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I was personally involved in crafting the policy and while I can't make commitments or speak officially for PayPal I thought I'd take a few minutes to explain our thinking on a few of the items in the policy.
First, a few points. PayPal didn't have a great system for reporting security issues until this new policy came out. Our goals in creating and publishing the policy were several:
- Improve the security of our site by getting security issues disclosed to us responsibly.
- Create an easy mechanism for people to report a security vulnerability to us. We chose email since we figured security researchers would like it better than a form.
- Create incentives for disclosure and remove disincentives (threat of legal liability)
- Make clear our expectations in these areas, since this is a new and evolving area of security vulnerability disclosure with more than a little legal uncertainty.
- Through our policy - set a standard we hope others can follow.
A few specific notes are in order:
- We will revise the policy over time based on user feedback.
- We are serious in our commitment to rapidly address any discovered security issues with the site. Our language around reasonable timeframe is slightly vague because we don't want to over-promise on how quickly we can resolve an issue.
- We do expect to get back to researchers quickly with confirmation of a reported issue and tracking data on how we're doing resolving it.
Chris Shiflett said:
Since data can be anything, how do we know if we view data without authorization? Don't most people assume they're authorized to view something if they're allowed to view it? Does intent matter?While we don't want users to test the security of the PayPal site, should they do so they should be careful to minimize the disruption caused by their testing. If you start tinkering with URLs to see whether you can view certain data, do it between two accounts you control, don't try to view other people's data. There is a fine line between testing responsibly and irresponsibly and we're encouraging people to stay on the more responsible side of the line.
From Don's post:
I got a creepy feeling about actually trusting the statement. I will probably never attempt to test the security of PayPal's site, but for those who do I would hate for the disclosure statement to change suddenly.As I said earlier, we do believe the policy is a work in progress. We will modify it from time to time to allay concerns, improve its effectiveness, etc. Our goal however is to encourage responsible disclosure. I hope that intent behind the policy is enough to allay people's potential fears.
One final note on the statement - "Allow us reasonable time to respond to the issue before disclosing it publicly." We struggled over the wording on this more than any other element of the policy. It is a tricky business to get the right balance between early disclosure, our commitment to protect our customers and their data, and people's desire to know about the security of a given website or service. That said, we're committed to working with researchers when an issue is reported to us and we'll decide reasonable on a case-by-case basis.
We're hoping that this policy strikes a good balance between our desire for responsible disclosure, and not discouraging researchers from coming forward.
Again, I'm not a spokesperson for PayPal, so this post naturally represents my personal beliefs about this policy not a firm binding statement of company policy. That said - I welcome your comments.


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The FDA recently banned the use of common chemicals in household soaps because they have not been shown to be safe or even have any benefit.
Sarah Ades, Pennsylvania State University and Kenneth Keiler, Pennsylvania State University
An FDA ruling on Sept. 2 bans the use of triclosan, triclocarban and 17 other antiseptics from household soaps because they have not been shown to be safe or even have any benefit.
About 40 percent of soaps use at least one of these chemicals, and the chemicals are also found in toothpaste, baby pacifiers, laundry detergents and clothing. It is in some lip glosses, deodorants and pet shampoos.
The current FDA action bans antiseptics like triclosan in household soaps only. It does not apply to other products like antiseptic gels designed to be used without water, antibacterial toothpaste or the many fabrics and household utensils in which antibacterials are embedded. Data suggest that the toothpastes are very effective for people suffering from gum disease, although it is not clear if they provide substantial benefits for those who don't have gingivitis.
The FDA is currently evaluating the use of antibacterials in gels and will rule on how those products should be handled once the data are in.
Although antibacterials are still in products all around us, the current ban is a significant step forward in limiting their use.
As microbiologists who study a range of chemicals and microbes, we will explain why we don't we need to kill all the bacteria. We also will explain how antibiotic soaps may even be bad by contributing to antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria that can be dangerous.
Bacteria can be good
Bacteria are everywhere in the environment and almost everywhere in our bodies, and that is mostly good.
We rely on bacteria in our guts to provide nutrients and to signal our brains, and some bacteria on our skin help protect us from harmful pathogens.
Bacteria in soil can be bad for you. www.shutterstock.com
Some bacteria present in soil and animal waste can cause infections if they are ingested, however, and washing is important to prevent bacteria from spreading to places where they can cause harm.
Washing properly with soap and water removes these potential pathogens. If you have any questions about hand washing, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has a great site where you can learn more.
If soap and water are sufficient to remove potential pathogens, why were antibacterials like triclosan and triclocarban added in the first place?
Triclosan was introduced in 1972. These chemicals were originally used for cleaning solutions, such as before and during surgeries, where removing bacteria is critical and exposure for most people is short. Triclosan and triclocarban may be beneficial in these settings, and the FDA ruling does not affect health care or first aid uses of the chemicals.
In the 1990s, manufacturers started to incorporate triclosan and triclocarban in products for the average consumer, and many people were attracted by claims that these products killed more bacteria.
Now antibacterial chemicals can be found in many household products, from baby toys to fabrics to soaps. Laboratory tests show the addition of these chemicals can reduce the number of bacteria in some situations. However, studies in a range of environments, including urban areas in the United States and squatter settlements in Pakistan, have shown that the inclusion of antibacterials in soap does not reduce the spread of infectious disease. Because the goal of washing is human health, these data indicate that antibacterials in consumer soaps do not provide any benefit.
While not all bad, bacteria are promiscuous
What's the downside to having antibacterials in soap? It is potentially huge, both for those using it and for society as a whole. One concern is whether the antibacterials can directly harm humans.
Triclosan had become so prevalent in household products that in 2003 a nationwide survey of healthy individuals found it in the urine of 75 percent of the 2,517 people tested. Triclosan has also been found in human plasma and breast milk.
Most studies have not shown any direct toxicity from triclosan, but some animal studies indicate that triclosan can disrupt hormone systems. We do not know yet whether triclosan affects hormones in humans.
Another serious concern is the effect of triclosan on antibiotic resistance in bacteria. Bacteria evolve resistance to nearly every threat they face, and triclosan is no exception.
Triclosan isn't used to treat disease, so why does it matter if some bacteria become resistant? Some of the common mechanisms that bacteria use to evade triclosan also let them evade antibiotics that are needed to treat disease. When triclosan is present in the environment, bacteria that have these resistance mechanisms grow better than bacteria that are still susceptible, so the number of resistant bacteria increases.
Not only are bacteria adaptable, they are also promiscuous. Genes that let them survive antibiotic treatment are often found on pieces of DNA that can be passed from one bacterium to another, spreading resistance.
These mobile pieces of DNA frequently have several different resistance genes, making the bacteria that contain them resistant to many different drugs. Bacteria that are resistant to triclosan are more likely to also be resistant to unrelated antibiotics, suggesting that the prevalence of triclosan can spread multi-drug resistance. As resistance spreads, we will not be able to kill as many pathogens with existing drugs.
Important in some settings
Antibacterial washes are important for surgery. From www.shutterstock.com
Antibiotics were introduced in the 1940s and revolutionized the way we lead our lives. Common infections and minor scrapes that could be fatal became easily treatable. Surgeries that were once unthinkable due to the risk of infection are now routine.
However, bacteria are becoming stronger due to decades of antibiotic use and misuse. New drugs will help, but if we do not protect the antibiotics we have now more people will die from infections that used to be easily treated. Removing triclosan from consumer products will help protect antibiotics and limit the threat of toxicity from extended exposure, without any adverse effect on human health.
The FDA ruling is a welcome first step to cleansing the environment of chemicals that provide little health value to most people but pose significant risk to individuals and to public health. To a large extent, this ruling is a victory of science over advertising.
Sarah Ades, Associate Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University and Kenneth Keiler, Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University
This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.

subset: commoncrawl


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An update on yesterday's inflammatory post....
I received an email from Jennifer Grenz, (pictured above with her twins) She's the original creator of the current Cloverdale group that banned Rick Kaselj due to the "security of our children" She had broken away from the Canadian group because she thought the idea of excluding men was "totally ridiculous".
In short, I connected Jennifer with Rick and they are now planning on starting a new playgroup together for all moms and dads.
Below is the full explanation from Jennifer I received of how this decision to exclude dads was reached.
I just wanted to let you know that I am the original creator of that particular meetup and was horrified by the decision of the new organizer. My original vision for the group was that it be a PARENTS group. I stepped down as organizer several months ago as I have 16 month old twins and another on the way!
I wanted the group to include all parents because I have met and befriended a number of dads that stay home with their kids. I also wanted my husband to be able to meet some other guys in the neighbourhood.
I received an email about this so-called issue by the new organizer and urged her to reconsider as I though this was totally ridiculous. The organizer was concerned about security of children. Funny that the statistics involved in abuse and kid napping point more towards women than men. I shake my head and hope that you don't lump all the women in that group with the decision of the organizer. Supposedly a poll went out to the group regarding this issue however the poll was confusing as it had multiple questions and not one that pointedly asked whether dads should be allowed in the group with a yes or no answer. Not many members actually responded.
There will be a follow up story in the paper about this. I did an interview with the writer yesterday. I am planning to start a new group up that will be sure to include all parents which will hopefully attract all of you, forward thinking people.
I am so glad this issue was taken to the paper (Surry Now Online) and that it is getting the attention it deserves. Children are happier and more successful individuals when their fathers play an active role in their lives. Three cheers to all of you and I hope to meet some more local dads for an empathetic ear about teething and the terrible twos.
Updated: Monday, 17 November 2008 5:36 PM EST
Post Comment | View Comments (6) | Permalink | Share This Post


