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Monday, April 4, 2011
Succulent Gardens
I'm glad he did because I have now grown quite fond of them, with their pretty colors and textures and virtual hassle-free maintenance. Bonus points that they are now considered tres-chic. We are constantly collecting bits and pieces on our walks and when we visit nurseries. Today we picked a tiny branch off of a pot in the Bloomingdale's courtyard. You can stick the smallest nub, or sometimes even just a leaf into the tiniest amount of soil and months later you have a full blown succulent.
We stick bits and pieces into pots we keep on the side of the house filled with cactus soil (a very important factor) and just let them go wild, and then when we have a nice collection we trim, prune and transplant into fresh new pots to make pretty arrangements.
By the way, the kids love the succulents way more than your average flower. They find them absolutely fascinating, carefully comparing all their unique shapes, textures and colors. They helped with most of the arranging and the design today. The big pot on the top left in the picture below is the family pot. The one to the right is the "boy" pot, or Sydney and Daddy's pot, and the pot on the bottom right is the "girl" pot, or Taylor and Mommy's pot. Everything in this house lately has been very gender specific, even the potted plants.
P.S. the little spiky tree-like succulent that I am pruning is from the original cactus garden we received from my Aunt ten years ago. We have grown and transplanted bits and pieces of it into several pots and it just keeps living on. I love that and think it is just amazing.
I'm linking up to Heather's Life Made Lovely Monday. Did you see she has a new home?!?
8 comments:
what a peaceful garden...looks fantastic!!!ReplyDelete
Favorite post ever. I LOVE plants, and succulents are my favorite--long before they were cool, which is fitting since I'm the crazy lazy from "close to" the high desert. :)ReplyDelete
your succulent garden is lovely andrea! i'm a big fan of them. i just love their rustic modern look. and i'm crazy for the subtle color differences between each one. lovely!!ReplyDelete
i am the same! i used to think they were so gross, but love them now! I haven't tried to break off bits and replant, but my friend tells me the same, that it is so easy to do. LOVE your pots. And I love how you let your kids customize them :) Great idea.ReplyDelete
Love your succulent garden. I think they feel so retro California. Such a great idea to get the kids in on it too!ReplyDelete
I have even managed to kill my succulents. Yours are beautiful. I didn't know about the soil. Thanks for the tip.ReplyDelete
Katie-the soil is a must! Cactus soil allows for better drainage so that your poor little succulents don't get too much water, which will kill them quicker than anything.ReplyDelete
I love succulents and am dying to make my own arrangement. Thanks for the helpful tip about the soil!ReplyDelete
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a comment. I read and appreciate every single one. If you enable your email address I'd love to respond :)

subset: commoncrawl


text:
19019 Mumbai Bandra (T.) Dehradun Express runs from Mumbai Bandra Terminus - BDTS to Dehradun - DDN and has classes Second AC (2A), Third AC (3A) and Sleeper (SL).
Please write a detailed review describing your experience with this train.
Also rate this train based on -
- Punctuality How timely is the train in its arrival and departures
- Cleanliness How clean, hygienic and well maintained are the coaches
- Food How is the quality of food served on this train
- Uncrowded Is this train very crowded or not


text:
3 inch magnet featuring an amazing quote from The Prom! Magnets are die cut, 480 microns thick, and are coated so they are durable and weather proof. They can be used on cars, refrigerators, kitchen appliances, dry erase boards, school lockers, and other magnetic surfaces. The magnets are specially formulated to be very thin while having stronger holding power than a refrigerator magnet. They can hold several sheets of paper on a surface such as a refrigerator.
**Please note: Pins, stickers, and magnets are currently being sold in a pre-sale. Once the pre-sale is closed, an order will be placed with the manufacturer. These items take approximately 14 business days (not counting weekend days) to be produced, and will then be sent to you. Please plan on a turn around time of approximately 4-5 weeks from the order date, unless otherwise specified.


