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SMOS Gains Clearer View as Illegal Transmitters Shut Down
A major international effort to shut down radio signals that have, at times, been blinding the instrument on ESA's SMOS water satellite is producing a marked improvement in the quality of the mission's data.
The Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity (SMOS) satellite was launched at the end of 2009 to improve our understanding of the water cycle.
The satellite carries a passive radiometer that operates in the 1400-1427 MHz frequency range (L-band) of the electromagnetic spectrum. It captures snapshots of 'brightness temperature' that correspond to microwave radiation emitted from Earth's surface.
From this information, the amount of moisture held in the surface layers of soil and salinity in the surface waters of the oceans can be derived.
According to radio regulations set by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), 1400-1427 MHz is allocated to the Earth Exploration Satellite Service, space research and radio astronomy – other transmissions in this band are prohibited.
However, soon after SMOS was launched, the data revealed there were many signals being transmitted within this protected passive band, rendering some of the data unusable for scientific purposes.
SMOS is well on the way to meeting its research objectives over areas free of this radio-frequency interference. However, the mission has clearly not been reaching its full potential because significant amounts of data have had to be discarded.
The areas worst affected are in southern Europe, southern and eastern Asia and the Middle East.
To ensure the integrity of the mission, ESA has gone to considerable effort to investigate exactly where the interference comes from and to urge national authorities to take action.
It transpired that interference is due to illegal signals being transmitted within the protected band and other signals from adjacent bands that leak into the protected region.
Investigations have revealed that most of the problems stem from unauthorised transmitters in the protected band such as TV and other radio links and wireless-camera monitoring systems.
Emissions from air surveillance radar and other radiolocation systems are also common sources of interference.
Through painstaking efforts by ESA teams and their collaboration with various international and national spectrum management authorities, the problem, although far from being completely resolved, is now much improved.
To date, 387 separate sources of interference have been detected worldwide, mostly from Asia and Europe.
This number should be treated with caution because strong signals mask weaker ones, which will only come to light as the stronger ones are turned off.
As a result of ESA's strategies, which included developing a way of detecting a source to within just 5 km, 90 of these transmitters have been turned off. Most of these were in Europe but investigations continue in more than 35 countries worldwide.
While illegal transmissions can be resolved through cooperation with national authorities enforcing ITU regulations, the solution to interference caused by unwanted emission from neighbouring services requires further regulatory action.
This issue was addressed at the World Radio Conference in 2007 and recommendations on maximum 'out-of-band' levels were agreed. Furthermore, earlier this year the European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations adopted the decision to make these limits compulsory its member countries.
The problem of interference has been more of an issue over land, contaminating data on soil moisture. However, there are also problems with ocean salinity retrievals.
For example, radar systems in North America are polluting large swathes of data from the northern oceans. However, the administrations involved are planning to refurbish some of these systems after the summer.
Although there has been a big improvement in the quality of SMOS data, ESA is set to continue its efforts, particularly in the Near and Middle East, China and southern Asia.
The efforts to reduce radio-frequency interference will also benefit other missions carrying L-band radar, such as NASA's new Aquarius satellite, which was launched on 10 June to measure ocean salinity.


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Create a Website Account - Manage notification subscriptions, save form progress and more.
Your Assessor Parcel Number (APN) is a 14-digit number that is found on your tax bill or tax receipt. Each parcel of land has its own unique number that identifies the property's location within the county. If you have a physical address, the city can obtain your parcel number.
Show All Answers
Building setbacks vary by the property's zoning designation or by the plat map. You should call the Planning Division at 559-935-1533, ext.143 to verify your zoning and your required setback anytime construction is proposed.
You may obtain zoning information for specific parcels by contacting the Planning Division. The staff member will need a parcel number or site address to give you the information over the phone. You may also submit a Zoning Information Request online.
City records may reflect the dimensions of your lot, but not the precise location of the lot lines. It may be necessary to hire a surveyor to survey your lot to determine the exact location of your property lines as the city does not offer this service.
In residential areas, a carport may only be placed in front of a residence if it is attached to the residence. It must also meet the front yard building setback requirements for the area in which it is constructed.
A notice for a public hearing is a required notice sent by the city to property owners who are in the vicinity of a property where development or changes are proposed. Such notice invites public participation in the decision-making process. If you received a public hearing notice in the mail, you may contact the Planning Division for more information on the specific project.
The Planning Division is responsible for regulating the type, scale, and the design of land use that may be established at a given location. The zoning code, together with the official zoning map, establishes zones to regulate land use for compatibility with surrounding uses. Development standards are included for:
The Building and Safety Division is responsible for structural and life safety concerns in the construction, demolition or alteration of buildings including, but not limited to, matters such as electrical, plumbing, and mechanical systems, energy conservation, and access for the disabled.
Contact the Planning Division and provide your parcel number or address. A city staff member will verify your current zoning and your General Plan designation. Both of these designations play a role in possible development and rezoning of your property. The Planning Division will inform you of your rezoning options.
A building permit application should include a plot plan drawn to scale. Information on the plot plan should include:
In order to develop a parcel, the property must comply with many development and zoning regulations. These regulations include accessibility and property dimensions. Other issues that may limit development include floodplain, oak trees, and other environmental issues. The Planning Division can verify this for you when you provide a property parcel number.
Each piece of property has a zoning designation and a General Plan (PDF) designation. These 2 documents, along with the Coalinga Zoning Code and subdivision regulations, govern how a property can be divided. The Planning Division will need a parcel number to answer your inquiry.
The initial step would be to find out from the Planning Division what the zoning designation of the particular property is to determine if the proposed business is allowed by code in that particular zone. And if so, if there are any particular regulations or permits required.
The Planning Commission is comprised of citizen volunteers whom are appointed by the City Council. The Planning Commission is a hearing body that makes decisions on matters relating to the development and use of land within the City of Coalinga.
The Planning Commission meets on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at:City Hall155 W Durian StreetCoalinga, CA 93210
View agendas and minutes
Of course, we highly recommend a preliminary review of any business property or large-scale residential development. Most issues involving building location, setbacks, parking, storm water drainage, and other physical improvements to a property can be resolved with a preliminary review of your proposal.
If you wish to have the Planning Division conduct a preliminary review of a development plan, please contact the division to make an appointment with a member of our staff to review your concept.
No, however, due to limited staffing the planning division, it is highly recommended to contact Sean Brewer to schedule an appointment email Sean Brewer or by calling 559-935-153, ext. 143.
Typically, a storage shed must be located a minimum distance of 5 feet from the property line. If you live on a corner lot or if your property is subject to easements, the minimum distance could change. Another consideration is that each property is limited to the amount of additional square footage that may be constructed for accessory buildings. Please call the Planning Division to verify your zoning and your particular situation. Please refer to Coalinga Zoning Code Section 9-5.101.
A building setback is the required distance that a building must be located from a property line, edge of access easement, or other structures on the property.
The size of accessory structures allowed to be placed on a residential property varies upon the size of the property. Refer to the table on the Accessory Uses and Structures Section of the Coalinga Planning and Zoning Code (Section 9-53.101(d).
All residential units must provide 2 off-street parking spaces. If you would like to convert the garage into another room, you must demonstrate that you can meet this parking requirement. Parking on the driveway may be counted towards the replacement parking spaces if the driveway design and location meet the requirements.
The city recognizes the importance of using your home for business purposes. The city has set guidelines that regulate which type of businesses may operate from a home. These regulations help to ensure that home businesses do not impact the residential neighborhoods or change the character of the home.
To be sure your business complies with the home occupation ordinance and zoning code regulations, you will need to complete a Home Occupation Application Form (PDF) and have it approved by a member of the Planning Division. Home occupation allows minimum client/customer visits and does not allow employees, outside storage, or large deliveries of stock. The specific regulation is contained in Coalinga Zoning Code Section 9-5.113. A copy of this ordinance can be viewed online.
Yards are not required to have lawn or grass. Landscaping may include rock, gravel, artificial turf or other drought-tolerant materials. Yards may not be more than 50% solid surface material such as pavement, asphalt, or other concrete type materials.
A sign permit is required for all signs whether temporary or permanent. No sign may be erected or displayed without a permit. No sign shall be placed in the public right of way unless permitted as a temporary sign.
The maximum height of a solid fence, wall or hedge shall be as follows:

subset: commoncrawl


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TALLAHASSEE — Representatives with three left-leaning voter groups suddenly facing allegations of voter registration wrongdoing say Florida elections officials are diverting attention from a criminal investigation into suspicious applications filed on behalf of the Republican Party of Florida by trumping up accusations against them.
Florida Division of Elections spokesman Chris Cate told reporters last week that forms filed by the state Democratic Party, the Florida New Majority Education Fund and the National Council of La Raza involved "potential irregular voter registration activities" that "constituted a legally sufficient complaint of voter registration fraud."
Representatives for all three deny fraud took place and say the state has yet to contact them about the allegations.
"It certainly doesn't pass the smell test that this information was released to the press before the party was ever notified," said Florida Democratic Party spokeswoman Brannon Jordan. "Both the timing and release of this information appears highly political."
The allegations were announced two days after the FDLE launched a criminal investigation into voter applications filed by Strategic Allied Consulting, a private firm hired by the RPOF to register voters. Hundreds of questionable registration forms have been found in a dozen counties, spanning from South Florida to the Panhandle. Republicans, who had made voter fraud a top campaign issue, reacted swiftly by firing the firm and filing an elections complaint against it.
They've also responded by filing dubious allegations against other groups, said Rebecca Wakefield, spokeswoman for the Education Fund, a nonpartisan group that aims to increase voter registration among under-represented groups.
"It's clear to us that this was all about timing," Wakefield said. "It's a distraction from the Republican case which made such big national news a few days before. This is all about Florida politics."
La Raza spokeswoman Camila Gallardo said her group had registered more than 50,000 voters since March with no complaints. She said it wasn't until the final week before the Oct. 8 registration deadline that her group, the largest Hispanic civil rights organization in the United States, was hit with two fraud allegations.
"We've never spoken to anyone from the state about it," Gallardo said. "What's the purpose of just reporting it to the media, other than to sensationalize it, if you don't talk to the groups who can get to the bottom of it? We're confused."
Cate said the cases were referred to the FDLE and that he could provide no further details because they are open investigations. General, not specific, information about the nature of the allegations was released to reporters, he said, but only those who asked for other cases involving voter registration fraud in the wake of the RPOF case.
"We were only answering media requests," he said.
Cate and his boss, Secretary of State Ken Detzner, say strict protocol, not politics, determines which cases get referred to the FDLE. As of Friday, the agency hadn't decided if it will launch a criminal inquiry into the voter registration drives conducted by the three groups.
The way Detzner describes it, the process of determining which allegations should be referred to law enforcement is a simple one, but left mainly to the judgment of himself and his attorney.
"(Staff Attorney Bennett Miller) will do his background of the case, then he'll bring it back to me for review and I'll decide," he said. "There is no time frame typically. He has to do his own due diligence. Partisan politics play no role in evaluating a case."
It took a day to refer the Oct. 4 complaints against the Education Fund and the Florida Democratic Party to the FDLE. It took two days to refer a La Raza complaint to the FDLE.
Yet it took 16 days for an earlier case against La Raza to be sent to the FDLE. It wasn't announced until after the RPOF case was already reported.
As for that RPOF case, it took longer to get reported and referred to the FDLE.
Lee County's voter registration director first saw suspicious forms filed by a vendor on behalf of RPOF in late August. She didn't notify the state of the forms until Sept. 20. It wasn't publicly known that Lee County had any issues with RPOF forms until a wider fraud case involving the same vendor was reported by media Sept. 28.
"I would have liked to have heard about that sooner," said Susan Bucher, Palm Beach County's supervisor of elections, who discovered flawed RPOF forms in her county on Sept. 18 and helped spark the investigation.
Submitting false voter registration information is a third-degree felony punishable by up to five years in jail and a fine of up to $5,000.
"There's not going to be a singular reason as to when cases are reviewed," Cate said. "Every case is different. The people reviewing it, I don't know what their schedules are."
Wakefield and Gallardo say their organizations follow strict procedures to prevent filing incomplete, incorrect or fraudulent forms.
"We went over all of our processes and asked, 'Do we have any problems we don't know about?' We couldn't come up with anything," Wakefield said. "We know the scrutiny is really high, but anyone can file a complaint. Doesn't mean it's valid. That's why we want to know what it is."


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< Features
Simplify Java/Maven Packaging using XMvn
Introduce new Maven packaging tooling with new macros, automated install section and more
- Name: Stanislav Ochotnicky
- Email: email@example.com
Current status
- Targeted release: Fedora 19
- Last updated: 2013-05-09
- Percentage of completion: 100%
Detailed Description
Current Maven packaging can be time-consuming and full of repetition even for simple packages. To simplify Maven packaging new XMvn tools and macros have been developed. Main features of XMvn include:
- No need for patched Maven (simpler maintenance)
- Automated %install section with possible per-artifact installation configuration
- Automatic requires generation for Maven artifacts
Goal of this feature is to migrate all packages to use XMvn instead of mvn-rpmbuild script. Several packages have already been converted as part of initial testing:
- http://pkgs.fedoraproject.org/cgit/maven-surefire.git/tree/maven-surefire.spec
- http://pkgs.fedoraproject.org/cgit/maven-doxia.git/tree/maven-doxia.spec
- http://pkgs.fedoraproject.org/cgit/slf4j.git/tree/slf4j.spec
- http://pkgs.fedoraproject.org/cgit/apache-commons-compress.git/tree/apache-commons-compress.spec
Most simple form of new Maven spec file would like something like this:
Name: XXX Version: XXX Release: 1%{?dist} Summary: XXX License: XXX URL: XXX Source0: XXX BuildArch: noarch BuildRequires: maven-local BuildRequires: XXX %description XXX %package javadoc Summary: API documentation for %{name} %description javadoc This package provides %{summary}. %prep %setup -q %build %mvn_build %install %mvn_install %files -f .mfiles %doc README %doc LICENSE NOTICE %dir %{_javadir}/%{name} %files javadoc -f .mfiles-javadoc %doc LICENSE NOTICE %changelog * Wed Jan 23 2013 Mr Packager <root@localhost> - XXX-1 - Initial packaging
Benefit to Fedora
After moving packages to start using XMvn instead of current mvn-rpmbuild spec files will be simpler, easier to maintain and modify. Automatic requires generation will make updating packages easier and less error-prone.
Not having to patch Maven will also open door to faster Maven updates.
Conversion of mvn-rpmbuild spec files to XMvn is mostly trivial removals and simplifications, but we'll be providing recipes for most common conversions.
How To Test
Tests are best done by reworking your packages to use XMvn instead of mvn-rpmbuild and then verify that automatically generated requires stayed sane.
User Experience
- No end-user visible difference
- Packagers will likely enjoy simplified spec files
- Packagers will nevertheless have to learn new ways to handle Maven packaging. Advantages outweigh this learning curve though.
- No dependencies
Contingency Plan
- In case some packages can not migrate due to inevitable incompatibilities they can keep using mvn-rpmbuild and ignore automatic requires.
Recipes for conversion from old mvn-rpmbuild to XMvn are being prepared [1].
Release Notes
Improved and simplified way to create RPM packages out of Apache Maven projects has been introduced. See documentation for conversion recipes from old spec files.


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Your #1 Source for Everyday Low Prices on Kitchen and Bathroom Fixtures, Tubs, Toilets, Faucets and Accessories.
Plumbers, homeowners, bathroom and kitchen designers shop at North Shore Plumbing for the best price, in-stock merchandise and knowledgeable sales staff.
Need Help? Our experienced sales staff is here to help get you all the materials you need.
Plumbers, Contractors and home builders rely on North Shore Plumbing Supply for all the in-stock materials needed to do their job, from PVC to copper pipes, fittings, valves, thermostats and more. Call us today at 718.463.4000.


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I remember my grandfather standing at the stove, stirring a big pot of the stuff, and every once in a while some of the thick, bubbling polenta would burp out of the pot and on to his hand. He would jump back and yell something, which to my very young ears sounded sort of like, "hey, some fun girl!"
Of course, years later I realized he was actually saying, "vaffanculo." I'll let you translate yourself. By the way, one way to avoid the wrath of the molten mush is to adjust your heat to maintain a nice gentle bubble.


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Travelers to Germany will no longer be able to access Google's Gmail the easy way due to the firm's long-running trademark lawsuit with German businessman Daniel Giersch.
As from Friday, German Gmail users and travelers in Germany are greeted with the following message: "We can't provide service under the Gmail name in Germany; we're called Google Mail here instead. If you're traveling in Germany, you can access your mail at http://mail.google.com. Oh, and we'd like to link the URL above, but we're not allowed to do that either. Bummer."
German businessman Giersch started using the name G-mail in 2000 to label his own physical mail service "G-mail...und die Post geht richtig ab". Google didn't launch its mail service until 2004.
Google believed it could win back the name, but in 2006 a district court in Hamburg handed Giersch victories at both the preliminary and final stages of the litigation and Google was ordered to remove all Gmail references from its German service.
Eventually German courts banned Google from all further attempts to wrest the rights to the Gmail trademark away from Giersch and Google also failed to win the right to register the term "Gmail" as a wide-ranging European trademark.
Google says that the service itself remains unaffected. ®


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February 16 and 17, 2011
Hosted by Adrian Ho and Sarah Shreeves
Libraries have used various strategies to engage with faculty, students, and administrators around changes in the scholarly communication system. Open access (OA) has become a popular topic and different initiatives are built around it. These include launching institutional repositories, creating OA publishing funds, working with faculty and administrators to institute OA policies, and developing new OA journals in collaboration with scholars and students. How do these initiatives relate to libraries' mission and future roles in higher education? What strategies are used to implement these initiatives and how well have they worked? This ALCTS e-forum will explore both how and why libraries have chosen to invest resources to support OA initiatives. It will also examine what strategies have been used and how successful they have been. All are welcome to join us to review and discuss what has been accomplished in libraries' OA endeavors.
You must be a subscriber to view the archive. Learn how to subscribe and manage your subscription. It's quick and easy.
Who Should Attend
Anyone with an interest in the topic is welcome and is encouraged to attend.
Hosted by
Adrian Ho is Scholarly Communication Librarian at The University of Western Ontario. With assistance of his colleagues, he networks with different constituents on campus to explore avenues to open up scholarly content for broader access. Before landing in London, Ontario for his current job, Adrian worked in collection development and public services at different institutions in the U.S. and Canada.
Sarah Shreeves is currently the Coordinator for the Illinois Digital Environment for Access to Learning and Scholarship (IDEALS), a set of services and collections supporting scholarly communication (including the institutional repository) at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She is also the Coordinator for the Scholarly Commons, a space for expert, interdisciplinary research support services and open workshops for faculty and graduate students to develop skills in areas such as digital content creation, e-learning and teaching, working with digital repositories, curation of research data, understanding copyright issues and author rights, and working with geospatial and numeric data.
How to Register
You must register to subscribe to or access an electronic discussion list on ALA's Mailing List Service. Find instructions for subscribing online. Once you have registered for one e-forum, you do not need to register again, unless you choose to leave the email list.
If you have trouble subscribing to the discussion list or have questions, please contact firstname.lastname@example.com. Or, contact e-Forum Coordinator, Kristin Martin, firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Check Sinchies reusable pouches out! Tired of paying high prices for supermarket yoghurt or fruit squeezies, even baby food pouches? Now you can make your own food at home or bulk buy nutritious yoghurt and dispense it into these awesome reusable food pouches.
Sinchies 150ml reusable food pouches come in singles and are ready to fill with your favourite healthy homemade snacks!
Filling your pouches is super easy with the bottom opening ziplock.
SInchies pouches allow home-made goodness with store bought convenience! You can monitor exactly what goes into the pouch, ensuring your children receive optimum nutrition that is free from preservatives, sugars or additives.
Freezer and Dishwasher Safe, Free from BPA, Phthalate and PVC, these on-the-run food pouches are handy and easy to use.
Choose your own healthy ingredients, whizz, pour and zip it up! Designed with a top spout for children to suck or squeeze out the contents, No need for a bowl or spoon!
They cut food costs, encourage healthy eating, reduce waste, and provide a fun and clean way to feed your children, whether you're at home, at school or out and about.
Sinchies are suitable for all sorts of baby foods, smoothies, fruit crushers, yoghurt, jelly, custard as well as other purposes such as travel toiletries, sauces or salad dressings.
Take them camping, in the car or on the plane.
Eco friendly – With the environment in mind, minimal packaging and biodegradable or recyclable materials have been used.
We also sell spare lids just in case.
Ensure young children are supervised when using this product! It contains small parts (the lid/cap) which children could swallow or choke on. We recommend purchasing the child safe choke free lids if using this product for little ones.