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Morrow County SART Team Members Share why they serve sexual assault survivors.
Delaware County Team Members Share why they serve sexual assault survivors.
Call 740.369.3316 or 419.947.2520 or 1.800.684.2324, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to talk with a LIVE information and support specialist.
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Need Resources or Information? Call 2-1-1 or 800.684.2324 or search our free online database CLICK HERE TO SEARCH NOW!
*Standard msg & data rates may apply.Text STOP to opt-out. For end user privacy terms and conditions of texting with 898211, go to: www.preventionpaystext.com/policies. Powered by PreventionPays Text.


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Get your mess on!
Life is messy. Get over it.
Friday, September 23, 2011
Puffy Paint
I can't believe I've never tried this project before. It was so easy and fun that I ended up doing it three times this week... first with my own kids, then as a project at my son's school, and then with our music class. I have a little bit of PTSD after working with lots and lots of squirrelly little 4 and 5 year olds. In particular my own kids, who tend to just dump out all the paint, smear it all over their bodies, and then run away screaming. They can engage with art projects sometimes, but it's a delicate trick... figuring out what will draw them in. This project was perfect because the bottles are just so irresistible to squeeze that no one could deny their hypnotic powers. And the finished products all ended up looking really cool... not that that is necessarily necessary.... I especially liked how it looked on the black background.
Puffy Paint
1 c. salt
1 c. flour
1 c. water
a healthy squirt of food coloring or tempera paint.
Put in squeeze bottles for Puffy Paint Paradise.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Tinkering for grown-ups
I was invited to do this team-building activity for a group from Whole Foods this week.This was so much fun... We made drawbots and desktop succulent gardens out of sardine cans (my kids have been insane for sardines lately... seriously they're almost on par with candy to use as a lure to get them to do my bidding). I really think the tinkering is a great way to break adults out of their shells. My heart was SO greatly warmed seeing these sweet folks get so excited... laughing, shrieking, problem-solving... it was totally adorable.
I have been doing a lot of work on
Austin Tinkering School
lately... just trying to get it all ship-shape so that it can hopefully be a real actual livelihood that can perchance support my whole family in the manner to which they've become accustomed. My husband recently quit his job to work with me full time on ATS(Unbelievable! Amazing! Terrifying! Exciting! Wild and wonderful! ) so this is not very hypothetical and these musings are quite pertinent to our life. Matt quit his job mid-summer and did all the tinkering camps with me, which was perfectly amazing, and that's the kind of completely exciting and satisfying and hands-on work that we love. Since then there's actually been about a 6 week period with hardly any classes (they all start next week) and we've just been thinking website, registration forms, 'pay now' buttons (ooh! fancy!), tax ID numbers, all this stuff I could never get to on my own and is simply amazing to be getting to now, with Matt's help. However I have found myself to be getting bogged down, and I've been thinking that I needed to refresh and revive myself and remind myself of what I am after here, like WHY does Austin Tinkering School need to come to life. Yes, it's a money-making venture, and that's important, but I don't think that should really be the taproot of the whole thing. If money is simply all I need it would surely be faster and easier to just get a job at Starbucks. Anyway, this is all a very garbledy and roundabout way of saying that I think the purpose of it all is just to bring that excitement of creation and making to people's lives. I can't say we always achieve it but there were lots of great moments during the camps this summer where kids were just completely lit up from within. And to see these adults completely giddy... that makes me feel like we are providing a valuable service. Now to see if we can keep sending out sparks while keeping our family out of the poorhouse... I do believe we can... think good thoughts for us all!
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The Special Pelikan Quality
The nib
Decades of experience, specially trained employees, and the utmost care at every stage of the production process ensures that each nib is a master piece. About ten different steps are necessary to create a functioning nib out of a sheet of gold. Depending on the model, the nibs are crafted from 14 or 18 carat gold. In addition, they are sometimes rhodinized to create a silver sheen. The decoration on the nib is typical for every model. In the case of Limited Editions, it is adapted to each theme.
The nib is the heart of the Pelikan fountain pen. It is cut from a 14 or 18 carat gold sheet and subsequently punched, formed and stamped into its classic quill-shaped appearance.
The tip of the nib is made of iridium, a refined metal of the platinum group. It is welded to the front part of the gold nib and subsequently form-grinded, slotted and polished.
The quality is constantly checked. The nibs are subjected to numerous mechanical, manual and optical tests at each stage of production.
The nibs are rotated in a water tank for 24 hours where they are polished by thousands of small porcelain particles. This process eliminates any rough seams which may be left. A final polish is then given to the nibs with minute copper balls.
After more than 30 high-precision operations, the gold nibs are eventually ready for use. Here is a traditional quality product bearing the unique features of its trade mark.
As a last step, every nib is tested by hand. All Pelikan fountain pens have a special insert inside the cap that ensures an airtight fit and thus the immediate flow of ink, even after a longer period of rest. The perfect ink flow depends largely on the ink feeder which incorporates the decades of experience. It sits beneath the nib and works with capillary forces, therefore the exact distance between every lamella is of essential importance. Pelikan offers up to ten different nib sizes that can be exchanged easily and whenever necessary.
The Sleeve
In 1950, the model 400 was launched. With its green-striped sleeve, it has become a world-wide symbol for the brand of Pelikan. In the eighties, the series was baptized Souverän, though popular lore has taken to calling it by its nick-name Stresemann, because the state secretary of the "Weimarer Republik" was famous for his striped suits...
These green/black Stresemann stripes are the result of numerous manufacturing steps. Firstly a small plate of raw material is punched out of a sheet and then welded into a tube.
Artificial resin is sprayed into the inside of the tube, sealing it to prevent the ink from leaking.
A high-precision lathe with grinding diamond then gives the Stresemann barrel its classic profile and leaves it smooth but grippable to the touch.
The cap rings are cut off a brass tube and then gold-plated with high-quality material. An injection moulding machine fixes the rings to the cap.
The assembly
The invention of the piston filling system made it possible to fill a fountain pen in a clean and easy way.
The plastic in the ink regulator is heated and pressed onto the engraved and tested gold nib. The two now fit together perfectly.
The finished nib is tested by hand and adjusted to provide life-long satisfaction. This requires a great deal of experience and skill.
The assembly of the cap is the last step of the production. The famous Pelikan clip is slipped over the end of the cap and finally the Pelikan emblem is attached.
A masterpiece of traditional and high-quality manufacturing has been completed. A piece of precision work enabling life-long pleasure in writing: classic, appealing and good.


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Abraham Amstutz of Williams, known to friends and family as "Abe," passed away Sunday night at Westview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Bedford at the age of 90.
Born in 1918 in Jennings County to Christian and Ruth Amstutz, Abe was a retiree of GM in Indianapolis, diamond sawyer and night watchman at Indiana Limestone, owned the Abe and Sons Bait Shop in Williams, transported tanks for Manchester Tank, was an Army veteran of World War II and the D-Day invasion, and member of the First Baptist Church in Williams.
He is survived by his daughters Brenda, Pamela and Cindy, sons Christopher, Dennis and Mike, family friend Ronnie, 15 grandchildren, and 22 great grandchildren.
He is preceded in death by his parents, wife Jenny, brothers John and Frank, sisters Mary, Alice and Emma, and one great grandson.
Services will be held Friday morning at 11:00am at the Elmwood Chapel of Day & Carter Mortuary with burial to follow at Mt. Olive Cemetery in Williams.
Visitation will be from 1:00 until 8:00pm tomorrow at Day & Carter.