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I'd like some suggestions on a development project I'm working on.
I don't think it's very complicated but I'd like a good design and implementation.
I need to transmit a defined xml notification message to an already implemented server
the server encrypts files - but how it does it is not a concern to my client
my client needs to get file listing from a database
then create an xml notification message and http post it to server
then i get an xml response back synchronously i believe
when the server is done encrypting i get called asychronously with an xml message
all xml is well defined by the server api
i think i just need to transmit using a java URL class and a URLConnection class
so should i create a java class that has some strings with all the xml elements and attributes and then append values to the strings once i know the values from the database ? use a hashtable for attributes and values ? or just create a class with like 20 or so strings and keep appending values to them and then just use a stream connected to the URLConnection ?
the xml would be something like
<notify file="file1" location="file///c:\files"
<file types>
file one="mpg"
file two="jpeg"
</file types>
--- but there would be alot more xml elements and tags than that - not tons though
so my class would just have a bunch of string with those element names and attributes ? and then i need to consider how they are nested ? seems like it could look messy.
then just stream one big xml string via Urlconnection
i think that may be the way to go for that portion
suggestions ?
but more importantly how do i set up the asynchronous listener ?
i guess i need a web server with some object listening behind it ? a bean or just some java class ?
also need to consider error handling
and how the posting thread and receiving thread would be updating the database for info on those files processed
thanks for the help


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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Tenerife is a volcanic island in the Atlantic ocean that belongs to the Autonomous Community of Canary Island (Spain) and European Union. It occupies an area of about 2000 sq. km. and has a population of approximately 900.000 people. Tenerife is a popular touristic destination and gets about 6.000.000 visitors annually.
Tenerife is famous as "the island of eternal spring". Its soft climate is formed by trade winds, currents and the mountains that divide the island into various climatic areas. The swimming season in Tenerife is year-round and the average anual temperature is 21C.
The island has very well developed infrastructure: two modern airports, two big ports and numerous marinas, highways with 120 km/h speed limit, national parks, hospitals, schools etc. Canary Islands are well interconnected by ferries and local flights and there are hundreds of daily international flights to all European countries operated by several mayor air companies.
Tenerife has perfect ecology as there is no heavy industry or big factories. There is always fresh air circulating from the ocean thanks to the trade winds.
The crime level is very low and in general the island is very safe and secure.
Canary Islands and Tenerife is the southernmost point of European Union and the warmest place in Europe during winter time.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]


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In the February issue of Farm Industry News, we told you about a new type of vertical tillage implement that uses ultra-shallow, hybrid coulter-discs to slice up corn stalks left behind by high-yielding, genetically modified corn. (See http://bit.ly/dXJIiY .) . . ) .) As their name implies, these tillage tools enter the soil vertically to clear a straight open path for roots to grow.
Around a dozen companies market these implements, and all share the same basic design: gangs of hybrid coulters or discs followed by some type of finishing attachment that breaks up clods and levels ruts to make a level seedbed.
After reading the story, Jeremy Hughes, sales manager for Horsch Anderson, told me about what he believes is the next big thing in tillage equipment: "compact discs." (See image.) Dave Kanicki, executive editor of Farm Equipment, wrote a great story about these tools last month. http://bit.ly/hX2sNR. Like the implements we wrote about, this type of tillage tool can run at high speeds (8-12 mph) and shallow working depths to cover a lot of ground quickly, Kanicki reports. He says the difference is that the blades run at an angle to incorporate more soil than the hybrid coulter-discs so the residue can decompose faster. Because soil is displaced, they are not classified as vertical tillage tools.
These "compact discs" originated in Europe but are starting to be marketed here. Horsch Anderson's tool is called the Joker, as shown on this youtube video: http://www.youtube.com/user/horschanderson.
"We have a fast growing number of these working across the U.S. and Canada, and more recently exported to Australia," Hughes says. "We see this technology as the upcoming accepted practice above and beyond typical cutting coulter-type vertical tillage tools."
For more information on the Joker, contact Horsch Anderson, 14118 414th Avenue, Andover, South Dakota 57422, 605-298-5663, or visit www.horschanderson.com.