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Terms and Conditions
1. Legal relations between Supplier and Purchaser in connection with supplies and/or services of the Supplier (hereinafter referred to as "Supplies") shall be solely governed by the present Terms and conditions . The Purchaser's general terms and conditions shall apply only if expressly accepted by the Supplier in writing. The scope, content and time point of delivery shall be determined by the congruent mutual written declarations.
2. The Supplier reserves the right to modify unordered products from time to time, including the right to discontinue the products, announcing the Purchaser in advance, observing an adequate time period.
3. The Purchaser has the non-exclusive right to use standard software and firmware, provided that it remains unchanged, is used within the agreed performance parameters, and on the agreed equipment. Without express agreement the Purchaser may make one back-up copy of standard software.
4. Partial deliveries are allowed, unless they are unreasonable to accept for the Purchaser.
5. The term "claim for damages" used in the present GL also includes claims for indemnification for useless expenditure.
1. Prices are ex works and excluding packaging; value added tax shall be added at the then applicable rate.
2. Unless otherwise expressly stated in the order confirmation, all payments are due net 30 days from the invoice date.
3. Payments shall be made free Supplier's paying office.
4. The Purchaser may set off only those claims which are undisputed or non-appealable.
1. The items pertaining to the Supplies ("Retained Goods") shall remain the Supplier's property until each and every claim the Supplier has against the Purchaser on account of the business relationship has been fulfilled. If the combined value of the Supplier's security interests exceeds the value of all secured claims by more than 10 %, the Supplier shall release a corresponding part of the security interest if so requested by the Purchaser; the Supplier shall be entitled to choose which security interest it wishes to release.
2. For the duration of the retention of title, the Purchaser may not pledge the Retained Goods or use them as security, and resale shall be possible only for resellers in the ordinary course of their business and only on condition that the reseller receives payment from its customer or makes the transfer of property to the customer dependent upon the customer fulfilling its obligation to effect payment.
3. The Purchaser shall inform the Supplier forthwith of any seizure or other act of intervention by third parties.
4. Where the Purchaser fails to fulfill its duties, fails to make payment due, or otherwise violates its obligations the Supplier shall be entitled to rescind the contract and take back the Retained Goods in the case of continued failure following expiry of a reasonable remedy period set by the Supplier; the statutory provisions providing that a remedy period is not needed shall be unaffected. The Purchaser shall be obliged to return the Retained Goods. The fact that the Supplier takes back Retained Goods and/or exercises the retention of title, or has the Retained Goods seized, shall not be construed to constitute a rescission of the contract, unless the Supplier so expressly declares.
1. Times set for Supplies shall only be binding if all Documents to be furnished by the Purchaser, necessary permits and approvals, especially concerning plans, are received in time and if agreed terms of payment and other obligations of the Purchaser are fulfilled. If these conditions are not fulfilled in time, times set shall be extended reasonably; this shall not apply if the Supplier is responsible for the delay.
2. If non-observance of the times set is due to force majeure such as mobilization, war, rebellion or similar events, e. g. strike or lockout, such time shall be extended accordingly. The same shall apply if the Supplier does not receive its own supplies in due time or in due form.
3. If the Supplier is responsible for the delay (hereinafter referred to as "Delay") and the Purchaser has demonstrably suffered a loss thereof, the Purchaser may claim a compensation as liquidated damages of 0.5 % for every completed week of Delay, but in no case more than a total of 5 % of the price of that part of the Supplies which due to the Delay could not be put to the intended use.
4. Purchaser's claims for damages due to delayed Supplies as well as claims for damages in lieu of performance exceeding the limits specified in No. 3 above are excluded in all cases of delayed Supplies, even upon expiry of a time set to the Supplier to effect the Supplies. This shall not apply in cases of mandatory liability based on intent, gross negligence, or due to loss of life, bodily injury or damage to health. Rescission of the contract by the Purchaser based on statute is limited to cases where the Supplier is responsible for the delay. The above provisions do not imply a change in the burden of proof to the detriment of the Purchaser.
5. At the Supplier's request, the Purchaser shall declare within a reasonable period of time whether it, due to the delayed Supplies, rescinds the contract or insists on the delivery of the Supplies.
6. If dispatch or delivery, due to Purchaser's request, is delayed by more than one month after notification of the readiness for dispatch was given, the Purchaser may be charged, for every additional month commenced, storage costs of 0.5 % of the price of the items of the Supplies, but in no case more than a total of 5 %. The parties to the contract may prove that higher or, as the case may be, lower storage costs have been incurred.
1. Even where delivery has been agreed freight free, the risk shall pass to the Purchaser at the time when the Supplies are shipped or picked up by the carrier. Upon the Purchaser's request, the Supplier shall insure the Supplies against the usual risks of transport at the Purchaser's expense;
2. The risk shall pass to the Purchaser if dispatch, delivery, the start or performance of assembly or erection, the taking over in the Purchaser's own works, or the trial run is delayed for reasons for which the Purchaser is responsible or if the Purchaser has otherwise failed to accept the Supplies.
The Purchaser shall not refuse to receive Supplies due to minor defects.
The scope of the guarantee mentioned in our catalogue is replaced by the following provisions:
The Supplier shall be liable for defects as to quality (hereinafter referred to as "Defects",) as follows:
1. Defective parts or defective services shall be, at the Supplier's discretion, repaired, replaced or provided again free of charge, provided that the reason for the Defect had already existed at the time when the risk passed.
2. Claims for repair or replacement are subject to a statute of limitations of 12 months calculated from the start of the statutory statute of limitations; the same shall apply mutatis mutandis in the case of rescission and reduction. This shall not apply where longer periods are prescribed by law. The legal provisions regarding suspension of the statute of limitations and recommencement of limitation periods shall be unaffected.
3. Notifications of Defect by the Purchaser shall be given in written form without undue delay (7 days).
4. In the case of notification of a Defect, the Purchaser may withhold payments to an amount that is in a reasonable proportion to the Defect. The Purchaser, however, may withhold payments only if the subject-matter of the notification of the Defect involved is justified and incontestable. The Purchaser has no right to withhold payments to the extent that its claim of a Defect is time-barred. Unjustified notifications of Defect shall entitle the Supplier to demand reimbursement of its expenses by the Purchaser.
5. The Supplier shall be given the opportunity to repair or to replace the defective good within a reasonable period of time.
6. If repair or replacement is unsuccessful, the Purchaser is entitled to rescind the contract or reduce the remuneration; any claims for damages the Purchaser may have according to No. 10 shall be unaffected.
7. There shall be no claims based on Defect in cases of insignificant deviations from the agreed quality, of only minor impairment of usability, of natural wear and tear, or damage arising after the passing of risk from faulty or negligent handling, excessive strain, unsuitable equipment, defective civil works, inappropriate foundation soil, or claims based on particular external influences not assumed under the contract, or from non-reproducible software errors. Claims based on defects attributable to improper modifications or repair work carried out by the Purchaser or third parties and the consequences thereof are likewise excluded.
8. The Purchaser shall have no claim with respect to expenses incurred in the course of supplementary performance, including costs of travel, transport, labour, and material, to the extent that expenses are increased because the subject-matter of the Supplies has subsequently been brought to another location than the Purchaser's branch office, unless doing so complies with the normal use of the Supplies.
9. The Purchaser shall have no claim for damages based on Defects. This shall not apply to the extent that a Defect has been fraudulently concealed, the guaranteed characteristics are not complied with, in the case of loss of life, bodily injury or damage to health, restrictions to liberty and/or intentionally or grossly negligent breach of contract on the part of the Supplier. The above provisions do not imply a change in the burden of proof to the detriment of the Purchaser. Any other or additional claims of the Purchaser exceeding the claims provided for in this Article VII, based on a Defect, are excluded.
1. Unless otherwise agreed, the Supplier shall provide the Supplies free from third parties' industrial property rights and copyrights (hereinafter referred to as "IPR") with respect to the country of the place of delivery only. If a third party asserts a justified claim against the Purchaser based on an infringement of an IPR by the Supplies made by the Supplier and used in conformity with the contract, the Supplier shall be liable to the Purchaser within the time period stipulated in Article VII No. 2 as follows:
a) The Supplier shall choose whether to acquire, at its own expense, the right to use the IPR with respect to the Supplies concerned or whether to modify the Supplies such that they no longer infringe the IPR or replace them. If this would be impossible for the Supplier under reasonable conditions, the Purchaser may rescind the contract or reduce the remuneration pursuant to the applicable statutory provisions.
b) The above obligations of the Supplier shall apply only if the Purchaser (i) immediately notifies the Supplier of any such claim asserted by the third party in written form, (ii) does not concede the existence of an infringement and (iii) leaves any protective measures and settlement negotiations to the Supplier's discretion. If the Purchaser stops using the Supplies in order to reduce the damage or for other good reason, it shall be obliged to point out to the third party that no acknowledgement of the alleged infringement may be inferred from the fact that the use has been discontinued.
2. Claims of the Purchaser shall be excluded if it is responsible for the infringement of an IPR.
3. Claims of the Purchaser are also excluded if the infringement of the IPR is caused by specifications made by the Purchaser, by a type of use not foreseeable by the Supplier or by the Supplies being modified by the Purchaser or being used together with products not provided by the Supplier.
4. In addition, with respect to claims by the Purchaser pursuant to No. 1 a) above, Article VII Nos. 4, 5 shall apply mutatis mutandis in the event of an infringement of an IPR.
5. Where other defects in title occur, Article VII shall apply mutatis mutandis.
6. Any other claims of the Purchaser against the Supplier or its agents or any such claims exceeding the claims provided for in this Article VIII, based on a defect in title, are excluded.
1. To the extent that delivery is impossible, the Purchaser is entitled to claim damages, unless the Supplier is not responsible for the impossibility. The Purchaser's claim for damages is, however, limited to an amount of 10 % of the value of the part of the Supplies which, owing to the impossibility, cannot be put to the intended use. This limitation shall not apply in the case of mandatory liability based on intent, gross negligence or loss of life, bodily injury or damage to health; this does not imply a change in the burden of proof to the detriment of the Purchaser. The Purchaser's right to rescind the contract shall be unaffected.
2. Where unforeseeable events within the meaning of Article IV No. 2 substantially change the economic importance or the contents of the Supplies or considerably affect the Supplier's business, the contract shall be adapted taking into account the principles of reasonableness and good faith. To the extent this is not justifiable for economic reasons, the Supplier shall have the right to rescind the contract. If the Supplier intends to exercise its right to rescind the contract, it shall notify the Purchaser thereof without undue delay after having realized the repercussions of the event; this shall also apply even where an extension of the delivery period has previously been agreed with the Purchaser.
1. The Purchaser has no claim for damages based on whatever legal reason, including infringement of duties arising in connection with the contract or tort. The same shall apply particularly for the advice of the Supplier with regard to the way of usage of the Product, since only the Purchaser can assess the usefulness and suitability of the Product for each application.
2. The above shall not apply in the case of mandatory liability, e. g. in the case of intent, gross negligence, loss of life, bodily injury or damage to health, or breach of a condition which goes to the root of the contract. However, claims for damages arising from a breach of a condition which goes to the root of the contract shall be limited to the foreseeable damage which is intrinsic to the contract, unless caused by intent or gross negligence or based on liability for loss of life, bodily injury or damage to health. The above provision does not imply a change in the burden of proof to the detriment of the Purchaser.
3. To the extent that the Purchaser has a claim for damages, it shall be time-barred upon expiration of the statute of limitations pursuant to Article VII No. 2. The same shall apply to the Purchaser's claims in connection with actions undertaken to avoid any damage (e. g. callback).
1. If the Purchaser is a businessman, sole venue for all disputes arising directly or indirectly out of the contract shall be the Supplier's place of business. However, the Supplier may also bring an action at the Purchaser's place of business.
2. Legal relations existing in connection with this contract shall be governed by Belgian law, to the exclusion of the United Nations Convention on contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG).
3. The Products / test units are subject to the export laws and regulation of Japan and other countries. Any diversion or re-export contrary to or in violation of the applicable export control laws and regulation is prohibited.
The legal invalidity of one or more provisions of this Agreement in no way affects the validity of the remaining provisions. This shall not apply if it would be unreasonable for one of the parties to be obligated to continue the contract.


