text:
Rotterdam - places of pilgrimage - 4
Emergency meeting, drove me round and round the park in a car, yelling blue murder. Said I was so plastered these days I didn't know fact from fiction. All that stuff.
This afternoon I took my bicycle to inspect some parks in the North of Rotterdam. I had memories of one park looking like London. A green area surrounded by city buildings. Tops of city buildings poking through treetops. I was not sure which park it was: the Melanchton or the Argonaut park. Conclusion: it was the Argonaut park, but the park has been restructured in the meantime, destroying the London effect.
Better still, the neighbourhood possessed no social identity and demanded none. Some of the houses had been turned into one-roomed flats, and had ten door bells laid out like a typewriter. Some were got up grandly and had only one.The cause of the destruction was this completely new quarter. It was not there when I last visited the area (5 - 10 years ago). Generic modern buildings. Apartments costing 250.000 euros. The park had been re-landscaped to accommodate this project.
It was terribly cold. The wind seemed to come from the river, across the park. He looked up and down the road. It was empty. He walked a hundred yards or so toward the power station, changed his mind and turned back. He was sleepy. It was a curious illusion that even in the street he still heard the telephone ringing.
And come the dawn, do you know what we did? I will tell you. We walked solemnly down to the parks, I sit on a bench with a stopwatch, big Jim gets into his running kit and lopes twenty circuits. Twenty. I was quite exhausted.At home I did some research on the place. There were a lot of documents on the restructuring of the park with many interesting details. Things I wouldn't have thought about:
- Bicycle and pedestrian traffic will be separated.
- Trees with different colours and shapes will be planted (amelanchier - krentenboompje).
- Digging more ponds is not possible for geotechnical reasons. The ponds will get sloping, more natural banks enhancing biodiversity.
- Asphalt paths are less natural than sea-shell paths. But sea-shell paths are difficult to maintain. Grass grows through them. Wheels leave tracks.
- The dog- and child areas have been separated. The dog area cannot be moved towards the water. Water quality would suffer. Dogs cannot roam freely, playing children dislike free running dogs.
- The police has advised to keep several paths dark so that people will not walk there at night.
- The work had to be interrupted because of the nesting season of the wood pigeons. (In the countryside the shoot these, as pests.)
He went to functions, lectures, strolled in the park, played a little tennis and short of giving sweets to the kids he couldn't have been more respectable.
- The child playing area is always swampy.
- Parents won't let their children play in one park area because it is too dark. This will not be changed. Maybe some bushes can be thinned-out.
- Asphalt paths and the new bridge might attract unwanted scooter traffic from the neighboring school.
- Park benches along the water might attract boisterous youths. Also the stairs and the green slope might attract loiterers. (The area has a higher than average percentage of old folks.)
The pickups were variously contrived. At Green Park, by way of a recognition signal, he carried a Fortnum Mason carrier-bag. At the embankment, on the other hand, he clutched an out-of-date copy of Time magazine, bearing by coincidence the nourished features of Chairman Mao on the cover. Big Ben struck six and Jerry counted the chimes, but the ethic of such meetings requires they do not happen on the hour nor on the quarter, but in the vaguer spaces in-between, which are held to be less conspicuous.General remarks about the area:
- In 2008 someone left mysterious packages in several parks on the north side of Rotterdam. Black garbage bags containing many platsic wrapped packages. Each package containing a coconut and one half lemon. Or a coconut and cotton wool. Or a coconut and some coloured powder. This has never been explained.
- There are problems with the ground-water levels damaging the foundations of buildings.
- The older parts of the area lie much higher because the village of Hillegersberg has been built upon a fossil sand dune from the ice age.
Samenvattend verslag van de informatieavond schetsontwerp Argonautenpark op donderdag 1
juli 2010 vanaf 19.30 uur in het deelgemeentekantoor van de deelgemeente Hillergersberg-Schiebroek - http://www.deelraadinfo.nl/dsresource?objectid=59983&type=org
De herinrichting van het Agonautenpark loopt volgens planning - http://www.rotterdam.nl/DG%20Hillegersberg%20-%20Schiebroek/PDF/2012-09-20%20-%20stand%20van%20zaken%20Argonautenpark%202011.pdf
Mysterie: kokosnootpakketjes in parken - Argonautenpark - http://www.ad.nl/ad/nl/1038/Rotterdam/article/detail/2111351/2008/04/10/Mysterie-kokosnootpakketjes-in-parken.dhtml
THE LOOKING GLASS WAR - John LeCarré
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy - John le Carré


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NEW YORK (Reuters) – A federal grand jury in New York has indicted former Guatemalan President Alfonso Portillo for money laundering, alleging he embezzled tens of millions of public dollars that he washed through foreign and local banks.
The charges were unsealed on Monday, a day after authorities in Guatemala searched for the former president at several of his properties on an extradition request from the United States. His whereabouts remain unknown.
The grand jury suspects Portillo, who was president from 2000 to 2004, of diverting $1.5 million of donations by the Taiwanese government from a program called "Libraries for Peace" to accounts controlled by friends and family, among other accusations.
The indictment also alleges Portillo embezzled at least $3.9 million from the Guatemalan Defense Ministry that was laundered through the national mortgage bank Credito Hipotecario Nacional (CHN) by abusing his oversight powers with the bank, and through a Guatemalan company called Confia.
"Portillo embezzled money from the Guatemalan government and made a number of fraudulent transactions through CHN and other Guatemalan banks to enrich himself and his co-conspirators," the indictment said, adding that ill-gotten funds were also funneled through bank accounts in the United States and Europe.
The co-conspirators were not identified.
Portillo, who also faces corruption charges in Guatemala, won office promising to redistribute wealth. He fled the country shortly after his four-year presidential term ended in 2004 and spent the next four years in Mexico.
He was extradited from Mexico to Guatemala in 2008 to face charges he embezzled millions of dollars of public money during his presidency.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Problems solved, solutions delivered.
New UK Datacentres Opened Up For O365 Customers
Good news for anyone contemplating Sharepoint 2010 end user training and other Office 365 applications…
Problems solved, solutions delivered.
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Office 365 and SharePoint online is indeed a fantastic platform and the real ROI is actually quite measurable, however no matter how great Office 365 and SharePoint online are its no use if its not used and it needs to be used efficiently!
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Once you sign up with Solutions Developed as a support client, we will be happy to take over all comms with your team and deal with them daily. The contact with your staff is done via the phone, Microsoft Teams or an equivalent service. We take all responsibility for creating tickets and maintaining records and statistics – no more "raise a ticket!" nonsense.
Billing and Charges couldn't be simpler we bill you once a month for the actual time used and we provide a full report against that time. We know that you are going to be amazed at how much help you have received and how inexpensive it is.
To find out more about our SharePoint and Office 365 support services in Perthshire get in touch today on +44 (0) 7739 870 670 or email to firstname.lastname@example.com
We do not insist that users raise a ticket. We ask for engagement by phone (old fashioned) we will raise the ticket for you and that way your user spends less time fixing a problem and more time being productive
We don't have a tiered approach to support. The people that respond are our top team, with deep technical skills no more pillar to post just top quality SharePoint online office 365 support.
Our SharePoint / office 365 support product is all about reducing the impact of users not being able to do something and maximising the productivity that can be supplied by using SharePoint/Office 365 properly.
Even the most technical team will benefit from some help from time to time usually just another pair of eyes to help them sense check their latest Office 365 / SharePoint development.
Even the most technical team will benefit from some help from time to time usually just another pair of eyes to help them sense check their latest Office 365 / SharePoint development.
Why bother with support, users will get there in the end? We have recently quantified this, and statistics have shown us that our support product can provide a 28% increase in efficiency - that like have nearly a third more staff without the overhead. we are so confident that we can deliver these savings that we will maintain your stats and only charge you on a time saved basis - SERIOUSLY- we either win together or not, but we don't lose!
Our pricing policy is based on actual time spent. You don't have to commit to 3 days support or an amount of money etc. All that happens is that your team call us (the clock starts) we raise a ticket and record the details, fix the problem (the clock stops) if that is a minute or an hour that is all you pay.
You will be amazed at how effective and inexpensive this can be.
Contact us today to find out more about our Office 365 and SharePoint End User Support services in Perthshire.
</we are a creative team>
Good news for anyone contemplating Sharepoint 2010 end user training and other Office 365 applications…
There has been a decline in the number of girls choosing to study STEM –…
Good news for anyone contemplating Sharepoint 2010 end user training and other Office 365 applications… Read more news
Solutions Developed strives to be a global thought leader in the beneficial use of SharePoint and Office 365 in business. Helping companies leverage real advantage with proper automation and communication.
We aim to help support the global SharePoint community and make every interaction with us fun and productive.
© solutions developed 2019