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By giving more power to more people, a large retailer found a lasting solution to dwindling sales.
A retailer was losing ground to competitors. Discounters were undercutting its prices, and specialty stores offered better selections. Market share, foot traffic, and sales were declining.
Management told local store managers to run promotions to appeal to customers. Local managers could pick which products to feature, arrange discounts, and revamp the look and feel of store displays. But the initiative failed.
The company called in BCG to help address the problems. BCG applied the four-step Smart Simplicity approach.
Smart Start:What are the problems caused by complicatedness that must be solved?
Interviews with senior management and other stakeholders were conducted to align on key issues. They determined the root problem: the retailer was losing ground to competitors due to limited customer satisfaction and long wait-times at check out. Its attempt to remedy this—introducing promotions to appeal to customers—failed. Local managers were ineffective and avoided launching the promotions altogether.
Diagnosis:What are the root causes of complicatedness?
Deep-dive interviews focused on stakeholders and their relevant behaviors. The goal was to understand why people behaved as they did given their goals, resources, and constraints.
The problem, the first two phases revealed, was that the interventions attempted by the retailer didn't address the actual underlying issues. In recent years, the retailer had modernized and centralized its operations. Important decisions about product assortment and availability, as well as pricing and staffing, were made at headquarters. This meant that store departments focused on their own priorities, with no desire to support new efforts such as promotions or events.
Store managers had little power and without sufficient resources, they simply stopped trying.
Solution Design:What are the targeted interventions to reduce complicatedness and address the root causes of the performance issues?
Management needed a way to give more power to the store managers. To do that, they had to identify a stake that would matter to everybody concerned.
Corporate procedures called for the opening of new checkout counters as soon as lines got too long, tapping employees from the store's various departments—who would have to interrupt other work.
So the project team asked: what if the store managers, instead of the department heads, got to pick the employees who worked the checkouts? Management tried this—creating a new stake that gave the store managers a new base of power.
Implementation:How do you implement the solution, make it sustainable, and ensure constant improvement?
Corporate gave store managers the power to assign checkout duty. This wasn't a trivial move; it gave store managers the opportunity to make a difference. They were able to use checkout duty as a reward and, in the process, learn about their employees' workloads. Employees had a new reason to listen to the store managers, and, since store managers controlled key aspects of performance, the central functions had reasons listen to them as well.
The results for the retailer were striking. Customer wait times dropped and satisfaction levels shot up significantly. As store-specific promotions, design, and pricing programs gained traction, all stores saw market share, foot traffic, and sales improve sharply.
Myth: Power is an attribute of position.
Reality: Reporting lines are merely formal conventions without any automatic effect.
Myth: Authority is equivalent to power.
Reality: Authority provides the legitimacy to exercise power; it is not power itself.
Myth: Power is an attribute of individuals and their leadership style.
Reality: Personal attributes and style may be ways to exercise power, but they don't determine whether an individual has power in the first place.


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Two games were notable by their absence yesterday from Ubisoft's fiscal report. Those games were I Am Alive and Beyond Good & Evil 2. So what's the deal, Ubisoft?
Well, the Frenchmen at Gamekult spoke yesterday with Ubisoft's Geoffroy Sardin, and asked him precisely that. His response? "Ils sont toujours en production tous les deux...", or, that "both are still in production".
Doesn't mean they're in development, of course; they could both still be stuck in pre-production. Still, pre-production is better than "shit-canned", eh?
Interview bilan 2009 : Ubisoft [Gamekult]


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Islands of Opportunity Alliance poised for high-tech future; UH Hilo to oversee programUniversity of Hawaiʻi at Hilo
Dr. A. James Hicks, (703) 292-4668
Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation
Dr. Rose Y. Tseng, chancellor of the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, today announced that the University has been selected to administer the Islands of Opportunity Alliance, a consortium of 19 universities and colleges, both public and private, throughout the Pacific Island nations that are committed to increasing the number of professional scientists among people from underrepresented minority groups.
The Islands of Opportunity Alliance was formed to carry out a new Pacific-wide initiative to double the number of minorities in scientific, mathematic, engineering and technological (STEM) professions. It will receive a $1.7 million grant from the National Science Foundation to meet these goals over the next five years.
According to officials, the program is a prime opportunity for students from underrepresented minority groups that has come at the right time.
"As a university that has always valued diversity and provided education for the underrepresented in society, the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo is privileged and honored to take the lead in the Islands of Opportunity Alliance," noted Tseng, who serves as the principal investigator in the Alliance. "This program will play a vital role in bringing a culturally relevant and scientifically rigorous education in the STEM disciplines from member institutions within five years.
"I would especially like to thank Provost Bernie Ploeger of Chaminade University, Neal Smatresk, vice chancellor for academic affairs at UH Manoa, and Bob Franco, director of planning and grants, Kapiolani Community College, for contributing to the grant process."
"These are exciting times for both Hawaiʻi and the Pacific Island nations, and those who take advantage of the Islands of Opportunity Alliance will be poised for success in today's and tomorrow's changing dynamics," said Dr. Dan Brown, coordinator of research and graduate studies at UH Hilo and program director of the Alliance. "The opportunities are real and already exist in fields such as astronomy, biotechnology, computer science, nursing and diversified agriculture fields, such as aquaculture. The recent earthquake drives home the immediate need for educated and qualified civil engineers both here and throughout the Pacific. Here at UH Hilo, we have a newly-opened School of Pharmacy designed to fill a critical Pacific-wide need for well-trained, highly-paid professionals."
UH Hilo will collaborate with the following member institutions in the Alliance: UH Hilo, UH Mānoa, UH West Oahu, the community colleges of the UH system, Chaminade University, the University of Guam, Hawaiʻi Pacific University, American Samoa Community College, Guam Community College, College of the Marshall Islands, Northern Marianas College, College of Micronesia and Palau Community College.
The Islands of Opportunity Alliance will use practices that respect and reflect the unique cultural and geographic setting of the Pacific Basin, based on the extensive scholarship on cross-cultural communication and learning styles of Pacific Islanders and administrative structures that bridge the geographic and cultural differences between islands.
The Islands of Opportunity Alliance is funded by the National Science Foundation's Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation (LSAMP) program. The LSAMP program began in 1991 with grants to six multi-institution collaborative efforts called alliances. Today, there are 35 alliances with more than 450 participating institutions throughout the country, with the Islands of Opportunity Alliance being the newest addition. For more information, visit http://www.urban.org/url.cfm?ID=311299.


