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By Rev. David Beckmann
Religion News Service
"For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me."
WASHINGTON (RNS) This passage from the Gospel of Matthew inviting us to welcome strangers into our midst could not be more salient than it is now, as our lawmakers embark on the long-awaited debate over immigration reform.
Senate hearings recently began after both President Obama and Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida made a strong call for comprehensive immigration reform during and after the State of the Union address. Their statements were encouraging, but lawmakers have their work cut out for them in the coming months — and millions of lives depend on reform.
Here's the missing piece: Any discussion of immigration reform must recognize the international causes that drive unauthorized migration to the United States: hunger, poverty, lack of economic opportunity and inequality. Without addressing the root causes, the numbers of unauthorized immigrants in the United States will continue to rise.
Millions of people have traveled to the U.S. to escape dire conditions back home. With visa wait times exceeding 23 years, many immigrants feel they have no choice but to enter the U.S. illegally to seek a better life for their families.
Without reforming our development policies to address the underlying issues of poverty and economic opportunity in other countries, increased border security and tightened laws will not stop the swell of unauthorized migration across our borders.
Bread for the World is not alone in this sentiment. While Latin America is the source of more than 80 percent of unauthorized migration to the United States, in a 2010 interview for CBS' "60 Minutes," Wayne Cornelius, the director emeritus of the Center for Comparative Immigration Studies, stated that increased funding for border enforcement alone cannot curb unauthorized immigration.
If fact, while U.S. spending on border enforcement has increased from $1 billion in 1990 to almost $18 billion last year, it wasn't enough to stop the number of unauthorized immigrants to the U.S. from rising by 9 million over the same period.
U.S. policy in those migrant-sending countries is aimed at increasing security, not reducing poverty. However, Mexico and other countries in Central America continue to be plagued by unconscionable levels of poverty and lack of economic development.
If we are serious about immigration reform, our efforts must extend beyond increased security to include sustainable development as a main goal. We must also target job-creation projects that specifically focus on areas with high poverty and migration rates.
But immigration reform doesn't end with improvements in home countries. Despite indisputable contributions to the fabric of this nation, immigrants have some of the highest food insecurity and poverty rates in the U.S.
As part of immigration reform, we must support efforts to reduce poverty here at home, which in turn could contribute to U.S. economic growth.
For centuries, immigration has been a mechanism for poor and hungry people around the world to escape poverty and provide for their families while contributing to U.S. economic development. I pray we will remember that the journey to our shores for opportunity and employment is often triggered by dire conditions that the poor and hungry are trying to escape.
We have a long road ahead in this fight, but we are encouraged by recent movement among lawmakers.
The Rev. David Beckmann is the president of Bread for the World, a collective Christian voice urging lawmakers to end hunger at home and abroad.


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While many Apple fans and IT professionals that support iOS devices in the workplace are eagerly awaiting tomorrow's Apple announcement, a group of Apple in the enterprise experts are meeting at MacSysAdmin 2012 – a conference for European IT professionals tasked with managing Macs and iOS devices in business, education, and other workplace settings. The annual conference traditionally posts videos of its sessions online for free (as does the Penn State MacAdmins Conference that was held in the U.S. this spring).
That isn't the only major conference for Mac and iOS IT professionals, however. October brings two other major events (one of them free) and there are a number of excellent smaller events scheduled throughout the fall.

subset: commoncrawl


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Lani, one of Vientiane's classic high-end guest houses has been lovingly revived and is now Lani's House by the Ponds. The breezy colonial house, set in a peaceful tropical garden in the city centre, is a few minutes walk from the Mekong Riverbank. Located just off Setthathirat road, lined with temples and old trees, this gem of a hotel is close to many of Vientiane's finest cafés, restaurants and shops.
The 10 boutique rooms and the house display contemporary Lao artwork including wood sculpture and evocative photographs: this work is for sale should you wish to collect some unique mementoes of Laos. Evocative of old Vientiane, with unobtrusive but efficient service, Lani's House by the Ponds offers a pleasant stay in the business centre and heart of the city and is just a 15-minute drive from the airport.
Lani's House by the Ponds provides a small and friendly hotel with a relaxed atmosphere and efficient service. Each room is unique in design and decoration, offering an elegant but simple backdrop for your stay. With free Wi-Fi and a helpful front desk, we cater for business travel, leisure, sightseeing and family stays – just ask for more information on how to get the best stay in Vientiane.


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This story is now available through Amazon's print on demand service at a price of £4.99.
4 thoughts on "Brown Bear's Big Day Out – Print on demand from Amazon"
Wiki says:
Hello ,
I saw your tweet about animals and thought I will check your website. I like it!
I love pets. I have two beautiful thai cats called Tammy(female) and Yommo(male). Yommo is 1 year older than Tommy. He acts like a bigger brother for her. 🙂
I have even created an Instagram account for them ( https://www.instagram.com/tayo_home/ ) and probably soon they will have more followers than me (kinda funny).I wanted to subscribe to your newsletter, but I couldn't find it. Do you have it?
Keep up the good work on your blog.


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Have loads of fun without regrets with our fantastic selection of custom printed promotional temporary tattoos. The best thing about customized temporary tattoos is the fact that they are temporary! You can either wait until your custom tattoo fades, or just wash it off yourself! Kids will go crazy for your personalized temporary tattoos featuring your organization's name and corporate logo. Start handing these out at your next event or party and even adults will want to join in the fun their kids are having.
At IASpromotes.com, we strive to offer as many different designs for custom promotional temporary tattoos as any organization could want to market their brand with. We are here to help you personalize your choice of temporary tattoo with a logo design that will be as eye catching as the tattoos themselves!


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In terms of world-dominating acts, they don't come much bigger than Coldplay and The Killers. So when both bands join forces for a co-headlining gig at London's Shepherd's Bush Empire, it's kind of a big deal…
It's all for charity of course: the double-act is in aid of the War Child organisation's 15th anniversary on 18 February. Just 2000 tickets at £50 a pop are available via a lottery system. Registration opens tomorrow (9am, 30 January) but you can sign-up for an email alert in the meantime.
The gig is preceded by War Child's latest covers album, Heroes, on 16 February. It follows the charity's hugely successful Help! compilations and looks to be well worth parting with your hard-earned cash for…
Heroes tracklisting
1. Beck - Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat (Bob Dylan)
2. Scissor Sisters - Do The Strand (Roxy Music)
3. Lily Allen and Mick Jones - Straight To Hell"(The Clash)
4. Duffy - Live and Let Die (Sir Paul McCartney)
5. Elbow - Running To Stand Still (U2)
6. TV on the Radio - Heroes (David Bowie)
7. Hot Chip - Transmission (Joy Division)
8. The Kooks - Victoria (The Kinks)
9. Estelle - Superstition (Stevie Wonder)
10. Rufus Wainwright - Wonderful/Song For Children (Brian Wilson)
11. Peaches - Search And Destroy (The Stooges)
12. The Hold Steady - Atlantic City (Bruce Springsteen)
13. The Like - You Belong To Me (Elvis Costello)
14. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Sheena Is A Punk Rocker (The Ramones)
15. Franz Ferdinand - Call Me (Blondie)


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A while ago, the KDE promo team organized a competition to choose a design for labels that producers of software within our community can use to show that they are part of KDE. Today we are happy to announce the winning designs:
These images are now available to download from the KDE Clipart page so that you can use them on your project website or within your application or documentation.
The labels
For giving application developers - and in particular third party developers - a way to identify themselves with KDE and to label their software as such, we wanted to provide a standard set of KDE software labels. These can be used to communicate that developers feel themselves to be part of the KDE community or that they use the KDE platform. They can be used for example on application websites, in the about dialog of applications or in general communication about releases. They can be particularly useful in cases where it is not obvious that an application is part of KDE or making use of KDE technology.
To be able to express different aspects of the relationship to KDE and provide some variety for application authors we provide a choice of three labels, which are recommended for use with KDE software:
"Powered by KDE"
This label encompasses the dual meanings of software that derives its strength from our fantastic community and from the KDE development platform. This label is recommended for all free software applications whose developers feel part of the KDE community or which make use of KDE technology.
"Built on the KDE Platform"
This label has been chosen for the simplicity of the message it provides: this application uses the KDE platform. It is recommended for all application authors who want to stress their use of KDE technology.
"Part of the KDE family"
We recommend this label for application authors who in particular see themselves as part of the KDE community - and we hope anyone producing free software with KDE technology sees themselves this way.
The winner
The winning design scored consistently highly with the four panel judges from the KDE promo team and in the community voting poll on the KDE Forums. It was designed by Philipp Schmieder, a freelance web and software developer from Germany. Philipp is familiar with the Qt framework (as demonstrated by his work on the free software video downloader ClipGrab) and has used KDE software since 2004. He comments that "I haven't contributed to KDE, only reported some bugs etc, so the software label contest was a great possibility to finally do that".
Among the many other great designs we received, a special mention should also go to Carmine De Rosa, whose design edged out Philipp's in the community poll and was only just beaten in the combined community and panel scores.
The voting
In many ways, the software label contest has been successful. We have ended up with an excellent design, received many first time submissions from new contributors and captured the interest of the wider community with over 5000 views of the design poll.
The labels were voted on by the community, using the KDE brainstorm infrastructure on the KDE forums, and by a panel of judges from the KDE promotion team. With the experience we gained during this vote we'll improve the process for future votes.
Get the labels now
The software labels are now available to download and use. We would like, once again, to thank Philipp and all the other participants for their efforts and hope to see further contributions from them in the future.
I'd like to mention Stu has done far more than post a few articles - he's done the pushy and managementy stuff to get this done. Very good work, Stu!
Give a few cheers to him :D
... is that KDE aficionados should stop devoting too much time to KDE core itself, which is IMO matured enough and people should start caring much more about KDE based applications.
Karbon has almost died, Kivio and KFormula have already been largely abandoned and now both are unmaintained and will likely be excluded from KOffice.
I know that KOffice and KDE developers teams are mostly unconnected but that doesn't diminish the fact that they are only very few complex and useful applications beyond the core KDE stack, marked by the shiny "Powered by KDE" logos.
Oh, and I haven't ranted enough: new KDE versions get released every six or nine months, whereas our primary competitor updates its shell only once per three years.
P.S. I'm not a spammer!
Hey, hey!
Let's not paint the devil on the wall just yet! (Does that expression even exist in English?)
Kivio has not been abandonded, quite the opposite. After a long time without a maintainer, there is now a group of new people working to revive it. It's not impossible that it will make a reappearance in KOffice 2.3.
KFormula, the application, is indeed abandoned, but the formulas live on as an embeddable shape, the formula shape. It's true that it could use more work, and the KOffice group would welcome new people to work on it, but it will most certainly not be excluded from KOffice.
Karbon did indeed lose its maintainer recently, but that is one of the most mature applications in KOffice right now and will live on as it is until a new maintainer steps up and adds new features to it. But we have to remember that Karbon is also the application in KOffice that uses the libraries and plugins the most and adds the least application specific code. So all the work that goes into the libs and plugins also immediately adds features to Karbon.
All this said, now is a perfect time to join the KOffice group. So much is happening right now, and there are many places for less experienced people to start working. Please come to #koffice on IRC and we can help you out. The formula shape, for example, should offer some challenges and also some simple things to do.
While the winning entry, Entry 1, is a good design, I'm nevertheless disappointed that Entry 9 didn't win. It should be noted that Entry 9 actually received the MOST community votes (186) vs only 149 votes for the winning entry. I realize, of course, that a panel of judges was involved, but it would have been nice to see some incorporation of Entry 9. Both Entry 1 and Entry 9 share similar designs, but I feel that Entry 9 is more representative of the modern KDE desktop as it incorporates an "Air" look which is consistent with the current KDE theming. Entry 1 feels more like KDE 3.x branding, where as Entry 9 felt more modern and relevant to KDE 4.x. Just my 2 cents.
For the Italian readers:


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'Real Housewives' Star -- $75k Victory in Child Support War with Ex-NFL Star
'Real Housewives' Star $75k Win in Child Support War with Ex-NFL Star
Former NFL star Bob Whitfield has 21 days to fork over $75,000 to his reality star ex-wife Sheree Whitfield for overdue child support ... or else.
According to legal docs obtained by TMZ ... Bob admits he failed to make 38 monthly child support payments of $2,142 to the "Real Housewives of Atlanta" star ... more than $81k.
Bob claimed he simply didn't have the money -- and had asked the court to lower his obligation ... but that was denied.
Now, the two sides have struck a deal in which Bob has agreed to hand over $75k before Nov. 11 ... or face the consequences in court.
In addition to the $75k, Bob has also agreed to pay $1,000 per month for the next 12 months -- before reverting back to the original $2,142.
Fun Fact -- Back in 2000, Whitfield signed a 6-year contract with the Atlanta Falcons in the neighborhood of $30 million.


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Monday, December 27, 2010
The First 10 Major Cities That Will Run Out Of Pension Fund Money
#1 Philadelphia- Unfunded liability of $9 billion, $16,696 per household, only 4 years before the pension accounts are empty
#2 Chicago- Unfunded liability of $44.8 billion, $41.966 per household, money runs out in 7 years
#3 Boston- Unfunded liability of $7.5 billion, $30,901 per household, money runs out in 7 years
#4 Cincinnati- Unfunded liability of $2 billion, $15,681 per household, money runs out in 8 years
#5 St Paul- Unfunded liability of $1.4 billion, $13,686 per household, money runs out in 8 years
#6 Jacksonville- Unfunded liability of $4 billion, $12,944 per household, money runs out in 8 years
#7 New York City- Unfunded liability of $122 billion, $38,866 per household, money runs out in 9 years
#8 Baltimore- Unfunded liability of $3.7 billion, $15, 420 per household, money runs out in 10 years
#9 Detroit- Unfunded liability of $6.4 billion, $18,643 per household, money runs out in 11 years
#10 Fort Worth- Unfunded liability of $2 billion, $7,212 per household, money runs out in 11 years
9 comments:
- AnonymousDecember 27, 2010 at 11:59 AM
Damn it! St. Louis made the Most Dangerous City List, Fattest People, Most Unhealthy, Least Desirable to Live in, Top 10 Most Polluted..... How did it miss this one?
ReplyDelete - AnonymousDecember 27, 2010 at 12:01 PM
Public pensions need to be cut. Taxes need to be raised. Ultimately, the USA, as a nation, needs to figure out how to balance her consumption with her production. Financial tricks and debt won't cut it anymore.
Our family has lived below its means for decades while our country has done the opposite. It's time for the USA to "get real". - AnonymousDecember 27, 2010 at 12:30 PM
Get Real?? Yes, let's "get real"! Stop funding the illegal wars, funding for foreign governments, illegal immgrants, abolish the federal reserve. The list is long and the hands are always out. So, let's "get real" and stop the demonizing of "We the People". And fair warning....We are waking up!!
ReplyDelete - AnonymousDecember 27, 2010 at 1:52 PM
america won't be here in 2020 and we are waking up ,BROKE... AND IN DEBT TO THE WORLD..NOT OURSELVES SO WE WILL PAY DEARLY FOR THE AGENDA AND NOT MISTAKES OF THIS CONGRESS AND THE CORRUPT PUBLIC OFFICIALS... A REAL COUP IS NEEDED NOT JUST REELECTIONS FOR THE SAME BS
ReplyDelete - AnonymousDecember 27, 2010 at 2:28 PM
Yes. You are finally waking up after being asleep for 30 to 40 years. IMHO, the reason behind all the US global shenanigans is the horrible imbalance of what the USA produces as a country and what she consumes.
The USA has been over consuming every since I can remember. The party is over and the VISA bill is overdue. - AnonymousDecember 28, 2010 at 1:37 AM
In addition to the above-mentioned stopping of funding for illegal and immoral wars, the illegal funding of Isreal(a nuclear powered nation is not eligible for foreign aid)and stopping the free support of illegal aliens;
Stop paying salaries to more than 500 already rich congresscritters. Those that complain, toss out of office.
Stop paying salaries to Governors, Lt. Governors, state congresscritters, etc. If they REALLY want the job, they should be willing to "Serve" without compensation.
Abolish the TSA, CIA, ATF, DHS, Fema, Border Patrol (I wouldn't toss them out if they would actually PATROL the Border for invading wetbacks instead of harassing American citizens at "Checkpoints" along our highways)and last but not least, the FED.
While these actions won't balance the budget, its a heck of a good start. - AnonymousJanuary 2, 2011 at 10:28 AM
Congress will bail them out because they are the first to go bankrupt and neither party has a taste for punishing it's own. If the economic crisis gets to a level where things are spinning out of control and a crash is imminent then the money hose will dry up because the "system" will be perceived as failed and not worth saving. The power elite are trying to drag it all out into a slow motion fail. If it happens too fast you get revolt. If you can drag it out people keep some hope and think they can save what little they have left of SS, Medicare, 401K, jobs, homes. When the light goes on and they realize there's nothing left to lose then break out the tar and feathers :)
ReplyDelete - AnonymousFebruary 2, 2011 at 5:50 AM
Seems that the typical American family is in more debt than the typical American city/state/federal government. Or, has nobody noticed the amount of credit card and mortgage debt that average folks have taken on?


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Contact: Mark Galli
Phone: 630-260-6200 x4284
E-mail: email@example.com
Carol Stream, IL December 4, 2012 – Christianity Today magazine, the most influential publication for Christian thought leaders, has announced a new leadership structure effective December 1, the first significant change in leadership in 12 years.
Mark Galli, previously CT's managing editor and author of Chaos and Grace and God Wins, is the new editor. Galli says, "I'm looking forward to helping the staff shape and frame content that will address the most pertinent issues for active Christians. And I'm really looking forward to working with Andy Crouch, who will add fresh energy and ideas into the CT mix."
Andy Crouch, author of Culture Making and executive producer of CT's This Is Our City project, is the new executive editor. He says his new responsibilities will include "paying attention to the big picture, and asking big questions about who are we serving, how well are we serving them, and how we earn readers' trust."
Crouch, who has directed several projects at Christianity Today since joining the ministry in 2005, was previously a campus minister at Harvard University and is a sought-after speaker on university campuses and to organizational leaders.
Christianity Today President Harold Smith says, "This progressive 'dyad' of Mark and Andy will not only build upon CT's editorial excellence but will also find new ways of delivering our award-winning content in print and through emerging online and digital formats."
Katelyn Beaty, previously associate editor at CT magazine, will now serve as managing editor of CT, overseeing the print publication from start to finish. The first woman to lead the magazine in this capacity, Beaty is also editorial director of This Is Our City and co-founder of Her.meneutics, CT magazine's site for women.
Previous Christianity Today editor David Neff is refocusing his attention at the global media ministry to the March 2013 launch of the first digital edition of Cristianismo Hoy, a new publication that will provide a rallying point for Hispanic evangelicals. Ted Olsen will continue serving as managing editor of news and online journalism.
For more information on these significant changes, read Smith's announcement here and watch related videos featuring the new staff:


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Tim Cook visits Foxconn, meets Chinese VP to broker intellectual property agreement?
Apple chief executive Tim Cook was spotted in China earlier this week. It has been confirmed that so far he has visited a Foxconn plant, and has also met with China's Vice Premier.
The details of Cook's visit until this point have been mostly vague, with an Apple spokeswoman claiming that he was there to meet with "government officials". This has led to a fair share of speculation as to what exactly he might be doing there.
Cook is the first Apple chief to visit China, and the company has more than a few troubles in the country to get on top of.
Despite Mike Daisey's harrowing Foxconn report for This American Life being retracted recently, issues on Apple's production line are still very much a focus for the company.
Apple has since revealed that Cook has visited a Foxconn factory in Zhengzhou during the week.
Whilst the more cynical might scoff at such a visit, it is an important gesture. It is hard to say what Foxconn workers might make of a visit from the top, but it certainly displays a sense of understanding.
Cook, and Apple, are very aware that its production process is under scrutiny.
Foxconn is a tricky issue to tackle head on without a clear understanding of the situation on the ground in China. Whilst Daisey's report might have been partially fictitious -- it says a lot about our knowledge that we could easily believe it as fact.
Xinhua, a state run news source, has now confirmed that Cook also met with China's Vice Premier, Li Keqiang.
The details are sparse over what the pair actually discussed, but they seem to have made some sort of agreement over strengthening intellectual property rights, and continued foreign investment in China.
"To be more open to the outside is a condition for China to transform its economic development, expand domestic demands and conduct technological innovation," Li said. Cook apparently agreed that would Apple would "strengthen comprehensive cooperation with the Chinese side and conduct business in a law-abiding and honest manner."
Unfortunately, this report is still rather vague, and any of the finer details that Cook discussed with Li have been kept under wraps for now. However, what can be gleaned from this news it what it could imply.
The emphasis on intellectual property rights could be strongly connected to Apple's other major problem in China, the ongoing trademark issue with locally based Proview. Both companies are still awaiting a verdict on Apple's appeal from a court in Shenzen.
Apple's new iPad was recently cleared for sale by authorities in China, but no date has been set for launch.
Apple is a prominent brand in China, but the issues with Proview might dampen their hopes for a successful iPad launch in the country. Whilst the Shenzen court previously sided with Proview over the ownership of the iPad trademark, there is still a chance that Apple's appeal could be successful.
Beijing based intellectual property lawyer, Stan Abrams, suggests that an end to the dispute could be in the making. "Li also called on multinational companies to help China develop the western part of the country," he comments, "If Tim Cook announces a new facility in Chengdu in the near future, I'd say the fix is in and that little trademark problem might go away very soon."
It is certainly very plausible that Apple's troubles with Proview were on the agenda in some extent.
Regardless, Li's statement can be taken as an indication that China is willing to be more cooperative and supportive of western innovation in the country.
This could amount to more flexibility when it comes to trademark issues with western companies, but it could also mean a stronger policing of smugglers and counterfeits that might damage sales.
Equally, it could simply be about expansion, with more Apple stores and a greater focus on China.
If we take this meeting as tackling expansion, as well as potentially Apple's trademark issues, then Tim Cook's visit is living up to the speculation.
One of Apple's major, outstanding barriers in China is its inability to dominate the smartphone market there. The key cause of which is arguably that Apple is yet to partner with China's biggest carrier, China Mobile.
If Cook were also in talks with China Mobile during his visit, it would likely be in hopes of brokering a future deal with the carrier. Apple had previously promised an iPhone that would be compatible with its network.
If we hear news of such talks, then this will have been a very successful trip for Apple's chief executive.
Image sources: Bowen Liu/Apple via Bloomberg.com, Rao Aimin/Xinhuanet.com.


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Library Staff
The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) Libraries offers legal and general reference and research services, research resources acquisitions services, cataloging services, and digitization services. DOJ Libraries provide access to extensive legal/non-legal print collections and online legal resources. Library services are provided primarily to the Offices, Boards and Divisions of the United States Department of Justice. The Main Library located in the Robert F. Kennedy Justice Building contains broad collections of congressional, legal and general research materials. In addition, branch Libraries support the DOJ's litigating Divisions and maintain special collections of particular interest to the personnel of the Divisions. Most locations are staffed Monday - Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Access Policy
Our collections and resources are generally for the use of DOJ personnel. Due to security restrictions, the DOJ Main and branch Libraries are only open to the public by appointment for access to specific government depository items or those titles which are unique to our Libraries and cannot be located elsewhere. Library staff may be contacted at (202) 305-3000.


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Tuesday 03/19/2013
ORLANDO, FL – The 14th-ranked Clemson women's tennis team defeated No. 46 Georgia State, 6-1, at the Orlando Tennis Center in Orlando, FL, on Tuesday. It was Clemson's third straight win, upping their record to 7-5 on the season, while the Panthers fell to 6-8 on the year. The match was Clemson's final non-conference bout of the season.
Georgia State, Clemson's first-ever opponent in women's tennis in 1976, is now 0-6 going up against the Tigers all-time, although the schools had not met in 11 years prior to Tuesday.
The Tigers took the doubles point for the third straight match with wins on courts two and three. Yana Koroleva and Romy Koelzer won the deciding match on court two, with an 8-6 win over Maryna Kozachenko and Jocelyn Ffriend. The Tiger duo has won four straight matches together. Ani Miao and Beatrice Gumulya also earned an 8-2 win on court three. They're now 3-1 on the season together.
Clemson won five singles matches, beginning with No. 34 Liz Jeukeng earning a 6-1, 6-1 win against Masa Grgan on court two to improve to 10-3 in her freshman season. Romy Koelzer won her second straight match, and is now 14-9 on the year with her 6-1, 6-2 win against Linn Timmerman on court four.
No. 19 Yana Koroleva continued her strong play, defeating Abigail Tere-Apisah on court one, 6-4, 3-6, 6-2. It was the fifth straight win for Koroleva, although she did drop her first set of the streak. Tere-Apisah had won seven in a row entering Tuesday.
Freshmen Tristen Dewar and Ani Miao each won their respective matches, dropping a combined eight games. Dewar's win was her third in a row in straight sets, while Miao upped her record to 10-7 this season.
The Panthers scored their point on an upset victory on court three. Whitney Byrd took down Clemson's Beatrice Gumulya, ranked 45th in the nation, 7-5, 7-6(4), in their match. Gumulya is still a team-best 15-4 this season, and has won 26 of her last 30 matches overall.
The Tigers will continue to train in Orlando during spring break before returning at the end of the week. They don;t play against until Mar. 30 and 31 when they play host to Maryland and Boston College, respectively.
Tennis Match ResultsGeorgia State vs ClemsonMar 19, 2013 at Orlando, FL(Orlando Tennis Center)
#14 Clemson 6, #46 Georgia State 1
Singles competition1. #19 Yana Koroleva (CU) def. Abigail Tere-Apisah (GSU) 6-4, 3-6, 6-22. #34 Liz Jeukeng (CU) def. Masa Grgan (GSU) 6-1, 6-13. Whitney Byrd (GSU) def. #45 Beatrice Gumulya (CU) 7-5, 7-6(4)4. Romy Koelzer (CU) def. Linn Timmermann (GSU) 6-1, 6-25. Ani Miao (CU) def. Chaimaa Roudami (GSU) 6-1, 6-36. Tristen Dewar (CU) def. Maryna Kozachenko (GSU) 6-3, 6-1
Doubles competition1. Abigail Tere-Apisah/Masa Grgan (GSU) def. Liz Jeukeng/Tristen Dewar (CU) 8-42. Yana Koroleva/Romy Koelzer (CU) def. Maryna Kozachenko/Jocelyn Ffriend (GSU) 8-63. Ani Miao/Beatrice Gumulya (CU) def. Chaimaa Roudami/Whitney Byrd (GSU) 8-2
Match Notes:Georgia State 6-8; National ranking #46Clemson 7-5; National ranking #14Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (2,4,1,6,3,5)
March 1, 2024
February 29, 2024
February 25, 2024
February 24, 2024


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"The Markets Have Taken the Commons Over"
Your first two novels were both set in Lahore. The new novel takes place in a nameless place – but it could be Lahore. Why did you decide to not use a specific setting?
Mohsin Hamid: If you say 'Pakistan', 'Lahore', 'Islam', these words suddenly have people think certain things. If you say, more broadly 'city', 'religion', 'country' – you can begin to address more universal ideas. And I believe it is important that writers should not be seen as exotic. Rather every place should be able to claim universality equally, whether it is Berlin, New York or Lahore.
The title of your new book is 'How to get stinking rich in filthy Asia'. What's the title about?
Mohsin Hamid: If we think about Pakistan, 'Asia' is not the first geographic reference that comes into the Western mind. But it is undeniable that Pakistan is in Asia. It is also undeniable that cities in Pakistan – in a way – are booming. Lahore, where I live, is a city of 10 million people. When I was born 42 year ago, it was one million people. And Lahore, if you get there, seems a relatively prosperous city. Poor, but prosperous – compared to many other cities in India or Pakistan or elsewhere.
I think we try to define terms in ways that create meaning. So we want Asia to mean Shanghai. We don't want it to mean Pakistan. But how can we speak of Asia and not speak of Pakistan?
There are many things in Pakistan that are true not only for Asia. And the experience that is shared in a way, one of the biggest experiences, is a story of a massive migration from the country to the city.
In the next generation, a billion people will move from the countryside of Asia, Africa, Latin-America to the cities of these places. And in these mega-cities of 10, 12 million people the future of humanity is coming into focus. This phenomena is very much happening also in Pakistan. So in that sense, the use of Asia in the title is meant to remind us of how we stereotype and that instead of looking at the others as 'the other', it is sometimes worth looking at them as yourself.
The big city is one of the major topics in your new book...
Mohsin Hamid: Yes, indeed. I am a big believer in the future of the city, for many different reasons. A young Christian is much more likely to leave a small town or a village and come to a big city like Lahore and find more inclusiveness, less persecution, a better quality of life. In Lahore we have bus services, radio stations, universities, independent music stores, rock-bands, homosexuals, transvestites, prostitutes, writers – all of humanity. And public hospitals, and good schools.
Now compare that to what a village would be like. A small village might not have electricity. It might not have running water. It might not have a school. You know, we look at these giant slums and say, oh my god, the city is a dystopian hell. But I would ask people to go and look at the countryside where these people now living in the city slum have come from!
It doesn't mean that cities can't improve – they must improve much, much more. But they are likely to. Because concentrated groups of poor people inside cities are better able to demand their rights and affect the political system by their voting, by writing, by accosting politicians on the street. So all of these things make me think: the city is no paradise, but it is a great improvement to the alternatives.
Your protagonist finally becomes a tycoon by selling his soul. The girl he is in love with tries to forget about him – because he reminds her of her origins she tried to escape. Must a nation, too, forget about its own identity in order to become a player in the globalization game?
Mohsin Hamid: I don't think necessarily one has to forget one's origins to succeed. But I think that the more ruthless one is about looking towards the future and not the past, the more successful one can be. In other words: Nostalgia is not very helpful in terms of achieving success. And romantic love is just one aspect of that.
As a boy, your protagonist sells water. Is water the new symbol for the growing gap between the very rich and the very poor?
Mohsin Hamid: Yes, but is also more than just the gap between the poor and the rich. Until recently, in much of the world, it has not been the case that drinking water was an expensive commodity. It was thought of as a public good, like air. But now, of course, we find that it is possible to sell these things. The markets have taken the commons over.
One of the big reasons for Somali piracy for example is rampant fishing off the coast of Somalia so that people in small boats can't catch enough fish. So they become pirates. That is, in a sense, the rape of the commons. So the water metaphor in this book also reflects the reality where we all live in: where our sense of solidarity and community is degrading to the point where previously basic things that were shared by all are no longer. So, not only are we privatizing things, but we are doing a kind of intergenerational theft.
Interview by Claudia Kramatschek
© Qantara.de 2013
Editor: Lewis Gropp/Qantara.de
Mohsin Hamid is the author of the novels Moth Smoke, The Reluctant Fundamentalist, and How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia. His award-winning fiction has been featured on bestseller lists, adapted for the cinema, shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize, and translated into over 30 languages. His essays and short stories have appeared in the New York Times, the Guardian, the New Yorker, and many other publications. Born in 1971 in Lahore, he has spent about half his life there and much of the rest in London, New York, and California.