text:
Losi® 1/18-scale Mini-Desert Truck RTR offers a variety of performance-packed features for enhanced running both on-road and off-road. Such features include ball bearing-equipped transmission, an adjustable slipper clutch, oil-filled shocks, a Mini-280 motor and a full-featured radio system. Combine these features with its versatile size, and you can take the excitement of desert racing anywhere with the Mini-Desert Truck.
The installed Mini-280 motor provides ample torque for rough, off-road terrain as well as impressive straight-line speed when running on smooth surfaces. The Mini-Desert Truck utilizes industry-standard three-wire electronics for easy setup and compatibility or customizing. The Mini-Desert Truck includes a powerful 7.2V 1100mAh NiMH rechargeable battery pack and wall charger and can also accommodate 2-cell LiPos.
The included Losi 27MHz radio system is available in six different channels, allowing multiple trucks to run at the same time. It offers features like dual rate, servo reversing and trim adjustments often only found on more expensive radios.
In addition to the fully-detailed desert truck body, true-to-life roll bars, molded tubular bumpers and a skid plate add to the realistic Mini-Desert Truck appearance. Mini all-terrain tires mounted on chrome desert truck wheels allow you to take the Mini-Desert Truck to the streets or the dirt.
|Ball Bearings:
|Complete Transmission
|7.2V (4 x 2) Battery Pack (vehicle) and 8 AA Dry Cells (transmitter)
|Custom-painted and -stickered (available in Red, Blue or Green)
|AC Wall Charger Included
|Molded Composite
|Completion Level:
|Shock Type:
|Composite coil-over oil-filled
|4-Wheel Independent
|Tire Type:
|All-Terrain Truck
|Vehicle Type:
|Desert Truck
Technical questions about this Zenoah product should be directed to Horizon Hobby's Product Support Department:
Horizon Hobby, LLC.
ATTN: Product Support
2904 Research Road
Champaign, IL 61822
To Contact Product Support please email us at firstname.lastname@example.com
If you would like to purchase this product, please go to the Store Locator or contact the Horizon Hobby Consumer Sales Department:
Horizon Hobby, LLC.
ATTN: Consumer Sales
2904 Research Road
Champaign, IL 61822
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
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Hope College has continued its long consecutive streak of winning the prestigious Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) Commissioner's Cup by historic proportions.
Hope College has continued its long consecutive streak of winning the prestigious Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) Commissioner's Cup by historic proportions.
The Commissioner's Cup is presented annually to the MIAA-member college that has the best cumulative performance in the league's 18 sports for men and women.
The final 2011-12 standings announced by the league today has Hope claiming the Commissioner's Cup by 31 points, the widest margin since men's and women's standings were combined to determine the winner in 1981-82. Hope also topped the men's and women's all-sports standings.
Hope has now won the Cup 12 consecutive years and for a league-record 34 times since the award was initiated by America's oldest collegiate athletic conference in 1934-35.
By contrast, Hope won the Cup in 2010-11 by only four points over rival Calvin and in 2009-10 the margin, again over Calvin, was a single point. In 2007-08 Hope and Calvin tied in the Cup race standings. This year Hope scored 213 points with outright league champions in men's golf, men's basketball, men's track & field, women's cross country and women's tennis and a co-championship in women's track & field.
The finishes of other teams were: football, second; men's soccer second; men's cross country, second; men's swimming & diving, second; volleyball, second; women's golf, second; women's basketball, second; women's swimming & diving, second; baseball, tied for second; men's tennis, third; women's soccer, tied for fourth; and softball, fifth. Hope qualified eight out of a possible nine teams for the MIAA's post-season tournaments which determine the conference automatic qualifier to the NCAA championships.
Commssioner's Cup Standings: 1. Hope 213, 2. Calvin 182, 3. Adrian 135, 4. Alma 121, 5. Albion 119, 6. Trine 115, 7. Kalamazoo 95, 8. Olivet 78.
Men's All-Sports Standings: 1. Hope 101, 2. Calvin 76, 3. Trine 66, 4. Adrian 63, 4. Albion 63, 6. Kalamazoo 44, 7. Alma 42, 8. Olivet 35.
Women's All-Sports Standings: 1. Hope 112, 2. Calvin 106, 3. Alma 79, 4. Adrian 72, 5. Saint Mary's 66, 6. Albion 56, 7. Kalamazoo 51, 8. Trine 49, 9. Olivet 43.


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Cook the Book: Rosemary Olive Knots
Nick Malgieri, author of this week's Cook the Book selection, The Modern Baker, recommends serving these Rosemary Olive Knots split and filled with aged Gruyère, prosciutto, soft goat cheese and roasted peppers, or sliced tomatoes sprinkled with olive oil and garlic.
The technique of filling the dough prior to dividing and shaping it is one that Nick adapted from a method for making Danish pastries. It's simple to prepare, but be sure to chill the dough until it firms up. Otherwise, it might be difficult to work with.
This recipe makes 12 medium-size rolls. You can freeze any leftovers for up to two or three months. Defrost and reheat them in a 350ºF oven before serving.
- Yield:12 medium-size rolls
- For the dough:
- 3 1/2 cups unbleached, all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 2 1/2 teaspoons (1 envelope) active dry yeast
- 1 1/2 cups warm water, about 110ºF
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- For the filling:
- 1/2 cup pitter Gaeta or Kalamata olives, cut into 1/4-inch pieces
- 3 tablespoons chopped fresh rosemary leaves
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 cookie sheet or jelly roll pan lined with parchment paper or foil
Combine the flour and salt in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the metal blade. Pulse several times to mix.
Whisk the yeast into the water in a small bowl and whisk in the oil. Pour the liquid into the processor bowl and pulse until the dough forms a ball. Let rest for 10 minutes, then let the machine run continuously for 15 seconds.
Invert the food processor bowl over a lightly floured surface to turn out the dough. Carefully remove the blade and transfer any dough on it to the surface. Use a bench scraper to fold the dough over on itself several times. Place the dough into an oiled bowl and turn it over so that the top is oiled. Cover the bowl with a towel or plastic wrap and let the dough rise until it has doubled in bulk, about 1 hour.
Scrape the dough to a floured work surface and lightly flour the top of the dough. Pat the dough into a 10-inch square. Fold the dough into thirds and slide both hands under it, palms up and flat, and lift it to a floured cookie sheet or small cutting board. Unfold the dough, even out the shape, and cover it with plastic wrap. Refrigerate the dough until it firms up, about 1 hour.
While the dough is chilling, for the filling, place the olives, rosemary, oil, and pepper in a small bowl and stir well to combine.
When the dough is firm, remove it from the refrigerator, leaving it on the pan or cutting board. Evenly distribute the filling on the bottom half of the dough in a 15 x 10-inch rectangle. Fold the top half of the dough down over the filling without pulling on it or stretching it, and press well with the palms of your hands to adhere.
Use a sharp pizza wheel to cut the dough into a 12 equal strips, each about 3/4 inch wide and 5 inches long. Set the prepared pan next to the dough. One at a time, loosely knot the strips of dough, letting one end of the strip protrude slightly at the top and arranging the other end under the roll. As the strips are knotted, transfer them to the prepared pan, leaving about 2 inches all around each one to allow room for expansion.
Cover the pan with a wide towel or oiled plastic wrap and let the rolls rise until they have doubled in bulk, about 1 hour.
About 20 minutes before the rolls are completely risen, set a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 400ºF.
Bake the rolls until they are well-risen, deep golden, and feel firm to the touch, about 30 minutes. Slide the rolls on parchment paper on a rack to cool.
All products linked here have been independently selected by our editors. We may earn a commission on purchases, as described in our affiliate policy.


text:
Dog food reviews
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1 Star Dry Dog Food
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Proctor & Gamble Eukanuba Labrador Retriever
Date of last review
Thu January 10, 2008
Recommended By
Average Price
Average Rating
No recommendations
None indicated
None indicated
Feeding guideline:
A 50lb dog should be fed 2 1/3 cups
Metabolizable energy:
350 kcal/cup
Chicken, Corn Meal, Ground Whole Grain Sorghum, Ground Whole Grain Barley, Chicken By-Product Meal (Natural source of Chondroitin Sulfate and Glucosamine), Fish meal, Natural Chicken Flavor, Dried Beet Pulp (sugar removed), Chicken Fat (preserved with mixed Tocopherols, a source of Vitamin E), Dried Egg Product, Brewers Dried Yeast, Potassium Chloride, Calcium Carbonate, Salt, Flax Meal, Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Ascorbic Acid, Beta-Carotene, Vitamin A Acetate, Calcium Pantothenate, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate (source of Vitamin B1), Niacin, Riboflavin Supplement (source of Vitamin B2), Inositol, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (source of Vitamin B6), Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid), Sodium Hexametaphosphate, Fish Oil (preserved with mixed Tocopherols, a source of Vitamin E), Dicalcium Phosphate, Choline Chloride, Minerals (Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Manganese Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Potassium Iodide, Cobalt Carbonate), DL-Methionine, Dried Chicken Cartilage (Natural source of Chondroitin Sulfate and Glucosamine), L-Carnitine, Rosemary Extract.
Guaranteed analysis:
Crude Protein not less than 23.00%
Crude Fat not less than 13.00%
Crude Fiber not more than 5.00%
Moisture not more than 10.00%
Copper not less than 27 mg/kg
Zinc not less than 188 mg/kg
Vitamin E not less than 140 IU/kg
L-Carnitine not less than 30 mg/kg*
Omega-6 Fatty Acids not less than 2.4%*
Omega-3 Fatty Acids not less than 0.3%*
Glucosamine not less than 375 mg/kg*
Chondroitin Sulfate not less than 35 mg/kg*
Post a Reply
Registered: October 2005
Posts: 3953
Review Date:
Thu January 10, 2008
Would you recommend the product?
| Price you paid?:
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| Rating:
First ingredient is a named meat product
Inadequate meat content, byproducts, low quality grains, controversial filler
The first ingredient in the food is a named meat product. This is not a meal ingredient. It is inclusive of water content (about 80%). Once that is removed, as it must be to create a dehydrated product, the ingredient will weigh around 20% of its wet weight. Ingredients are listed in order of weight, and the dehydrated ingredient would probably be more accurately placed much further down the ingredient list. It is highly unlikely that this ingredient makes any significant contribution to the overall meat content of the food. The main meat ingredient in the food is byproducts, 5th on the ingredient list. It is impossible to ascertain the quality of by-products and these are usually products that are of such low quality as to be rejected for use in the human food chain, or else are those parts that have so little value that they cannot be used elsewhere in either the human or pet food industries. The AAFCO definition of chicken by-product meal is a meal consisting of the ground, rendered, clean parts of the carcass of slaughtered chicken, such as necks, feet, undeveloped eggs and intestines, exclusive of feathers, except in such amounts as might occur unavoidable in good processing practice. Since the glucosamine and chondroitin are sourced from cartillage and bone (present in all meat and meat meal ingredients, unless de-boned), we consider advertising of this to be a gimmick. The amounts of these substances in the food are far below useful or therapudic levels, as is the case in all dog food products.In addition to this being a very low quality ingredient, we note that since it is the main meat ingredient and only 5th on the ingredient list, this food is extremely light in meat content. It is primarily a collection of grain.
The main grains in the food are corn, sorghum and barley. Corn is a cheap grain that is difficult to digest and commonly associated with food allergies. Sorghum is decent quality, as is barley amongst the minor ingredients. Beet pulp is controversial filler which appears to be used in large quantities in this food. It is a by-product, being dried residue from sugar beets which has been cleaned and extracted in the process of manufacturing sugar. It is a controversial ingredient in dog food, claimed by some manufacturers to be a good source of fibre, and derided by others as an ingredient added to slow down the transition of rancid animal fats and causing stress to kidney and liver in the process. We note that beet pulp is an ingredient that commonly causes problems for dogs, including allergies and ear infections, and prefer not to see it used in dog food. There are less controversial products around if additional fibre is required.
Fish meal is a further meat ingredient in the food, but it is far too far down the ingredient list to make any significant contribution to the overall meat content of the food. We find no sign on the manufacturer's website of a guarantee that only ethoxyquin-free protein ingredients are used in this food (ethoxyquin is a chemical preservative, commonly added to fish ingredients, and that is banned or heavily regulated in human food due to the belief that it is carcinogenic). We would prefer to see the use of whole eggs rather than egg product in the food.
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Sen. Edward Markey has unveiled a gun control bill he says will help reduce firearm violence by requiring all new guns be "personalized" with special features, such as fingerprint-reading technology, so they can only be fired by their owners or other authorized users.
The Massachusetts Democrat says the bill will make it harder for stolen guns to be used in crimes and will reduce accidental firearm deaths by making it impossible for children to fire guns they find Markey said technology already exists to make guns inoperable for unauthorized users.
Markey, who detailed the bill Wednesday, also called on President Obama to include $10 million in his budget proposal for gun violence research.
Markey said his bill should be embraced by gun owners and safety advocates, but any gun control measure will likely come up against tough opposition in Congress.
Source: Fox n


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Three U.S. House seats in Georgia up for grabs in the 2014 elections are already drawing crowded fields of candidates with one major exception: So far, no Democrats have declared for any of the races.
There's still more than a year to go before the primaries, but Republicans are getting out early in races to replace GOP Reps. Paul Broun of Athens, Phil Gingrey of Marietta and Jack Kingston of Savannah. They're all vacating their seats so they can run to succeed retiring U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss.
A total of 16 Republican candidates have launched campaigns for the open House seats.
Local Democratic leaders say they don't have many established officeholders to recruit. And each of the open districts was drawn to give Republicans a daunting advantage.