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Hi there,
in relation with a topic I am concerned about as of today, which is to develop a C example for the solution of a general banded system using ScaLAPACK, I have noticed that when I try to read about how can a general banded matrix be stored, prior to attain the computational solution, in the User's Guide, i.e. here: http://netlib.org/scalapack/slug/node89.html, there is no mentioning of these matrices.
Any help?
My related topic is here: http://icl.cs.utk.edu/lapack-forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=4227
There, I am basically asking how to start writing such a code.
Thanks in advanced.


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3301.0 - Births, Australia, 2007 Quality Declaration
Previous ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 28/10/2008
|Page tools: Print Page Print All RSS Search this Product
The previous record was in 1971, when there were 276,400 births registered.
This gives Australia a total fertility rate of 1.93 babies per woman, up from 1.81 in 2006 and the highest since 1981 when it was 1.94.
The Northern Territory and Tasmania had the highest total fertility rates, recording 2.27 and 2.19 babies per woman respectively.
Women in the Northern Territory and Tasmania also had their children at a younger age; fertility for these two states was at its highest in 25-29 year-olds - compared to the rest of Australia where the highest fertility was in the 30-34 age group.
Nearly half (43%) of the 2007 births were to first time mothers, and a third (33%) were having their second child.
There were 14,200 births registered where at least one parent was an Indigenous Australian.
More details are available in Births, Australia, 2007 (cat. no. 3301.0) available for free download from the ABS website <www.abs.gov.au>. Regional, State and Territory information is also available on the website.
Media Note: The total fertility rate represents the average number of babies that a woman could expect to bear during her reproductive lifetime if current fertility rates continued.
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text:
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN River Falls
Q: What is the administrative structure at Dalkeith House?
A: The administrative team will be comprised of a Resident Director of Operations, a Resident Director of the Academic Program, and an Assistant Director. Following is the contact information for each member of the administrative team:
Patricia (Patty) Watters, Resident Director of Operations
E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com
Office Phone: 011-44-131-663-5632
Cell Phone: 011-44-789-113-9856
Michael Weil, Resident Director of the Academic Program
E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com
Office Phone: 011-44-131-663-5632
Cell Phone: 011-44-789-074-3179
Assistant Director
E-mail: email@example.com
Office Phone: 011-44-789-671-8552
EMERGENCY MOBILE: (answered 24/7): 011-44-7896718549
Q: What will my address and telephone number be in Scotland?
A: Wisconsin in Scotland Program
Dalkeith House
Dalkeith, Midlothian
EH22 2NA Scotland
REMINDER: There is a 6 -hour time difference. (9 p.m. in the U.S. is 3 a.m. in Dalkeith!)
Q: What documents should I have to facilitate going through customs?
A: You will need your passport and your Student Visitor Letter for the UK Border Agency from the WIS Administrative Office. (However, if you are doing an internship, you will need to obtain an Adult Student Tier-4 Visa prior to your departure.) Your Student Visitor Letter for the UK Border Agency will be included in a packet of information which will be sent to your permanent address before your departure. It is recommended that you make a copy of your passport and place the copy in a different location than where you have your original passport. The copy will expedite the process if you should misplace your original and need to obtain another. Students should bring financial documents, such as copies of loan agreements, bank statements, and credit card statements to help facilitate going through immigration/customs (to use as evidence of a student's ability to meet living costs).
Q: Who are the other students in the WIS program this session?
A: We will include a list of students participating in the same session and the campus where they registered for the WIS program in the packet of information you will receive prior to your departure.
Q: What form of transportation is provided from the Edinburgh Airport to Dalkeith House?
A: As students all come in on different flights, you will make your own way from the airport to Dalkeith House. Directions to the house can be found here
Q: Will I have to work in the House while in Dalkeith?
