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Navy discovers more damage, decides to scrap submarine Miami
Groton — The Navy notified Congress on Tuesday that it plans to stop repairing the USS Miami and, instead, to scrap it.
In April, the Navy discovered additional cracking on board the Miami, which was severely damaged after a civilian worker set a fire inside the submarine while it was undergoing repairs at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine, in May 2012. The discovery of the additional damage raised repair costs from an estimated $450 million to $700 million, according to the Navy.
Electric Boat was awarded a $94 million contract in September to plan for the repairs, and the repair contract was also expected to go to the shipyard. At its peak, about 300 EB employees were expected to be working on the project.
But given the fiscally constrained environment, and the automatic spending cuts known as sequestration that were triggered in March, a spokeswoman said, Navy officials knew additional funding would not be available.
The Navy would need $390 million in fiscal 2014 to pay for the repairs to the Groton-based submarine, including the increased costs and scope of the work, as well as to replenish a contingency account should the cost increase again. The Navy has spent $8 million on the Miami repair so far this year.
"There has always been a degree of uncertainty with the repair effort. It was the biggest casualty of its type by far and we embarked on the repair effort without a complete understanding of how big a challenge that was," Rear Adm. Kenneth M. Perry, commander of Submarine Group Two, said in an interview Tuesday. "We had to move out and start repairing."
That uncertainty, now coupled with intense fiscal pressures, Perry said, led the Navy to evaluate critically whether to provide the resources to return Miami to the fleet. Perry did not discuss the decision specifically because, he said, it was made by top Navy leaders.
U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal and U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney each received calls Tuesday from Navy officials conveying the service's intention to inactivate the ship.
"It is sickening when you think about the fact that the U.S. Navy has lost a submarine to an act of arson," Courtney, D-2nd District, said. "It didn't happen in a conflict. It didn't happen from an enemy. It happened from an American citizen, and the consequences are going to be felt for a long time. The number of mission requests for submarines is far higher than the capacity of the fleet and this aggravates that delta, or shortfall."
Casey James Fury, a civilian painter and sand blaster, was sentenced to more than 17 years in federal prison in March after he pleaded guilty to setting fire to rags aboard the Miami (SSN 755) when it was at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard for a 20-month overhaul. He told authorities he suffered from anxiety and wanted to leave work. Seven people were injured fighting the blaze, which burned for 12 hours.
Blumenthal, D-Conn., said the loss of the Miami underscores the "vital need" to continue building two Virginia-class submarines per year.
"We need to sustain our advantage in undersea warfare so there can be no question now that two submarines a year have to be built at Electric Boat," he said. "… Eventually we can compensate for the temporary loss of a submarine by continuing our building program."
Blumenthal said he wants to review the facts that led to the decision, but "certainly the Navy has to consider budget restraints and unanticipated costs."
Robert Hamilton, spokesman for EB, said the shipyard has not yet analyzed the impact of the lost work. But Courtney said the project did represent a significant amount of work for the shipyard and it will be a challenge to find other repair jobs.
"I spoke to some of the folks at EB over the weekend about this issue and people were bracing themselves for it," Courtney said.
The Navy had said it would fix the submarine by April 30, 2015, because the Miami still has 10 years remaining in its roughly 30-year service life, making it eligible for at least five more deployments.
Inspections later revealed that due to environmentally assisted cracking in the steel piping and fasteners used in the air, hydraulic and cooling water systems, a significant number of components in the torpedo room and auxiliary machinery room would need to be replaced, according to the Navy.
"The decision to inactivate Miami is a difficult one, taken after hard analysis and not made lightly," Rear Adm. Rick Breckenridge, the director of undersea warfare, said in a statement. "We will lose the five deployments that Miami would have provided over the remaining 10 years of her planned service life, but in exchange for avoiding the cost of repairs, we will open up funds to support other vital maintenance efforts, improving the wholeness and readiness of the fleet."
Breckenridge said funding the repairs would have meant the cancellation of work on dozens of surface ships and submarines, and the Navy and the nation "simply cannot afford to weaken other fleet readiness in the way that would be required to afford repairs to Miami."
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DJ Suss-One TFP News: Dentist making a come up off Kim K's mouth
Every one wants a piece of the pie and Kim Kardashian's former dentist from a job done in wants his. Kim visited Dr.Craig Gordon in 2001 to switch out her silver fillings for more transparent porcelain fillings. She ended up pulling a fats one on him and not paying for her bills ( obviously this was before the money). A lawsuit was then filled in 2002, Kim was a no show, so the doctor received a default judgment of $1,605.73.
Dr.Gordon is now trying to sell this judgment to the highest bidder because it is an 'collectable value'.
Here's the best part since there was interest on this unpaid judgment, the price has now hiked to $3,486.85 ! He now believes he can sell it for $13,00. Thats a nice little penny.
Inspired by: DJ Suss One
Source: TMZ