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Hi Mediasonic Support,
I just purchased a HP1-U32F from NCIX.com, installed as per manual, hooked up SATA power, hooked up USB 3.0 20 Pin ICC from front of computer case, installed the drivers off the included disk. Drivers installed properly, Fresco Logic xHCI (USB3) Controller FL1100 Series and Fresco Logic xHCI (USB3) Root hub show installed just fine (no exclamation marks or triangles), and the driver version shows up as Fresco Logic 07/03/2013 version 126.96.36.199.
On all the USB ports on my computer AND on the HP1-U32F, USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 flash drives operate properly WITH ONE EXCEPTION. The problem is that any USB 3.0 drives plugged into the front 20 Pin ICC port are recognized, they show up, can be read from, but nothing I do will allow me to WRITE to them. By write to them, I mean create files, copy or move files or format the USB 3.0 flash drive. Attempting to do this causes the USB 3.0 flash drive to hang or completely disappear (disconnect). This does not happen to the USB 2.0 flash drives attached to the front 20 Pin ICC, only the USB 3.0 Flash Drives. Remember, the USB 3.0 Flash drives work properly on the rear two USB 3.0 ports on the HP1-U32F (can read, write, format, etc.).
So it can't be the power, as the rear ports and card work just fine. It can't be the actual 20 Pin ICC cable from the card to the front of the computer case because USB 2.0 flash drives work properly, and USB 3.0 flash drives are "Recognized" and read from (just not written to). The only thing I can think of is maybe the drivers are old or outdated, or somehow are not compliant with my system (your site does not seem to have newer drivers)? My computer is: OS - Windows 7 Pro SP1 64 bit (x64), motherboard - GigaByte GA-MA770-UD3 (rev 1.0), CPU - AMD Phenom II, X4 940 Quad Core 3000MHz, 8GB DDR2 RAM, Video - GigaByte GV-R9-270OC-2GD, Rev 1.0, Radeon , Two SSD and Two HDD, One DVD-RW. No issues what so ever with the system and USB ports before??
Any ideas on how to fix? Is this a bad part on the HP1-U32F leading to the 20 Pin ICC port, or bad chip on the card, or a driver issue ?? Can I get / do you have newer drivers? Thanks !


text:
It seems like everyone these days is jumping on the music competition show bandwagon.
First, J-Lo announced her dream, to produce a talent show focusing on Latin American music.
Now, Snoop Dogg wants in.
U.S. & World
News from around the country and around the globe
While promoting his new album "Doggumentary," Snoop said that shows like "American Idol" and "The X-Factor" are all well and good, but thinks there's room to expand to try and find the next hip-hop artist, "straight directed to the hood."
'I want to find that raw untamed talent that hasn't been dressed up all nice for the TV," Snoop said, adding. "If any television companies are interested, "they know where I am."
The Daily Mail reports that Snoop has his eye on more than just a television show. He told reporters that he also wants to open his own line of supermarkets. "But I'm going to call them Snoopermarkets," the rapper said.
Selected Reading: NYP, Daily Mail


text:
Tag Archives: Pileated woodpeckers
June Birding
Sheila's birding Notes for June, Common nighthawks and chuck-will's-widows increase their courtship calls. Eastern kingbirds & red-headed woodpeckers aggressively defend their territories. Yellow-billed cuckoos are active at their nests. Young birds of green herons, Northern cardinals, pileated woodpeckers, white-eyed vireos … Continue reading
Posted in Birding Notes Tagged eastern kingbirds, green herons, june birding, little blue herons, nighthawks, norhtern cardinals, Pileated woodpeckers, red-headed wookpeckers, rookeries, white ibis, white-eyed vireos, yellow-billed cuckoos Comments Off on June Birding


text:
The two leading Republican candidates for mayor faced each other in a final debate Sunday, with billionaire businessman John Catsimatidis trying -- sometimes awkwardly -- to explain himself and score points on his rival, former MTA chairman Joseph Lhota.
Lhota, a former Giuliani administration official who enjoys a large lead in polls, seemed to follow a strategy of disengagement, repeatedly passing up opportunities to attack Catsimatidis. Lhota often looked like an annoyed schoolteacher, scrunching his face or quietly shaking his head while Catsimatidis spoke.
The candidates also exchanged sharp words throughout the 90-minute debate -- particularly when Lhota felt the need to defend himself.
The first such volley came during a discussion of keeping the city safe from terror.
Asked about their qualifications on emergency preparedness, Lhota cited his work as Rudy Giuliani's deputy mayor for operations, saying he'd been responsible for getting the city back to normal -- traffic, garbage, paychecks, assistance checks -- after 9/11.
Catsimatidis said vaguely that he'd "served in government in various ways that I choose not to talk about."
Lhota squinted his eyes disapprovingly.
Then Catsimatidis accused Lhota of not accepting responsibility for the failures of police and fire radios during 9/11.
"They had the ability to fix those phones from 1993 to 2000," Catsimatidis said.
He also suggested that Lhota was part of a decision to build the city's emergency management center "on a high floor" in 7 World Trade Center, a building at the site that collapsed the afternoon of 9/11.
Lhota said that the trade center was believed, at the time, to be among the safest places in the city, despite the fact it had been bombed before. The CIA and Secret Service also had offices there, Lhota said.
He also pointed out that the emergency management center was on the third floor, which he didn't consider "high."
"John, get your facts straight," Lhota said.
"I always get my facts straight," Catsimatidis said.
Lhota and Catsimatidis — and a third candidate, Doe Fund founder George McDonald, who wasn't included in Tuesday's debate because he didn't meet Campaign Finance Board criteria for the leading contender debate — are competing for the votes of New York's relatively tiny Republican voting bloc to earn a spot on the Nov. 5 general election ballot.
The winner of Tuesday's GOP primary faces tough odds, because Democrats outnumber Republicans 6 to 1 in the city, and polls consistently show the leading Democratic candidates beating a Republican by large margins.
But there is at least one historical fact in the Republicans' favor: the city hasn't elected a Democrat since 1989, when David Dinkins beat Giuliani. Giuliani won four years later, and was succeeded by Mayor Bloomberg, who ran as a Republican but switched to independent while in office.
Lhota has held considerable leads in recent primary polls, and has relied on support from Giuliani, who has appeared in campaign ads and is co-hosting a fundraising event on Monday. On the campaign trail, Lhota touts his experience in government affairs, and paints Catsimatidis as a rich guy with no government experience.
Catsimatidis, a blunt-talking, self-made billionaire whose business holdings include the supermarket chain Gristedes, has used his money to blanket the airwaves with ads.
Despite their frequent campaign-trail criticisms of one another, Lhota and Catsimatidis found a good amount of common ground during Sunday's debate. They agreed on a lot of law-and-order items -- both said they wanted to keep Police Commissioner Ray Kelly, would support appeal of a federal judge's finding that the NYPD's stop-and-frisks were illegal, would maintain the NYPD's intelligence-gathering operations on Muslims, and would hire more police officers.
They also described themselves as middle-road, pro-business and socially moderate Republicans who would be capable of appealing to traditionally Democratic voters in the general election.
On Sunday, Catsimatidis called himself a "visionary" CEO with long experience creating jobs. He described Lhota -- whom he has called a "bureaucrat" in television ads -- as "more of a technical person."
"Joe is very qualified in technical items and there's nothing wrong with that. But you need a visionary and you need someone who creates jobs," he said.
Lhota said he wasn't a bureaucrat, but had plenty experience in cutting red tape.
In one of the debate's odder moments, Catsimatidis said he was more electable because he had the "ability to reach out to the minorities."
"All of the minorities I've been to in the last three months, they love me," Catsimatidis said. "I have a love factor with minorities…They all give me hugs."
Another cringe-worthy answer came when Catsimatidis was asked about his response in an earlier debate about how he'd respond if his son was stopped and frisked by police. Catsimatidis said at the time he'd ask his son if he'd been walking or dressing "funny."
Explaining that response on Sunday, Catsimatidis said: "If he had his pants half down with underwear showing or if he had his hat turned backward … walking down street as if you were drunk … you know, walking funny. That's what I meant."
Lhota looked mildly amused, but did not comment.
Both candidates said they disagreed with Bloomberg's remarks to New York Magazine that Democratic front-runner Bill de Blasio was running a "racist" campaign by featuring his mixed-race family in advertisements and on the trail.
"The fact of the matter is, the choice of words was a little bit harsh," Lhota said.
But when asked about Bloomberg's statement in the same article that rich New Yorkers contributed taxes that helped poorer residents, Lhota said the mayor had it right.
"That's the way our system works," Lhota said.
Then Lhota went on the defensive when a panelist brought up a campaign ad that notes Catsimatidis' past donations to Dinkins, a black Democrat. "He's not one of us," the Lhota ad says of Catsimatidis.
Lhota said that statement was aimed at Republicans, to show "who the real Republican is in this race."
Catsimatidis passed on an opportunity to criticize Lhota. But he said he supported Dinkins' Republican opponent, Giuliani, too.
In a "lightning round" question about the spread of electronic cigarettes, Lhota said they ought to be banned, just as regular cigarettes were under Bloomberg. Catsimatidis said he needed more information to make a decision.
By the debate's conclusion, it appeared that Lhota was having a difficult time restraining himself from criticizing Catsimatidis.
After hearing Catsimatidis repeatedly mention the changes he'd make upon taking office Jan. 3, Lhota, visibly annoyed, finally pointed out that inauguration day was Jan. 1, and has been for over a century.
"I thought it was Jan. 3," Catsimatidis said.
"No," Lhota responded.
The last question was supposed to be on the light side, about their responses to the MTA's decision last week to halt subways to avoid hurting two kittens that strayed onto the tracks.
Lhota, who said after the incident that he was against inconveniencing passengers for such reasons, insisted that he wasn't "the anti-kitten candidate."
"I have pets," he added. "I love pets. I grew up with cats."
Then, remembering that Catsimatidis goes by the nickname "Cats," Lhota gestured to his rival and said, "Not this Cats."
Catsimatidis, smiling, acted like he was insulted.
Lhota didn't seem to realize Catsimatidis was joking. "John, I don't say anything bad about you. You've got to start telling the truth."
"I always tell the truth," Catsimatidis said.
"You think you do," Lhota said.
"I always do," Catsimatidis said.
The official debate series is administered by the New York City Campaign Finance Board. NBC 4 New York, The Wall Street Journal and Telemundo Nueva York are sponsors.
NBC 4 New York is also sponsoring and airing the final general election mayoral debate at 7 p.m. on Oct. 29.


