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The SAO Utilities Project – Development Log<5th>
Version | Beta 1 | Iteration | 4 | Download |
Platform | 32/64bit Windows(Windows 2000, XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, |
Size | 30MB (Programs:10M + Fonts:9M + Images + Sounds) | |||
Progress |
2018-01-07 |
Prototype | alpha | beta | v1.0 | ||||
m1 | m2 | a1 | a2 | b1 | b2 | … |
Beta 2 (Plan) | 1.Synchronize status and activities with SAO Utils Community. |
2018-01-07 | 1.New Introduce and Release Page. |
2017-10-06 | 1.Beta 1 Update 2 released. |
2016-05-02 | 1.Plug-in[ Sensor Data Extension ] 1.1.2 updated. |
2016-03-30 | 1.VR Support Patch released. 2.Plug-in[ Web Browser Engine ] 1.1.3 updated. |
2016-01-17 | 1.Recommending themes added. |
2015-12-11 | 1.Beta 1 Update 1 released. 2.New plug-in[ Web Browser Engine ] 3.New plug-in[ Web Widget ] |
2015-11-14 | 1.Progress updated – About web browsing. |
2015-10-01 | 1.NERvSDK 0.2.0 updated. |
2015-09-04 | 1.New plug-in [Sensor Data Extension]. |
2015-09-01 | 1.NERvSDK released. |
2015-08-20 | 1.Beta 1 released. 2.3D launcher menu. 3.Theme System(SAO/GGO). 4.GGO Widgets and new plug-ins. |
開発ログ in 日本語 >
开发日志 in 中文 >
WANTED: The Navigation Pixie – YUI Character Set for SAO Utils
Plans V0.1.3 <2015-12-11>
- Add IRC chatting to Mail Box plug-in.
Rebuild and Revolution
Dropping and summarizing the old framework, improving experience for appearance, performance and stability.
- Rewriting all the codes for program architecture and GUI.
- Releasing a handy and complete GUI library(for plug-in dev).
- DPI awareness for different devices.
- 3D menu and hardware acceleration.
- *Wizard for new users.
Theme System(SAO/ALO/GGO)
Not just changing the "Aspect", but having different "System" for each theme.
- Support for switching, adding and config themes.
- Including SAO, ALO, GGO theme.
- *Extra ACCEL WORLD theme.
Plug-in Platform (SDK)
Enable developers write 3rd-party plug-ins to add new functions or modify system abilities, and share their works to others.
- Providing plug-in development suit(NerveSDK / NERvSDK, including libraries, documents and essential IDE).
- Core functions, basic GUI, theme system and plug-in inter-operating interfaces.
- Dynamic plug-in management.
- The Developer Center and Plug-in Market.
- Maximizing plug-in compatibility(Including painless transferring between 2D and 3D mode).
Activities and Connectivity
Improve interactivity and real-time ability.
- *Synchronize status and information with SAO Utils Community automatically.
- *Real-time private message between users.
- *Public chatting channel.
* The feasibility and practicability is still under discussing, might NOT be included in the next version.
Change Log
2017.10.06 – Beta 1 Update 2
- Add support for system DPI scaling.
- Add touch gesture support for tablet.
- Add "Show file icon/extension" option for real folder menu.
- Add "Remove/Reset plug-in" option in plug-in configuration panel.
- Add "Delay startup" option in general configuration panel.
- Add plug-in disabling hints when trying to remove a widget.
- [ GGO Widget ][ HP-Bar ]Separate "Lock widget" and "Transparent widget" option.
- [ Web Browser Engine ]Add support for Node-CEF.
- Remove "Disable action filters" option.
- Fix failed to open some files in real folder menu.
- Fix launcher overlapped by task-bar.
- Fix launcher cannot display wallpaper in some aspect ratios.
- Fix cannot scroll launcher menu by mouse under some circumstances.
- [ Mail Box ]Fix cannot remove friends.
- [ Mail Box ]Fix some system cannot connect to servers via SSL.
- [ Web Browser Engine ]Fix some pop-ups such as combo box menu does not display.
- [ Bangumi ]Fix configuration dialog covered by information panel.
- Some UI and functional adjustment.
Visit BUG Tracker about SAO Utils project.
2016-03-30: Beta 1 Update 1 VR Patch is released!
Please refer to SAO Utils VR patch and tutorial (for Beta 1 Update 1).
2015-11-14: Beta 1 Update 1 is comming!
The optional [ Web Browser Engine ] and [ Web Widget ]
new plug-ins will also come with the update.
2015-08-20: Beta 1 released.
Here's the documents for the RangerCD's plug-ins: PDH数据扩展-帮助文档 and 音乐播放器支持-帮助文档 .
2015-08-18: Prepare to release Beta 1.
2015-08-07: Update progress report before the release of Beta 1.
For now, the SAO Utils Beta 1 is basically ready for release, but we still need some test before we could do so. Although not all the goals were achieved, we believe it's time to make a milestone for the beta version now!
Now SAO Utils has themes, you can switch between themes at any time via tray icon or launcher menu. The SAO and GGO theme will shipped with SAO Utils Beta 1, as other plug-ins, GGO theme is also loaded as a plug-in, so you can disable or even remove it if you like. Please note that SAO, GGO and other themes share one single menu set, that means, you don't have to arrange your launcher menus for each theme. However the icon sets for themes are not shared, so you have to pick up icons for new themes.
So let's get started to see the new preference panel in the Beta 1 version:
Preference & General Settings
- Touch Friendly: Some handy modifications for touch screen, a close button will be pinned to top right corner if enabled, and the launcher will not get dismissed when clicking the background.
- Exclusion… – Only detect processes running in foreground:
A new option for process exclusion, disable gestures only if a foreground process(with an activated window) is marked in the exclusion list when enabled. - Disable Action Filters: An option to prevent plug-ins from filtering the execution of an action. Now known plug-ins filtering actions are listed below:
- Image Widget: When opening images like *.GIFs in the launcher, the plug-in provide you a window (2D or 3D) showing the preview image rather than opening it outside.
- Mail Box: When opening mailto:// URL in the program, the plug-in provide you the mail composing window to send an e-mail rather than opening it by system(only if account is configured).
- Check for Updates: Two sub-options were added:
- Plug-in Updates: Check for plug-ins updates if enabled.
- Available Plug-ins: Check for plug-ins not installed in SAO Utils if enabled.
*Mouse gestures issue conflicting with the Microsoft Edge browser is also fixed in the Beta version.
Appearance Settings
The main 3D/2D switch lays in the appearance settings, you can switch back to legacy 2D mode if you meet any problems.
Graphic Settings
- Video Adapter: Optional for devices with multiply video cards.
- Texture Filtering & Anti-aliasing: Very common options in games, has no effects if video card not does not support.
- Stereo: Not supported yet. If you own Oculus Rift VR, please install Perception to enable stereo feature.
Sound Settings
Much more sounds events were added into the sound settings, you can not only test the sound effect, but also use the 'Presets…" button to import/export/share sound FX sets.
An ALO sounds set and many optional sound effects were shipped with the SAO Utils Beta 1, including the "Link Start" voices of Kirito, Asuna, Leafa, etc. Also the optional Accel World 'Burst Link' sounds package is available for download.
Plug-in Settings
- Install…: Pick up Nerve Gear Package(*.NVG) to install plug-in in SAO Utils.
- Config: Show plug-in configuration panel if supported.
- ?: Show plug-in guideline if supported.
- Get Updates & Remove: Not supported yet.
What's more, our center of debugger idol group β's, aji plug-in developer, 😛 Ranger CD already made 3 plug-ins for SAO Utils Beta 1:
- PDH Data Extension
- Leap Motion Extension
- Music Player Support
Please visit SAO Utils扩展补完计划 for more details, or reporting a Bug, discussing MC, KanColle, L4D, but no codes with him.
SAO Utils Beta 1 is coming soon, thanks for support.
2015-07-09: Beta 1 Oculus Rift / DIY Rift VR Testing.
2015-05-22: Updates Alpha 3/Beta 1 progress report about the HP-Bar and GGO widgets.
Alpha 3/Beta 1 is still under developing slowly…XD This time I'll show you the fresh new GGO widget and the completely rewrote HP-Bar desktop widget.
Adding unlimited amounts and types value items is now allowed for the GGO and new HP-Bar widget. While adding unlimited amounts of widgets is featured with the GGO Widget, also the topmost operation could be set for a single widget independently.
For a better user experiment to customize widgets, we provide pop up menus(with long press or right click) for users to accomplish widgets' configuration.
For HP-Bar, users could not only add/delete/move the sub bars, but also make widget *Attach to Launcher.
For GGO Widget, excepting vertical ordering for an whole line, users are able to move a single item horizontally and adding or removing widgets. Using "Align to" users can move widgets to the corners of a screen easily.
Currently GGO Widget supports "Empty Spase", "Static Image" and three ways to displaying a value for an item: "Numeric or Text", "Bar" and "Histogram". Users are able to put any values in their favor forms, sizes, positions.
The action setting for widgets is the same as the launcher does, we can set an action for items, actions like opening files, folders, links or executing command will be performed after a mouse click.
Clicking the "Choose a value" button in the middle of the item/bar setting panel, we can pick up a value with the value picker panel popped up.
For users, we can choose a value for widgets like HP-Bar or GGO Widget to display in this universal value picker panel, determinate suitable updating interval/parameters, valuing mode(Current/Inverse/Maximum/Minimum)/unit, invoking parameter or customizing displaying unit for a value.
For developers, we can add more functionals or data through writing plug-ins and implementing some interfaces. Actually, we already started testing for data interfaces in the private build. If you're interested in writing plug-ins for SAO Utils, please keep focus on the C++ SDK which will be released soon.
*Attach to Launccher: When HP-Bar is attached to launcher, the widget will be display on launcher automatically, if the launcher is in 3D mode, then HP-Bar will also be displayed in 3D mode.
Next steps: Launcher editing, File operations, Drag-and-drop, Theme framework.
2015-04-11: Updates Alpha 3/ Beta 1 progress report about the new SAO theme and plug-ins.
2015-02-07: Updates Alpha 3/ Beta 1 progress report and the new GGO theme.
We spent much time on the 3D engine and a handy UI library for SAO Utils…and now, finally, we could get back and begin the design and code for our next relase of SAO Utils. The UI part of the SDK will not be released to public until the private test is passed, this might take at least about 1 or 2 minor versions for testing. However, you're still able to develop non-GUI plug-ins for SAO Utils in the alpha 3 or beta 1.
The design and reproducing of GGO theme is basically completed, using similar aspect ratio as the SAO theme.Also the compatibility and sharing problems of user menus between different themes should be considering.
The custom data measuring and displaying is also a main function in the next release. The unified data measuring interface will be defined in Alpha3/Beta1, developers can use data from other plug-ins or supply custom data in the plug-ins. So users could decide which place to display what data they want while they don't have to edit config files like RM.
This test program running under layered mode rendering with Direct3D 9 with MSAA 4x and Linear Filter, single core CPU usage is around 10%,. The traditional render mode would decrease more CPU usage and increase the FPS.
2014-12-13: The 3D launcher menu is confirmed to be add into SAO Utils Alpha 3 / Beta 1.
3D Launcher – Curve Window
The 3D menu will provided as an optional feature, user can swith between 2D and 3D mode anytime they want.
3D Launcher – TV FX + Motion Blur + MSAA 4x + Linear Filter
Except for the nice appearance, the curve window would expand our operation space–Just like the SAO animation, players are surrounded by the windows, they could see clearly and operate any windows at any time only with a simple head rotation. All the FXs(TV FX, Motion Blur, etc.) are also could be enabled or disabled as required.
3D Launcher – Scale Test
User can do scaling operation on the free windows to adjust the contents that you feel too large or too small. You can feel the curve easier if the window is large enough.
3D Launcher – Pickup and Camera Test
Similarly user can arrange the free window, adjust the position and depth of the window. Camera following as well as out of bounds adjustment will be provided.
2014-11-10: Implement the plug-in and a component managing tool SAO Utils Alpha 3/Beta 1, add plug-in development design.
2014-09-27: Today I make a new develop page for the SAO Utils alpha 3, for the logging and discussing purpose to the new features.
Advice or suggestion for the new functions are always welcome, you can Leave a comment or discuss in SAO Utils User Community – Suggestion & BUG Feedback form;
We will release a document for the plug-in developing interfaces, Developers after applying Develop Verify(in user information page) can discuss anything about plug-in development in SAO Utils User Community – Developer Communicating form.


