popped into the always charming Elephant & Castle for brunch on Saturday, followed by hours and hours of gallery hopping through Chelsea.
A significant dip in temperature meant breaking out my new Sam Edelman booties, topped off with my fave thrift shopped jeans, moto jacket, and American Apparel beanie.
From Adam McEwen above to Joseph Kosuth below, add this afternoon's art intake to "Reasons I Love NYC." Though I look more P.O.'d below than I do enchanted, I assure you I was just digesting this magical room full of fluorescent words at the Sean Kelly Gallery in Midtown.
Plus, let's take a moment to acknowledge that I've discovered how to decorate all my living rooms forevermore, courtesy of the Hauser & Wirth gallery entryway. It's a Duct tape kind-of aesthetic, from here on out.


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In Tokyo, you can surround yourself with sakura as you paddle down an imperial moat, have a picnic at national parks, or take a stroll by the riverside.
Tag: Ueno Park
Instagram Queens and Their Top Travel-grams
Move over Tumblr Girls, we're now in the era of Instagram Babes. We shortlist our favourite travel-grams from local influencers Charlotte Lum, Zoe Raymond, Brianna Wong, and more.


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Share This
Today, over 5,000 men and women are active in Syrian civil society organizations. These diverse grassroots organizations work in human rights, community development, awareness building, and humanitarian aid. Much of their work is unreported in the West.
Since 2015 the Middle East Institute, with the generous support of the Asfari Foundation, has sought to bring Syrian civil society activists to Washington, D.C. to highlight their work for policymakers and the general public. This short documentary, along with the text and audio clips below, aims to create a portrait of this generation of young activists working to alleviate suffering and lay the foundations for a better future in Syria.
Background on Syrian Civil Society
"Though relatively little is written about it, Syrian civil society is remarkably active."
For decades, the idea of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in Syria had been a non-starter. Security services made sure that all areas of society were kept in check; organizations had to register every activity with the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor.
In the first years of Bashar al-Assad's presidency the door opened up for civil society groups in a period known as the "Damascus Spring." But the Assad regime soon grew uneasy about allowing such freedom of expression. Several activists were thrown in jail as burgeoning civil society organizations were seen as a threat to the regime, and in 2001 Minister of Information Adnan Omran labeled civil society "an American term."
From then on, civil society organizations either worked underground or operated under the patronage of officials or figures such as Asma al-Assad, the president's wife.
Now in the throes of violence and chaos, the central government has lost significant control over territory inside Syria, and as a result more space has opened up for civil society organizations—both political and non-political. These organizations, perhaps one of the only silver linings in the current situation, are helping the Syria of today to survive and are preparing to rebuild the Syria of tomorrow.
Excerpted from "Hope Amid Despair: Syrian Civil Society," by Craig Browne
What Civil Society Does
"Here's the simple truth: The convulsions of the Middle East won't end until citizens like these have the power to fix what's wrong."
–David Ignatius, The Washington Post
Humanitarian Aid
"Under intense shelling and a regime blockade, a women's group in Eastern Ghouta, a suburb of Damascus, had to find a way to halt the starvation of people in the community. The regime was only allowing eggs into the area, not chickens, and so the women figured out how to incubate and hatch the eggs. Through this scheme, they were able to provide a more sustainable food source, independent of military developments." (Craig Browne)
Syrian Voices: Sandra Bitar
Sandra Bitar (Emissa) describes a program to provide food and financial support for widows in Houla, Syria. Excerpted from public talk, "Syrian Voices, Policy Choices," at the Middle East Institute's Annual Conference in Washington, D.C. on November 13, 2015.
Peacebuilding and Technical Assistance
"We have provided consultation and training to over 200 civil society groups in different areas inside the country and supported numerous peace initiatives seeking to contain and deescalate violence. Along with our advocacy work, we conduct and share research on civil society activities and other conditions on the ground in Syria." -Oula Ramadan, Badael Foundation
"Kadar Sheikhmous is a computer engineer who, in another country, might be running a start-up. Instead, he's using his skills to train representatives of 45 local councils across Syria on how to keep their Internet communications secure. 'We believe that civil society is the foundation from which the solution will eventually come,' he explains." (David Ignatius, The Washington Post)
Syrian Voices: Oula Ramadan
Oula Ramadan describes two local projects that targeted child recruitment and the prevalance of small arms in an IDP camp. Excerpted from public talk, "Syrian Women in Civil Society and Politics," at the Middle East Institute in Washington, D.C. on April 29, 2016.
