text:
Taking the Plunge
It's a compelling dream to live poolside – especially during the hot, waning days of summer. So let's dive in! Think of the Alhambra in Spain with its
shallow pools and long water courses — though maybe no diving there (photo courtesy Viva-Spain). Here are some examples of more recent houses — if not palaces — with seamless indoor-outdoor poolscapes.
It was natural for the swimming pool to become an emblem of the suburban dream in sunny Southern California, with its culture of experimentation and cinematic glamor, but architects took it a step farther in the 1950s and 1960s, when they incorporated it into the house and treated it as a room in its own right (naturally the air could get a little thick). Los Angeles-based ranch house popularizer Cliff May, for example, made the pool part of the living
room in some houses, like this one in Rolling Hills from 1963. (That planter by the pool was important — you wouldn't want your LazyBoy to roll into the drink during cocktails by the fire.) In a house May designed for Tucson the
pool is shaded by an extended gable made of ocotillo branches and has a stone table/island at the center — it's a marvelous shimmering and shady mirage of a desert isle made real (both photos by Rochelle Kramer, courtesy RanchoStyle).
Los Angeles architect John Lautner turned the pool into abstract architectural sculpture, especially in his great Sheats-Goldstein house on a steep hillside, of 1963, where the pool resembles a solid block of glass inserted flush with the
patio, which is itself an extension of the living room under its concrete roof-riff on the triangle (photo by ARTJOCKS courtesy James Goldstein). This remarkable design is all about contrasting solids and voids, enclosure and exposure, and geometric shape expanding into space toward Downtown LA.
(photo courtesy Arcspace). Originally only a curtain of air separated inside from outside, but this was later replaced with glass. The pool also functions as a sort of aquarium for swimmers because windows look into it from the master suite on the lower level.
Today, architects around the world have put pools everywhere, even on the roof. A recent design by the inventive Singapore firm of Guz Architects keeps the
pool on the ground but lifts the house over it in a acrobatic gesture. The structure floats while the pool supports — a wonderful reversal of roles.
Italian architect Lorenzo Spano, who is part of our Signature Studio, has
developed this idea in his Plan 473-2, shown here, where the bedroom floor
is above the pool. The living-dining-kitchen is at pool level. Part of the hallway
floor is glass, so you can see through to the swimmers below. Perhaps Lorenzo was thinking of the Blue Grotto on Capri! Swimming pools just seem to encourage "freestyle" home design.


text: Find classic everyday essentials through to special occasion apparel in our Boss Kids' edit for boys with the sharp and stylish tailoring you would expect from a trusted and world-renowned fashion house. Boss Kids clothing epitomises everything that is great about its men's collection from premium quality and meticulous attention to detail to its recognisable logo and versatile design. For those looking to take their kids and teens' wardrobes to a whole new level, our edit of children's clothing by Boss won't disappoint. Expect timeless classics, luxury sportswear, jackets, stylish polo shirts, trousers, shorts, must-have accessories and more.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Photo credits for "commentary and editorial picks" section (above):
Kenneth C Zirkel (Networking guy),
Florian Fink (Smiling woman),
Maartje van Caspel (Businessman),
Matthew Tourtellott (Melissa 6),
Duncan Walker (Grandfather and grandson)
Digital platform powered by Wyith Limited, Wyith Institute.
Wyith Limited and Wyith Institute are associated businesses operated by the Office of Dr Raymond Cheng • Dr Raymond Cheng & Partners Ltd and The Commentary Ltd.
Photo credits for top title bar, from left to right: Iza H (Work),
Lukasz Gumowski (Blue balls),
Marcin Bania (Smiling and naked),
Lautaro Gonda (Milan station),
Jan Abt (Girl taking a picture),
Daniel Tang (Hot switch),
Barbara Henry (Moriah reading),
Ralf Herrmann (Checkmate II),
Marko Roeper (Led #4),
Ian Russell (Girl in downtown LA).
Note: Animated GIF graphics and clipart obtained from
amazing-animations.com, gifs.net, findicons.com, clker.com and sevenoaksart.co.uk.
Sketches, cartoons and other handdrawings courtesy of Alice-the-Artist.
This site is best viewed with
Microsoft® Internet Explorer 6.0 or above,
minimum 1024x768 16M color-depth resolution.
The Commentary Group
and its personnel do not endorse external sites and are not
responsible for the content of these websites. All external sites
will open in a new browser window.
This new section contains some interesting
statistics in bribe and corruption, please check back for more
as we pile up our numbers!
For those you who don't have time
to read all our news excerpts about the Asian island
disputes (links above), you may find the following video,
"The economic impact of a war between Japan and China",
very enlightening.
© Minute MBA: More from onlinemba.com
How it started – Pussy Riot Prayers, February 2012
BBC • Pussy Riot women begin life in prison
The Knife supporting PR at Pukkelpop
I am honored
to have obtained Professor Sidney Gluck's (right) permission
to allow me to repost here some of his work and interview
related to China and socialism.
Professor Gluck is professor emertius at the New School University in New York.
A classical Marxist, Gluck has been studying China for 60 years
in history and modern development. He has lectured all over
the U.S. and still welcomes engagement at the age of 94 – photo © Sandi Bachom
Oh, please do not get me wrong.
This new section is not about computers, electronics or
any engineering stuff, but rather I am currently constructing
a new corpus based on Spectrum, the monthly publication
from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers USA,
from July 2007 to date. Having been a member for
over 20 years since 1992, I am always fascinated by
some of the terms scientists use when they talk about or
envision their new inventions or methodologies. How many of
them eventually come into practice? Could there be
some insights we could possibly derive, from
the linguistics perspective?