subset: commoncrawl


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Posts filed under 'Other Treats'
Savory and Summery
(Mom wants me to let you guys know that we she grew the lettuce on that plate.)
These past few weeks, I've felt suspended in limbo. In a lot of ways, this summer feels like my last. The last summer I can get away without having a steady job. The last summer where my high school friends are all in town and trying to keep us together. The last summer I'll see the world the way I do right now. I keep having to remind myself that I'm a high school graduate, and that everything is about to change in September.
I don't feel like a college freshman, the way I still don't feel like a legal adult. Once in a while, when I hear from a friend or spot the square graduation cap in my closet, I'm stifled with hesitation. There are moments where I don't think I'll survive if I'm tossed into the depths of the unknown. But sooner or later, I walk past someone with a Red Sox tee or tell someone about my expected major – and then I'm overwhelmed with a desire to pack up and move to Boston already.
The morning after I graduated, I thought to myself, "This is it. This summer is like the eye of a hurricane." A month in, though, I'm seeing it a little differently. The next two months aren't the calm before an unstoppable storm… they're a window of opportunity. The opportunity to relax while shouldering a bit of responsibility, and to enjoy every second of this limbo.
So what have I been doing with my last days in Washington? Even though Seattle is currently going through a miniature heat wave, I've been spending most of my hours in the kitchen.
It started about a week ago. My dad and I were at the dinner table, talking about college and 17 and Baking. Up until then, I'd felt unconcernedly confident about maintaining the blog through the school year. After all, it simply had to work out. How hard could it be to keep up the blogging?
But little by little, tiny cracks chipped away at my optimism. I came to the unpleasant conclusion that I can't bring the KitchenAid mixer with me. It's so heavy, how we would transport it across the country? And where would I keep it – my dorm? Would I carry it down the streets of Boston in search of a kitchen? I reluctantly admitted there were flaws in my idealism, all the way down to the simple issue of where I'd store flour and eggs. Would I even have time?
So I've begun baking like crazy to stock up on photos. While I'm thrilled that I'll be able to keep blogging through the blustery chills of October and the January freeze, it contradicts my general philosophy of only using seasonal items. In the past week, my searches for wintery produce and dabbles with autumn spices have only reinforced my appreciation for seasonal ingredients.
It's July, and it's also a window of opportunity for the fruits and vegetables I've waited for all winter. I've missed the satisfaction of a real tomato, heavy with juice and sweeter than sugar. It's been too long since I last eased a knife through the streaked hull of a watermelon. I've been craving the fuzzy blush of a peach and the first seed-studded bite into a strawberry ever since January. They just aren't good in April – some things are worth waiting for.
Gosh, I'm hungry again.
And with the ingredients come the dishes I've been lusting after. Spontaneous fruits-of-the-moment fruit salads, cold cucumber soup, sparkling herb lemonade! Even water tastes better when you're drinking it between forkfuls of grilled salmon with grape and melon chutney.
I know I'm not the only foodie in town excited by summer produce. My parents have both been waiting, and it's finally the time of year for my dad's zesty blueberry corn salad with lime, and my mom's avocado and sundried tomato eggrolls with chili dipping sauce. There's only a short window of time when we can indulge ourselves in these savory summer dishes, and we're taking full advantage of it.
I love my mother's eggrolls. She first came up with them last summer, and when avocado season rolled around this year we began eating batch after batch. She starts with a gorgeously ripe avocado – as creamy and thick as butter, the kind of green that sends happy flutters in your stomach. Add sun dried tomatoes, fresh cilantro and sharp red onion, and you've hit upon something special – smooth, crispy, chewy, and indulgent.
My dad loves the combination of fresh blueberries and gently cooked corn. The corn is still a little warm, still has a little pop to it. The blueberries are cool and sweet. Spritzed with lime, they become like dark pearls, stunning against the light yellow kernels and flecks of zest. There's only a small period of time when blueberry season and corn season cross, so now's the time to make this refreshing salad… over and over again.
In the coming weeks, as summer draws to an end, I might get sick of flaky eggroll skin or juicy corn. Before long, I'll be longing for pumpkin puree and for the give of a ripe pear, the way it smells like crisp leaves and November rain. But everything is worth the wait. And for now, I'll enjoy the summer's bounty as long as it blooms, ripens, and warms in the July heat.
White Chocolate Coeur de la Crème
It was no surprise to anyone that after 8th grade graduation, I sobbed for weeks.
I didn't just cry at the pre-ceremony event, the actual ceremony, and the post-ceremony party. Instead, weeks into summer, I broke down whenever I heard the Vitamin C graduation song or saw a friend's face. Looking back at the past, it's ridiculous and a little embarrassing, but not surprising. I was always an overly sensitive kid.
I remember once, when I was in middle school, unearthing a box of old school reports from my elementary school teachers. I'd opened and read every report written about me since the first grade. I don't know what I expected, but I was disappointed to see the same thing written every year: "While Elissa shows a clear passion for learning, she needs to control her emotions. She feels everything a little too much."
Reading those papers, I felt like my sensitivity was a major weakness, my biggest flaw. If only I could learn to make my heart a little tougher, life would suddenly make sense. But I felt like I couldn't change what was so clearly part of me. My life was overflowing with sensitivity.
Fast forward four years, and my sensitivity certainly hasn't left. I'm consumed with sympathy when I hear about earthquakes or hurricanes or oil spills around the world. If I make a rude offhand comment to my mother in the morning, it drenches my entire day with guilt. And I still cry when I watch the Lion King. It's just so sad.
But somehow, something has changed. I graduated Monday night on my school's football field. I didn't cry when I walked into the main gym for the last time and saw my entire senior class in blue gowns and square caps. I kept it together when my mother presented me with the purple lei she'd secretly bought for me, just for this occasion. My heart didn't break when I finally saw my parents in the crowd, smiling like 150 watts.
Because I didn't spend the entire time crying, I'll remember things about this graduation that I can't remember from 8th grade. I'll remember how A- kept knocking off my graduation hat, so I couldn't get it straight during the actual ceremony (thanks a lot.) I'll remember the way the knots of my cords felt against the back of my neck, and the melody that C- and M- played on their cellos. And surreal and dreamy as it might be, I'll remember the snapshot image of everyone's caps suspended in the air, like they could float there forever.
It's Wednesday – a lifetime of hugs, handshakes, photographs, laughs, and memories later. I still haven't shed a tear. It's not that I'm not sad to leave high school, because I am. I'll miss my morning carpool with C-, my doodles in first period with M-, and watching Battlestar Galactica in E-'s basement with a pillow clutched to my chest. In a few months, I'll begin to miss things that I haven't even thought of, the little things I took for granted every day I went to class.
But something fundamental has changed in me. In 8th grade, I clung so fervently to the past that I had to be dragged into the next stage of my life. I was terrified of change, even though I couldn't admit it. And now? Well, I'm still terrified of change. But I'm also ready for it, eager for it. The thrill of college is tangible and overwhelming – it's electric.
And while I don't think I'll ever stop tearing up when Simba takes his rightful place in Pride Rock, I'm no longer held back by sensitivity as a weakness. In fact, wielded in the right way, I think it's a strength. It's what fills my head with imagery as a writer, it's what lets me empathize with everyone around me, and it's what makes life so much richer an experience.
My life is no longer overflowing with sensitivity – it's flowing with inspiration. Everywhere I look, I am surrounded by potential and motivation. I want to take everything I've learned in high school and change the world with knowledge. I want to throw myself into Boston head first, arms open. I want to read every book in existence, and let the words push me forward.
I devoured A Homemade Life in one afternoon several weeks ago. It's by my hero Molly Wizenberg, the blogger behind Orangette, and it's beautiful. She weaves every story with family and food and love, tying everything in her life to the meals she remembers. "Inspiring" feels like an understatement – I want to write a book like that someday.
But for now, maybe I can be satisfied with baking food like that today. When I saw her recipe for white chocolate coeur de la crème, I couldn't stop myself from making it that very evening. It's a mousse made with cream, cream cheese, and white chocolate, chilled and served in dollops with berry puree. It was everything she'd described – creamy, soft, simultaneously airy and substantial – brought to life.
It's incredible how my view of the world has changed in four years. What will the next four bring?
A Box of Brigadeiros (Brazilian Fudge Truffles)
When my DSLR camera arrived in the mail, matte black and quite possibly the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen, the first place I went was the kitchen.
Up until then, I'd been using a small, compact digital camera to take my food photos. While I was satisfied with the results, I knew I wanted something more. I wanted a camera that caught the rich sheen of chocolate glaze, the buttery crumble of shortbread, and the vivid colors of buttercream frosting. And while my digital camera could take a photograph of a dessert, it didn't capture the real essence of what made each dessert truly, fork-halfway-to-your-mouth delicious.
But with my new Canon Rebel XTi, I felt sure that everything was about to change. I lifted my camera to my cheek, felt my eyelashes brush against the viewfinder, and pressed the button gently. My first photograph was a basket of green and gold apples in a woven basket, steeped in the most beautiful afternoon light I'd ever seen. I actually set the camera down to do a little dance right there on the kitchen tiles, feeling utterly radiant.
Since then, taking photographs has become just as fulfilling as baking a creamy, uncracked cheesecake or writing a seamless short story. I take long walks around the neighborhood with the Canon around my neck, glancing everywhere like I could take a picture with my eyes. I look for the extraordinary in the details, for interesting shadows and whimsical patterns.
Every time I check the photos I've taken, it's a mixed bag. There will always be a couple that are slightly out of focus or didn't replicate the view in my head. I don't think a good camera makes a photographer. But when I get a shot that makes me as giddy as that beautifully simple photo of a basket of apples, I feel like a life spent seeking breathtaking photos would be a life well spent.
I sent that photograph of the apples to my dad the day I took it. I included a brief, but cheery message with it: "Look!!! This is unedited, straight out of the camera! I think I'm just going to have to send you a photo every single day."
And you know what? I didn't think much of that last sentence at the time, but it's been nine months and he's kept me to it.
Every day, whether the sky releases a torrent of rain or I get home at nine with a headache and a temper, I send a daily photo. It's a different image every day… pastel sunrises, wrought-iron fences, even self-portraits if I'm feeling ambitious. And though it isn't always easy to come up with a new photo, it keeps me photographing the way 17 and Baking keeps me writing.
As it turns out, I love photographing almost anything – people, dilapidated houses, animals, unusual textures – more than food.
There is a side effect to the daily photos, though. I don't like my dad to look through my camera. I love surprises. I love being surprised, I love planning surprises, and I definitely like surprising other people, so I always want the daily photo to be new when my dad checks for it every night. Unfortunately, I think I care more than he does, so sometimes we fight over the Canon.
"Dad. Seriously. Don't look through it. I just got back from downtown and there's a lot of daily photos in there."
"Good!" He'll press the buttons to look through the saved photos, a thoughtful look on his face before I'll try to snatch the camera back.
"It should be a surprise!" And then I'll get served with the roll of his eyes, his mild annoyance, and that too-familiar face that says "Oh please." But I always persist.
But after we made this brigadeiros – Brazilian fudge truffles we made at the request of a reader – I surprised both of us by being somewhat open. I normally make him leave when I photograph food, preferring to be alone to avoid the pressure of his presence as well as his advice. But that day I let him stand off to the side as I adjusted settings, taking the same photo over and over.
When he asked what I was doing, I even turned over the camera to show him. Who knows. Surprises are important, but maybe a little family time with five dozen truffles and a set of pretty photographs is kind of important too.
I'd never heard of brigadeiros before, but when someone asked for them through a comment on an old post, I was tickled. Dad and I looked them up together and realized that they were a snack his grandmother had made for him when he was a little boy, exactly the same. Whether they evoked memories or not, though, they were my first request and I didn't even consider not making them.
With Dad's help, we decided on five variations: coconut lemon, cayenne cinnamon, tangerine, hazelnut-nutella (think Ferrero Rocher), and white chocolate-dipped lavender almond. It may sound like a mouthful, but actually, this might be the easiest thing I've ever made. To make five dozen truffles, including five different variations and a trip to the grocery store, the entire process took us two hours.
The base is only 3 ingredients, but gosh, these are delicious. The entire week we've said, "Wow. We need to give these away." But we haven't. We just keep eating them. For once, I don't feel like the photos do the brigadeiros justice.
White Chocolate-Dipped Lavender Almond Brigadeiro
[PS: I'm thinking about doing a frequently-asked questions post, so feel free to leave a comment with a question for me. I'll pick out some questions and answer them in a later post. You can ask about anything, food-related or not, and I might answer it! :) Hope you all had a great valentine's day. I spent it eating brigadeiros.]


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Greek cuisine is a subset of Mediterranean cuisine, making particular use of ingredients native to the region such as olive oil, grains, wine, fish, vegetables, spices, cheese, yogurt, and herbs. Greek cuisine also tends to consist of meats such as lamb and poultry. Typical Greek dishes are refreshing and zesty (frequently using lemon to achieve this effect), employing the use of various native spices.
Even with its ancient roots, Greek food remains a favorite in the modern culinary scene — among cooks and eaters alike. Below are 7 delicious Greek recipes that you can try making at home for dinner.
1. Lamb Souvlaki with Tzatziki
Souvlaki is a popular Greek dish consisting of skewered vegetables and meats, generally served alongside a dill and yogurt-based tzatziki sauce. Lamb is most commonly featured in souvlaki, but can be replaced with a meat, meat substitute, or vegetable of the server's choosing. This recipe from Emeril Lagasse of the Food Network has a light and refreshing lemony zip — a typical characteristic of Greek cuisine. A dash of Emeril's zesty essence adds delicious character to this Greek favorite. Recipe takes 2 hours and 50 minutes to complete and yields 4-6 servings.
- 2 pounds lamb, trimmed of fat and cut into 1-inch strips
- ¼ cup fresh lemon juice
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground pepper
- 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon fresh oregano
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- ¼ cup grated onion
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1 large white onion, thinly sliced
- 1 teaspoon Essence, recipe follows
- Pita bread rounds
- Tzatziki, recipe follows
- 1 medium cucumber, peeled, sliced in half and seeded, and finely chopped
- ⅛ teaspoon plus ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup plain yogurt
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice or white wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon minced fresh dill or oregano leaves
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- ½ teaspoon Essence, recipe follows
Essence (Emeril's Creole Seasoning):
- 2 ½ tablespoons paprika
- 2 tablespoons salt
- 2 tablespoons garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
- 1 tablespoon dried leaf oregano
- 1 tablespoon dried thyme
Directions: Place the meat in a non-reactive bowl. Mix together the lemon juice, oil, salt, pepper, 1 tablespoon oregano, garlic, and grated onion, and pour over the meat. Cover and chill at least 2 hours and up to overnight. Thread the meat onto metal or bamboo skewers.
Heat the oil on a griddle or in a large skillet over high heat. Add the onions, remaining teaspoon oregano and Essence to the griddle and cook light brown, about 6 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from the pan.
Preheat a grill. Grill the skewers, turning occasionally, until brown on all sides. Remove from the grill. Quickly heat the pita bread on the grill until just warmed through and pliant. Holding a pita in the left hand, and the skewer in the right hand, pull the contents from the skewer into the pita bread. Repeat with the remaining skewers. Divide the cooked onions among the pita, and top with tzatziki (cucumber sauce). Serve immediately.
Tzatziki: Put the cucumber in a strainer set over a bowl. Sprinkle with ⅛ teaspoon salt and drain for 1 hour. Put the yogurt in another strainer set over a bowl and drain for 1 hour. Combine the cucumber and yogurt in a bowl with the remaining ingredients and stir well. Cover and chill for at least 1 hour before serving.
Essence (Emeril's Creole Seasoning): Combine all ingredients thoroughly and store in an airtight jar or container.
Recommended wine pairings: Salty, creamy, and zesty, this dish is best offset by a food-friendly red wine with berry flavors—Pinot Noir, anyone? Try a 2012 Ombré Pinot Noir, which has glossy fruit flavors that end with a pop.