Activists Oula Ramadan (left) and Salma Kahale (right) met with Congressional offices and staffers on Capitol Hill while in Washington in April, 2016.
"On the political level, we ask that Congress and the U.S. government put more pressure on the different actors, particularly on the Assad regime, to negotiate. The United States, as well as the international community in their roles as backers for numerous resolutions on Syria, need to actually uphold their responsibility to protect civilians.
"Second, Syrian civil society and all civilians need a respite from the shelling and barrel bombs, and to allow humanitarian aid to get in.
"And third, the government can implement mechanisms that allow for funding to go directly to Syrian organizations. To become sustainable, funding to civil society organizations needs to be longer term, and not just piecemeal project funding." -Salma Kahale
Syrian Voices: Sandra Bitar
Sandra Bitar argues for why the United States government should restore closer communication with civil society groups working on the ground in Syria. Excerpted from public talk, "Syrian Voices, Policy Choices," at the Middle East Institute's Annual Conference in Washington, D.C. on November 13, 2015.
Community Development
"One of the more popular initiatives is the grassroots online broadcast station called SouriaLi, which means Syria is for me. It targets Syrians anywhere, and features programs like Jadayel, which highlights real life stories from women inside Syria and in exile. SouriaLi now collaborates with some local European radio stations to reach refugee populations with public announcements." (Rasha Elass)
Syrian Voices: Caroline Ayoub
Caroline Ayoub explains the goals of the online radio network, SouriaLi. Excerpted from public talk, "Media Activism Amid Civil War: The Role of Syrian Women Journalists," at the Middle East Institute in Washington, D.C. on June 29, 2016.
"We provide a platform to listen to Syrians about the violations they have faced, how they envision the violence ending, what their priorities are for the future, and what role they see for themselves post-conflict. We have staff in six provinces inside Syria as well as two centers where we provide a space for activists to get engaged, lead their activities, and hold workshops so they can organize." -Salma Kahale, Dawlaty
Challenges Facing Civil Society and Women Activists
"We've been working to support these groups for more than three years now, and we have seen that civil society organizations are doing amazing work on the ground in the face of significant operational challenges, particularly security against armed groups and airstrikes. There are also challenges when it comes to financial support. Most money is being channeled to the major international NGOs whose offices are outside the country, while very little reaches grassroots organizations working at the local level." -Oula Ramadan
Syrian Voices: Salma Kahale
Salma Kahale (Dawlaty) explains some of the challenges for operating civil society organization in or around Syria, including limited mobility and restricted funding. Excerpted from public talk, "Syrian Women in Civil Society and Politics," at the Middle East Institute in Washington, D.C. on April 29, 2016.
"In shaping the narrative on Syria, female activists must dispel media clichés, regime propaganda, a stubborn local patriarchy, Islamist extremists and, perhaps most importantly, an international audience that is increasingly desensitized to the suffering of Syrians. They have relied on the women and men who have reported from inside Syria, though by now most of their colleagues have become similarly dispersed all over the world, creating a sort of global network." (Rasha Elass)
"We've become Syrians without borders."
–Milia Eidmouni, Syrian Female Journalists Network
- Syrian Civil Society on the Front Lines Against Extremism, a Q&A with Salma Kahale and Oula Ramadan
- Hope Amid Despair: Syrian Civil Society, by Craig Browne
- Empowered Syrian Women Breaking Taboos, by Rasha Elass
- Raising Women's Voices in Syria's War, by Rasha Elass
- Three Unsung Heroes in the Middle East, by David Ignatius for The Washington Post
Videos & Podcasts
- Syrian Voices, Policy Choices: A Conversation with Syrian Activists and U.S. Policy Thinkers
- Media Activism Amid Civil War: The role of Syrian Women Journalists
- Syrian Women in Civil Society and Politics
Special thanks to the Asfari Foundation for its support in bringing the Syrian civil society activists featured on this page to Washington, D.C. over the past year.