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August 4, 1998, Section B, Page 6Buy Reprints
Alfred Schnittke, an iconoclastic composer who won fame in the West as he struggled against the restraints of Soviet cultural ideology at home, died yesterday at the University Hospital in Hamburg, Germany. He was 63 and lived in Hamburg and Moscow.
The cause was a stroke, one of a series he had suffered in recent years, according to his wife, Irina.
Mr. Schnittke's eclectic method of composing, a collagelike approach in which many styles and periods came together, was particularly emblematic of music late in this century, reflecting an international environment in which many languages competed for attention with none speaking in an authoritative voice. No matter the medium -- be it Serialism, updated Romanticism, Baroque gestures or collages made of all the above -- his eclecticism was colored and weighted by a sense of pessimism and anxiety bordering on, and often crossing over into, despair.
Some of Mr. Schnittke's music has humorous elements, but wit's light touch usually eluded him. More successful are the heavy comic ironies placed against gloomy and imaginative elucidations of modern life.
''In the beginning, I composed in a distinct style,'' Mr. Schnittke said in an interview in 1988, ''but as I see it now, my personality was not coming through. More recently, I have used many different styles, and quotations from many periods of musical history, but my own voice comes through them clearly now.''
He continued, ''It is not just eclecticism for its own sake. When I use elements of, say, Baroque music,'' he added, ''sometimes I'm tweaking the listener. And sometimes I'm thinking about earlier music as a beautiful way of writing that has disappeared and will never come back; and in that sense, it has a tragic feeling for me. I see no conflict in being both serious and comic in the same piece. In fact, I cannot have one without the other.''
Mr. Schnittke was born in 1934 in Engels in the Volga republic, which was then an automonous region for ethnic Germans within the Soviet Union. His music training began in Vienna, where his father worked after World War II, and finished at the Moscow Conservatory, where he subsequently taught instrumentation, score reading, counterpoint and composition until 1972.
He came to music late in his youth because of the war. ''We didn't have a radio,'' he recalled. ''I don't think I heard any music at all. One of the first pieces I heard, in 1946, was the Shostakovich Ninth Symphony, which was very refreshing but also very strange.''
Between 1961 and 1984, Mr. Schnittke wrote the scores for more than 60 films, but did so in popular styles removed from his privately inspired compositions. His major shift into eclecticism began with his Second Violin Concerto in 1968 but had its origins in film score writing, a medium demanding many kinds of music. Mahler and Ives were among its influences, as well as the rigorous Serial thinking of Henri Pousseur.
Mr. Schnittke was a busy and productive composer and did not lack for exposure in the United States and Europe. New York performances of his music in recent years included all four of his string quartets, a Piano Sonata (performed by Vladimir Feltsman, to whom it was dedicated), a Cello Sonata, his first two cello concertos, a Sonata for Violin and Chamber Orchestra and a Concerto for Piano and Strings.
His first opera, ''Life With an Idiot,'' had its world premiere at the Netherlands Music Theater in Amsterdam on April 13, 1992. It is a surreal musical satire about a man who is ordered by the Communist Party to bring an idiot into his home as punishment for some unnamed crime, and who suffers disaster as a result. The work was conducted to great acclaim by Mstislav Rostropovich. The Dutch press labeled the opera ''a requiem for the Soviet Union.''
Mr. Schnittke belonged to a rebellious arm of Soviet composition that included Sofia Gubaidulina, Arvo Part and Edison Denisov. Their nemesis was the Soviet Composers Union, which frowned on Serialism and many forms of experimentation. The premiere of Mr. Schnittke's First Symphony -- a piece the composer described as ''beginning like a circus and ending in an apocalyptic, terrifying way'' -- lost him the union's support in 1972, but he survived on film work and commissions from admiring musicians.
Such famous expatriates as Mr. Rostropovich, Mr. Feltsman, Gidon Kremer and Dmitri Sitkovetsky brought their firm belief in Mr. Schnittke's music when they came from the Soviet Union to the West. Musicians like these, and now increasingly those who remained at home, have been largely responsible for his international reputation, which has been strengthening for a decade or more. Poor health, however, slowed his activities recently.
In addition to his wife, Mr. Schnittke is survived by a son.


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Easy Jazz Guitar: Voicings and CompingMike DiLiddo - Jamey Aebersold Jazz
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Easy Jazz Guitar: Voicings and Comping is a book and 2-CD set with super simple comping over the standards on Jamey Aebersold's New Approach to Jazz Improvisation Volume 54 (Maiden Voyage). Chords and voicings are explained in a manner that even the most novice guitarist will understand. The accompanying CDs include both demonstration and play-along tracks. The book has both standard notation and guitar frames for every voicing.
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Flights to Argentina with Qatar Airways
Famous for its beefsteaks and football, Argentina is a beautiful country with a diverse history that manifests today in the country's many European influences.
The eighth-largest country in the world features a varied terrain that takes in spectacular landscapes such as the Pampas grasslands, glacial lakes and the high Andes. Travel to Argentina with Qatar Airways and find a rich variety of sights to discover, from the bustling streets of Buenos Aires to the open plains of the country side.
Buenos Aires is popularly called the Paris of the South because of its wide and elegant boulevards, stately façades and vibrant café scene. The capital is home to numerous shops and boutiques for visitors to explore, and attractions such as the Presidential Palace. Renowned for its vibrant nightlife character as well as its legendary steak restaurants, Buenos Aires stands out a premier destination to visitors from all around the world.
Argentina is also unusually rich in its diversity of landscapes. These include the Iguazu Falls –commonly known as the Brazil Falls for Argentinian natives—which are taller and twice as wide than those at Niagara. Visitors can enjoy a serene experience walking through a nature trail leading up through most of the national park housing Iguazu Falls – right at the borders of Paraguay, Brazil.
Mountains are also a marked feature of the Argentinean landscapes, with the Andes the most popular region for climbing and skiing. For a more laid back and local experience, visit Mendoza, a town famous for its fruits and other regional delicacies in the foothills. At the other end of the Andes is Patagonia, home to Ushuaia, the world's most southerly city, boasting a wild and unspoilt landscape, as well as Arctic wildlife like penguins.
An unusual town in Argentina is Bariloche, known for its unique Swiss-style architecture and chocolate shops. Its setting amidst stunning lakes and mountains makes it a popular destination for visitors looking for an Alpine experience in the heart of South America, as well as a range of outdoor pursuits.
Mount Fitz Roy in Patagonia is the location to head for if you are a keen hiker. The mountain is popular with mountaineers looking for technical challenges, and was only conquered in 1952.
Your trip to Argentina also gives you the opportunity to see the spectacular Perito Merino Glacier, where you can take a boat out onto the lake and see bergs breaking off.
Fly to Argentina with Qatar Airways and enjoy an unforgettable adventure at one of the world's most beautiful destinations.


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"Brilliant! P. D. Viner's writing is audacious, clever and bold. I think he'll go far." —Sophie Hannah, author of The Wrong Mother
"An exciting thriller that is also deeply moving. A hugely impressive debut." —Mark Billingham, author of Rush of Blood
"Inventive, clever, and beautifully written. This novel of a single crime's ripple effects on the survivors is told with ingenious plotting and rich, true characters. A bold and impressive debut." —Ace Atkins, New York Times bestselling author of The Broken Places
"The Last Winter of Dani Lancing marks the debut of a major new voice in crime fiction. P. D. Viner has crafted a deeply textured psychological thriller that reveals, layer by tragic layer, the damage wrought by a single act of homicide. A remarkably assured and thrilling read. Look forward to more." —Michael Harvey, author of The Innocence Game
"Sharply drawn characters populate the pages of Viner's accomplished debut, which shifts between past and present, steadily ratcheting up the suspense."—Booklist
"[An] ambitious first novel, a psychological thriller…[with a] satisfying ending."—Publishers Weekly
"A chilly, emotionally charged page-turner…it will hook readers with its intensity and puzzlelike plot."—Kirkus Reviews
"For those suspense readers who are looking for an extremely deep and involved plot that jumps from character to character and keeps them on their toes at all times, this is the one!… Solid writing from this new author will keep their target reader more than intrigued." —Suspense magazine


