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Inquiry Question
Reading 2: The Lend-Lease Program and the Alaska-Siberia Route
Before World War II, the Soviet Union and Germany agreed not to fight each other if war came. This pact continued during the beginning of the war, but ended in 1941 when Hitler sent an army to attack the Soviet Union. The Germans beat the Soviet Union's unprepared Red Army in 1941 and destroyed many of its aircraft.
President Franklin Roosevelt's administration decided that the United States should help the Soviet Union. Roosevelt and his advisers believed such help was needed to help the Soviet Union defend itself. Congress had passed the Lend-Lease Act in 1941, in part in response to a request from Great Britain for aid. At first, this Act allowed the United States to provide assistance while preserving its neutrality. When Germany attacked the Soviet Union in 1941, the U.S. formally offered aid to the Soviets. This strategy to defeat Germany had support at high levels.
The Lend-Lease Act sent materials and supplies to American allies. Under the Lend-Lease Act, based on records from the 1940s, the United States provided 50 billion dollars worth of war material to 32 allies. Approximately 11 billion dollars of this went to the Soviet Union. The supplies sent to the Soviet Union included 427,000 trucks, 13,000 combat vehicles, and nearly 15,000 combat planes. It also included other items, from diesel engines to shoes.
After the decision to help the Soviet Union, the transfer of aircraft via the ALSIB became a priority. In August 1941, the United States and the Soviet Union reached an agreement on a plan to deliver Lend-Lease supplies. Two routes were selected to get supplies to the Soviet Union. One began in Florida, stopped in North Africa, then Iraq, and ended in Moscow. This route was 13,000 miles.
The second route began in Great Falls, Montana, and went through western Canada to Ladd Field, then continued to Siberia, and finally to Moscow. This route totaled 7,900 miles. Other routes by sea and air were used to supply Lend-Lease equipment, but going through Alaska was shorter and less dangerous than routes by sea. The routes by sea were longer and also dangerous due to German submarines. Since the route through Ladd Field was safer and shorter, the transferred planes made it to the European front within days instead of weeks or months. This route became known as the Alaska-Siberia Route (ALSIB). The United States constructed seven airfields in central Alaska, one at Northway, Tanancross, Big Delta, Ladd Field (Fairbanks), Galena, Moses Point, and Nome. Canada was already building six airfields between Edmonton and Whitehorse. This completed the Alaska-Siberia Route for the delivery of aircraft to the Soviets.
At first, the United States wanted to turn over the planes to Soviet aircrews in Siberia. However, Soviet Leader Josef Stalin did not want United States military forces flying into Soviet airfields, he insisted that Soviet pilots should accept the planes in Alaska. The U.S. and the Soviet Union agreed that Ladd Field in Fairbanks would be the delivery point, due to its strategic location and the fact that, of the routes available, it was the safest and quickest. Since the Soviets officially took ownership of the aircraft at Ladd Field, the planes were inspected and painted with a red star to denote that the aircraft were now the property of the Soviet Union. The Soviets would land at Nome for refueling and repairs before crossing the Bering Strait.
The first Lend-Lease planes flown between Great Falls and Fairbanks arrived on September 3, 1942. Five A-20 bombers made the first two-day flight. Every plane arrived with a white star on the fuselage (body of the plane). The Soviet pilots painted over the white star with the red star, the emblem of the Soviet Union, before leaving for the Soviet Union. The next day, Soviet officers flew in from Siberia. Finally, a group of Soviet pilots landed at Ladd Field on September 24 to begin five days of training before flying the new planes home.
Wartime censorship meant that the ALSIB route and the Soviet soldiers stationed at Ladd Field were not publicly discussed until the summer of 1944. However, in towns along the way, the operation was common knowledge. The Soviet pilots stayed at Ladd Field until the end of WWII. In that time, the United States delivered almost 8,000 planes to the Soviet Union.
Questions for Reading 2
2. What routes were proposed to get supplies to the Soviet Union? Which one was selected and why? How did the selection of this route impact Alaska?
3. How much money and materials were sent to the United State's allies under the Lend-Lease Act?
4. Do you think that the Lend-Lease program contributed to the Allies winning WWII? Why or why not?Reading 2 was compiled from Cold Missions: The U.S. Army Air Forces and Ladd Field in WWII and the National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form, Ladd Field, Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, 1984.


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|Jepson Flora Project: Jepson Interchange
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©Copyright 1993 by the Regents of the University of California
Annual or perennial herb, often rhizomed, often of wet open places, generally monoecious; roots fibrous, hairy
Stem generally 3-sided
Leaves often 3-ranked; sheath generally closed; ligule generally 0; blade (0) various, parallel-veined
Inflorescence: spikelets variously clustered; flowers generally sessile in axil of flower bract
Flower small, generally wind-pollinated; perianth 0 or bristle-like; stamens generally 3, anthers attached at base, 4-chambered; ovary superior, 1-chambered, 1-ovuled, style 23-branched
Fruit: achene, generally 3-sided
Genera in family: ± 110 genera, 3600 species: worldwide, especially temp
Reference: [Tucker 1987 J Arnold Arbor 68:361445]
Difficult: taxa differ in technical characters of inflorescence and fruit.
Perennial, cespitose or from rhizomes, generally monoecious
Stem generally sharply 3-angled, generally solid
Leaves 3-ranked, generally glabrous except generally scabrous on midrib, margin; sheath closed, back (blade side of stem) green, ribbed, front generally thin, translucent, forming generally U-shaped mouth at top
Inflorescence: spikelets generally severalmany, arrayed in raceme, panicle, or head-like cluster, each 1many-flowered, generally subtended by a spikelet bract
Flowers unisexual, each subtended by 1 flower bract; perianth 0
Staminate flower: stamens generally 3
Pistillate flower enclosed by perigynium (sac-like bract); perigynium body 23-sided or round, wall generally delicate; perigynium beak tip open, often notched; style 1, generally deciduous, stigmas 24, exserted
Fruit 24-sided
Etymology: (Latin: cutter, from sharp leaf and stem edges)
Reference: [Standley 1985 Syst Bot Monogr 7:1106]
Fully mature perigynia needed for identification, so are described under "FR" (long-persistent perigynia are often atypical); perigynium "front" faces spikelet axis; "fruit" refers to achene body (excluding beak). "Shredding" lower leaf sheath fronts become a network or fringe of veins; some others shred longitudinally only. Difficult because of many species and minute key characters; longer key statements and descriptions are designed to enhance both ease and probability of correct identification. Group descriptions are assumed in specific descriptions
Horticultural information: Many species especially those with rhizomes are INVASIVE. This is one of the most effective genera for knitting moist or wet soil.
(Group 7) Cespitose, rarely dioecious
Leaf: blade 36 mm wide; sheath front red-dotted
Inflorescence open or dense, 2.515 cm, 12 cm wide; spikelets >> 10, > 1 per lower node or branch; spikelet bracts conspicuous; pistillate flower bract > or ± = perigynium, ± white or widely white-margined, awned
Staminate flower: anther > 1.9 mm, awn < 0.1 mm
Fruit: perigynium 3.54.3 mm, 1.52.3 mm wide, 0.71.1 mm thick, body ovate to deltate, tapered or abruptly narrowed above, gold to dark brown, veins on back few, on front 0few, wall rounded over fruit, filled with pithy tissue below, beak 0.61.4 mm, serrate or ciliate; fruit 1.52.5 mm, 0.91.8 mm wide, ovate
Ecology: Springs, streambanks
Elevation: 1202400 m.
Bioregional distribution: c&s High Sierra Nevada, San Joaquin Valley, Central Coast, South Coast, Transverse Ranges, Peninsular Ranges, Desert Mountains
Distribution outside California: Nevada, Arizona, Baja California
Horticultural information: TRY.