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XCOM E3 2010 Preview
QUICKTAKE: The 50's "dawn of the atomic age" era provides a great atmosphere for an alien-hunt shooter whether you know the original or not. And for those who do, while it's not a strategy game, there are ample nods to the X-Com spirit
No, the new XCOM is not a tactical strategy game like its namesake from the 90s; it's a shooter. But in the over a decade since the originals, videogames have changed too. So while the play style may be different, developer 2K Marin hopes to translate much of the essence that made X-Com appealing to their new game. At the same time, they also have a creative vision that's more than just reimaging X-Com as a shooter. The new XCOM trades in the late 20th century setting of the originals for the 1950's, a time when people were still in wonder of major advances in technology. It's a period rife with potential for experimental devices and a secret organization that uses them to fend of extraterrestrials.
The E3 demo I saw reflected the effort to lay groundwork for being more than just a run-and-gun shooter with around the first third of it taking place at a hidden top-secret base. This section brought in some of the planning and strategizing to be done before heading on a field assignment that was a core part of the old games. Research looks like it will play an important role again in being able to combat the superior alien forces. Observations and samples collected while in the field can be brought back to scientists who then need to be directed on what to give their attention to.
In another nod to the earlier games, there are different types of missions to choose from like a police dispatcher off a giant map wall in a large situation room. They include elerium recovery, protect civilians, recover artifacts, and conduct research. Choices matter, too, because during the time spent on one run, some of the other situations may get resolved. And though not explained during the demo, each state shown on the wall map also had a sort of satisfaction rating that presumably relates to some form of support resource in the game.
Out on a mission to investigate a disturbance in a suburban neighborhood the demo took a more conventional turn. Before the shooting started, though, the body of a dead resident covered in black ooze presented an opportunity to show off the field component of research. A quick photo logged it for the boys back in the lab to check out later. Research like that had yielded the sort of homemade ooze grenade the team had armed up with before heading out and we were about to see them pay off.
Entering a home we finally got to see the blob creatures the ooze had foreshadowed. Compared to all the work that had gone into creating the atmosphere of the game up to that point, the blobs lacked personality and were a bit of a let down as aliens go. They did crackle with electricity and prove pretty resilient to shotgun blasts. That's where the ooze grenades came in handy, erupting in flames that took them out quickly. But whether by design or just a symptom of an early build the flames didn't seem to harm the player or either of the two computer-controlled teammates along on the operation.
The demo wrapped up showing off an effective lightning gun that also looked like it had been cobbled together by the techs back at the base. It proved no match for the titan alien artifact that zaps in above the subdivision at the end first as a monolith and then transforming into a ring that hovers above the street creating a violent storm of destruction. The demo ended with it unclear if the team got away okay to reinforce the fear of the unknown theme. A lot of gamers have already felt that emotion wondering how this new XCOM will treat an old favorite. One demo won't erase that entirely but for a first look it offers a lot of fuel for speculating how it might all work out and come together.
[Watch the Shacknews E3 2010 page to follow all our coverage of this year's show. You can also subscribe to it with your favorite RSS reader.]


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The Guardian system allows service technicians and owners to protect their investment and keep operating costs low by monitoring a selected machine in real time through a wireless signal, and address any issues that may arise while the machine works. It also allows Roadtec customer service personnel to remotely view the machine in real time and be there for the customer anytime, anywhere. The engine, hydraulic system, electrical system, and grade control can all be monitored in detail. The machine can also be located by GPS using the Guardian system.
Diagnosing a machine equipped with the Guardian system is a much quicker and more efficient process. Guardian's intuitive Live SchematicsTM allow owners and technicians to see all electrical circuits in a simple and efficient layout with real time status of all switches, valves and settings. Changes to the SmoothMillTM grade control system parameters can be made from a laptop without touching the machine. The Guardian system will also e-mail fault codes, service reminders and production reports to the owner and service department to keep them conveniently informed on the status of their machine. Staying up to date with the latest information on each machine will allow contractors to be much more proactive in monitoring and lowering their operating costs. The owner of the machine can log on to the Guardian system and view his machine's speed, location, engine load, and fuel usage, all in real time, without being on the job site. It is like being on the machine.