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Water-Based Lubricants
Water Based Lubricants
Proper lubrication is essential to safety and pleasure in the bedroom. If you're using sex toys, experimenting with anal play or faced with problems related to vaginal dryness, personal lubricants can help to make experiences more comfortable and even heighten sensations. There are many types of lubricants available on the market today. One of the most popular varieties is the water based lube. Walgreens has dozens of water based lubricants available to help you find the ideal formula.
What Are Water Based Lubricants?
A water based lubricant is a product designed to reduce friction during foreplay, intercourse and masturbation. The term "water based" describes the key ingredient in the lubricant--water. Lubricant products that are water based will typically have water listed as one of the first ingredients in the formula. They are also usually labeled "water based" on the front of their packaging to make them easy to identify. Lubricants may have silicone or oil as their key ingredients instead of water. These products are known as "silicone based" and "oil based" lubricants, respectively. Each type has its own benefits and drawbacks. This makes it important that you understand the differences before you select a personal lubricant.
Benefits of Water Based Lubes
Water based lubricants offer many benefits when compared with oil and silicone based formulas. Because the lubricants contain water, they can be easily cleaned and cared for using plain water and a little soap. This makes washing your hands, bathing and cleaning sex toys simple and convenient. Many men and women like the lightweight gel consistency of water based lubricants, as they feel wet and natural and reduce friction without leaving behind a greasy or slippery coating on the skin. Unlike oil based lubricants, water based lubes can be safely used with latex condoms. They are also safe for use with all types of sex toys. Oil based lubricants can damage the materials of many toys. Silicone lubricants should not be used with toys constructed out of silicone. Only water based lubricants can be universally used. This makes them more versatile for individuals and couples who own multiple toys.
Limitations of Water Based Lubes
Although water based lubricants have many benefits, there are some drawbacks associated with their use. Water based lubricants have a tendency to become quickly absorbed by the skin. This could lead to interruptions in foreplay, masturbation or intercourse to reapply more lubricant. In addition, water based lubricants cannot be used in the tub, shower, hot tub or pool because they dissolve in water. A water based formula may also not be thick enough to make anal intercourse and anal play with sex toys comfortable. As a result, many experts recommend silicone based lubes for exploring anal pleasure and prostate massage.
Selecting the Right Lube
To select the right lube for your intimate needs, you'll need to consider what types of sexual activities you will use the lubricant for, what types of contraceptives and toys you will be using (if any) and your own personal preferences. You can also consider whether or not you wish to purchase lubricants that are flavored or that produce stimulating sensations like tingling or heat.


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Developers file new plan for Ferrisburgh McDonald's
By ANDY KIRKALDY
FERRISBURGH — On Tuesday last week Champlain Oil Co. and two Ferrisburgh landowners filed a new proposal for a combined McDonald's Restaurant, Jiffy Mart convenience store and gas station on Route 7, while on Wednesday the Ferrisburgh Planning Commission met with another packed room of opponents to discuss a petitioned zoning change that could stop that plan.
The new proposal is no longer a preliminary site plan, as was the case in September. Champlain Oil Co., known as COCO, this time submitted a full application for the three-pronged business on the site of the former Ferrisburgh Roadhouse and Burdick Country Kitchen.
And the plan now addresses problems in the preliminary proposal by including an additional 2.13 acres owned by Greg and Susan Burdick of Vergennes next to and south of the 2.5-acre former restaurant plot, which is owned by Marcos and Claudia Llona of Shelburne.
With the additional land under contract, Ferrisburgh planners believe the COCO proposal would probably receive a conditional use permit under current zoning law. Currently, gas stations, convenience stores and restaurants are conditionally allowed uses along much Route 7. But officials said proposals can only be denied if they do not meet setback or acreage requirements or do not to fit the character of the neighborhood, and denials can be difficult to justify.
"Now they're within the regulations," said planning commission member Annie Cohn on Thursday, the day after planners met to discuss the petitioned zoning change. "Zoning can't do a lot."
But if — and probably only if — the town adopted the zoning change called for in the petition, there might be grounds for denial.
"If we let this petition drop, then nothing else can be done," Cohn said.
The petition requested a zoning change for "commercially zoned areas" on Route 7 "to allow for no more than one gas station, convenience store, and/or fast food restaurant within each of our three commercial zones."
It stated that those areas are "too small in road distances (one-half mile or less in each designated area) to allow for safe ingress and egress of more than one of these businesses in each zone," and requested the change "to ensure the safety of all motorized vehicles and passengers" traveling along Route 7.
The proposed McDonald's-Jiffy Mart site is almost directly across Route 7 from an existing gas station/convenience store/deli.
Planners said they heard unanimous opposition to the September COCO proposal at their Nov. 19 and Dec. 17 meetings, mostly centered on the McDonald's component. Planner Bob Beach and Town Clerk Chet Hawkins estimated that roughly 75 people attended the November meeting. Cohn said about three dozen people, including 15 Vergennes Union Middle School students studying the question, showed up last Wednesday.
Selectboard chairwoman Loretta Lawrence said selectmen have heard from residents who are not opposed.
"Some of the board members have heard both sides," Lawrence said. "We've heard negative and positive."
In a September interview, Marcos Llona said there is a need for a truck stop on Route 7 between Route 22A and Chittenden County, and that this proposal would meet that need.
Still, Cohn said planners will support the overwhelming testimony they have heard, but that they believe the language of the petition is not precise enough.
"The wording as it is now … is just not a clear statement," she said.
At issue is whether each of the elements mentioned would be banned if they were proposed separately, or whether the petitioners intended to prevent them only if they were grouped. Hawkins also said in an earlier interview that some are concerned the proposed bylaw could allow for separate ownership of a gas station, convenience store and fast-food restaurant on adjacent lots.
Cohn said planners have taken technical suggestions from zoning administrator Tom Mansfield and town attorney James Carroll that could clarify the language without changing the petition's intent.
"We are hearing the people. We know what the people want," Cohn said. "Now it's just putting it together."
The next step will be forwarding the petition and the recommended changes to selectmen. The selectboard would then have the option of calling for a town-wide vote, an action Cohn said could be taken after a public hearing that could confirm that any new language simply clarified petitioners' intent and did not change it.
"We can't put words into their mouths. We can only play with the technicality of the words," she said. "We're suggesting strongly it go to a public meeting so they can say, 'That's what our intent is.'"
In a November interview, Beach said planners also have to be careful with language not to create any unwanted unintended consequences that would damage other businesses in Ferrisburgh. Beach also said officials believe the town, with voter approval, could also adopt the petitioned zoning change in the short term, and then replace it later on a permanent basis with a more comprehensive law, again only with voter approval.
Meanwhile, Lawrence said selectmen are in wait-and-see mode.
"At this point in time we haven't seen the petition and haven't had a recommendation from the planning board. When all that falls into place, we will very carefully weigh all the information," she said.
Lawrence said selectmen would be even-handed.
"The board will be fair and listen to all sides and weigh all the evidence," she said.
COCO's plans call for a 4,800-square-foot building, including a 2,200-square-foot, 34-seat McDonald's with a drive-up window. The remaining 4,600 square feet would be devoted to the Jiffy Mart.
The building would sit near on the site of the former Roadhouse and Country Kitchen building, which burned last year. Gasoline pumps would run parallel to Route 7 in front of that structure, while diesel pumps and nine truck parking spaces would be sited on the 2.13-acre parcel added to the project.
A home on the rear of the 2.5-acre parcel would be removed, and 40 parking spaces added on the other three sides of the McDonald's-Jiffy Mart building. Plans call for a 106-foot by 24-foot canopy over the gasoline pumps and a 72-foot by 24-foot canopy over the diesel pumps. Access from the highway would be by way of two 40-foot-wide curb cuts 250 feet apart. The project might also need an Act 250 permit, according to the filing.
Cohn said she believed that if town officials decide to proceed with a zoning change COCO — and other applicants for new ventures along most of Route 7 — would have to proceed on parallel tracks with its application, having to satisfy both existing and proposed zoning.
"If this petition is held and worked through, then things can't happen as quickly," Cohn said. "The business that wants to come in would … have to meet both until a vote has been made to adopt or drop (the petitioned zoning change)."


text: The Third Rock Outdoor Fire Pit is a high quality, hand cut and crafted fire pit designed for years of heavy use. This is one of the most unique fire pits on the market. Every Fire Pit is individually signed and numbered by it's designer, Rick Wittrig. Each Fire Pit is made from one quarter inch (6.35 mm) thick carbon steel. This is by far the heaviest gauge metal used in any fire pit available today. The sturdy construction assures you of having this functional art for many years to come. They have an iron oxide finish/patina on the outside which will darken a little with time then become permanent.


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BOSTON (AP) — Rita Jeptoo of Kenya successfully defended the Boston Marathon title she said she could not enjoy a year ago after the fatal bombings.
Jeptoo finished Monday's race in a course-record 2 hours, 18 minutes, 57 seconds. She becomes the seventh three-time Boston Marathon champion.
Jeptoo broke away from a group of five runners at the 23-mile mark. Buzunesh Deba finished second with an unofficial time of 2:19:59.
American Shalane Flanagan finished seventh after leading for more than half the race. She took a gamble by setting the early pace. She ran her first mile in 5 minutes, 11 seconds, but fell back on the Newton Hills about 21 miles into the race.