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Browsing Section for Thoracic Medicine by Issue Date
Now showing items 1-7 of 7
Persistent Systemic Inflammation is Associated with Poor Clinical Outcomes in COPD: A Novel Phenotype (Public Library of Science, 2012-05-18)Background: Because chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a heterogeneous condition, the identification of specific clinical phenotypes is key to developing more effective therapies. To explore if the persistence ...Peer reviewedJournal article
Bronchoscopy of lesions suspicious of malignancy: Predictors of a higher diagnostic yield, the optimal combination of sampling techniques, and evaluation of endobronchial ultrasound with a rotating miniprobe. A retrospective cohort study and a prospective open randomised real-life study among physicians with various levels of experience (The University of Bergen, 2011-11-04)Aims (1) To evaluate various predictors for a higher diagnostic yield in bronchoscopy (2) To evaluate different combinations of sampling techniques in bronchoscopy of endobronchial visible lesions and peripheral lesions ...Doctoral thesis
Diagnostic validity of fatal cerebral strokes and coronary deaths (Springer, 2011-03)Mortality statistics represent important endpoints in epidemiological studies. The diagnostic validity of cerebral stroke and ischemic heart disease recorded as the underlying cause of death in Norwegian mortality statistics ...Journal articlePeer reviewed
Swabbing for respiratory viral infections in older patients: a comparison of rayon and nylon flocked swabs (Springer, 2011)The purpose of this study was to compare the sampling efficacy of rayon swabs and nylon flocked swabs, and of oropharyngeal and nasopharyngeal specimens for the detection of respiratory viruses in elderly patients. Samples ...Peer reviewedJournal article
Predictors of long time survival after lung cancer surgery. A retrospective cohort study. (BioMed Central, 2008-10-27)Background: There have been few reports regarding long time survival after lung cancer surgery. The influence of age and pulmonary function on long time survival is still not fully discovered. Some reports suggest that ...Journal article
Predictors of diagnostic yield in bronchoscopy: a retrospective cohort study comparing different combinations of sampling techniques (BioMed Central, 2008-01-26)Background: The reported diagnostic yield from bronchoscopies in patients with lung cancer varies greatly. The optimal combination of sampling techniques has not been finally established. The objectives of this study ...Peer reviewedJournal article
Latitude, Birth Date, and Allergy (Public Library of Science, 2005-10-04)Background: The space and time distribution of risk factors for allergic diseases may provide insights into disease mechanisms. Allergy is believed to vary by month of birth, but multinational studies taking into account ...Journal articlePeer reviewed


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Is your ISP Throttling your Internet?
Is your ISP Throttling your Internet?
Feeling that your Bittorrent downloads are slower than usual? Now you can check if your ISP is throttling your Internet speed by going to Google's Measurement Lab to test your connection.
Google Inc. and two nonprofit partners Wednesday launched a Web site that lets consumers test their Internet connections to reveal possible interference and traffic management by service providers.
The site, Measurement Lab, addresses a need among academics who want to gather data on how Internet connections work in practice. While the workings of the core Internet "highways" are well known and standardized, it's difficult to find out what happens on the network of an Internet service provider, between the "highway" and the customer's home.
For the full article, click here.


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Bleed into One: Christian Rock Documentary
July 23, 2008 in Videos | Tags: Bleed into One, Bono, Brandon Ebel, Christian Rock, Christian Rock Documentary, Cornerstone, Cornerstone Festival, Doug Van Pelt, Heaven's Metal, HM Magazine, John J. Thompson, Michael Sweet, MxPx, Phil Keaggy, POD, Stryper, Tooth and Nail Records, True Tunes, True Tunes in Wheaton, U2, Why Should the Devil Have All the Good Music? | Leave a comment
This is a trailer for a documentary about Christian rock. The documentary takes a different approach than "Why Should the Devil Have All the Good Music?" by not only exploring the phenomenon of Christian rock, but also including clips from TV shows about Christian rock and discussing people who are against Christian rock. It is yet to be released, but from the trailer it appears to have interviews with key people involved with the Christian music scene such as John J. Thompson (founder of the True Tunes record store), Doug Van Pelt (founder of HM Magazine, Phil Keaggy, Michael Sweet, POD, MxPx, Bono and many others. The trailer is from 2007 and I heard the makers of Bleed into One are dealing with some funding issues, so I am eagerly waiting and hoping this will be out before 2009.


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Fat Tony's Grill and Sports Bar(CLOSED)
September 28, 2012
With the beginning of football season comes the beginning of sports bar season as well. Although I lack any concrete proof, I imagine that the period from September through January is probably a sports bar's best season. Wichita has a good selection of local sports bars and it seems like everyone has their favorite. Fat … More Fat Tony's Grill and Sports Bar(CLOSED)


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Open To Public
Saturday, October 19
No sign up necessary
Learn more
Class Details
In Studio Event, Open To the Public
The Perfect Night Out
Enjoy drinks, upbeat music and hanging out with your favorite people while you paint! It's as fun for first-time painters as it is for experienced artists.
Fun Atmosphere
From the moment you walk in, the mood is light, the music is fun and the conversation comes easy!
Easy to Do
You don't need to be a seasoned painter — we make it easy for everyone to find their inner artist!
Sit Together
You'll get seats with all your friends, even if you book separately. Just tell us your friends' names when you register.
Paint Your Way
There's no rule that says you have to follow the artist's steps. It's your art, so paint it however you like!
Frequently Asked Questions
Check out our FAQs to learn more about what to expect from your Pinot's Palette experience or feel free to call the studio to speak to a member of our staff.
Is there an age limit?
Our studio Livermore is open to all ages. Please check the event calendar for age appropriate paintings and Little Brushes classes. Please Note: Other Pinot's Palette locations are 21+. Please check with each location on their age restrictions.
Is beer and wine included or can I bring my own?
California liquor laws do not allow us to include alcohol with the painting class fee. We feature Livermore wine, local craft beer and nonalcoholic beverages for purchase by the glass or bottle. No outside beverages (including water) or BYOB allowed. Don't forget your ID!
Can we bring food?
You asked, we listened! Appetizers and snacks are available for purchase at the bar. Outside food is no longer be permitted in public classes. Private parties may bring food or cater.
What is the cancellation policy?
Due to the custom nature of our classes, no refunds will be issued for reservations. However, if you cancel with at least 48 hours notice your payment will be turned into a store credit (good for 60 days) that can only be used for a future class. Please email us email@example.com to cancel. If you no-show for a class that you have a spot reserved, or don't give at least 48 hours' notice, you forfeit your reservation payment. By completing the check-out process you agree to this policy. Tickets are transferable. If you cannot come, send someone in your place and call us to change the reservation. By signing up for class, you agree to this policy. Please note: If a public class does not reach a minimum of 10 painters by the day before, class MAY be cancelled. Painters will be notified and given the option to reschedule or get a refund. For the Private Party cancellation policy see Terms and Conditions under the private parties tab.
Where are you located?
We are located on South L Street between 1st and 2nd Street. Kiddie corner from the Donut Wheel, next to Livermore School of Dance. Parking is available on the street and in the our lot behind Pinot's Palette on 2nd St.


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Wow, navarre,- you took the words right out of mouth! Well said. It's so nice to get on this board and find other people who had the exact same issues with the film that I did.To say that I was disappointed is the understatement of the century! Here's how I saw it:
1) Edward was made into a weak and angsty person. No life, no passion - just angst. In the book Edward came alive when he was in Bella's room and heard his name on her lips. I know Rob is better than this, but he needs to go back and reread Twilight and the manuscript of MS. Edward was portrayed as weak and unsure. He was actually a very confident poised individual that was still trying to reconcile who he was on some levels. Rob just did not get it.
2) Bella(Kristen) was stiff, uncomfortable and stilted. Bella learned to unwind and come alive after her relationship with Edward took off - where was the love story? This was an angst story not a love story as it should have been protrayed. I felt that Kristen did not get Bella either. It was like she hated being there.
3) The Meadow seen was butchered!!!! Where was the confession between the two; the intense conversation that started this whole series. Where was Edward telling Bella to "Don't move" and then he slowly glides his nose down her cheekbone, across her jawline, down her throat and runs his nose across her collarbone and then places his cheek against the hollow of her throat and chest and says "Ah". The tenderness and sensuality in that moment was not shown. And how about Bella telling Edward to "Be still" and no one could be still like Edward and she slowly touches her fingertips to his face; his cheekbones, his eyelids, across his forehead and finally to his lips which part under her touch and she feels the coolness of his breath and then he opens his eyes to reveal the hunger in them. That scene was the pivotal point in the book and their love. GONE.
4) Where was Alice? I love Alice.
5)This film was choppy, stilted and ill-written and directed. I mean, did Melissa Rosenberg even read the book?
The horrible special effects and production value I could ignore. I came to see the love story of Edward and Bella that swept me away in the book come to life on the screen. I was so disappointed. It was really lacking for me.
The two leads looked but that was pretty much it.
1.) Like you said, the film was very choppy. The romance between edward and bella was disjointed and so rushed. My nonreading friends said it didn't make any sense how/why they fell in love in the first place. There just wasn't enough development. It was all angst and odd glances then - all of a sudden they are in the meadow declaring their undying love for each other. It just wasn't an engaging, believable romance to me.
2.) Rob's edward overly emphasized the tortured side of the character. It was just angst, angst and more angst.
I'm not sure if it was his make-up or the editing- but a lot of his facial expressions came off as weird, awkward, and downright creepy. He was supposed to be mysterious and brooding in an attractive way, as well as charming and "dazzling." In the movie- especially in the beginning, he just seemed crazy and definitely not swoon worthy.
I know that Edward was conflicted and had inner turmoil, but in the film it was just overkill. A lot of his lines and his looks were overacted causing a lot of unintentional chuckles in the audience. Where was the smooth, gentlemanly, old world charm of Edward- the one who composed a lullaby to bella and hummed her to sleep, who would leave her notes, etc? It was the combination of all these character traits that have made a lot of women think of edward as " the perfect guy." I don't mind that the tortured side came out in the film- I just wanted the tender, affectionate side of edward to be included as well to give his character balance.
3.) Kristen's bella was more natural than Edward, but she was so cold and stoic. Throughout the whole film kristen barely cracked a smile. It was just depressing. What happened to the "blushing", fainting, Bella whose heart would stammer whenever she was around Edward? I didn't need it to be that melodramatic, but Kristen's bella either looked tense, indifferent, or scared when she was around Edward. It would have been nice to have captured at least some of the joy that was in the love story of the book. I think the only time Kristen ever registered any emotion was in the hospital scene when she began to channel some of the hysteria I expect to see in new moon at the thought of edward leaving her. The nonreading audience was thrown off by that- but I think it was because in the context of the film it did not make any sense for her to react so passionately at the idea of edward leaving when she barely expressed any emotion when she was supposedly in love with him
4.)which brings me to my next point which you also mentioned- Twilight was supposed to be about the wonder and excitement of discovering "first love". That was what struck a chord with me when I read the book. What we got instead was an angst story that was all doom and gloom. Where were all the tender, sweet moments that the two shared in the book- the light hearted banter? The only scene I can recall that was more natural and pleasant was when they walk into school together with everyone staring. That was classic edward and bella.
5.) You're completely right about the meadow scene. All we got was that video montage of them staring at each other, (and the theatre laughing again when they shouldn't be.) It was supposed to be a tense but sensual, exciting, and tender moment between the two. She was supposed to be tracing patterns on his arm, touching him for the first time, etc. He was supposed to be gradually touching her like you said, with his head resting on her chest, etc. I didn't need it to be exactly like that, but I wanted the essence of the emotion to be captured and it just wasn't.
I think a lot of it was mostly the directing and the editing. Also, it seems like the actors were so bent on making this serious that they forgot these 2 characters were completely enraptured and crazy in love. That was the dominating emotion- not fear, not angst, not thirst. They were excited and happy about experiencing love for the first time- marveling at all their new found feelings. I think kristen and rob were just more comfortable playing miserable and tortured. The thing is, they would have had plenty of chances to do that in new moon. The depression and devastation they feel at being apart in new moon doesn't make a whole lot of sense if they didn't show any joy when they were actually together.