subset: commoncrawl


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LONDON -- A new photobooth offering from Sega Amusements is a radical change from most of the automated picture machines available today, according to the company. The SuperBooth, which Sega claims is the first interactive photobooth, puts the users in front of a professional photographer who leads them through a nine-set photo shoot.
The virtual photographer encourages and guides the users -- and offers tips on how to strike a pose -- amid a pulse-pounding soundtrack and a flashing light show. The photo-shoot experience is intensified when a powerful fan blows back the hair of the subjects (we've all seen shots where a fan was used to blow a model's hair around).
Sega general manager Peter Gustafson describes the SuperBooth as a "photo-tainment" device, and says the new machine takes the photobooth experience in an "entirely new and refreshing direction."
According to Gustafson, photobooth functionality is going in two directions. He says the small and less-intrusive machines deliver an experience that's about as much fun as posing for a driver's license photo at the DMV. On the other end, there are sophisticated booths that can confuse and frustrate some users with too many menu choices and navigation requirements.
SuperBooth allows guests to select from five photographers and five backgrounds; once chosen, the photo shoot begins. An announcer reads instructions, which are complemented by graphics displayed on a 42" HD in-booth monitor. The lights go up, the music starts, the fan blows and then the photographer appears. In 90 seconds, he directs the user through nine poses. A large interior capacity allows as many as eight guests to get in the picture.
The final output appears on a 6" x 8" print, all nine poses, and the patron has the option to purchase additional copies. Sega recommends a $5 vend for the first print and $3 each for additional copies.
Sega can provide custom photographers and background templates, for a nominal fee. Consumables can be purchased by the operator where dye-sub photo paper is sold.
The SuperBooth was designed by a company based in Ronkonkoma, NY, and is distributed exclusively (and globally) in the vending market by Sega Amusements. Sega tested the interactive photobooth concept at Dave & Buster's, the nationwide big box arcade-restaurant chain, which is now operating 61 units store-wide.
SuperBooth components
» DNP RX1 dye-sublimation printer. (Ships with one printer, but a second can be installed. One paper roll yields 350 prints)
» Cannon EOS T3 camera
» High-intensity LED panels
» Commercial-quality blower
» Club-ready sound system with subwoofer and internal/external speakers
» Internal and external HD monitors (monitor topper is optional)
» MEI banknote validator
SuperBooth dimensions and weight: 61" x 94" x 79.5" and 1,270 lbs.
(with optional monitor topper: 61" x 94" x 108.5" and 1,345 lbs.)
Based in Chessington, England, Sega Amusements is a wholly owned subsidiary of Japan's Sega Corp. Sega Amusements' U.S. team is based in Illinois. For information on SuperBooths, visit segaarcade.com or email to Tom.Keil, Vince.Moreno or Peter.Gustafson, all @sau.sega.com. Gustafson can be reached directly at (224) 265-4281.
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The real reason behind Labor's carbon tax
From Ride Happy's political reporter in Canberra:
Confusion reigned in Canberra yesterday as the government was forced to clarify their positon on carbon emmisions trading. Until today, political analysts had believed that Labor's proposed carbon tax was the result of a compromise reached with the independent ministers who hold the balance of power in their minority government. However, today this presumption was quashed as Labor confirmed that a faulty press leak was responsible for the word 'fibre' to be left out of 'carbon fibre tax', and that in fact the new tax had nothing to do with climate change. Rather, the new 'carbon fibre tax' proposed by Cabinet was a direct slingshot at Opposition Leader Tony Abbott and was intended to reduce the total number of overweight corporates gladding about on $20,000 carbon fibre bikes.
Under Labor's proposed carbon fibre tax, scenes like this will be a thing of the past
A Labour representative released the following statement:
'Australia is facing uncertain times and we now know that the trend toward the purchase of high-spec carbon fibre bikes is here to stay. A tax on carbon fibre will help preserve the future of our country by hitting those who use carbon fibre the most - the corporate suits with high disposable incomes. No more can we deny that carbon fibre tredleys are a reality.'
Spokesman for the Opposition told media that the proposed carbon fibre tax was yet another 'Big New Tax' by the Gillard government and would ultimately cost jobs and hurt the economy.
Opposition Leader Tony Abbott confronted the media today wearing full lycra in defiance of the new carbon fibre tax.
'It's clearly because Julia Gillard doesn't like to see Tony Abbott in lycra,' Tony Abbott declared. 'If she looked as good as I do in spandex there's no way we would see this tax put forward.
'The carbon fibre tax will disrupt business by forcing decent, hardworking businessmen and women to pay over the odds for their right to ride Super Record, or else seek alternative frame materials. I'd even go so far as to say Julia Gillard is in cahoots with the titanium frame manufacturing industry.
'The Opposition accepts that carbon change is a reality. But the scientific basis for the change and how best to deal with it remains to be seen.'
The Prime Minister could not be contacted for comment.
Ride Happy, Canberra.


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This two-stage gas-powered Husqvarna has a 24 inch clearing width and comes with electric start.
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Colorado Black Women for Political Action honor a dozen women, including Denver Post society editor Joanne Davidson
At its annual Women Making History reception Thursday, Colorado Black Women for Political Action recognized a dozen local leaders in business, politics and education.
The event, chaired by Simone D. Ross, honored former state legislator Rosemary Marshall; Wy Livingston, owner of Wystone's World Teas; Linda Alvarado, founder, president and CEO of Alvarado Construction and a part-owner of the Colorado Rockies; and Dr. Jandel Allen-Davis, vice president of government and external relations for Kaiser Permanente Colorado. Additional honorees were Maria Garcia Berry, CEO of CRL Associates; Lynn Gangone, dean of the University of Denver Women's College; Denise King, senior program manager at the Denver Metro Chamber Leadership Foundation; retired educator Alice Langley; and Carita Watson, retired information technology director at IBM Global Technology Services.
Also among those recognized was Joanne Davidson, society editor of The Denver Post. Davidson, who has been writing for The Post for 27 years, was lauded for the inclusiveness of her coverage and her continual efforts to recognize achievements by members of the African American community.


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Research: Why is South Africa's capital inflows mix different? »
Source: IMF Survey, Volume 34, Issue 08
Volume/Issue: 34/8
Series: IMF Survey
Author(s): International Monetary Fund. External Relations Dept.
Publisher: INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND
Publication Date: 11 May 2005
Keywords: international monetary fund, financial stability, central bank, central bank governors
The Web edition of the IMF Survey is updated several times a week, and contains a wealth of articles about topical policy and economic issues in the news. Access the latest IMF research, read interviews, and listen...


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Pistons beat Wizards again 96-87
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Charlie Villanueva scored 19 points, Rodney Stuckey added 18 and the Detroit Pistons got their second win in as many nights over the Washington Wizards, 96-87 on Saturday night.
It was only the second time this season that Detroit had won consecutive games.
The Wizards, who trailed throughout the game, have lost seven straight and dropped to an NBA-worst 3-22.
For the second straight night, Detroit had 58 rebounds, a season high.
The Wizards closed to 88-81 with 6:15 to play, but didn't score for nearly four minutes as Detroit built a 94-81 lead with 2:55 to play.
Jordan Crawford, who scored his only point of the first half with 1:05 to play, scored 20 in the second half to lead Washington with 21. Emeka Okafor had 14 points and tied a season high with 14 rebounds.
After the Pistons beat the Wizards by 32 on Friday night, coach Randy Wittman called their performance embarrassing. A day later, he said: "We went through the motions."
In the first quarter, it was no better, Washington began the game shooting 1 for 15, and Wittman was assessed a technical foul.
In one sequence, Kevin Seraphin was alone by the basket, and instead of an easy layup, he tried a reverse dunk -- and the ball spun out.
Washington shot just 17.4 percent (4 for 23) in the first quarter and trailed 22-13. Detroit shot 36 percent.
The Wizards' Cartier Martin helped cut the lead to seven, but a few moments later, Detroit hit three straight 3-pointers for a 39-22 lead and the Pistons led at halftime 54-35.
In the second half, Detroit built its largest lead, 59-37 a little more than two minutes into the third quarter, but Tayshaun Prince sprained his right ankle in a collision, left the game and did not return.
Washington ran off 10 straight to get within 59-47 with 7:08 to play, got within six with just about four minutes remaining in the quarter and trailed 74-64 after three.
NOTES: Detroit F Corey Maggette was inactive for the second straight game. ... Washington G John Wall, who's missed all season with an injured left knee, has started running on the court, Wittman said. ... Wizards G Bradley Beal, who missed the previous two games with an injured back, returned and scored 14. ... Washington F Nene started for the first time this season and had 10 points.


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In August 1961, LIFE magazine published an ambitious, 10-page tribute to the American Northwest with an unfortunate title: "Where God Sat When He Made America." The title of the article, LIFE claimed, was inspired by a phrase uttered by an awe-struck visitor to Glacier National Park. Now, there's nothing unusual, cheesy or suspect about the deep emotions that grand vistas can inspire in most anyone. Teddy Roosevelt, after all, reportedly wept upon first seeing Yosemite Valley.
But the phrase "Where God Sat . . . " still feels a little weird. Would God, in anyone's conception of an omnipotent being, really be seated while creating a landscape as vast, dramatic and humbling as the Tetons. Or Mount Rainier. Or the Oregon coast? Wouldn't a Supreme Being feel compelled, by the very nature of the occasion, to stand while in the process of bringing forth such beauty?
At any rate—we've no such qualms or questions about the brilliant color photographs in this gallery, shot by long-time LIFE staffer J.R. Eyerman: we can state, unequivocally, that they're wonderful.
When he was a boy, Eyerman took thousands of pictures in Yellowstone, Glacier and other national parks while traveling and camping with his dad. Decades later, the professional photographer spent weeks in late 1960 traveling throughout Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Washington, and even as far south as San Francisco for the magazine's tribute to "the stunning majesty of the Northwest."
We hope you enjoy the view.


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William Henry Grueby (1867-1925) started working at the Low Art Tile Works in Chelsea, Massachusetts. In 1890 he left Low and started making architectural pieces and in 1892 he joined Eugene Atwood to form Atwood & Grueby. That company closed and in 1894 Grueby started the Grueby Faience Company. Grueby developed his own glazes and created a matte finish, very different from the glossy glazes popular at the time. The pottery was reorganized and incorporated in 1897 under the same name, Grueby Faience Company. Pottery was made by hand and decorations were added or modeled by young girls. The company made two types of pottery—architectural tiles and art pottery. In 1907 Grueby Pottery Company was incorporated. In 1909, Grueby Faience went bankrupt. Then Grueby founded the Grueby Faience and Tile Company. Grueby Pottery closed about 1911. The tile company burned in 1913 but was rebuilt and worked until 1920. The company name was often used as the mark so it helps date a piece. The matte green glazed pieces are the most sought after today.
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Satin glass is a late-nineteenth-century art glass. It has a dull finish that is caused by hydrofluoric acid vapor treatment. Satin glass was made in many colors and sometimes has applied decorations. Rainbow satin glass has pink, blue, and yellow striations and a satin-like finish. Satin glass is also listed by factory name, such as Webb, or in the Mother-of-Pearl category.
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Eight Inducted in Athletics Hall of Fameby Jim Amidon • November 8, 2012 Share:
Seven Wabash College alumni and a former president were inducted into the Wabash College Athletics Hall of Fame during ceremonies during Monon Bell Weekend.
The induction ceremony is a highlight for the National Association of Wabash Men, which enshrines new members every two years on the eve of the Monon Bell Classic. The Hall of Fame was established in 1982.
"Athletics has always been an important part of the Wabash culture," said Alumni Director Tom Runge '71. "I'm always impressed with the number of our alumni who have fond memories of their experiences as student-athletes, and even more with their careers after Wabash. The Hall of Fame allows us to celebrate their accomplishments and allows the alumni to recall their time at Wabash, which makes for a special combination."
This year's inductees included:
Chris Morris '04 in football. Morris was Wabash's all-time leading rusher with 3,247 career yards and 40 touchdowns. He set the single-season rushing record in 2002 when he ran for 1,497 yards in helping Wabash to a 12-1 record and undefeated regular season.
Glenn Pride '63 in track and field. Pride was a four-year letterman in track and field and was the finest hurdler of his era. He set school records in hurdle and relay events, was the Indiana Little State champion, and was an All-American hurdler in his senior season.
Tom Puschak '89 in track and field. Puschak was Wabash's second individual national champion in track and field when he won the hammer throw at the 1989 Outdoor National Championships. He was also an Indoor Track and Field All-American with a fourth place finish in the 35-pound weight throw.
Tom Quackenbush '88 in baseball. Quackenbush started throughout his four years in baseball, and was a three-year starting catcher for the Little Giants. He was twice named the team's MVP when he set single-season RBI records, and he was the Co-MVP of the Indiana Collegiate Athletic Conference in 1988.
Jonathan Turk '93 in swimming. Jonathan Turk was a four-year letterman whose teams never lost a dual meet throughout his entire career. He was a four-time All-American butterfly swimmer, a First Team Academic All-American, and received an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship.
Steve Turk '91 in swimming. Steve Turk was the best sprint butterfly swimmer of his era. He was a two-time Most Valuable Swimmer, two-time team captain, and four-time All-American. He was also named to the Academic All-District Team.
Jim Wadkins '84 in wrestling. Jim Wadkins was a four-year letterman who helped Wabash post a record of 75-3 in dual meets. He was a three-time Little State Champion who finished his career with an individual record of 69-13-1, which included a win in the final match of the night to secure a victory over Notre Dame. He was the 1984 team captain and Most Valuable Wrestler.
Andrew T. Ford H'03, Special Inductee. Dr. Andrew T. Ford served as President of Wabash College for 13 years. A staunch supporter of the Little Giants, he spearheaded Wabash's move into the North Coast Athletic Conference. He was also instrumental in the construction of the Allen Athletics and Recreation Center.
More News
- U.S. News Ranks Wabash A Top Tier Liberal Arts College
- Internship Helps Wood '21 Discover 'How I Can Help'
- Wabash Kicks Off Speaker Series with Native Hoosiers
- Winter '21 'Puts a Nice Twist' on a Career
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2012 Athletics Hall of Fame