A: Yes, all WIS participants are required to contribute approximately four hours per week. All students will provide assistance in the kitchen (prepping food, cleaning, dishes, etc.) and cleaning the house (vacuuming, dusting, sweeping, mopping, taking out trash, etc.). You will receive details regarding work assignments from the Resident Director of Operations during orientation week. The work responsibility policy can be found in the Student Handbook online.
Q: Is there a damage deposit?
A: Yes, there is a combined damage and cooperative work deposit required in the amount of $100. You should pay this deposit in the Office of International Education/Programs on the campus where you registered for the WIS program before you leave for Scotland. Any unused amount will be refunded when you return to the U.S. The Resident Director of Operations will review the House rules with you. You can review the House Rules, Residential Services Contract and Work Responsibility policies in the Student Handbook online.
Q: Will I need to stop at my home campus before I leave for Scotland?
A: There is no requirement that you stop at your home campus before leaving for Scotland. However, be sure you take care of Financial Aid forms before you go!
Q: Did I get all the classes I wanted?
A: Every attempt is made to accommodate students' first choices, however no guarantees can be made. (Note: If you did not receive one of your first choices and you need the class to graduate, please speak to the instructor upon your arrival at Dalkeith House.) Your individual class schedule will be included in the packet of information you receive from the WIS Administrative Office prior to your departure. If you need to register for your classes at your home campus prior to your departure, it is extremely important that you register for the classes listed on the schedule in your packet. Your individual class schedule will be sent to the campus where you registered for the WIS program.
Q: What is the add/drop procedure for courses in the WIS program?
A: You will have an opportunity to change your schedule at Dalkeith House. The Resident Director of the Academic Program (semesters) or the Resident Director of Operations (summer) will handle this process.
Q: Where do our textbooks come from?
A: Students are required to obtain (purchase, rent, borrow, etc.) the necessary textbooks for the U.S. course offerings they will be taking. It will be the student's responsibility to bring the textbooks with them and/or obtain them prior to the first day of classes. Required textbook information can be found by clicking on "Courses" section on the left side of this website's homepage. Textbooks for British course offerings will be available for use at Dalkeith House. (There may also be additional expenses for special courses such as art, photography, field trips, etc.)
Q: What library facilities will be available?
A: There is a very limited number of books at Dalkeith House. Library work can be done at Dalkeith Library and the Central Library of Edinburgh; both allow students to check books out. The National Library allows books to be used on the premises only. Please check with the Resident Director of Operations regarding what arrangements have been made to use The University of Edinburgh library. Academic resources are also available on the Internet.
Q: What should I pack?
A: Pack light! A large rucksack is practically indispensable for travel and it can be used as one piece of luggage. Waterproof outer wear is essential. Bring clothing that can be layered; Dalkeith House can be drafty at times. Indoor swimming pools are in the area, so a swimsuit would be appropriate. Bring some lightweight clothes, if you plan to visit Greece, Spain, etc. Good walking shoes/boots are a priority, especially for females since they are harder to purchase there.
The atmosphere at Dalkeith House is quite relaxed. There are occasional "dressy" affairs, but only one or two "dress" outfits are needed. Females may want to bring one or two skirts/dresses or nice slacks and flats (some mix and match items), since the Scottish women dress up on weekends (more upscale casual). Males may want to bring a jacket and a tie or two.
Many students recommend slippers for walking around the house. In addition, bathrobes and shower shoes are nice when walking to and from the community bathrooms.
In terms of electronic items, we ask that you do not bring equipment with American voltage, however, laptops/i-pods/cameras are fine and usually have a voltage transformer/converter built into the power cord. You will need a plug adapter so that your plug fits into the wall. Plug adapters must be grounded, have a 13 volt fuse, and have the CE mark on the unit. Approved adapters will be available for check-out at the House upon arrival. You will not be allowed to use adapters that do not comply with these guidelines. With so many people using their US laptops in an electrical system built for a UK electronics, it is very important that good quality, fused adapters are used. If you require a hairdryer, hair straightener, or curling iron, there are several at the house that can be checked out for use during the semester, or you can purchase them in the UK. No matter what type of converter you purchase from the US, it will not hold up and it will end up blowing fuses (or worse), thus American appliances other than laptops/i-pods/cameras cannot be used in the house.