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Posted 11 years ago
(1 item)
This is a Coca Cola Die Cast Metal Pedal Car mostly red with only the yellow you see. My husband and I believe it is a 55 Chevy but we are not sure. There is a picture of a Fireman (maybe a Policeman) on the rear fender (both side of car) drinking a Coke and the words "What you want is a Coke". On the front fender (both sides of car) is 5c. The Coca Cola logo is on the door of both sides of the car and the Patent is in the rear of the car. The car is in great condition. We bought the car at an antique shop about 10 years ago on the way to Atlantic City, New Jersey in anticipation of a grandaughter who didn't come until 6 years later. I remember when I was very young about 10 years old, we had a neighbor who deliverd for Coke to local stores. He drove an open truck identical to the one I have and I remember the Fireman (at least I always thought it was a Fireman-my husband was looking with a magnifying glass and can't tell if it is a policeman or fireman). PS: Our neighbor used to give us a bottle of Coke when he saw us sitting on the steps. Anyway, the grandchild came and by the time she was able to play with the pedal car she was too big and by daughter said she was certain she would ruin it. Our car looks great on our loft with other vintage articles we have. Lately, we had company over and they were looking at our car and a few of our friends thought our car was "Not the Real Thing" but I would beg to differ with them especially since the Patent is as plain as day. Thanks for your help.


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Book review: A summer of fun and adventure with Nosy Crow books
Winner of the 2017 Independent Publishers Guild Children's Publisher of the Year Award, Nosy Crow is one of the country's fastest growing publishing companies, aiming to create books and apps that encourage children to read for pleasure.
And young readers will certainly be spoilt for choice as they pick their favourite reads for the upcoming holidays.
Age 8 plus:
My Evil Twin is a Supervillain
David Solomons
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Hide AdThe ultimate tale of sibling rivalry goes cosmic again in the third out-of-this-world adventure from an author with his sights set firmly on the stars.
David Solomons, who has been writing screenplays for many years, plays to an understandably rapt audience in this entertaining comedy series featuring a boy who has a troublesome twin in a parallel world.
My Brother Is a Superhero, the first book in the series, won the Waterstone's Children's Book Prize and the British Book Industry Awards Children's Book of the Year, and the adventures of the terrible twins continue to go from strength to strength.
Solomons knows his audience well and the beguiling mix of high-octane action, sizzling suspense, laugh-out-loud humour and genuine heart-warming emotion is leaving an army of addicted young readers gasping, guffawing and gulping in equal measure.
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Hide AdWhen Stellar, Luke's super-powered twin from another dimension, crash-lands Zorbon's spaceship in IKEA, it's not just Scandinavian furniture that is put out of joint. Luke is highly suspicious. No one travels through time and space without a plan, and in the case of Stellar, that plan is usually EVIL. So what does he really want?
From his superhero hair to his rocket-powered shoes, Stellar is up to no good so Luke is furious when his evil (and unbelievably irritating) twin turns up at his treehouse and starts to recruit their geeky older brother brother Zack for a superhero mission back in his world to defeat Gorgon the World-Eater. Who does he think he is?
Luckily for Luke, Zack has got some mock exams he would really like to take before saving Stellar's world so Luke has time to investigate his almost definitely evil twin's true purpose. And what Luke discovers is even more villainous than he suspected. But even worse, it seems that two Lukes are definitely not better than one and their proximity is unwittingly playing cosmic Jenga with the very fabric of existence!
Solomons has his finger firmly on the pulse of middle grade readers as he packs his super-charged space odyssey with energy, outrageous plot twists, dollops of brilliant satirical humour and moments of heart-melting emotion.
Cosmic capers for discerning young readers!
(Nosy Crow, paperback, £6.99)
Age 6 plus:
National Trust: Complete Night Explorer's Kit
Robyn Swift and Sara Lynn Cramb
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Hide AdThe holidays are almost here so get ready to head off on some wild adventures!
Inspire your youngsters to enjoy the outdoors with two super interactive books which have been produced by Nosy Crow in partnership with the National Trust.
It is no secret that youngsters today are spending increasingly less time outdoors which means they are not connecting sufficiently with nature and learning to love – and look after – the natural world.
So here are two books which aim to inspire all kinds of adventures in the outdoors whether that is close to home or further afield. Fascinating information, all fact-checked by National Trust rangers, is combined with fun, vibrant illustrations and exciting activities in two attractive guides.
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Hide AdPerfect for any budding wildlife adventurers, the Complete Night Explorer's Kit, which comes in a plastic backpack with shoulder straps, encourages children to get outside and discover nature once the sun has gone down. The activity pack also includes a quality LED torch, a fold-out constellation guide to the night sky, glow-in-the-dark star stickers and an 80-page guide book.
Children will love lighting the way with the torch and spotting any nocturnal creatures on a night-time nature walk. And it's not only animals that come out when it's dark… readers can also learn to navigate the night sky with the constellation guide and then go home to sleep under the glow of their star stickers!
The explorer's guidebook is packed with information that will both surprise and delight, and the fun activities are ideal to try out on a night-time adventure or on family camping trips. So what are you waiting for… strap on your backpack and head for the dark side!
(Nosy Crow, paperback, £12.99)
Age 8 plus:
National Trust: Go Wild in the Woods
Goldie Hawk and Rachael Saunders
The second book in this nature-loving partnership between the National Trust and Nosy Crow is a super pocket-sized survival guide which lets youngsters go wild in the woods.
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Hide AdThis ultimate adventure handbook teaches young adventurers the essentials… what to pack, how to build a shelter, how to craft your own tools, how to cook food over a campfire, and even how to get drinking water from wee!
Children will also learn exactly what NOT to do, from eating poisonous mushrooms to starting a forest fire. Packed with handy (and humorous!) tips and with fun games to play in the woods, advice on tracking animals, and a useful chapter on first aid, this is the perfect book for little adventurers and anyone who loves the great outdoors.
Go Wild in the Woods is a truly inspirational book, helping to cultivate a real curiosity about the natural world, encouraging children to enjoy the diversity to be found in woodland, to respect and care for nature, and to stay safe whilst out and about.
The wildest, most wonderful way to enjoy the summer!
(Nosy Crow, hardback, £7.99)
Age 6 plus:
Zoe's Rescue Zoo: The Picky Puffin
Amelia Cobb and Sophy Williams
Has picky puffin Piper picked the wrong home?
Zoe's Rescue Zoo, a lively series with a charismatic cast, has become a firm family favourite, serving up magical adventures, fascinating facts about creatures great and small, and starring a pint-sized a 'Dr Dolittle' who can talk to the animals.
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Hide AdZoe loves living at her uncle's rescue zoo and when Great-Uncle Horace brings back lost and homeless animals from his travels around the globe, it falls to Zoe and her mum, the zoo vet, to settle them into their new home.
Zoe is especially good at this because she can understand what they say and talk to them too… but that has to remain a secret! Puffins are Zoe's favourite ever creature so when baby puffin Piper arrives at the rescue zoo, Zoe is very happy to help her settle in.
But Piper turns out to be very picky! She doesn't like her enclosure, her burrow, and not even her food. Can Zoe and her best friend at the zoo, a cheeky grey mouse lemur called Meep, work out what is making Piper the puffin so picky, and come up with a plan to make her feel happy in her new home?
Brimming with award-winning illustrator Sophy Williams' chirpy and charming black and white illustrations, and with plots full of mischief, mystery and mishaps, these are the perfect books for story time or for newly confident readers.
(Nosy Crow, paperback, £5.99)
Age 6 plus:
A Sheep Dog Called Sky
Helen Peters and Ellie Snowdon
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Hide AdInspired by her own childhood on an old-fashioned farm in Sussex, Helen Peters knows that rural life has its ups and downs…
And her wonderful Jasmine Green series, which stars a little girl, her brother Manu and their parents, features stories and exciting adventures based on the real-life experiences of families who live and work on a farm, often surrounded by animals and mud.
Jasmine's dad is a farmer, and her mum is a large-animal vet, so Jasmine spends a lot of time caring for animals and keeping them out of trouble. Unfortunately, this often means she gets into hot water herself. When a sick and starving sheep dog puppy is abandoned on the farm, he urgently needs Jasmine's help to survive. But although he soon adores her, Jasmine doesn't know if Sky's cruel treatment means he might never trust people again. And it's not until she gets into terrible danger herself that she finds out...
A Sheep Dog Called Sky is the third book in the series and Jasmine's latest adventure is brimming with the same warmth, drama and heartfelt emotions as the earlier books, A Piglet Called Truffle and A Duckling Called Button.
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Hide AdBeautifully illustrated by Ellie Snowdon, this gentle but engaging story teaches younger children about caring for animals and about the fun and pitfalls of living on a farm. Full of heart and adventure, discovery and animal delights, this is animal magic for a new generation.
(Nosy Crow, paperback, £5.99)
Age 6 plus:
Wigglesbottom Primary: Super Dog
Pamela Butchart and Becka Moor
If only all schools could be as much fun as Wigglesbottom Primary!
Teacher Pamela Butchart, who won the Blue Peter Best Book Award of 2015 with The Spy Who Loved School Dinners, revels in her 'insider' knowledge of schools in this brilliant, knockabout series which blends anarchy and adventure in perfect harmony.
With the help of talented illustrator Becka Moor's fantastic illustrations, Wigglesbottom Primary: Super Dog features three perfectly pitched school stories which will have children chortling and teachers running for cover.
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Hide AdAnything can happen at madcap Wigglesbottom Primary and it always does! Is that a superhero dog on the school roof? Yes! Is the lunchtime mashed potato really, really weird? Yes!
Does Susie Keys own an alien egg? Yes! So what are Class 2R going to do about it all? Have a lot of fun! And what is long-suffering class teacher Miss Riley going to do about it all? Try to pretend it's not happening perhaps?
Moor provides the suitably anarchic and eye-catching illustrations for Butchart's super, easy-to-read stories which come packed with chaos and crazy antics, and give a star role to the kind of zany school that is heaven-sent for any little mischief-maker!
(Nosy Crow, paperback, £5.99)
Age three plus:
The Prince and the Pee
Greg Gormley and Chris Mould
Little ones will enjoy watching the 'pees and queues' in this super silly adventure story from a dynamic picture book duo.
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Hide AdDesperate times are certainly here in Greg Gormley's hilarious tale of derring-do and needing the loo, a funny, action-packed adventure guaranteed to strike a (painful!) chord with anyone – of any age – who ever forgot to 'go' before they set off!
Chris Mould's expressive and comical illustrations provide the perfect backdrop for a story brimming with mischief, mayhem, and a hilarious surprise on the last page that is sure to delight young readers.
Prince Freddie is taking a holiday but just as he is relaxing on the beach and slurping the lemoniest lemonade ever, his trusty horse Sir Rushington appears and tells him a ferocious dragon is attacking Crumbly Castle and that they must leave at once. So he gulps down the rest of his lemonade and off they trot.
Unfortunately for Freddie, he soon realises he forgot to go before he left and now he really, REALLY needs a pee. But what with scary ogres, damsels in distress, and massive queues for the only toilet in the forest, it doesn't look like Freddie will ever get to go. So when the dragon blocks his path, and accidentally sets fire to the castle, things don't look too good. Luckily, Prince Freddie is able to have a pee AND put out the fire in one go… but a twist in the horse's tale could delay the hero's return to his holiday!
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Hide AdNo child will be able to resist returning time and time again to this brilliant cautionary tale which Gormley and Mould have pitched perfectly to tickle the funny bones of everyone in the family. With a crazy caper to join in, and a gallery of funny, frantic illustrations, there won't be a moment to lose on every page.
The perfect book for any child who ever asked 'Are we nearly there yet?'
(Nosy Crow, paperback, £6.99)
Age three plus:
Troll Stroll
Elli Woollard and David Barrow
Make way for a hungry troll in search of a tasty child!
Rhyming queen Elli Woollard, whose wonderful array of children's books always come with an addictive spirit of fun and adventure, is on top form in this clever, cautionary picture book with a hidden bite in its tail.
Troll is fed up with eating boring old goats so off he strolls in search of some scrumptious children to eat. The first thing he sees is a nice juicy boy on his bike but the quick-thinking lad insists that the four children in the car behind him would be FAR tastier… and the Troll simply adores meals when they are delivered on wheels! But wait, all those children in the school bus behind the car would be yummier still... Just as he is about to get his slobbersome chops on the school bus kids, he spots a huge digger bursting with children… and they are looking hungry too. Maybe it's time for that terrible Troll to make a quick exit!
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Hide AdWoollard's rhyming extravaganza is positively bursting out all over with quirky fun and no child will be able to resist the wonderfully charismatic and entertaining illustrations by David Barrow who was shortlisted for the Waterstone's Prize.
Ideal to read out loud at home or share with a classful of friends…
(Nosy Crow, paperback, £6.99)
Age two plus:
How to Look After Your Dinosaur
Jason Cockcroft
New pets come in all shapes and sizes… but a baby dinosaur popping out of an egg might not be all that it's cracked up to be!
There's plenty of Jurassic fun and games in a 'prehistoric' picture book adventure from Jason Cockcroft, an illustrator who is also an accomplished watercolour artist and portrait painter.
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Hide AdWhat would you do if a dinosaur turned up on your doorstep? Well, that's exactly what happens to the little boy in this brilliantly illustrated, witty picture book. He must learn exactly how to look after his dinosaur… what to feed it for breakfast, where to take it for walks and, most importantly of all, how to deal with its dinosaur-sized poo!
This fun-filled story about caring for a dinosaur with giant-sized needs (and giant-sized poos!) offers a laugh on every page but also gently explores the value of friendship and some of the real-life responsibilities that come with being a pet owner.
Packed with engaging pictures, full of colour and energy, this is a story that will have little ones laughing and giggling all the way to the pet store!
(Nosy Crow, paperback, £6.99)
Age 2 plus:
Axel Scheffler's Flip Flap Ocean
Award-winning illustrator Axel Scheffler, best known for his partnership with Julia Donaldson on international bestseller The Gruffalo, makes a welcome return with the fifth book in his much-loved Flip Flap series.
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Hide AdThis new surprise-packed, flip-the-pages masterpiece features amazing aquatic combinations to create a book full of crazy, mixed-up creatures. The ingenious split pages are the catalyst to turn familiar creatures into some very strange – and hilarious – creatures!
With a clever, rhyming text and brilliantly cheeky and characterful illustrations from Scheffler, little ones will love simply flipping the pages to create some seriously silly animals that live under the ocean.
What do you get if you cross a squid with a fish? It's a squish, of course! And how about a shark and a turtle? Why, that's a shurtle! And a crab and a whale? Well, naturally that's a crale!
Scheffler provides over 121 possible underwater creations, silly names and strange noises to make the whole family giggle in this elegantly produced and highly imaginative Flip Flap book which is just perfect for pre-schoolers.
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Hide AdMix or match, this is ingenious entertainment from the master of illustrative disguise!
(Nosy Crow, hardback, £8.99)
Age one plus:
Irene Dickson
In the digital age of games, phones and screen entertainment, what a joy to discover a picture book that celebrates playing in the great outdoors!
Irene Dickson's inspirational picture book for little readers comes with a suitably stylish retro feel and a gallery of simple, elegant illustrations of outdoor scenes familiar to every child who has enjoyed a walk with their family or friends.
A boy and his dog set off to play together one sunny day, taking nothing with them but a good, useful stick. And there are SO many things you can do with a stick. You can throw it, balance with it, float it down a stream, draw pictures in the sand and it will even help you make new friends. All it takes is a child's zest for life and a bit of creativity!
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Hide AdDickson's bold, vibrantly coloured illustrations are full of life and vigour and reflect the delights of friendship, outdoor fun and ingenuity, inspiring little ones to head off on their own journey of discovery in the big wide world.
A breath of fresh air in today's busy, bustling, online world!
(Nosy Crow, hardback, £11.99)
Age one plus:
Look, there's a Submarine! and Look, there's a Rocket!
Esther Aarts
Whether it's adventures in the deepest ocean or high up in the sky, these two fun-filled, interactive board books are a voyage of discovery for inquisitive babies and toddlers.
The work of Esther Aarts, a Dutch illustrator whose beautiful illustrations have appeared in international newspapers, magazines and on greeting cards and T-shirts, Look, there's a Submarine! and Look, there's a Rocket! make exploration a hands-on adventure.
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Hide AdWith their peekaboo cut-out holes, the books let little ones find the holes with their fingers as you read the story, and then enjoy watching as they peep through and turn the page to see what the holes become.
Join the diver and her cat to discover a turtle, an octopus with its eight legs, a red crab and an exciting shipwreck under the sea or journey through the stars with a little astronaut and his dog as they look out for planets, a robot, asteroids and even a naughty alien!
Perfect for sharing and with a gentle rhyming text encouraging children to say what they can spy in every scene, the books offer a 'hole' lot of fun… and the chance to explore the world time and time again.
(Nosy Crow, board books, £6.99 each)
Age six months plus:
Lois Looks for Bob at Home and Lois Looks for Bob at the Park
Gerry Turley
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Hide AdThere's no place like home – and the park – in these two beautifully playful board books from Gerry Turley, a Scottish illustrator and printmaker known for his sensitive depiction of animals.
Gorgeously illustrated and conceived, lift-the-flap books – first of an exciting new series – are gently reassuring for toddlers and babies. Starring Lois the black cat and her friend Bob, the yellow bird, all the action takes place in familiar settings like rooms at home and landmarks at the park.
Sturdy and appealing, and with their retro-cool look, the books feature enchanting stories with a cast of lovable animals and birds, and are destined to be a firm favourite with both parents and children.
In Lois Looks for Bob at Home, Bob has simply vanished so where can he be? Is he hiding behind the lamp, on the table, on the windowsill or in the kitchen cupboard? Lois will have to look high and low for flyaway Bob.
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Hide AdAnd in Lois Looks for Bob at the Park, the little black cat will have to peer under the bench, high up into the tree branches, inside the flower pot and behind the pram before she eventually discovers Bob enjoying a picnic.
These super sturdy, exquisitely illustrated board books have wonderful surprises and new animal friends to discover on every page, and are guaranteed to create a stir, and cause a flap, with every busy little adventure-seeker!
(Nosy Crow, board books, £6.99 each)
Age six months plus:
Blocks: Let's Share
Irene Dickson
What's mine is mine, and what's yours is mine too!
Sharing your toys is never easy when you're only little so everyone is going to share the fun of this classic book which provides the building blocks for a timely and playful lesson for warring toddlers.
Experienced illustrator Irene Dickson, who is enjoying a new career path making beautiful picture books, has put all her creative energies into this stylishly illustrated board book debut with its enchanting, cut-out cover and warm and witty storyline.
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Hide AdThis playtime, Ruby has red blocks and is going to build with them while Benji is also building with a super collection of blue blocks. The two youngsters both build and build until Benji takes one of Ruby's red blocks and, in the tussle that follows, all the blocks crash down to the floor. But, not to worry, Benji now has red blocks, and Ruby has blue blocks, and together they can build and build. But look, here comes Guy, and Guy has got green blocks! Could there be more trouble ahead?
This cleverly devised, large-format book, full of bold images and playful concepts about the despair and delight of sharing your toys, is ideal for pre-schoolers who will love the eye-catching illustrations and the chaotic fall-out between Ruby and Benji.
A book about sharing that is also a joy to share.
(Nosy Crow, board book, £6.99)