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Design your own hard back, spiral bound notebook to store your ideas, musings or memories. The perfect craft party for your hen do or baby shower and it also makes an excellent team building activity.
I'll teach how to rubber stamp and decorate the front of the notebooks, you'll also add in pockets and tabs to organise your notes. We'll finish off with adding a pom pom or tassel book mark and the all important paper clip embellishments.
£200 for up to 10 people
For groups over 10 there's an additional charge of £11 per person
2 – 2 and a half hour party (approx)
To make a booking or find out more, please contact me.


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Transponder news for 19.11.2016
Intelsat 20 68.5°E
«Holyghost Testifiers» left the 12602 V 26657 2/3. «Crusader TV» appeared in the open 12682 (H) 26657 2/3
«LIFESTYLE TV6», «LIFESTYLE TV7» gone with 11345 The DVB-S2
"Test 1", «Test 2" appeared on 11345 V 30000 3/4, DVB-S2/MPEG-4
«Omid-e-Iran» appeared in the open 12594 V 27500 2/3
EUTELSAT Hot Bird/13 c/13B 13E 13° E
11373 (H) 27500 5/6 - «Bestseller RUS» left the package
24-TV, 24-TV RUS, 24TV RUS, Bestseller RUS appeared on 11296 (H) 27500 5/6 DVB-S/Mpeg-2 FTA
Eutelsat 7A 7 ° E
Tv channel "LuaLua TV" Appeared on 11262 (H) 27500 5/6. Open
Thor 6 1° W
Tv channel "HD unit" Temporarily goes open 12054 (H) 30000 3/4. DVB-S2
Amos 2 4° W
11601 (H) 8888 3/4 - I left a package of Russian religious channel
Regional TV stations can get 21 button in the first half 2017 year
Specific terms of the assignment of subjects of the RF channels and the status of the mandatory public depend on the signing of the corresponding resolution, which today is in the government, deputy head of Roskomnadzor Vadim Subbotin at the XX International Congress of the National Association of Broadcasters.
Deputy Minister noted, that a draft decree on the procedure for the selection of regional TV channels into account the norms of the earlier Law N 280 [1].
ФЗ N 280 means, that the net regional TV channel must contain at least 75% National media products, and it will be broadcast on the territory of residence at least 50% the population of the corresponding subject of the Russian Federation.
According to the draft government decree, selection of regional TV channels will engage federal competition commission (FKK), which, Perhaps, in the case of an early signing of the document, can gather and this year, said V.Subbotin. If it is held, broadcasters will be given time - 1-2 month - to prepare documents, so in the first half of next year the process of assigning the status of completed.
Deputy Minister reminded, In mid-December at a meeting of Roskomnadzor telemetry Commission, which includes the heads of the major industry associations and teleholdingov, It will be selected and authorized organization for the study of the volume of TV viewing audience.
XX International Congress of the National Association of Broadcasters and the exhibition are NATEXPO 16 and 17 November in the pavilion 75 Exhibition of Economic Achievements in Moscow
View. "NTV-Plus" do not need installers?
Recently, I was inordinately surprised by the decision / the quality of our Russian satellite operators. Very surprised. As representatives of a famous satellite operator in all seriousness do not know what the new model of the user equipment is different from the other. They say - just the color of the box. Really.
Other pyzhilis-pyzhilis and launched the sale of a modern mega-subscriber receiver, which is why it all began to fail. But before, probably, it tested a year, tested, and launched on the market - and all efforts to nothing.
And yet one operator manages to sell its equipment through its salons, ie. retail, below wholesale cost to its dealers. Yes, and sellers pay the premium. In both! But in the management of the operator have the courage to travel around the region and the potential promise to its dealers the golden mountain.