text: by Mimi Johnson, NCL Health Policy Associate … and by redirecting taxes on the rich, instituting pollution surcharges, and cutting back on such things as farm subsidies, the President hopes to save money and help YOU. By raising taxes on the wealthiest 2 percent of Americans, Obama says he hopes to redirect the nearly $318 billion (over ten years) of increased revenue to the "health care reserve fund." This fund of over $640 billion would help "finance fundamental reform of our health care system that will bring down costs and expand coverage." The budget also "accelerates the adoption of health information technology and utilization of electronic health records," expands research – both in comparing the effectiveness of medical treatments and to better understand and fight cancer, and ultimately invests in health care infrastructure to help rebuild the health care system. Current government agencies such as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the Food and Drug Administration would be strengthened and standards raised. The federal budget won't get out of the red anytime soon, though. In fact, the stimulus will send us further into debt, by spending money to employ Americans and rebuild our country, before we start to see an increase in revenue.


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Recycling ideas, reducing waste of resources and personal consumption, protecting the environment and using green technology for house and decorating are hot topics today. People are getting into recycled crafts for creating beautiful eco friendly products for modern homes.
Recycling Old Cups for Curtain Holders
Soda Can Mirror Frame
Recycling Old Suitcases for Room Furniture


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Let $k$ be a field with $p$ elements. Consider the following computational problem
Input: a natural number $n$, $n^2$ linear forms $M_{ij}$, $i,j=1,\ldots n$ in $n^2$ variables $X_{11}, \ldots X_{nn}$.
Problem: Is there an assignement of values to the variables $X_{ij}$ so that the matrix $M_{ij}$ is invertible?
Question: What is known about algorithms for this problem?
As usually, let's assume the addition and multiplication in the field to have computational cost $1$.
The naive algorithm of checking each assignment of the variables $X_{ij}$ takes time bounded by a polynomial in $p^{n^2}$. I'd be interested to know if there is an improvement to polynomial in $p^n$ (or better).
EDIT: Below Emil Jeřábek shows that the problem is NP-complete, but the reduction from 3-SAT is done in such a way that it still could be that there is an improvement to $p^n$ without proving anything unexpected about 3-SAT.
EDIT: The special case when each $M_{ij}$ is equal either to $0$ or to $X_{ij}$ is solved below by Emil Jeřábek.
EDIT: I've decided to ask a more specific follow-up question.


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Jimmy Fallon and Anne Hathaway performed Broadway versions of rap hits on Tuesday's "The Tonight Show."
The pair sung Snoop Dogg's "Gin and Juice," 50 Cent's "In Da Club," and Kendrick Lamar's "B****, Don't Kill My Vibe"--each with a cabaret twist.
U.S. & World
Fallon did a similar performance last year with singer Ariana Grande on "Late Night."
Afterward, Fallon sat down with Hathaway and asked her if she was a fan of hip-hop.
"I am a big rap fan," Hathaway said. "Right now I love Kendrick Lamar."
Then, Fallon asked if it was true that she almost drowned recently while on vacation in Hawaii.
"It depends on who you ask," Hathaway said. "If you ask anybody who was there they'd say no but if you ask the media they'd be like 'Yes! She did! Oxygen tanks had to be brought out!'"
The "Rio 2" star said that she got caught in a rip current while taking a swim, but she yelled to her husband Adam Shulman not to panic because photographers were snapping pictures.
"I'm just like 'No don't run out, there's photographers you'll make this so much more dramatic!'" Hathaway said.
She also said that she cut her foot, forcing her husband to make a decision in front of cameras.
Hathaway explained that her husband hesitated to give her foot a kiss after she cut her toe on the beach because he knew their picture was being taken.
"I watched my husband have a decision about what type of man he was and he was like 'I don't care'," Hathaway said. He then leaned down and kissed her foot, which cameras did catch.
Watch the musical number above. You can also watch the interview below.


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It won't be long before racing fans in Baltimore and television viewers from around the world will once again enjoy IndyCar racing with your beautiful waterfront skyline as a backdrop. And as we experienced here last month with Milwaukee IndyFest, I'm confident Michael Andretti and the Andretti Sports Marketing team will get the job done and produce a first-class international event on Labor Day weekend.
Milwaukee has a long and storied tradition in auto racing. The Milwaukee Mile is the oldest active racetrack in the world, having hosted races dating back to 1903. However, after years of decline with a variety of event promoters, the INDYCAR sanctioning body took Milwaukee off its 2012 calendar. That was a blow to our proud city. But, thanks to Andretti Sports Marketing stepping in to resurrect the event with only a few months to prepare, Milwaukee's racing lore continues.
While Baltimore's racing history might not be as lengthy, we understand your Grand Prix has had some similar false starts and difficulties despite a strong crowd at last year's event. Like the Baltimore Grand Prix, Milwaukee IndyFest faced skepticism about a race even happening on such a demanding deadline — but everyone involved came through.
IndyFest brought ticket buyers from 45 states and Canada to Milwaukee for the weekend, greatly benefiting our hotels and restaurants. Prior to the green flag for this year's race, Mr. Andretti announced to the crowd that Milwaukee IndyFest would return in 2013, earning the biggest cheer of the weekend and marking the continuation of a stellar tradition in our city.
I hope the Baltimore Grand Prix becomes as connected to Charm City as our Milwaukee Mile is to us. A successful race event provides immense civic pride and identity, in addition to showcasing your city to television viewers across the country and around the globe.
We've been there, Baltimore, and we can say you're in good hands with a legendary and tested team leading you to the starting line. We know first-hand that with Michael Andretti and his team in your corner, the same success awaits Baltimore.
Tom Barrett, Milwaukee
The writer, a Democrat, is the mayor of Milwaukee, Wis.