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The U.S. federal government announced over US$200 million in funding for a wide range of both new and already-in-progress initiatives related to Big Data. Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Dr. John Holdren (pictured at left) spoke on Thursday March 29, 2012 in a panel presentation and webcast at the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) auditorium in Washington, D.C. Read the rest of this entry »
–White House: "Big Data is indeed a Big Deal"
Posted by Brett Sheppard on April 2, 2012
Posted in Big Data | Leave a Comment »
–Parse and Visualize Unstructured Data in Hadoop
Posted by Brett Sheppard on November 5, 2011
In October 2011, I recorded a video chat with Ronen Schwartz, Vice President of B2B Products at Informatica, and Karl Van den Bergh, Vice President, Product and Alliances at Jaspersoft. The video runs a little under 10 minutes, and discusses approaches by Informatica and Jaspersoft to parse and visualize big data in Hadoop. (Disclaimer: Informatica is a Zettaforce client).
These approaches extend Jaspersoft business intelligence and Informatica data integration investments to leverage data stored in Hadoop, and support an Informatica drag-and-drop visual studio approach for parsing data in Hadoop that reduces the need for developers to manually write Map/Reduce scripts. For a broader discussion of data integration with Hadoop beyond the specific topics of parsing and visualization covered in this video and article, please refer to a Hadoop article series I wrote this summer for the Informatica Perspectives Blog.
Video chat with Brett Sheppard (left-hand side, wearing a white shirt), Karl Van den Bergh (center, in a blue shirt), and Ronen Schwartz (right-hand side, in a black shirt).
Posted in Big Data | 4 Comments »
–Hadoop Blog Series at Informatica Perspectives
Posted by Brett Sheppard on August 27, 2011
Enterprises use Hadoop in data-science applications that improve operational efficiency, grow revenues or reduce risk. Many commercial, open source or internally developed data-science applications have to tackle a lot of semi-structured, unstructured or raw data. Common use cases include log analysis, data mining, machine learning and image processing.
Organizations benefit from Hadoop's combination of storage and processing in each data node spread across a cluster of cost-effective commodity hardware. Hadoop's lack of fixed-schema works particularly well for answering ad-hoc queries and exploratory "what if" scenarios.
For more, visit a multi-part guest blog series on Informatica Perspectives.
Posted in Big Data | Leave a Comment »
–Hadoop Examples
Posted by Brett Sheppard on July 31, 2011
Organizations in multiple industries and the public sector are using Hadoop as one part of their integrated data architectures to obtain the highest value from their data. Hadoop is an increasingly popular option to process, store and analyze huge volumes of semi-structured, unstructured or raw data, often from disparate data sources.
The following are 10 public-domain examples of Hadoop production clusters, with URL links if you would like additional information: Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Big Data, Hadoop | 5 Comments »
–Get Started with Hadoop: from Evaluation to a Production Server
Posted by Brett Sheppard on June 7, 2011
Hadoop is is growing up. Apache Software Foundation (ASF) Hadoop and its related projects and sub-projects are maturing as an integrated, loosely coupled stack to store, process and analyze huge volumes of varied semi-structured, unstructured and raw data. This piece provides tips, cautions and best practices for an organization that would like to evaluate Hadoop and deploy an initial cluster. It focuses on the Hadoop Distributed File System (HDFS) and MapReduce. If you are looking for details on Hive, Pig or related projects and tools, you will be disappointed in this specific article, but I do provide links for where you can find more information. You can also refer to the live or archived presentations at the Yahoo Developer Network Hadoop Summit 2011 on June 29, 2011 in Santa Clara, Calif., and Hadoop World 2011, sponsored by Cloudera, in New York City on November 8-9, 2011.
This article is available on the O'Reilly Media sites at http://oreil.ly/lEPwQL
Posted in Big Data | 2 Comments »
–Outliers and Coexistence are the New Normal for Big Data
Posted by Brett Sheppard on March 24, 2011
Many enterprise architectures have evolved into coexistence environments to manage and benefit from advanced analytics, with help from technology and cloud service providers that are ramping up integration capabilities. Letting data speak for itself through analysis of entire data sets is eclipsing modeling from sub-sets. In the past, all too often what was once disregarded as an "outlier" in a data model turned out to be the telltale signs of a micro-trend that became a major event.The combination of (1) coexistence approaches to manage big data volumes, complexity and speed together with (2) analysis of complete data sets is driving operational efficiency, revenue growth and enablement of new business models. Outliers and coexistence are the new normal for big data.
This article is available on the O'Reilly Media sites at http://oreil.ly/fT8T1E
Posted in Big Data, Clouds, Hadoop | 1 Comment »
–Big Data 2011 Preview
Posted by Brett Sheppard on January 31, 2011
During the 2011 National Football League (NFL) playoff TV broadcasts — amid commercials with Anheuser-Busch Clydesdales and auto racing driver Danica Patrick — an ad appeared with an IBM researcher talking about data analytics. In the IBM TV ad, Dr. David Ferrucci discusses how an IBM Watson supercomputer competes in a Jeopardy! game by integrating analytics, natural language capabilities and rapid search of disparate data.
While at first glance NFL TV broadcasts may seem an unusual forum for a discussion of data analytics, Big Data offers important tools for enterprises of all sizes to improve operational efficiencies, grow revenues, and empower new business models.
Posted in Big Data, Clouds, Hadoop | 4 Comments »
–DataRush and DataCloud
Posted by Brett Sheppard on August 2, 2010
Pervasive Software Incubates Startups in Cloud Computing and Big Data Analytics
I had the opportunity at the GigaOM Structure 2010 conference to meet with Pervasive Software Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and Executive Vice President Mike Hoskins and Director for Worldwide Marketing and Channel Development David Inbar about two 15-person teams that Pervasive has incubated, named DataCloud and DataRush. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Big Data, Clouds | Tagged: CEP, Data Integration, DataCloud, DataRush, Pervasive, SMP | 1 Comment »
–Dr. Strangelove and Excel
Posted by Brett Sheppard on July 29, 2010
Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Excel
With Microsoft's new PowerPivot capabilities, and spreadsheet user interfaces to data sets in Hadoop by IBM BigSheets and Datameer, spreadsheets are more viable than ever as an analytics and business intelligence (BI) tool, to the consternation of some BI program managers.
At Gartner BI Summit 2010, in April in Las Vegas, Gartner advised BI advocates to give up trying to wean business users off Excel, and instead accept that Excel is here to stay. Sri Vemparala, manager of reporting and BI at Stanford University, told Craig Stedman at TechTarget "No matter what we try to do, I don't think we can get away from Excel." Gartner analyst John Hagerty advises IT departments to follow a rapid-iteration model to create and update reports, and allow business users to decide how to deploy data, whether in BI software interfaces, dashboards, Excel, SharePoint or other collaboration tools.
Posted in Big Data | Tagged: Datameer, Hadoop, IBM, Microsoft, PowerPivot | 4 Comments »
–Next LAMP Stack
Posted by Brett Sheppard on July 27, 2010
The Next LAMP Stack: Hadoop Platform for Big Data Analytics
Editor's note: a shorter version of this article appeared on GigaOM.
Many Fortune 500 and mid-size enterprises are intrigued by Hadoop for Big Data analytics and are funding Hadoop test/dev projects, but would like to see Hadoop evolve into a more fully integrated analytics platform, similar to what the LAMP (Linux, Apache HTTP Server, MySQL and PHP) stack has enabled for web applications. For example, head of technology strategy and innovation at credit card giant Visa, Joe Cunningham, told the audience at last year's Hadoop World that he would like to see Visa's use of Hadoop evolve from an alpha/beta environment into mainstream use for transaction analysis, but has concerns about integration and operations management.
Posted in Big Data, Hadoop | Tagged: Cloudera, Datameer, Facebook, Hadoop, Karmasphere | 10 Comments »


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Subscribe To Antonio Banderas Joins Martin Sheen In Chilean Miner Drama The 33 Updates
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The 33, the upcoming film about the Chilean mining accident that left 33 men trapped underground for 69 days, has promised to assemble an ensemble cast, and thus far it has done a pretty solid job doing so. Martin Sheen and Rodrigo Santoro have all been announced as being part of the new movie, and today Variety has learned that yet another star has been added to the project's ranks.
Antonio Banderas, who will soon be seen in Pedro Almodóvar's comedy I'm So Excited, has landed a part in The 33 playing Mario Sepulveda, one of the trapped miners who earned the nickname "Super Mario." According to the trade, the film will be based on the true events, which occurred in 2010, and tell the story of both the miners stuck a half mile beneath the Earth and "the international effort to rescue them." Mikko Alanne and Jose Rivera penned the screenplay for the movie, which will be directed by Girl in Progress' Patricia Riggen. International sales are currently being handles at the Cannes Film Festival and plans are to start production this fall in Chile.
Banderas seems to be strangely drawn to the number 33, as he is also currently set to star as Pablo Picasso in the drama 33 Days, but that's not all he has on his upcoming slate. In February it was announced that he would be returning to the director's chair to make Akil, starring his wife Melanie Griffith, and later this year we will see him in Robert Rodriguez's Machete Kills, and (possibly) Terrence Malick's Knight of Cups.