text:
To make it easier to keep track of the links, please add your Tip, Trick or Instructions for Adding back missing features to Windows 8 in the main ATW forum. Admins/ATW Mods will then add the appropriate topics to this locked topic list.
Tips and Tricks and Adding back missing features:
Windows 8 - do it yourself - add back missing features (3 of them) - ATW
So I have Windows 8, Now What? - Bits from Bill - ATW
A 'no-reformat reinstall' for Windows 8 - Fred Langa/WindowsSecrets
Edited by LilBambi, 18 August 2013 - 08:44 PM.


text:
HTC One V
Read help info
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You need to set up your phone for internet to use this function. Click here for information on how to set up your phone for internet.
1. Find "Internet"
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text:
FTC pick ripped Google probe
President Barack Obama's new nominee to the FTC may have already made up his mind on one of the biggest issues before the commission — its antitrust probe into Google.
Joshua Wright, a law school professor at George Mason University, has questioned the merits of a Google inquiry repeatedly, even writing a paper titled "Google and the Limits of Antitrust: The Case Against the Antitrust Case Against Google." Wright argues that the case could "chill the innovation and competition currently providing immense benefits to consumers."
Story Continued Below
In an October 2011 blog post, Wright called a Senate hearing on the case "political theater."
Wright is also listed as a senior adjunct fellow for TechFreedom, a think tank that Google has listed as among the groups at which it sponsors policy fellows.
While Wright will fill a seat left vacant by Republican Thomas Rosch, it's still good news for Google, since the FTC is ramping up its probe. Staff at the agency have presented early findings in their antitrust investigation to the commission, which could bring a case against Google or broker a settlement before the end of the year.
Wright had been recommended for the post by Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, his office confirmed to POLITICO on Monday. To fill appointments on bipartisan commissions, such as the FCC or the FTC, the minority party has an opportunity to suggest nominees.
The White House declined comment.
"For now, it is safe to say I have no comment," Wright told POLITICO on Tuesday.
Google could not be reached for comment.
The administration's nominees to the FTC must be confirmed by the Senate. Wright served as the inaugural scholar in residence at the FTC's Bureau of Competition, a post he held from January 2007 to July 2008.
Wright is a noted antitrust expert and a conservative who's looked skeptically at the FTC's application of antitrust case law in the past. With Google, Wright raised a number of issues in the paper he co-wrote in 2011 with Geoffrey A. Manne, executive director of the International Center for Law and Economics. Their paper notes in a footnote that the center had previously received support from Google and others, though it included the caveat it did not reflect the views of the organization.


text:
Income Tax
The UAE does not have any enforced federal income tax legislation for general business. An income tax decree has been enacted by each Emirate, but in practice, the enforcement of these decrees is restricted to foreign banks and to oil companies. This practice is not likely to change in the near future as the relevant mechanisms with which to implement the tax decrees have not yet been established. The decrees indicate, however, that if taxation were enforced, taxes could be imposed retroactively.
Foreign banks are taxed at 20% of their taxable income in the Emirates of Abu Dhabi. The tax is restricted to the taxable income which is earned or deemed to be earned in that particular Emirate. Oil Companies (which include any chargeable person that deals in oil or right to oil both off-shore and on-shore) pay a flat rate of 55% on their taxable income in Dubai and 50% in the other Emirates. In addition, they pay royalties on production.
Personal incomes, including all forms of salary and capital gains wherever arising, are not subject to taxation in any of the Emirates.
Customs Duty
Under the terms of an agreement on customs tariffs with countries of the GCC, all Emirates are bound to levy a minimum customs duty of 10% on luxury goods and 4% on the CIF value of all other goods imported, excluding certain items such as alcohol and cigarettes. Recently, the federal government has approved a tobacco tax rate of 50%.
In practice, however, exemptions are made for a wide range of goods. In cases where customs duties are charged, it is generally restricted to 1 percent.
Other Local Taxes
Municipal taxes are levied in most Emirates on annual rental paid at 5% for residential premises and 10% for commercial premises.
Other local taxes include a 5% tax on hotel services and entertainment.


