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Deeplinks Blog posts about Anonymity
One of the trends we've seen is how, as the word of the NSA's spying has spread, more and more ordinary people want to know how (or if) they can defend themselves from surveillance online. But where to start?
The bad news is: if you're being personally targeted by a powerful intelligence agency like the NSA, it's very, very difficult to defend yourself. The good news, if you can call it that, is that much of what the NSA is doing is mass surveillance on everybody. With a few small steps, you can make that kind of surveillance a lot more difficult and expensive, both against you individually, and more generally against everyone.
Here are ten steps you can take to make your own devices secure. This isn't a complete list, and it won't make you completely safe from spying. But every step you take will make you a little bit safer than average. And it will make your attackers, whether they're the NSA or a local criminal, have to work that much harder.
Three years ago, I wrote of the controversy surrounding the use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in India. A study by 2010 EFF Pioneer Award winner Hari Prasad and others showed that the EVMs could be hacked. For his troubles, Prasad was charged criminally for alleged theft of the EVM that was studied.
The charges against Prasad have long since been dropped, but the controversy surrounding India's electronic voting machines continues. Some have advocated that the EVMs be abandoned completely, and that India should go back to using old fashioned paper ballots. Others have claimed that the EVMs can be made more secure, but only if a Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) is added.
Internet freedom has gone from bad to worse in Vietnam as an online censorship law known as Decree 72 went into effect this month. It bans bloggers and users of social media from quoting, gathering, or summarizing information from press organizations or government websites. While the main justification for the law is to uphold "national security," Vietnamese authorities also claim that this law is aimed at combating online copyright infringement.
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco will hear oral arguments Tuesday in Doe v. Harris, EFF's challenge to California's Proposition 35, which requires registered sex offenders to turn over all of their Internet identifiers and service providers to local law enforcement authorities.
Many people want to build secure Internet services that protect their users against surveillance, or the illegal seizure of their data. When EFF is asked how to build these tools, our advice is: don't start from scratch. Find a public, respected, project which provides the privacy-protecting quality you want in your own work, and find a way to implement your dream atop these existing contributions.
So, for instance, the New Yorker's Strongbox, a dropbox for anonymous sources, uses Tor as its basis to provide anonymity to its users. If you want anonymity in your app, building your tool on top of Tor's backbone means you can take advantage of its experience and future improvements, as well as letting you contribute back to the wider community.
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Star Wars & GI Joe Customs
HAVES: HK-50 Head, Capt Typho & GI Joe fodder available still
Wants:L8-L9 Head, YVH-1 Complete (as possible),R7-T1 Complete (as possible),R7-Z0 Complete (as possible)
I used the robe I used for my Jedi costume a few years ago, added a beard, and got this stick that my parents had. Put it all together and I'm a crazy old wizard!
Here's me in front of my house-away-from-my-house (classroom C-40) as House. Spent 5 days growing the facial shadow, limped around as much as I could today. Pleasantly, many students recognized my character; oh, and they knew I was House, too.
And yes, my door sign IS meant to look like an Etch-A-Sketch.
I predict that the upcoming Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi film will include the word "and." Multiple times.
Did you hurl witty insults at them and give them all nicknames?
I figured I had worn out the Stormtrooper armor and the Tusken robes, so I spent a great deal of time yesterday looking for ideas at 4 different costume shops. I bought a set of bat wings, some make up, and hair spray, and cat ears at a costume store, then I bought an oversize black sweat shirt, and a pair of clearance black shorts, and put this over my black body stocking and gloves from my stormtrooper gear, and made myself a ..............Man Bat, or really a bat.
2015 RFL Thank You to, TeeEye7 & Slicker, JediTricks, Tycho, El Chuxter, and Darth Jax!!!!
Be an organ donor, save lives!
I couldn't find the last part for the costume locally, so I'll dress up as Clark Kent next year.
That's my jacket!
I repeat my "great work" for those of you who have posted more recently!
My Joker costume turned out pretty great, I think. Not quite perfect, but better than many others. I'll post pictures in a few days, or whenever I get back home as they're on that computer.
Got a question for Hasbro? Ask it here!
My Photos and Reviews: SSG Toy Guide
My Star Wars Fan Film: The Lazy Jedi

subset: commoncrawl


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BACLOFEN (BAK loe fen) helps relieve spasms and cramping of muscles. It may be used to treat symptoms of multiple sclerosis or spinal cord injury.
This medicine may be used for other purposes; ask your health care provider or pharmacist if you have questions.
They need to know if you have any of these conditions:
kidney disease
an unusual or allergic reaction to baclofen, other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives
pregnant or trying to get pregnant
Take this medicine by mouth. Swallow it with a drink of water. Follow the directions on the prescription label. Do not take more medicine than you are told to take.
Talk to your pediatrician regarding the use of this medicine in children. Special care may be needed.
Overdosage: If you think you have taken too much of this medicine contact a poison control center or emergency room at once.
NOTE: This medicine is only for you. Do not share this medicine with others.
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you can. If it is almost time for your next dose, take only that dose. Do not take double or extra doses.
medicines for depression, anxiety, and other mental conditions
medicines for pain like codeine, oxycodone, tramadol, and propoxyphene
medicines for sleep
This list may not describe all possible interactions. Give your health care provider a list of all the medicines, herbs, non-prescription drugs, or dietary supplements you use. Also tell them if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs. Some items may interact with your medicine.
Do not suddenly stop taking your medicine. If you do, you may develop a severe reaction. If your doctor wants you to stop the medicine, the dose will be slowly lowered over time to avoid any side effects. Follow the advice of your doctor.
Baclofen can affect blood sugar levels. If you have diabetes, talk with your doctor or health care professional before you take the medicine.
You may get drowsy or dizzy when you first start taking the medicine or change doses. Do not drive, use machinery, or do anything that may be dangerous until you know how the medicine affects you. Stand or sit up slowly.
Side effects that you should report to your doctor or health care professional as soon as possible:
allergic reactions like skin rash, itching or hives, swelling of the face, lips, or tongue
chest pain
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your doctor or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):
difficulty sleeping
This list may not describe all possible side effects. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Keep out of the reach of children.
Store at room temperature between 15 and 30 degrees C (59 and 86 degrees F). Keep container tightly closed. Throw away any unused medicine after the expiration date.
BACLOFEN (BAK loe fen) is a muscle relaxer. It is used to treat severe spasms.
bleeding disorders
mental illness
recent stroke
This medicine is for injection into the space around the spinal cord. It can be given by a health care professional in a clinic or hospital setting. Patients can also have a pump implanted into their back for a continuous infusion.
Talk to your pediatrician regarding the use of this medicine in children. While this drug may be prescribed for children as young as 4 years old for selected conditions, precautions do apply.
It is important to keep your appointments to have this medicine administered or to refill your pump. If you cannot make your appointment, contact your health care provider to make other arrangements.
other medicines injected in the spine like morphine
Visit your doctor for regular check ups. Tell your doctor if your symptoms do not get better or if you get worse.
Do not suddenly stop taking your medicine. If you do, you may develop a severe reaction. Contact your health care provider immediately if you notice any problems with your catheter (especially if it becomes disconnected), low volume in the pump, or low battery level. If your doctor wants you to stop the medicine, the dose will be slowly lowered over time to avoid any side effects. Follow the advice of your doctor.
This medicine can affect blood sugar levels. If you have diabetes, talk with your doctor or health care professional before you take the medicine.
You may get drowsy or dizzy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do anything that needs mental alertness until you know how this medicine affects you. Do not stand or sit up quickly, especially if you are an older patient. This reduces the risk of dizzy or fainting spells. Alcohol may interfere with the effect of this medicine. Avoid alcoholic drinks.
breathing problems
changes in vision
fast heartbeat
feeling faint or lightheaded, falls
mood or mental changes
problems with balance, talking, walking
ringing or buzzing in the ears
trouble passing urine or change in the amount of urine
unusually nervous, restless
changes in taste
constipation or diarrhea
dry mouth
muscle weakness
nausea, vomiting
trouble sleeping
This drug is given in a hospital or clinic and will not be stored at home.
Copyright© 2009 Krames except where otherwise noted.


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eddie234 wrote:Well, I able to run out to the range after work this evening and see if my "deep cleaning, polishing and scrubbing" did any good. If you draw circles and count holes all that work didn't seem to improve anything. However what it did seem to do was tighten and center things up.
What I did was put the turkey target on the poster board and as instructed aim at the waddles. I got alot more "kill zone" hits this time. Overall I only added fifteen more holes to the turkey target. It would appear that my shot hit a little high but looking at the target you can see most of the shot was in the head and not the breast meat.
I think I will stick with this set up, It seems to the pretty good.
eddie234 wrote:It is the best pattern I've found so far. It's pretty dead on at 20 and 30 yards just a tad high at 40. The polishing of the barrel seemed to tighten things up a little. As you've seen on the other forum board I've gotten alot of advise as to what to do to improve my pattern. Buying shells at $25 a box and chokes at $25 to $80 this can get expensive. I think I'll stick with this combo for awhile, like I said it the best I've found so far.
eddie234 wrote:Hey Clark,
Have you tried the hevi shot magnum blend out of your ssx choke? If so what kind of results do you get?
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Voters in Duluth will be asked to help pay for city parks in a city-wide referendum vote on November 8th. A "yes" vote will raise $2.6-million for park programs and maintenance, and help keep the city's branch libraries open. And Iron Range native Paul Metsa has written a memoir of his years in the music business. Metsa stopped by the studio to play some music and talk about his book "Blue Guitar Highway".
Almanac North - Oct 21, 2011
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Video Summary
Funding for this program is provided by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. Click here for more information or visit the Minnesota Legacy website.Clean Water, Land & Legacy Amendment


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News Posts
Fossil beardogs shed light on the evolution of dogs and their relatives
by AMNH on
"By about 15 million years ago, the beardog family had given rise to huge predators bigger than modern lions," says Research Associate Jack Tseng, "But the early members reported in this study were tiny."
Green Eggs
by AMNH on
No, this isn't the Museum's famed avocado specimen—it's the emerald-hued egg of the Northern Cassowary.
New Research: Common U.S. Snake Actually Three Different Species
by AMNH on
A new study of yellow-bellied kingsnakes suggests that different habitats on each side of the Mississippi could be the cause of speciation.
Detonating White Dwarfs as Supernovae
by AMNH on
New model explains how inspiraling dead stars can explode at a rate high enough to match the number of Type Ia supernovae seen in the universe.
Mead 2016: Director Jessie Deeter on Tunisia's Revolution
by AMNH on
Deeter directed this year's opening night feature, which chronicles the lives of two Tunisian women following the Arab spring.