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• nescience •
Pronunciation: nesh-êns, nesh-ee-êns • Hear it!
Part of Speech: Noun, mass (no plural)
Meaning: 1. Ignorance, unawareness, lack of knowledge. 2. Agnosticism, the assumption that humans are incapable of understanding the nature of life or the universe.
Notes: Today's Good Word is derived from the adjective nescient "ignorant". Speakers of English often confuse the words ignorant and stupid. Here is a way to make it perfectly clear that we are speaking about a lack of knowledge, not an inherent flaw of intelligence—and it comes in nominal and adjectival form.
In Play: Today's word is more soothing than ignorance, less likely to ruffle feathers: "How one man could achieve such nescience in one lifetime is beyond my comprehension." The second sense above is even less common than the first, but according to the Oxford English Dictionary it was used as late as 1993 in sentences like this: "Human nescience about the universe is irreconcilable with the impulse to know, and the friction between the two has generated both science and religion."
Word History: Today's Good Word is a product of Late Latin, in particular nescientia. Nescientia is a noun built upon nescien(t)s "being ignorant", the present participle of nescire "to be ignorant". This verb contains two components: ne "not" + scire "to know". Those of you who have already spotted science lurking inside today's word are correct in your observation. Science comes from the unnegated form of the same present participle. The source of this word in Latin seems to be Proto-Indo-European skei- "to cut, split", and probably gained its Latin meaning from the assumption that knowledge—certainly scientific knowledge—is based on analysis, that is, splitting a subject up into its constituent parts. (Joe Radoszewski is far from nescient, for 'tis he who suggested today's rather arcane Good Word.)
P.S. - Register for the Daily Good Word E-Mail! - You can get our daily Good Word sent directly to you via e-mail in either HTML or Text format. Go to our Registration Page to sign up today!


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"How are we supposed to find out what the consequences are if we don't try it?"
A means of going instantly from one place to another without having to appear in the space between. Also known as "plot device." There are two main kinds, both of which were invented in 1866 by famous American inventor Thomas Edison.
Apparent Natural Teleportation[edit]
Most evident with Vikings,cats, gossip, kitsune and the money in your bank account. This is the most common type, but scientific research has yet to prove it (with the exception of money, which has been caught on film sneaking out of the bank).
Scientific Teleportation[edit]
Teleportation was first hypothesized by Ultra Jesus during the War of 1812. He wished there existed a way for his penguin allies to more easily move to and from Mars, rather than transport the entire landmass of Antarctica. His dreams of military applications of teleportation were not to be realized until, in 1866, famous American inventor Thomas Edison invented the worlds first, biggest and best teleporter. Rumours persist that during World War 3D, the Russians secretly had the technology to teleport homoerotic pornography into soldiers' bunkers. This is disputed.
Pornography, however, did become the first thing ever teleported in the lab (This is of course similar to the way pornography drove the creative advancements of photography, computers, twinkies, television, vibrating mobile phones, soap, fluorescent lighting, the wheel, and Oscar Wilde) when an issue of "Page 3: The Girls of K-Mart" was dematerialized and rematerialized 7 meters away.
Modern research into teleportation has split to three paths:
Beaming, or matter transmission. The object to be teleported is recorded on a quantum level (and subsequently destroyed, as you cannot observe something without changing it (sort of like a n00b on Undictionary)), the data then transmitted to another site where it is mistaken for the source code for DeCSS, and deleted.
This method has not seen much in the area of actual advancement, mostly because the scientists use it to steal pornography and ice cream.
Classical Matter Transmission[edit]
A variation in which the object to be teleported is recorded without any regard for the consequences of observing it, and the electronic data is then posted on the Internet and downloaded by anyone who wants to receive the teleported object and has a compatible materialiser. The original object is then destroyed, because it's fun to smash stuff. The differences from beaming are:
- Duplicates of the object can be created as many times as you like, assuming you have enough energy to do so (more or less the power of 3 exploding planets)
- The electronic data can be stored on a USB key. This is handy for sneaking liquids onto an airplane.
- If you're not careful, anyone can download the data and recreate the object as many times as the like. Attempting to teleport money will result in the collapse of the economy.
- If you teleport an antique family heirloom that belonged to your grandfather and a cowl of cottage cheese comes out the other end, this means your grandfather was insane.
- Teleporting living creatures may result in duplicates being accidentally created. The resulting identity crisis leads to the end of civilisation as we know it and/or sitcoms.
- Do not teleport anything boring. If you don't get enough hits on your website, the object will never reappear.
- Teleporting people may cost them their immortal soul.
Physical object transportation, similar to wormhole theory, is where an object either a) travels from point A to point B through a rip or along a fold in space, b) accelerates to lightspeed by changing to a particle/wave or massive hyperneutrino, or c) attaches itself to a female shopper and announces to her the location of a sale near it's destination. All of these methods physically transport the matter making up the object, rather than create a quantum copy. This method is approved by the RIAA.
Sufficient dosages of drugs can induce an object and it's observers to think it has moved. Far out man.
Scientific Calculations[edit]
Scientists have invented an equation for teleportation:


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I went through a phase during my teenage years where I dyed my hair black, red, then pink, followed by platinum blonde. Full fringes, side fridges, highlights, lowlights, layers and even a disaster of a perm for a while. When I turned twenty, I made the decision to stop messing with my hair and let it grow, keeping it natural. I wanted to have beautiful long hair.
Seven years later and my hair grew down to my waist. When I was pregnant, the huge surge of oestrogen gave it a vitality boost. Yes, it looked fabulous (especially in photographs). Just like most things in life, it didn't last. Once I gave birth, the hormones exited my body as well and a lot of my hair fell out. Not only did I lose a lot of hair, I didn't have much time to sit in front of the mirror and brush it anymore.
It's been a year since I became a mother, and I am slowly emerging from the baby fog which surrounds new mums. I became aware that while I was happily getting lost in those big brown baby eyes, I had neglected myself. My Sonshine isn't entirely dependent on me anymore, he is nursing less and wanting to play with others more. This gave me some time to notice, I have run on close to empty for a while now.
I rebooted my skin care regime, started an online course and made the effort to do a bit of exercise in the morning. I felt so much fresher, but still got so frustrated every time I had to tackle my tangles. This is when I realised my hair was dragging me down, physically and emotionally.
This is undoubtedly the happiest phase of my life so far (and I am so grateful for that!). I looked back and realised my hair was like a security blanket. Swept across my face through anxiety, uncertainty, depression and insecurity. I grew it because I wanted people to think I was beautiful.
I don't feel like that anymore.
I posted on my social media that I was considering having my hair cut and asked if anyone had regretted cutting their long hair. Several ingenious readers suggested I donate my hair to a charity who made wigs for cancer patients, as it would be hard to have regrets after giving your hair to such a great cause.
This hadn't even occurred to me, what a wonderful idea!
In India, hair is sometimes cut for religious reasons. The most notable example being the mundan ceremony during the first or third year of a baby's life. It is believed to purify the child of their past life's negativity, the hair is then offered to God. While it's common to see children with shaved heads, the majority of women in Nagpur (the small traditional city where I live) have very long hair.
I sent my 40cm plait to the Little Princess Trust, a charity who makes wigs for children going through cancer treatment. I ended up cutting off a lot more hair than I had ever imagined so I could donate a good amount.
A weight was lifted and I immediately fell in love with how fresh my hair made me feel. My drastic change of hairstyle reflects how much I have grown in the last seven years. I always knew shorter hair would suit my face shape, but I didn't have the confidence to cut it until now.
I feel more beautiful now, my new style has given me a huge confidence boost.
When I posted the photo, plait in hand, and I said how great I felt. I felt like I was walking on air for several hours after. The majority of the comments I received were so supportive and kind (I am really lucky that lovely people stumbled across my page, thank you!)!
I was really shocked though, not by my sudden lack of hair but by how many men sent me angry emojis, cries of horror, told me that I have really upset them and even hurt them.
I didn't know there were men emotionally invested in my hair, which makes me even happier I gave it away!
Incase you were wondering, because a few people have asked, my husband loves my new hairstyle.Across the centuries and the globe, long hair has been considered a symbol of beauty and femininity. The conventual idea of beauty society imposes on us isn't for everyone, and hey, I live a pretty unconventional life. I believe we shouldn't attempt to define beauty, we all have it in our own way.
Long hair is beautiful, short hair is beautiful and pixie cuts are beautiful. It all depends on how your hair makes you feel!
I cut away something which symbolised my unhappy self, I cut away that insecurity and fear. You could say I have cut away some of the negativity of my past. The hair I grew to help me feel beautiful will now go on and hopefully put a smile on the face of a Little Princess.
Cutting my hair has been an eye-opening and liberating experience (for so many reasons, no need to spend 20 minutes a day brushing it for starters)!