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A lane remains closed on the A331 after a lorry and two cars were involved in a collision near Aldershot.
Police officers were called at 1.30pm after the accident occurred on the southbound carriageway, just before the Ash Road junction at Aldershot.
An ambulance also attended the scene, but there were no reported injuries to any of the drivers.
A lane closure was put in place while the three vehicles awaited recovery, causing queues of motorists back to Camberley.
A Hampshire Constabulary spokesman said the lane was due to be reopened very shortly.


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With it officially being the week of Thanksgiving, I thought I'd give you all a little treat and offer some free printable thank you cards!
Right click to save them and then print them from your computer, or download the entire PDF document HERE.
Fore even more free printable thank you cards, visit The Crafting Chicks series "Thanks A Day Gratitude Challenge". They've got some really good ones from some of your favorite bloggers


text: The Leonard Lopate Show Published by The Leonard Lopate Show Underreported: Termite Guts Download this audio Want to embed this player? Use the code below. More info. <iframe frameborder="0" scrolling="no" height="130" width="100%" src="https://www.wnyc.org/widgets/ondemand_player/wnyc/#file=/audio/json/56756/&share=1"></iframe> Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Email a Friend Could termite guts hold a solution to global warming? Some scientists think that a better understanding of how termites devour wood so efficiently could eventually allow us to create valuable biofuel. Phil Hugenholtz is head of the Joint Genome Institute's Microbial Ecology Program and is involved in mapping the contents of the termite gut.


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mike sts
I have a 94 sts and I am thinking about buying a 2005 awd 1sg. Have they worked out the oil leeks and head issues on the newer models? My 94 needed a new engine at 55000 miles due to cracked head. the new engine has 100000 miles leeks oil, burns oil and is fouling out plugs with oil and coolant.


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This property has been removed by the agent. It may be let or temporarily removed from the market
Property Description
Letting information:
|Added on Rightmove:
|03 April 2012 (1910 days ago)
Key features
- 4 Bedrooms
- Four double bedrooms
- Four bathrooms & extra WC
- Garden
- Lots of storage
- Large eat in kitchen
- Great location
Full description
A spectacular four double bedroom four bathroom ground floor apartment situated just off of Fitzjohns Avenue and Finchley Road. The property creates a great living space as it is bright and spacious throughout and has the added bonus of a feature fireplace in the living room. The property consists of four double bedrooms all en-suited with lots of fitted storage space, a large living room that opens out to a good sized garden and a fully modernised eat in kitchen that also opens out to the garden. This would be the ideal home for a family looking to live within the area and the property is well situated as it is close to both Hampstead and West Hampstead and the transport links that both offer as well as the Finchley Road.
More information from this agent
To view this media, please visit the on-line version of this page at www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/property-37440680.html
Map & Street View
View in fullscreenView in fullscreen
Street View is unavailable in this location
Disclaimer - Administration fees may apply when renting a property in England, Wales or Northern Ireland. For more details, please contact the agent.
Property reference 10534. The information displayed about this property comprises a property advertisement. Rightmove.co.uk makes no warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of the advertisement or any linked or associated information, and Rightmove has no control over the content. This property advertisement does not constitute property particulars. The information is provided and maintained by Portico, West Hampstead Office.
Please refer to our Renting Guides for further information on how to safely rent a property.
Map data ©OpenStreetMap contributors.


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Commanders and squads are tools for organizing large groups of players in PvE and WvW.
Squads are large groups created and led by players with commander privileges. These privileges are unlocked on an account-wide basis by consuming a Commander's Compendium, which is purchased from a commander trainer for 300 + 250 .
Commander icon
Active commanders will display a commander icon (also known as a tag) on the world map, the compass, and above the commander's character to track their current location. This icon is typically visible to all players in the zone, with two exceptions:
- Squad members can only see the tag of their own leader on the map. (Squad leaders themselves retain the ability to see other commander tags.)
- All players in World versus World can only see tags belonging to commanders on their own team.
Commanders can display their icon in one of four colors, as shown above: blue, red, yellow, and purple. Hovering the cursor over any commander tags on the map will display "Commander <squad leader's name>".
To join a squad, click on a commander tag on the world map, right-click on a commander's portrait after targeting them, or right-click on their name in chat and select the option to join their squad. You do not need the commander's permission to join.
- To leave a squad, type the chat command: /squadleave or open the party window (press "p") and select "leave" under squad.
- Squad members can send messages via the squad chat channel, /d or /squad.
- Squads are limited to 50 players.
- Players can be members of a party and a squad at the same time.
- All squad members are automatically removed when the commander disbands the squad.
Commander tools
There are additional tools available to commanders.
Squad creation
- To create a squad, open the party UI located on the left hand side of the screen (default: P) and select "Create". This turns on your tag. Select "Disband" to turn it off.
- The same panel allows you to choose an icon color: blue, red, yellow or purple. However, you cannot change the color without disbanding and recreating the squad.
- A squad cannot be created if you are already in a squad.
Supply commands
Supply is used in World versus World. While commanding a squad, you have access to the following chat commands:
- names of squad members (adjacent allies that are non-members are not included)
- amount of supply each is carrying
- total number of squad members
- total supply carried by all squad members
- names of adjacent allies (including non-squad-members). Adjacent range is approximately 240 units.
- amount of supply each is carrying
- total number of adjacent allies
- total supply carried by all adjacent allies
Map commands
ALT+Mouse1 on the map — Opens a context menu for adding special "order" icons visible to squad members (but not others). The available icons are:
- Squad Attack Order
- Squad Defend Order
- Squad Rally Order
- Personal Waypoint
Hovering over a commander's orders icon will display its function. All may be be simultaneously placed at different locations on the map; however, only one of each may be present at a time. They may be individually removed using Mouse1. Except for the personal waypoint, they are automatically removed when the squad is disbanded.
- The September 2014 Feature Pack made several changes to the commander tool:
- The tag became account bound.
- Three new tag colors: red, yellow, and purple, in addition to the original blue.
- The price of the Commander's Compendium increased to 300 and 250 , a net increase of 200 .
- The new features applied to existing commanders; those that had spent more than 300 were given rebates of at least 100 .
- The Commander (effect) was removed.


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LEGAL MATTERS: RI's New Open Records Law
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
With a few exceptions, you may request the right to review and/or have copies of any records a public agency possesses. Records include everything from electronically kept records to photographs to written documents to sound recordings. You can obtain them in "any and all media in which the public agency is capable of providing them."
Note, however, that if the data is not compiled or organized as you request it, the agency is not under any obligation to compile it in that form. Unless, the data/records are computerized and the agency "would not be unduly burdened in providing such data."
What it may cost
If you request copies, the public body can charge you no more than .15 cents per page and can't charge you more than a reasonable cost to provide electronic records. They can also charge you up to $15 per hour to search and/or retrieve the documents, but the first hour must be free. Under the law they must provide the documents in a reasonable time and must give you an estimate BEFORE you get the copies. If you don't want copies you are still entitled to review the records.
The government agency has 10 days to comply with your request. If the agency is planning to deny your request, they must inform you in writing within those 10 days and notify you of your appeal rights.
There are a number of areas that fall outside public records, such as records that disclose medical information, credit card numbers, student performance, trade secrets, correspondence between constituents and government officials or labor negotiations. And, even so, if the information that violates the disclosure can be redacted, the agency must still turn over the document in redacted form.
Personal information: what you're entitled to
The good news is that under legislation sponsored by Rep. Michael Marcello and recently signed into law by Gov. Lincoln Chafee, personally identifiable records are no longer automatically considered off limits. Now, there is a balancing test that bars disclosure only if it is considered an "unwarranted invasion of personal privacy."
The new law also allows you to request records without revealing your identity. And, as under the old statute, it doesn't matter why you are requesting it – records CANNOT be withheld based on the reason you are seeking the records.
The foregoing is offered for informational purposes only and is not legal advice nor does it create an attorney-client relationship.
Susan G. Pegden is a litigation associate with the Law Firm of Hamel, Waxler, Allen & Collins in Providence. She is admitted to practice in Rhode Island and Massachusetts and is a member of the Board of Governors of the Rhode Island Association of Justice (RIAJ) and a member of the Rhode Island Women's Bar Association.
Sean P. Feeney is a partner with the Law Firm of Hamel, Waxler, Allen & Collins. He is admitted to practice in Rhode Island, Illinois and Wisconsin. Mr. Feeney is a former special counsel to the City of Providence, military prosecutor with the United States Marine Corps and Special Assistant United States Attorney for the Central District of California.
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Brasada Ranch has been named the Best Resort in the Pacific Northwest by the readers of Condé Nast Traveler, furthering its acclaim among Pacific Northwest resorts, by the world's most discriminating voices.
Ranked #9 among the Top 20 U.S Resorts for Family Reunions by Condé Nast Traveler, Brasada Ranch is the perfect place to escape and feel like your family owns the place. Stay in a luxurious cabin and leave the rest to Brasada Adventures.
As part of the "Top Ten Dude Ranches" by The Culture Trip, Brasada Ranch elevates the typical ranch experience with an upscale retreat on 1,800 acres of land perfect for a year-round getaway.
Brasada Ranch has been featured among The Most Glamorous Fire Pits in the World by HGTV.com Guests are welcomed with a s'mores kit that they can enjoy fireside after a day of adventure or relaxation.
In 2007, Brasada Ranch became the first-ever newly constructed resort community in the United States to receive a gold rating from the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED).
While visiting The Ranch, No Ordinary Resort felt "as though you are staying with good friends. The resort's creative and authentic experiences let you leave with plenty of stories to tell and reminisce over.
Just a terrific property. The staff was always friendly and helpful. The pools, the spa, the golf, the food, the activities, the views...the QUIET STARLIT night, amazing! This place has it all.
At Brasada Ranch, which The Oregonian named the state's "Best Destination Resort," you can do it all: golfing, spa treatments, horseback riding and hiking, all with beautiful views of nine Cascade Peaks.
Our cabin couldn't have been more perfect. We love staying somewhere so nice and being able to cook our own meals. Very well thought out. The view is wonderful and atmosphere very peaceful and quiet.
Beautiful property. Amazing views from our porch and from the Ranch House. The sunsets are to die for! The spa was beautiful and after spending a half day there I felt rested and relaxed for the rest of my vacation!
Took the husband, mom, and the dogs and had a fantastic 4 days at Brasada. This was our 4th time back and just as memorable as the first. It was our first time visiting the spa and we loved it so much we went 2 days in a row. Can't wait to go back.
Loved Brasada - we did a 2 bedroom unit with a hot tub. We had our dog and it was perfect. The people at Brasada are warm and welcoming. The grounds are beautiful. The food and drinks were great. We will return for sure!
Brasada is a fabulous destination. Our experience was flawless. The staff was friendly and superbly helpful. The food and drink at all 3 restaurants was amazing. The resort is quiet and relaxing. Loved every second of it. Will come back again!
The food was outstanding, the employees are so nice, the spa was great, the grounds & cabin are great. Cannot wait to go back. Our husbands enjoyed the golf. We loved the cabin with the hot tub. It's so quiet & peaceful.
We booked a Ranch House Suite which was beautiful and comfortable. Loved the outdoor hot tub and the gorgeous views. The house made s'mores were decadent and fun. We bicycled all over and enjoyed the whole area.
We had a wonderful time. Beautiful place. Lots of things for the kids to do including games, volleyball, table tennis, fabulous pools etc. Cabins very nicely done with full kitchen, BBQ, washer/dryer. Had everything you need and more.
Brasada is one of the nicest places we have experienced in the NW. The views are beautiful, and the Ranch, very peaceful and quiet. The pools are super for adults and kids. A super place for a romantic getaway.
Brasada Ranch was incredible. Powell Butte is easily the most beautiful place we've ever visited. We stayed in a Ranch House suite, and had the most beautiful view from our balcony. We cannot wait to go back.
Relaxing get-away. Amazing views, fantastic food and great service. I would highly recommend the spa! The weather was perfect this time of year. Everything was what we needed it to be for a relaxing weekend away.
It's a very beautiful property. There's just enough things for you do, but not so much to where you feel pulled to try and do so many things during your stay. For that reason, we love this place as our end of the hectic summer stay.
Tiana, the spa manager, has created a spectacular atmosphere for relaxation. Not to mention the lavender shortbread cookies! Tiana and Heidi paid close attention to making sure our experience was everything we were looking for.
The staff here are really spectacular. The staff knew we were staying for a babymoon and had some Pellegrino and a cheese plate in the room for us when we arrived. It was these little details that made Brasada stand out for us.
We are golf enthusiasts and really enjoyed the course. The golf staff and instructors were excellent. This is our third consecutive summer staying at Brasada. It never gets old. It is fun and refreshing and a great site for a family vacation.
The accommodations, service and food were top notch. The recreation choices were fun. We loved the pools and our trail ride. I think our favorite thing though, was the hot tub on our back deck. We will be back!
This was a summer vacation for our family. There was no shortage of things for us to do as a family. The staff was attentive without overwhelming us and the location and scenery were equally perfect. We plan to return again in the near future.
We stayed at Brasada Ranch for a wedding. The views from Brasada Ranch property were nothing short of spectacular. No detail was spared in the design and decor. The staff was friendly and well trained and the food onsite was reasonably priced and delicious. Highly recommend Brasada Ranch and look forward to returning.
We loved our stay at Brasada Ranch. The property is situated on the hill with spectacular views and the architecture is comfortably modern and solid. Every member of the staff was lovely and the food was great. One of our favorite features was the beautiful indoor lap pool and fitness center. We will return.
We went to Brasada Ranch and loved the whole experience. We had a beautiful cabin with a hot tub. Everything was clean and relaxing. My husband and I had massages at the spa and I don't think I have been that relaxed in years. The food was great, everything was wonderful. If we could live there we would.