I deliberately did not name names of these operators, but I think, что люди знающие догадались кто есть ху 😉
And there is the operator, which stands. That nearly all of its long history has been the, that burns the money their sponsors and clumsily tries to compete with the "popular", "tricolor". It turns out he is, to put it mildly, not very well. But trying to. Even free mobile phone service subscriber now has. True, he appeared almost 20 years after the start of work on the market, but there is a "momentous" decision all the way was made, true?
speech, you guessed it, talking about "NTV-Plus". Who has recently announced his next marketing proposal:
Include the package "Economy" for two years!
Become NTV Plus subscribers in two years see the channels of the package "Economy" without making a regular monthly fee! The offer is valid for customers sets NTV-PLUS equipment in hypermarkets and electronics retailers (the nearest store address can be obtained from the operator call-center).
To become a participant of the action is necessary to:
- Purchase of equipment providing reception services FTA "NTV-PLUS".
- Register your subscription agreement to 31 March 2017 in any convenient manner, the (Online NTV-PLUS, contact the call-center or the nearest office of NTV-PLUS).
Subscribe to the package "Economy" at the time of registration of the Subscription Agreement.
Interesting, that I recently had a conversation with the manager, "NTV-Plus" in our region, which is very surprised, and why we have so little in the province are selling this operator? I answered honestly: "Because you do not know how to work with the dealers". And this marketing offer my words only confirm the operator. Instead of, to motivate installers in the field, as it is able to make in the "Tricolor TV" or "Accessories" (GK Orion") the operator sends his potential subscribers in sales season not to specialized professionals, and trading networks, who have never been famous for the quality of work in the field of installation of satellite TV.
But this is not so bad. That ill-considered decisions, "NTV-Plus" is unlikely to raise sales management, but opinion installers SAT-TV of this statement can only get worse.
So, I could be wrong, but "NTV-Plus" with such shares is unlikely at least 1,5 million subscribers pick up in the foreseeable future. What do you think?
Scifi change the settings on the 13 ° E
In a single IZ transponderov Cyfrowy Polsat on Satellite Eutelsat Hot Bird 13C (13°E), frequency 10,911 GHz, Paul. V, (SR: 27500, FEC: 3/4; DVB-S2 / 8PSK), appeared TestS, under which is the Scifi channel in SD as from NBCUniversal International Networks.
This station has broadcast to the transponder frequency on Arqiva 11,334 GHz, Pol. (H), (SR: 27500, FEC: 3/4, DVB-S/QPSK). Quite possibly, that channel will be turned off here, in the same way, SD version as channels 13 Street and Universal Channel (in HD they are broadcast on the aforementioned transponder Cyfrowy Polsat).
New technical parameters Scifi:
Eutelsat Hotbird 13 c (13°E)
TP. 120 (10,911 GHz, Pol. V, SR: 27500, FEC: 3/4; DVB-S2 / 8PSK)
ID: TestS
Provider: Cyfrowy Polsat S.a.
Kodirovanie: Nagra MA (N3 - Cyfrowy Polsat, S4 / N3 - NC +), Conax (NC +), Viaccess PC 3.0 (Orange)
Sky Sport News FTA with tests on 19,2 (E)
The German version of the station Sky Sport News is about to launch uncoded broadcast on the main European satellite position 19,2 ° E satellite on Astra.
The operator has included a new software position, which is intended for distribution FTA Sky Sport News. Test Card informs the official launch of Sky Sport News HD with 1.12.2016 in 7:00. The test is available in MPEG-2 / SD. Channel Sky Sport News will broadcast, FTA as a program with a different frequency position 19,2 ° E. To view the program must perform a new search, entering new parameters. German station Sky Sport News is still available, as a paid program for Sky Deutschland platform clients in Germany and Austria. With 1.12.2016 changing the shape of the distribution of the program. The channel will be broadcast FTA and will be available to all households in Germany, as well as in the whole of Europe within reach of a satellite signal Astra. Sky sports News will provide sports news, the best moments of matches, documentaries and programs of own production 24 hours a day. This is one of the most successful programs under the brand name Sky. The operator expects, that the free broadcast of this station will receive a number of new CALLER Sky.
Technical parameters – Sky Sport News (test):
Astra 1KR (19,2°E), frequency 10,921 GHz, pol. (H), SR 22000, FEC 7/8, DVB-S/QPSK, FTA
Israeli operator RRsat disabled services, provided through the satellite Amos 2 (4° W).