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I released Arch Linux 0.4 today. Just in time for me to vanish from the net for a week or so to visit my family for the holidays. :)
We're hiring 4 new people immediately, then another 2 or 3 more in a couple months as our new division starts growing. Today is full of meetings and interviews, with a break midday to go check out the new LOTR movie. My company rocks.
Don't even ask -- oh, how I loathe it. The two hardest exams are tomorrow and Friday. Then I get two weeks respite and and it all begins again. *sigh* I just want to be coding.


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Before we revisit with today's author, I want to announce that the winner of the signed copy of Promised to Another, by Laura Hilton, is:
lynne.young@ . . .
Congratulations! I'll contact you today for your snail mail address, and we'll get your book to you right away. I encourage readers to keep commenting and/or subscribe at right (above my list of books) in order to participate in future book give-aways!
Now let's meet novelist Lacy Williams, author of The Homesteader's Sweetheart (Love Inspired Historical, May 2012).
This year Lacy Williams will celebrate both her thirtieth birthday and a decade of marriage to the love of her life. She traded in her childhood dream of being a veterinarian for a job as a bean-counting auditor at a public accounting firm, but her love of animals, especially dogs, continues (she has three).
Growing up on her grandfather's farm, Lacy was bucked off a horse, tried to milk a feral cow, and once attempted to mine for gold in a red dirt field (with no luck). These childhood adventures provide a good amount of material for the western romances she writes.
More recent escapades include getting stuck in an elevator on the way to an awards banquet (where she won), having two children, becoming a multi-published author. Next up on her bucket list: writing a screenplay and taking a research trip to Australia.
Please tell us five random things we might not know about you.
--I'm an oldest child and most of the birth-order stuff is right on the money for me (bossy, driven, type-A personality). I have a younger brother and a younger sister.
--I used to write fanfiction for several TV shows.
--I am a messy person. I have lots of piles around my house, but I know where everything is (most of the time!).
--I have never broken a bone in my body.
--I have a trained Therapy Dog that I do visits with, including to the local library for the Kids Reading to Dogs program.
Kids Reading to Dogs? What a clever idea.
Please tell us a bit more about the plot of The Homesteader's Sweetheart.
Homesteader Jonas White has managed to overcome a rough start in life and has made a home for himself and his brood of adopted children.
When his daughter needs medical treatment, the only way he can get the money is taking on more work, but he'll need someone to help watch over his daughter. His neighbor's granddaughter offers and even though Jonas is a little concerned (she's used to nice parties, not helping around the homestead), he has no choice but to accept Penny's help.
But he quickly discovers there is more to Penny than meets the eye, and she discovers maybe there's more to life than money.
What is it about Jonas that will make your readers care about him?
Jonas White wants to give the kids he has adopted everything that he never had—security, family, a steady place to live. He is devoted to them as if he was their biological parent, but he still worries they will be taken away from him.
If you were the casting director for the film version of your novel, who would play your lead roles?
Alex Pettyfer for the hero (yum!).
And an older Bella Thorne for the heroine.
Yes, Alex Pettyfer is pretty striking, all right!
If a novel were published today, based on your life, what would be an appropriate title?
Chasing Dreams. Right now I am so blessed to be living some very big dreams—mainly staying home with my kids and also being published. But those blessings came from some very hard work being put in beforehand and continued hard work. The importance of chasing your dreams is definitely something I want to pass on to my kids!
I do like the idea of impressing upon our kids that dreams aren't always out of our reach, if we're willing to put in the effort.
What is the last book you read that you would recommend?
I recently enjoyed Protecting the Princess by Rachelle McCalla (Love Inspired Suspense). The suspense kept me turning pages as the hero tries to keep the heroine safe and the romance was sweet as the heroine tries to open the hero's heart. It's on my keeper shelf.
What are you working on now?
I'm working on a proposal for a book featuring one of the sons from The Homesteader's Sweetheart. Oscar White (I might be looking for a nickname for him—Oscar just doesn't seem like a hero's name to me!) is a famous horse trainer who can settle any filly. But he can't seem to tame the schoolmarm's heart.
Where else can readers find you online?
With the release of this book, I'm having a special promotion and giving away birthday gifts to my readers during the month of May at www.megamaybirthdaybash.com. I can also be found at www.lacywilliams.net
The book is available at fine book stores and for purchase online through the following buttons:
Finally, what question would you like to ask my readers?
In The Homesteader's Sweetheart, the heroine tries to run away from her problems, but of course she can't outrun them in the end. Have you ever tried to run away from or avoid something (can be big or small), and what was the result?
Thank you, Lacy, for visiting with us and telling us about your novel. Readers, Lacy has offered to give a signed copy of her book to the winner of our drawing on Monday, May 14. To enter, leave a comment below in answer to Lacy's question, above. "Please enter me" won't get you entered. Leave your email address, in case you win, like so: trish[at]trishperry[dot]com.
Be sure to check out my interview with Marta Perry, below. Leave an appropriate comment at the bottom of her post to enter the drawing for a signed copy of the book.
And I'd love it if you'd connect with me on Facebook. Just click on my name at the right of today's post.
Annoying legal disclaimer: drawings void where prohibited; open only to U.S. residents; the odds of winning depend upon the number of participants. See full disclaimer HERE.


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To perform a search, enter a keyword, phrase or item number in the search field and click "search."
We offer two ways to locate information:
Designed by famous French enologist, Pascal Delbeck, in 1996, Abadía Retuerta winery is a surprising combination of tradition and modernity, recognized as one of the most advanced wineries in Europe. Currently, Angel Anocíbar Beloqui (PhD in Enology and Ampelography from the University of Bordeaux and International Wine Challenge 2005 Winemaker of the Year) coordinates the entire process, from the vine to the bottle.
Abadía Retuerta estate wines offer some very unique characteristics. They are full-colored wines, intense and aromatically clean, clearly structured, smooth to the palate and delicate in the development of their strength.


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Product Type
Product Line
Wallflex vinyl wall covering has become the Australian Standard for durable, hygienic wall covering. Clean and simple by design, Wallflex provides a seamless coating for healthcare interiors needing a low maintenance, long lasting wall covering which resists scratching, scuffing and denting.
- Urethane coating reduces maintenance costs and protects long term appearance.
- Clean, simple design for uncomplicated look or the addition of a frieze if desired.
- 1.5 metre width ideal dado height for ease of installation.
- 1.25mm homogeneous construction for excellent dent and gouge resistance.
- Heat weldable for seamless installation.
9 Products
Please note: Colours illustrated are matched as closely as possible. Variation from sample may appear.


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AIM714 - Cultural Landscapes
Unit details
Note: You are seeing the 2011 view of this unit information. These details may no longer be current. [Go to the current version]
|Enrolment modes:
|Credit point(s):
|EFTSL value:
|Unit chair:
|K Buckley
Note:Online teaching methods require internet access. Please refer to the most current computer specifications.
ContentThis unit will familiarise students with the concept of cultural landscapes which is a key framework for heritage assessment and management. The unit will develop student skills in identifying a cultural landscape, their heritage features, assessing their cultural significance and building management plans that reconcile and conserve the diverse heritage values found in cultural landscapes. The unit will also provide students with a sound theoretical understanding of the history of the concept of a cultural landscape and how this informs current approaches to identifying and recording cultural and natural values. Through a series of case studies from Australia and the Asia Pacific region, students will gain an understanding of culturally diverse approaches to managing landscapes and the ways in which socio-cultural issues affect their conservation.
Module 1:
- What is a cultural landscape?
- Introduction
- The concept of landscape
- Issues in identifying heritage values in a landscape
- From the site to the landscape
- Interpreting sites in landscapes
- Reconciling cultural and natural values
- Diverse heritage values in landscapes
- Thematic approaches to cultural landscapes
- Rural and agricultural landscapes
- Industrial landscapes
- Pre-colonial and colonial landscapes
AssessmentAssignment 1 (1000 words) 20%; Assignment 2 (2000 words) 40%; Assignment 3 (2000 words) 40%.
Unit Fee Information
|Student Contribution Rate*
|Student Contribution Rate**
|Student Contribution Rate***
|Fee rate - Domestic Students
|Fee rate - International students
* Student contribution rate for Commonwealth Supported students who commenced studies from 2010
** Student contribution rate for Commonwealth Supported students who commenced studies from 2009
*** Student contribution rate for Commonwealth Supported students who commenced studies from 2008
**** Fee rate for students who commenced studies from 2005
***** Fee rate for students who commenced studies from 2006
Please note: Unit fees listed do not apply to Deakin Prime students.