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A Norfolk-based white van owner has been getting his hands dirty by decorating his van using pure dirt, all in aid of public entertainment.
Rick Minns, who goes under the name Ruddy Muddy, has dedicated his spare time to entertaining pedestrians by painting works of art on his van using the dirt scrapped up whilst driving.
The 39-year-old, who has an A-level in art and attends adult art classes, started drawing on the vans using his fingertips.
He now calls his work "grafilthy" and enjoys entertaining passers-by as he goes about his daily work as a florist delivery man.
He said: "It just started as a bit of fun while I was at work.
Each piece takes about 10 minutes and every few days he wipes the van down to create a fresh canvas for his creativity.
"My first picture was a mountain scene, a lot like the ones I do now but not as sophisticated.
"The reaction I get is great - it's just nice to see the smile on people's faces when they notice."


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10 Of The Longest Lasting Things In The World
Some things just seem to last forever. With a 32 hour battery life, the DROID RAZR MAXX HD by Motorola is the longest lasting 4G LTE smartphone.
1. La Marquise
Originally built in 1887, the La Marquise is powered by steam and can still reach top speeds of 38 miles per hour. There's food for thought the next time your car breaks down at a measly ten or so years.
2. The Centennial Light Bulb
The Centennial Light is the world's longest-lasting light bulb, having run continuously for more than 110 years and only turned off a couple of times. It is housed in the Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Department in Livermore, California. Take that LEDs!
3. Hanako the Koi fish
Most Koi fish have a maximum life expectancy of 47 years, but someone forgot to tell Hanako that. This spritely scarlet koi lived to a ripe old age of 226 before blubbing her last bubble in 1977.
4. Reighard's gas station
Located in Altoona, PA, Reighard's has been pumping gas for locals since 1909, now if only gas prices stayed the same since then.
5. Posidonia oceanica grass
Commonly known as Neptune grass, colonies of Posidonia oceanica that are around 100,000 years old have been found off the coast of Ibiza, Spain. Proof in point that weeds never go away.
6. Honey
If stored properly and away from humidity, honey can last decades if not centuries.
7. The Wiener Riesenrad
German for "Viennese giant wheel," the Wiener Riesenrad in Vienna, Austria has been entertaining guests since 1897.
8. Pando
Pando, latin for "I spread," is a giant mass of trees that shares one root system, effectively making it one organism. "The Trembling Giant," as it is also known as, has a root system that is estimated to be 80,000 years old and collectively weighs more than 6,600 tons. That's a whole lot of tree.
9. DROID RAZR MAXX HD by Motorola
With a 32 hour battery life, the DROID RAZR MAXX HD by Motorola is the longest lasting 4G LTE smartphone.
10. Bleriot XI
First built in 1909, there are still two functional Bleriot XI planes in the world. No word on its in-flight movie options though.


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So, we've been kind of busy.
Andy and I have been talking about getting puppy for months, and some friends of ours have a chocolate lab that had a little bit of an unplanned pregnancy (if you know what I mean), and so they were giving her puppies away for free. We decided it was a great time to get what we wanted without having to pay the big bucks.
Andy went up to "see" the ones that were left yesterday afternoon and, as Dolly said, you can't go 'look' at puppies and be able to say no.
(Or at least he can't.)
So my afternoon was filled with collar, leash, treats and puppy chow shopping. (Along with the eggs, bread, and bananas.) Then I talked to my aunt who's raised a few family dogs over the years, and she said we needed a kennel to start crate training Max right away. So back out we went, this time with the whole family AND the dog.
Thankfully Andy's mom called us with internet prices while we were at the pet store and we hightailed it back to Wal*mart and got a cheaper kennel. And he's eating cheap food, too. (Wouldn't do if the dog was eating better than the family, you know.) We came home and gave him his first bath and the kids were beside themselves with excitement. I think they were driving Andy a little nuts. (Oh well, he signed up for it.)
Max did very well for his first night away from his momma. He howled a bit when he had to go outside, but he settled down fairly well and he's been sleeping a lot. He's currently snoozing out on the back deck (and the kids are all napping - SCORE!).
We ARE planning on mostly keeping him outside; our backyard is perfect for it. He'll probably sleep in his kennel in the house, though.
While getting the kennel set up:
...some love from Madeline.
Friday, March 20, 2009
A bunch of kids and their puppy
So, we've been kind of busy.
Posted by Moriah at 3:25 PM
Filed under: Daily Life, Max
7 comments:
- MommyAmy said...
Oh my goodness, there's seriously not much cuter in this world than a puppy.
Wish our dogs were outside dogs! Unfortunately we got them before the kids and they're total spoiled brats.
- March 20, 2009 at 4:26 PM
- M.K. said...
The kennel is a MUST. He will end up loving it. His private space where he may retreat when he needs a little privacy.
We left our puppy outside when she was WAY too young, and she ended up getting killed by other animals. So be careful about having him sleep outside. Make sure he's big enough to defend himself.
- March 20, 2009 at 6:11 PM
- Heather said...
Yay!! You did it! We are still totally loving Hurley and he's fitting in so well with our family. I'm sure Max will do the same! He's gorgeous!
- March 20, 2009 at 7:03 PM
- Dolly said...
Oh boy, I have puppy envy. And yes, I do know what you mean.
- March 20, 2009 at 11:42 PM
- Musings of a Housewife said...
Aw,how fun! And what a sweet puppy. Labs are so darling -- until they grow up, lol. :-) Can you tell I'm not a dog person? ENJOY!
- March 21, 2009 at 9:15 AM
- Colleen - Mommy Always Wins said...
How adorable! As much as a pain I think it is to have a dog, watching my boys love and care for her more than makes up for it! (And warning: labs are sweet, good with kids dogs - but HYPER! Ours is a black lab mix.)
- March 23, 2009 at 4:37 PM
- mer@lifeat7000feet said...
He is just so stinkin' cute! Sounds like you're adjusting well to life with a puppy...it's sorta like a new baby isn't it? I said SORTA! ;)
- March 23, 2009 at 11:58 PM