text:
A mother is a person who seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie. ~Tenneva Jordan
Being a full-time mother is one of the highest salaried jobs in my field, since the payment is pure love. ~Mildred B. Vermont
A suburban mother's role is to deliver children obstetrically once, and by car forever after. ~Peter De Vries
The phrase "working mother" is redundant. ~Jane Sellman
The moment a child is born, the mother is also born. She never existed before. The woman existed, but the mother, never. A mother is something absolutely new. ~Rajneesh
If the whole world were put into one scale, and my mother in the other, the whole world would kick the beam. ~Lord Langdale (Henry Bickersteth)
I remember my mother's prayers and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my life. ~Abraham Lincoln
Some mothers are kissing mothers and some are scolding mothers, but it is love just the same, and most mothers kiss and scold together. ~Pearl S. Buck
If you have a mom, there is nowhere you are likely to go where a prayer has not already been. ~Robert Brault
A Freudian slip is when you say one thing but mean your mother. ~Author Unknown
Sweater, n.: garment worn by child when its mother is feeling chilly. ~Ambrose Bierce
Women's Liberation is just a lot of foolishness. It's the men who are discriminated against. They can't bear children. And no one's likely to do anything about that. ~Golda Meir
The real religion of the world comes from women much more than from men – from mothers most of all, who carry the key of our souls in their bosoms. ~Oliver Wendell Holmes
The heart of a mother is a deep abyss at the bottom of which you will always find forgiveness. ~Honoré de Balzac
All women become like their mothers. That is their tragedy. No man does. That's his. ~Oscar Wilde, The Importance of Being Earnest, 1895
He is a poor son whose sonship does not make him desire to serve all men's mothers. ~Harry Emerson Fosdick
Thou art thy mother's glass, and she in thee
Calls back the lovely April of her prime.
~William Shakespeare
An ounce of mother is worth a pound of clergy. ~Spanish Proverb
She never quite leaves her children at home, even when she doesn't take them along. ~Margaret Culkin Banning
When you are a mother, you are never really alone in your thoughts. A mother always has to think twice, once for herself and once for her child. ~Sophia Loren, Women and Beauty
If evolution really works, how come mothers only have two hands? ~Milton Berle
Motherhood is priced
Of God, at price no man may dare
To lessen or misunderstand.
~Helen Hunt Jackson
Mothers are fonder than fathers of their children because they are more certain they are their own. ~Aristotle
Women are aristocrats, and it is always the mother who makes us feel that we belong to the better sort. ~John Lancaster Spalding
Motherhood has a very humanizing effect. Everything gets reduced to essentials. ~Meryl Streep
The sweetest sounds to mortals given
Are heard in Mother, Home, and Heaven.
~William Goldsmith Brown
What are Raphael's Madonnas but the shadow of a mother's love, fixed in permanent outline forever? ~Thomas Wentworth Higginson
The formative period for building character for eternity is in the nursery. The mother is queen of that realm and sways a scepter more potent than that of kings or priests. ~Author Unknown
Mother love is the fuel that enables a normal human being to do the impossible. ~Marion C. Garretty, quoted in A Little Spoonful of Chicken Soup for the Mother's Soul
I love my mother as the trees love water and sunshine – she helps me grow, prosper, and reach great heights. ~Terri Guillemets
[A] mother is one to whom you hurry when you are troubled. ~Emily Dickinson
A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine desert us; when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts. ~Washington Irving
Any mother could perform the jobs of several air traffic controllers with ease. ~Lisa Alther
Now, as always, the most automated appliance in a household is the mother. ~Beverly Jones
That best academy, a mother's knee. ~James Russell Lowell
A mother's arms are made of tenderness and children sleep soundly in them. ~Victor Hugo
Grown don't mean nothing to a mother. A child is a child. They get bigger, older, but grown? What's that suppose to mean? In my heart it don't mean a thing. ~Toni Morrison, Beloved, 1987
The only mothers it is safe to forget on Mother's Day are the good ones. ~Mignon McLaughlin, The Neurotic's Notebook, 1960
Hundreds of dewdrops to greet the dawn,
Hundreds of bees in the purple clover,
Hundreds of butterflies on the lawn,
But only one mother the wide world over.
~George Cooper
A mother's happiness is like a beacon, lighting up the future but reflected also on the past in the guise of fond memories. ~Honoré de Balzac
A father may turn his back on his child, brothers and sisters may become inveterate enemies, husbands may desert their wives, wives their husbands. But a mother's love endures through all. ~Washington Irving
A mom forgives us all our faults, not to mention one or two we don't even have. ~Robert Brault
My mother is a poem
I'll never be able to write,
though everything I write
is a poem to my mother.
~Sharon Doubiago
With what price we pay for the glory of motherhood. ~Isadora Duncan
One good mother is worth a hundred schoolmasters. ~George Herbert
There's nothing like a mama-hug. ~Terri Guillemets
Who fed me from her gentle breast
And hushed me in her arms to rest,
And on my cheek sweet kisses prest?
My Mother.
~Anne Taylor
Mother's love is peace. It need not be acquired, it need not be deserved. ~Erich Fromm
Who ran to help me when I fell,
And would some pretty story tell,
Or kiss the place to make it well?
My mother.
~Ann Taylor
Mother – that was the bank where we deposited all our hurts and worries. ~T. DeWitt Talmage
The precursor of the mirror is the mother's face. ~D.W. Winnicott, Playing and Reality, 1971
Mother is the name for God in the lips and hearts of little children. ~William Makepeace Thackeray
A daughter is a mother's gender partner, her closest ally in the family confederacy, an extension of her self. And mothers are their daughters' role model, their biological and emotional road map, the arbiter of all their relationships. ~Victoria Secunda
Mother's love grows by giving. ~Charles Lamb
I miss thee, my Mother! Thy image is still
The deepest impressed on my heart.
~Eliza Cook
The tie which links mother and child is of such pure and immaculate strength as to be never violated. ~Washington Irving
A mom reads you like a book, and wherever she goes, people read you like a glowing book review. ~Robert Brault
I cannot forget my mother. [S]he is my bridge. When I needed to get across, she steadied herself long enough for me to run across safely. ~Renita Weems
A little girl, asked where her home was, replied, "where mother is." ~Keith L. Brooks
Youth fades; love droops; the leaves of friendship fall; A mother's secret hope outlives them all. ~Oliver Wendell Holmes
Most of all the other beautiful things in life come by twos and threes, by dozens and hundreds. Plenty of roses, stars, sunsets, rainbows, brothers and sisters, aunts and cousins, comrades and friends – but only one mother in the whole world. ~Kate Douglas Wiggin
If I was damned of body and soul,
I know whose prayers would make me whole,
Mother o' mine, O mother o'mine.
~Rudyard Kipling
Whatever else is unsure in this stinking dunghill of a world a mother's love is not. ~James Joyce
My mother had a slender, small body, but a large heart – a heart so large that everybody's joys found welcome in it, and hospitable accommodation. ~Mark Twain
It's not easy being a mother. If it were easy, fathers would do it. ~From the television show The Golden Girls
The mother's heart is the child's school-room. ~Henry Ward Beecher
Women know
The way to rear up children (to be just)
They know a simple, merry, tender knack
Of tying sashes, fitting baby shoes,
And stringing pretty words that make no sense,
And kissing full sense into empty words.
~Elizabeth Barrett Browning
The desolation and terror of, for the first time, realizing that the mother can lose you, or you her, and your own abysmal loneliness and helplessness without her. ~Francis Thompson
My mom is literally a part of me. You can't say that about many people except relatives, and organ donors. ~Carrie Latet
Every beetle is a gazelle in the eyes of its mother. ~Moorish Proverb
All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel Mother. ~Abraham Lincoln
No painter's brush, nor poet's pen
In justice to her fame
Has ever reached half high enough
To write a mother's name.
~Author Unknown
Women who miscalculate are called mothers. ~Abigail Van Buren
A man's work is from sun to sun, but a mother's work is never done. ~Author Unknown
One of the very few reasons I had any respect for my mother when I was thirteen was because she would reach into the sink with her bare hands – bare hands – and pick up that lethal gunk and drop it into the garbage. To top that, I saw her reach into the wet garbage bag and fish around in there looking for a lost teaspoon. Bare hands – a kind of mad courage. ~Robert Fulghum
One lamp – thy mother's love – amid the stars
Shall lift its pure flame changeless, and before
The throne of God, burn through eternity –
Holy – as it was lit and lent thee here.
~Nathaniel Parker Willis
No one in the world can take the place of your mother. Right or wrong, from her viewpoint you are always right. She may scold you for little things, but never for the big ones. ~Harry Truman
God could not be everywhere, so he created mothers. ~Jewish Proverb
Life is the fruit she longs to hand you,
Ripe on a plate.
And while you live,
Relentlessly she understands you.
~Phyllis McGinley
All mothers are working mothers. ~Author Unknown
Because I feel that in the heavens above
The angels, whispering one to another,
Can find among their burning tears of love,
None so devotional as that of "Mother,"
Therefore, by that dear name I have long called you,
You who are more than mother unto me.
~Edgar Allan Poe
The best conversations with mothers always take place in silence, when only the heart speaks. ~Carrie Latet
Biology is the least of what makes someone a mother. ~Oprah Winfrey
A man loves his sweetheart the most, his wife the best, but his mother the longest. ~Irish Proverb