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Artistic License
I've been getting requests for more "missed marks" Wrecks. Your wish = my command. Well, when it's something I was going to do anyway, that is.
Here's what Jennifer S. wanted for her sister-in-law's baby shower:
So you know this is going to be good, right? [snicker] Here's how I imagine the conversation in the bakery went:
"So Lee, you gonna need a tracing for that cake design?"
[scoffing] "Puh-lease! Me? Don't you remember how I took that art class in night school last fall? I'm golden! Pass me the airbrush, will ya?"
"Wow, are you sure? It looks pretty complicated..."
"Only to the untrained eye, my friend. Now stand back and let the master work."
15 minutes later:
[staring]"Gosh, Lee, I don't know..."
"Yeah, it's a little bare in the corners, huh? I better add some roses. Let's see, what color goes best with purple, orange, and yellow?"
"Maybe a light pur..."
[interrupting] "OH! I know: teal!"
(Note: The crazy names and question marks were actually requested, since the baby's name was still undisclosed. I'm guessing the damaged area was a result of Jennifer doing a face-plant after fainting in disgust at the sight of it. Am I right, Jen?)


text:
Note: I got some of the dates mixed up, so I'm re-publishing this post.
SQL Lunch - Troubleshooting SSIS Package Development - Dustin Ryan
Pragmatic Works - Migrating Crystal Reports to SSRS - Devin Knight
PASS Application Development Virtual Chapter - Writing a Better Where Clause - Scott Gleason
PASS Database Administration Virtual Chapter - SQL Storage for Performance: Best Practices - Amy Styers
Pragmatic Works - Advanced SSRS 2008 Tips and Tricks - Devin Knight
I'll be trying to catalog these as I find them, so if you know of training that I'm not covering, send me an email at kbriankelley {at} acm {dot} org. Here are the sources I'm currently checking.
- Professional Association for SQL Server (PASS) web site
- SQL Lunch
- Idera Software
- Microsoft TechNet
- Microsoft MSDN
- Pragmatic Works
- Quest Software
- SQL Server Magazine
- SQL Server Worldwide Users Group
- SQL Saturday events