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Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Warning: Writing may cause severe Brain Fog
First, don't forget to check out the Sisterhood of the Traveling Blog post for the week by Danyelle Leafty on "What keeps you writing?" Last week I posted, and the week before was Laura Diamond and next week will be Zoe Courtman!
So. On to Brain Fog.
This is me with Brain Fog. (I got tired of searching for free stock photos of fog, so here ya go, courtesy of Lydia Da Vinci and Paintbrush.)
Maybe you're revising (for the umpteenth time, like me) or creating your first draft. But have you ever looked up after you've been clacking away at the ol' laptop and thought, "What day is it? What time is it? What season is it? I have children to feed? Oh dear."
The Fog happens when I've been in another time and place, and inside someone else's head (my MC). And it feels distinctly different than from, say, watching way too many YouTube videos of scared cats or eating too many donuts. That's just brain atrophy and hyperglycemia.
The Fog tells me I've been working hard, but boy it's hard to pull myself out and reenter the real world.
Do you experience the Fog?
Posted by Lydia Kang at 6:00 AM
30 comments:
- Vicki Rocho said...
I live with perpetual Brain Fog.
I have a tendency to get so wrapped up, it is REALLY hard to change gears. This is not good at work where I may be asked to recall if we've sent such and such a form to such and such a client at a moment's notice. I'm sure I look like a blathering idiot most of the time!
Tell me, is there any known cure?
- April 21, 2010 at 6:29 AM
I definitely get caught up in the fog. And, joking aside, I really have forgotten to fix my kids dinner! And forgotten to take the clothes out of the washing machine and put them in the dryer. And forgotten to make out the electricity bill...
- April 21, 2010 at 6:33 AM
- JE said...
I think you'll find that most of us have suffered from the fog. And, like Jana, I too have forgotten to feed the child (and dogs). Man, does that me sound terrible or what? Granted, the child didn't complain...but the dogs did. ;-)
The fog makes for some awesome progress, though, doesn't it?
- April 21, 2010 at 6:48 AM
- Jayne said...
I love that illustration! That is the sort of feeling I live for when writing, as it means I have managed to fall down the rabbit hole and have a good look around. I get it with reading a good book as well. :)
- April 21, 2010 at 6:53 AM
- Karen Jones Gowen said...
Yes, the fog!! I love that fog. Transported to another time & place so you don't know where or who you are. Yes, I love it.
- April 21, 2010 at 7:56 AM
- Unknown said...
Hey, I felt like that at uni today. The fog really comes on when I've been doing too much thinking. I usually end up staring at the computer screen (and often it's at a blank word processor) as I try to think of what I need to do.
- April 21, 2010 at 7:59 AM
- Jaydee Morgan said...
Yep, I've experienced this as well. Now, though, I need to get back into the fog and get some writing done.
- April 21, 2010 at 8:10 AM
- B.E. Sanderson said...
I think the Fog has got me today. I can't think of simple things even this morning. Bleh.
- April 21, 2010 at 8:54 AM
- Saumya said...
The Fog and I seem to meet on a daily basis.
I love your blog! I'm actually taking some time off from medical school to write a novel, so it's so refreshing to find someone who is into both of those pursuits! Best of luck with everything :)
- April 21, 2010 at 9:00 AM
- Mayowa said...
Oh the Fog is good.
I know the Fog is upon me when the look on my face mirrors the look on my MC's face at the moment.
Scares the crap out of the folks in the coffee shops though.
- April 21, 2010 at 9:06 AM
- Amparo Ortiz said...
First of all, your drawing rocks all kinds of awesome, Lydia! I can't even draw a stick figure, for Christ's sake.
Second, the Fog follows me on my good writing days. It stays with me until someone tells me Supernatural is on (or ANYTHING involving shirtless men). For the most part, I embrace the Fog, even though those around me think I'm going insane ;)
- April 21, 2010 at 9:13 AM
- Lindsay said...
Great post.
My life surrounding revisions is brain fog. lol.
- April 21, 2010 at 10:04 AM
- alexis nicole said...
I experience "the Fog" and it is uncomfortable! I almost feel anxiety until it subsides. I didn't have a name for it until just now.... ;)
- April 21, 2010 at 10:21 AM
- Unknown said...
Yes, I've had the fog, and I welcome it. Haven't been there in awhile though, which means I should get to writing.
- April 21, 2010 at 10:30 AM
- Brenda Drake said...
Fog? I thought it was pollution. I keep waiting for it to clear, but it only does when a gust (either when I'm on vacation or Glee is on) enters my world and blows it way.
- April 21, 2010 at 11:12 AM
- Angela said...
I was in a total fog on the first draft of my MS...actually, with the second and on. I was so consumed with the story I couldn't see past the fog to appreciate anything else. I only wish that fog would show back up when I'm trying to edit! Creating the story and being lost in the fog was wonderful, but the edits are torturous and with no fog to cloud my view of springtime, it doesn't look like it will get any better.
- April 21, 2010 at 11:21 AM
- Angela said...
I was in a total fog on the first draft of my MS...actually, with the second and on. I was so consumed with the story I couldn't see past the fog to appreciate anything else. I only wish that fog would show back up when I'm trying to edit! Creating the story and being lost in the fog was wonderful, but the edits are torturous and with no fog to cloud my view of springtime, it doesn't look like it will get any better.
- April 21, 2010 at 11:23 AM
- Talli Roland said...
Um, YES! You saw my post today - that was a result of brain fog! I couldn't handle anything more complex. Mainly it's because of a non-fiction project I've been slaving over. My brain is fried! Glad to hear you experience this, too!
- April 21, 2010 at 11:23 AM
- Arlee Bird said...
Back when I was doing NaNo I definitely wandered in my novelistic fog throughout the month of November. In April I've become absolutely absorbed into a blog fog as I have been doing the Blogging From A to Z April Challenge. It starts getting a bit much when blogging is all I start thinking about wherever I go and I even start dreaming about it. Although it's been kind of cool to actually "meet" some of my fellow bloggers in my dreams--I wonder if they're really like that?
A to Z Challenge Reflections Mega Post
- April 21, 2010 at 11:58 AM
- Jennifer Walkup said...
I not only experience the fog - I seem to reside in it!:)
"What day is it? What time is it? What season is it? I have children to feed? Oh dear." <------ yep. that's me!
- April 21, 2010 at 12:07 PM
- Lydia Kang said...
OMG Lee, you're right. "The Blog Fog." I get that too!
- April 21, 2010 at 12:30 PM
- Unknown said...
I have SO experienced the fog. I call it burn-out. I know I've been working too hard and too long when I find myself just repeating the same mistakes...time to pack it in and quit for awhile!
- April 21, 2010 at 1:24 PM
- Elana Johnson said...
Oh, yes, I have this fog. Most of the day, actually. It's only when I finally have my pajamas on, my kids in bed and the TV on when the fog goes away. Hmm... Maybe I need to de-fog-ify.
- April 21, 2010 at 2:03 PM
- Janna Leadbetter said...
That's a great little picture!
Yep, I get the fog. But I love it just before I realize it's the fog, because I'm my most productive, caught up in voice and story.
And then, yeah. I realize there are dishes to wash and meals to cook and children to tend.
- April 21, 2010 at 3:52 PM
- Cynthia Reese said...
Cool pix!
I thought Brain Fog was something issued like standard equipment to all writers. No? Don't tell The Husband, okay? :-)
- April 21, 2010 at 4:02 PM
I've experienced brain fogs way too many times. Sadly, it's less often for writing than it is for days of studying for exams and writing papers. :<
- April 21, 2010 at 5:31 PM
- Danyelle L. said...
*grin* This is my usual state of mind. I'm horrible with time, but the kids are good and get very vocal when it's feeding time again. :P
It's kind of disorienting to step out the characters' skins, but I love that feeling too. :D
And thanks for the mention. :D
- April 21, 2010 at 6:04 PM
- Kathi Oram Peterson said...
Yup, I've lived in the fog. Especially when writing a book. I'm always a season behind, too. Nice to know I'm not alone.
- April 21, 2010 at 7:01 PM
- Hanna C. Howard said...
Ah, I know that fog. It's much better than the other kind: the one where you have so many things you want to accomplish that a sort of disorientating mist drifts over your brain and makes it nearly impossible to do anything but hover ineffectively over all your tasks.
Lovely blog you have here!
- April 21, 2010 at 7:56 PM
- Patti said...
It's hard to pull yourself out, especially when you're on a roll.
- April 22, 2010 at 2:52 PM


text: Amy's Notebook Amy's Notebook 08.14.13 Source: I Heart Organizing I'm so impressed with this DIY Bathroom Makeover -the fabulous, rich look and the inspiration that a dated bath can be made to look great on a budget with just paint and DIY skills that are within most people's reach! Cute, cute, cute – colorful pom-pom magnets and pushpins would look so adorable holding papers and photos, wouldn't they? I'm loving the look of this large chalkboard calendar – that it is a lighter gray, looks a bit industrial, and uses mouse traps! I'm craving summery salads during these August days and these two that use super fresh, seasonal goodies like corn and tomatoes are going to make an appearance on our menu for sure: Bacon, Avocado & Corn Salad Summer Orzo Salad with Tomatoes, Green Beans & Corn {I'll sub a gluten-free pasta} Also on my radar are summer fruits and this recipe for Plum Blackberry Cobbler uses two of the best – yum! I hope you enjoyed this collection of gathered links to DIY crafts, food projects, and thrifty ways to spruce up your home. Nothing brings me more joy then to highlight other fabulous bloggers. Follow me on Pinterest for daily inspiration! Published August 14, 2013 by: Amy Allen Clark is the founder of MomAdvice.com. You can read all about her here.


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Event Details:
|Convention Name
|Vegas Valley Comic Book Festival
|Convention Website Address
|This convention will take place:
|Date (Format mm/dd/yyyy)
|About This Convention
|It's baaaaack! The Vegas Valley Comic Book Festival returns for its lucky 7th year with a day chock full of activities celebrating comic book culture, including panel discussions, workshops, a vendor marketplace, Artist Alley, food trucks, kids' crafts & face painting, live music, film screenings and more!
A free, one-day event, it celebrates the illustrated word and takes place annually on the first Saturday in November.
|Venue Name and Address
|Clark County Library
1401 E. Flamingo Road
Las Vegas, Nevada 89119
United States
Map It
|Number of Dealer/Exhibitor Tables
|Projected Attendance
|Please select the Category that best describes the convention
|Comic Books
|Additional Categories
|Howard Chaykin, Russell Lissau, Spencer Brinkerhoff III, the Fillbach Brothers, Ben Saunders, Nick Mamatas, Chris Staros, Darren J. Gendron, Chales Brownstein, Brian & Kristy Miller, Kirby Krackle, Very Awesome Girls into Nerdy Activities, Hello, the Future!


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Middle Park is a large public park in Liberty City, situated in the middle of Algonquin. Along with Star Junction and The Triangle, it is one of the well known neighborhoods in Algonquin and Liberty City.
Middle Park is an obvious play of New York City's Central Park, being a long strip of greenery filled with trees and bordered by heavily urbanized areas influenced by neighborhoods in New York City that neighbor Central Park.
The park's boundaries are major thoroughfares, including (clockwise from the west) Frankfort Avenue to the west (bordering Middle Park West and Varsity Heights), Topaz Street to the north (bordering North Holland and East Holland), Columbus Avenue (bordering Lancaster and Middle Park East) and Nickel Street (bordering Star Junction). Quartz Street, which forms the border between Middle Park West and Varsity Heights, and Middle Park East and Lancaster, cuts across Middle Park; an arch is placed over the western end of the park's traverse.
Because of its proximity with the aforementioned neighborhoods, the park is an ideal recreational spot for local residents from all sides of the park (ranging from normal visitors to joggers and tai chi practitioners), and additionally serves as a tourist attraction, drawing in tourists to the area. As a result of its popularity, Middle Park is also a venue for street musicians, soapboxers and homeless people.
Middle Park is the second largest of four large parks in Liberty City, Meadows Park being the largest, and Outlook Park and Welham Parkway being the smallest. Like Central Park, Middle Park is presumed to have been landscaped to seemingly appear natural; the park sports a large lake at the center, and features rockface cliffs at the northern ends of the park, as well as being the ultimate democratic place in the city.
According to the in-game TV documentary, A History of Liberty City, Middle Park was built in the 1850s to "provide a scenic backdrop for junkies to inject shit in their arms and to smoke weed". It was also built for businessmen to have their lunch in, for people to relax, take part in early morning taichi and for people to go "Gay Bashing".
Places of Interest
- Pizza Restaurant
- Willient's Coffee House
Being evidently based on New York City's Central Park, Middle Park is roughly similar to Central Park's design, featuring a heavily vegetated area with a lake being its main feature, but also sporting other prominent landmarks. The lake that serves as a central facet of the park is similar to Central Park's lake, but also extended further to the north, suggesting that the profile of the Central Park Reservoir was incorporated into the design of Middle Park's lake, resulting in the park featuring a lake that extends from north to south. The massive plaza fronting the park's lake is based on Central Park's Bethesda Terrace, while The Libertonian's position in Middle Park is similar to the Metropolitan Museum of Art's position in Central Park. Other spoofed landmarks include Central Park's Cleopatra's Needle, replicated in the form of an obelisk to the southeast that features hieroglyphic carvings, and the Maine Monument at Merchant's Gate (the main entrance to Central Park from Columbus Circle), which pylon was partially duplicated but its golden statue on top replaced by an angelic counterpart also used on certain tombstones in Liberty City's cemeteries.
Quartz Street, which traverse across the park lanes, is comparable to similar traverse streets in New York City that cut across the park north of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, including 79th Street and 86th Street. The arch over the western end of the traverse is similar to the Washington Square Arch at Washington Square Park in Greenwich Village, although the design of the game's rendition is significantly simplified and does not derive much of its design from the Washington Square Arch.
Middle Park is well connected to local subway services, with the aptly named North Park (at Topaz Street), West Park (at Frankfort Avenue) and East Park (at Columbus Avenue) Algonquin Inner Line stations within a short walking distance from the park's boundaries; one portal into East Park station is actually built into the southeastern tip of the park itself. The Quartz West station at the Algonquin Outer Line also serves the park.
Bus stops are situated west of the park for the bus network, but however, there is no bus network as it has been cut in the final version for unknown reasons.
- A rare glitch (only works on PS3) is that sometimes If you go to Middle Park, you will see that all of the land, including the bridge, will be gone, only leaving the trees floating in mid air. You will hear yelling and shouting of pedestrians falling through the map around the area, and cars will still be spawning in Middle Park, leaving them falling through the map. Cars will continue to be making a turn onto the bridge of the park even when the bridge is not there.
- The park features a penis-like sculpture just west of its terraced plaza ("Le Knobelisk"), effectively overlooking the plaza itself. The sculpture may be destroyed repeatedly, including a case in a mission in GTA IV, "Meltdown", when a car plows into the sculpture and crashes into the plaza.
- The hourglass-like shape of Middle Park's massive lake in GTA IV has led some observers to point out that the lake is shaped similarly to an alien when viewed overhead or viewed through the map, the lake's northern island filling in as the "alien's eye".
- The lake also appears to be a fetus.
- Prostitutes can be found near the lake docks, as well as under bridge structures. The park's prostitutes can also be found in smaller numbers during the daylight hours. But be careful, as scaring them and other pedestrains with headlights of your vehicle will cause them to run away.
- There were 83 murders in Middle Park in 2007.
- In The Ballad of Gay Tony, if Luis Lopez gets too drunk and blacks out, he may wake up on the island in the middle of the lake.
- Boats like the Squalo were originally in Middle Park, but were removed for unknown reasons, most likely because the size of the lake was too small for driving boats. But with cheats, the Jetmax can be spawned and used in the lake.
See Also
- Park district, a similarly designed park in the GTA 1 rendition of Liberty City.
- Belleville Park, a similarly designed park in the GTA III — GTA Liberty City Stories rendition of Liberty City.
External links
- Middle Park at the official website for GTA IV.