The operator had one active multiplex channels with Christian JuCe TV Russia, Ukraine 24, CNL Ukraine, Global SBN и CNL Siberia Russia. The package was proposed FTA with tp. 26 at a frequency of 11,601 GHz, Pol. (H) (SR: 8888, FEC: 3/4; DVB-S/QPSK). RRsat 20 October this year, launched a distribution channel JuCe TV Russia on the satellite Eutelsat Hot Bird 13E (13°E), TP. 115 (10,815 GHz, Pol. (H), SR: 27500, FEC: 5/6; DVB-S/QPSK). The station is located under the wrong name Ukraine 24 and this state continues until today. channel Ukraine 24 is not broadcast for several weeks - perhaps, it could be turned off by the lack of a license of the National Council of Ukraine on Television and radio.Pozzhe on programmatic positions Ukraine 24 He appeared JuCe TV Russia, which was then copied to RRsat package on Eutelsat Hot Bird 13E (13°E). Other stations of the Christian RRsat package are not broadcast in Europe. Только Global SBN, but in the US version (not Russian) It was launched from the satellite
Astra 4A (4,8°E), TP. B35 (12,380 GHz, Pol. (H), SR: 27500, FEC: 3/4; DVB-S/QPSK).
Tricolor Tv News
With 2 December "Our Favorite" as part of the Unified
"Our Favorite" - the famous Soviet and Russian films, glorified domestic cinema.
You will plunge into the atmosphere of favorite scenes with the participation of famous heroes, enjoy a new meeting with the movie stars of the past and our dney.Vam will see a great collection of lyrical comedy, melodramas, life dramas and action-packed stories, selected audience and film critics. "Our Favorite" is available every day around the clock. You will never miss the premiere! Especially for you on "our favorite" - a select collection of movies and TV series: "Love at his own request", "Wedding in Malinovka", «3+2», "Amphibian Man", «Star plenitelynogo schastyya». Golden Fund of Russian cinema on the same channel!


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Curry Meatballs
Similar to hamburger steak but with a rich, creamy curry sauce over rice!
- 1 Lb Hamburger
- 1 Egg
- 1/4 cup panko
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 1/4 finely chopped onion
- 1/4 finely chopped onion
- 4 celery stalks finely chopped
- 1 cup half and half
- 1 beef bouillon cube
- 1 teaspoon curry powder (add more or less to your taste)
- 4 Tablespoons butter
- 1 Tablespoon flour
Combine hamburger,egg, panko, salt, pepper and onion in bowl. Mix well and form into meatballs. Heat skillet with 2 Tablespoons oil and cook meatballs for 15 minutes until browned on all sides. Remove meatballs from pan.
Add butter to pan and set heat to medium. Add onions and cook for 10 minutes or until opaque. Add beef bouillon cube to pan and smash into the butter/onion mixture until partially dissolved. Add flour and cook until the flour turns a dark reddish brown. Add half and half and curry powder to taste with whisk ensuring that all lumps are gone and sauce is nice and smooth. Add meatballs and any dripping back into the skillet and simmer for 10 minutes.


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MNACHC CFO/Billing Roundtable
MNACHC hosts a quarterly CFO Roundtable that provides CHC CFOs an opportunity to share best practices, learn about state/federal legislative developments, and informally discuss the challenges facing CHCs in Minnesota. All member CFOs and key staff are welcome to attend the meeting. If you would like to sign up to receive notices of upcoming CFO meetings, contact Daniel Ackert.
December 2016 Training Materials
- 2016 FQHC Industry Trends
- Establishing Fee Schedule
- Program Expectations
- Sliding Fee Discount Program
Core Metrics
Information on submitting Core Metrics can be found by clicking here!
Minnesota DHS FQHC Reimbursement Resources
- MN DHS FQHC Home Page
- MN DHS FQHC Provider Manual
- MN DHS FQHC Billing Manual
- MN DHS FQHC Alternative Payment Election Form
- MN DHS FQHC Change of Scope Form
- MN DHS FQHC Change of Scope Worksheets
- MN DHS FQHC Caseload Survey for New Sites/Organization


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Countering the ISIS Threat to Jordan
The kingdom can repel any direct military attack. It needs U.S. help to deal with terrorist subversion.