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New Car/Review
Lexus IS 300 (2001)
SEE ALSO: Lexus Rover Buyer's Guide
by John Heilig
SPECIFICATIONS MODEL: 2001 Lexus IS 300 ENGINE: 3.0-liter DOHC inline six HORSEPOWER/TORQUE: 215 hp @ 5,800 rpm/208 lb-ft @ 3,800 rpm TRANSMISSION: Five-speed automatic with E-shift WHEELBASE: 105.1 in. LENGTH x WIDTH x HEIGHT: 176.6 x 67.7 x 55.5 in. BASE PRICE: $30,500
More than ten years ago, Lexus burst upon the automotive scene with the LS400, a top-of-the-line luxury sedan from the get-go. The company has continued to offer high-end luxury (even in its entry-lever vehicles) since then. And while the large sport utility is a Toyota Land Cruiser on steroids and leather, the RX300 is an excellent vehicle in it sown right.
Lexus has proven to be a substantial challenge for the established luxury brands of Mercedes-Benz, Cadillac and Lincoln. Now the carmaker is going after BMW and Audi with the IS 300 sport sedan. Here is a vehicle that has all the performance of a 3-Series Bimmer or Audi A4 with the quality and quietness of a Lexus.
For example, the 3.0-liter inline six in the Lexus is rated at 215 horsepower, 22 more than the 2.8-liter inline six in the BMW 328I and 25 more than the 2.8-liter V-6 in the Audi A4. Zero-to-60 mph times are also lower by about the same ratio. In the Lexus, the engine is connected to a five-speed automatic transmission with E-shift, the Lexus version of the Automatic Stick Shift. On our introduction test drive, we had the opportunity to leave it in drive or fiddle with the gears, on both winding and straight roads. This is a comfortable transmission to work with.
Like the bigger GS 400, the "auto stick shift" changers are located on the steering wheel. You upshift by pushing a button on the back of the steering wheel spoke; downshift by pushing a button on the front. This is convenient, but it always seemed as if it required extra effort to downshift, although it only requires moving your thumb. I had become accustomed to using the sound system controls on a Jeep Grand Cherokee, and was looking for something more like a simple up or down button on the back of the spoke.
Dimensionally, the Lexus is shorter, narrower and taller than its competitors on the outside, but offers more headroom and front legroom than the others. Somehow, Lexus has also reduced the drag coefficient below the magical 0.30 figure to 0.29. Styling, however, reminded everyone who attended the introduction of a larger Toyota Echo, and this probably isn't what Lexus intended.
On the road, the IS 300 has all the feel of the cars it is intended to compete with, except there is essentially no noise or harshness. With the Bimmer or the Audi you can gain some measure of personal satisfaction with an occasional "braap" from the exhaust, but the IS 300 is a true Lexus, where none of that nonsense is tolerated. It's like driving a Viper with an electric motor.
Handling of the IS 300 is excellent. Lexus/Toyota has installed independent double wishbone suspensions front and rear that allow for spirited driving around curves. In this category, at least, the Lexus is the measure of its competition. One prerequisite for a sport sedan is good handling. You can get away with a less powerful engine as long as the handling is up to the task. BMW for years used four-cylinder engines in the 3-Series cars and they were popular because they still handled like a BMW. The same with the IS 300, except that in this case there's a relatively powerful engine driving the rear wheels.
Styling is typically clean Lexus, although there is that family resemblance to the Echo. Lexus executives informed us that the IS 300 is built on its own platform. No other Lexus or Toyota cars share the platform, although the engine is the same as in the GS 300 and SC 300 sport sedan and coupe. In Japan, the chief engineer on the product drives this car with a six-speed manual, which may be offered in a couple of years.
When the LS 400 first was introduced, people commented on how quiet it was and how effortlessly it drove down the highway. You'll hear the same kind of comments about the IS 300. The problem is, in our minds, that a sport sedan should make some noise. It doesn't have to be obnoxious, but too much silence takes away from the character of the vehicle.


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Timeline Event
Host of the West marches north through Ithilien
Event Type: Military/Strategic
Age: 3rd Age - Ring War
Dates: March 20, 3019 ~ March 22, 3019
An event in the prelude to the Battle of the Morannon; see that entry for an overview:
The day after, being the third day since they set out from Minas Tirith, the army began its northward march along the road. It was some hundred miles by that way from the Cross-roads to the Morannon, and what might befall them before they came so far none knew. They went openly but heedfully, with mounted scouts before them on the road, and others on foot upon either side, especially on the eastward flank; for there lay dark thickets, and a tumbled land of rocky ghylls and crags, behind which the long grim slopes of the Ephel Dúath clambered up. The weather of the world remained fair and the wind held in the west, but nothing could waft away the glooms and the sad mists that clung about the Mountains of Shadow; and behind them at whiles great smokes would arise and hover in the upper winds.
Ever and anon Gandalf let blow the trumpets, and the heralds would cry: "The Lords of Gondor are come! Let all leave this land or yield them up!' But Imrahil said: 'Say not The Lords of Gondor. Say The King Elessar. For that is true, even though he has not yet sat upon the throne; and it will give the Enemy more thought, if the heralds use that name.' And thereafter thrice a day the heralds proclaimed the coming of the King Elessar. But none answered the challenge.
Nonetheless, though they marched in seeming peace, the hearts of all the army, from the highest to the lowest, were downcast, and with every mile that they went north foreboding of evil grew heavier on them.
The Return of the King, LoTR Book 5, Ch 10, The Black Gate Opens
Over the city of Gondor doubt and great dread had hung.... And no news came. After the host left Morgul Vale and took the northward road beneath the shadow of the mountains no messenger had returned nor any rumour of what was passing in the brooding East.
The Return of the King, LoTR Book 6, Ch 5, The Steward and the King
Tanaqui 16May05
Elena Tiriel 6Aug06


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Teachers have access to lesson plan and lecture notes, dicsussion questions and guidance plus activities in the Teacher's Book. Each lesson features background, Scripture exposition, pronunciation guides, illustrations, learning activities, and more! (Note: This is the NIV version.) One copy is included in the NIV Adult Teacher's Convenience Kit. Order extras for additional teachers.
Standard Lesson Quarterly is a richly resourced adult curriculum based on the International Sunday School Lessons (ISSL)/Uniform Series. Reliable Scripture exposition, culturally relevant examples, and timely discussion questions engage students and give the Bible lesson meaning in their everyday lives. Using the NIV as a basis for study, students survey the Bible in a 6-year cycle.


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For small and medium sized business owners there is good news and bad news in the deal to avoid the fiscal cliff. In addition, the deal strongly underscores the need for business owners to sharpen their own pencils to cut their taxes. NOTE – this article was first written after the Senate vote on the Fiscal Cliff deal but before the House has taken any action – the House has now passed the Senate bill without amendment and it is expected to be signed into law. The scores cited below are 10-year estimates from the Joint Committee on Taxation provided by the Senate Finance Committee.
First, let's start with the good news. Greater certainty in taxes (although as you will read below, you may not like what is certain). More than any other issue I hear about from business owners and their accountants is the need for certainty in taxes. A recent study by the Mercatus Center highlights the economic drag of uncertainty in taxes.
The tax deal makes permanent a number of tax provisions (after making changes from current 2012 policy), including the tax rates on ordinary income; estate tax; dividends and capital gains – and best of all, the alternative minimum tax (AMT). NOTE: The payroll tax holiday was ended.
On AMT the current exemption of $33,750 individual and $45,000 married is increased to $50,600 single and $78,750 married and indexes the exemption and phaseout amounts. KEY – this new AMT fix is for tax years beginning after December 31, 2011 – i.e. the 2012 tax year. Happy day.
BUSINESS PROVISIONS EXTENDED (not permanent) – The most important tax credit for small and medium business owners – the Research and Development (R&D) tax credit was extended through 2013 and made retroactive for 2012 (see more below); Work Opportunity Tax Credit extended one year; Section 179 – keeps in place the 2010/2011 levels of a maximum amount of $500k and $2 million phase-out for 2012 and 2013; Accelerated Depreciation -- the Senate deal provides for 50 percent expensing for qualifying property purchased and placed in service before January 1, 2014 (and January 1, 2015 for certain long-term assets and transportation).
Now, the bad news – the tax increases – and the hidden tax increases.
ORDINARY INCOME: While the tax deal increases the rates at a higher level than first proposed by the President ($200k single/250k married) – it does increase the rates from 35% to 39.6% at $400k single and $450k married (talk about a marriage penalty). From 2012 tax policy this is a tax increase of $396 billion over 10 years. Don't forget, there is also the 0.9 percent tax increase on ordinary income over 200k/250k already set to begin in 2013 thanks to the health bill. Given that small and medium businesses are overwhelmingly organized as pass-thrus (LLC's; S Corps; partnerships) – it is the ordinary income rate that hits these business owners – not the corporate rate (which was untouched in this deal).
CAPITAL GAINS/DIVIDENDS: Top rate increased to 20 percent (but not to 39.6 for dividends as proposed by the administration). Not a surprise that dividends didn't increase to 39.6% given unpopular with many Democrats in the Senate as well as almost all Republicans. Still this increase to 20% raises over $56 billion over ten years from current 2012 tax policy – mostly from dividends. The top rate for dividends and capital gains starts at the $400k/$450k level. Note: this increase is in addition to the 3.8% add-on tax for capital gains and dividends included in the health bill. In addition, nothing done specifically on carried interest.
ESTATE TAX: Always of significant interest to family-owned businesses. Estate tax was a bit of a mixed bag – the $5 million dollar per person exemption was kept in place (and indexed for inflation continued) however the top rate is increased to 40 percent – effective date January 1, 2013. This change to 40 percent increased revenues from 2012 policy by $19 billion dollars. Other good news for estate planning – portability is kept in place and estate and gift remains unified – ie the $5 million stays in place for gift tax purposes as well. All permanent law -- hallelujah.
HIDDEN TAX INCREASES -- PHASE OUTS – One of the best things of the Bush tax cuts was the elimination of "PEPS" and "Pease" – shorthand for phase outs of personal exemptions and certain itemized deductions. These are in effect hidden marginal rate increases. Unfortunately, the tax deal brings these bad policies back – albeit at a higher dollar level – hitting folks making $250k single and $300k married. It all sounds so very boring. Don't be bored -- this little understood and rarely discussed provision packs a womping tax hit of $152 billion dollars over current 2012 tax policy.
PLANNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR BUSINESS. The increase in the top rate, the AMT relief provided for 2012 tax year and the hidden tax increases – all combine to make it possible that many small and medium businesses that weren't eligible for business credits thanks to AMT limitations in 2011 will now potentially be able to take advantage of these dozens of credits. In essence, a backdoor opportunity for small businesses -- similar to when Congress expanded eligibility for credits for 2010. As mentioned above, the R&D tax credit remains the biggest business credit out there – but for reasons of self-censoring small businesses don't take advantage of the credit. The time is now – before filing 2012 tax returns -- for business owners to have a sit down with their accountants and focus on all of these business credits.
The other benefit that jumps out at me from this tax deal is IC-DISC. I've written on this in the past – this is a tremendous tax benefit for exporters (including computer software – software done here but sold overseas; architects, engineers – building designed here but built overseas). This tax benefit is for small and medium manufacturers who export -- but also for businesses who manufacture a part, for example, an engine that goes on a plane that is exported. In a nutshell, the benefit is derived from getting dividend tax treatment for what would otherwise be ordinary income. Think big tax savings.
Given that the tax deal for the fiscal cliff kept a significant differential between the dividend rates (20% plus 3.8% health care) and top ordinary income rates (39.6% plus 0.9% health care) – and most importantly the rates are permanent – so there is no excuse -- run, don't walk, to take advantage of this major tax benefit – the IC-DISC. However, be eyes open – as I've mentioned in my articles, the IRS has recently put out audit guidance on IC-DISC – so you need to make sure you are doing it right.
Finally, the continuation of Section 179 and accelerated depreciation are a good incentive for considering more investments.
I welcome readers' thoughts – especially all my smart accountants reading – of other planning ideas that business owners should consider under this tax deal.
See also:


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This past week, Israel's Justice Ministry issued new regulations that, if implemented, will make it impossible for many Palestinians and all undocumented immigrants to file suit in Israeli courts.
On the face of things, the regulations appear entirely sensible, in that they require plaintiffs to note either an Israeli ID or foreign passport number on any documents filed. Calling the rules "technical" in nature, the head of the Ministry's Legal Counsel Department, Peretz Segal, told Haaretz that as things stand today, court clerks register legal documents without such identification, and the practice creates the potential for errors in the execution of court rulings.
But the face of things and their function aren't always one and the same.
What looks like mere bureaucracy would in fact serve to close Israel's justice system to the people most vulnerable to injustice: Migrants fleeing hunger and oppressive political regimes, and Palestinians who are stateless and (often) paper-less—the latter usually a result of some other Israeli regulation or bureaucratic machination, such as the thousands of Gazan and West Bank Palestinians who happened to not be in Gaza or the West Bank on the day that Israel conducted its first census of the territories, or the quarter of a million Palestinians who had their West Bank or Gazan residency covertly revoked by Israel between 1967 and 1994.
The new regulations are, then, "new" in word only, not in spirit. The endemic violence and bloodshed get a lot more attention, but the truth is that bureaucracy has long been Israel's favorite tool of control.
From the military rule that governed Israel's Arab population in the state's early years, to the regulations and confiscations that make it all but impossible for Palestinians to build in East Jerusalem today; from the law that prevents Palestinians from living with Israeli spouses, to the West Bank's mind-boggling and hydra-headed permit system—the state has always sought to manage the conflict and reshape the population of Israel, the territories, and the city of Jerusalem with an array of rules, regulations, and overlapping authorities, the sort of thicket of words and bits of paper that both exhausts and divides the people facing it.
Even for a dedicated observer, much less an individual trying to get through a day or a life, it can be hard to keep track of the requirements, the changes, and the administrative whims—a multi-layered Kafkaesque confusion that not only furthers the regulations' goals but often escapes notice by outsiders. It's a quiet, perpetual motion machine of control, intended to build and maintain the structure of the Jewish State—a structure that grows narrower and more restrictive every year.
These are legal and administrative walls, erected and expanded to surround the populace that the authorities see as their one true responsibility: Israeli Jews. Efforts to deny legal redress to migrants, or homes to Palestinian Jerusalemites, or freedom of movement in the West Bank are a kind of legal razor wire acting to fully separate the folks who matter from the folks who don't.
In this regard, Israel's rules and regulations are a natural precursor to and extension of the actual, physical walls with which the country is now nearly surrounded. There's the Security Barrier to the east, and the anti-migrant fence to the south. The Gaza Strip is sealed off, and of course the northern border remains as closed as ever (despite the Arab Peace Initiative, first offered in Beirut in 2002). Only the Sea, it seems, cannot be fenced in.
All of these walls, literal and metaphorical, have purposes and rationales that for many supporters of Israel are enough. As someone who lived through waves of suicide bombings in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, I understand what it means when officials point out that the Security Barrier has led to the complete disappearance of that particular kind of violence.
But we fail Israel if we fail to ask what other consequences its restrictions bring.
Whatever else they may do, these restrictions damage real lives, creating and deepening enmity, and perpetuating a presumption that no one outside of Israel's Jewish community may be genuinely trusted. They deny something essential about the humanity of their targets, and they fly in the face of Israel's own Declaration of Independence.
And, I would submit, they are bad for the Jews, as well.
Not just Jews who stand accused of not being quite Jewish enough by Israel's state-authorized rabbinic courts; not just Jews who might want to help the vulnerable or build new bridges to old enemies.
In wrapping itself in xenophobic laws and fear-induced walls, Israel moves farther and farther away from being a light unto the nations, or even a nation among the nations, and closer and closer to the Jewish people's past as a people apart—but this time, the hands pushing Jews into a narrow and isolated place are Jewish.
Ten years ago, when Israel began to build the 25-foot concrete wall it dubbed the Security Barrier, I discussed its construction with a friend. "What Israelis forget," she said over dinner in Tel Aviv, "is that walls have two sides."
"We're building our own ghetto."


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3D model of Dolores Umbridge's Wand
This model is fan-made replica of the wand from the Harry Potter movies.
Files contain the complete wand in one piece (.OBJ, .STL) and also the wand cut into smaller pieces (.STL).
At 100% scale the wand is approx. 204 mm / 8 inches long
But you can scale the model according to your needs
We recommend a layer height of 0.05 to 0.2 mm on FDM printers. All parts are aligned to the printing platform for easy manipulation. Most of the parts need minimal or no use of printing supports to save printing time and filament. Printing settings will vary greatly depending on your specific printer.
If you'd like to suggest what we should do next, check out our pre-order page and fill in your suggestion: 3d-mon.com/preorder
This model was created by someone from our 3Demon team. It is fan-made. We are group of modelling and 3d printing enthusiasts, who work in a 3D makerspace located in Prague, Czech Republic. We make cosplay accessories, technical gadgets and much more. Have a look at our Facebook page or visit our website to find out more about us:


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For the past few days, I've been doing demos and soaking up crafty awesomeness at the Craft & Hobby Association Winter 2012 Conference and Trade Show in Anaheim. Per usual, there have been tons of amazing events on the show floor. But, on Monday, Lion Brand Yarn rocked my fiber-loving socks off with their Lion Brand Winter 2012 CHA Fashion Show. There, the models walked an honest-to-god catwalk and sported a combination of Lion Brand Yarn patterns and creations from emerging designers, like this gorgeous dress from Elissa Eriksson.
Here are are a few more of my favorite designs from the show:
Sweater by emerging designer Gareth Brown.
Dress by emerging designer Lucy Faulke.
Gown by emerging designer Paula Cheng.
Dress by emerging designer Heather Orr.
There you have it, folks. I'm submitting this as definitive proof that yarn can be high fashion!
2 thoughts on "Lion Brand Yarn CHA Fashion Show"
I would say the first set of photos with the popcorn-stitch yellow smooshy beret is my favorite.
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Creatine is among the highest used and amongst the most effectual body building supplement available in the market. Many brands are available in the markets that sell low quality Creatine supplements which do not follow through the promises that they make. It is important to choose a respectable or trust worthy brand before buying Creatine.
Selecting proper type of Creatine supplement that provides all the healthy nutrients that are needed for holistic health care can prove to be a tough task. Creatine is the biggest legally selling weight gain product in the market. Trainers and body builders are aware that Creatine is the only option other than steroids that has the capability to help gain weight, muscle, and strength. It is thus important to choose the proper kind of Creatine product.
There are a few basic things that one should take into consideration before buying any kind of Creatine product. These points can help you choose the perfect Creatine product without getting ripped off your money.
The first thing to take care while buying any holistic health care product like Creatine is the brand. Buying the product of a respectable brand mostly means that the product will be of good quality. It would be best if the product has a Creapure logo on it. This logo means that the product is certified to be of good quality. It is always important to choose high quality Creatine as bad or degraded qualities may be cheaper, but can also cause harmful side effects.
While choosing high quality Creatine products, the problem that may occur is the price. Many supplements provide the same benefits as others that are available in the market but are highly priced. It is not always necessary to choose the product that is most advertised and has the highest price. People can get the same holistic lifestyle from products that are available at comparatively cheaper prices.
Before buying any supplement, you should always consult your physician or trainer about the type of Creatine you intend to buy and depending upon your choice, you can choose from the types of Creatine.
These simple things when followed can help a buyer choose the perfect Creatine product that would help them in gaining weight without being too heavy on their pockets.