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This course enables participants to become certified risk management professionals (Foundations level). The training and exam are based on the ISO 31000:2018 risk management standard which can be used by organizations of any size, any industry, and any sector.
In this intensive two and half day course, participants develop competence in the foundations of the ISO 31000 :2018 risk management standard . Based on in-depth teaching , practical exercises and quiz questions that test their aptitude, participants acquire the necessary knowledge and skills to pass the stringent exam.
They do so by becoming familiar with the vocabulary, principles, framework and the risk management process proposed in the ISO 31000:2018 standard. During the online course, we will present the ISO 31000 Risk Management Principles and Guidelines and its two companions, the ISO 31073:2022 (previously known as ISO Guide 73:2009), and the IEC/ISO 31010:2019 Risk Assessment Techniques.
Download Brochure*The fee includes for the course including the exam, C31000 certification fees, printing & shipping of the certificate and catering
G31000 members can get 10% - 15% discount.
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To understand the vocabulary, principles, framework and risk management process in accordance with the new version ISO 31000 published in February 2018.
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Attendees should read the ISO 31000:2018 risk management standard before the course, especially the vocabulary, the principles, the framework and the process proposed in the ISO 31000 standard.
It could be purchased on the ISO website. Given below is a link to purchase.
Risk management — Principles and guidelinesThe exam covers the five following competence domains:
A certificate of "Certified ISO 31000 Risk management professional" will be issued to participants who successfully pass the exam and comply with all the other requirements related to this credential.

subset: commoncrawl


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Research interests in global & international health, health systems & transition in health, double burden of communicable & non-communicable diseases, malaria, TB, HIV, diabetes, and their interactions and impact, including long-term on mother & child health in particular.
Specialist in tropical medicine and in infectious diseases.
Supervised > 50 ph.d.s and > 150 masters students, many from low- and middle-income countries. Capacity building & research collaboration with Tanzania since 1992 and with India since 2002. Running courses and teaching in global & international health and tropical medicine at pre- & postgraduate level in Copenhagen and abroad.
Former board member, World Diabetes Foundation. Founder of Masters in International Health, MIH, and of Masters in Global Health, University of Copenhagen.
Published more than 250 papers in peer-reviewed journals.


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James S. McDonnell Hall was dedicated in 1993 and named for James S. McDonnell.
McDonnell Hall provides space for research, laboratories and offices as well as a 150-seat auditorium, a 75-seat classroom and an 85-seat classroom.
James S. McDonnell
James McDonnell graduated from Princeton with a physics degree and earned a Master's in Aeronautical Engineering from M.I.T. He served as a pilot in the U.S. Army Air Corps Reserve and was one of six men to make the first packed-parachute jumps.
He oversaw the development of the Martin B-10 and B-12 bombers, and started his own company in St. Louis in 1939, McDonnell Aircraft, with $35,000 of his own and $135,000 in loans. His company got its start when it produced 7 million pounds of airframe during World War II.
McDonnell merged with Douglas Aircraft Corporation, and remained a world leader in the production of commercial and military aircraft until its merger with Boeing. McDonnell established a professorship at Washington University in St. Louis in 1964, and the McDonnell Center for the Space Sciences in 1975.


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Welcome to our website. If you continue to browse and use this website, you are agreeing to comply with and be bound by the following terms and conditions of use, which together with our privacy policy govern 247deals's relationship with you in relation to this website. If you disagree with any part of these terms and conditions, please do not use our website.
The term '247deals' or 'us' or 'we' refers to the owner of the website whose registered office is at 1b trent st, Moorabbin VIC, 3189 Australia. Our ABN is [92953833116]. The term 'you' refers to the user or viewer of our website.
The use of this website is subject to the following terms of use:


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WASHINGTON, June 4 (UPI) -- Legislation proposed in the House of Representatives would require the U.S. government to issue a new offshore lease plan, a committee chairman said.
House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings, R-Wash., released a draft proposal for the Offshore Energy and Jobs Act that would require the federal government to issue a new five-year offshore lease plan.
Hastings said his "pro-energy, pro-jobs" legislation would compensate for what he said were efforts by President Obama to block offshore oil and natural gas production.
"The Obama administration has said 'no' to new energy and 'no' to new jobs, but House Republicans are once again saying 'yes,'" he said in a statement last week.
The Interior Department says domestic oil production has increased every year since Obama took office in 2009. Obama's critics say much of that increase is because of policies enacted by the Bush administration.
The government said acreage awarded in a March auction could generate as much as 890 million barrels of oil and as much as 3.9 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. Another auction is scheduled for August.
Hastings measure in part targets areas offshore Virginia, currently off limits to energy companies.


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Geology of the Pine Mountain area, Ventura County, California
Stanford Geological Survey Collection
The Stanford Geological Survey (SGS) existed for 100 years, from 1895 until 1995. During this time, students and faculty went into the field to survey and map parts of California, Nevada, and Utah. The SGS manuscript collection has been available only to those who visited the library and located the few items shown in the library's catalog.
In the fall of 2001, Branner Earth Sciences Library and Map Collections received a grant from the California State Library to catalog, scan, and display the maps, field notebooks and field reports from this collection. The project now has over 450 maps and 50 field notebooks online. The collection can be viewed through the Luna Insight service. See link to the left.
If you were a part of the Survey, please contact Branner Library to allow us to include your work in the project.


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Collins giving Nieuwenhuis big chance at leadoff
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- When the Mets take their first hacks of the Grapefruit League season this Saturday, Kirk Nieuwenhuis will be the man digging into the batter's box. There's a decent chance he could draw the same assignment in April.
Manager Terry Collins said Wednesday that he is giving Nieuwenhuis first crack at leadoff, because he sees him as a potential solution at that spot.
"I think it sends a huge message to him," Collins said. "It's the first game. And when we were playing really, really well [last year], that guy was in center field. He deserves the right to get the first shot."
Nieuwenhuis figures to crack the Opening Day roster in a center-field platoon with Collin Cowgill, who possesses the skill set necessary to lead off against left-handed pitchers. Ruben Tejada is the incumbent option at leadoff for the Mets, though they are not necessarily sold on him in that spot. Mike Baxter and Daniel Murphy could also fill the role.
But with six weeks left in camp, Nieuwenhuis may be the favorite. He hit .264 with five home runs in 32 games as a leadoff man last year, compared to .242 with two home runs in 59 games elsewhere.
"Obviously it's a compliment, for sure," Nieuwenhuis said of his manager's curiosity. "I'm hopeful to take this spot and run with it. You set the tone for the game, and it's a big responsibility. You just have to be aggressive and smart. That's the biggest thing."
Thing is, Nieuwenhuis will not need to take the opportunity and run with it -- at least not literally. Collins said he does not need or expect his leadoff hitters to steal bags, so long as they make smart baserunning decisions whenever possible. That is good news for Nieuwenhuis, who had never been an elite base-stealing threat despite his above-average speed.
If Tejada hits leadoff, for example, Collins said he will not have the green light to steal whenever he wants. It stands to reason that Nieuwenhuis, Cowgill and Baxter will not, either.
"When the word 'baserunning' is talked about, everyone thinks it's basestealing, and it's not," Collins said. "We need to go first to third. We need to score from second, no matter who it is."