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Congratulations, Jane (Jane In N.z)
Posted 01 August 2010 - 08:53 PM
Jane!!! The crown looks great on you! Have a great month! :-)
My play tools are: CS5.5, PSE9; PRE9; PSPX2, on a Laptop PC, with Win7
Posted 02 August 2010 - 01:11 AM
Posted 02 August 2010 - 02:59 AM
Posted 02 August 2010 - 06:42 AM
Posted 02 August 2010 - 07:19 AM
I have just got in from work after such a busy day and if it wasn't for Ngaire emailing me I would not have looked so I truelly thank you all for your wonderful comments.
I am just off to bed as its midnight here so I will come back tomorrow and tell you a bit about myself as I can't think at the moment (the old grey matter has been taxed toooooooooooo hard at work tonight )
Thank you again for picking me
Posted 02 August 2010 - 10:52 AM
Posted 02 August 2010 - 12:07 PM
Posted 02 August 2010 - 04:16 PM
I find it quite hard talking about myself as its something that I don't naturally do but here goes
I grew up in a lovely town in the UK called Windsor( most of you know that anyway by now) and in 1980 we emigrated to New Zealand. I love it here being by the sea and NZ is the most beautiful country although it is hard being away from family.
I have been married to David for 31yrs now and have 3 children Stuart 29, Michelle 26 and Steve 19 in 2 weeks.
Steve my youngest has just left for 6 months in Europe and is in Finland at the moment. My daughter Michelle has just been offered a job in London so she is deciding if she really wants to go. Stuart is living in Wanaka in the S.Island at the moment and enjoying the snowboarding.
I am a Christian and belong to a wonderful church. I help out with the 'Mainly Music' programme for the under 5's and David sings in the worship team. We also put together in December a drive through called 'Come to Bethlehem' which is the nativity in lights. Some of you may have seen it in some of my LO's
My hobbies include photography and scrapbooking--digital now but for a few years I did it the traditional way. I have dabbled in other things as well but these are my passion. I love walking and we have many beautiful tracks in NZ.
I am a nurse and work with the elderly in a hospital near where I live. It very busy but my residents are just delightful. I work shift work but it would be nice to do 3 days a week instead of 5---- working on that one
I have 3 cats and most of you have seen those in my LO's as well.
Its hard to pick a favoUrite(not a typing error we spell correctly in NZ ) LO but here is a current favourite and of the beach down the road from my house in the early morning Waiake Beach
Thanks again for all the wonderful congratulations
Posted 02 August 2010 - 05:28 PM
My play tools are: CS5.5, PSE9; PRE9; PSPX2, on a Laptop PC, with Win7
Posted 03 August 2010 - 04:07 AM
Posted 03 August 2010 - 08:47 AM
Scrapper | Wife | Mother | Friend | Soprano | Traveler
Rotarian | CEO, Auction Systems | Recovering Perfectionist
Posted 03 August 2010 - 10:26 AM
Elisha Barnett
Posted 03 August 2010 - 05:37 PM
Posted 04 August 2010 - 08:11 AM
Queen Jane of N.Z., royalty among us!
I hope you love your crown as you are so deserving!
I love your LO's and amazing photograps you post here!
Thanks for the inspiration and sharing the beautiful views from N.Z.!
My family has always said if we can't live in Texas then we'll move to New Zealand!
Specially created by AngelaNussbaum!
Posted 05 August 2010 - 05:58 PM
Posted 06 August 2010 - 06:43 PM
Posted 06 August 2010 - 07:08 PM
Posted 09 August 2010 - 10:37 PM
Posted 19 August 2010 - 12:03 AM
Posted 22 August 2010 - 09:16 AM
Posted 22 August 2010 - 09:51 PM
Posted 23 August 2010 - 07:37 AM
Posted 23 August 2010 - 02:55 PM
Posted 27 August 2010 - 10:51 PM
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While a firm application deadline has not been set, and an interview position cannot be guaranteed, we highly recommend that completed applications be received no later than December 1. If you have any questions or need further information, please contact our Program Coordinator, at firstname.lastname@example.com.
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Ok… so based on the title.. where is he going with this? Pride in the Community? Pride for ones Community? Proud to be a part of the Community?
None of the above. Or all of the above.
This week is a proud week for me, there are a lot of events and gathering that foster a great deal of pride in people of our community. Namely, some of the kids.
I'll start with this weekends Camporee.
Because our district is made up of predominately young men (and women) of the greater Gresham, Troutdale and Eastern Portland area, I have had the opportunity, especially through the Order of the Arrow to get to know many of them.
The vast majority of the youngsters in the district go to one of two High schools. Reynolds High School or Gresham High School. My children go to Reynolds, and so I get to see many of the Scouts from our district at High School events. And so it comes full circle when they see me out at Camporee or OA events.
This weekends Camporee was a lot of fun. And as always, I ran into the many young people that I know from our community. As you may have figured out in the 400 plus posts, I'm not the shyest fellow and have a passion for seeing young people become successful. Watching the Scouts this weekend, not only from my Troop, but from the many Troops that make up our community, achieve success was fun and gave me a great sense of pride in the them.
Last night I participated in a rehearsal for one of the Scouts in my Troop. He is being Confirmed in the Catholic Church on Wednesday. Some time ago he asked me to be his sponsor. I am honored. I have a great deal of pride in him and the choices he is making in his life. Choices not only to stay with Scouting, but choices to gain a deeper relationship with our Lord. Choices to do the right thing and put other people first. I was humbled when he asked me to be his sponsor. Of all the people, friends, family, other members of the Church, he asked me. I am proud of him.
Tonight I went to the High School to listen to some fantastic musicians. The High School Symphony, Concert Band, Orchestra, and ensembles put on a heck of a show tonight to present friends, family, and the community their talents and to present to the community the awards they earned as musicians this year. And they were many. As we gathered and sat in the concert hall at the High School, friends chatted and we celebrated the achievements of these good young people. Many Scouts from the community were there, either in the band or watching a brother or sister play. We exchanged hand shakes and pleasantry's and I was introduced to parents.. one kid even introduced me as "He's the cool Scoutmaster from 664" to his mother.
The concert was second to none. I enjoyed every second of it. I am proud of all of those talented young men and women, especially a certain young lady that plays the clarinet. Tonight was her night and she took center stage in Dad's eyes.
This Thursday our Troop will participate along with all of the other Troops, Packs, and Crews in our District in the Flag Placement ceremony. Our District will place American Flags on every head stone, grave marker and memorial at the Willamette National Cemetery in Portland. This will be 41st year our District has done this. This simple act makes me proud. To watch the Scouts of our community pay respect and honor those that have served gives me a great sense of pride and rightly so. This single event teaches Scouts about citizenship, honor, selfless service and sacrifice, and duty. It teaches them about character and determination and that there are greater things in this world. It makes me proud to be apart of.
So pride and Community… Yeah I am both Proud and a part of the community, a community made up of many great outstanding young men and women. They should be proud also.
Have a Great Scouting Day!