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Clutter accumulates so quietly, so insidiously, we may not even notice until it's gotten out of control. Suddenly, we're surrounded by so much debris from our past -- from dried-up tubes of Krazy Glue to old grudges -- that it's a wonder we can even get out of bed in the morning.
As a life coach, Gail Blanke helps people figure out not only what they want most, but what they need to let go of to discover who they really are -- the "stuff" in closets, drawers, attics, and so on. This is her room-by-room guide to figuring out what you really need and what you don't.
Before you begin, gather the following materials:
(This plan is adapted from the book "Throw Out Fifty Things: Clear Your Clutter, Find Your Life." Copyright 2009 by Gail Blanke. Reprinted by permission of Springboard Press, New York, NY. All rights reserved.)
Since who you are begins with how you see yourself, the place to start spring-cleaning is your bedroom. After all, that's where you keep the clothes, jewelry, and accessories that collectively represent your identity to the world.
How would you describe your style? What would you like to change or update? Finding (or in some cases, reinventing) your best self begins with identifying the "you" that you want to present to the world -- and that involves clearing out the clutter. You can always revisit some old looks later if the spirit moves you. But right now, we're moving forward.
Let go of feelings of inadequacy. Let go of the tendency to compare yourself with others. Forget the phrase "as good as" altogether. Decide to appreciate who you are and what you contribute to the people and the world around you.
We all have things we don't want anymore but simply haven't taken the time to purge. What obvious clothing items, handbags, or dated cosmetics have to go? Start with unused or broken costume jewelry (do you really think you'll find that other earring?), matchless socks and gloves, company shirts and hats from your last job, and shoes that haven't seen the light of day in a year. Gather up these things and put them in a pile.
Look at what you've purged and decide where it all will go. Mark boxes destined for Goodwill, reusing (old socks make great dusters), passing along (your friend Susie might like that old bracelet), or the trash, and sort the piles accordingly. Put shoes, old jewelry, and small accessories into boxes or resealable plastic bags, and label everything with your sticky notes and waterproof pen. To avoid having the boxes sit around (more clutter!), go, right now, and deliver them to their respective destinations.
Storage spaces are bittersweet places. That's why we spend years talking about how we have to go up (or down) there and throw stuff out, but somehow never get around to it. These rooms house things we don't know what to do with, such as old mattresses and box springs, fading photographs, and mementos.
But it's not just simple clutter; it's also chock-full of memories, items that call up good times and bad, all of which elicit emotions. Clearing out the clutter comes down to deciding why you're keeping what's there.
We've all had those middle-of-the-night moments when we castigate ourselves for not knowing better, not trying harder, not being perfect. But if you spend all your energy reliving things that didn't work, and you'll have no energy for finding new ways to be fulfilled.
House only the positive memories. Anything that reminds you of a difficult or negative experience or a time when you felt bad has to go. No matter how valuable it is, what we surround ourselves with -- even if it's stashed way up in the attic -- influences our thinking.
Desk clutter can prove physically and mentally overwhelming. Sure, you need a place to put bills, but your desk is also mission control for your life and your career. How much of this stuff has anything to do with who you are now and who you're becoming?
This is where your "brand" comes in. When you know who you are at your core and what distinguishes you, you can more easily let go of the stuff that no longer "fits." What's your brand's promise? What do you love doing, and what are you committed to delivering every time? Maybe it's your ability to come up with fresh ideas, to connect with people, or to solve the unsolvable. Anything and everything that doesn't fit with that description is ripe for the decluttering bins -- both mental and physical.
Let go, for a moment, of the need to feel secure:You can't grow if you stay in your comfort zone. Step into the unknown. Release your need for guarantees. Your life will evolve into something better than you can imagine, if you give it half a chance.
Start with the surfaces. What's taking up precious real estate that you don't need or even use regularly? Remove everything and put back only the must-haves: pens, paper, a datebook, checkbook, calculator, and so on. Take a fresh look at the tchotchkes and photographs -- even the container you keep your pens in. If you no longer like them, share them with people who could use them, or post them on craigslist.org or freecycle.com to find others who want them.
Of course, some paperwork needs to stay: bank statements (only what you need for tax purposes); bills (one year); credit-card records (seven years); pay stubs (one year, then shred once you've received your W-2 form); tax returns and records (seven years). But feel okay with shredding the rest.
We are what we surround ourselves with. And that goes for our bathrooms, which are jammed with things that may influence us in less-than-healthy ways. Take a look inside your medicine cabinet. Chances are you'll find some dried-out tubes of personal-care products and bottles of over-the-counter drugs whose expiration dates have long since passed.
It doesn't seem healthful -- physically or mentally -- to keep this stuff around. Who wants to be reminded of old ailments? So you have to decide whether you need to keep these things "just in case," or if you intend to be well and not need them again. If you actually intend to be well, then decide, right here, right now, how you're going to create that reality.
Let go of unhealthy assumptions: If we intend to be well, then we have to create that reality. What notions do you have about your health? Do you assume you'll never lose those last 10 pounds? That you'll throw your back out again? Write down all the things that stand in the way of your well-being, and let them go.
After their expiration dates have passed, certain medications (both prescription and over-the-counter) may lose their potency and no longer work. Anything that's quite visibly old (crusty, sticky, oozing) should go. Don't flush pills down the toilet, as this could contaminate the water supply; ask your pharmacist about how to dispose of them properly.
How do you decide what to throw out? Keep these three key guidelines in mind:
1. If it (the pair of shoes, the hat, the picture, the memory) weighs you down, clogs you up, or just plain makes you feel bad about yourself, throw it out, give it away, sell it, let it go, and move on.
2. If it just sits there, taking up room and contributing nothing positive to your life, let it go. If you're not moving forward, you're moving backward.
3. If you agonize over it for too long, throw it out. Don't make the decision -- whether to toss it or keep it -- a hard one.


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Kalyn's Kitchen Picks: Bob's Red Mill Almond Meal
I've seen instructions for using the steel blade in the food processor and making your own almond meal, although I've had trouble getting the almonds as evenly ground as they are in the pre-ground almond meal. But whether you make your own or grind the almonds in the food processor, this is a wonderfully versatile ingredient. Here are some of the dishes where I've used almond meal:
Cookies with Almond Meal:
Sugar-Free and Gluten-Free Cookies with Almonds and Flaxseed Meal
Sugar-Free and Gluten-Free Triple Almond Cookies
Flourless, Sugar-Free Pistachio Cookies
Desserts with Almond Meal:
Low-Sugar and Flourless Apple Cranberry Crumble
Low-Sugar Pumpkin and Apple Crumble
Almond Meal Used to Replace Breadcrumbs or Flour:
Baked Chicken Strips with Mustard, Almond, and Parmesan
"Breaded" Pork Chops with Mustard Sauce
Almond and Parmesan Baked Tilapia
Baked Chicken Breasts Stuffed with Sage-Pecan Pesto and Feta
Almond Meal in Savory Baking to Reduce or Eliminate Flour:
Cottage Cheese and Egg Breakfast Muffins with Bacon and Green Onions
Cottage Cheese and Egg Breakfast Muffins with Ham and Cheddar
Cottage Cheese and Egg Breakfast Muffins with Mushrooms and Feta
Gluten-Free Breakfast Muffins with Zucchini, Feta, and Quinoa (all phases)
Click Here to see other products I've featured for Kalyn's Kitchen Picks.


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|Thundercloud Unit
|Thundercloud Unit (雷雲隊, Raiuntai)
|Naruto Shippūden Episode #320
|Appears in
|Team Info
The Thundercloud Unit is a special backup unit, belonging to the Supply Unit of the Allied Shinobi Forces from Kumogakure. It is composed of seven members who are well versed in several areas of bukijutsu, especially kenjutsu, formed by twelve to thirteen years old kids. Despite their young age, they were considered prodigies in their village which earned them a place in the war.
During the Fourth Shinobi World War, the Thundercloud Unit was sent to the Seventh Front in order to back up the Amphibious Search and Destroy Unit, who had been overrun by two thousand White Zetsu clones. Sometime during this, they became trapped within a large statue on the battlefield after the White Zetsu used the surrounding, poisonous red soil to create a vast smokescreen of poisonous gas. After speaking with his teammates within the statue, Yukai, the leader of the group, and the others emerge to fight the Zetsu and face their fate. In the ensuing fight, Yukai is injured, however, Omoi, who had come to rescue them, appears and fights alongside them. At this point, using the Lightning Release Co-Operation: Thunder Bomb technique, the group is able to neutralise and finish off the remaining White Zetsu.


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PHILADELPHIA (AP) Demetrius Conger had 21 points and seven rebounds, and St. Bonaventure opened a 20-point lead at halftime and held off hard-charging St. Joseph's 73-64 on Wednesday in Atlantic 10 action.
Matthew Wright scored 18 points and Chris Johnson had 15 for the Bonnies (9-9, 2-3), who led 36-17 at halftime.
Halil Kanacevid had 16 points and six rebounds for St. Joseph's (10-7, 1-3), Ronald Roberts had 14 points and eight rebounds, C.J. Aikens had 13 points and Chris Wilson 12.
St. Bonaventure's Johnson made a 3-pointer for a 56-36 lead with 11:58 to go, but Wilson's trey capped a 16-2 run for St. Joseph's to close to 58-52 at 5:32, but six points was as close at the Hawks got the rest of the way.
St. Bonaventure scored the first 12 points and pushed the lead to 35-10 on Demetrius Conger's three-point play at the 4:32 mark.