text:
The man was sentenced to 12 years in jail, local media reported. Kang Wannian, a villager from Mengla, Yunnan Province, met the tiger in February while gathering freshwater clams in a nature reserve near China's border with Laos. He claimed to have killed it in self-defence.
The only known wild Indochinese tiger in China, photographed in 2007 at the same reserve, has not been seen since Kang's meal, the Yunnan-based newspaper Life News reported earlier this month.
The paper quoted the provincial Forestry Bureau as saying there was no evidence the tiger was the last one in China.
A local court sentenced Kang to 10 years for killing a rare animal plus two years for illegal possession of firearms, the local web portal Yunnan.cn reported. Prosecutors said Kang did not need a gun to gather clams.
Four villagers who helped Kang dismember the tiger and ate its meat were also sentenced from three to four years for "covering up and concealing criminal gains", the report said.
The Indochinese tiger is on the brink of extinction, with fewer than 1,000 left in the forests of Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and Myanmar.


text:
Product Description 2012 August Wakeboard Bindings:
Our engineers spent a couple of seasons working with a group of shredders to design a true girl's boot from our baseless plate up - not just a scaled version of our womens line. The result was the first of its kind. Heel, arch and toe ramp placement for shredders sized 2-6 with our floating tongue design. This year we created a new ultra lightweight exclusive Stage 1 liner reducing our award winning boot's weight another 20%. The future of wakeboarding will appreciate this fully loaded, easy entry, comfortable new boots construction.
Product Features:


text:
The Model 50S1G6AB is a solid-state, Class AB design, self-contained, air-cooled, broadband amplifier designed for applications where instantaneous bandwidth, high gain, and linearity are required. Housed in a stylish contemporary cabinet, the unit is designed for benchtop use but can be removed from the cabinet for immediate equipment rack mounting.
The 50S1G6AB, when used with a sweep generator, will provide 50 W typical of RF power. Included is a front panel gain control that permits the operator to conveniently set the desired output level. The 50S1G6AB is protected from RF input overdrive by an RF input leveling circuit which controls the RF input level to the RF amplifier first stage when the RF input level is increased above 0 dBm. The RF amplifier stages are protected from over-temperature by removing the DC voltage to them if an overtemperature condition occurs due to cooling blockage or fan failure. There is a digital display on the front panel to indicate the operating status and fault conditions if an over-temperature or power supply fault has occurred. The unit can be returned to operate when the condition has been cleared. All amplifier control functions and status indications are available remotely in GPIB/IEEE-488 format, RS-232 hardwire and fiber optic, USB, and Ethernet. The bus interface connector is located on the back panel and positive control of the local or remote operation is assured by a Local/Remote switch on the front panel of the amplifier.
The Model 50S1G6AB can be used as a test instrument covering multiple frequency bands and is suitable for a variety of communication technologies such as CDMA, W-CDMA, TDMA, GSM, etc. It is also suitable for EMC Test applications where undistorted modulation envelopes are desired.
The export classification for this equipment is EAR99. These commodities, technology, or software are controlled for export in accordance with the U.S. Export Administration Regulations. Diversion contrary to U.S. law is prohibited.