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The Dad Pact Manifesto: 25 Rules For Being A Good Friend To A New Dad
25 Rules For Being An Amazing Friend To A New Dad
This article is presented by Dewar's.
When your best friend becomes a father, there's an inevitable shift in your dynamic. Gone are the days when your individual levels of irresponsibility are on par with one another. No, these days, while you may still live a carefree existence in most ways, your buddy's now responsible for shaping a life. Literally. That being said, yes, he's a father, and perhaps a husband, but he's also still your friend. So, as we head toward Father's Day, remember the rules on how to be a good friend to a new dad. He'll absolutely appreciate the effort.
Make The Mom Like You
Simply put, it will make your friend's life much easier if his wife, girlfriend or baby mama likes you. Help facilitate that. I mean, first off, you should always attempt to love someone that your best friend has chosen to spend the rest of his life with anyway. And in most instances, you and she will naturally get along, based simply on the fact that you and her dude are probably pretty similar to begin with. You are, after all, best friends. Though if a rift exists or develops, always try to nip it in the bud and smooth things out. If you were ever so stupid as to ask him to choose between she and you, you will lose. Every single time. The more she likes you, the more time you and your friend will wind up spending together.
Be The Gym Buddy
Here's the thing about going to the gym — it's your friend's free pass to get out of the house. In most instances, any wife or girlfriend would be thrilled to see their guy being passionate about his health. And when you become a dad, that goes double. That gym visit isn't just for cosmetic purposes, no, it's also helping to ensure you'll live long enough to one day be a grandpa. So why not hit the gym with your friend? This is a perfect opportunity to catch up, and to do so on a regular basis. Going to the gym doesn't take the planning that a Yankee game does.
Don't Make Fun Of The Dad Car
Okay, fine, a little good-natured ball busting is to be expected if your longtime friend purchases a big, ugly minivan. Those are the perks of being a best friend. You get to rip your buddy a new one if he starts driving an Astrovan. But at the same time, when you're a dad, safety comes first when it comes to automobiles. For example, a recent article named the Kia Spectra and the Chevy Malibu two of the deadliest cars in America. If your friend is driving a death trap, he 100% unequivocally must sell that bad boy and get something safer.
If He Gets A Night Out, Man Up
It's not like you always want to go out and rage, right? You're human too. You get busy, you get tired, and you have responsibilities. And that's all well and good. It is. However, if your friend who's a father has a rare night out, and it happens to fall on a night when you're overwhelmingly beat, well, sucks for you. Man up! Don't let your comrade down. These days his nights out are few and far between. So if your party schedules don't synch up, you do your absolute best to light a fire under your buttocks — it's your duty as a best friend.
Don't Text Him Too Late
While your friend with a kid can text you whenever he damn well pleases, it doesn't work both ways. Perhaps the thing that changes most when one of your buddies has a kid is the sleep patterns. You may go to sleep at 4 A.M. one wild Saturday night, whereas he could be waking up at 4:30 A.M. that Sunday morning. Always try and respect the fact that when you send that text, it could potentially wake up not only him, but also his significant other, both of which are likely in dire need of sleep.
Take Him To A Game
Your buddy becoming a father doesn't have a thing to do with the fact that he still loves watching a hockey game every now and again. Sporting events are an amazing opportunity to simultaneously combine a few imperative friend activities, killing multiple birds with two tickets. You can have a blast watching something you're both truly passionate about, all while catching up and having a few beers. A Sunday afternoon at a baseball game might be the exact thing your friend needs.
Never Accuse Him Of Being Whipped
Your friend's actions not only effect himself, but also his wife and children. So if you invite him out for, say, a pub golf crawl, but his spouse objects because they have a family function the next morning, don't give him crap for it. Never use the ol' W word, which is, of course, "whipped." Often your friend's better half will be the more responsible portion of that relationship. He's not whipped, per se. It's just that he has a partner in life looking out for his wellbeing, whereas you may wake up with a hangover, lying next to a snoring stranger. Don't you wish you were whipped sometimes?
Always Make Sure He Doesn't Drink & Drive
Now while this rule goes for every one of your friends, it goes double for those that are now parents. Aside from the grim realities of the potential worst case scenarios, getting a DWI messes up everything in your life. There's the literal price you pay, as opposed to that of the figurative nature. There's the insurance hike, as well as the possibility of a court-mandated breathalyzer being installed in your car. Then there's the restriction on your freedom. Losing your license is unbearably annoying for a parent. Imagine if your buddy can no longer drive his daughter to work because he was out doing Jameson shots with you the previous night. Simply put, always call your friend a cab if you guys head out to the bar.
Don't Just "Pop In"
If your friend just pops by your apartment unannounced, he might find you, the single guy, asleep on the couch, playing video games or watching wrestling. However, if you just pop by his place unannounced, you may find a screaming child, a dirty diaper or a wife that's trying desperately to catch up on sleep. The lesson to learn here? Always call first. While the sentiment will be appreciated, the timing likely won't be. At least send a text before considering dropping by.
Be Cool If He Needs To Go Home Earlier Than You
If you get your buddy out for the night, know going into the evening that his night will likely end earlier than yours. You know that old adage that "Nothing good happens after 2 A.M."? Well guess what? It's all too true. If you have a young son or daughter at home, there's just no reason to be out throwing back shots at 2 A.M. — ever. Plus, always remember that your buddy's mornings start earlier than yours. He wakes up when his baby wakes up, whereas you wake up when your body wakes up.
Try And Be Available To Talk
If your friend, the father, calls you at an unusual time, pick up that phone call. His free time is worn thin, his plate is entirely full, yet he's taking the time to call you. This call could mean one of two things: Your friend needs to use you as that aforementioned sounding board, or, the more enjoyable scenario, he has a rare night out and wants to throw back a few glasses of Dewar's. Either way, don't ignore that call. Pick it up cause he's calling for a reason.
Try Not To Talk About How "Cool" Single Life Is
Regardless of whatever situation you or he are in now, human beings always tend to get a bit wistful while thinking of days past. So while nowadays your buddy may be happily married and genuinely in love with being a dad, there also may be a part of him that wishes he could go to Mardi Gras and get weird. But guess what? He can't. That just ain't happening. With that said, try and craft your talk of single life carefully. Don't tell your tales of unattached insanity in a "Don't you wish you could do this too?" fashion. It'll only serve to drive a wedge between you, just hammering home how different your lives and priorities have become.
Hang With Him And The Baby
Sure, some quality one-on-one time with your buddy is essential, especially now that his hang time is a bit limited. But it's also important to spend some time with your friend and his child. He will appreciate this. That kid is going to be a part of your friend's life forever — literally. Your buddy doesn't want to feel like you don't like hanging out with his son or daughter. Pick a day when your friend is watching the kid, sans mom, and tag along. Aside from your friend loving that he can hang out with you while simultaneously being a dad, you'll have fun too. Kids are a blast.
Always Invite Him To Come Out
Yes, your friend's life has changed to the point where he can't always just jump in the car and meet you and the rest of the guys out for beers and wings at a moment's notice. However, it's not like the guy is dead, for Christ's sake. He can't always make it out, no. That constant freedom is a thing of the past. But dads can still hang out! So extend the invite. It's not a forgone conclusion that your buddy won't be able to go to the BBQ, party or poker game. Even if there's a chance he may have to say no, extend the invite regardless.
Stop Him From Posting Too Many Baby Pictures on Social Media
Yes, certain parents can simply be annoying as hell online — it's the honest truth. The non-parents out there almost universally get it. You love your child to death, adore him or her beyond comprehension, and are constantly excited to share a moment you find hilarious and/or adorable. And that's cool. It genuinely is. But then there are those parents who just go nuts, the ones who will post like ten photos a day, every day, for a month straight. If your buddy is being annoying, step up and let him know so — it's your duty.
Like His Baby Pictures On Social Media
Like it or not, we live in the social media generation. It's an era where whenever you do something exiting, you feel compelled to instantly post a picture of it to Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. Well guess what, guy? When it comes to your buddy, the dad, the most exciting thing in his life is likely his son or daughter. Becoming a parent is a huge, monumental, life-altering event. If it happened to you, you know you'd be posting just as many pictures as he likely is. Try and get on board. Realize just how cool being a father is to your friend, and when he shares a moment in his kid's life, give him the respect of liking the photo. It's a simple little thing that he'll totally appreciate.
Keep Him In The Loop
When a dad settles into his new, arguably tamer, lifestyle, he runs the risk of missing a crazy story or two. Let's face it, some wild stuff tends to go down past 2 A.M. And while you're all still friends, your buddies with kids just don't wind up hanging out as much, meaning that they won't be present as some new inside jokes get developed, or as certain new memories are made. For the dad — that sucks. Who wants to miss something fun, even if it's something crazy your pal maybe shouldn't be around now that he has a child to raise? Either way, always try and keep your buddy in the loop. Always let him know what's going on with the gang and never make him feel like he's become an outsider.
Never Lay A Guilt Trip
When you're a parent, spontaneity regularly goes out the window. Also, things tend to pop up last minute in his life that simply would never be a factor in yours. Maybe a babysitter cancels. Or perhaps the kid is suddenly running a fever. Either way, if your friend has to cancel a plan due to a child-related issue, try and understand where he's coming from. Don't be a punk and give him a guilt trip — that's not cool.
Be A Babysitter If Need Be
Let's face it, poop happens. Unforeseen events. Emergencies. Hell, even tragedies. In the event that a situation like this does comes up, do your friend a solid and alleviate that last minute stress and simply offer to watch the kid. Hell, maybe it's not even an emergency at all. Maybe he and the missus just genuinely need a night out alone, just them two. If you're free, be cool and offer to come by and hang with his son or daughter for the night. You'll be earning two best friend badges in the process. Not only are you giving your buddy some much-needed alone time, but you're also bonding with his child, which he'll appreciate beyond belief.
Plan A Guys' Night Out Ahead of Time
While you may be able to drop everything and take a road trip to Atlantic City on a moment's notice, your friend simply cannot. He'll need to think about getting a babysitter. He may need to clear it with his better half. Unlike you, he'll also have to weigh the "What do I have to do the next day?" factor. When you're a dad, you're always on. There's no off-season. So when you and the boys are planning a wild night, a night in with a bottle of Dewar's, a bachelor's party or vacation, try and give your buddy with a kid a heads up about it as early as possible. He'll appreciate it. He likely wants to make this happen. The sooner he knows about it, the better chance of him making it a reality.
Be A Sounding Board
Venting is cathartic. When people are mad, or sad, or simply stressed beyond belief, they need someone to unload their problems on. They need a sounding board, a friendly ear to listen to the issue, then possibly help work it out. But your friend, the dad, well, he may have a problem or two that's been built up, a problem that he just can't vent about to his wife or girlfriend. Let's be honest, fellas, those times exist. In that instance, you better be there to lend an ear. Sometimes just yelling and screaming about an issue actually does make it better. Blowing off steam, at times, is a necessity.
Take Him Out For A Dewar's
No one ever says that being a dad is easy. Why? Because it isn't. And while countless dads will tell you that the rewards of parenthood are immeasurable, it's also a ton of work. Dads lose sleep. They worry more than single dudes. They often have monetary concerns that others don't. But you, as a good friend, need to be there to offer up a glass of Dewar's when these familial stressors build up. Did your friend just discover what pre-school is going to cost him next year, almost having a heart attack in the process? Pour him a Dewar's. He needs it.
Find Common Ground
When one friend becomes a father and the other friend does not, your lives veer off down individual, yet vastly different, paths. Your path may lead to a bar, a Tinder date or Coachella, whereas his may lead to Bed, Bath & Beyond, a family picnic or The Wiggles Live. But even though your day-to-day agendas may be wildly different from each other, you're still friends. Whether it's a TV show you both love, or a team you both root for, always remember to keep some common ground. Sometimes friendship takes work. The year or so after your friend has his first kid is certainly one of those times.
Put Yourself In His Shoes
When you become a parent, life changes in a multitude of ways. Your schedule, your attitude, your priorities, they all may change — some gradually, some more immediate than others. And while you're watching your friend's life transform a bit, try and put yourself in his shoes. Does some part of him wish he could hit happy hour with you? It's a distinct possibility. But always remember why he can't. He has newfound responsibilities that simply don't exist in your life. So while you can go out and get weird just about every Friday night, your pal has to man up and be a good dad.
Ask About The Kids
Once your friend becomes a father, his son or daughter will pretty much always be on his mind. When you're a new parent, that's just how it goes. Sure, for your sake he may hold back and not discuss the little rugrat ad nauseam, but you should be cognizant of the fact that he probably does want to talk about the baby. Be a good friend and ask about the kid. Give your buddy an opportunity to discuss this monumental event in his life without feeling like he's constantly bringing it up