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Cutie Cube
from Anatex
The Cutie Cube by Anatex combines multiple fun activities into one cute and compact toy that enriches basic learning skills. The sides feature simple versions of our Pathfinder, Gears, Ziggidy Zag and Magnet Circle Express and the top has two bead maze tracks. All these toys in one ensure kids won't get bored while playing and learning! The activities help to build on visual tracking, color recognition, fine/gross motor skills and hand-eye coordination. It is great for the home, classrooms, waiting areas, and doctor's offices. No loose pieces.
- Ages 2+
- 9" x 8" x 14"
- Made in USA
- 5 lbs


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Honor Me, Men of Inked Book 6, by Chelle Bliss
City & Suzy are back!
I had everything I ever wanted—a wife, a kid, with two more on the way. I was living the American dream. After the babies were born, we hit a rough patch. I did everything to prove my love, to show Suzy that nothing was more important than her. After some work and a lot of time, we found our groove again. Just when life had evened out, a familiar enemy came back to haunt us. It wasn't my past that followed us, but my brother's. When the danger gets too close, I'll do anything to defend my family. There's nothing more important than the people I love, and I'll protect what's mine—even if it costs me my life.
Suzy glared at me. "What's this we shit? I'm the one with two aliens inside of me, trying to claw their way out of my body. I'm the only one pushing them out of my tiny vagina. Not you. Not her. Me!" She waved her hands frantically in the air. "I'm the one doing everything while you sit there calm, sexy, and without your body splitting in two. I'm going to be the one tearing wide open as I push two humans and their giant Gallo heads out of my body." She collapsed, gasping for air, and closed her eyes.
I bit my lip. Pregnant Suzy was unpredictable, but in-labor Suzy was just downright scary. "I know, sugar. You're doing all the hard work. I'm just here to cheer you on and support you."
Her nostrils flared and her eyes grew wide when she glanced up. "Support me? If you want to support me, you'll never knock me up again. You want to cheer me on?" She rolled her eyes and made a noise low in her throat. "Stop fucking talking."
I braced myself, waiting for her head to do a 360. I brought my mouth right next to her ear. "My sweet little wife, you beg for my cock every day. It takes two to tango, sweetheart. I didn't put you in that bed." I lowered my voice further, whispering, "Your sweet little cunt did."
She closed her eyes again and moaned. "You're just too damn good. I can't keep my hands to myself. It's still your fault, my dear husband."
I couldn't hold it in any longer. I burst into laughter. "Now, I fuck you too good?"
"Yes!" she screeched, pounding her fist on the crappy, plastic hospital bed. "If you weren't so good at it, I wouldn't be lying here right now."
Just as I was about to reply, the nurse walked in. "I hear someone is ready to push." Her voice was so chipper, kind of like my wife's used to sound like before pregnancy. "Are we excited?" she asked, moving a tray of instruments next to the foot of the bed.
"I just want this over. I'm so freaking uncomfortable."
"That makes two of us," I muttered and nodded at the nurse with a fake smile on my face before leaning over and kissing Suzy's forehead. "Ready, sugar?"
About the Author
Chelle Bliss, USA Today Bestselling author, currently lives in a small town near the Gulf of Mexico. She's a full-time writer, time-waster extraordinaire, social media addict, and coffee fiend. Currently she's written a dozen books in three different series. She loves spending her free time with her boyfriend, 2 cats, and hamster.
Before becoming a writer, Chelle taught high school history for over ten years. She holds a master's degree in Instructional Technology and a bachelor's in history. Although history is her first love, writing has become her dream job and she can't imagine doing anything else.
AMAZON | iBOOKS | NOOK | KOBO | GOOGLE


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Do you need to change seating, update passenger details or book additional services? Just log in.
Czech Airlines ticket numbers are unique 13-digit codes starting 064. Reservation codes are unique six-digit combinations of letters and/or numbers. Both figures are shown on your ticket or in your itinerary. If you have purchased your ticket via our website, you will see the reservation code and ticket number in the header on the left above the Czech Airlines' logo.
Tickets purchased from subjects other than Czech Airlines may use different reservation codes. To login into the MY BOOKINGS application with such tickets, use your ticket number.


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Otto Preminger
Famed actor and Oscar-nominated director Otto Preminger (1906 – 1986) was the voice for the "Elvenking" (Thranduil) in the Rankin/Bass animated version of The Hobbit. He was born and raised in Austria, and his thick accent is very apparent in the film.
External LinksEdit
- Otto Preminger at Wikipedia
- Otto Preminger at IMDb


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You have reached the homepage of Earth Stone & Lime Company and Associates. Our projects have been many and varied. Please look in the gallery and project reports for examples. I have a passion for old, and particularly vernacular buildings, and I hope this shows. We work regularly in association with highly talented craftsmen in order to deliver as broad a range of traditional skills as possible'.
York House, England, UK
Elsewhere, England, UK
United States
Nigel Copsey began working with stone as a drystone waller in Cornwall. After eight years, he trained as a stonemason and carver at Weymouth College in Dorset, becoming established as a lettercutter and stonemason working mainly in the field of stone and building conservation. Based originally in the South-West, the company has carried out projects across England and more recently in Vermont and Andalucia. Nigel Copsey is a fully accredited member of the United Kingdom Institute of Conservation.
We subscribe broadly to the principles of the Society for the protection of Ancient Buildings and to the ideals of its founder, William Moms. We aspire to a thoroughgoing and articulate day to day ethical practice in accordance with international conservation treaties. We place a strong emphasis upon the promotion of open, honest and unhierarchical dialogue between all those involved in a project, as well as engaging with the craft, history and cultural significance of the building or monument itself. We believe that there are no circumstances in which the use of ordinary portland cement mortars may be either necessary or justified in the context of a structure not originally constructed using these materials. We use lime mortars and traditional materials whose performance has been tested over centuries of use in all climates and conditions. We believe that the skilled and informed use of traditional materials such as wood, stone, brick, lime and earth is not only good for the buildings of which they are a part, but good for the environment as a whole and for a healthy life in general.
Hall Farm
Thornton Dale
North Yorkshire
Telephone: 07845 739594
Please feel free to contact Nigel Copsey / Earth Stone & Lime Company and Associates either via telephone, postal mail or e-mail. For e-mails, please send to the e-mail address as specified above, or the contact form on the right.
We organise and offer training and education in traditional skills at all levels. We have delivered annual lime training days in Malton for a number of years, as well as training and lectures in stone conservation and repair, mud masonry, and conservation ethics. We regularly deliver practical training on the MA Conservation course at York University. Partners include the NHTG, Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB), The Churches Conservation Trust, and York University. Organisers of the Ryedale Building, Conservation and Heritage Fair in 2008; we are committed to the promotion of the use of traditional skills and materials, and the engagement of craftsmen, professionals and the community with the principles and best practice of historic building and landscape conservation.
We are happy to tailor training to individual needs and to deliver this by way of organised events or on site to specific work forces.
We have recently established the Traditional and Sustainable Buildings Centre at Hall Farm to deliver regular and ongoing skills training in the patterns of vernacular building locally, as well as in the modern use of sustainable and breathable materials.
Working closely with associates Mark Wilson and Ben Gourley, we are able to offer full management plans, archive research, building recording, condition surveys, conservation & repair schedules and specifications as well as oversight of small to medium sized projects.
Copyright © 2013. nigelcopsey.com. All rights reserved. Website Design By Lee Prangnell


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Creativity and Culture
With around 6,000 of our 30,000 students enrolled on courses in Music, Theatre, Writing, Media, Digital Technology, or Art and Design, Birmingham City University is one of Britain's leading providers of graduate talent to the cultural and creative industries.
Our internationally renowned arts training provision includes specialist conservatoires of music and acting; a leading media school; a school of English producing world-class research (REF 2014); and a significant UK centre for art, architecture and design education, including Europe's largest jewellery school.
Global City of Culture
The University also supports Birmingham's "Big City Culture" strategy, which promotes the city's world-class excellence in the arts, culture and creativity. Our Mission Statement for 2020 also states we will 'actively participate in the cultural and creative sectors of the city and region.'
Browse all our events
Each month a range of events take place across Birmingham City University. Discover our forthcoming creative and cultural activities.
View our events calendar
Meet our talented graduates
We offer 133 courses within the creative industries and we have a diverse and specialised creative and cultural portfolio within the UK universities sector. We produce more graduate talent in these areas than anywhere outside London.


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Mike Dee and Stephen Ross say Florida Speaker of the House Will Weatherford promised them their bill, which in part would have allowed an election on Sun Life Stadium upgrades to go forward, would be heard and voted on during the last legislative session.
It wasn't. Weatherford closed the session without picking up the bill.
But Weatherford denies he ever promised to let the bill be heard as the Dolphins CEO and the Dolphins owner are contending.
"At no point during the process were any promises made to hear the Dolphins Stadium bill on the House floor. It's no coincidence that we haven't heard about this so-called commitment until after the bill died," Weatherford said in a statement to The Miami Herald.
So stalemate, right? He said. She said. Right?
Not quite.
Dee said other people heard Weatherford make the statements the Dolphins contend he said. And I found one of those people on Thursday.
"I was in the room with Mike Dee and Steve Ross and did hear what they heard," South Florida Super Bowl bid committee chairman Rodney Barreto said. "And yes, I'm disappointed. I'm disappointed that the people of Dade County were not given the opportunity to vote and that's a huge disappointment.
"This is a democratic process and [the legislators] were approving nothing more than allowing the people to vote. And I think that's lost in all this finger pointing, that we had an election going on and 40,000 people voted already and they should have had the opportunity to finish that vote."
Sources close to the discussions between the Dolphins and Weatherford say other people also heard Weatherford tell the Dolphins the bill would be heard. One of those persons, according to a source, is Turnberry Associates Principal Jeffrey Soffer.
Soffer, whose company owns portions of the Fountainbleau Hotel and Aventura Mall, was present when Weatherford and the Dolphins spoke on at least one occasion.
Messages left for Soffer at Turnberry Associates have not been returned.