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Peter Coad
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Peter Coad (born December 30, 1953) is an American computer scientist, software entrepreneur and author of books on programming. He is notable for his role in defining what have come to be known as the UML colors, a color-coded notation chiefly useful for simplifying one's understanding of a design or model.
- OOA - Object-Oriented Analysis - is based upon concepts that we first learned in kindergarten: objects and attributes, wholes and parts, classes and members.
- Peter Coad & Ed Yourdon (1991, p. 1); cited in: Sten Carlsson and Benneth Christiansson. (1999) "The Concept of Object and its Relation to Human Thinking: Some Misunderstandings Concerning the Connection between Object-Orientation and Human Thinking." Informatica, Lith. Acad. Sci. 10.2. p. 147-160.
- Archetypes, color, and components will forever change how you build Java models. We build Java models with teams of developers. In our day-to-day mentoring, we develop and try out new ideas and innovations that will help those developers excel at modeling.
- Peter Coad, Jeff de Luca, and Eric Lefebvre. (1999) Java Modeling Color with Uml: Enterprise Components and Process with Cdrom. Prentice Hall PTR.
Object-oriented patterns. (1992)[edit]
Peter Coad (1992) "Object-oriented patterns." Communications of the ACM 35.9 : 152-159.
- Many fields use patterns in various ways: In music and literature, a pattern is the coherent structure or design of a song or book. In art, a pattern is the composition or plan of a work of graphic or plastic art. In architecture, a pattern is an architectural design or style. In psychology, a pattern is a thinking mechanism that is basic to the brain's operation, helping one to perceive things quickly. In archeology, a pattern is a group of phases having several distinguishing and fundamental features in common. In linguistics, a pattern is the manner in which smaller units of language are grouped into larger units...
- p. 152
- With each pattern, small piecework is standardized into a larger chunk or unit. Patterns become the building blocks for design and construction. Finding and applying patterns indicates progress in a field of human endeavor.
- p. 152
- Object-oriented methods tend to focus on the lowest-level building block: the class and its objects.
- p. 152
- A pattern is a fully realized form original, or model accepted or proposed for imitation. With patterns, small piecework is standardized into a larger chunk or unit. Patterns become the building blocks for design and construction. Finding and applying patterns indicates progress in a field of human endeavor.
- p. 158
Quotes about Peter Coad[edit]
- The key books about object-oriented graphical modeling languages appeared between 1988 and 1992. Leading figures included Grady Booch [Booch,OOAD]; Peter Coad [Coad, OOA], [Coad, OOD]; Ivar Jacobson (Objectory) [Jacobson, OOSE]; Jim Odell [Odell]; Jim Rumbaugh (OMT) [Rumbaugh, insights], [Rumbaugh, OMT]; Sally Shlaer and Steve Mellor [Shlaer and Mellor, data], [Shlaer and Mellor, states] ; and Rebecca Wirfs-Brock (Responsibility Driven Design) [Wirfs-Brock].
- Martin Fowler (2004) A Brief Guide to the Standard Object Modeling Language. p. 7


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4.8L VS 5.3L Engine - Tech - Little LS Slugfest
It's 4.8 vs 5.3 in a battle of smaller small-blocks
Let's face it: The little guys never get the love. Case in point, the 4.8L LR-4 or LY2. Everyone wants a 7.0L, 6.2L or at least 6.0L LS engine powering their trucks and muscle cars. Worst case scenario? They grab the medium-sized 5.3L. Enthusiasts pass right by the 4.8Ls in their quest to gobble up all the 5.3L motors in wrecking yards as swap candidates. The reality is that, all things being equal, bigger engines make more power. They certainly make more torque, but the downer is they also use more fuel.
With 4.8L engines powering countless thousands of trucks on the road, to say nothing of the pricing and availability in wrecking yards, the little 4.8 starts to look attractive. We paid just $250 for ours versus $450 for the 5.3. Down on displacement to be sure, the 4.8L still has everything that makes a Gen 3 or Gen 4 (LQ, LM or LR) small-block great, including cross-bolted mains, high-flow aluminum heads and a combination just begging for the right mods. Rather than just demonstrate what the mods do to the smaller 4.8L, we decided to compare it directly to the more popular 5.3L by performing a back-to-back shootout of sorts. The question we wanted to answer was: How does the smaller 4.8L compare to the 5.3L in stock and modified trim?
Displacement wise, the 4.8L is to the 5.3L what the original 283 was to the 327 small-block (technically 293 versus 325 ci). Given the bore and stroke of each, a better comparison might be the 327 and larger 350, as the 4.8L and 5.3L share the same bore size of 3.78 inches while the 4.8L makes due with a shorter 3.267-inch stroke (down from the typical LS stroke of 3.622 inches). Since the 4.8L and 5.3L share the same block (externally marked 4.8L/5.3L), not to mention the same heads, intake, and other external features, it is difficult to distinguish between the two. More than one enthusiast has purchased what he thought was a 5.3L, only to receive the smaller 4.8L in its place. Internally there are distinct differences, the most obvious being the use of flat-top pistons in the smaller 4.8L.
It should be mentioned that the (L33) H.O. version of the 5.3L was also offered with flat-top pistons (and floating pins), but the aluminum block is a dead giveaway. The 4.8L flat-top pistons are a common (and inexpensive) upgrade for a 5.3L. Crankshaft and connecting-rod casting numbers are the real key to distinguishing between the two. If you have crank casting numbers ending in 216 and rods ending in 143, then you have a 5.3. If, however, your iron-block motor is sporting a 482 crank and 121 rods, then you have a 4.8. It is thought the rare manual trans 4.8s were also equipped with a 312 crank, but that would definitely be the exception.
In terms of factory power ratings, there is actually not much difference between the 4.8L and larger 5.3L, especially the garden variety LR4 and LM7. Power ratings ranged from 270-290hp net and 285-305 lb-ft for the 4.8L, and 270-305hp net and 315-335 lb-ft for the 5.3L. What should be evident is that the two actually produce similar peak horsepower outputs, but the larger 5.3 will always offer more low-speed grunt. The good news for both 4.8 and 5.3 owners is that they have the ability to extract a significant amount of power from their little V-8s. With proper heads, cam and intake, either can be made to approach or exceed 100 hp per liter (480-530 hp) or 1.63 hp per inch. Of course this kind of specific output will necessitate a high-rpm motor, with cam timing pushing peak power past 7,000 rpm. Such a combination might not be ideal for towing, but would be serious fun in a Camaro, Chevelle or Nova.
As with any LS-based motor, both the 4.8L and 5.3L will respond well to induction upgrades, including heads, cam and intake. The difference when working with the 4.8L is that cam timing usually chosen for a 5.3L (or larger) stroke version will usually be a tad on the aggressive side for the smaller 4.8L. The stock cam timing employed in the 4.8L (shared with the 5.3L) was the mildest of the LS family, checking in with a 0.466/0.457 lift split, a 190/191 duration split (at 0.050) and 114-degree LSA.
Factory cam upgrades for the 4.8L include the 6.0L truck (LQ4 or LQ9) with slightly more lift and 17 degrees more intake duration, the LS6 cam, with 0.060 more lift and 17 degrees more intake duration and 21 degrees more exhaust duration, or the LS7 cam with 21 degrees more intake duration and another 0.040 lift over the LS6 cam. Of course, the higher-lift cams must be accompanied by a valvespring upgrade.
In addition to the cam tested here, Crane Cams also offers Direct-Fit cams for the truck motors designed to work with the stock valvesprings. These Direct Fit LS cams give lots of options and offer significant power gains (as high as 40-plus hp) through the entire rev range (as low as 2,000 rpm) and do so without affecting idle vacuum, drivability or necessitating a spring swap-making them the perfect upgrade to an otherwise stock 4.8L or 5.3L.
Like the cam profiles, head flow and intake design all cater to the smaller displacement of the 4.8L. Head flow that might be insufficient on a larger 6.0L or stroker is likely more than adequate for a smaller 4.8L. Given that even a stock set of 4.8L heads flow enough air to support over 400 hp, there is plenty of power available without resorting to a cylinder head upgrade.
That said, it is also possible to further improve the power output with proper head porting without sacrificing low-speed torque. The last thing you want to do is reduce torque production on your 4.8L.
The idea behind this test was to first run both the 4.8L and 5.3L in stock trim, then subject each to the same top-end upgrade featuring CNC-ported heads (706 castings) from Total Engine Airflow, combined with a streetable (but powerful)
Crane cam and the LSXRT intake from FAST. The TEA heads offered significant flow gain (exceeding 300 cfm), while the Crane cam spec'ed out at 0.590 lift, 224/232-degree duration split, and 115 LSA. It was a healthy stick for a daily-driven 4.8L or 5.3L, but we knew it would work well with the ported heads and FAST LSXRT intake.
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This article is more than 1 year old
Feds urge court to dismiss lawsuit protecting life on Earth
'We'll take our chances with the strangelets'
The US government has asked a court to throw out a lawsuit that seeks to stop the world from ending.
Late last week, federal lawyers along with other defendants asked for summary judgment in a lawsuit designed to halt the start-up of the most powerful particle accelerator yet built. The lawsuit, which was filed in Hawaii last March by Luis Sancho, a Spanish science writer, and Walter Wagner, a retired radiation expert, against the European Center for Nuclear Research, or CERN, and its American quislings, the Department of Energy, the National Science Foundation and the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, claims that the Large Hadron Collider could create microscopic black holes, strangelets and the ominous-sounding "magnetic monopoles."
The collider will smash subatomic particles together at close to the speed of light in search of ever more fundamental principles of physics, but Sancho and his cohorts contend that the collider runs the risk of creating new and dangerous particles with the potential to devour the earth.
The so-called "strangelets" would in theory be created when the quarks that form the basis of the atom recombine to form novel, more stable quarks that would then fuse with normal matter. As the complaint warns, "repeated fusions would result in a runaway fusion reaction, eventually converting Earth to a strangelet of huge size."
The lawsuit also contends that there is a very real possibility that the collision of matter at near light speed will result in an implosion and the creation of a miniaturized black hole, and "eventually all of Earth would fall into such growing micro-black hole, converting Earth to a medium size black hole, around which would orbit the moon, satellites, the ISS, etc."
Not to be outdone by known hazards such as black holes, the complaint claims that magnetic monopoles are massive magnetic particles that would catalyze the decay of "protons and atoms, causing them to convert into other types of matter in a runaway reaction."
Attorneys for the Department of Justice moved to dismiss the complaint on a variety of grounds, not least of which is its theatrical absurdity. Government attorneys argued in supporting memoranda that the case was moot, since the American contribution to the project had already been made, and that, regardless, the United States was not part of CERN. An American injunction would consequently have no impact on the operation of the accelerator.
Government filings also note that this is not Mr. Wagner's first rodeo, so to speak – he filed an almost identical lawsuit against the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider, or RHIC, in 1999, to no avail - the complaint was dismissed for lack of credible scientific foundation. The motions for summary judgment and dismissal will be heard on Sept. 2, 2008, giving us at least a couple of summer months to enjoy life as we know it. ®