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This article contains examples of graphs and graph-theoretic constructions that may be used to test the truth or falsity of statements in graph theory.
The Petersen graph is a very unusual graph with many interesting properties, including:
The Petersen graph |
It is the smallest snark; furthermore, every snark contains the Petersen graph as a minor.
It is one of fourteen cubic distance-regular graphs, and one of either three or four Moore graphs of girth five.
It is both edge- and vertex-transitive (i.e., regular); it is the smallest connected vertex-transitive graph that is not a Cayley graph.
It is the smallest known hypohamiltonian graph.
The complete graph is defined as the graph with vertex set and an edge between every pair of distinct vertices.
The complete graph K6 |
If a graph property is closed under taking subgraphs, and it is true for complete graphs, then it is true for all finite graphs.
has edges, the most of any graph on vertices.
for odd has maximum degree and edge chromatic number .
Random graphs often have unexpected properties; it is often the case that we can show that a random graph has a certain property with high probability but cannot construct an explicit graph (or family of graphs) with that property. At the highest level of generality, a random graph is simply a graph drawn from some probability distribution on graphs, but there are several models with interesting properties that are much easier to work with. Discussion of a few of these models will follow after a general discussion.
General discussion of random graphs:
If you can show that a random graph drawn from some distribution has some property with positive probability, then it follows that there exists a graph with that property. (This observation is the basis of the probabilistic method.) Thus, random graphs are often useful as counterexamples.
If you can show that a random graph has some property with probability (in the limit), then it is sometimes the case that all graphs have this property; however, the opposite is very often true. For example, the random graph (see the Erdős-Rényi model below) is connected with probability , but it is by no means the case that every graph with vertices and edges is connected.
There are cases in which statements about random graphs can be used to prove statements about all graphs; for instance, as amplification in the proof of the crossing number inequality. Similarly, if a property holds both for random graphs and for highly "structured" graphs, it can in some cases be extended to all (or almost all) graphs using the Szemerédi regularity lemma and similar results.
The Erdős-Rényi random graph model is, intuitively, the random graph with vertex set such that the probability that two distinct vertices are adjacent is equal to and every pair of such events is independent. (Equivalently, it is drawn from the distribution where the probability of the event , where is a graph with vertices and edges, is ).
A very similar model is , which is drawn uniformly from the set of graphs on vertices with edges. In fact, for many natural graph properties, and behave exactly the same way. While the first model is usually easier to analyze, the second model can be useful in some cases or as an alternative way to think about the first.
For many graph properties, there is a threshold function such that, if , has the property with probability , whereas if , does not have the property with probability . For instance, is almost surely connected, but is almost surely not connected.
Even when a random graph does not have a certain property, it may "almost have it", and you may be able to obtain such a graph by modifying slightly. An argument along these lines was used by Erdős in his famous proof that there exist graphs with arbitrarily high girth and chromatic number.
If you are studying sparse graphs, then the Erdős-Rényi model has some undesirable properties; for instance, the maximum degree of is not necessarily bounded. A good model for random sparse graphs is to choose a -regular graph on vertices uniformly at random; these graphs are known to have a number of interesting properties.


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Reebok's EasyTone shoe is coming with an easy-on-the-eyes ad campaign that the company has rolled out over the last year. The ads feature backsides of women (and their calves and their thighs and their… ) in a variety of outfits, settings and backdrops. Reebok has a couple of ads circulating on TV and the web for the shoe, which has "balance-ball inspired technology" on the soles to "tone and shape."
Buy it: From $49.99-$139.98, the EasyTone selection includes athletic wear, sandals, and boots for both men and women. Our fave? The EasyTone Reeinspire in lime green. Just in time for the Aussie Open to get under way…
More commercials: Another spot from Oreo to introduce their new "Heads or Tails" cookie with the help from Venus and company. (See a previous one here.)
(screengrabs via youtube)


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After I had been made redundant by Investment Bank A, and before starting at Big Bank B, I interviewed with a Large Teutonic Bank's capital markets division, for a permanent role in London. This was to be a tech lead and architect on a massive greenfield project, where a key part of the role was to bring in "fresh blood" who had worked with some new technologies that the development manager was considering. It required spending quite a bit of time investigating technologies for potential inclusion, doing trial and error, and general research time as the project developed due to the issues of scale involved. Because it involved a lot of real-time updates, massive database work, and distributed systems development, the hiring manager though I'd be an excellent candidate. So did all the other senior architects in the group.
I was turned down for the job by the boss' boss. The reason? "He's too entrepreneurial."
I was recently chatting with another London Techie who was interviewing for a permanent role with a Large Yanqui Bank, and he had a similar experience. The hiring manager liked him and his experience, he got through the gauntlet of developers on the ground who would work with him on a daily basis, and he had to go through the "formality" of the HR interview before they could extend him an offer.
He was turned down for the job by HR. The reason? "He's too independent."
Once is coincidence, twice is a trend.
Entrepreneurial Is An Insult?
So let's consider the two of us. We're both active in the technology community outside of work hours: we blog, we go to meetups, we speak at conferences, we work on open source technologies. We've both established that we're able to apply ourselves at a strong level technically, and are able to pick up new technologies on a regular basis, both in and out of work.
You might think that these would be useful traits. You might think that these are in no small part why the hiring managers wanted to hire us in the first place. You'd be right: they realized that they needed outside skills, and some of them cutting-edge skills that are difficult to get inside the sclerotic community of financial services technology, and that they needed to pull in people who Think For Themselves. But The Organization stopped them.
Apparently both Senior Manager and HR Drone viewed us as unacceptable risks (in fact, it was spelled out precisely why I was a risk: in 5 years, I might not want to be in the same role on the same project). We would think for ourselves, we would seek out new challenges, we would rock the boat.
The fact that these tendencies lead inexorably to us having the skills necessary to perform the jobs has never apparently crossed their minds. They somehow think they can find non-independent, non-entrepreneurial technologists who are familiar with cutting-edge technologies and are able to do proper trial-and-error with design, architecture, and vendor selection. Really? How's that working out for you?
If you're worried that these candidates might eventually want to, gasp, leave the firm, on their own terms (e.g. before you make them redundant), isn't that the price you pay for having a pool of talent you can draw from to get "fresh blood"? If everybody in the world works for the first firm that hires them for the rest of their lives, how would you be able to hire people?
If you're worried, ultimately, that these candidates might lead to uncomfortable situations as they challenge the status quo, are you not implicitly recognizing that your status quo is broken? And that, more importantly, that you want it to stay broken?
Embrace The Uncomfortable
I have a friend who has the theory that the wages techies earn working for Big Banks is compensation for the work and culture they have to endure. I'm not sure I disagree. But you can still find a way in a stultified culture working with boring projects to embrace technically skilled, entrepreneurial techies.
Entrepreneurial techies like facing new challenges, and continually want to apply their skills to making things better. Surely a Large Teutonic/Yanqui Bank has a lot of challenges? And surely hiring someone because they have the skills to design and build a greenfield project implies that they have skills that probably wouldn't be applicable 5 years down the road as the project is in maintenance mode? Why not allow the employee to continually find challenges internally?
Because speaking for myself, I find working on new challenges inside an organization superior to having to find them outside the organization. Your institutional knowledge, built up over extended work periods, is valuable to both sides; your reputation makes it easier to Get Things Done; your domain skills are continually built up. This makes it easier to apply your skills inside the same organization than constantly switching organizations. Why not encourage that by allowing the techie, every couple of years, to switch to a new challenge where their skills and attitude will make a bigger difference?
Independent-thinking techies of all stripes can also be used to help fix the broken parts of that same culture. With enlightened management, someone pointing out that "although this is the way you've always done it, it doesn't have to be like this" can be exactly the type of kick that an organization needs to actually realize that it's fallen into a process/culture-trap, where the wrong bits of the organization are self-perpetuating rather than the good bits. Questioning what's going on, thinking independently, that's the only way that you can ever break out of the bounds of group-think.
Independent, entrepreneurial techies can actually make the biggest impact in the organizations that fight against them the most: they're the ones that need them the most. Use them as agents for change, challenging assumptions, challenging entrenched attitudes, challenging technical group-think. Otherwise, your worst employees (the ones who can't really get a better job elsewhere) win, and you as an organization fail.
Epilogue: Teutonic Bank Is Still Hiring
When the recruiter told me why they had gone dark and ultimately rejected me, I knew that they would never find a candidate that would satisfy both the hiring manager and his boss; they had completely mutually exclusive requirements for this hire. I told said recruiter "in 3 months when they realize they haven't been able to fill the role and come back asking if I'm available, whether I have a job or not, I'm not available."
It actually took 4 months for that call. I wasn't available.