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Your Wall Outlets Just Not Cuttin' It Anymore?
You Get Space For a Measly Two Plugs... THAT'S IT?!
Multiply Your AC Space for Cheap!
It Even Has a Built-in LED Light!!
Times Sure Have Changed...
Remember the good old days of 8-tracks and bell bottoms? Times sure were a whole lot more simple, weren't they? In those days, we didn't have to worry about charging our iPods, cell phones or cameras. We didn't have literally hundreds of electronics to keep charged or another hundred devices that needed plugged into an outlet...
No, back in those days those two-outlet AC plugs were plenty! We never thought we'd need more, but we were WRONG. Totally wrong. Now we're in the age of digital electronics, and our lives are taken over by our devices. And guess what? IT'S FUN! We want it to be that way.
The only problem is, the AC Outlet Factory is stuck in the past! Those two wimpy AC plugs per outlet aren't nearly enough to keep up with today's technology!
Ready to Get MORE Outta Your Outlets?!
Well now you can, and it's NEVER been easier! We're proud to be bringing you something that's going to make your life a WHOLE LOT EASIER! Check it out - it's an outlet multiplier that turns just ONE AC plug into 3!
The way this works really couldn't be easier: take your shiny new outlet adapter, stick it into an available outlet plug, and you're all set - you've just doubled your number of outlets!More Than Just an Outlet Multiplier...
Now you can sit comfortably at your desk while your laptop is plugged in next to your camera, and you can still have a light! Seriously, since this doubles the amount of available AC outlets, you can double the load wherever you're at!
Maybe you have a home office in the corner of a room. Now your computer, printer, fax machine AND anything else can all be plugged into one area!
Built-in Nighlight For 100% CONVENIENCE!
You read that right - it's got a nightlight built RIGHT into the front of it! This is perfect for seeing where you're plugging your devices!
It's always the worst trying to fight through the dark corners where your AC outlets are, dust bunnies everywhere, blindly guessing where the prongs line up with the holes. It's silly! It's also dangerous...This is not. This is awesome!
It's simple: plug it in to double your outlets AND have a nice nightlight for added convenience! Talk about a BRIGHT idea!
No Pun Intended: This Price is a SHOCKER!
For today only, we're letting these go for the absurdly low price of just $12.97 with FREE US SHIPPING included on any order over $5! That's a fantastic deal that you know won't last! Hurry and place your order now!
Product Description
Need an extra outlet? Or two? How about three? If your answer is three, then the 3-Outlet Adapter is the perfect item for you. Easily plug it into a single outlet and turn that single outlet into three! It also comes with a nightlight, perfect for finding your way around in the dark.
Key Features
- Turn 1 outlet into 3!
- Create more outlets for your devices and appliances
- Built-in nightlight w/soft white light
- Auto light sensor turns light on at Dusk or Dawn
- Never worry about not having enough outlets!


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A hydrate is a compound (usually ionic) containing a definite proportion of water, known as water of crystallization, which may be bound as a ligand to the cation (positive ion), to the anion (negative ion), or both. Other hydrates, with more or less water, may be formed under different conditions. Water may be lost from a hydrate spontaneously (efflorescence) or by heating, the compound becoming anhydrous.
Common hydrates include copper (II) sulfate, CUSO4.5H2O; sodium carbonate, Na2CO3.10H2O, and the alums.
Related category INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
Home • About • Copyright © The Worlds of David Darling • Encyclopedia of Alternative Energy • Contact


text:
Hi, our under construction template have been rejected. In the reply they said that file did not meet their strict aesthetic guidelines and couldn't be approved.
Here you can take a look at our template.
We are new to this, so please help us with suggestions for improvements, and tell us what we probably did wrong. Thanks in advance!


text:
Great service and very friendly workers. We loved it! It was in a great location and was easy to find. The bathroom was great and everything was just perfect. Nope.
Great location, Good Price! Lounge with couches to relax, good kitchen. Even beamer for movies + music for cold nights in, free internet with several pcs. Very modern bathrooms (almost upmarket). nothing


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Your Dog, Your Life
The Scoop
Dog News, Politics
Bark-Out-Loud Humor
Doggie Style
Gear and Glam
Wildebeest creates the perfect present for new dog parents.
Dog Breeds
Foods & Treats
Health & Care
Behavior & Training
Dogs & Cleaning
Dog of the Day
Photo Comments
OMD....I am so flattered and touched and moved by this! Little ME.....DOTD???!!! Thank you! Big pittie hugs and kisses to all my wonderful friends!
I wanted to say THANK YOU and give a big warm kiss to all the wonderful pups and people that have showered me with collars and friendship. I feel sooooooooo loved, and such a part of this incredible Dogster community. Bless you ALL, sweet friends
There is a new game on Dogster...
The fabulous Captain Morgan and the precious Annie picked me
(I have the SWEETEST pals!)
Here are the rules:
Give 4 answers for each category.
Name Four Jobs You Have
1. Godiva's best playmate
2. Baby for mom to take care of
3. Living breathing teddy bear/heating pad for Mom
4. Disposal for Dad's leftovers
Name Four Places You Have Lived
1. In the ghetto...Wyandanch, NY
2. Little Shelter...Huntington, NY
3. With my furever family...North Babylon, NY
4. Next relocation....Tucson, AZ!!!!!!
Name Four Places You Have Been
1. Pet Supplies Plus...I LOVE to go shopping for treats and food!
2. Gardiner Park....they have GREAT trails for dog walks
3. Petco
4. Long Island Veterinary Services (they fixed my face for me!)
Name Four Places You Would Rather Be:
1. Playing (or napping!) with all of my Dogster Pals
2. Eating ..with family, friends, strangers...heck, it's ALL good!
3. The super king bed
4. Riding in the car with Godiva and Sawyer
Now, I'll ask four friends to do the same.
1. Boudreaux
2. Kenya
3. the Kajun Kids
4. Muffin
Copyright © I-5 Publishing, LLC. All rights reserved.
Visit Catster


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Our Dear Leader is a superstar in Europe, so I don't see how this will be a surprise to anyone.
For what? All his great "achievements"?? The man is naive and arrogant, now he has even more fuel for his ego.
Obama awarded 2009 Nobel Peace Prize
CNN) -- President Barack Obama won the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize on Friday, a stunning decision that comes just eight months into his presidency.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee said it honored Obama for is "extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples."
The president had not been mentioned as among front-runners for the prize, and the roomful of reporters gasped when Thorbjorn Jagland, chairman of the Nobel committee, uttered Obama's name.
The president, who was awakened to be told he had won, said he was humbled to be selected, according to an administration official.
The Nobel committee recognized Obama's efforts to solve complex global problems including working toward a world free of nuclear weapons.
"Only very rarely has a person to the same extent as Obama captured the world's attention and given its people hope for a better future," the committee said.
Jagland said the decision was "unanimous" and came with ease.
He rejected the notion that Obama had been recognized prematurely for his efforts and said the committee wanted to promote the president just it had Mikhail Gorbachev in 1990 in his efforts to open up the Soviet Union.
"His diplomacy is founded in the concept that those who are to lead the world must do so on the basis of values and attitudes that are shared by the majority of the world's population," it said.
Obama's recognition comes less than a year after he became the first African-American to win the White House. He is the fourth U.S. president to win the prestigious prize and the third sitting president to do so.
The announcement Friday in Oslo, Norway, came as a surprise -- Obama had not been mentioned among front-runners -- and the roomful of reporters gasped when Thorbjorn Jagland, chairman of the Nobel committee, announced Obama's name.
Jagland said the decision was unanimous and came with ease.
He rejected the notion that Obama had been recognized prematurely for his efforts and said the committee wanted to promote the president just it had Mikhail Gorbachev in 1990 in his efforts to open up the Soviet Union.
Jagland said he hoped the prize would help Obama resolve the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Former Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari, last year's laureate, said it was clear the Nobel committee wanted to encourage Obama on the issues he has been discussing on the world stage.
"I see this as an important encouragement," Ahtisaari said.
The committee wanted to be "far more daring" than in recent times and make an impact on global politics, said Kristian Berg Harpviken, director of the International Peace Research Institute.
And Wangari Muta Maathai, the Kenyan environmentalist who won the 2004 Peace Prize, said the win for Obama, whose father was Kenyan, would help Africa move forward.
"I think it is extraordinary," she said. "It will be even greater inspiration for the world. He has shown how we can probably come together, work together in a cooperative way."
The award comes at a crucial time for Obama, who has initiated peace missions to key parts of the globe.
Obama's envoy to the Middle East, George Mitchell, has returned to the region to advocate for peace negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians. Mitchell met Thursday with Israeli President Shimon Peres. He plans to meet Friday with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu before talking with Palestinian leaders in the West Bank.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton starts a six-day trip to Europe and Russia on Friday. On the trip, the secretary will discuss the next steps on Iran and North Korea, and international efforts to have the two countries end their nuclear programs.
The centerpiece of the trip will be her visit to Moscow, where she will work toward an agreement to take the place of the Start II arms control pact, which expires December 5. She also will address the new bilateral presidential commission that is working on a broad range of issues, from arms control to health.
Mohamed ElBaradei, who won the 2005 peace prize for his efforts to prevent nuclear energy being used for military means, said Obama deserved to win for his efforts to bring Iran to the table for direct nuclear talks with the United States.
"I could not think of anybody who is more deserving," said ElBaradei, the chief of the International Atomic Energy Agency.
As the news of Obama's win broke online, postings on social network sites Twitter and Facebook expressed surprise. Many started with the word: Wow.
The last sitting U.S. president to win the peace prize was Woodrow Wilson in 1919. The other was Theodore Roosevelt in 1906. Jimmy Carter had been out of office for more than two decades when he won in 2002.
This year's Peace Prize nominees included 172 people -- among them three Chinese dissidents, an Afghan activist and a controversial Colombian lawmaker -- and 33 organizations, the highest number of nominations ever.
The deadline for nominations must be postmarked by February 1 each year. Obama was inaugurated on January 20.
The Nobel recipient receives a prize of about $1.4 million.
Our Dear Leader is a superstar in Europe, so I don't see how this will be a surprise to anyone.
What is the Norwegian Nobel Committee trying to get Barry to support that they need to bribe him?
More likely, its a combination of their dislike of Bush, their approval of Barry's advancement of progressive social change and his administration's return to international diplomacy.
Or the Norwegians and are trying to bribe him to nuke the Swedes and stop the proliferation of IKEA!!!11!1! (less likely)
They should give a nobel prize to Adam Sandler too...He gives people more HOPE than this....thing....
The Nobel recipient receives a prize of about $1.4 million.
This makes me SICK
Cool, maybe next year I'll get the award because I can tie my shoes correctly...
Obama Accepts Nobel Peace Prize as a 'Call for Action'
Acknowledging that he was surprised and deeply humbled by the news that he had won the Nobel Peace Prize, President Barack Obama today urged the international community to work together on addressing the challenges of the 21st century.
"I do not feel I deserve to be in the company of so many transformative figures who have been honored by this prize," Obama said in brief remarks at the White House. "I do not view it as a recognition of my own accomplishments but rather as an affirmation of American leadership on behalf of aspirations held by people in all nations."
The president said the prize will be used as a means to give momentum, but that no one person or one administration alone can solve all the problems.
"All nations must take responsibility for the world we seek," the president said. "We cannot tolerate a world in which nuclear weapons spread to more nations. ... We cannot accept the growing threat posed by climate change, which could forever danger the world we pass on to our children. ... We cannot allow the differences between people to allow the way we see one another."
Stressing the work he has done as commander-in-chief in pulling back forces from Iraq, Obama said that "some of the work confronting us will not be completed during our presidency" and that some work "may not be completed during my lifetime," adding, however, that he was hopeful the challenges will be met.
"This award is not about the efforts of my administration, it's about the efforts of people around the world," he said.
Obama, the third sitting U.S. president to win the prestigious award, will travel to Oslo in December to accept the prize in person.
The news that Obama was awarded the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize came as a surprise, even to the White House. Press aides said they had heard from news reports weeks ago that the president was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize but they do not believe Obama himself knew of his nomination.
The deadline for nominations is Feb. 1, meaning the president was nominated after being in office for just 11 days.
Geir Lundestad, director of the Norwegian Nobel Institute, told "Good Morning America" the decision to pick Obama was unanimous.
"President Obama has changed very dramatically international politics," Lundestad told "GMA's" Diane Sawyer today. "We feel he has emphasized multilateral diplomacy, he has addressed international institutions, dialogue negotiations. He has inspired the world with his vision of a world without nuclear arms. He has changed the U.S. policy dramatically. There's a whole list."
Isn't the deadline for the Nobel prize only 2 weeks after the inauguration?
Correct me if I'm wrong.
"I do not view it as a recognition of my own accomplishments but rather as an affirmation of American leadership on behalf of aspirations held by people in all nations.
Pardon me while I throw up.
Surely this belongs in the joke section. Sick perhaps but it must be a joke.
I think whoever wrote that skit deserves a prize....
How else would he have been nominated for the prize only two weeks into his term....He won the prize for what he promised to do,Not for what he has done. So...The Nobel peace prize along with the 1.4 million was given to him to ...a little push to actually do what he said he would do....Bribery!
I've come to the conclusion that calling Obama a Nobel Prize winner is like calling Ben Afleck an Academy Award winner. Both are technically true, but in reality, Obama and Afleck just plain suck at what they do!