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Ex MD Sotheby's India, Gaurav Bhatia, brings the essence of luxury on the table
"Indian cuisines and culinary inheritance represent real luxury," says Gaurav Bhatia Sotheby's Ex MD, India, former Managing Director of LVMH Moet Hennessey. He illuminates the fact that millennials are the most curious customers to hunt for global cuisines and experience 'luxury on the table'. Gaurav Bhatia talks about some unusual, unique, and exotic meats and plants people love to dine on. Talking about luxury on a table, sybarites have enormous options to choose from. Atypical but exotic food accounts for supreme luxury. Food lovers are ready to pay a fortune in the quest of tasting bites that tops the bar of taste, popularity, extravagance, and uniqueness. On the basis of demand and rarity, the peerless dishes by top chefs count for the list of luxury foods that are not only toothsome but also the most expensive platters. To clarify the connection between food and luxury, Ex Managing Direction, Sotheby's India, Gaurav Bhatia says, "Food that have distinctive qualities depending


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Truth be told, I never heard of FRANCK MULLER before, but the (apparently quite famous) watch brand from Switzerland has designed a special case for the iPhone 4 that can now be pre-ordered in Japan. And as FRANCK MULLER is a luxury brand, each case will set you back a cool $1,270 [JP].
The cases will be sold as a limited edition, with Japanese iPhone provider SoftBank offering a total of 6 different models that will be produced 500 times each (click here for a complete overview).
SoftBank will start shipping the cases in April. Contact specialized stores like Rinkya or Geek Stuff 4 U if you're ready to spend that kind of money on such an accessory.


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"The Will Within," Ensign, May 1987, 67
The Will Within
A few months ago I stood before a capacity audience in the Marriott Center on the campus of Brigham Young University. Mine was the responsibility to speak, to lift, to motivate, to inspire. There came to my mind the realization that here were men and women of promise. They represented the hopes, the dreams, and the aspirations of parents, of family, of teachers, of God. All were participants in the passing parade of mortality. Some were gifted in the arts, others leaned toward the humanities, while some found their talents prompted a study of the natural or physical sciences. These students stood on the stage of study. Soon they would disperse to make their marks in life, to fulfill the measure of their creation, and to learn from their own lives those lessons which would prepare them for the exaltation they seek.
My thoughts turned to others striving to become master craftsmen through apprenticeship and experience. Then I reflected on that vast throng who had abandoned preparation, formed undesirable friendships, and adopted habits and practices which diverted them from that pathway which leads to perfection and enticed them along one of the many detours where sorrow, discouragement, and destruction await.
The wayward son, the willful daughter, the pouting husband, the nagging wife—all can change. There can occur a parting of the clouds, a break in the storm. Maturity comes, friendships alter, circumstances vary. "Cast in concrete" need not describe human behavior.
From the perspective of eternity, our sojourn in this life is ever so brief. Detours are costly; they must be shunned. The spiritual nature within us should not be dominated by the physical. It behooves each of us to remember who he or she is and what God expects him or her to become.
The poet Wordsworth, in his inspired Intimations of Immortality, inclined our thoughts to that heavenly home from whence each of us came:
Our birth is but a sleep and a forgetting:
The soul that rises with us, our life's star,
Hath had elsewhere its setting,
And cometh from afar:
Not in entire forgetfulness,
And not in utter nakedness,
But trailing clouds of glory do we come
From God, who is our home.
(Ode: Intimations of Immortality from Recollections of Early Childhood, lines 58–65).
In finding and trailing this spiritual contact with the infinite, we will feel the touch of inspiration and know that God will guide us as we put in Him our trust. That wise and righteous man, Job, declared the profound truth: "There is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth … understanding" (Job 32:8). It is this inspiration which we at times allow to grow dim, causing us to wander far below the level of our possibilities.
During the Great Depression, the homeless, the downtrodden, the unemployed "rode the rails" that passed not far from our home. On numerous occasions, there would be a soft knock on the back door. When I opened the door, there I would see a man, sometimes two, ill-clothed, ill-fed, ill-schooled. Generally, such a visitor held in his hand the familiar cap. His hair would be tousled, his face unshaven. The question was always the same: "Could you spare some food?" My dear mother invariably responded with a pleasant, "Come in and sit down at the table." She would then prepare a ham sandwich, cut a piece of cake, and pour a glass of milk. Mother would ask the visitor about his home, his family, his life. She provided hope and words of encouragement. Before leaving, the visitor would pause to express a gracious thank-you. I would note that a smile of content had replaced a look of despair. Eyes that were dull now shone with new purpose. Love, that noblest attribute of the human soul, can work wonders.
In our journey on earth, we discover that life is made up of challenges—they just differ from one person to another. We are success oriented, striving to become "wonder women" and "super men." Any intimation of failure can cause panic, even despair. Who among us cannot remember moments of failure?
One such moment came to me as a young basketball player. The game was close—hotly contested—when the coach called me from the bench to run a key play. For some reason which I shall never understand, I took the pass and dribbled the ball right through the opposing team. I jumped high toward the basket; and, as the basketball left my fingertips, I came to the abrupt realization that I was shooting for the wrong basket. I offered the shortest prayer I have ever spoken: "Dear Father, don't let that ball go in." My prayer was answered, but my ordeal was just beginning. I heard a loud cheer erupt from the adoring fans: "We want Monson, we want Monson, we want Monson … OUT!" The coach obliged.
Not long ago I read about an incident that occurred in the life of President Harry S. Truman after he had retired and was back in Independence, Missouri. He was at Truman Library, talking with some elementary school students and answering their questions. Finally, a question came from an owlish little boy. "Mr. President," he said, "was you popular when you was a boy?" The President looked at the boy and answered, "Why, no. I was never popular. The popular boys were the ones who were good at games and had big, tight fists. I was never like that. Without my glasses, I was blind as a bat, and to tell the truth, I was kind of a sissy." The little boy started to applaud, and then everyone else did, too." (Vital Speeches, Feb. 1983, p. 6.)
Our responsibility is to rise from mediocrity to competence, from failure to achievement. Our task is to become our best selves. One of God's greatest gifts to us is the joy of trying again, for no failure ever need be final. In 1902, the poetry editor of the Atlantic Monthly returned a sheaf of poems to a 28-year-old poet with this curt note: "Our magazine has no room for your vigorous verse." The poet was Robert Frost. In 1894, the rhetoric teacher at Harrow in England wrote on a 16-year-old's report card, "A conspicuous lack of success." The 16-year-old was Winston Churchill.
President Theodore Roosevelt said, "It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena" (Clifton Fadiman, ed., The American Treasury: 1455–1955, New York: Harper and Brothers, 1955, p. 689).
We know men and women can change—and change for the better. No more vivid example is recorded than the life of Saul of Tarsus. The sacred record reveals that Saul threatened the disciples of the Lord. Then came that light from heaven and the voice saying unto him: "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
"And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest" (Acts 9:4–5).
Saul's answer is a model for each of us: "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" (Acts 9:6). Saul the persecutor became Paul the proselyter. Night had turned to day. Darkness had yielded to light.
Simon Peter, that fisherman who left his nets and followed the Lord, had his time of struggle. He had been weak and fearful and had denied his Lord with an oath. Then there came change. Never again would he deny or desert his Lord. He found his place in the kingdom of God.
We have the example of Alma the Younger, who turned his back on sinful practices and wasteful ways. Conversion came. He became an exponent of truth. His tender words of counsel to his sons Helaman and Corianton are literary classics. To Helaman: "O, remember, my son, and learn wisdom in thy youth; yea, learn in thy youth to keep the commandments of God" (Alma 37:35). To Corianton: "Suffer not yourself to be led away by any vain or foolish thing" (Alma 39:11).
Then and now, as President David O. McKay so consistently taught, the gospel of Jesus Christ can make bad men good and good men better, can alter human nature and change human lives.
Change for the better can come to all. In December of 1985 the First Presidency proclaimed "An Invitation to Come Back." To the inactive, the critical, the transgressor, the message declared: "'Come back. Come back and feast at the table of the Lord, and taste again the sweet and satisfying fruits of fellowship with the Saints'" (Ensign, Mar. 1986, p. 88). Hundreds, if not thousands, have responded to this invitation. Their lives have taken on new meaning. Their families have been blessed. They have drawn closer to God.
In the private sanctuary of one's own conscience lies that spirit, that determination to cast off the old person and to measure up to the stature of true potential. But the way is rugged, and the course is strenuous. So discovered John Helander from Goteborg, Sweden. John is twenty-six years of age and is handicapped, in that it is difficult for him to coordinate his motions.
At a youth conference in Kungsbacka, Sweden, John took part in a 1500-meter running race. He had no chance to win. Rather, his was the opportunity to be humiliated, mocked, derided, scorned. Perhaps John remembered another who lived long ago and far away. Wasn't He mocked? Wasn't He derided? Wasn't He scorned? But He prevailed. He won His race. Maybe John could win his.
What a race it was! Struggling, surging, pressing, the runners bolted far beyond John. There was wonderment among the spectators. Who is this runner who lags so far behind? The participants on their second lap of this two-lap race passed John while he was but halfway through the first lap. Tension mounted as the runners pressed toward the tape. Who would win? Who would place second? Then came the final burst of speed; the tape was broken. The crowd cheered; the winner was proclaimed.
The race was over—or was it? Who is this contestant who continues to run when the race is ended? He crosses the finish line on but his first lap. Doesn't the foolish lad know he has lost? Ever onward he struggles, the only participant now on the track. This is his race. This must be his victory. No one among the vast throng of spectators leaves. Every eye is on this valiant runner. He makes the final turn and moves toward the finish line. There is awe; there is admiration. Every spectator sees himself running his own race of life. As John approaches the finish line, the audience, as one, rises to its feet. There is a loud applause of acclaim. Stumbling, falling, exhausted but victorious, John Helander breaks the newly tightened tape. (Officials are human beings, too.) The cheering echoes for miles. And just maybe, if the ear is carefully attuned, that Great Scorekeeper—even the Lord—can be heard to say, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant" (Matt. 25:21).
Each of us is a runner in the race of life. Comforting is the fact that there are many runners. Reassuring is the knowledge that our eternal Scorekeeper is understanding. Challenging is the truth that each must run. But you and I do not run alone. That vast audience of family, friends, and leaders will cheer our courage, will applaud our determination as we rise from our stumblings and pursue our goal. The race of life is not for sprinters running on a level track. The course is marked by pitfalls and checkered with obstacles. We take confidence from the hymn:
Fear not, I am with thee; oh, be not dismayed,
For I am thy God and will still give thee aid.
I'll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
Upheld by my righteous, … omnipotent hand. …
The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose
I will not, I cannot, desert to his foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I'll never, no never, no never forsake!
(Hymns, 1985, no. 85).
Let us shed any thought of failure. Let us discard any habit that may hinder. Let us seek; let us obtain the prize prepared for all, even exaltation in the celestial kingdom of God. This is my earnest prayer, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.