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In the spirit of end-of-the-year reviews, I've hopped on the bandwagon and created my own. This past year, travel and moving sucked up most of my expenses, so dining out took a backseat compared with previous years. However, I've had many wonderful meals at home and at the houses of friends and relatives. I've become well acquainted with grocery stores in Beijing, Hong Kong, Macau, Stockholm, Copenhagen, Denver, LA, and San Francisco, where the simplest provisions can make hearty and delicious picnic fare. And nothing cheers up the appetite and the wallet simultaneously better than street food, of which I had plenty this year.
So below is my little year-end ode to joyous eating. Happy New Year!
Best Meal in China
Din Tai Fung, Beijing: The chefs here have certainly mastered xiaolongbao's soup-to-filling ratio. We had basket upon basket of steaming hot pork xiaolongbao, crab and pork xiaolongbao, mini pork xiaolongbao, veggie dumplings, and sides like their signature chicken soup. A must-visit if you're ever in Beijing, Shanghai, Taiwan, or any other city where there's a location. (See Food Resolutions for 2008 below)
Best Meal, Outside China
(Tie) A, New York, NY: Jacob and I went to this tiny BYOB French-Caribbean restaurant on the Upper West Side the week before we left New York. We had sumptuous spicy prawns, meltingly delicious duck confit, and a very memorable chocolate crème brulée, in the very type of low-key neighborhood restaurant that embodes the spirit of New York.
"Cowboy supper", King City, California: Ever since I had known Jacob he has longingly reminisced about the barbecued tri tips in the Salinas Valley, where he grew up. All over the Valley, public parks have huge 6- to 10- foot long pits over which locals (mostly ranchers and Mexicans) grill beef and chicken. I finally got a chance to taste these tri-tips on a visit to King City this summer. The meat was all fresh from nearby ranches, and the slow cooking process rendered the juiciest, most buttery steak I had ever tasted. Along with crisp and fragrant garlic bread, salad from nearby farms, and a bunch of local wines, I would take another "cowboy supper" over a fancy steakhouse dinner any day.
Best Street Food Discovery in China:
Roujiamo, Beijing: After I had my first, I wrote a post in which I raved on and on about these delicious pork pockets available all around Beijing, Shanghai, and other northernish Chinese cities. Even in the dead of Beijing's winter, when eating street food means standing outside in subzero temps and braving the Mongolian winds, I still chow down on roujiamo at least once or twice a week.
Best Street Food Discoveries, Outside China
Reindeer Kebabs, Stockholm, Sweden: A delicious mound of reindeer meat (texture and taste of lamb) inside a warm pita, topped with yogurt and lingonberry sauce. (Before you chuckle, remember that venison is also deer, without the Rudolph connotation.)
California taco truck tacos, Los Angeles, CA: I know, it's a shame that I hadn't had a taco truck taco from California until this year. The seasoning and juiciness of the beef and carnitas tacos I had made me never want to eat a taco anywhere else, including restaurants and Jackson Heights taco trucks.
Food Resolutions for 2008:
1. Eat my heart out in the Sichuan capital of Chengdu
2. Try the Taiwan or Shanghai branches of Din Tai Fung. Bonus points for going to Shanghai during hairy crab season
3. Have soup dumplings at Shanghai's JiaJia Tangbao, purportedly almost as good as Din Tai Fung, at 1/8th the price
4. Visit Longjing tea fields near Hangzhou


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Brett Dennen on the Healing Power of Music
Though he's climbed to the top ten of the indie music charts and won accolades from Rolling Stone, 30-year-old musician Brett Dennen says his most important work to date has been with children at The Mosaic Project, a small outdoor school in the Napa Hills of California.
Backstage at Bumbershoot, Seattle's premier music and arts festival, I asked him why.
It's clearly not a publicity stunt—The Mosaic Project, which teaches kids how to confront prejudice and stereotyping—is where Dennen started his career. He produced his first album for Mosaic, Children's Songs for Peace and a Better World, and until 2006, he attended every weeklong session of the outdoor school.
Mosaic's director, Lara Mendel, says Dennen is "the soul of Mosaic." He has a special talent for working with kids who are struggling, unhappy, or unruly, and at Mosaic, he earned the titles, "Chill-Out Dude" and "Magic Man."
Dennen sat across from me on a folding chair moments before his performance, and we talked about peace—a concept he doesn't just sing about. Dennen has taught teamwork and acceptance to children and integrates those values into his performance style. He continues to use his concerts as platforms for encouraging community engagement. Through his Love Speaks program, he often invites community groups (including YES! Magazine) onstage to talk to audiences.
Madeline Ostrander: You say The Mosaic Project is the most important project you've ever done.
Brett Dennen: It's easily the most important thing I've ever done, and let me tell you why. Music can have a really big impact on people. There are a lot of people out there who have told me that my songs have had an impact on them. But the work I've done at Mosaic—bringing children together, giving them a positive experience, giving them hope to be leaders in their community, teaching them to build community across differences and break down stereotyping, discrimination, and prejudice—has a direct effect on those kids. That impact will live on a lot longer than my songs are going to be remembered.
I think nothing lasts forever. I even have the words "Nothing Lasts Forever" tattooed on my arm. But I don't completely believe that, because I believe love lasts forever. And that's how I feel about The Mosaic Project. We're creating a world where everyone can be accepted, and we can build a positive community that grows throughout the world and throughout time. That's why I feel it's so important.
Madeline: How do you think music creates a space for people to open up in a way that conversation doesn't?
Brett: First and foremost, music is melody and rhythm. There is some magical component that just allows people to feel. It moves people. It's vibration—certain notes just resonate with the body, the heart, and the mind. Music has the ability to take people out of their present situation a little bit, open up, and feel. Then if you can combine that with a sense of togetherness, everybody in the crowd shares a moment. If you can combine that with positive lyrics, it can be a really overwhelming and powerful experience and a way to spread a message.
Madeline: Can you give me an example of when you've seen music allow people to share their emotions?
Brett: Yeah, I'll give you a pretty serious example. Two nights ago I played a show outside of Detroit. And one of the guys in my band told me there were some ladies outside of the bus who wanted to talk to me. I found myself speaking to three women. One of them was wearing dark sunglasses, and I thought it was kind of weird because it was at night. And she took off her sunglasses and showed me that she had tears in her eyes. And she told me that three months ago her son had died in a car accident and just recently she heard one of my songs.
The song is called "When I Go" and it's about—if I were to die, if I could say one last thing to the people I love, what would it be? She thought I was saying exactly the same words that her son would have said to her. She was crying, and we were all hugging. And I witnessed her having a really intense emotional moment, listening, opening up, and experiencing that song.
Madeline: The director at The Mosaic Project, Lara Mendel, said that she had never seen anyone who was so talented at working with kids.
Brett: I think maybe she said that because I could always take a kid who was having extreme difficulty and get them to come back and want to participate. If a kid needed extra attention—they were having trouble focusing, they were acting out—my job would be to take that kid on a walk, go draw with that kid, climb a tree, or have a talk. It seemed like magic but it was really just—you tell that kid in some way or another they are loved.
Madeline: How has your work at Mosaic influenced your music and performance?
Brett: The Mosaic Project was one of my first audiences, playing for the kids. It's not hard to be a rock star in front of kids, because I was such a role model to them.
My first experience recording was making the Mosaic record, which we used as a fundraising and educational tool. That taught me how to write songs. It taught me how to be a recording artist and a performer. And now very much when I perform, I try to create an atmosphere or a vibe of what I felt at Mosaic. I try to be a fool on stage. I'm barefoot. I dance around all crazy. I try to make people realize I don't take myself too seriously and that I'm really comfortable. I think if I do that, then the audience will feel more comfortable and can come along for the ride. And the lyrics, the things I sing about, are positive. It's all about positive change, which is what Mosaic is about. So I think very much in my performance and in my songwriting I embody the values of The Mosaic Project.
- : A little-known album by pop star Brett Dennen is still changing lives at The Mosaic Project, teaching kids to stand up to intolerance.
- : Music can tell truths that otherwise go unheard, inspiring action, and sustaining resistance.