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Not be confused with the Obsedia (which it kinda looks like), or even the Antigona Envelope Clutch that has almost the same austere lines, here's another bag from Givenchy that's more a workhorse of a briefcase than say, a pretty shoulder sling.
Known simply as the Shark, which I believe is a reference to its signature shark toothed-shaped twist lock clasp, this one in Large measures some 46 cm across by 30 cm in height, ample enough for say, a MacBook, work files and then some. Not offered with the option of a shoulder sling (a small nay in my books), you carry it either in your hand or over the shoulder, with a drop of almost 20 cm more than enough even to fit the thickest of shoulders.
Lined in suede with 3 sizeable pockets for all your bits and bobs, this one, in croc-embossed leather is also my favourite and retails for GBP1690. Now available online via Net-A-Porter, you could also consider the one in Medium (39 cm by 27 cm) in white croc-embossed leather (GBP1590). The ones in this size also come with the shoulder sling, which is an added bonus. Or just consider the medium one in plain black leather which is the same in terms of the size (and the added sling) as the former but sells for just GBP1350.
In other words, if you're looking for a reasonably-sized (or much larger) workhorse, this is one bag you should add to your wish list.
Image: Net-A-Porter


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I have a client whom I want to give as much Dashboard control over the admin area as possible. I know how to create a custom dashboard widget that contains just text/html but I have no idea how to create one that contains just a single text input field.
Adding the form html would be straightforward I can see that but I don't know:
- Where to submit the form data too
- How to redirect back to the Dashboard after the form is submitted
- How to retrieve the value in my non-admin theme templates


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What Would Wall Street Be Like Without Apple?
What would life be like without Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL)? Most consumers can't fathom a world without iPods, iPads or iPhones. And if they can, they have to admit that many less-popular smartphones have become what they are in many respects by emulating the success of Steve Jobs and AAPL stock — even if they don't use the Apple brand. The sheer number of Apple patent challenges over the years is proof of that.
But let's look beyond the ability to update your Facebook status on your iPhone for a second and think bigger picture, about the dollars and cents of Apple and AAPL stock. Not just because these numbers are tangible and more easily quantified, but because in many respects the financial impact of Apple is perhaps the most dramatic of all.
This content was originally published on InvestorPlace.
In short, the S&P would have a whole lot less punch to it, and the "average earnings growth" of the broader market would be pretty unimpressive.
Consider that according to Thomson Reuters, "the fourth-quarter earnings growth rate for the S&P 500 is running at 8.4%, or 5.3% if Apple's results are excluded."
Think about that. Without Apple, you lose almost 3 full percentage points from the profit growth for the stock market — or at least for its most widely cited group of 500 companies.
In fact, thanks to the fact that the S&P is market cap-weighted, gadget giant Apple now accounts for a 4% of the entire Standard & Poor's index. If Apple stock was on the decline, it could theoretically cause "the market" to decline — at least as measured by this index of 500 stocks.
In short, one company has enough pull to skew the average in this benchmark that contains 500 constituent companies.
Why? Well, because Apple is that big. The S&P 500 index has an adjusted market cap of over $12.36 trillion as of this writing. Apple's market cap is $490 billion. That's, as discussed, 4% of the total index.
Here's another crazy factoid: The 4% weighting for Apple is more than all materials, telecom or utilities stocks in the S&P 500 — to make it the eighth-largest "sector" in the entire index. Materials companies make up roughly $446 billion as of Feb. 24, or 3.6% of the index. Utilities were $426 billion (3.5%), and telecom was just $335 billion (2.8%).
So if the utility sector crashed or telecoms soared, it wouldn't even show up in the S&P 500 if Apple alone moved the other way.
Other big stocks carry clout, too. It's not uncommon for a few companies to carry the bulk of a weight for an index. But Apple is the biggest of the big dogs. AAPL stock is the most valuable equity in the S&P 500, worth more than Google (NASDAQ:GOOG) and Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) combined and topping Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM) by $78 billion.
So what would life be like without Apple from a dollars-and-cents perspective? Well, unless the company's breakneck stock performance or superior earnings growth was distributed among the other S&P 500 constituents, the "stock market" would look much bleaker.
At least as measured by this benchmark, anyway. After all, Apple isn't a Dow component.
Which begs the question … what if Apple was a Dow Jones Industrial Average company?
Well, if Apple had joined the blue chips just as of Jan. 1, the Dow already would have hurtled over the 14,000 threshold, and investors would be bracing for it to break through its all-time highs. Of course, that's because the Dow is a price-weighted index and Apple's $500-plus valuation would make it overweighted in the DJIA.
Then again, AAPL stock already is overweight to some extent in the S&P 500.
In short: Any way you slice it, Apple is a market-moving stock. Without it, the Dow is significantly lower than it would be otherwise. With it, the S&P 500 is significantly higher.
Much like trying to imagine life without iPhones, it's impossible to really know if things would be significantly worse for investors and the market without Apple. Still, there's a preponderance of data that indicates Apple is arguably the most important stock on all of Wall Street.


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Lawmakers Outraged by Leaks Struggle With DOJ's AP Seizure
Though plenty of noise is being made over the Department of Justice's subpoenas of reporters' phone records, there is a steady stream of lawmakers who remain neutral about what news organizations say was a serious threat to freedom of the press.
On Wednesday, as the White House reached out to Sen. Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., to reintroduce a reporter shield bill and the congressional press galleries sent a letter to the deputy U.S. attorney general, Senate Intelligence Chairwoman Dianne Feinstein was unruffled by the rush to protect the Fourth Estate.
The California Democrat told CQ Roll Call on Wednesday that she is not yet alarmed by the Department of Justice's acquisition of phone records to and from Associated Press reporters. Feinstein is one of the few lawmakers who was vocal last summer about more aggressively prosecuting national security leaks that appeared in The New York Times on issues such as an administration "kill list" and drones.
"I'm not one of them that has said the Department of Justice has exceeded their boundaries. I think it's important that we find out exactly what was done. As I understand it, it was a very short period of time and the only thing collected was what we call metadata — which is not content of a call, it's numbers," Feinstein said in a brief interview. "I would assume because prosecutions are so difficult to make in this era that being able to trace where the leak came from to the person that receives the leak is important."
When asked about some of her colleagues who had called for more intense probes in 2012, Feinstein lamented the politicization of national security matters and those members who seem to have suddenly changed their position on the issue out of what appears on the surface to be political expediency.
"I think to some extent what we're into is an unusual effort to really find fault, and I very much regret it. But it's going to impact the credibility of the people who are doing this, long term, I think," Feinstein said.
Republicans John McCain of Arizona and John Cornyn of Texas were among the most vocal senators last summer, when they believed administration officials were leaking classified information to help President Barack Obama's re-election campaign.
"Over the past few months, there's been a disturbing stream of articles in the media. In common among them is that they cite leaked classified or highly sensitive information in what appears to be a broader administration effort to paint a portrait of the president of the United States as a strong leader on national security issues," McCain said in June 2012.
This week, when asked by CQ Roll Call whether the GOP's position has been inconsistent between the New York Times and AP incidents — and therefore before and after the 2012 presidential election — McCain presented a more nuanced view of perpetrating leaks.
"It depends. If it's a wide net and let's throw it out there and see what we catch, that's one thing. If you have specific information about an individual, then that's the Valerie Plame affair. Then you go after that individual that breached national security, so that varies," McCain said Tuesday.
Cornyn engaged in a testy exchange last June with Deputy Attorney General James Cole over the earlier national security leaks, questioning whether they constituted a federal crime and demanding to know what the DOJ was doing about it.
Yet on Wednesday, he sent a letter to Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr., prodding him on his involvement in the AP affair.
"The regulations — important guarantees of press freedom — should result in modest use of such subpoenas, which makes your statement yesterday that you were not sure how many you had authorized troubling," Cornyn wrote.
Meanwhile, Schumer reintroduced a reporter shield bill that failed to become law in 2009 but was supported by the White House and the news media at the time. The legislation would protect journalists from having to reveal confidential sources and would establish a legal framework for determining the limited national security exception circumstances under which protected information would be subject to disclosure. Otherwise, it would provide "absolute" privilege to reporters in the case of disputes.