Since last summer the Obama administration has been missing in action as the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham, or ISIS, conquered much of Syria and Iraq. But as the terrorist organization now turns its sights on the pro-Western Kingdom of Jordan, Washington can no longer ignore its territorial gains.
Jordan does not appear threatened by an ISIS military offensive. But if ISIS is not rolled back in Iraq, terrorism perpetrated by the radical Islamist group will eventually reach the kingdom....
Sponsored Offers


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20 (Or So) Best Comics of the Decade: 3. Fables
Posted March 11, 2010on:
Who says that fairy tales are just for kids? Bill Willingham's Fables has more than enough intrigue, politics, and drama to fill any number of high-brow literary works. Fables succeeds magnificently at molding the fairy tales you loved as a child into a grown-up saga without ruining your childhood (case in point: Alan Moore's Lost Girls. Now THAT was a scarring experience). Fables is brilliant because it works on multiple levels. It's comedy, romance, mystery, and action all at once without denigrating into crass parody. Although some characters are more integral to the story than others, Fables never focuses on just one main character – it's like a Robert Altman film turned comic book fairy tale. Fables isn't just a great work of comic book fiction, it's a great work of fiction, period, proof enough to shut up all the naysayers who believe comics are just for teenage boys and adults caught in arrested development.
Fables begins in modern day New York, where Snow White, her sister Rose Red, King Cole and many others have been exiled after escaping their homelands, fleeing a mysterious threat known only as "The Adversary." It can be said of many series that they start off a little weak, but only get better as the series goes on. This isn't quite true for Fables, because while it isn't weak by any means, the early issues don't even hint at how rich and complex the world of Fabletown becomes as the series progresses. Volume One opens with Snow White, who is now the right-hand woman of Mayor King Cole, tracking down her sister's murderer. Things aren't quite what they seem of course, and as Fables unfolds over 82 issues, events snowball and lead up to the big showdown, in which the villian is unveiled and kingdoms are restored… for a time.
What makes Fables so special is that seemingly minor characters end up as major players later on, significantly altering the lives of the Fable-town residents and becoming more important than they (and the reader) ever imagined they could be. They're the ones we root the loudest and cry the hardest for. These characters aren't the elevated paragons of perfection, clear-cut black and white archetypes that we're used to from traditional fairy tales. They are imperfect beings, with frail relationships handled expertly by Bill Willingham. Prince Charming is a cad who's had three wives (Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty and Snow White, respectively). Snow White and Bigby Wolf have their own relationship problems, him being a wolf the least of them. The most stable relationship in the series is Beauty and the Beast's. Healthy relationships are almost never interesting in fiction, (and really, who wants to read about happy couples?), but theirs is possibly the most fun, playful and yes, sexy healthy relationship I've come across in fiction, ever. No small feat.
And, like any great work of fiction, there is inevitable tragedy. The heartbreak of failed love between two characters is as devastating as the happy ones are uplifting. Late in the series, a final goodbye between a will-they-won't-they pair ends not in forgiveness, but with one character revealing the hard, unvarnished truth about the other's shortcomings. And it's as painful for her to hear as it is for us, as Willingham knowingly wrenches our hearts by wrenching hers. He doesn't let her off easy, even on his deathbed. And it just breaks your heart in half.
Most series would be content to wrap things up neatly in a bow and leave the residents of Fabletown to their happiness and content, but Bill Willingham never takes the easy route. It doesn't end in "Happily Ever After" because, just like life, these stories will go on, even after we close the pages of the book.


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I set my alarm to wake me at six in the morning and I have decided tomorrow morning I will wake up, have breakfast, workout and walk the dog before I go to work. What could go wrong? My dog hops into bed and takes over the left side. He looks at me, waiting for me. I slip into bed next to him.
It's nine o'clock and I close my eyes to drift to sleep. Thoughts of the day pass through my mind. I start reliving moments with customers that really bothered me. I just try to clear my mind as it begins to stress me out.