text:
... Os deseo un feliz fin de semana.
In this house I find many details that I hardly can number them. Many styles harmonized carefully in a "container" that maintains its original architecture and materials. Oh, I can feel embraced by the dark blue velvet sofa while the fire warms the room from a cold metallic fireplace. Despite its size is a home that does not lose its functionality and sympathy (yes, the little ones can make their daily grooming without getting on a stool and no queuing at the door of the bathroom :-)). This is luxury.
... Wishing you a wonderful weekend.


text:
The Label Printers was a Facilitator and Exhibitor for the 2013 UL Brand Protection Conference in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. and a Participant in the 2013 Brand Protection & Anti-Counterfeiting Forum in Scottsdale, AZ.
The Label Printers' was invited to exhibit and participate as an Interactive Round Table Leader at the recent UL Brand Protection Conference in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. TLP's topic was "Product Security Solutions – Magic Bullet vs. the Budget", and Lori Campbell, The Label Printers' Chief of Operations was the company's Round Table Leader. Key Note speakers for the conference were Michael B. Steinbach, SAC, Miami Field Office, FBI; An-Ping Hsieh, VP/General Counsel, Hubbell; and Waldemar Oliveros Jaén, IP Lawyer, Panama Customs Authority.
UL outlined the Event's purpose in their Registration/Welcome materials, "For over 15 years, UL has taken an aggressive stance against product counterfeiting through a comprehensive program involving enforcement, education and partnerships with key IP crime stakeholders from around the world. As a leader in product safety testing and certification, as well as a rights holder, UL knows the detrimental effects IP crime can have on a company's resources, reputation and to its corporate goals.
As part of our public service and safety-oriented mission, UL is organizing the 2013 Conference to serve as a catalyst to strengthen and enhance brand protection programs, provide best practices for combatting IP crime and to strengthen global partnerships against this growing threat. The Conference is a great opportunity for UL customers and other IP rights holders to meet one-on-one with law enforcement personnel and IP crime experts to gain valuable insights into all aspects of brand protection.
International, national and local experts will be on hand to provide a dynamic two-day training forum with innovative learning sessions that will include; operational workshops, interactive roundtables and a networking lounge. Additionally, we will offer rights holders the opportunity to set up exhibition tables where they can provide product identification training to law enforcement attendees. This benefit will also be extended to service providers so they may provide participants with the latest brand protection solutions."
Over 150 attendees, split fairly equally between brand owners, solutions suppliers, and law enforcement officials, attended the event. Said Campbell about her Round Table, "We talked principally about the major challenges facing rights holders. The first of which is the budget. And the second of which is "selling" the need for anti-counterfeiting internally – which, incredibly, with the prominence of the discussion about anti-counterfeiting and brand protection, is hard to do." She goes on, "I think [the problem] is a head versus gut thing. Brand owners have an intellectual understanding of the problem, but they have to balance that with the problem of finding resources to address the problem – it's like the game "Whack a Mole" because their products are sold through so many channels. And, to make it even tougher, there are SO many suppliers to be sifted through. What technology? What company? And it's hard to keep track of what's new."
About the conference in general, Campbell said "There were a lot of presentations on rights holders' enforcement issues, and their legal remedies – criminal vs. civil. Overall, UL has done a good job covering the major IP topics, and they've kept the conference relatively small, allowing for more focused conversations. Which is just what brand owners need."
Conference participants included brand owners such as Louis Poulsen Lighting, and Eaton; solution providers such as The Label Printers and Digital Evidence International; government and law enforcement agencies such as the U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, INTERPOL, EUROPOL, the FBI, and Homeland Security; and many other intellectual property and anti-counterfeiting experts.
In addition to her role as a Round Table Leader, Campbell has also been chosen to be part of a working group, called the IP Crime Joint Action Group, which has been broken into subcommittees such as enforcement, training, etc. working on best practices to share with a larger audience.
Click on these links for more information about the Brand Protection Conference and UL's efforts in anti-counterfeiting.
The Label Printers also participated in the recent Brand Protection & Anti-Counterfeiting Forum, a meeting organized to bring brand protection solution providers (such as TLP) together with rights holders, in both group sessions on important topics, and one-on-one meetings. Campbell felt that this forum was well conceived and organized, noting the high quality of the attendees and the in-depth profiles of each (provided by forum organizer Consero), including the challenges each company faces in their markets. She said, "this forum brought both 'sides of the table' together so that we could discuss our mutual needs. And, it gave us the opportunity to further explore those mutual needs in ongoing, future meetings." Rights holder attendees ran the gamut from technology companies like Qualcomm to famous brand names in diverse markets such as Converse, Kraft, Leatherman Tool, Shiseido, and WWE. Solution providers also ran the gamut of available technologies for manufacturing operations, online and IP issues, and supply chain challenges. Campbell points out, "As a label manufacturer, we bring an unbiased advocacy to the brand protection/anti-counterfeiting issue. We try to do a lot of the preliminary selection process for the rights holders. Basically, we are the means to get the technology to commercialization. And this forum gave us an opportunity to explore that with a 'self-certifying' audience."
About THE LABEL PRINTERS:
The Label Printers, Aurora, IL, started in business in 1967, manufacturing simple label constructions in a 1,000 square foot space, with 1 employee, serving the local Chicago market.
Today, the company has evolved into one of the 100 largest converters in the United States. The Label Printers owns and operates two facilities in Aurora, Illinois, manufacturing and distributing labels and packaging products to thousands of customers in 25 countries around the world. The company's packaging products are certified to ISO 9001 standards, and their quality is backed up by their 99.6% Quality Acceptance Rating.
Source: www.TheLabelPrinters.com


text:
Hello, I have refined my earlier question that actually got no replies to one that should hopefully get a little bit more attention. I will try to structure the question so that it is easy to get to the point for more educated readers.
My Knowledge:
Logically, Syntactically good knowledge. Understanding of algorithms and programming etiquette. I find mathematical programming quite easy. Been self teaching myself for about 2 years now, sticking to the stuff I essentially NEED to know.
Graphical programming knowledge is VERY basic.
File I/O understanding isnt great.
SQL/Database is Basic.
My problem:
Array of Double[,] Double[] Byte[,] or Byte[] being displayed as a BitMap type image or similar.
So Far:
I have managed to turn an array double[,] to byte[,] presuming all the values are 8bit integers, which....so far I havent actually come across data that works with this function. Then using code snippets I have found on the internet to 'convert' this numerical data into an object of image (or so i think I have, like I said my graphic knowledge is very poor)
Now what?:
So alternatively and preferably, some ideas on just using the double values between 0-255 as colour values even though they can go deep into the decimal place (whether or not this is possible I don't yet know), OR a method to round each number to its closest 8bit integer for convertion aspects of the data to type Byte[] or Byte[,] (Probably easiest way?) making it more conventional.
Can I get a result similar to this with what I'm trying to do?:
(not necessarily so complex, best example I could find)
Raster Grid Example
What the program currently does:
Its essentially a raster data manipulation software, with simple and advanced raster calculation being applied to raster data in the ascii grid format (used typically in ArcGIS) and then saved back to disk as a new table. The functionality of this is 100% ok and the only thing I'm trying to do is display the data im working on for a visual confirmation of the data manipulation.
It loads the data into an object Grid which has a double field Values[,] systematically, after reading the header in the file. The dataset also contains a value for no value, generally -9999, this can probably be changed to 0 for the sake of the pallette.
Example Raster Grid Input Data
Code snippet that calls the conversion process:
Code:g1 = new Grid(fname); g1 = g1.LinearScale8Bit(); byte[,] Values = new byte[g1.Values.GetLength(0), g1.Values.GetLength(1)]; Image img; Bitmap bmp; for (int i = 0; i <= g1.Cols; i++) { for (int j = 0; j <= g1.Rows; j++) { Values[i, j] = Convert.ToByte(g1.Values[i, j]); } } img = Grid.ByteArrayToImage(Values); bmp = new Bitmap(img); Form frm2 = new Form2(bmp); frm2.Show();
Code Grid.LinearScale8Bit()
Code Grid.ByteArrayToImage(Byte[,])Code:public Grid LinearScale8Bit() { Grid newgrid = new Grid(); double min = this.GridGlobalMin(); double max = this.GridGlobalMax(); int r, c; newgrid.Cols = this.Cols; newgrid.Rows = this.Rows; newgrid.XCorner = this.XCorner; newgrid.YCorner = this.YCorner; newgrid.CellSize = this.CellSize; newgrid.NoData = this.NoData; newgrid.Values = new double[newgrid.Rows, newgrid.Cols]; for (r = 0; r < this.Rows; r++) for (c = 0; c < this.Cols; c++) newgrid.Values[r, c] = (this.Values[r, c] - min) / (min - max) * -255; return newgrid; }
Code:public static Image ByteArrayToImage(byte[,] byteArrayIn) { Byte[] byteArrayCopy = byteArrayIn.Cast<byte>().ToArray(); MemoryStream ms = new MemoryStream(byteArrayCopy); Image returnImage = Image.FromStream(ms); return returnImage; }
Entire Grid Class
I have supplied the entire grid class just incase you want to familiarise yourself with the class more than the code supplied.
ANY help is much appreciated, I have been looking through the internet, but I'm either searching for the 'wrong' thing or my problem isnt usually a problem to most people, or its not a problem yet needed answering.
I can post a screenshot of the program itsself if necessary.
Cheers for reading