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Antoine Fuqua to Direct and Produce Film Adaptation of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
Antoine Fuqua, known for directing movies Training Day and Magnificent Seven, is bringing a fresh adaptation of Tennessee Williams' Cat on a Hot Tin Roof to the big screen, according toVariety.
Producers Stephen C. Byrd and Alia Jones-Harvey, who backed the play's 2008 Broadway revival, which was featured an entirely Black cast, are also on board. That production, directed by Debbie Allen, starred Terrence Howard, Anika Noni Rose, James Earl Jones and Phylicia Rashad. After its limited run on Broadway, Byrd and Jones-Harvey transferred the revival to the West End, where it starred Adrian Lester and Sanaa Lathan as well as Jones and Rashad. It won the Olivier Award for Best Revival of a Play.
"Bringing such a historic production to the screen is an honor I am thrilled to have alongside Stephen and Alia," said Fuqua in a statement. "They have shown their commitment to the project with two successful stagings on Broadway and the West End and know what it takes to translate this iconic drama from theater to cinema."
Written in 1955 by Williams, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof has had several reincarnations on the screen and stage. The play premiered on Broadway in 1955 and won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. It has had Broadway five revivals, with the most recent starring Scarlett Johansson in 2013. The first film adaptation was in 1958 and starred Elizabeth Taylor and Paul Newman.
Set on a Mississippi plantation on the night of the birthday of patriarch Big Daddy, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof centers on the sexual tensions surrounding the marriage of favorite son Brick and his magnetic wife, Maggie. In an atmosphere of secrets, lies and "mendacity," which version of the truth will win?
More information, including casting and a production timeline, will be announced later.