Nine-thirty, I began thinking about Jim and recall our fight we had a couple of days ago. I begin to wonder why he hasn't called to work it out. Perhaps it's for the best and I try to think myself into being single. I'm on facebook on my phone. I'm looking at my relationship status and I wonder if I should change it from being in a relationship to "it's complicated".
Ten o'clock, I realize I probably shouldn't have drank that green tea right before going to bed. Off to the bathroom I go and I grab my phone, I check it and see I have a missed text. It's from Jim. I can't help but think he is my "it's complicated" guy. Nothing can be simple or easy with him. Part of what attracts me to him and in the same it frustrates the hell out of me. After three years with him, I thought it would be easier but now I wonder how compatable we really are.
I look at the clock glaring ten thirty and wonder why I can't sleep? Why did I look at my darn phone?! Now I can't stop thinking about him. I am confused about us. I am thinking about walking away for good. I begin to feel frustrated I'm not asleep, frustrated I have to pee again and frustrated with Jim.
It's midnight and I am almost done with writing and editing another chapter of my never ending book. I pick up my phone again after I return from the bathroom….again! I change my alarm to wake me at seven instead. I decide I will have to walk the dog after work. I start organizing my schedule for the week. I cuddle with the dog who is trying to ignore me cause he is happily sleeping.
One in the morning and I am playing word with friends scrabble. I have 30 games. I push back my alarm to eight in the morning. I remember memories that seem unimportant, I'm not sure why I am thinking of them now. The client from this morning that got under my skin replays in my mind. I breath and focus on clearing out my thoughts again. I remember the first time Jim kissed me. How he pursued me relentlessly and now he goes almost two days without a word. Just a text that doesn't help clarify or resolve anything! I feel we are not right for each other anymore. I hate how this feels. I'm frustrated I'm not asleep and I have to go to the damn bathroom again!
Two in the morning, I've given up all hope and pushed my alarm to ten. I don't have to be in the office until noon. I will just skip my work out. I pick up a book and read some. It perhaps was not the best choice, as it is filled with all sorts of interesting stuff and it is hard to stop reading, especially when things get steamy but then I start thinking of Jim again and feel sad and I miss being held by his big strong arms. I miss how good he smells. Then I realize my bladder is the size of a peanut. How can one cup of green tea make me pee this much?!
Three o'clock, I decide take the dog out for a brief walk in my pjs after I pee. I put on a coat and head out into the brisk morning with my dog in tow. Strange how quite the neighborhood is. We get to the creek that runs through the neighborhood. In the stillness I hear a croaking symphony of what sounds like a hundred bullfrogs. My dog is happily on a mission to leave his mark and pays no attention to the slimey buggers. He finds his spot next to the biggest toad I've ever seen. The toad doesn't move and keeps croaking. It's a surreal moment. I wonder if I did fall asleep. I look up at the stars and they shine so brightly with a haze in the sky. It looked like the Milky Way. The moon is full and bright. I push my two fingers into my other hand to see if they slip through my flesh. They don't, this is how I know I am still awake. My dog has accomplished his mission and he happily walks me back to the house. I think it was a perfect time to walk in my pjs and flip flops. I take off my jacket. My dog gets some water and food and I send a text to Jim as I head back to the dam bathroom. I have decided to forgive him and tell him I miss his sexy ass and want to know when he will be available for some naughty fun with me?
Three-forty-five, I am in shock I am still awake as I am now back in bed laying in the dark and hating on my clock, as I stare it down. The dog is fast asleep. I feel like he has a super power of sleep, how does he do it?!
Four-fourteen, I lie there trying to mediate to calm my busy mind. Shortly after I finally drift off.
Eleven in the morning I wake up, realizing I set my alarm wrong. Now I'm late and I rush to get ready and be off. I step in the shower. I did not hear Jim come in. He surprises me and slips into the shower. He tells me he misses me and he is sorry. I feel so happy in this moment and enjoy his lips as I taste relief and joy. I feel his strong arms wrapped around my waste. I decide to call in sick and spend the day in bed….with my "it's complicated" guy.