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Send Flowers in Athens Greece.
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My colleagues and I help our students learn about the importance of a "growth mindset" during the year (see The Best Resources On Helping Our Students Develop A "Growth Mindset").
My colleague Katie Hull and I are going to use the following prompt with this NPR report, Students' View of Intelligence Can Help Grades, as part of our final next week. We thought others might find it helpful:
Writing Prompt:
According to Carol Dweck, what is a "growth mindset" and why is it important? Do you agree with what Dweck is saying? To support your opinion you may use examples from your own experiences, your observations of others, and any of your reading (including this article and the other articles on the brain, self-control, and grit that are in your notebook).


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Athletics Hall of Fame – April 27, 2005
Crystal McCamis Schubert, a 1995 graduate of Coker University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Science, was a four-year standout on the women's soccer team. Nearly 10 years after her graduation, Schubert still holds Coker's all-time records for points with 137 and assists with 35. She is also second all-time in career goals with 51 and is also second in single-season goals with 15. Schubert was a two-time All-American in 1993 and 1994 and earned Coker Athlete of the Year honors in 1994.
During her career, the Cobras finished with the two best season finishes in school history at 14-2-2 and ranked 4th nationally, and a 15-1-1 season with a final ranking of the 17th in the country. The team also won a pair of conference championships and made one appearance at the regional. While a student, she was a Coker ambassador and was an active participant in campus life.
Since graduation, Schubert has been heavily involved in coaching the game. She was an assistant coach at Campbell University for three season, coached high school soccer for two years, and has been involved in youth recreational soccer programs for over nine years.


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Student Assessment and Departmental Reviews, ISU
Cinzia Cervato, Department of Geological and Atmospheric Sciences, Iowa State University
Student Assessment
In 2004 Iowa State University requested that all departments prepare an outcomes assessment plan. The goal was to ensure that our students have the best educational experience possible. I was asked to chair the committee and put together an alumni survey, an assessment plan and an assessment matrix that are now online on 'our department's assessment web site. We administered the survey to our alumni in 2004.
The main instrument for assessment is an exit interview with the department chair (for geology and Earth science majors) or the associate chair in meteorology (for meteorology majors). These are informal and there is no form or rubric. There is also an exit survey and self-assessment form but students rarely turn them in (2 out of 18 seniors returned them last spring). The response rate might improve if the survey were administered online. I have never seen the results of these interviews and do not know of any specific changes that have been implemented as a result of comments made by students.
External Departmental Reviews
Iowa State University provides detailed policies and procedures for program reviews that are conducted every 7 years. This includes guidelines for the department for preparation of the self-study report, as well as a list of general topics that the external review committee should address. In addition, each review team is given a set of questions from the college specific to the department. Here is the letter to external reviewers (Microsoft Word 23kB Feb3 09) we put together for our last review (2006).