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One of the primary reasons that the US wind industry is shifting to the installation of larger, higher megawatt turbines is simply that they produce more energy. Wind projects can therefore operate with fewer turbines, reducing infrastructure and environmental impact, and bringing down the owner's costs. So the move to these larger machines is likely to continue.
From a construction standpoint, however, the erection of larger turbines entails specialised equipment and training, as well as, in some cases, additional scheduling and labour considerations. From the Repower 2.05MW to the Vestas 3MW, each one of the larger turbines presents its own particular challenges.
Just one example is the Mitsubishi 2.4MW turbine, which requires on-site assembly of the nacelles. There are three major components of the nacelle that must be assembled on the project site rather than in the factory. The assembly can either take place on the ground or in the air, and the process requires multiple shifts. This means more trained staff on the ground and sometimes one dedicated crane for the task.
As well as the variations in each model, the landscape can make a difference.
The issues involved when installing turbines on rocky and mountainous terrain in British Columbia are quite different from those encountered on the sandy regions of the Texas Gulf Coast. "The construction challenges of working with large turbines are primarily logistical," says Kenny Oxford, senior superintendent for Mortenson Construction.
"A well-coordinated effort is crucial for on-time project delivery. Detailed pre-project planning ensures the necessary crews, cranes and other equipment are on the ground during turbine erection to meet tight schedule demands."
The 600-tonne class
High-capacity lifting equipment is needed to erect many of the larger turbine types. Whereas 400-tonne crawler cranes are used to install turbines smaller than 2MW, many of the larger turbines require 600-tonne cranes. These cranes are heavier and some have a back mast, which adds capacity, provides a counterweight and allows the pendants to move up at a greater angle, reducing bow in the boom.
These larger cranes are, however, slower. Assembly can take longer and the presence of a back mast requires more time to manoeuvre around obstructions.
For example, the Manitowoc M18000, a 600-tonne lattice crawler crane, might require 30 semitrailer loads to bring it to site, plus more than 30 crew hours to assemble. Its 440-tonne counterpart would require fewer than 20 semitrailer loads and around 14 crew hours to assemble.
Reinforcement or expansion of existing roads is often necessary to accommodate the heavier loads and the wider crane tracks. Crane walking paths to facilitate travel become a critical component of a project.
The complex boom configurations of many of the larger cranes are sensitive to grade changes, so it is not uncommon to mat the entire walking path for the larger cranes, even in good soil conditions, using the standard oak hardwood crane mats. This leads to planning in and paying for one or two additional forklift trucks, plus operators.
It is not just logistics and availability of the 600-tonne cranes that present new challenges for the construction team.
There is also an increase in the overall time required for turbine erection. Heavier turbine components and slower line speeds result in "picks" that can take up to three times longer. So, while a 400-tonne crane can take a 1.5MW turbine from the ground to the top of the tower in 15 minutes, it may take up to 45 minutes to lift a single component of a larger turbine. This can slow the installation process of erecting the larger turbine by two or three crew-hours, which must be accounted for at the planning stage in order to maintain schedule goals.
Another factor that must be considered at the planning stage is crane configuration, including line speed, which cannot be changed once the crane is assembled. This means that if more than one turbine type is to be used on a project, the crane must be configured appropriately for each type, or a second crane brought in. Inadequate planning for equipment needs for wind power projects can result in schedule setbacks and have a huge financial impact.
Complicating the shift towards larger turbines is the reality that there are fewer crawler cranes of the 600-tonne class available than of the 400-tonne class, and fewer crane operators who have been trained for this specialised work. As the economy improves and the number of wind power projects increases, the 600-tonne cranes could become a scarce resource.
A tailored service
The push for larger, more productive and more efficient turbines will continue to drive manufacturers and, as new turbine types are released and selected by developers, contractors will have to find the most effective process for turbine erection.
This means tailoring the process during the pre-construction stage according to the unique combination of terrain, climate, schedule and turbine types involved in the project.
With this shift to larger turbines now becoming established in the US industry, contractors will be called on to demonstrate their expertise in engineering, procurement, construction and balance of plant. They will have to ensure careful pre-planning and maintain an open dialogue throughout the construction process.
Tim Maag is vice-president and general manager, renewable energy groups, Mortenson Construction
Google Translate
One of the primary reasons that the US wind industry is shifting to the installation of larger, higher megawatt turbines is simply that they produce more energy. Wind projects can therefore operate with fewer turbines, reducing infrastructure and environmental impact, and bringing down the owner's costs. So the move to these larger machines is likely to continue.
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text: 5000+ views! Take a bow all of you! Here is a quick one from the early days. Photos lacking, but I was a real noob at the time. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o> Rewind to my first days with the new bike. Still getting into the swing of the whole ADV part of riding. The Chino debauchery has been set in stone as a complete failure and now behind me. I have now owned the DR since mid December and it is now March. It is time to ride to the horizon and not stop. Well at least for a few hours. Destination: Playas Del Coco, Guanacaste. I have a few friends there who I had not seen in a while, and why not? <o></o> The wife does not exist at this point in life and there are few things on my mind: :dllama :stoned . So lets get this show on the road. <o></o> 1133 hrs. El Puente de Amistad. <o></o> <o></o> It is only about 5 hours to Playas del Coco and from what I remember my friends were still at work when I arrived. So I find a nice shady spot at Oceans edge, grab a few barley sodas and watch time go by. Playa del Coco <o></o> Sun has set, everyone is off work, showered and ready. Time to party . Even if I were writing this in 2008, I doubt I would remember much. Meet Freddy(Right) mi Compa Colombiano and John (middle) the Frenchman. Freddy I have known since 2004 and John was working on a family Catamaran project they have in the area. <o></o> Then next day got a rather late start. By noon I have made it to Playa Tamarindo for a change in scenery. <o></o> <o></o> Later in the day Freddy had escaped work early to arrive with a couple of surf boards. John came with his Boo and a whitty Brit was along as well. We took on a few waves while others snuggled up on the beach to wait for the 5 oclock show. <o></o> No party on the second night. I had barely survived the first night and tomorrow the vacation is over. <o></o> 1103. Back through the gateway of reality. <o></o> The end was near. I couldn't have been but 5 kms from home when disaster struck. :eek1 I had attempted a courtesy left with no oncoming traffic when the young lawyer in the grey car decided to roll a stop sign. I remember seeing only the back of her head as she rolled through. Why look both ways? Boom, rider down! <o></o> I somehow came off the bike, didnt get my leg smashed and stuck the landing on my feet. As the dust was settling the driver exits the car and she says, Ves, por eso odio las motociclistas. I amazingly kept my mouth shut. <o></o> My fault? I dont know. Had she stopped like she was supposed to, we wouldnt have crashed. Had I stayed in my lane and made the turn wider Opinions of the audience? <o></o> Thanks again for reading! More to come.


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Advantages of Manual Translation
Chinese language courses, lessons, and websites
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Advantages of Manual Translation
By far the most important advantage is that manual translation of claims of confidentiality. In most cases, people are using the translation service to translate the private e-mails or legal documents. Now if the machine translation of all time, file corruption or deletion can cause incorrect result translation. Or anyone willing to save his private correspondence on any computer, then, keep the ethics in this profession manual translation can be trusted. Although the processing speed of machine translation can be high, but the manual version increases the chances of syntax or grammar errors is greater. Sometimes it may be more appropriate to choose a manual of translation for certain jobs. For example, if the content is translated in the repetition contains the text itself, will be particularly taken into account and translation of the manual, you can have a better result.
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text:
They say never to mix business with pleasure, but it's hard not to in Massachusetts, where each of the four distinct seasons provides a unique backdrop for meetings and events. Have a meeting or conference to plan? Consider one of Massachusetts' many hotels, function facilities, and attractions that cater specifically to small meetings (fewer than 500 attendees), team-building, and incentive planning. When it's time to get down to business, this is the place to find the perfect meeting venues from Boston to Worcester and everywhere in between. And don't forget the "all work and no play" rule; come early or stay late to enjoy all that Massachusetts has to offer.
Boston Convention and Exhibition Center
Foodie Finds: It's all Here
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Tomasso Trattoria e Enoteca
Upscale Italian restaurant serving a traditional Italian menu produced from local and sustainable sources. more+ 0 saves
Tomasso Trattoria e Enoteca
154 Turnpike Road
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Foodie Finds: It's all Here
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