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Lest my friends believe I have fallen on my head one too many times, let me begin by making this point as sharply as I can: Bill C-38 is an utter and absolute abomination. It is a perversion of democracy and a brutal abuse of power. It is a total betrayal of Conservative Party members and those that first voted for his promise of an "open, transparent and accountable" government. It is Mr. Harper's way to once again give Canadians the Bronx Salute.
Many Conservatives agree. In a small public gathering in his riding, David Wilks, MP for the British Columbia constituency of Kootenay, expressed very serious reservations about the omnibus Bill C-38. He stressed that he has no choice but to vote with the government, saying that's "how Ottawa works." Wilks was voicing an entirely sensible perspective that a great many Conservatives and others inside and outside of Ottawa share.
When Wilks' statement made the national news a few days later, he was forced to express his undying support for C-38. That little bit of necessary groveling and eating of humble pie must have been embarrassing to Mr. Wilks. Obviously, he was told to put that genie back in the bottle, and like the good foot soldier he is, saluted and did just that.
In recent days, columnists and political opponents of the Conservatives have been merciless in their attacks on Wilks. I hate to burst the bubble of those in a wild, sanctimonious, and absolutely nauseating rage at David Wilks' "humiliating capitulation" to the caucus and party line. But Wilks is right; that is indeed the way Ottawa works. Those that have been telling you that it isn't, and that somehow Wilks is a spineless wonder, are either hypocrites or have extremely short memories.
Without party and caucus discipline on the legislative program, the House of Commons wouldn't get anything done. Any Conservative that has been close to Stephen Harper in opposition or during his six years in power will tell you that his political hero is not Sir John A. MacDonald, John Diefenbaker or Brian Mulroney. It is Jean Chretien. Harper admired Chretien's political judgment, skills and instincts, and streak of ruthlessness. He had a grudging respect for how Chretien centralized control in his office, controlled his cabinet and managed his caucus with an iron fist.
For Chretien, caucus discipline was incredibly important if he was to implement the very tough and politically contentious measures required during the 1990s to get Canada's fiscal house back in shape. Within caucus, there was far from wide consensus on these difficult actions, but discipline in implementation and communication was central. Without it, caucus would have fractured, the government could not have executed on the massive overhaul of the federal fiscal framework, and Canada would have been much worse off.
Chretien, like his predecessors, rewarded loyalty to the leader and the party handsomely through patronage and other perks. Managerial and communications discipline was enforced very strongly by the PMO under the very able guidance of the late Jean Pelletier. Where did Chretien first witness the political benefits of rigorous management control of the levers of government and caucus? From his mentor, of course -- Pierre Elliot Trudeau.
So, let us not kid ourselves: Stephen Harper has only improved, refined -- and has taken much too far -- the model first introduced by the Liberal Party of Canada and its leaders. Canadians should also be under no illusions that the NDP would be any different; Just look at how they are turning themselves into born-again centrists at the sheer whiff of power under their new leader, Thomas Mulcair.
The Wilks situation has been nothing more than an opening for partisans to criticize Harper -- this time at the expense of a decent man and, by all accounts, a good and hard working MP who doesn't deserve the scorn and ridicule that has been heaped upon him.
If the people who are piling on Wilks were truly honest with themselves -- instead of rabid with sightless bias and blarney -- they would recall that all parties have had many thoughtful MPs shunned, isolated, ridiculed and ignored because they dared speak their minds.
What we should ask ourselves is what reforms -- real reforms -- do we need to make the role of the MP relevant again? How do we restore confidence in the institution of parliament? The organized anarchy of MP's undermining the agenda of their own government and party is not the answer. That would do more harm than good.
The answer, I think, resides in providing MPs with the power, financial resources and procedural changes to fulfill their responsibilities as the ultimate guardians of the public purse. Doing that may not result in members of caucus "going rogue," but it will force prime ministers and ministers to listen to MPs and to work much harder to accommodate the legitimate interests and concerns of their constituents.
A strengthened House of Commons and properly resourced and staffed committee system may not sound terribly glamorous. But it will give our MPs some real influence over the shaping of legislation and force governments to compromise with all MPs, including, and especially, government backbenchers like Mr. Wilks. And another critical consequence of such reforms: quality people are more likely to run for office because their role would be an impactful and meaningful one.
After all, that is the way our parliamentary democracy is supposed to work. The way it is now undermines everything we have fought for and built so tirelessly in the past 142 years. All parties are at fault and none have a monopoly on virtue. But they sure can resolve to repair the cumulative damage that's been done to our parliament in the past 40 years.


text: This is a French term referring to the legal order of the European Union. It is the cumulative body of European Union legislation consisting of primary (treaties and protocols) and secondary legislation (regulations, directives and decisions) and the case law of the European Court of Justice. The acquis therefore comprises the objectives of the European Union, its policies and the rules governing these policies. The acquis is fundamental and dynamic, constantly developing as the European Union evolves. All member states are bound to comply with the acquis communautaire because EU law has primacy over national law. Candidate countries have to accept the acquis and integrate it into their own legal system before they can join the European Union.


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We love digital - Call
03332 207 677 and say hello - Mon - Fri, 9am - 5pm
Call 03332 207 677
We love digital - Call
03332 207 677 and say hello - Mon - Fri, 9am - 5pm
Call 03332 207 677
Why you shouldn't buy links on EBay, or more appropriately why you shouldn't buy links at all. This is a subject that constantly blights the world of SEO; buying links to benefit rankings goes against the codes of practice at Google and all other search engines, but yet it is still as prevalent as ever.
The fact that people still do it, and in such high numbers, opens the gates to people who think of the most advantageous link schemes in an attempt to make a bit of money. In this article I have included some existing schemes (including one on EBay, a particular favourite) and some others you might encounter on your journeys.
If you know of any others of course, make sure you let us know in the comments below. From the sublime to the ridiculous, there are so many out there that most people in SEO will bump into them at some time or another.
The Types of Link Building Schemes on EBay
EBay, the platform where anyone can list anything – well, mostly anything -is a favourite for various Link Building schemes and here are some favourites.
10 Million Link Submissions (Only £12.00)
You read it right, 10,000,000 link submissions, for a small cost of £12. A bargain you might initially think; however this is probably a bad idea.In fact, it is probably an absolutely awful idea.
Although this service will not result in 10 million indexed links, with many unfollowed and non permanent, think of how a search engine may view it if you suddenly received up to 10,000,000 links in a short period of time. Even the most popular site on the web would struggle to get this many naturally; for instance, Amazon.com only has 470,000 in total. The search engines are likely to just ignore all of these links or dish out some sort of penalty for the unnatural link profile.
Buy 10 Million Link Submissions Here……Actually don't
Pyramid Backlink Services (£171.51 – Must be good)
A few listings sell link pyramid schemes, these services aim to build a certain number of links to your website, and then build links to those sites in an attempt to funnel link juice back through to your site. These are typically called link farms, built for the sole purpose of channelling link juice to a few websites. Now I am not saying these do not work, but any attempt to manipulate the search engines in this manner should be avoided. Google are constantly improving their search algorithm which makes it harder for a scheme like this to go unnoticed, so it's better to avoid the risk – particularly as its being advertised so blatantly.
150 Search Engine Submissions (£24.99)
Could you name 150 search engines? Even if you could, there's no way it would be worth adding a website to all 150. Plus if your website can be easily crawled just submitting to Bing and Google is a good enough start for any site. Some sellers even provide bundles of 150 submissions so you can then resell them on, so watch out for people who have bought this service and are selling it.
50 PageRank 6 Backlinks (Only £22.05)
Many offer a certain number of backlinks from high PageRank websites. These can vary in number of links and cost, but essentially all offer the same service. Although we generally try and source links from good quality sites and PageRank can help assess the quality of the website in questions, there are many other factors that you should take into account prior to receiving the link. These include site quality, subject, relevance, number of links on page, likely position of your link and more. Most of these link schemes cannot guarantee meeting any of these factors; you may end up with a Page Rank 4 Backlink, however this is not likely to be worth the effort – especially if it's coming from a spammy, irrelevant source.
All the Page Rank you can get here
1000 Facebook Likes (Just £11.99)
Bulk buying Facebook likes has got to be one of the most ridiculous schemes ever made. The whole point of getting people to Like your content is so it can appear on their walls and make their friends aware of the content. So bulk buying Likes doesn't actually achieve anything as it only appears to the fake friends on the fake accounts. Plus from a Facebook point of view it's unlikely the Likes will be regarded as having any authority.
And More:
That's one way to advertise links
Guranteed Page 1 listings, never a good thing
Wow Harvard are stooping to new lows to get links (Not really them)
35,000 visitors for $0.99. Shame they won't buy anything
This link wheel service is called "link chaos". Accurate
An actual robot that leaves blog comments!
And the best one of all:
Lolcats not included
Why are These Links Bad?
The title here should read 'Why are most of these links bad'. If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is. If promised thousands of links for a relatively small amount of money or offered a certain number of high Page Rank backlinks, they are likely to not help your site at all. On the other hand, if you are essentially hiring someone to build good quality and relevant links for you own site, then this can prove highly beneficial – as long as it is done correctly.
We would always suggest building links internally and over time gradually increasing the number of good quality back links from different sources. Any massive increase in links in a short period of time is likely to look suspect from any search engine's point of view.
Have been watching these link deals on Ebay for years.
Most are more harmful than good. Today the automated response to buying links by one seller was:
Dear wordpressamerica,
Thank you for writing. Google caused may restructures of PR at that time while Yahoo and others did not. We can only promise what we advertised. Kindly advise asap, as our Office is closed after 5pm ET and weekends for fastest service or refund.
Regards, – seller (Name hidden to protect privacy)
Fighting to get some site owner out of the mud from the link scams. It's seems like mission impossible. "disavow links" tool is your friend.
My concern would be that these services could be used to sabotage a competitors keyword rankings. It seems like it would be pretty easy to pay for 50 million spam links to someone else's site in the hopes that they would be de-indexed or at least have their good links diluted.
Unlike 08 numbers, 03 numbers cost the same to call as geographic landline numbers (starting 01 and 02), even from a mobile phone. They are also normally included in your inclusive call minutes. Please note we may record some calls.


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New Amsterdam Establishes New Partnership with Indianapolis Symphony
New Amsterdam--a non-profit artist-services organization and record label dedicated to supporting the public's engagement with new music by composers and performers whose work grows from the fertile ground between genres--is honored to announce it has teamed up with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra in a unique residency that will focus on the artistic exploration into many forms of music in a symphonic format. Over the next two years, the ISO will periodically showcase the sophisticated, adventurous sound of highly trained composers and instrumentalists of the New Amsterdam community. In addition, New Amsterdam will work with the Orchestra in developing educational activities and community outreach programs that will bring the open-minded ethos of New Am into direct engagement with the needs of the greater ISO community.
Led by co-directors William Brittelle, Judd Greenstein, and Sarah Kirkland Snider, New Am has been christened one of the most influential voices in new music by The New York Times, New York Magazine and more, leading Time Out New York to proclaim, "few organizations have done more to shape 21st century music in New York City than New Amsterdam."
"New Amsterdam has been working to create a presenting model that embodies the singular spirit of our community as well as inspires artists' engagement with the public in new and exciting ways across the country," said Judd Greenstein, co-founder and co-director of New Amsterdam. "Just like New Am, the ISO is renowned for supporting classically trained performers and composers with solid conservatory training but who think, operate and perform without musical boundaries. We are thrilled to help the ISO continue to bring these artists to its audiences."
The residency is artistically unveiled in the ISO's Lilly Classical Series concerts on Feb. 1 and 2, when the ISO presents Brooklyn-based New Am co-director and composer William Brittelle's Dunes, a world premiere work which the composer wrote after a trek to Death Valley last year. To help visualize his inspiration, Brittelle invited videographer Stephen S. Taylor (the video mastermind behind Missy Mazzoli's Song from the Uproar) on his trek to interview the composer and document the creation and inspiration of the piece.