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Marketing / Public Relations Resume & Cover Letter Template + Workbook
Get Noticed! Get Hired! with this easy to use professional Resume / Curriculum Vitae Template and Resume Workbook. Available as a Digital Download. Microsoft Word.
Whilst this resume template is perfect for engineers, architects and engineering professionals, it can be used by any profession as it is fully customizable.
• 1, 2, and 3 Page Resume Templates in Microsoft Word (.docx) format
• A 50+ page "Resume Writing Guide" written by Ken Docherty which includes detailed insight and examples on how to craft elite-level bullet points and other insider tips & tricks to help give you an edge on your competition and stand out in a sea of resumes.
• A plain ATS-friendly resume template. All of these beautiful templates look great, however Applicant Tracking Systems cannot scan content inside text boxes. And, not all Applicant Tracking Systems can read PDF's! If you're applying online and want to make sure your resume can be scanned, you'll need this resume template to add to your job search arsenal as well!
• A guide on 'How to Write an ASCII' version of your resume. There are still some Applicant Tracking Systems that ask for a plain text version (ASCII) of your resume. How do you do that without it looking like a complete mess on the back-end of an ATS? I'll show you how in this guide.
• Cover Letter – Coffee & cream, yin & yang, Laurel & Hardy. What do these things have in common? They go together so well, just like a resume & cover letter! I'll give you a matching Cover Letter Template (can also double as a 'Thank You' or 'Exploratory Introduction' letter).
• Dual File Sizes – US Letter & A4 sized files
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• An Experience Questionnaire – In this questionnaire Ken walks you through his process for developing a killer bullet point to make sure the information you're adding to your resume is as high-impact and polished as possible. Type your answers straight into the workbook or print it out and write them in.
Ken walks you through the construction of the Challenge. Action. Result. (CAR) bullet point construction technique that he uses with his own consulting clients. He also provides an example of a CAR bullet point build-out for your reference.
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Ken also provides 6 examples of branded statements to give you an idea as to the strength and structure of a good branded statement. Ken includes statements for various professions to show you that these statements can be built by anyone at any level.
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Ken includes examples of 15 skills for 14 different professions to give you an idea as to what you could be including in your own key skills list.
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Defining Your Goals
General Skills Checklist
Social Media Skills Checklist
Power Verbs Checklist
Soft Skills Checklist
Technical Skills Checklist
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With the products in my store, I'm trying to eliminate those major roadblocks by offering beautiful designs + an ATS-friendly resume template + a guide on converting your resume to ASCII format + an amazing resume writing guide written by one of the top resume writers in the land to help you create compelling content.
The other main reason some people don't secure interviews is because they're not qualified for the role. My main tip here is – 'only apply for jobs for which you are at least an 80% match'!! There, that one was easy!
★ Plug'n'Play: Simply type your resume content into your new resume template and you're done!
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★ Professionally Designed: My resume templates are designed to create an immediate positive impact due to strategic use of color, structure, and white space for ease of reading.
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• You will need a PC (personal computer). Work/public computers, tablets and phones cannot install fonts and as such you CANNOT use them to edit these resume templates.
• You will need Microsoft Word for PC or MAC.
• NOTE: These resume templates are NOT COMPATIBLE with OpenOffice, Google Docs, or programs/apps other than the official desktop version of Microsoft Word.
• Instant Download: After purchase you can instantly download your file.
• Unzip files: Double-click the file to UNZIP it (or download 7-Zip for free at https://www.7-zip.org/)
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• PDF: Save your new resume template as a PDF FILE to upload to job postings
I'm here for you.
If you have any questions about this item, just hit the "message seller" button next to the price and I will get right back to you.
© Docherty Career Management Inc. The resume template designs, content, and accompanying resume writing guide are for your personal use only and may not be copied, resold or redistributed under any circumstances.


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The transparency campaign initiated by McDonald's last year was intended at marketing a more health conscious image of McDonald's Corp.–and at using social media more effectively, but instead of talking about their love for the brand, the hashtag became a forum for people to talk about how disgusting they believe the food is. The ingredients in their french fries went viral. Instead of the basic two ingredients-potatoes and oil, consumers found out McDonald's french fries contain 17 ingredients.
The campaign isn't brand new. Launched by McDonalds Canada last June using a YouTube video to answer a consumer's question about why their food looks so drastically different in commercials than in the restaurant, the "Our Food, Your Questions" premise opened McDonalds' kitchen doors, lending the brand to a supposed more honest and transparent feel. By prompting consumers to ask their questions on Facebook or Twitter, McDonalds hoped to build trust and credibility in a marketplace where bad press has followed them in the form of viral videos and unappetizing images.
McDonald's eventually began disclosing the secret behind how the fast food chain's fries are made. They produced a video answering a series of questions about McDonald's fries: where the potatoes come from, how they are processed, what kind of oil they're fried in, and why there is so much salt on them.
Mario Dupuis, a production manager at McCain Foods in New Brunswick, where the potatoes are washed, peel and cut. They're also blanched to "remove natural sugars" that would cause colour variations then soaked in dextrose for an even colour. There's also an ingredient to prevent greying, drying to remove excess moisture and a quick-fry for 45 to 60 seconds before the fries are frozen for shipping.
The worst part are the ingredients. Instead of the standard two ingredients necessary to make french fries-potatoes and oil, there are approximately 17 as reported on the ingredients facts list on the McDonald's website.
The include:
Potatoes, canola oil, hydrogenated soybean oil, safflower oil, natural flavour (vegetable source), dextrose, sodium acid pyrophosphate (maintain colour), citric acid (preservative), dimethylpolysiloxane (antifoaming agent) and cooked in vegetable oil (Canola oil, corn oil, soybean oil, hydrogenated soybean oil with THBQ, citric acid and dimethylpolysiloxane) and salt (silicoaluminate, dextrose, potassium iodide).
At a glance, many of the ingredients above are hazardous to human health, including those which are genetically modified (canola oil, corn oil, soybean oil), hydrogenated (soybean oil), chemically preserved and antifoaming (THBQ, citric acid, dimethylpolysiloxane), and artificially colored (sodium acid pyrophosphate).
How many people do you think have an awareness that McDonald's french fries contain this many ingredients? Thanks for the transparency McDonald's…hopefully it will help wake more people up to the difference between your artificial food and real food.


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NOTE: An updated version of this recipe appears in my cookbook, The Ancestral Table.
I love collard greens. They may be my favorite green food – well, second to mint chocolate chip ice cream, at least. They've been in use for at least 2,000 years; the ancient Greeks cultivated them along with kale.
I typically simmer my collard greens with some sort of smoked pork (usually bacon or smoked ham hocks), chicken broth, and apple cider vinegar, and it's always delicious, although it can get a little boring. So a while back I consulted my buddy, the internet, to find another use for collard greens. During my search, I kept coming across the word Sukuma Wiki, the Swahili name for collard greens. Sukuma Wiki literally translates to "push/stretch the week" – collard greens are available year-round in East Africa, and are used to stretch meals out to last all week.
In the culinary world, Sukuma Wiki is a common name for a Kenyan dish of braised collard greens, usually prepared with ground meat, tomatoes, and onions. Turns out that this dish is dead easy to make, both in terms of time/preparation and ingredients. I was able to whip it up using stuff already in my pantry, and it's always nice to find another use for ground beef. But the best part about this dish is its taste: it's absolutely delicious, and has just a hint of exoticness to make it remarkable. One thing that sets this dish apart is that the collard greens are simply wilted down, and so they retain a slightly crunchy texture that really complements the ground beef.
Serves four
1 tbsp olive oil
1/2 white onion, coarsely chopped
1 jalapeño pepper, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 tsp each sea salt, cumin, coriander
1/2 tsp each black pepper, cinnamon, ground ginger, ground fennel seeds, turmeric
1 lb ground beef
1 bunch collard greens (about 8 leaves), stems removed, sliced or chopped
8 cherry tomatoes, quartered
1 tsp lemon juice
Be sure to prep everything before starting to cook; this is a relatively quick dish, so you want to have everything on hand when you need it.
Warm the olive oil in a skillet on medium heat for a minute, then add the onion. Sauté the onion until softened, about four minutes. Add the chopped garlic and jalapeño and sauté until fragrant, about one minute.
Add the ground beef and seasonings, and cook until mostly done, about six minutes, stirring frequently so the ground beef doesn't clump.
This is the color you're looking for – most of the pink has been cooked out.
Add the collard greens and tomatoes, and sauté until the collard greens are wilted, about four minutes. Stir everything around carefully as it cooks – be sure to do this step gently so you don't mush up the tomatoes.
Add the lemon juice and season to taste by adding salt and pepper as needed, and serve immediately. This dish is typically served with a flatbread called Chapati, but we just enjoyed it on its own. Truth be told though, I bet these cauliflower tortillas from my buddy Joshua at Slim Palate would work perfectly.
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Landing Page Optimization: Best Practices to Lift Conversion
Your landing page is the first thing customers see when interacting with your brand online, and whether or not they are drawn into your site can make or break your campaign.
To ensure you maximize ROI on your campaign spending, you need to have the right strategy in place to measure and test the success of your landing page.
Check out this white paper to learn best practices for landing page optimization, discover questions to consider before implementation, get comparisons of different testing strategies, and much more.