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Theodore M. Porter
THE PLEASURES OF STATISTICS: The Autobiography of Frederick Mosteller. Frederick Mosteller. Edited by Stephen E. Fienberg, David C. Hoaglin and Judith M. Tanur. xvi + 344 pp. Springer, 2010. $39.95.
The career of Frederick Mosteller exhibits superbly the disarming modesty of statistics. Mathematicians to some degree look down on statistical knowledge for its makeshift character, and although we can expect an educated person to know of the leading personages in physics, biology and economics, few outside the quantitative sciences would be able to name a single statistician. Yet statistics, as the master science of numbers and measures, has the standing to organize the efforts of professionals (physicians and policy experts, for example) who have greater wealth and status than do statisticians. Statistics is able to do this all the more effectively because it so rarely calls attention to itself as a creative activity, or to the numbers it analyzes and often generates as products of negotiated expertise and discernment.
Born in 1916, Mosteller was raised in modest circumstances, if not real poverty, near Pittsburgh. If he ever dreamed of greatness or mapped out his road to success, he omits all this from his chapters about growing up. His success in high school mathematics and particularly in a state scholarship examination gave him the resources to attend the Carnegie Institute of Technology, as it then was, where he pursued studies and made contacts that facilitated his move to Princeton University as a graduate student. In 1944–45 he took part in war work with the Statistical Research Group at Columbia University, an enterprise whose significance for American statistics might be compared with that of Los Alamos for nuclear physics. Institutionally, statistics had just begun to take shape as a discipline, though already it was becoming indispensable to public health, medicine, medical policy, business, engineering, government and the sciences, especially the social sciences.
Upon completing his doctorate in 1946, Mosteller joined the new Department of Social Relations at Harvard, created by the sociologist Talcott Parsons in an effort to advance interdisciplinary social research. Parsons had worked to establish a basis in theory for the unity of the social (or behavioral) sciences, but he was committed also to empirical research, and this, more and more, meant quantification. Mosteller, the poor boy from Pittsburgh, thus assumed a central position in a key academic center at a moment of unmatched promise for social science. This was in 1946, the year he turned 30, although in photographs he appears much older. He evinces in his autobiography not a hint of wonder at his meteoric ascent, nor a moment of self-doubt in the course of supervising a multitude of dissertations, directing centers, founding and chairing departments, and serving on expert commissions.
Mathematics, like romantic poetry, has become associated in modern times with moments of revelation and of genius. That is not Mosteller's way. Recognizing that readers must sooner or later begin to wonder how he could have taught so many students, written so many books, and organized and executed such diverse projects with collaborators from so many disciplines, he responds with advice on making every moment count. He does not think of wrestling with imponderable questions or of asking what it all means. Statistical science, the keystone in the arch of public rationality, seems to advance systematically in little steps, and so it is also in his working life. The briefest idle moment, he tells us, provides time to write a paragraph or comment on a manuscript, provided he can react to each fragment separately rather than waiting until he reaches the end and assessing the work as a whole.
Mosteller believed in statistics as a proper discipline, and he describes here how he won support to create a department at Harvard. But statistics was always for him a vital tool of scientific and social research. He comes across as a man of genuine if sometimes strategic kindness who knows how to win friends and does all he can to avoid making enemies. Again and again his role as expert statistician provided the occasion to exercise these powers. By his own account, he spent the greater part of his career assisting in research involving social and economic policy or the assessment of medical effectiveness. Proper statistical analysis may give the appearance of a certain narrowness, yet statistics often takes on a key role in the overall design of surveys and experiments. The statistician, while perhaps knowing rather little about the parts, may yet have a uniquely privileged view of the whole. Mosteller believed deeply in such research as the proper mission of statistics. He worked assiduously as a teacher and as an organizer of interdisciplinary seminars to assure that statistics should not retreat into disciplinary isolation but assume an active role in the world, with the goal of enhancing efficiency. Yet he was never so blind as to let a single bottom line, such as monetary gain or lives saved, define the worth of an outcome. In medicine, for example, he did not favor adding a few weeks to an average life at the cost of months of expensive treatment with attendant suffering of the patient for whose sake the effort is nominally undertaken.
In other ways, though, Mosteller's vision seems too narrowly focused. He acknowledges that statistical studies are often bound up with legal, commercial and administrative processes. The first of the "examples of quantitative studies" with which he begins the book concerns the embarrassing prediction by all pollsters that Harry Truman would be defeated in the presidential election of 1948. An expert commission of inquiry, on which Mosteller served, was quickly assembled to find out why the polls had all been wrong. The leaders of social science were concerned in part because so conspicuous a failure might undermine the faith of marketing departments in the objectivity of sample surveys. Mosteller, however, says nothing about corporate sponsorship of clinical trials, or about the inevitable problems of missing data and other ambiguities that make these studies so susceptible to corruption when powerful interests stand to gain by perverting them. That is, the picture of statistics he presents here is one that emphasizes scientific concepts and designs, and tends to downplay both the interests at stake and the close-to-the-ground labor through which these designs are, always imperfectly, enacted.
Like most scientists, Mosteller is reluctant merely to put the focus on his life and career, wanting instead to make his memoir a paean to and lesson in statistics. The difficulty of reconciling biography with science seems to have occasioned for him serious and highly uncharacteristic problems of writing. His guiding principle, as he and the book's editors all tell us, was to work first at the task that is nearest completion. Yet somehow his autobiography languished over two decades and remained incomplete at his death. Fully a third of the published manuscript, up to page 110, consists of potted stories of statistics in action, some familiar from other popular writings. In the biographical sections he tells of his family background but virtually omits his wife and children, except as they figure in a chapter on their summer home in Cape Cod, where windows must be repaired and raccoons kept away from trash cans. The logic of his story requires the Cape to be mainly a place of scientific work. Little enthusiasms—specifically, bridge, chess and magic—can come into the book because they seem vaguely pertinent to statistics. Mosteller announces his strong preference for writing in the plain style and comments that statistics has solved the problem of metaphor, which he nevertheless prefers to avoid.
In short, in this autobiography he was not able to reconcile his divergent purposes or to achieve a harmony of style. Yet the thoroughly flawed book provides a fascinating view of statistics, not so much when Mosteller sets out to give statistical lessons as when, almost inadvertently, the personage of the statistician stands revealed by this narrative of a life devoted to quantitative reason.
Theodore M. Porter is a professor in the Department of History at the University of California, Los Angeles. His books include Trust in Numbers: The Pursuit of Objectivity in Science and Public Life (Princeton University Press, 1995) and Karl Pearson: The Scientific Life in a Statistical Age (Princeton University Press, 2004).
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Binghamton University's Center for Autonomous Solar Power ranks second in the world for solar technology efficiency
BINGHAMTON, NY -- The new lab at Binghamton University's Center for Autonomous Solar Power (CASP) recently passed the one-year mark and what a productive year it has been. Currently CASP ranks as second in the world in terms of demonstrating the efficiency of its solar technology. According to University officials, becoming the leader in efficiency is within reach, hopefully within the next year.
The CASP is a multidisciplinary research center that functions as part of the University's Center of Excellence in Small Scale Systems Integration and Packaging (S3IP).
The lab is currently working with thin film solar cells. The University is not only making a name for itself because the cells are harnessing solar power more efficiently, but because it is going about the process in the most cost effective and environmentally friendly way.
"Unlike some other solar technologies, we are utilizing abundant materials found on earth that are non toxic," said Roger Westgate, CASP director and University Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering. "In our labs we utilize copper, zinc, tin and sulfur, which we refer to as CZTS, to produce our flexible solar cells. So far they have shown tremendous potential."
The goal is to create thin, flexible substrates using these safe materials. It is not only good for the environment but also more cost effective in the short and long term. Accessing the materials for research purposes is less costly than other rare, less abundant materials. Also, when the time comes for these flexible solar products to be mass-produced in industrial settings, the costs borne by companies will be less than current technologies. This will eventually make the products more affordable and accessible for consumers.
Currently the lab is providing the ideal space for two teams to work on two different approaches to perfecting the flexible solar cells. The two teams provide a friendly but competitive environment and also provide a more time sensitive approach to reaching world-class efficiencies.
"It's allowing us to explore two separate paths at the same time," says Westgate.
Westgate says several exciting partnerships are in place and on the horizon. CASP already partners with small companies in Upstate New York on energy storage solutions. The CASP is also currently in talks with the other universities to share information, equipment and research capabilities. It is hoped the work done between the schools will expedite the research done at Binghamton University as well as take the advancements achieved so far, to the next level. Westgate also says the University and its partners are seeking a grant for a new piece of sophisticated and costly equipment that is necessary to fully realize the potential of these flexible solar cells.
"Solar energy is one of the most promising sources of energy and right now only 1% to 2% of the energy produced comes from solar powered technologies," says Westgate. "A more reasonable goal is 10% and Binghamton University plans to play a lead role in boosting those numbers."
Westgate says he is proud of the work already accomplished by the CASP, especially its use of the earth abundant and non-toxic materials. He is also particularly proud of the students who have been educated and trained by the research currently occurring at the CASP. Finally, he is proud of the private sector partnerships that have been developed that will most certainly lead to business and job growth in New York State. He says fostering economic development is not only a goal of the University but it is also its responsibility.
To view corresponding video, visit: http://youtu.be/IAq9Evm4lBw.