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Trends > Hot & Cool >
Bacon Salt Guys Unleash Bacon Mayo
Duo Continues Quest to Make Everything Taste Like Bacon
Several months back, The Food Channel ran a feature article on Bacon Salt, the story of two friends who started a company and product line dedicated to the proposition that 'Everything Should Taste Like Bacon.' Now, the Bacon Boys, Justin Esch and Dave Lefkow, are back with a new product, Baconnaise.
Baconnaise is a spreadable, bacon-flavored mayonnaise, available in regular and lite varieties. The "lite" version is said to have half the fat and 1/3 fewer calories than regular mayo.
The wacky bacontrepreneurs decided to launch their new spread in decidedly wacky way. Justin and Dave hosted an evening of Mayonnaise Wrestling at Heaven's Nightclub in Seattle. In the main event, a giant jar of mayo will grappled with a giant strip of bacon in a ring flooded with 200 gallons of real mayonnaise. Other matches included the Seattle Mudhens women's rugby team and the Seattle Semi-Pro Wrestling League all-stars.
For more insights and innovations, check out neemee.com, the place to go for the latest observations in the World Thought Bank – events, ideas, trends and more. Add your own thoughts about anything in life – entertainment, design, technology, well-being and, yes, food. And, take a look at a few of our other Hot & Cool Trends.
Have you seen an innovative product that will make our food lives more fun in the future? Let us know at Editor.


text:
Most Powerful Women Summit Executive Director on Sheryl Sandberg
Pattie Sellers has spent years reporting on some of the most powerful women in corporate America as an editor-at-large at Fortune and as the executive director of the magazine's Most Powerful Women Summit.
When the summit began in 1998, there was only one female Fortune 500 CEO on the list.
Today, there are 21 at companies like IBM, HP, Kraft and Lockheed Martin.
As a part of WNYC's Money Talking, Sellers talks with WNYC business and economics editor Charlie Herman about the new book from Facebook's COO Sheryl Sandberg, Lean-In: Women, Work and the Will to Lead, and where women now stand on the corporate ladder.
Sandberg argues that women need to be more assertive in their careers. To help them, she's launched a new venture and is promoting "Lean In Circles" for women to support one another.
"You can create a social movement globally if you are Sheryl Sandberg, the most powerful woman in Silicon Valley, who is the number two at the world's largest social networking company, who knows everyone, who can get anyone and everyone to come her book party," Sellers said.


text:
Magical Miller Time!
Related Links
Jan. 21, 2014
Final Stats | Season Stats | Quotes | USATSI Gallery | FSU Gallery
By Bob Thomas, Seminoles.com
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - They haven't lost their magic!
Ian Miller's floater from the lane with four seconds to play delivered Florida State a pivotal 76-74 Atlantic Coast Conference basketball victory over Notre Dame Tuesday night at the Donald L. Tucker Center.
"It was just a hop-step and a floater," said Miller, who drove the lane off a Boris Bojanovsky ball screen just beyond the free throw line. "We work on that (play) every day. ...
"Aaron (Thomas) attracted a lot of attention because he was hot tonight, so that allowed me to really just focus on the ball screen. Coach says I'm his best offensive player. I just want coach to give it to me. When you've got coaches living and dying with you, the decision is really easy to make that play like I did tonight."
There's a reason for Miller's matter-of-fact explanation of the game-winning play, which moved the Seminoles (13-5, 4-2 ACC) into fourth-place, with one-third of the conference season in the rearview mirror. The senior guard's game-winning basket was the ninth by a Seminole - his second - in the waning seconds of a game over the past three seasons.
"Ian got into the lane, had an open look and we were very fortunate to have it go in," said FSU coach Leonard Hamilton, who watched his team execute the final possession flawlessly.
"That was a big shot right at the end there, and they made big shots throughout the game to kind of never let us really feel like we could close the gap or win it," said Notre Dame coach Mike Brey. "They did a great job with the ball screen. ... He got a runner. He hit a tough shot. You've got to give a really good player a lot of credit for knocking down a big shot at a key time."
Notre Dame guard Eric Atkins, who led the Irish and all scorers with 24 points, nearly sucked the air out of crowd of 7,799 when his running 3-pointer was on line but caromed off the iron as the horn sounded.
It was a surprisingly dramatic finish to game that saw the Seminoles lead by as many as 13 early and carry a 41-33 lead into the locker room at the half. FSUte led 67-57 with 7:55 to play before Notre Dame mounted its final charge.
The Irish (10-8, 2-4) clawed their way back in the game behind Atkins and Garrick Sherman (21 points, 10 rebounds), who combined for 12 of Notre Dame's final 17 points. The Irish shot 55 percent from the floor in the second half against the normally stingy Seminole defense.
"Our offensive efficiency was good," Brey said. "We were small, with four guards around Sherm. ... Eric Atkins was fabulous tonight, setting the tone and kind of making us believe."
An Atkins 3-pointer with 3:20 play pulled the Irish within 72-70, and a turnover by Okaro White gave the first-time visitors to Tallahassee to tie or take the lead. White, however, came up with a loose ball on the floor, flipped it to Bojanovsky, who fed Aaron Thomas (20 points) for a run-out dunk.
"All I know is the ball popped out and I was fortunate to dive on the floor and get it - not get a jump ball - and throw it to Bobo," said White, who finished with 12 points and a game-high 11 rebounds.
Thomas' dunk loomed large. Atkins' driving layup cut the lead back to 74-72 and when White misfired a 3-pointer from deep in the corner, Pat Connaughton's driving layup with 33.3 seconds remaining knotted the score.
"We had a tremendously hard time keeping Notre Dame out of the paint," said Hamilton. "We didn't have very many turnovers [10], but I thought we had turnovers at very critical times in the game and they made us pay. Offensively we executed very well. On the defensive end of the floor, we left something to be desired."
Hamilton burned a timeout to set up the final set, leading to Miller's game-winner. Then it was just a matter of the Seminoles and the home crowd holding their breath as Atkins unleashed his final shot.
"He was hot," Miller said of Atkins. "I grew up playing against him. When he let it go I (knew) he was capable of making something like that. We've got to work on that transition defense at the end, stay poised and not let anyone break on us it like that. I held it until it hit the backboard."
Miller finished with 11 points and Devon Bookert added 10 on a night when the `Noles needed every one of them.
Now it's on to Cameron Indoor Stadium - the site of another FSU buzzer-beater on its last visit - and a Saturday showdown with Duke.


text:
The four hoops are 2 metre lengths of flexible plastic to position low and wide, or tall and narrow depending on what needs protecting.
Anadaptable system to prevent attaches from cabbage root fly, carrot fly, onion fly, pea moth, cutworm, cabbage whitefly, leaf miners, butterflies and aphids.
The mesh also offers some protection from harsh weather.
Pauline Pears formerly of Garden Organic says "Cover your brassicas with Enviromesh as soon as you plant them out to keep off pigeons, whitefly, cabbage root fly and cabbage white butterflies all in one go. This is the only sure way to get good, reliable brassica crops".


text:
Trent Reznor Rips Grammy Producers
Nine Inch Nails' Trent Reznor is never shy about publicly sharing his opinion when a show is not to his liking.
So, when the Grammy telecast cut away from the collaborative performance of Nine Inch Nails, Queens of the Stone Age, Dave Grohl, and Lindsey Buckingham, you just knew Reznor would have a take.
The Nine Inch Nails leader took to Twitter. Reznor said, "Music's biggest night... to be disrespected. A heartfelt FUCK YOU guys."
See what he was talking about below.
Music's biggest night... to be disrespected. A heartfelt FUCK YOU guys.
— Trent Reznor (@trent_reznor) January 27, 2014
If the performance above gets blocked, how about watching FULL performances from Nine Inch Nails and Queens of the Stone Age?


text:
Exclusive: Google CEO's inner circle: Meet the L Team
By Alexei Oreskovic
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - The most powerful group at Google Inc used to be known simply as "The OC," short for operating committee. Now, it goes by a more telling name: "L Team," short for Larry's Team.
The change is more than a mere rebranding after Google co-founder Larry Page became chief executive nine months ago, reclaiming a title he last held in 2001. Page has moved quickly to remake the company in his image, and this influential group is responsible for plotting strategic priorities, such as social networking and mobile computing.
In the revamping of the group earlier this year, Page swapped out several of the executives who previously had seats at the table and brought in managers spearheading key initiatives.
Among the new members of Page's cabinet are social networking head Vic Gundotra, Android mobile chief Andy Rubin and YouTube head Salar Kamangar, according to people familiar with the matter.
Page meets regularly with the team, which also includes Google's top finance and legal executives and is now internally called the L Team, to discuss, evaluate and approve their plans, from acquisitions to new products.
"All major decisions flow through that group," said one of the people, speaking anonymously because of the confidential nature of the topic.
The new team was appointed around the time that Page took over as CEO and reorganized the company's management structure. In addition to placing directors of key product groups under his direct supervision, and giving those groups more leeway to operate autonomously, Page transformed the operating committee into the L Team, a move not reported until now.
A Google representative declined to comment on the changes Page made to the team. The company also declined to make executives available for interviews. Continued...