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We specialize in all aspects of marketing platforms to developers. From the earliest phases of developer platform design,
evangelism, and adoption acceleration, all the way through ongoing community support, we provide the expertise necessary
to effectively bring a development platform to market.
For more information, please review our brochure.
02.10.12 - Microsoft taps SharpLogic to develop the Facebook C# SDK for Windows Phone.
09.30.11 - The winners of the FinalBot Hold 'Em Summer 2011 Contest announced.
09.06.11 - FinalBot launches new Dark Chess competition.
06.01.11 - SharpLogic launches FinalBot, a community for competitive software developers.
05.23.11 - Microsoft launches new SpeakFlow for the next version of Visual Studio.
11.17.10 - The Code Project selects SharpLogic's Boost Virtual Events for delivering its monthly Virtual Tech Summits.
SharpLogic Product Sites:


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Wusthof Trident Gourmet 4-pc. Steak Knife Set is rated out of 5 by 2.
Rated 5 out of 5 by JetCat from Best Knives Ever! After suffering thru many years of my old serrated knives that were unacceptable to begin with, decided to finally treat the family to the Wusthof gourmet knives. Wow! what a pleasure to actually be able to cut easily thru our steaks - literally just like butter. Nice feel and love the surgical steel quality blade. Terrific!
Date published: 2014-02-14
Rated 5 out of 5 by Junaida from Excellent steak knives! So glad I got this - looks good and cuts well. Couldn't be happier!
Date published: 2014-01-28
Product:54747-Wusthof Trident Gourmet 4-pc. Steak Knife Set


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We are convinced that Viking M will become your new favourite lift. After 25 years of market-leading product development, we know how to design the optimal mobile lift.
Viking M has fantastic features and is ideal for most common lifting situations. This easy-to-manoeuvre lift enables access also to bathrooms where space is very limited. Furthermore, it is made of aluminium to weigh as little as possible – in spite of weighing just 35 kg (77 lbs), Viking M can lift up to 205 kg (450 lbs).
Together with Liko functional slings and accessories, Viking M is a perfect all-round lift for those with high demands and wide-ranging needs.
Equipped with arm rests, Viking M is an invaluable aid for gait training and rehabilitation.
Like many of our products, Viking M is made of aluminium – a light, strong and environmentally-friendly material.
Viking M is equipped with a wireless hand control which allows the caregiver to stay close to the patient during the entire lift – without any cables getting in the way. Two lifting speeds provide optimum precision in all lifting.
The environmentally-friendly NiMH battery is light and has built-in discharge protection. The current charge status can always be checked, even if the battery is not connected to the lift.
Among other things, Liko Diagnostic System™ can tell how often the lift is used, the medium load it has lifted, and if and how often it has been overloaded. The control box also indicates when it is time for service.
Please contact your representative for access to service manuals, inspection protocols, etc.
From the very beginning consideration for those for whom we develop our products has been our most important guiding-star. Our concept reflects our vision in our daily activity - always to improve life quality for patients and caregivers globally.
helps you find the right sling
Hill-Rom Pty Ltd• Unit 79, 79-99 St.Hilliers Road, Auburn, NSW 2144 • Postal Address: P O Box 481, Auburn, NSW 1835Free phone: 1800 445 576 • Fax: 02 9562 0983E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com © 2018 Liko R&D AB ALL RIGHTS RESERVED


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Michal Karcz
Antartic EchoesAbout this photograph
« Picture inspired by Vangelis?s music. Taken at the Tatra Mountains Range, Poland.Cold, severe, empty landscape. This is what I really like. A lone figure adds a special mood to the whole composition, matching exactly the music, bringing the first vision to my head. We see unpleasant no man?s land, covered by snow but he?s still going farther. Why? The wanderer is a question. A black mark on the white emptiness. Maybe a question mark. Manipulation with light and colours to give a colder effect. The figure on the picture is me. » MKRead more Read less
The photographs are carefully packaged in order to ensure their optimal protection during transport.
Michal Karcz was born in 1977 in Warsaw, Poland. In 1997, he graduated from the High School of Art in Warsaw and then from Advertising School. It was at this time that his interest for photography grew. He therefore studied all the techniques : traditional, darkroom, negative developing, analogue printing… Most of his work is an imaginary journey to places which don't exist, places which figure in his dreams, his desires and his imagination, worlds which he wants to explore but which are far away from here.Many artists inspire him through music and literature which are for him, the two most accurate means of expression for what he creates. He currently works successfully as a freelance photographer and graphic designer in his own studio.« Since the world exists I will not stop dreaming in my pictures. Never close your eyes on beauty. » MKwww.michalkarcz.com


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Faith and Race Podcast
15 Favorites
Ferguson, MO
The Faith and Race Podcast is designed to help churches of all colors host constructive dialogue about faith, race, and the Church. Every episode has a specific focus so as to intentionally think about the intersection of history, institutions, scripture, prayer, race, and justice. The audio recordings will help bring the diverse insights and experiences of interviewees into churches, homes, and hearts across Missouri and beyond. For the first season, all of the interviewees are African-American Methodists from Missouri, each with a powerful story to tell. In addition to the podcast, a small group curriculum is also available to help guide groups to discuss the issues raised in each episode and what these issues might look like in their church or community.


text: Add to Pack Add This Page Add Details for All Products Shown Our products perform. Whether you're looking for a custom heat transfer solution (our specialty) or a more standard product, you'll find what you need right here. That's because we offer the broadest range of heat transfer products available. And if you don't find the solution you're looking for, let's talk so our team of experts can create it. Contact API Heat Transfer General Inquiries +1.877.API.HEAT (+1.877.274.4328) Narrow your results: Solution Engine cooling Thermal systems Fluid power Process heating and cooling Power generation Clear Industry Compressors Engine cooling Fluid power Food and beverage Beverage Brewing Dairy Edible oils Food ingredients Sugars and starches Industrial markets Air dryers Automotive plants Commercial shipbuilding District heating and cooling HVAC Mobile equipment Agriculture and forestry Construction Material handling Military Mining On-highway Powersports Rail Turf care Oil and gas Exploration and production Power generation Power generators Power plant equipment Process industries Air separation Chemical Metal processing Petrochemical Pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, and cosmetics Refrigeration Surface coating Wastewater treatment Clear Technology Air cooled Plate Pre-engineered Shell and tube Thermal systems Clear Brand Airtech Basco Covrad Schmidt TTP Clear Clear All Filters Product Support Engine Cooling Systems Airtech,CovradBar & Plate Heat Exchangers Airtech,CovradCopper-Brass Radiators CovradAluminum Radiators Airtech,CovradCharge Air Coolers Airtech,CovradAll-Welded Plate SchmidtCooling Modules Airtech,CovradGland Steam Condensers BascoAir Cooled Oil Coolers Airtech,CovradTurnkey Radiators CovradPower Converter Coolers AirtechType OP BascoRemote Cooling Kits Covrad Contact us to help find what you need