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The Daily Beast: Stars Who Perform for Dictators
7 of 10
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|From Mariah Carey serenading the Gadhafis to James Brown getting on the good foot for Mobutu to Oliver Stone lionizing Hugo Chavez on film, U.S. and Western celebrities have a history of entertaining and palling around with autocrats.
See the Full story at The Daily Beast
|In 1974, Mobutu Sese Seko, the president of the country then called Zaire, wanted to show the world of what he had done since Congo's rocky struggle for independence 14 years earlier. Mobutu, a close ally of the U.S., had a nearly 30-year reign over Congo-Zaire—one of the longest and most devastating in African history. Nevertheless, the "Rumble in the Jungle" and the concert that preceded it brought some of the biggest celebrities of the time to Kinshasa. Mobutu paid $5 million each to Muhammad Ali and George Foreman to bring their famous boxing feud to Zaire's capital, as part of the "authenticity campaign" for the new country. Zaire 74, the concert held six weeks before the fight—it was originally intended to be the same weekend as the fight, but Foreman suffered an injury that pushed the concert back six weeks—brought James Brown, Celia Cruz and the Fania All-Stars, B.B. King, Miriam Makeba, the Spinners, and Bill Withers to perform in an epic concert. The 2009 documentary, "Soul Power, captures the great music that came out of the concert—with the ubiquitous signs of Mobutu's rule everywhere in the background.
(AP Photos)
See the Full story at The Daily Beast
|Chavez hadn't lost his love of Hollywood by 2010, when he teamed up with director Oliver Stone to make a documentary about Venezuela. Stone came back so impressed with Chavez that he introduced Chavez to Venice audiences when the announcer left the president off at the premiere of South of the Border. The film did much better in the U.S. than in Venezuela, where it bombed. Maybe Venezuelans were sick of Chavez's "intoxicating" energy.
(AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)
See the Full story at The Daily Beast
|Hugo Chavez may not be considered a dictator, so maybe that's why Hollywood is so fond of him? The leftist Venezuelan president has had his fair share of Hollywood visitors, including Kevin Spacey, Danny Glover, and Sean Penn. Spacey and Chavez did not speak about their meeting, but reportedly Chavez and Glover agreed to make a movie called Toussaint about the Haitian slave who led Haiti's overthrow of colonialism. Penn and Chavez discussed a number of topics, including politics and President Obama's Nobel Peace Prize, and also whether Penn would film a movie in Venezuela. The meeting must have gone well, Penn later railed on Real Time With Bill Maher about the portrayal of Chavez in American media, suggesting prison time for journalists who call Chavez a dictator.
(AP Photo/Miraflores Press Office/Juan Carlos Solorzano)
See the Full story at The Daily Beast
|Paul Robeson was one of several black Americans, including some of his relatives, who emigrated to the U.S.S.R. and became radical political activists. After an illustrious football career, Robeson became one of the first concert singers to popularize the performance of Negro spirituals, and appeared in several plays as well. When he first visited the Soviet Union in 1934, he was amazed by its lack of segregation. "Here, I am not a Negro but a human being for the first time in my life ... I walk in full human dignity," he said. As he became a more vocal advocate for communism, the State Department confiscated his passport and forced him to appear before Sen. Joe McCarthy's House Un-American Activities Committee. Robeson wrote glowing tributes to Joseph Stalin and died without regretting his faith in Soviet leaders.
(AP Photo/Bill Achatz)
See the Full story at The Daily Beast
|British supermodel Naomi Campbell is famous for assaulting anyone who gets in her way, from friends and assistants to Heathrow Airport police. But one of her brushes with the law involved something much more sinister. After a dinner at the home of former South African President Nelson Mandela, she reportedly told people that Liberian dictator Charles Taylor had given her a huge diamond. Taylor was later brought to trial on war-crimes charges, and accused of using "blood diamonds" to buy weapons. Campbell denied the accusations angrily, refusing to answer questions and storming out of an interview about it. She testified at Charles Taylor's trial in 2010, though her involvement in the diamond controversy, has never been fully uncovered.
(AP Photo/Robin van Lonkhuijsen/Francois Durand/Getty Images)
See the Full story at The Daily Beast
|After he was acquitted of molesting young boys in a long, miserable trial in California, Michael Jackson fled to the dunes of Bahrain—a tiny island nation in the Persian Gulf recently in the news for uprisings against its crown prince. Jackson found a friend in Bahrain's Prince Abdullah al-Khalifa, who helped the weary pop icon hide from the press for months. Their friendship was not to last however, after Jackson returned to the U.S. In 2006, Abdullah sued him in a London high court for $7 million, claiming he had promised, among other things, to record two albums and stage an in-house musical production in the prince's palace.
(AP Photo/Adnan Malik/Total Communications/ho)
See the Full story at The Daily Beast
|WikiLeaks cables revealed that not only did a Gadhafi son hold a secret New Year's Eve bash in St. Bart's in 2009, but that the Gadhafis repeated it the next year. This time, it was hosted by Hannibal, Moammar's fifth-oldest son, who hired Beyoncé and Usher to entertain guests. Reports varied on how much they were paid; the numbers ranged from six figures to $2 million. Beyoncé's appearance drew even more attention than Carey's had—and more criticism, because Hannibal had recently been in the news for beating his wife, and news had started leaking out that the Gadhafis' father had ordered a jetliner bombing that killed hundreds over Lockerbie, Scotland.
(AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
See the Full story at The Daily Beast
|In 2009, Western media reported that Saif al-Islam Gadhafi, a son of Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi, had paid Mariah Carey $1 million to sing just four songs at his New Year's bash in St. Bart's. Gadhafi petulantly denied the reports in the state newspaper he controlled, blaming the big spending on his younger brother, Mutassim. As the Gadhafis' father scrambles to suppress a growing revolution, a cable released by WikiLeaks has revealed the sons' spending—including Mutassim's demands for $1.2 billion to build a personal militia and, sure enough, a big payout to Mariah. Jay-Z is rumored to to have joined Carey on the dictators' stage.
(AP Photo/Peter Kramee)
See the Full story at The Daily Beast
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I was a pool technician at 14 years old and a lifeguard at 15. I worked my way through high school and college at a local waterpark. One day, as the director of operations, I found myself in a situation where a guest was rescued from a pool and we had to administer CPR.
It was one of the defining moments in my life.
This guest had a medical condition and no matter what we did, he wasn't going to survive. But that situation stuck with me. I wanted to prepare lifeguards for those moments, to prepare facilities to be ready for handling a tough situation and, where possible, to prevent them from happening in the first place.
After college, I became general manager of a waterpark in Arizona. At that time, waterparks were having a tough time securing insurance and I presented our program to our insurance company so they could see that we were employing the very best safety practices. That opportunity helped us maintain our insurance coverage, and I started focusing on not just managing a large outdoor waterpark, but returning to risk management on a wider scale.
Recreational waterborne illnesses can come in many forms, and though I haven't had to deal with a confirmed case, being prepared for one is an important part of a facility's safety program. Over the last 20 years, I've seen my share of claims of illness and have learned to develop a tailored program.
In general, our preparedness plan includes a few elements that have helped to not only prevent an incident, but also to validate our water quality program. When we receive a call or complaint of illness, we immediately take action. We check our water quality logs to see that pools are within pool code parameters during the time the guest was present; see if other complaints have come in for a similar time frame; find out if the illness the guest is claiming is, in fact, diagnosed by a physician and that the test for illness is a qualified test; see if the incubation time for that illness matches up with the time frame the guest was present; communicate with our local health department, regardless of the likelihood it occurred at the facility. What matters most is having a well-trained team, quality equipment, a documentation process, a partnership with the local health department, empathy for the guest, and a willingness to be transparent.
As vice president of risk management at Great Wolf Resorts, based in Madison, Wis., I've also spent a lot of time developing risk management programs and participating in the writing of technical standards. Recently, I've led the MAHC Ventilation Technical Committee, and it's been a humbling and memorable experience to work with such incredible people to develop the draft standard. Now that it has been reviewed in the public forum, we must incorporate the recommended changes. I'm looking forward to the next posting of the MAHC, so the changes can be viewed. My hope is that as the chair, I was able to lead the group to develop a good draft, and an even better final draft that reflects good practices that will ultimately make indoor environments safer and more comfortable for those who enjoy and work in aquatics facilities.
— Franceen Gonzales, Vice President of Risk Management, Great Wolf Resorts, Madison, Wis.


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"The Big House" in Ann Arbor, Michigan, home of the University of Michigan Wolverines, is currently undergoing major renovations that will be completed in 2010. There will be luxury suites, an expanded press box, improved access and seating for the disabled and seating for 110,000+ fans to enjoy football on game days. This view is along the East side of the Stadium with Crisler Arena to the left.
For a view of the West side of the Stadium go to: share.gigapan.org/viewGigapan.php?auth=c4e881dd870122852116fd9b96090dc7
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Latest Headlines
Won 2 Watch: Matteo Manassero
Posted on 21 Mar 2011 by High Fade.
Manassero is quietly rewriting history before our very eyes. At the age of 16, Manassero became the youngest British Amateur Champion and the youngest to make the cut at the 2010 Masters. Turning professional shortly thereafter, at the age of 17, Manassero then became the youngest to win a European Tour event, the 2010 Castello Masters. Securing his playing privileges for the next two years o...


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Tomorrow is World Diabetes Day, the day that marks the birthday of Sir Frederick Banting and the opportunity for millions of people around the world to come together and produce a powerful and united voice calling on the world to act on diabetes to protect our future.
On this the occasion, the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) is releasing the latest IDF Diabetes Atlas containing new estimates on the global and regional prevalence of the diabetes pandemic. The latest figures confirm that diabetes is on the increase in all countries but that we have solutions to challenge the disease. World Diabetes Day is part of our response to the diabetes pandemic and the chance to raise awareness in unison with communities all over the world.
Visit http://www.idf.org/diabetesatlas on November 14 to view all the latest facts and figures from the 6th Edition of the IDF Diabetes Atlas.
Share your World Diabetes Day experience
The world is already going blue for diabetes and many have posted pictures of their awareness activities on our social media channels. Whatever you are doing on World Diabetes Day or during the rest of November, make sure to share it with us and the wider diabetes community:
- Add your pictures to our 'World Diabetes Day' pool on Flickr or send them to [email protected]. Remember to clearly describe what your image represents and where it was taken.
- Share your pictures on Instagram using the hashtag #WDD
- Tag your posts on Twitter using the hashtag #WDD and help us make World Diabetes Day a trending topic again!
- Share your awareness videos by posting them on YouTube and sending the link to [email protected] or to the World Diabetes Day YouTube Channel.
Here's a last-minute list of things that you can do show your support for World Diabetes Day:
- Wear blue for diabetes awareness in your home, school or workplace.
- Form a human blue circle with your friends, family or colleagues.
- Help us spread the word by supporting our #WDD Thunderclap campaign and showing your support for the millions who don't have access to the diabetes care they need.
- Include the blue circle on your instant messaging app profile photo
- Join the more than 4,000 individuals that have included the blue circle picbadge on their Facebook and Twitter profile pictures.
- Check our online activity map to see if there's an awareness activity near you.


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Family: Scolopacidae, Sandpipers view all from this family
Description ADULT SUMMER Has streaked brown head and neck, with reasonably clear demarcation from mostly white underparts; note the pale, but not very prominent supercilium. Upperparts are brownish overall, with many feathers dark at center and with buff or white margins. ADULT WINTER Has gray-brown head and upperparts and streaked gray-brown chest and breast showing clear demarcation from white throat and underparts; note the pale supercilium. JUVENILE Recalls summer adult, but upperparts are warmer brown, feather margins are cleanly defined, and pale margins to mantle feathers align to create a striking "V."
Dimensions Length: 6" (15 cm)
Habitat Common. Nests on tundra wetlands and open marshes in boreal forest. Winters on coasts and beside freshwater across southern U.S. southward to South America.
Observation Tips Easy to find outside breeding season; commonest during fall migration.
Range New England, Plains, Rocky Mountains, Northwest, Texas, Southeast, California, Southwest, Eastern Canada, Florida, Mid-Atlantic, Western Canada, Alaska, Great Lakes
Voice Utters a thin kreet call.
Discussion The world's smallest shorebird. Distinguished from Semipalmated and Western sandpipers at all times by its yellow (not dark) legs; collectively, these three birds are known as "peeps." Needlelike bill is dark at all times. All birds show faint white wing stripe and white sides to tail in flight. Sexes are similar.