text:
1997 Infiniti QX4 Problems
RepairPal has identified the most common problems with the 1997 Infiniti QX4 based on complaints from actual vehicle owners. We'll tell you what the problem is and what it'll take to fix it.
Carbon deposits on the throttle body may cause any of the following issues: Idle speed fluctuation, incorrect idle speed, difficulty accelerating way from a stop, and or increased accelerator pedal resistance. Our technicians tell us a revised throttle body and associated parts are available to resolve this issue.
The 4WD light may flash on and off intermittently with no transfer case related fault code stored in the powertrain control module (PCM). Our technicians recommend to ensure the correct Nissan/Infiniti approved fluid is present in the transfer case if this condition occurs.
The Check Engine Light may illuminate with throttle position switch fault codes stored. Our technicians tell us a revised throttle position switch is available to correct this concern.
Failure of the EVAP System charcoal canister may allow charcoal debris to infiltrate the EVAP system causing other failures. Cleaning the vapor lines to ensure the system is clear of debris is important when repairing EVAP system failures.
The Check Engine Light may illuminate indicating a fault with two or more oxygen sensors. Our technicians tell us this may be caused by a poor ground between the cylinder head and the exhaust manifold.


text:
Hey. I am doing an STI swap, so these wheels need to go. This is for a set of 5 (FIVE) wheels . One has some very minor curb rash, and the rest are in great shape. Used for about 20k miles. They clear Stoptech ST-40s, not sure about Brembos. I recommend checking one of the wheel fitment threads.
These wheels are great for those looking for a lightweight, 17x8" wheel that is strong. They weigh 15.5 pounds each!!
They are also no longer available from Tire Rack.


text:
[Date Index]
[Thread Index]
[Author Index]
Re: Re: Fast interactive graphics
I had not yet discovered tutorial/AdvancedManipulateFunctionality, and
having worked through that tutorial I see now how to use Manipulate much
more effectively.
I have also worked through your examples, but I find the interactive
graphics performance on my PC is very poor for those examples that you say
you can run acceptably fast. I have a 2.1GHz PC with 2.5GB RM, so I assume
it is my graphics card that is the limiting factor for me; it is an ATI
Radeon 9600 which is fairly low in the graphics card pecking order these
I think the important criteria for me are continuously updated interactive
manipulation of graphics, where the part of the graphics that is changing in
response to the controller movements can be rendered at a lower resolution.
This is the effect that I was (clumsily) trying to achieve in my example
Anyway, based on my experiments and your suggestions I have convinced myself
that this sort of graphics manipulation is indeed possible in Mathematica 6,
but you have to be careful to ensure that no more graphics
computation/rendering is done than is necessary.
Steve Luttrell
West Malvern, UK
"John Fultz" <jfultz at wolfram.com> wrote in message
news:f4tkii$hp2$1 at smc.vnet.net...
> Yes, your post brings up some important points about Manipulate which I'd
> like
> to address.
> First, it's actually pretty uncommon that the speed of a Manipulate is
> affected
> by rendering time. It can happen, but it's much more likely that the
> reason for
> a Manipulate to slow down is because of computational time...i.e. it's
> doing theentire computation over again. But whatever the cause, there's a
> lot you can doinside of Manipulate to affect the results. Some
> illustrations...
> Manipulate[
> Show[Plot3D[Sin[x y], {x, 0, 5}, {y, 0, 5}, Filling -> Bottom,
> PlotPoints -> 30],
> Graphics3D[{PointSize[.1], Point[Append[xy, 1]]}]], {xy, {0, 0}, {5,
> 5}}]
> I've added the PlotPoints here to demonstrate the computational cost, and
> Filling to add rendering cost (you may remember a previous post where I
> indicated that adding transparency to a 3D graphic, as the default
> FillingStyle
> does, significantly increases rendering complexity).
> The 2D slider in this example does nothing more than move the point
> around.
> But, in fact, whenever you're moving the slider, it's recomputing the
> entire
> Show[] expression, including redoing the Plot3D from scratch every time.
> However, while you're moving the slider, the quality of the resulting
> graphic
> is lower, which significantly reduces both computational and rendering
> complexity.
> This is because Manipulate is making a speed/quality tradeoff by applying
> the
> option PerformanceGoal to Plot3D. We can manually override this by
> providing
> our own PerformanceGoal option to see how much better things look, and how
> much
> worse performance is...
> Manipulate[
> Show[Plot3D[Sin[x y], {x, 0, 5}, {y, 0, 5}, Filling -> Bottom,
> PlotPoints -> 30, PerformanceGoal -> "Quality"],
> Graphics3D[{PointSize[.1], Point[Append[xy, 1]]}]], {xy, {0, 0}, {5,
> 5}}]
> This looks wonderful, but the responsiveness is horrible. We're now
> getting the
> full computational+rendering cost of the Plot3D every time we move the
> point.
> We can do better. Since we know that the Plot3D is essentially a static
> element, we can direct Manipulate to only change the dynamic elements. We
> do
> this by embedding Dynamic around the elements we want to be considered
> independently. In this case, the only dynamic element is the coordinate
> of the
> Point (the fact that there is a point is static; only it's location is
> Dynamic).
> So, let's tweak the above by wrapping the Append in Dynamic...
> Manipulate[
> Show[Plot3D[Sin[x y], {x, 0, 5}, {y, 0, 5}, Filling -> Bottom,
> PlotPoints -> 30, PerformanceGoal -> "Quality"],
> Graphics3D[{PointSize[.1],
> Point[Dynamic[Append[xy, 1]]]}]], {xy, {0, 0}, {5, 5}}]
> This is more responsive, but still pretty bad. We're dealing here with
> less
> time spent in the kernel and more time in the FE rebuilding the BSP tree
> and
> using slower rendering methods because of the transparency. Another
> stratagem
> to speed things up is to use the ControlActive function to change how
> things arebeing evaluated and/or rendered during the manipulation of a
> control. So, in
> this case, we could use ControlActive to remove the Filling during the
> drag...
> Manipulate[
> Show[Plot3D[Sin[x y], {x, 0, 5}, {y, 0, 5},
> Filling -> ControlActive[xy; None, Bottom], PlotPoints -> 30,
> PerformanceGoal -> "Quality"],
> Graphics3D[{PointSize[.1],
> Point[Dynamic[Append[xy, 1]]]}]], {xy, {0, 0}, {5, 5}}]
> Note that we had to make the ControlActive[] dependent upon the xy
> variable;
> since Filling didn't have a natural dependency on xy, I added it to a
> CompoundExpression. This, you'll find, is a good tradeoff of
> responsiveness and
> consistent quality. There's a bit of a delay when you start and stop
> moving the
> control, but while you're moving it, the responsiveness is reasonable.
> Finally, if you're willing to give up interactive updating, you could set
> ContinuousAction->False on the Manipulate.
> Steve, you're absolutely right that sometimes you have to construct your
> own
> Dynamic expressions and controls for maximum flexibility and performance.
> However, there's quite a lot which can be done with Manipulate, as well.
> For more information on improving the performance of Manipulate, make sure
> to
> check out the Manipulate tutorials...
> tutorial/IntroductionToManipulate
> tutorial/AdvancedManipulateFunctionality
> Sincerely,
> John Fultz
> jfultz at wolfram.com
> User Interface Group
> Wolfram Research, Inc.
> On Mon, 11 Jun 2007 04:17:02 -0400 (EDT), Steve Luttrell wrote:
>> I have been experimenting to try to find a way of answering my own
>> question.
>> It seems that part of the problem was that using Manipulate introduuces
>> some
>> overheads that can be avoided by writing your own interactive graphics
>> code.
>> The code below is the result of some experimentation that shows a useful
>> level of interactive manipulation of a 2-dimensional manifold.
>> Define a cut-out region. This is a "window" within which the manifold is
>> being interactively manipulated.
>> cutout[\[Phi]_, \[Theta]_] := (9 \[Pi])/8 < \[Phi] < (13 \[Pi])/
>> 8 && \[Pi]/4 < \[Theta] < (3 \[Pi])/4;
>> Basic spherical region with a cut-out. This is a background graphic
>> showing
>> everything except the part that is being manipulated.
>> g0 = ParametricPlot3D[{Sin[\[Theta]] Cos[\[Phi]],
>> Sin[\[Theta]] Sin[\[Phi]], Cos[\[Theta]]}, {\[Phi], 0,
>> 2 \[Pi]}, {\[Theta], 0, \[Pi]},
>> RegionFunction -> (Not[cutout[#4, #5]] &)];
>> Define a fiducial point. This is the location of the tip of a "nose"-like
>> protrusion that is being manipulated around the manifold.
>> {\[Phi]1, \[Theta]1} = {(11 \[Pi])/8, \[Pi]/2};
>> Slider2D[Dynamic[{\[Phi]1, \[Theta]1}], {{0, \[Pi]}, {2 \[Pi], 0}}]
>> Dynamically updated display of everything.
>> Dynamic[
>> u = (1 +
>> 0.5 Exp[-((\[Theta] - \[Theta]1)/0.25)^2 - ((\[Phi] - \[Phi]1)/
>> 0.25)^2]) {Sin[\[Theta]] Cos[\[Phi]],
>> Sin[\[Theta]] Sin[\[Phi]], Cos[\[Theta]]};
>> p = 1.01 u /. {\[Theta] -> \[Theta]1, \[Phi] -> \[Phi]1};
>> g1 = ParametricPlot3D[u, {\[Phi], 0, 2 \[Pi]}, {\[Theta], 0, \[Pi]},
>> RegionFunction -> (cutout[#4, #5] &)];
>> g2 = Graphics3D[{Red, PointSize[0.05], Point[p]}];
>> Show[g0, g1, g2, PlotRange -> 2 {{-1, 1}, {-1, 1}, {-1, 1}},
>> AxesLabel -> {"x", "y", "z"}]
>> ]
>> Now you can move the 2D slider around (slowly!) to adjust the position of
>> the "nose" on the sphere. On my version of Mathematica (Windows XP
>> 32-bit)
>> as you move the slider you get a continuously updated fiducial point and
>> "nose", but the mesh on the nose doesn't get drawn in until you release
>> the
>> mouse button. Also the border of the "nose" is not drawn in during the
>> continuous updates.
>> This code produces results that are a LOT better than the situation was
>> when
>> I wrote my original posting, and this approach may be a worthwhile
>> starting
>> point for this type of interactive manipulation.
>> Steve Luttrell
>> West Malvern, UK
>> "Steve Luttrell" <steve at _removemefirst_luttrell.org.uk> wrote in message
>> news:f4gmui$hpj$1 at smc.vnet.net...
>>> In version 6 I want to do interactive graphics where I use a controller
>>> to
>>> manipulate the shape of a curved 2-dimensional manifold (for instance).
>>> This
>>> is a type of interaction with Mathematica that should be of interest to
>>> lots
>>> of people.
>>> The main problem that I have is that the redraw time after each
>>> controller
>>> movement is quite long. I need continuous feedback so that I can
>>> immediately
>>> see the effect of making various controller movements, so using
>>> ContinuousAction->False in Manipulate (for instance) doesn't solve this
>>> problem. I have tried various shortcuts such as skeletonising the
>>> graphic
>>> during updates so that it redraws quicker, but it is still too slow, and
>>> will get worse for the more complicated graphics that I really want to
>>> work
>>> on.
>>> As a general solution it would be great if it was possible to control
>>> the
>>> redrawing of graphics so that only those parts that need to be redrawn
>>> are
>>> actually redrawn, with the user taking responsibility for any
>>> consequential
>>> errors in the accumulated graphics rendering. Here I don't want to
>>> simply
>>> zoom the graphic to limit the rendered region, because I want to
>>> interactively see the impact of my manipulations in the context of the
>>> whole
>>> graphic.
>>> Does anyone know a way of imposing this type of control (see above) on
>>> graphics rendering, or is it not actually possible in Mathematica? I
>>> think
>>> the answer is no, but I just want to make sure that I haven't
>>> overlooked a
>>> trick here.
>>> Steve Luttrell
>>> West Malvern, UK