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WEST CHESTER - Stephen Shappell, the naÏve young man who fell under the sexual spell of his employer's wife and murdered him at her behest, was formally sentenced to a prison term that, while less than the one given her, will likely see him confined for the remainder of his life.
'I have tried not to give him any false hopes,' Chief Deputy District Attorney Patrick Carmody, who led the prosecution of both Shappell and Morgan Marie Mengel, told Senior Judge Thomas Gavin Monday at the hour-long proceeding. 'He will die in prison.'
Shappell, 24, of Newtown Square bludgeoned Mengel's husband, Kevin Mengel Jr., to death with a pair of shovels after trying to poison him with a tainted ice tea drink in the garage of the Mengels landscaping business, where Shappell worked. He did so after being goaded into the crime by Morgan Mengel, with whom he had started an affair a few weeks before.
Morgan Mengel had persuaded Shappell that if her husband was out of the way, they could start a new life together. Authorities contend her story was a ruse, however, and that she looked to Shappell as a convenient fall guy for getting away with Kevin Mengel's murder.
'There is a part of me that feels pity for you,' said Kevin Mengel Sr., in an impassioned statement he read to the court and to Shappell, who hung his head and gasped for breath as the Mengel family spoke to him. 'You were a stupid kid who fell prey to a black widow named Morgan.'
Morgan Mengel, 37, of West Goshen was sentenced to life in prison last week after pleading guilt to charges of first degree murder and criminal conspiracy as she was about to begin a retrial in the case in Common Pleas Court.
Shappell was sentenced to 40-to-80 years in state prison as part of a plea agreement he reached with the prosecution in exchange for his testimony against Morgan Mengel. He agreed to cooperate with authorities against his one-time lover after learning from Carmody that she had lied to him about giving birth to his twin sons. He had been prepared to accept full responsibility for the murder so that Morgan Mengel could win her freedom to care for the fictional children.
He pleaded guilty to third degree murder and criminal conspiracy to commit first-degree murder.
Carmody, who called Kevin Mengel's murder 'unfathomable,' said that he had spoken with Shappell several times over the years since his arrest, and found him to be naÏve and ultimately sympathetic to his victim. 'It really is a crime of ignorance,' Carmody told Gavin. 'That is why Morgan picked Stephen. She picked and groomed him' to commit the murder for her. 'She knew she could manipulate him.'
'He held the shovel but Morgan held the string,' Carmody said.
Shappell apologized twice to the Mengel family, who sat teary eyed in the first row of Gavin's courtroom – one in a statement read by his attorney, David Clark of West Chester, and once in his own voice.
'I want to apologize to every one of you, as meaningless as that is,' Shappell said. 'I am truly sorry for what I have done to your family. It is truly unforgiveable, and I will never forgive myself. I should not be forgiven for what I did to your family.'
Clark said that Shappell had told him how words could not express his sincere remorse for the murder. 'But it is Stephen's hope that in some small way his acceptance of responsibility and moral culpability (for the crime) … will help erase some of the anger to accompanies the loss of a loved one.
'Stephen knows he offers little, but he offers all he has,' Clark said.
On June 17, 2010, Shappell doctored a Snapple lemonade he knew Kevin Mengel would drink that morning with liquid nicotine, after he and Morgan Mengel had discussed the best way to kill him. When the drink did not work quickly enough, Shappell struck him on the back of his head repeatedly, first with one shovel and then another when the first broke. He had come to the garage that day equipped with the shovels at Morgan Mengel's suggestion.
Morgan Mengel had been sending text messages to Shappell in the minutes leading up to the murder asking him whether he was backing out. After Kevin Mengel collapsed on the floor of the garage, Shappell texted Morgan Mengel and told her to come quickly to the business as the job was done. 'Serious?' she replied. 'Dead serious,' he answered.
Carmody said that when Morgan Mengel appeared at the garage on West Chester Pike in West Goshen, Shappell was sitting on the floor, stunned at what he had done – he had no history of violent criminal behavior. She walked past him and went to check to see that her husband was dead, then began cleaning up the garage and wrapping her dead husband's body in a tarp so it could be hidden in a garage bay.
A day later, Shappell moved in to the Mengel apartment and began sleeping in the couple's bed. He ultimately disposed of Kevin Mengel's deteriorating body in a shallow grave near Maple-Newtown High School, which he had attended.
Kevin Mengel's absence from his home or business made his family, including his mother, Kathy Barton, his brother, Christopher Mengel, and his sister, Michelle Mengel Hopkins, suspicious. All started hounding West Goshen police about his disappearance and what was happening between Morgan Mengel, who they did not trust, and Shappell.
Michelle Mengel met on multiple occasions with investigators, while Chris Mengel even captured the new couple loading Morgan Mengel's truck with clothes as they eventually prepared to flee from police investigation. Shappell did flee, leaving Morgan Mengel behind, and she eventually told West Goshen investigators that Kevin Mengel had been killed, that Shappell was behind it, and that she knew about the plan in advance.
Shappell was arrested in Denver, Colo., on June 26, 2010. He confessed to the murder that day, and pleaded guilty in December 2011.
The Mengel family's anger and abject sorrow at the loss of their son and brother was still raw even after Morgan Mengel's sentencing hearing last Tuesday.
Chris Mengel, while acknowledging that Shappell had shown remorse that his sister-in-law had not, nevertheless said he could not forget that Shappell had tried to replace his brother.
'How could you think that you could take over his life? That you cold drink from his cup, live in his house, sleep in his bed, and look his children in the eye?' Chris Mengel said. 'For that, I will never be able to forgive you.
Hopkins, in her statement, said she was haunted by wanting to know what her brother had gone through in death. 'Was my brother in pain when you hit him from behind like a coward?' she asked. 'Did you think how his family would never see him again? He died alone because of you.'
Barton told Shappell that her son had spoken of him before he died, wanting to help him in life and in his profession. 'He really believed in you,' she said. 'Instead, you took his life and his dream of a family. Now there are three children without a father, parents without a son, and siblings without a brother.'
The victim's father closed the family's statements by saying that he did not wish the same fate he spoke of for Morgan Mengel – that she 'rot in hell.' But, he said, he did believe that Shappell needed to be punished for his crime. 'Unfortunately, you actions are not fixable. You need to be punished for a long period of time. I believe your hell had already started.'
As he was led from the courtroom in shackles and handcuffs by sheriff deputies, Shappell looked at the ground and not at the Mengel family as they watched him walk by, trying to stay as far from them as he could and avoiding the stares from their eyes.