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On June 22, 1979, The International Cat Association was founded by Georgia Morgan and a handful of cat enthusiasts. Their dream of building the most progressive, flexible and innovative cat registry in the world came true when TICA was formed.
TICA's first show was "A Midsummer Night's Dream" held at Fort Lewis, near Tacoma, Washington, on July 28, 1979. Other "first shows" were in Canada hosted by "White Hatters Cat Fanciers", on October 7, 1979, in Red Deer, Alberta, Canada; Hawaii hosted by "Mid-Pacific Cat Fanciers", on February 23, 1980, in Honolulu, Hawaii; Alaska hosted by "Alaskats", on May 3-4, 1980, in Anchorage, Alaska.
The first international region confirmed outside of North American was JAPAN. The first international show was hosted by the "All Japan Club", on March 2, 1980, in Nagoya, Japan. Since then TICA has grown to have a club and members in all 50 states of the United States, Europe, Africa, Latin America, and Asia.
In The Beginning...The Early Days of TICA
TICA - A Trend To the Future
by Georgia Morgan
From The Beginning, All We Had Was Our Word
The International Cat Association was organized/established Friday, June 22, 1979, in the Ozark Mountains of Missouri. The village of Branson (near Point Lookout) was the birthplace of our illustrious Association. Historical markers were never put in place, but most certainly the spontaneous dream of a handful of cat enthusiasts, reinforced by their courage, foresight, and intestinal fortitude that inspired the establishment of TICA are worth remembering. They have served as the endowment of the most progressive, flexible, and innovative cat registry in the world.
As the newly elected President of ACFA, I called a Board Meeting at Point Lookout, Missouri for Wednesday, June 20, 1979 to enable the elected members of the Board of Directors to observe firsthand the workings of the Central Office, to review established policy, to meet the employees, to establish a preliminary budget, to work out some existing irregularities, and to establish a congenial working relationship with the entire Board; our first Annual Meeting was scheduled in less than 3 months. It was extremely important that the group work harmoniously, address the issues causing concern with the membership, and be aware that ultimate changes were vital. Over a 2-day period all attempts to establish an amenable working relationship, to go forward with a hardbound yearbook, to work on a revised judging system, to promote recognition for Household Pets, and to present a budget for the Association were discussed at length and subsequently rejected. By noon of the second day, we had definitely reached a stalemate.
The Board Members that attended this meeting were: Vice-President, Larry Paul, South Central Regional Director, Arthel Scheuermann, Southeast Regional Director, Jim Costello, Southwest Regional Director, Les Hight, Northwest Regional Director, Jacob Ash, Canadian Regional Director, Jeanne Jeffrey, Executive Secretary, Cora Swan (this position had voting privileges on the Board of Directors), Bulletin Editor, Ed Rugenstein, previous President, Lila Rippey, and myself. Additionally, we were encouraged by the presence of some other stalwart supporters, Jack and Barbara Reark from Florida, and Nancee Beamer of Texas.
We reconvened after lunch and experienced the same hard-nosed resistance, making it evident no compromise was possible and would never materialize. At this point, Jim Costello said he was convinced that it would be impossible to fulfill his obligations to the membership, and then he resigned. This action was followed by the resignations of Arthel Scheuermann, Larry Paul, Les Hight, and myself, all stating the same reason: we could no longer fulfill our obligations to our constituents. Jeanne Jeffrey and Jacob Ash stated they would discuss it with their membership (a few weeks later Jeanne Jeffrey joined our group). When the dust started to clear after the explosion, leaving only the debris, it suddenly hit home we were through, at least for the moment.
I must admit some of us had lofty ideas, perhaps a vision or a dream, at least in our minds about how the "Ideal Cat Registry" should function. Quite naturally we were met with staunch resistance and learned quickly there was a major difference in the philosophy of the newly elected group and the "old guard". How do you say immovable object?
We decided to go back to our rooms, get some rest, collect our thoughts, ponder about our immediate future in the cat fancy, and reconvene over dinner. What we actually did was return a myriad of telephone calls, relaying the most recent episodes in this scenario which sounded like a soap opera, using scratching posts and humor as prompting cards. Of course the cat fancy being what it is (basically the same in 1979), the news spread faster than a hurricane, which of course created absolute chaos with the telephone lines into Branson, Missouri: hundreds of friends and cat fanciers had been jamming the Motel switchboard the entire week to keep current on the latest developments. Remember - we only had "Hot Air Balloon" service at our location. During our conversations, each of us "tested the waters", so to speak: WHAT IF, we decided to establish another association - would you be in agreement - are you interested??? The overwhelmingly positive response was beyond our wildest dreams.
We deliberated during dinner, reviewing and discussing our options (not many at this point): organize a new association (we certainly were of the opinion that the cat fancy didn't need another registry), join an existing group, or make a hasty retreat and leave the cat fancy. Make a hasty retreat, absolutely not, consequently, we never entertained the idea of leaving the cat fancy. Collectively, we decided joining an existing registry had all the appeal of a western hoe-down for ballet performers. We were far too innovative and progressive to be satisfied with joining an existing registry, besides they would have run us out of town on a rail. So that left only one solution: organize another cat association designed to include the most attractive features from current registries, implement professional management, establish an Annual Awards extravaganza, start a Genetic Registry, produce a hardback Yearbook, and eliminate political rhetoric from the official publications. Only one problem: no finances. No matter how you cut it, the decision to go for it was made Friday evening June 22, 1979 - the die was cast. So head first we took the plunge.
Now the hard work commences. HOW, WHEN, WHERE? We needed an office, an Executive Secretary, a location, a name. Wouldn't you know Larry Paul recommended TICA (The International Cat Association) and fortunately we all agreed. We decided to retain the position and title we held upon our arrival two or three days earlier, and function in interim status until an official election could be held. While Larry, Arthel, Jim, and Les were on the phone recruiting judges, and volunteers to serve the other three regions and an Editor for our publications, I was organizing and planning the Executive Office.
Recalling a recent conversation with Bob Mullen, concerning his employment with "Let's Make A Deal", his interest in becoming Executive Secretary of ACFA, and knowing that he maintained an office in Burbank, California, gave me an instant thought - maybe, just maybe Bob would be interested. So I called him Saturday night, June 23, 1979, from Springfield, Missouri, and asked if he were interested in a new cat association, and more importantly, the position of Executive Secretary of that association (The International Cat Association). He said yes, and accepted the challenge without a moment's hesitation. Since the thought of another cat association had been spontaneous; we certainly didn't have a treasury, and no legacy, not even enough to rent office space or pay an employee (in fact not one red cent). So Bob agreed that until we had acquired a cash flow, he would run the office for the paltry sum of $200.00 a week (Starvation Wages).
By this time with the Executive Office issue a reality, the rest of our group had secured a Northeast Regional Director, Helmi Ehrhart, a North Central Regional Director, Dr. Patricia Hevenor, a Northwest Regional Director, Dan Gornan, an Editor, Roland Lindsey, a slew of judges (see the list of judges below - this almost doubled by the printing of the second volume, including ten from Japan, seven from Canada, one from Hawaii, and one from Alaska), and an unbelievable number of clubs had made a commitment to join our "Gusty Clan".
Bob Mullen organized, and managed the first Executive Office, and furnished his own office equipment. He had the Office open and operational at 211 East Olive, Suite 201, Burbank, California 91502, even including a telephone, by July 5, 1979. The Office was inundated in less than a week after opening, with an avalanche of documents for processing, which included cat registrations, membership and cattery applications, letters, applications for club charters and show licenses... enough paper to fill a boxcar. This deluge was the result of an introductory offer of $1.00 per cat for registration, an offer almost no one could refuse. Of course, with the fee at $1.00 per registration, after processing, typing, mailing, etc., it was virtually impossible to maintain a salaried staff.
During the ensuing weeks, which crept into months, Bob's staff (made up of his enthusiastic friends) came to sort mail, maintain records, prepare membership cards, type, code the cats, preparatory to typing registration certificates, and whatever else needed to be done. CODE the cats? Yes, a completely new theory, and a new system - a genetic registry - designed, developed, and furnished by Solveig Pflueger (later appointed as chairman of the Genetics Committee), which was eventually implemented. Mind-boggling? Try phasing in and making a new system operational, just when you have opened a new office, with literally hundreds of cats to be registered, letters to be answered, forms to be developed and printed, membership records to be prepared, new clubs waiting for their charters, show supplies to be shipped... remember, our first TICA show was held July 28, 1979.
Upon my return home from Missouri, and just committing myself to God only knew what, I didn't have a free moment, neither did anyone else and still don't, believing that very day there would be a breather. But, aside from the constant ring of the telephone (day and night), I made time to compile, copy and mail the first TICA communication (see below for link to PDF). This was mailed to every person who was or who had ever been in the cat fancy. The price list appeared in the first issue of the TICA Trend (see below). This memorandum was captioned "TICA - A TREND TO THE FUTURE IN THE CAT FANCY", and a closing remark "JOIN THE TREND TO TICA". In a matter of days, Roland Lindsey, our newly appointed volunteer Editor was already preparing the first issue of our newsletter. During one of our many telephone conversations, he asked, what will we call the newsletter, and almost instantly I said call it the "TICA Trend". He agreed and so did the rest of the Board members. So you can see first hand what inspired the name of our "TICA Trend". Little did Roland know at that moment that he would (with the able assistance of his wife, Linda Lindsey) also be the Editor of the first TICA Yearbook.
Download the full First TICA Communication Letter
Breathing spell? One never developed. From the time the Office opened, the response was overwhelming, and the workload increased to the point where Bob was forced to farm the work out to associates, friends, and of course, other feline enthusiasts. Due to the infancy of our Association, and our spontaneous eruption, it took months to develop and prepare the publications and forms that were required for operation of the business. This meant even more time was required to build a treasury necessary to pay salaries. During our first Board of Directors meeting in Atlanta, Georgia, November 1, 1979, Bob's salary was increased to $300.00 per week, however, he voluntarily elected to use those funds to offset the expenses in maintaining the Office. Bob and his volunteer staff functioned in this capacity until December of 1979, when the first full-time employee was hired. In addition to the physical and mental work, these volunteers who graciously gave freely of their time also furnished their moral support at a crucial time in the development of our Association.
The Executive Office crippled along status quo for a few months with Bob and his volunteers, and one full-time employee. With increasing activity, the workload demanded additional employees because it is impossible to rely on volunteer labor forever. May of 1980, our Executive Secretary, Bob Mullen announced that the backlog of registrations which flooded the Office since the formation had been cleared, and paperwork was being handled on a current basis.
Unfortunately for TICA, in August of 1980 Bob (for the sake of survival) returned to "Let's Make A Deal". His exit came simultaneously with the second Annual Board of Directors meeting, and the FIRST Annual Awards ceremonies, held in Pasadena, California. Revenue for the first fiscal year (07/01/79-06/30/80) was a little more than $27, 000.00. September 1, 1980, Mark Walters (already an employee) was selected by the Board of Directors as the second Executive Secretary. Again, an unfortunate event as Mark was forced to resign within a couple of weeks.
Another crucial period for our Association, no Executive Secretary, practically no funds or time to recruit the caliber of employee that was required to manage the Office. Really a dilemma, but we were still in it for the long haul, and upheld our commitment.
Since the Executive Office was in Burbank and most importantly the Southwest Region, the brunt of the catastrophe fell on that Regional Director's head. Les Hight had resigned earlier in the year as Director due to pressing matters at school, and Mary Haffner had been appointed Interim Director to finish the term (she was later elected as Regional Director). Of course Mary was the "Point Man", so to speak, and like all TICA people she accepted the challenge without hesitation, with the able assistance of Marc Costa who immediately responded by volunteering his services. Together they came up with a workable agreement to handle this latest catastrophe. Please remember these two members also had a life of their own. They said, if the Board was in agreement they would function as Co-Managers in a volunteer status (no salary I might also add) until we could locate an Executive Secretary. Of course we were exuberant, and graciously accepted their offer. This action took place around the middle of September 1980.
The Office functioned smoothly and efficiently under their management. However, this arrangement could not go on indefinitely, so the Board continued to search for a suitable permanent employee. Finally Jim Costello, the Southeastern Regional Director said he was interested in the position as Business Manager, and he agreed to make the move to California. The Board approved his appointment and Jim started in late February 1981, with the existing salary of $300.00 per week. By November of 1981 it was evident to Jim that it was impossible for him to exist on this salary, and support a young son. He had kept the Board advised on the status of revenue, and expenditures (expenditures surpassed revenue).
The middle of February, 1982, I drove to Burbank, California to make a personal observation about the predicament we were in. When I arrived at the Office there were three full-time employees (Jim Costello, Carol Seigal, David Villarreal), one part-time employee (Ron Durkell) on the payroll, and one employee (Bob Mullen) in contract labor status. Then I learned that our liabilities were astronomical, we owed over $20, 000.00 to: The Internal Revenue Service (in the process of filing a lien on the Association) for nonpayment of taxes or 940's and 941's, the State of California (Employment Development Department), Xerox Company, PIP (printer), Office Supply, Cats Magazine, Pacific Telephone, and even Bob Mullen had not be reimbursed for the part of his salary he had used for operating expenses (during his employment), plus rental fee for his office equipment.
Another critical period in the history of TICA. With the financial status we were facing, there was no way we could increase Jim's salary, so he resigned February 25, 1982. Of course we still didn't have funds to recruit a suitable replacement, or even pay the salary. Instead of staying a few days, which had been my intent, I ended up staying a little more than three months. During this period of time, I took complete charge of the Office. First bunking with Mary in Carson (quite a long drive back and forth through heavy traffic to Burbank - actually clear across Los Angeles), and then finally moving into Burbank. I spent an average of ten hours a day in the Office, including Saturday and Sunday, unless I was judging a show or going with Mary to Santa Catalina Island or Griffith Park, stress relief for us both.
It was obvious we could not continue going further in debt (beside the breath of the IRS was getting hotter); I had several conferences with them, and the State of California. Eventually we worked out a payment schedule, but green backs were a scarce commodity during those lean months that evolved into a couple of years. It was scrape and save, of course the $300.00 a week that had been designated as salary for a Business Manager (that we no longer employed), was applied to our outstanding indebtedness (this was possible because my time was donated, no salary and I was acting as Business Manager). It was obvious to me that it would take more than a few months to not only pay our debts, but to build the Association to the status we envisioned, but I knew it could be accomplished with dedication and hard work. It was imperative that the Association function as a business, and at the same time acquire solvency. The word went out by the 1st of March that we would be recruiting for a Business Manager. An article appeared in the next issue of the TICA Trend to do just that. The Board of Directors received several applications for the Business Manager position at the Semi-Annual meeting in Greensboro, and invited others to submit applications before June 1st. Copies of the application were to be sent to the Executive Office, with sufficient copies for each Board member. The application was to include anticipated salary, cost of labor if a move of the Office was proposed, and the cost of office space in the proposed location. We received numerous applications, requiring the Office to be moved to various locations: Port Lucie, Florida; Seattle, Washington; Boise, Idaho; Houston, Texas; and Charleston, South Carolina, to name just a few. Without exception, the office rent was higher, and employee salaries were about the same as Burbank, but the Business Manager salary was placed at an average of $25, 000.00 annually. Since the Association was in critical condition financially, and didn't have the funds to pay an annual salary, as stipulated in the applications, none of them were accepted. Please be aware that revenue for fiscal year 1981-1982 was just over $30, 000.00.
During this time some of the Board members asked if I would remain in California and manage the Office. This was of course impossible because everything I owned (my home, and other real estate properties), besides a few clothes and a car were in Texas. I offered to manage the Executive Office in Harlingen, Texas, as Interim Business Manager (donating my time - with no salary, and taking a leave of absence from judging), until the Association was solvent and could pay a permanent Business Manager. The Board of Directors voted to relocate the Executive Office, and to extend the time for interested persons to apply for the permanent position of Business Manager. All applications had to be submitted no later than one month prior to the 1983 Annual meeting. The Board, without a dissenting vote, requested that I relocate the Office to Harlingen, Texas.
This decision was made early in May 1982. I immediately started making preparations for the move, by opening a bank account, obtaining a post office box, securing office space, and a telephone in Harlingen, plus all the forms, publications, and stationary were stamped with our new address, and a notice was placed in the TICA Trend. Of the employees that worked for TICA, only one, David Villarreal, elected to stay with the Association, and move to Texas with the Office. In fact he drove the U-Haul truck with all our worldly possessions/assets/liabilities: a desk and credenza for which Jim Costello had paid $75.00, a Xerox machine that we were in the process of purchasing (we still owed $2, 500.00), one typewriter desk and one rickety chair, one student desk with broken drawers, two (donated) typewriters that required reconditioning, one used calculator, a used file cabinet, boxes of 201's (individual cat files) a staple machine, forms, AND enough indebtedness to last a lifetime.
David left Burbank May 28, 1982, with our worldly possessions, and arrived in Harlingen, Texas, on June 1st. We unloaded the truck, and were open for business June 2, 1982. Upon our arrival the post office box was already brimming with documents for processing. David and I managed to keep the work current until July with the workload kept increasing, in fact we were becoming inundated. I then hired Betty Moss (for an unbelievable salary of $800.00 per month), followed by Del Diaz in part-time status (minimum wage - $3.35 per hour) who later moved to full-time. With three employees on board I had time to establish accounts with the printing company, paper company, office supply, maintenance agreements for equipment, UPS, Federal Express, and file the Corporation documents with the State of Texas, prepare standard operating procedures, and guidelines for the staff. We still had our noses to the grind stone, the work load was constantly increasing, and the Association was still making payments to our creditors. However, our financial future looked brighter: revenue for fiscal year 07/01/82-06/30/83 was over $84, 000.00.
The Annual Board meeting was held in Jacksonville, Florida, September 1-4, 1983. No applications for Business Manager were presented, so I continued as Interim Business Manager, until the Semi-Annual Board meeting when Betty was appointed to that position. Unfortunately she had to resign quite suddenly on February 22, 1984, when her husband was transferred, and I returned as Interim Business Manager. Leslie Bowers was hired as an Administrative Assistant (salary still $800.00 per month) to fill the position vacated by Betty, and came on duty February 28, 1984. Our revenue was still increasing, and of course so were our expenditures; however, while still paying on the IRS indebtedness, all other creditors had been paid.
In the summer of 1984, the Board of Directors felt it was time to employ a permanent Executive Secretary. All applications were reviewed at the Annual Board of Directors meeting August 22-24, 1984, and Don Shaw was selected for the position, with the salary of $1, 000.00 per month, increased to $1, 400.00 per month on December 1, 1984, and he would continue judging. This action meant an additional employee would be added to the payroll and the Association was not in position at this point to increase salaries by this amount. David was paid $1, 195.00 per month, Leslie $800.00 per month, Del $150.00 per week, and a part-time (Lorraine) $3.35 per hour. A drastic decision had to be made quickly, do I terminate two employees or one? There was n o way I could afford to lose two well trained employees, not to mention that I had spent more than 3, 000 hours over a period of time to train these employees. That meant terminating the one with the salary commensurate with the new employee's salary coming on board. Which meant David, because the Association could not financially accommodate both salaries.
Don reported for duty October 3, 1984. Of course he needed time to find a residence, move in, and get established, in addition to his judging assignments, which required his absence from the Office usually on Friday, and/or Monday, presented a problem in keeping the document processing current. In order to alleviate the problem the part-time employee was advanced to full-time. The workload was extremely demanding, and the atmosphere strained; I was still working night and day (it seemed), however, it was impossible to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Another catastrophe for our Association, by the end of December both Leslie and Lorraine had resigned, and by the end of January, Del had given her notice of resignation. It was obvious by now this arrangement just wasn't workable, and with the approval of the Board of Directors, Don was terminated on February 7, 1985.
I convinced David to return to his previous position, since he hadn't found employment, but the other three former employees had secured other employment. Eventually, I was fortunate enough to convince Leslie and Lorraine to return to their old jobs (early March), with a pay increase for both because of their concern surrounding the permanency of their positions, but we worked out a suitable agreement, firmed up with contracts approved by the Board of Directors. Del had secured another position, and would not return. March 1, Leslie was appointed Executive Secretary, and the Board of Directors appointed her Business Manager/Executive Secretary during the 1986 Annual meeting in San Rafael, California, a position she still holds. Lorraine returned in the same position, and later was processing the mail, preparing deposits, and maintaining club charter records. She is still an employee.
The past 20 years we have weathered indebtedness, a lawsuit, threats of lawsuits, an IRS audit, competitors, rumors, rumors, and more RUMORS, and numerous Executive Secretaries/Business Managers; many changes in the Regional Directors, volunteer positions, committees (both chairpersons and members), numerous Editors to the helm of the TICA Trend and the TICA Yearbook; and we still survived. On a lighter side, the indebtedness to the Internal Revenue Service was all paid in 1984, and I finally convinced the Board in 1994 (after I had offered to pay for a "Certified Audit" myself in 1991, which the Board declined), that a Certified Audit was long past due, and they agreed. We were all elated when the Certified Audit from the CPA revealed that TICA had been a viable business for years, but could now BOAST that financial status had been verified by an accounting firm. Some of our other accomplishments include: originating, formalizing, and activating a simplified point system for earning titles of distinction for ALL cats; registration of Household Pets and awarding distinctive titles; establishment of an Annual Awards system for Regional and International winners with each region flaunting Regional Banquets and Awards ceremonies, and an International Annual Convention, Banquet and Awards Extravaganza, supported by our Association; establishment of a unique streamlined judging system, whereby cats are entered without identity - no means of previous titles being available; established a genetic registry with a complete inventory of possible colors.
Like every new organization or corporation that has appeared in the cat fancy since the first association was chartered in the early part of this century, TICA was established because of the strong convictions of a few: that a cat association should give equal representation to all cats, maintain a close alliance with scientific researchers, provide an avenue to insure that the cat fancy remain an elite group, and always promote camaraderie among enthusiasts, breeders, exhibitors, and spectators at the shows; it is imperative that the association be managed as a business, that governing be handled as a continuous action in support of the association's goals, always function with an open progressive mind, and be receptive to change.
Of course, what really set TICA apart from the beginning were the alternative options offered to the cat fancy, the instantaneous impact, and the sudden phenomenal ascent to become operational in a short period of time. Within days, even hours after our positive decision was announced to GO FOR IT, we had a full slate of Regional Directors, an Executive Office, an Editor, a fabulous slate of judges, new clubs taking the plunge by affiliating with TICA, and then scheduling their shows. The number of volunteers was incredible, waiting for appointments to fill the positions that were essential to a successful business in the beginning and the following years. Some of these are:
- TICA Trend Editor, Roland Lindsey, followed by Frances Yow, Prissie LaJaunie, Nancy Nolen, Ron and Wendy Klamm, Leslie Bowers, Alice Rhea, and currently Cathy Welch;
- YEARBOOK Editor, Roland Lindsey, followed by Alice Hanby, Nancy Nolen, Jerry Thompson, and back to Nancy Nolen;
- Genetics Chairperson, Solveig Pflueger;
- TICA Scorer, Sue Servies;
- Director of Training and Development, later Judging Administrator, Gloria Stephens (the first one being Woody Rice);
- Clerking Program Director, Ken Ehrhart, followed by Sue Pannell, Nancy Turner (now Parkinson), Vickie Shields, and Dewane Barnes;
- Ballot Judge Brenda Kinnunen, Mary Haffner, followed by Marge Hanna;
Of course, as months went by numerous committees were established and filled; the first election to fill the Breed Committees was held March 1980; the first election for President, Vice-President and Regional Directors was held in October 1980. In fact, the first TICA show was held five weeks after the rallying calls from Branson, Missouri.
This first show "A Midsummer Night's Dream", was held at Fort Lewis, near Tacoma, Washington, July 28, 1979. This event was co-hosted by Olympicats (Lance Metcalf, co-Show Manager) of Olympia, Washington, and Quality Cats (Dan Gorman, co-Show Manager) of Spokane, Washington, Entry Clerk was Joi McNamara, and Assistant Entry Clerk was Bobbie Myers (now Tullo). These feline enthusiasts, plus about 50 more were all charter members of the first TICA club that was chartered. "Commencement", with charter #1, was reactivated and is hosting a twenty-year anniversary show in July 1999. The first show in Canada was hosted by "White Hatters Cat Fanciers", October 7, 1979, in Red Deer, Alberta, Canada; first show in Hawaii was hosted by "Mid-Pacific Cat Fanciers", February 23, 1980, in Honolulu, Hawaii; first show in Alaska was hosted by "Alaskats", May 3-4, 1980, in Anchorage, Alaska. Point of Interest: The first designated region outside of the North American continent that confirmed our International presence was JAPAN, the first International Regional Director was Jun Negami, followed by Mrs. Chieko Ohira. The first TICA show hosted by the "All Japan Club", was held March 2, 1980, in Nagoya, Japan.
Kudos and Accolades to the thousands of feline enthusiasts who have been named in this article, and to those whose names have not been mentioned; for instance, the members that registered their cats, exhibited, claimed their titles, chartered TICA clubs, hosted shows, and gave their unconditional support of a new endeavor.
When I started compiling this article and reiterating the past, it all seemed like a dream. Perhaps it was, but what a fabulous dream.
With a parting word, I can say, and I stand firm on my convictions, that you can accomplish anything if you believe in yourself, recognize the abilities of your contemporaries, accept change as inevitable, and meet the daily challenges without hesitation. The International Cat Association, Inc.™ (TICA) is the spontaneous dream of a few evolved into reality. From our humble beginning, when all we had for an international cat association was "OUR WORD" and thousands of devoted feline enthusiasts who migrated to TICA with "blind faith", and their support. Since that day in June 1979, when TICA was declared an international cat association, the growth pattern has been constant; based on numerous indicators, such as shows, exhibitors, revenue, members, club charters, registrations, etc. Projected revenue for fiscal year 07/01/98-06/30/99 is over one-half million dollars.
Would I be a part of this endeavor, if I had it to do over again? My answer is a resounding YES.