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By Tiernan Ray
Shares of Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) are down 35 cents, or 2.4%, at $14.57, after falling almost 13% yesterday following HP's first analyst day event addressed by chief executive Meg Whitman, who came on board a year ago. Whitman forecast a decline in profit next fiscal year starting in November, projected at $3.40 to $3.60 per share, well below Street estimates. Whitman emphasized that fruits of the current restructuring will not be evident until 2014 and that recovery for HP is a multi-year process.
Dell (DELL) shares, which traded down yesterday, are rebounding a bit today, up 7 cents, or 0.7%, at $9.50.
This morning, Whitman talked with CNBC's David Faber, reiterating her view that HP has in some sense "stabilized" since she came on board, judging by her having "restored confidence in our employee base" by maintaining a "steady hand on the tiller." Whitman made a defense of HP's tablet efforts, saying the company will have devices geared to the enterprise, such as the "Elite Pad," and defended the printing business, pointing out that commercial printing use continues to increase even if more people are sharing images and documents electronically.
When Jim Cramer asked Whitman what she would say to "the next generation" that all want Apple (AAPL) products, she replied that "our people have delivered for customers."
The entire transcript of the segment can be found here.
A raft of dour reports have come out this morning, with numerous estimate and price-target cuts. The only downgrade I've seen so far is from Merrill Lynch's Scott Craig, who cut the stock to Neutral.
Some are warning it's too soon to tell if today's drastic cuts for next year are sufficient or if there will be further downside.
Richard Kugele, Needham & Co.: Reiterates an Underperform rating on the shares. Kugele cut his estimate for this year to $120 billion in revenue and $3.96 per share in profit from a prior $122.3 billion and $4.07 per share. For 2013, Kugele cut his estimate to $114 billion and $3.46 per share from a prior $127.5 billion and $4.56 per share. "The task before her and her team is a truly daunting one. How do you turn around a company that has headwinds within virtually every product category, a workforce that has been impacted by a revolving door of leadership and layoffs, and operates with a balance sheet that no longer has the flexibility for transformative acquisitions? Of course all of this is occurring within a weak/weakening macro picture. We give Ms. Whitman significant credit for outlining a plan that we believe is realistic both in its end result and the time required for success. Nevertheless, we cannot expect investors to hang on for a possible turnaround four to five years from now, nor do we recommend that they do so."
Aaron Rakers, Stifel Nicolaus: Reiterates a Hold rating on the shares. He cut his estimate for this year to $120.2 billion from $120.6 billion while maintaining his $4 per share EPS view. For 2013, he goes to $109.8 billion and $3.47 per share from a prior $121.4 billion and $4.18 per share. "While we applaud HP's candid discussion on its multifaceted challenges, we are left continuing to question whether teh material F2013 non-GAAP EPS reset is enough – particularly as it relates to HP's PC and printing expectations (i.e., majority of EPS decline relating to Enterprise Services and Solutions, and reinvestments) […] HP continues to downplay the potential of PC and/or printing divestitures; focus on rationalization product portfolios and the leverage from end compute to the data center."
Brent Bracelin, Pacific Crest: Reiterates a Sector Perform rating, headlining "confidence eroding" while suggesting the downside for the stock is actually not far from the current price, at $14, or 6 times projected free cash-flow." Bracelin keeps his 2012 estimate of $121 billion and $4.05 per share, while cutting 2013′s projection to $116.6 billion and $3.45 per share from a prior $119.4 billion and $4.18 per share. "Eroding fundamentals and share losses could be exacerbated by heightened competition. HP could continue to struggle on multiple fronts as it attempts to transform an increasingly challenged business model and exposure profile."


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Tuesday, May 17, 2011
A Vloggy Little Woodchuck Post
4 comments:
- PoetessWug said...
He eats dandelions?!!....Do they let him out for hire?! LOL How funny to see the cats watching out the window with you. ^_^
- May 17, 2011 at 8:43 PM
- marathon1981 said...
I believe the appropriate response here is ... ADORBS!!
- May 17, 2011 at 10:12 PM
- Cassandra said...
Ha! Right? Jon's dad often asks if he can borrow him to clean up his yard. He also eats the rotten apples that fall from our tree. Sit right up on his bum and munches them with both hands. So cute!
I'm glad you like the cats. They do everything with me. :) Well, Cooper does anyway (he was being especially clingy today) - and Moe likes it when we're at the window looking at stuff so he was game.
- May 17, 2011 at 11:35 PM
- Cassandra said...
I know! Isn't he the cutest?! To be fair, I have no idea if he is a she or really a he. But adorable either way. Especially when his fat fuzzy butt runs across the yard when he's startled - it's so funny!
- May 17, 2011 at 11:37 PM


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Five and Under (Birth to 5 years old) Storytime
Age Group: Kids Age From: 0 To: 5
Schedule: 12:30 p.m. SaturdaysWest Las Vegas Library
Room: Homework Help Center
Program length: 30 minutes
This story program is targeted for all children under the age of five and their parents. Families will enjoy books, songs, rhymes and movement activities while building language and literacy skills.
Storytimes take place every week throughout the year except the last two weeks in May and in August, the week of Thanksgiving and the last two weeks of December.


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The Occupy Wall Street protests that began in New York City a month ago gained worldwide momentum (CBS/AP) over the weekend, as hundreds of thousands of demonstrators in nine hundred cities protested corporate greed and wealth inequality. Protesters from London to Sydney echoed the anti-capitalist, populist rhetoric of the Occupy movement in what was deemed a "global day of protest" (TIME).
The unrest comes amid a mounting European sovereign debt crisis, which has contributed to ongoing market volatility and fears of another global economic recession. Governments around the world--particularly in the indebted eurozone periphery--have implemented harsh austerity programs, making economic growth all but impossible. In the United States, anger at Wall Street bankers seen as responsible for the global financial crisis--and at the government, for bailing out the banks with taxpayer money--is exacerbated by a persistently dismal job market.
The U.S. unemployment rate has remained stubbornly above 9 percent; in the United Kingdom, unemployment has risen to above 8 percent; and in the eurozone, it continues to hover around 10 percent. Protesters question why bankers and financial heavyweights--what the protesters call the "1 percent"--are earning more money than ever, while average workers--the "other 99 percent"--are struggling to make a living wage.
Critics of the Occupy protesters say they are naïve and incoherent; others accuse them of being anything from Communists to anarchists (HuffPost). However, many proponents see the Occupy movement as a nascent populist counterweight to the right wing Tea Party movement. The Occupy protesters "represent a genuine spark of grassroots political action--a chance, finally, to redeem the promise of Obama's 2008 campaign," write John B. Judis and Jonathan Cohn in the New Republic. But Cornell University professor Sidney Tarrow cautions against seeing the Occupy movement through the lens of the Tea Party. The former, Tarrow writes in Foreign Affairs, has few policy plans and is comprised of a "shifting configuration of supporters."
Still, President Barack Obama--who received sizable campaign contributions from Wall Street during the 2008 election--sought to tap into the movement's energy this weekend, gently lending it credence (Bloomberg)."The unemployed worker," he said, "can rightly challenge the excesses of Wall Street without demonizing all who work there."
Even corporate leaders (FT) targeted by the Occupy movement have expressed cautious sympathy with the protesters. Two scions of capitalism--Wells Fargo CEO John Stumpf and General Electric CEO Jeff Immelt--both said on Monday that they understood the anger driving the Occupy demonstrators. "If employment comes down, people will feel better," Immelt said.
European leaders were more unequivocal in their support of the weekend protesters, openly commiserating with widespread anger (DerSpiegel) at the continent's big banks. German finance minister Wolfgang Schäuble said he was taking the protests "very seriously," while incoming European Central Bank President Mario Draghi said, "The young people have a right to be furious." In the UK, Foreign Minister William Hague acknowledged, "in the banking system a lot has gone wrong." The protests in Europe have an even greater sense of urgency than in the United States, as policymakers call for the recapitalization of European banks to avoid sovereign debt contagion from Greece.
While the Occupy protesters and their offshoots may not articulate a clear set of policy objectives, "their mere existence shows that people are determined to think globally about routes out of this crisis," argues the BBC's Paul Mason. Writing in the Daily Beast, Peter Beinart comments that the movement is gaining strength as a result of its "global nature." While that doesn't mean the protesters have a "clear critique of unregulated capitalism yet, let alone a concrete agenda for reform," it signals that the left "finally is forcing those questions onto the public agenda."
By contrast, Will Marshall argues in the New Republic, that the Occupy protesters will only exacerbate ideological tensions and partisanship in American political life. Marshall says the protests are being hijacked by the "usual congeries of lefty fringe groups," which undermine their message that the United States is becoming increasingly economically unequal. Meanwhile, the Weekly Standard's Daniel Halper dismisses the protesters as "hooligans" and "criminals," lumping together a minority of violent opportunists with the majority of peaceable demonstrators.
However, as the Occupy movement becomes more global, its supporters are becoming more politically diverse. As Erik Tarloff writes in the Atlantic, the lack of political cohesion is perhaps irrelevant. "What does matter is that popular refusal to tolerate the current state of affairs appears to be reaching a tipping point."
Background Materials:
"How Occupy Wall Street Works," Foreign Affairs
"Why the Rich are Getting Richer," Foreign Affairs
"There's a Huge Amount of Anger," Foreign Policy
"Liberalism and Occupy Wall Street," New Republic