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Hi Evan,
I have been struggling with the fact I have a wonderful man in my life who loves me more than I've ever felt loved, but I'm just not satisfied somehow. We have known one another for about ten years dating on and off, taking a four-year break at one point. He is VERY persistent and continues to take me back into his life if I let him. We are compatible on many levels, but there is one thing that continues to turn me off (from ten years ago to now), and that is his lack of ambition to be successful professionally. I wouldn't be picky about his career field of choice, but at the rate, it's going, I'll never see him in a 6 o'clock loosened tie… which is a huge turn-on for me.
I'm very much that young professional go-getter with a high-stress job, always moving to the next promotion. I'm busy all the time professionally and personally because I thrive on feeling accomplished. He, on the other hand, is satisfied with bringing home an okay paycheck to put food on his table, not that concerned with finishing college (he's 31), and rarely has anything interesting to talk about outside of "us," movies, and other media outlet driven conversation. A full day of freedom in my life does not revolve around TV, 90% of his would.
I can't let go of wishing he were a stronger, more creative, more successful man who I could look to for experienced life advice. I'm very independent, but I'd also like to get some reassurance and empathy from a reliable source from time to time. I know that's harsh. I would never say those things to him, but it's how I feel. I find the sexiest thing about a man is his intelligence, and no matter if a person is well-read or not, a great deal of intelligence comes from professional life experience. Please tell me I'm being too hard on him and myself. I should be happy to have a man who loves me and whom I can trust.
Thank you, CJ, for writing one of the most self-aware letters I've run. I think everyone here can feel your pain. Love is only easy when we're so whipped that we can't even think clearly. In such circumstances, there are no decisions to be made even if your boyfriend has no ambition. But it sounds like you're seeing things quite clearly. Which means the world is grey, not black and white.
Love is only easy when we're so whipped that we can't even think clearly.
So before I get into talking about your boyfriend, let's talk about you.
You're not a gold-digger for wanting a guy who is more ambitious in life.
You're not snobby for finding an intelligent, sexy boyfriend.
You're not shallow for craving conversation that doesn't revolve around pop culture.
And you're not wrong for wishing your boyfriend were stronger, more creative, and more experienced professionally.
The questions that linger for me are these….
1) Are compatibility and kindness more important in your relationship than worldliness and ambition?
2) Is it realistic to think that you can find a worldly, professional man who is as kind and compatible as your current boyfriend?
This is the calculus of dating. And the same answers don't apply to both successful men and men with no ambition. This is why giving advice on such individual matters is somewhere between impossible and pointless.
But that doesn't mean I can't try.
Someone told me recently that women expect men to fulfill ALL of their needs in a relationship, which sets them up for failure. They want men to fulfill the role of their best girlfriend and their rock-solid Marlboro Man simultaneously. As I said in the "Men Don't Go Both Ways" chapter of "Why You're Still Single," these are different men, and you'll always be disappointed if you expect a man to cover all bases in your relationship. Strangely, this is one area in which I think men "get it" more. We can compartmentalize, which is why we'd rather watch football with only the guys, while you'd like us to come shoe shopping with you.
The point is, it's a failing proposition to expect one man to be all things to you. Thus, you have to make hard choices with each other. What's most important to you — does lack of ambition really matter in your relationship? And what things can you NOT get from anyone BUT your boyfriend?
I've wrestled with that myself because, like you, I get a rise out of ambition, philosophy, and creativity. Who doesn't? But I can talk to my business coach about my business, I can talk to my best guy friend about philosophy, and I can experience my own creativity and others' creativity in 1000 other forms. But I can't make love to my business coach. I can't wake up next to my best guy friend. And with all the art and culture out in the world, I don't need my spouse to be a creator as much as an appreciator.
I get the joy of sophistication. It's fun to feel like the witty, urbane couple that can break bread with the prime minister if need be. Just know that apart from the spark you feel around a sophisticate, it doesn't have much inherent value. The ability to quote Proust pales in comparison with the person who will drive you to your chemo treatments in thirty years.
The ability to quote Proust pales in comparison with the person who will drive you to your chemo treatments in thirty years.
So, back to the original question: are compatibility and kindness more important than worldliness and ambition? Well, if it were either kindness OR worldliness, I'd say yes. But there are ambitious people who are kind as well. And it would be easy to tell you to dump your boyfriend and seek one of these guys out. The thing is that most good qualities often come with bad qualities as well. The ambitious guy may work 70 hours a week. The sophisticated guy may be a know-it-all and a snob. You just don't know until you put yourself out there. There's a pretty big risk in doing so.
Even if your boyfriend has no ambition, I will encourage you to look long and hard at what really matters in your relationship, CJ, and how hard it is to find it. For years, I said that I wasn't jealous of any of my married friends because it's not like they married MY wife. And I meant it — I never really met anyone with whom I was super-compatible. But now that I have someone with whom I'm super-compatible, my mind succumbs to the temptation — what if there's someone else? Someone younger. Someone more accomplished with life goals. And someone more well-read.
Is there someone like that out there? Maybe. But she wouldn't have the number one quality that my wife has: she accepts me as I am and loves me unconditionally. No other girlfriend I've ever had has done that, which is why I'm keeping her and never letting her go.
I can't say what's right for you, my friend. Intellectual stimulation matters. Money definitely matters. But if you can get stimulation from other people and you can make money yourself, why not land the one thing you can't get anywhere else — a partner for life?
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Felix Riesenhuber, Peter Epperlein and Jens Ottnad were heavily involved in designing, developing and implementing the new TruLaser Center 7030. In an interview, they spoke with us about the highs and lows of the past few years and told us what it takes to develop such a novel product.
How and when did the TruLaser Center 7030 project come about?
Felix Riesenhuber: TRUMPF had long wanted to develop the next generation of laser-cutting machines. The initial idea for the TruLaser Center 7030 emerged in 2012, and the project was officially approved in 2014.
What was so special about the project?
Peter Epperlein: We knew going into it that we would have to question existing development methods if we wanted to achieve a true leap in innovation with this mature technology. That's why we fundamentally shifted our perspective – away from current machine design and toward an unobstructed view of our customers'
production tasks.
In other words, you not only developed something new, but you did it in a new way?
Epperlein: Exactly. Of course, it was a brilliant idea that sparked this radical new development. But to achieve overall success we needed lots more ideas, and these had to specifically tackle the problems we were facing. The novel aspect was that all specialist departments worked in parallel and agreed on things among themselves in very short intervals. It was the first time we had applied agile methods across the board in a mechatronics project.
Riesenhuber: We also formulated clear efficiency and process reliability targets for the machine, and used these to assess each development stage.
How did you do that specifically?
Riesenhuber: We had to make productivity measurable, and we had to do it using real parts under real production conditions. To that end, we developed standard sheet layouts that model the range of parts our customers use. Customers from a variety of industries helped us with this by providing several hundred set-up plans, which we then analyzed statistically based on a variety of relevant parameters. The result was a representative production program – the "original standard" by which we measured productivity, production problems and the impact of those problems. This standard made it possible, for the first time, to model the existing technology and to evaluate new ideas from our customers' real production perspective. And even more importantly, it enabled us to define, in the design phase, the permitted costs of the solution and its performance in the part program. Our firm goal for this was to achieve savings of 15-30 percent in machining costs for our customers, and every solution had to be measured against this goal.
That sounds like hard work …
Jens Ottnad: It's fair to say that team effort won out over the lone genius approach of the past. That said, we needed to have geniuses on the team – otherwise we never would never have achieved our goal. The development team's creativity was directed at a shared goal, resulting in the success you see here.
And how big was the team?
Ottnad: The TruLaser Center 7030 core team is made up of more than 100 employees from the service, sales, product group, development, purchasing, production and project organization departments. It was only because of this manpower, and because everyone at TRUMPF was fully behind the project, that we were able to turn our ambitious plans into reality. We also had a strong program management that was very effective in coordinating all these different departments to achieve one goal, and in turning an extensive portfolio of individual highly innovative development projects into this marketable product.
Going into the project, did you realize how innovative this machine would be?
Epperlein: Well, the job defined in the technical specifications was clear, really – we essentially had to solve all of our customers' problems and turn the laser-cutting world upside down! Many were skeptical at first, but then when we saw how the first solutions performed when applied to the functional model, and when we discovered we could reliably automate the cutting process for parts of unprecedented complexity, we knew we were working on something really big!
You managed to realize the TruLaser Center 7030 in just two years – an extremely short time for such a herculean task. Did you suffer any setbacks?
Ottnad: We first tried to combine proven processes in new ways, but we quickly realized that this wasn't enough, so we started over again from scratch. We didn't want to accept any compromises. This radical step was difficult in the beginning – and of course there was a lot of pressure. With every additional design cycle, the plans became more and more definite. We broke out of our comfortable routines and were unusual ideas, and we developed completely new technologies whenever the state of the art offered us no solutions.
What are the biggest advantages of the TruLaser Center 7030 over conventional laser-cutting machines?
Epperlein: There are essentially three core innovations that make the machine unique. First there's the flat workpiece support with the SmartGate, which adjusts flexibly during the cutting processto widely varying parts, and machines them extremely quickly and reliably. Then there's the SmartLift, with its more than 150 pins, which achieves extraordinary removal forces of up to one ton of parts from the scrap skeleton. And to complete the picture, there's the SortMaster Speed, which absorbs these forces in a controlled manner and, with its more than 2,500 mini suction devices, quickly and reliably unloads all kinds of parts, from those with delicate contours to those with large surface areas. This makes the TruLaser Center 7030 the first 2D laser machine that can handle – and automate – the entire machining process. From loading and cutting to unloading and sorting finished parts, everything is integrated in a single machine, and the program is largely automated.
Was there an "aha moment" during the development phase?
Ottnad: It was overwhelming just how much creativity, selfless commitment and team spirit people's enthusiasm for the projectawakened. The excitement didn't let up until the machine cut a piece of sheet metal for the first time. That filled me with great pride.
Riesenhuber: The existing idea behind the flatbed laser machine hadn't been modified in more than 20 years. We'requite certain that this machine will change the world of laser machining forever!


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"For his fundamental contributions to our understanding of dynamics and of singularities of maps with profound consequences for mechanics, astrophysics, statistical mechanics, hydrodynamics and optics."
Background:Vladimir I. Arnold received his undergraduate degree in 1959 from the Moscow University, and his PhD from the Keldysh Institute of Applied Mathematics (Moscow) in 1963. He was Assistant Professor and later Professor (from 1965 on) at the Moscow State University, and then (from 1986) at the Steklov Mathematical Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Moscow), being also (from 1993 on) a Professor at CEREMADE, Universite Paris-IX.
Among his main scientific results are the solution of the Hilbert's problem 13 (on representation of functions), the solution of the Birkhoff problem of stability of fixed points of symplectic mappings, the discovery of the instability of Hamiltonian systems, later called by physicists "Arnold diffusion", the first steps of th e symplectic topology ("Arnold conjectures"), the discovery of the relation of the topology of real algebraic curves to four-dimensional manifold invariants, and new methods in hydrodynamic stability theory, based on the curvature of the diffeomorphism groups. He has related the modern singularity theory of ray systems, caustics and wavefronts to the Coxeter reflection groups and simple lie algebra theory, changing also the shape of bifurcation theory and of what is called "quantum theory". The latest results in this direction connect the wave propagation theory to knot invariants (for the legendary knots in contact manifolds). This theory includes a new topological version of the Sturm theory replacing genuine functions of Sturm theory by curves representing multivalued functions.
Arnold is the President of the Moscow Mathematical Society, a member of the Executive Committee of the International Mathematical Union, (Vice-President of the Union, 1995- 1999), a member of the Russian Academy of Sciences and of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences, and has been elected foreign member of the National Academy of Sciences, of the Academy of Arts and Sciences and of the Philosophical Society of USA, of the Royal Society, London, of the London Mathematical Society, of the French Academy of Sciences at Paris, of the Accademia dei Lincei at Rome, and of the Academia Europaea. He has been awarded honorary doctorates at the University of Pierre and Marie Curie (Paris), University of Warwick, UK; University of Bologna, Italy; Complutense (Madrid, Spain), Toronto (Canada), and Utrecht (Netherlands).
He has received the Prize of the Moscow Mathematical Society, 1958; the Lenin Prize of the Soviet Government (with Kolmogorov), 1965; the Lobachevski Prize of the Russian A cademy of Sciences, 1992; the Crawfoord Prize of the Swedish Academy of Sciences, 1982 (with Nirenberg); and the Harvey Prize of Technion, 1994.
Barry Simon (Chair), Jeffrey A. Harvey, Barry McCoy ('00 Recipient), Jonathan Bagger (Vice Chair), Ezra T. Newman