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Chalk Style Paint Slate Gray - 473ml
Chalk Style Paint is a casual chalky interior matte paint in 20 contemporary colours. This new palette complements our lively Milk Paint line with colours inspired by relaxed Scandinavian hues, British tradition and American favourites.
See our YouTube video Comparing Chalk Style Paint to Milk Paint.
Need some Chalk Style Paint inspiration? Visit the General Finishes Design Center or Pinterest Board for furniture paint ideas.
- EXISTING FINISHES: Clean using scotch brite pad and a 50|50 mix of denatured alcohol and water. Buff lightly with a #180 'Super Fine' sanding pad and remove dust with oil free tack cloth.
- RAW WOOD: Sand with the grain using #120 grit followed by 'Super Fine' #180-grit paper or pad. Remove dust with oil free tack cloth.
- Stir well prior to use.
- Apply LIBERALLY with a foam brush, bristle brush, paint pad applicator or foam roller.
- SPRAYING: Can be sprayed through compressed air, HVLP, airless or C.A.S. units. Fluid tip sizes should be as follows: Compressed air - 1.3mm (.050"), HVLP - 1.8mm (.072"), Airless - 0.33mm (.013"). Use medium size air caps. Check with you equipment supplier for proper tip sizes. If thinning is needed, add 5% -10 water.
- Lightly buff between coats with 'Super Fine' #180 sanding pad or 220 grit (or higher) sandpaper. Remove dust with an oil free tack cloth.
- 2-3 coats are recommended.
DRY TIME: 2-4 hours under ideal conditions (21°C, 70% humidity). Cooler temperatures and higher humidity will prolong dry time up to 10 hours.
THINNING: Thin with 5-15% GF Extender or water.
TOPCOATS: For more durability, Chalk Style Paint can be topcoated with water based GF High Performance, GF Flat Out Flat, or Enduro Professional topcoats. Topcoating is highly recommended in high use areas such as table tops and cabinets. It is not required for low use items such as a book shelf. Also use a topcoat if you want a smoother surface because it is a more textural finish than Milk Paint. Because Chalk Style Paint is more porous, the first layer of topcoat will be rougher than it is over Milk Paint. Oil topcoats may be used after a 24 hour dry time, but they will amber over light colours.
CLEANUP: Warm, soapy water.
COVERAGE: 9.8 m2/litre.
STORAGE: Keep from freezing. Avoid storing paint in temperatures above 27°C.
Cleanup of Water Based Products
Application tools and materials containing water-based products can be cleaned with soap and water immediately after use.
Product Spills
Spills may be able to be removed from fabric and carpet if cleaned immediately with soap and water.
Storage of Water-Based Products
Please be mindful of the manner in which water-based products are stored and how long they have been in storage.
Life of Product
Water-based products do not last forever, even when unopened. However, the life of the product may be extended with proper care and storage (see Storage Tips below).
Water-based products can last 3-5 years if the can is unopened, in good condition and stored in correct temperatures.
Product that is 3 years old will not look like product that is 6 months to 1 year old. You will see more stratification or separation as the product ages. Always stir thoroughly before using.
Foul Smell
If your product has a foul smell, it is contaminated and no longer in useable condition.
Clumps & Settling
Gravity can cause some solids to settle on the bottom of the can and slight separation on the top. This is normal. If working with older product stir with a paint mixing attachment on a drill.
If the solids dissolve and clumps smooth out after mixing from the bottom, the product is in good condition for use.
Inability to reincorporate large, chunky lumps after stirring for several minutes is an indication that the product has frozen and can no longer be used.
Storage Tips
Water-based finishes crystalise and form a skin due to evaporation when the air-tight seal on a can is broken at first use. The following best practices will increase the life of your product:
- Pry open sealed lids with a paint can opener by hooking under the lid's rolled edge. The use of a screwdriver can disfigure the rim and lid, impairing a complete seal.
- Keep lid closed while working. Pour what you will use into a bowl, paper cup, or plate, and close can lid as you work.
- Clean the chime of the can thoroughly with a paper towel before closing to create a complete seal. Product falling into the chime can be minimized by using a pouring lid, such as Fitsall. Avoid wiping used brushes on the lid.
- Pound the lid in place using a rubber mallet to avoid distorting the chime or lid. Dents in the lid from direct contact with a hammer can impair a complete seal. Alternatively, place a flat piece of wood over can lid and firmly pound shut.
- Store in moderate temperatures. Avoid temperatures below 10°C or above 26°C. Keep from freezing. Frozen and heat-damaged product cannot be revitalised. Temperature-controlled spaces, such as a basement, are ideal for storage. Do not store product in an attic, garage, in direct sunlight, or next to something warm like a water heater or furnace.
- Store can upside down to create a liquid seal, minimize evaporation and reduce the chance of crystallization. Decant remaining product from the can before stirring.
- Decant leftovers to a smaller container when the finish is almost used up. Alternative storage containers for water-based products are plastic FIFO bottles or glass bottles. Do not fill metal-lidded containers completely to prevent them from rusting.
The following water-based product mixtures can be stored:
- Product thinned with up to 15% General Finishes Extender or General Finishes Accelerator can be stored, with the exception of thinned General Finishes Water Based Wood Stain.
- Mixtures involving colours & sheens within the same product line, such as:
- High Performance Satin + High Performance Gloss
- Snow White Milk Paint + Coastal Blue Milk Paint
- Amber Dye Stain + Merlot Dye Stain
The following product mixtures should NOT be stored:
- Any water based product with thinned tap water; water often contains bacteria that will adversely affect stored paint.
- Topcoat + Stain or Paint
- Milk Paint + Chalk Style Paint
- Water Based Wood Stain + Dye Stain
Furniture Care and Maintenance
Cure First
You have just finished applying a fine furniture finish. Treat gently until the paint or topcoat have fully cured. Allow 21 days for a water-based finish to cure before cleaning.
Regular Cleaning and Maintenance
- Remove dust with a water-dampened cloth. Dust can build up over time and may scratch or dull finishes if not removed regularly.
- Remove fingerprints, cooking fumes and smoking residue with mild soap and water. These contaminants will not harm the finish, but they accumulate on surfaces and dull the original lustre.
- As with all fine furniture finishes, avoid using furniture polish, cleaners or dusting sprays that contain silicone, alcohol, ammonia and anything acidic. Exception: We have successfully cleaned with Clorox wipes.
- Clean up water, alcohol and food spills in a timely manner and use placemats & coasters to protect the finish.
- Future finishes or touch-ups may not adhere properly or perform as desired over a contaminated surface. Some contaminants, such as silicone, seep through finish into the wood and often cannot be removed.
- Avoid excessive exposure to direct sunlight, high temperatures or high humidity. These can damage furniture and finishes.
Technical Data Sheet (TDS)
High Performance Water Based Topcoat - 2019-04
Safety Data Sheet (SDS)
High Performance Water Based Topcoat: Flat - 2018-04 (972 KB)
High Performance Water Based Topcoat: Satin - 2018-04
High Performance Water Based Topcoat: Semi-Gloss - 2018-04
High Performance Water Based Topcoat: Gloss - 2018-04


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More information on the production of Zack Snyder's Batman vs. Superman may be just days away, but a brand new rumor is already looking to set fan discussion ablaze like only word of a Wonder Woman casting could.
To this point all involved with the film have kept their lips sealed at just how far the sequel to Man of Steel would go in laying the groundwork for a Justice League team-up. The latest report claims that not only will Wonder Woman most definitely be appearing in the anticipated sequel, but that Ukrainian-born actress Olga Kurylenko is already screen-testing for the part.
The rumor comes courtesy of SchmoesKnow, so given the website's recent streak of insider leaks, this one is bound to gather serious attention. According to the site, the word comes from a "very reliable source," but it's important to emphasize that even if Kurylenko is being tested by Snyder and executive producer Christopher Nolan, that can simply mean she is being strongly considered.
Kurylenko may be familiar to movie fans due to her appearances in some ill-received films - Max Payne, Hitman and Quantum of Solace among them - but has drawn more positive buzz in recent years thanks to the likes of Joseph Kosinski's Oblivion and Terrence Malick's To The Wonder (in which she played love interest to Ben Affleck).
Of course, whether or not Kurylenko is atop the studio's shortlist, this rumor confirms that Wonder Woman will likely be appearing (in either large or small part) alongside the titular heroes of Batman vs. Superman. To this point WB executives have dodged questions about the Amazonian Princess altogether, beyond simply claiming they hoped to see her on either TV or the big screen soon. Sooner than they may have thought, it seems.
The timing of this report, and Kurylenko's apparent lead in the casting process comes as particularly interesting given that it comes just days after Thor: The Dark World's Jaimie Alexander confirmed she was in talks with Warner Bros. concerning Batman vs. Superman. That admission led many to believe that she was discussing a future role as Wonder Woman, given that she has gone on record about her passion for the character, and is a frontrunner in many lists of actresses capable of pulling off the role (including ours).
If that is the case (as it seems to be), then this rumor can be taken as yet another sign that Warner Bros. is absolutely on the hunt for a Wonder Woman, with both Alexander and Kurylenko being given special attention. Going by previous performances, Alexander would seem to have the edge; then again, Kurylenko has exhibited some serious range over the course of her career. It will be interesting to see how fans react to her name being tossed into the discussion.
However, we've also spoken at length about the many possibilities for other supporting female roles in Batman vs. Superman already - Sasha Bordeaux and Kara Zor-El, for instance. Keeping that in mind, it's still possible that Kurylenko, or Alexander for that matter, are being considered by Warner Bros. for completely different roles. The previous reports of an open casting call for Wonder Woman were eventually dispelled, but Kurylenko is certainly an actress that would be sought after.
We'll keep you updated when and if more news arrives, or even an official confirmation of whether Wonder Woman will be present in Batman vs. Superman at all. For now, what do you think about Kurylenko rising to the top of Snyder's list? Have you seen enough of her work to be intrigued, or are you sticking with your current favorites? Sound off in the comments.
Batman vs. Superman will be in theaters on July 17, 2015.
Follow Andrew on Twitter @andrew_dyce.
Source: SchmoesKnow


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Hi everyone, it's Amanda from Material Girl Quilts and I'm happy to be back on Moda Bake Shop today with a fun and modern baby quilt. This pattern came to mind when a co-worker friend told me that he and his wife were having a baby. They are a fantastic young couple that live in the city and I knew would appreciate a more modern flair to their baby's new quilt. The best thing about this tutorial is that it's simple to piece and uses just 3 charm packs for the top!
3 charm packs (Bella solids in Admiral Blue (9900PP 48), Silver (9900PP 183) and Robin's Egg Blue (9900PP 85)
1 1/2 yard backing (Oink a Doodle Moo chicken wire in Denim)
1/2 yard binding (Bella solid in Admiral Blue – 9900 48)
Divide and match up each charm pack into charm pairs as described below.
21 pairs – Admiral Blue and Silver
21 pairs – Silver and Robin's Egg Blue
21 pairs – Admiral Blue and Robin's Egg Blue
You will have a total of 63 sets of charm pairs (2 charm squares together). With each charm pair, place right sides together and mark a line down the center of the square at the 2 1/2″ mark.
Sew 1/4″ on either side of the marked center line.
I did this all while chain piecing and didn't even snip my threads after the first pass. I just kept them all together and stitched on the opposite side of the marked line.
Once each charm pair has been stitched, cut on your marked line (between the two stitched lines) to separate into two pieced rectangles.
Press each pieced rectangle toward the darkest fabric. Now you will need to trim each pieced rectangle down as shown below to measure 4 1/2″ square.
You should now have a total of 126 – 4 1/2″ pieced squares. Lay them out on point as shown and instructed below with 18 rows of 7 blocks each.
Row 1 – Silver/Admiral Blue pieced squares
Row 2 – Admiral Blue/Robin's Egg Blue pieced squares
Row 3 – Robin's Egg Blue/Silver pieced squares
Repeat this order until you get to row 18.
When sewing the rows together, you will do it on the diagonal as shown below and then attach each row to each other matching seams to ensure your zig-zag is in alignment.
Once the quilt top is pieced together, trim off the edges to create a straight line.
Layer with batting, backing and quilt as desired. You will need five 2 1/2″ x WOF strips for binding.
A perfectly sized 36″ x 48″ quilt for the modern baby in your life.
Amanda Castor
{Material Girl Quilts}


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Happy Summer Everyone!
0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.
Quote from: Hieroglyph on March 19, 2017, 12:03:14 amI have a rainbow trout plush that's about the size of a real troutWhere can I get that
I have a rainbow trout plush that's about the size of a real trout
I learned piano so I could be attractive xP I learned it like 4 years ago though and that was my mindset
I like Five Nights at Freddy's (I even have a Foxy plushie and little FNAF action figures.).
I still sleep with my baby blanket. I don't need it to sleep but I definitely prefer having it, I don't take it out of my house but when I'm at home I usually sleep with it
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i want to use freesco as ethernet router, so i downloaded the 0.38 zip package,
copied the included image to my san and installed some virtual machine in my
virtual center to boot from that image.
in setup mode/detected hardware it shows me 2x ethernet controller amd 79c970 (rev 16). i can do configuration and everything but if i start freesco in normal mode it gives me an error: no network cards found.
now im clueless why it can detect the ethernet controllers in setup mode, but not in normal mode. or is freesco 0.38 not compatible with vmware?