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Moving to a new location
By hendel on Jun 25, 2008
Not sure what thematic turn my blog will take, but the new location is HERE:
See you there.
Not sure what thematic turn my blog will take, but the new location is HERE:
See you there.
It is time to wrap this CMT blog journey with a paradox, because CMT has done the unthinkable. CMT started as a radical exercise in putting all processing in one socket next to one big fat memory to provide a nice "symmetrical" SMP system. Well CMT has gone multi-socket with the UltraSPARC T2 Plus. I relish the paradox of CMT born as a single socket architecture going multi-socket and conventional multi-socket processors going multi-core. Not quite architectural convergence, but some evidence of imitation being the best form of flattery.
Relishing a paradox is the refuge of the perplexed, a way of finding order when reality yields the opposite of what we expect. Anti-correlation is a form of order and causality after all, more palatable than the chaos of no correlation.
Free markets and level playing fields offer paradoxes to relish each time reality does not live up to free markets just emanating from basic freedoms, or when playing fields show steep gradients. If competitors like IBM, HP, and Sun are legally prohibited from colluding to fix the prices of the computers they sell for, say, oil exploration, yet said oil producers collude as a cartel to sell their product, is that strange or what. Sit back and enjoy that paradox.
Or when Sun hardware runs into bogus import regulations overseas meant to protect local competitors, but shoes coming the other way enjoy some most favored nation moniker and displace perfectly comfortable shoes from Brazil, for example, the field ain't level. It may be hard for engineers to sit back and enjoy this paradox with gusto while their product turns obsolete awaiting import approval. Shoes have longer shelf lives than computers.
Yet fortunately other aspects of our high tech professions can be lived "paradox free". Take employment, for example, an important part of our lives. Jobs are so important in this valley of ours that they settle the fuss about marriage being exclusively between a man and a woman. Plenty of marriages between a man and a job in California.
A friend who recently went through the hiring process, suggests that even job seeking can be a "paradox free" private affair to the benefit of both parties. That was until my brother spoiled it all. See, my friend had the lofty goals of maximizing his benefit while eliminating haggling. Haggling leaves a bad taste and is no way to start a relationship, right? So he informed the interested employers that on a set date he would decide where to go based on a sealed bid auction. Best offer takes him, no reserve. And that is precisely what happened, he got all job offers, lined them up, and accepted the best one. No negotiation, no recruiter calls, no re-bids.
Enter my brother. First, the Revenue Equivalence Theorem shows that the various auction methods are equivalent, and none of them is capable of extracting for my friend the maximal valuation unless he gets offers from an infinite number of employers. An infinite number of interviews is not practical, shaking that many hands surely leads to arthritis.
Second the Winner's Curse shows that the winning participant in an auction will typically pay an overvalued price. The moment my friend accepted the offer his market value immediately declined in the eyes of his new boss. Bad way to start a new job... So according to game theory my friend cannot elude paradoxes, but I visited him yesterday at his new job and both parties are happy, what gives?
Paradoxes being useful refuges doesn't mean that behind every paradox there is something unpleasant to take refuge from. A harmless paradox appears to be the case with my friend.
A harmless paradox lies behind multi-socket CMT systems. The proof points are plentiful, in the form of official white papers like this one, or the unfiltered voices of bloggers that looked into details like whether any multi-socket NUMA effects get in the way, the scalability of the OS, its mutexes and locks going to 128 threads, how to get 10G network rates, and how well Java runs and scales on these systems. Allan Packer's entry CMT_goes_multi is a great repository for all these perspectives on the multi-socket T2 Plus.
Since CMT it is hard to agree on what a processor is anymore (a chip, a core, a thread) but a socket remains a clear entity even when the component is not socketed at all. Increasingly a processor socket is a unit of memory interface, that is because by now most processors have done the flattering imitation and incorporated their memory controllers on chip. And that unit of memory interface gives a multi-socket CMT a larger memory footprint, which is where we started our journey.
The two socket UltraSPARC T2 Plus enterprise systems are out since April, taking the thread count to 128 per system. The Telco variants of these systems come out next to augment the scope of what CMT can do for the network infrastructure we care about. And when they arrive you can always find them here .
Technorati Profile
[ Technorati: NiagaraCMT, Solaris ]


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Shell scripts and space characters in command line parameters
I'm using Linux for more than 10 years now and it is embarrassing that I missed this shell feature for so long. But first let's explain the problem: Let's say we want to write a shell script which simply starts some application and which passes all command line parameters to this application. This is often useful if an application is installed in some directory which is not in the PATH and you want to put a starter script into
~/bin which is in PATH. Example:
#!/bin/sh # Filename: ~/bin/startmyapp cd ~/opt/myapp exec ./myapp $*
$* is a place holder for all command line parameters which were passed to this shell script. Now let's feed some command line parameters to it:
startmyapp arg1 "arg2 with spaces" arg3
The ~/opt/myapp/myapp program is now called like this from the shell script:
./myapp arg1 arg2 with spaces arg3
So now there are five parameters instead of three. Bad thing. Using
"$*" instead of
$* also doesn't work because then all command line parameters are passed as a single parameter to the program. So far I never searched for a solution to this problem. Instead I always worked around this problem somehow. But today I took some time to find a solution and found it pretty fast. It simply looks like this:
#!/bin/sh # Filename: ~/bin/startmyapp cd ~/opt/myapp exec ./myapp "$@"
$@ parameter was completely new to me. The difference between
$* and
$@ is explained here.


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Results 1 to 4 of 4
03-12-2013, 12:37 AM #1Junior Member Guppy
- Join Date
- Mar 2013
- Posts
- 2
New Cichlid Tank- How many fish to add at a time
Hi everyone,
I am planning to set up a 55 gallon African Cichlid tank (Lake Malawi). I am reading conflicting information about adding fish. I have read a lot of articles that said fish need to be added gradually to prevent build-up of toxic nitrogenous wastes, but I have also read that cichlids showed be added quickly and in large numbers to prevent becoming overly territorial. Showed I cycle with a couple minnows for an extended period of time and then just give them back to my aquarium shop and buy a few cichlids at once?
Thanks in advance.
No on the minnows. Africans should be stocked all at once to prevent some of the aggression issues that will arise. Since you will be adding the full bio-load of the tank all at once you need to build a strong bio-filter before you add the fish. The fish-less cycle is the best way to achieve this, here is a link to help you understand the method, http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/aqua...ead.php?t=5640 It would take a large amount of minnows to equal the bio-load of a fully stocked african cichlid tank. I am not against cycling with fish, but it is a huge amount of work and most of the time it is not done properly and the fish suffer. You will need to do many water changes, sometimes 2-3 daily, which will unnecessarily prolong the cycle, and the minnows are still likely to suffer and live shortened lives. Because you are doing so many water changes cycling with fish is also much more expensive. When you cycle the tank using ammonia, you can build up a bigger bio-filter from the start, no water changes until the cycle is complete, making it the cheaper option, and no chance of hurting the fish due to error.When I go fishing I just throw sharp rocks in the water and wait for the dead fish to float to the top... Kingfisher
Everything happens for a reason. Sometimes that reason is you are stupid and make bad decisions.
I think my fish is adjusting well to the four gallon, He's laying on his side attempting to go to sleep on the bottom of the gravel.
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
Dear naps, sorry I hated you so much when I was a child... Love me
You are right, generally you add fish one by one, but with such aggressive and territorial fish as African cichlids, you have to add them all at once to ensure that they all start out equal, other wise the first ones who have had first dibs on territory will mercilessly kill the new ones.
03-13-2013, 08:57 PM #4Junior Member Guppy
- Join Date
- Mar 2013
- Posts
- 2
Thank you. I guess it is time to get started on that fishless cycle


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I'm hooked, I would buy that DVD just for the wonderful scenery, exotic (to me) dog work, jumping stone walls and iron gates, up and down terrain and most importantly that great Irish accent. My wife and I are going to Ireland this Spring, I wonder if they have a schedule of field trials over there, or if there was a training set up I could take a day off our trip to check out?
BTW, I'm an older -well seasoned guy


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Missing Dog Help
Find out what to do if your dog goes missing and the best ways to get help.
Find out what to do if your dog goes missing and the best ways to get help.
Learn more about microchips and how they can help prevent heartbreak.
Running after a loose dog or cat is not the best way to catch an escaped pet! Read these tips to learn what you should do to calmly capture a pet.
A collar and tag can save your pet's life. Learn more about why we believe that all dogs and cats should wear identification for their own protection.
Ever wonder how microchips are implanted into pets? It's quick, simple, inexpensive and essentially painless. Learn more!
Did you put a microchip in your pet? Learn some of the things you should do to keep it up to date.
Up to two million animals are stolen each year. Learn some information on what happens to stolen pets and how to prevent pet theft.
Microchips are more than you think! Read this article to learn the bonus benefits of microchipping your pet.
Animal identification has relied on microchipping since the 1980s and its starting to catch on even more nowadays.
Registered microchips give pets the best chance of returning home. Find out a few more reasons why pet microchips are a good idea.