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We are happy to share the second preview release of the Azure Services App Authentication library, version 1.2.0. This release enables simple and seamless authentication to Azure SQL Database for existing .NET applications with no code changes – only configuration changes! Up until this release, developers who wanted their existing SQL applications to use managed identities and AAD-based authentication were required to make code changes to retrieve and set the access token used for authentication. As many developers are familiar with the App Authentication library, they opted to use it to retrieve the access token, as below:
SqlConnection connection = new SqlConnection(connectionString); connection.AccessToken = await (new AzureServiceTokenProvider()).GetAccessTokenAsync("https://database.windows.net/") connection.Open();
Implementing and testing these code changes were often not straightforward. This was compounded further with EntityFramework where these code changes were more difficult and error-prone for developers, as evidenced by the many external questions we see on StackOverflow. However, in .NET Framework 4.7.2, new functionality for SqlClient was added that enables developers to register a SQL authentication provider via an application's configuration. We've already done the work of implementing this SQL authentication provider for developers, so now the only actions they need to do are a few simple configuration changes to register our provider, as shown below.
With this release of the App Authentication library, we hope to enable many developers to try out our new functionality in existing SQL-backed solutions and gain the security benefits that the App Authentication library and managed identities afford. For more details and to try out this new functionality, please check out our new sample.
Before, using a connection string containing credentials:
<connectionStrings> <!-- using connection string containing credentials --> <add name="MyDbConnection" connectionString="Data Source=tcp:[SQL Server Name].database.windows.net;Initial Catalog=[SQL DB name];UID=[UID];Password=[pwd]" providerName="System.Data.SqlClient" /> </connectionStrings>
After, registering App Authentication's SqlAppAuthenticationProvider:
<configSections> ... <!-- Change #1: Register the new SqlAuthenticationProvider configuration section --> <section name="SqlAuthenticationProviders" type="System.Data.SqlClient.SqlAuthenticationProviderConfigurationSection, System.Data, Version=220.127.116.11, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089" /> </configSections> <connectionStrings> <!-- Change #2: Update the connection string to remove credentials and reference the registered SQL authentication provider from change #3 --> <add name="MyDbConnection" connectionString="Data Source=tcp:[SQL Server Name].database.windows.net;Initial Catalog=[SQL DB Name];UID=AnyString;Authentication=Active Directory Interactive" providerName="System.Data.SqlClient" /> </connectionStrings> <!-- Change #3: Add the new SqlAuthenticationProvider configuration section, registering the built-in authentication provider in AppAuth library --> <SqlAuthenticationProviders> <providers> <add name="Active Directory Interactive" type="Microsoft.Azure.Services.AppAuthentication.SqlAppAuthenticationProvider, Microsoft.Azure.Services.AppAuthentication" /> </providers> </SqlAuthenticationProviders>
We hope you enjoy trying out our new SQL authentication provider functionality in the App Authentication library! For any questions or concerns that you may have, please reach out to us on StackOverflow.


text: Use your brainDo not be inveigled by poseurs; the goal is to clearly ID the perps28th Ocotober 2011 If you want to call me an anti-Semite for mentioning it, then you too are an insincere robot stooge trying to conceal your own guilt In these giddy and confusing days, you will do well to keep two things in mind in all situations, two things that we have all neglected to keep in mind — or have been prevented from learning about at all — throughout our entire lives. The first is patriotism. You came through school with your hand across your heart. Year after year, you've seen the bemedaled buffoons at the parades, their flags and their fifes and drums. Yellow ribbons. My country right or wrong. They send their children off to die for reasons they will never fully comprehend. If they really did it would kill them. None of these people ever knew the real reasons for the conflict in which they lost their sons. That information was and is kept from them by the people who arranged the wars. They sacrificed their children for the good life they were allowed to live, but they never got the real reason — ever. Which is why we can't get one now. The deluded and usually drunk veterans in their VFW caps wax poetic over their heroic exploits in this conflict or that, and stand up tall in the parade on Veterans Day. None of them know the real reason for the bloodbaths in which they lost their friends. They only know they followed orders as best they could, some suffered and some survived. But whose orders they really were is something all those people under all those white tombstones never knew. Even now, precious few people know. You think it's the presidents and prime ministers. It isn't. An even smaller group is Americans who can view the U.S. through foreign eyes. The view is of a merciless, bloodstained monster that never, in its long and storied history, has told the truth about anything, or kept any promise it ever made to anyone (including its own people). America, run by the Jews or not, makes stones bleed. Why it has to be this way is a question that has been uttered by millions of people over the eons. They never got the real reason either, only cheering crowds for the victors, most of whom never really understood what they were cheering. It seems now we were cheering our inexorable slide toward regimented totalitarianism, herded into a group mindset that brought us to Hillary Clinton making a crude joke about Muammar Qaddafi being beaten to death in the street. This is a bellwether statement about American culture that all the world has noticed (not that the world needs any more information about the barbaric practices of Americans). This is the way we will be treated when we no longer have the upper hand, and deservedly so. To any American who retains any semblance of patriotic urges, let me just shout from the highest rooftop: "What the hell are you cheering about? What are you proud about? Mass murder of the entire world?" How many major American massacres do you wish to recount, from the Philippines on up to the present day shattering of Libya? You can't count them all, can you? Think of how many unjust American murders you have had to pretend didn't happen. And as you wave your flag, you ignore that this is the basis of your secure happiness (such as it is in these feckless bovine days). The second important thing to remember I wanted to mention to you is not to be involved in Democratic or Republican BS. They're the same, put in place only to give you the illusion that you still live in a free country, which has definitely not been the case since 2001 or long before. Just think of all the people who have been murdered for trying to tell the truth. Homeland Security really stands for Protect the Predators while they fleece the prey. When's the next bogus bailout for bonuses? There is a much larger, much more important focus you should use — the hegemony of the bankers, which goes back 400 years. All this time, international bankers have engineered every war by corrupting leaders and capsizing countries with debt, which cause them to go to war to steal money to pay the bankers. This modern form of tyranny began with the killing of the king of England in 1654. Shortly thereafter came the readmission of Jews into England (they had been kicked out 400 years before, for loan sharking, of course). With Cromwell they bribed their way back and ever since England has been controlled from the behind the scenes by the Jewish bankers in the City of London. Know this fact, and you know that what's happening today has happened in the same way in every generation down through time. How will you know that? By following the trail of blood down through time of wars and revolutions that would never have happened but for the evil machinations of the behind-the-scenes bankers. Both World Wars happened at the bankers' behest. The plundering of Libya was about stealing all of Africa's possessions. And no, it is not my fault that all these bankers, from the Rothschild ascendancy in the 1770s (whose financing of both sides made possible the American Revolutionary War) to Ben Shalom Bernanke today, are Jewish. If you want to call me an anti-Semite for mentioning it, then you too are an insincere robot stooge trying to conceal your own guilt. But I, like you, am a victim of this colossal social swindle that prevents us both from living honorable and decent lives not shriveled by this ubiquitous and capricious hidden hand that mysteriously diminishes our lives. And speaking of our newly shortened expected life spans, I had an insight about the total blackout of worldwide radiation news, and how they got away with it. The answer is simple and sad. People don't want to know about it. They don't want to eat kelp. They want to keep eating their Twinkies. This ties in with an even darker, larger theme — that the entire object of society, every single thing, was invented to keep us from thinking about death. Instantly you shudder and turn away from the obvious truth. "Oh don't be so morbid!" you reflectively exclaim. As I told you before, and Buddha told you too, that failure to think about death and contemplate what it actually means in terms of yourself, your family, and the world you live in is the surest way of guaranteeing it will happen prematurely to all three. And that's exactly where we are today, where all the palaver is offbase, aimed at a false and unattainable goal, and millions of people killing each other over needless nonsense, that could all be eliminated almost instantly all over the world by the one simple step of taking someone's head in your hands, looking in his or her eyes, and saying: "I know what it's like. We're all going to die. Now, what was it we were arguing about . . . ?" John Kaminski is a writer who lives on the Gulf Coast of Florida, constantly trying to figure out why we are destroying ourselves, and pinpointing a corrupt belief system as the engine of our demise. Solely dependent on contributions from readers, please support his work by mail: 250 N. McCall Rd. #2, Englewood, FL 34223, USA |