text:
A gut punch of a book in the style of Le Guin, Atwood, and Butler. Claire G. Coleman's debut novel blazes with truth."
-- Kelly Link, author of Get in Trouble
Terra Nullius (def): land belonging to no one; no man's land
"Jacky was running. There was no thought in his head, only an intense drive to run. There was no sense he was getting anywhere, no plan, no destination, no future. All he had was a sense of what was behind, what he was running from. Jacky was running."
The Natives of the Colony are restless. The Settlers are eager to bring peace to their new home, and they have a plan for how to achieve it. They will tear Native families apart and provide re-education to those who do not understand why they should submit to their betters.
Peace and prosperity are worth any price, but who will pay it? This rich land, Australia, will provide for all if only the Natives can learn their place.
Jacky has escaped the Home where the Settlers sent him, but where will he go? The Head of the Department for the Protection of Natives, known to Settlers and Natives alike as the Devil, is chasing Jacky. And when the Devil catches him, Sister Bagra, who knows her duty to the ungodly, will be waiting for Jacky back at Home.
An incendiary, timely, and fantastical debut from an essential Australian Aboriginal writer, Claire G. Coleman.
Do you recognize this story? Look again.
This is not Australia as we know it. This is not the Australia of our history books. This Terra Nullius -- shortlisted for the 2018 Stella Prize and Highly Commended for the Victorian Premiers Literary Awards -- is something new, but all too familiar.
6" x 9", 320 pages
Published by Small Beer Press