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Alex E. Limkin
The Atheist and the Coconuts
V8 juice continues to save lives in Iraq despite fatalities
By Alex E. Limkin
The explosion at that early hour, jolting us from sleep, makes my stomach convulse reflexively, like a salamander prodded in the belly with a stick. My eyes open to take in the dark room, the grimy walls, the concrete floor. Across from me the colonel is awake, a mirror image of myself with just his face peeking outside his sleeping bag. Together we lie there stupidly, not saying a word, as though it were customary, this breaking loose of all hell. More explosions follow, one after the other. It dawns on me that we are being mortared, that this is what it is to be mortared, and I am touched by a panic that this could be my last moment, lying here naked in a broken cot in a broken building in a broken country with only the colonel for company.
Alex E. Limkin
Am I to die here in this strange land? And for what? God and Country? A black coffin draped in an oversized flag and a stranger's eulogy? "Sacrificed his life … that others may live in freedom … died doing what he loved." I'd sooner perish. I'm going to perish. Wriggling like a minnow in my sleeping bag, growing damp with the fluids coming out through the holes and slits in me. If I can just get back to my automatic rice cooker and the little whistling sound it makes when it's underway. I'll be happy to rake the leaves come fall. Straighten up the garage. Try my hand at making biscuits from scratch.
Alex E. Limkin
"Roger that, sir."
The coconuts are our Iraqi charges, police recruits ranging in age from 17 to 65. I approximate the age of the older recruits by the absence of teeth and their winsome leathery aspect, but they could easily be younger given all the sweet tea they drink, the scorching Arabian sun and general lack of hygiene. The older ones are also distinguished by their inability to exit the back of pickups without a helping hand. Our job is to dispatch these men, young and old, to Fallujah to help patrol the streets. Higher has advised us, via the Batphone, that the order can come down anytime. Anytime! It's easy to picture them being cut down piecemeal and in droves, starting with the old ones incapable of hasty movement—which can factor powerfully in avoiding bullets—followed by the young ones, whose only form of self-preservation is the death blossom.
Despite the name, the death blossom is actually something scary. The explosive powder and gasses propelling the bullet down the barrel erupt in a blossoming of sparks and flame, something best appreciated at night with the selector switch in the fully automatic position. Since the Iraqis are trigger-happy, squeezing off full magazines at the drop of a rupee, they are death blossom aficionados, posing a threat to all things settled upon the earth—from the shepherds to the shepherded, the animate to the inanimate, the nonthreatening to the merely innocuous. Should a stray round from an AK strike a blow of chance against an enemy combatant, flat-footed incredulity ensues. Open-mouthed incredulity. Followed by fierce celebration. Followed by more shooting, the rifles positively coming alive, squirming and protesting in their arms like recalcitrant lovers. KARAKARAKARAKAH! KARAKARAKARAKAH! Until the barrels start to give out and bend like elephant trunks, which, not to worry, can be compensated for by an adroit forward thrust of the hips, which to witness is to marvel at.
Alex E. Limkin
The trucks the colonel wants me to check on are parked in the back, but I'm not going out there without my V8 juice. The savory concoction has served as my talisman for several months, warding off war zone dangers, as well as providing me with the important vitamins and nutrients that come with two servings of vegetables. On my camera I have images of V8 empties posed whimsically in front of scenes of carnage. The fact that I am an onlooker taking the picture and not part of the carnage demonstrates the V8 is doing its job. And so I keep drinking it regularly, two cans every morning, like clockwork. Unless the galley is out due to a hijinxed KBR convoy, in which case I have no choice but to malinger. Which means I'm actually helping, because if I went outside and got shot, the army would have to e-mail back to the States for a replacement, who would likely be unaware of the efficacious nature of V8 juice, and then the vicious cycle would just go on and on without any end in sight.
Alex E. Limkin
The Iraqis have survived the onslaught but are looking sullen behind the concertina wire that keeps them from straying. They've spent the evening and night diligently pooping and peeing on the concrete floors of their building, which has seen better days, but not by much. Some of the turds have been stepped in and tracked about, others have water bottles pushed down into their center like candles. This despite the dozen portajohns lined up in front of their bombed-out barracks.
"You people know how to use portajohns? POR-TA-JOHNS?"
They've taken their trash and gathered it in piles and set fire to it: styrofoam food containers, water bottles, pieces of clothing, what looks like a mattress, flip-flops, empty packs of cigarettes, chicken bones. One guy is tiptoeing in the embers holding a stick with his pants rolled up to below his knees.
I get the commander to round up his men, or the majority of them. It's never possible to get an accurate count. Like herding cats. Someone's always off washing their feet. Or poking around in the remains of a fire. But no one's hurt. That's good.
Everybody ready go Fallujah? Check. We spend the morning unloading the trucks and sorting the gear out and getting it issued. I'm hoarse from cursing at their groping hands and disorganization. All they care about are the handguns, the Glocks, which fetch $800 on the street. I get the commander in a tan uniform, and he becomes helpful. He grabs a stick and starts thwacking away at the arms and legs of the recruits, helping to control them as they pass through the line. "Yallah! Yallah! Yallah!" He's chasing recruits with his stick and I'm slinging helmets and boots and ammo pouches and flashlights and tube socks and thigh holsters and PowerPuff bedrolls in a mad frenzy. The recruits are jabbering away and stripping down to their skivvies in the dirt and getting suited up and tossing their rubbish from the packaging over their shoulders and trying to avoid getting hit with the stick and the commander is sweating and putting on a fine show but there's no time to celebrate because we only have a few hours to get them lined up in formation, counted and staged for the transport helicopters. Where's the colonel? Here he comes, pumping his fist up and down in the air to say the choppers are inbound. Time has passed in a blur, darkness is falling.
"You're doing good out here," says the colonel. "Getting things done. I like that."
"Watch this," I say.
"Yallah! Yallah! Yallah!" This gets everyone clambering to their feet and dusting off their bottoms. They've been loading their rifle magazines and discarding the cardboard boxes that the 7.62 rounds come in. There's cardboard and MRE detritus all over the place from where they were competing for most rat-fucked MRE honors, choosing hunger over the tasteless crap the Ameyriki pawn on them.
The commander has his stick out and there's more shouting. I'm impressed to see him get the recruits formed and moving toward the LZ. But there's some commotion in the formation. Some recruits seem to be falling back toward the rear. Then we can hear the choppers and it's time. Recruits are having second thoughts. A handful are turning their backs on the LZ and facing us, shifting their weight around, looking uncertain. To mutiny or not to mutiny? They gaze from each other back to us back to each other. The one closest is clutching his Winnie the Pooh bedroll and he's sweating and his eyes are feverish and he's moaning, "No Fallujah, mister, no Fallujah!"
"You're getting on that chopper!" I yell at him, stepping in close. He has a thin mustache and a hook nose. "No Fallujah! No Fallujah, mister!" A hot anger comes over me. The choppers have touched down and there's no time to be dicking around. The recruits could all start running off in the shadows. And then what? We'd have to track them down, live weapons and all. It could be a death blossom melee.
I grab the moaning one and drive my knee between his legs. He sags a little and I yank him to his feet, shove the Winnie the Pooh bedroll in his gut and push him to where the CH-47s are stirring up debris with their rotorwash. "You want to get all your buddies killed, you sorry fuck? Move your ass!" I've got him hobbling in the right direction and I see the colonel has his gun out and I pull mine too. The stragglers relent with some head bobbing and muttering and turn toward the open maw of the choppers where their fellow coconuts are getting situated.
No need to push anymore. We're standing there breathing hard as the holdouts take their seats on red cargo net benches flanking the insides, and then the loading ramp is coming up and the birds are pulling away even while the ramp is still shutting and then they're wheeling in the dark sky over our heads firing white flares to protect against missile attack. The flares briefly illuminate the nearby rooftops strung with wire, then the noise of the helicopters fades to a dull throbbing, and it's dark and quiet and wonderful feeling.
"We did it."
"I didn't even have any bullets in my gun," says the colonel.
"We didn't need no stinking bullets, sir! Come on, now!"
"You're glad they're gone, huh?" He slaps my shoulder and leaves it there.
"Fucking A right, sir!"
It doesn't matter that by the time word gets to Washington, someone will have doubled or tripled the numbers. Our part is done. I feel like a drink but there's no drinking to be had, nowhere in the whole wide desert. General's orders, out of respect for Islam.
The cot creaks under my weight. Nightfall. It's time to escape. I am awake and dreaming of a future away from this place, away from the war. A future that may never come. I think it may never come. Not with the sound of the choppers in my brain, chopping the air into a fine, misty blurriness. There is. I can see. Hear. The choppers are beating the air like great, flying wasps. Diabolical winged creatures. The coconuts are inside them, clutching their blankets tight in the dying light, like children lost in time.
Alex Escué Limkin, who returned from Iraq in September 2005 following a 12-month tour of duty in the Army, has a law practice in the Sunshine Building with an emphasis on DWI defense. Having resigned his commission in order to run his practice full-time, he is non-deployable but fully functional. Aside from traditional war booty, such as slipper boots and gas masks, he has amassed a collection of Akkadian stele fragments carved from greenish alabaster and dating back to 2300 B.C. These fragments, relics of ancient Mesopotamia, depict soldiers escorting nude, fettered prisoners. They may be viewed by appointment. CPT Limkin (Ret.) has no knowledge or recollection of the fate of the Iraqi men he helped dispatch to Fallujah in December 2004.
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