text:
Anyone wishing to read the UK's largely unwritten constitution would be well advised to start with the writings of Vernon Bogdanor. In 2009 he published The New British Constitution, a comprehensive analysis of Tony Blair's reforms.
Though Labour's constitutional changes were radical, they did not reach as far as the central institutions of government – parliament, Westminster elections and the cabinet. But Bogdanor's new sequel, The Coalition and the Constitution examines reforms aimed at doing just that: the fixed-term parliaments bill, the proposed alternative vote system (AV) and, above all, a coalition cabinet that is characterised more by conflict and compromise than collective responsibility.
What's so striking about the events of the past 11 months is how effectively we have settled down to a system of government with which the United Kingdom is almost entirely unfamiliar. It's not just that 80 years have passed since the last peacetime coalition was created. The crucial thing about the three coalitions that came to power between 1895 and 1931 is that they were formed before the general elections at which they were returned, not afterwards.
So, as Bogdanor says, the electors knew what combination of parties they were voting for in 1895, 1918 and 1931.
In 2010, by contrast, the voters would have had to guess which coalition would be formed if there were to be a hung parliament. Many would have guessed wrong. But, because no voter was given the chance to endorse the 2010 coalition, it lacks the legitimacy of its three predecessors.
Now, of course, part – but only part – of that coalition wants us to vote at next month's referendum in favour of AV. If there is a simple majority in favour, the system will be used at the next general election to be held under new parliamentary boundaries.
Then, as Bogdanor tells us, AV will become the sixth electoral system in operation in Britain. It is a system that neither the Conservatives nor the Liberal Democrats supported at the general election. Only three countries use AV for national elections: Australia, Fiji and Papua New Guinea.
David Cameron's former tutor is now a research professor at King's College London; he retired last year as professor of government at Oxford. But Bogdanor has chosen the constituency of Oxford West and Abingdon to demonstrate how AV would work. At the general election last year, Evan Harris, the Liberal Democrat who previously held the seat, lost it to the Conservatives by 176 votes. Four other candidates stood.
Bogdanor has made some plausible assumptions about how many of their supporters would have expressed further preferences and whom they would have voted for. Thanks largely to transfers from Labour, he reckons that Harris would have been elected with a majority of more than 2,000.
So you can see why the Lib Dems like AV. It's not just because it would give them a few more MPs. Nor is it merely that it would be seen a stepping stone to proportional representation, the Liberals' holy grail. Bogdanor points out that AV would allow each of the coalition parties to stand against the other in every constituency, provided that each party simply urged its supporters to give their second preference to its coalition partner.
On this basis, argues Bogdanor, hung parliaments will become more likely and coalitions will be here to stay. I wonder. People didn't vote for the Liberal Democrats last year in order to see them in government. Surely the whole point of the Liberal Democrats is to be in permanent opposition, preserving their political virginity and not getting mixed up in the messy compromises necessary to run a country. If AV is defeated and support for the Lib Dems has evaporated by 7 May 2015, the keeper of the British constitution will simply have to write another book.
Joshua Rozenberg is a freelance legal writer, commentator and broadcaster


text:
Western Engineering is strongly committed to research directed towards benefiting our society. Our faculty members are responding to critical challenges faced around the world. Our leading-edge research provides the foundation for graduate student training and undergraduate learning. Our faculty members are actively involved in projects at the frontier of knowledge. Their knowledge is brought into the classroom and applied in industry everyday.
Read more how our researchers are working together to make an impact on complex global issues. Learn more.
November 2014
Read about our recent research success stories, including the announcement of Cedric Briens as the NSERC Syncrude/ExxonMobil Industrial Research Chair in Fluid Coking Technologies. Learn more.
July 2014
Learn about our efforts to strengthen our research impact and infrastructure to attract and support the best faculty members and students. Learn more.
November 2013
Discover our efforts to build a sustainable future. Learn more.


text: This is especially important to Guayaki because of the company's commitment to operating sustainably. Its founders created and follow a "Market Driven Restoration" business model which internalizes the costs of sustainable production, community development and reforestation in the rainforests of South America. By adhering to the triple bottom line, success for Guayaki is evaluated according to social justice, environmental stewardship and economic viability. The company has specific social and environmental goals which include restoring 200,000 acres of South American Atlantic rainforest by 2020 and creating at least 1,000 fair wage jobs by 2020."We are very pleased that Guayaki chose to make the move to Rexam," said Andre Balbi, president and CEO, Rexam Beverage Can Americas. "We respect their mission and look forward to helping build their brand and their business with the most economically-efficient and environmentally-friendly beverage package in the world." Guayaki Sparkling Yerba Mate beverages are available now at Whole Foods stores nationwide. About Guayaki Guayaki works in partnership with indigenous and local communities in the South American rainforest to provide, market and sell sustainably-grown yerba mate products. Yerba mate is a rainforest tree whose leaves are harvested and dried to create a naturally caffeinated beverage with the strength of coffee, the health benefits of tea and the euphoria of chocolate. For centuries, yerba mate has been the national drink of Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay where, today, nearly 45 million people consume it daily. Guayaki is the only U.S. provider of certified organic, rainforest-grown yerba mate and accounts for an estimated 55% of the US yerba mate market (including supermarkets, convenience stores, internet sales and Latin markets.) For more information, visit www.guayaki.com. About Rexam Rexam's vision is to be the best global consumer packaging company. We are one of the largest beverage can makers in the world, and a major global player in rigid plastic packaging. We are business partners to some of the world's most famous and successful consumer brands as well as young, entrepreneurial start-ups. Rexam's ordinary shares are listed with the UK Listing Authority and trade on the London Stock Exchange under the symbol REX. For further information, visit Rexam's website at www.rexam.com.


text:
Van Basten blasts Ruud when naming his squad
ZEIST, Netherlands, Feb 2 (Reuters) - Dutch coach Marco van Basten said on Friday he will no longer consider picking Ruud van Nistelrooy after the Real Madrid striker had basically 'resigned' from the national squad.
Van Basten, who was naming a 20-man squad for next week's friendly against Russia in Amsterdam, said he had no intention of picking the player again.
'Ruud more or less resigned from the job and that closes the case for me,' Van Basten told reporters.
'We believe it is a shame after we had an open and honest conversation but we will not take any further initiatives.'
Last week van Nistelrooy said he no longer wished to be considered for the squad because he had no confidence in van Basten. He has played 54 times for the Netherlands, scoring 28 goals.
His absence, combined with the absence of the injured Robin van Persie and Arjen Robben has reduced van Basten's attacking opportunities.
Van Persie, sidelined for weeks with a broken metatarsal, has been impressive in the opening four Dutch European Championship qualifying matches with four goals.
Van Basten kept Klaas Jan Huntelaar in his squad despite his struggling form.
'Huntelaar is going through a tough period, that's obvious' added Van Basten.
'But it is a logical development in his career, after he had a great period after his transfer to Ajax. Now he has to get used to the fact he gets more attention from defenders.'
Wilfred Bouma was recalled to the squad in central defence in place of Andre Ooijer who is out with a broken leg.
Defender Urby Emanuelson has also pulled out of the Dutch squad.
The Ajax Amsterdam player sustained a knee injury during the 4-1 victory against Feyenoord on Sunday.
Dutch coach Marco van Basten will also be without goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar after he sustained a broken nose and concussion during Manchester United's 4-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur. Feyenoord's Henk Timmer has been called up to replace him.
Goalkeepers: Henk Timmer (Feyenoord), Maarten Stekelenburg (Ajax Amsterdam)
Defenders: Wilfred Bouma (Aston Villa), Giovanni van Bronckhorst (Barcelona), Tim de Cler (AZ Alkmaar), John Heitinga (Ajax Amsterdam), Kew Jaliens (AZ Alkmaar), Jan Kromkamp (PSV Eindhoven), Joris Mathijsen (SV Hamburg)
Midfielders: Nigel de Jong (SV Hamburg), Denny Landzaat (Wigan Athletic), David Mendes da Silva (AZ Alkmaar), Clarence Seedorf (AC Milan), Wesley Sneijder (Ajax Amsterdam), Rafael van der Vaart (SV Hamburg).
Forwards: Ryan Babel (Ajax Amsterdam), Klaas Jan Huntelaar (Ajax Amsterdam), Dirk Kuyt (Liverpool), Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink (Celtic Glasgow)