You will be assigned a small cube locker for your use during the term. You will need to supply your own lock. A standard padlock or key lock fits the locker. Small luggage locks will not fit the locker.
View the full Student Packing List
Q: Should I bring blankets, sheets, pillows, towels, etc.?
A: Bed linens will be provided for you (duvet (comforter), duvet cover, pillow, pillowcase, fitted sheet, mattress protector) along with 2 towels for you to use during the term. You will need to care for (wash) and return these at the end of the term in reasonable condition.
Q: What transportation is available in Dalkeith and Edinburgh?
A: Bus and taxi. The bus ride is the least costly and usually takes about 30 minutes to go into Edinburgh. You will be issued a bus pass you can use throughout your session. Transportation by train and plane are also available from Edinburgh.
Q: Is it possible to stay at Dalkeith House after the end of the semester?
A: Yes, you may stay at Dalkeith House for £25 per person per night room charge providing this does not conflict with other programming. Please consult with the Resident Director of Operations at Dalkeith House regarding your plans. A charge of £25 per person per night includes bed, sheets, and towel (no washcloth). Payment must be paid by credit/debit card. A self-serve breakfast is also included when program food service is in operation.
Q: What meals are served in the meal plan?
A: Breakfast items will be available seven days each week on a self-serve system, with the exception of scheduled holiday/break periods.
Lunch/Dinner: During summer session, lunch will be served Monday through Thursday.
During the full semester programs, eight meals (lunch/dinner) will be served Monday through Thursday, with the exception of scheduled holidays/break periods.
Limited kitchen facilities are available and there is a small area for individual food storage. No personal meal preparation will be allowed during times when group meals are being offered.
Q: If personal belongings are shipped ahead, how should they be addressed?
A: Address them to:
Your Name (Note the session you are attending - Summer, Fall or Spring)
Wisconsin in Scotland Program
Dalkeith House
Dalkeith Midlothian
Scotland EH22 2NA
Note: Students have experienced problems receiving packages from home that were shipped via UPS. There is a new policy that customs must require information from the individual if they have any suspicions. Packages that come through the postal service have been delivered with no problems.
Q: What type of clock should I bring with me?
A: A travel alarm would be best; do not bring an electric one!
Q: How accessible are e-mail and the Internet?
A. The entire main floor of the house has wireless internet accessibility. There are two desktop computers available in the Computer Lab that also have internet access.
Q: Will my cell phone work in Scotland? If not, how should I communicate with home?
A. In the past, some students have chosen to set up an international calling plan with their cell phone provider, however, a more economical option is to utilize the mobile phone provided to you as part of your program fee. You will be issued a basic pay-as-you-go mobile phone for use during the program. It will work in both the UK and mainland Europe. You will be responsible for setting it up and adding credit to the phone. One great thing about the phone is that all incoming calls are free, so your family and friends will be able to call you directly. There are pay as you go plans that would be fine for your needs. It is your decision what you would like in terms of a plan. Don't worry, once you arrive you'll get a sheet explaining your options and how to get set-up. Your number will be assigned by the phone company when you set it up during your orientation weekend. Please be aware that if friends and family plan to call you from their US mobile phones, it is likely that they will have to call their cell phone companies to set up an international calling plan.
International prepaid calling cards purchased in the U.S. do not work on the phones in Dalkeith House. While AT&T calling cards work well, most students find it easiest to purchase British Telecom (BT) phone cards from the local establishments. The BT phone cards have a very good rate and are easily purchased. However, keep in mind that the BT cards DO NOT work in countries other than Great Britain.
Q: How much money can I expect to spend?
A: As usual, this depends on your lifestyle! Previous participants have spent an average of anywhere from $1,000 to $3,500 on personal spending while abroad. It is important to know your budget and be mindful of this. There are many low-cost options for traveling Europe. Students can stay in hostels, cook their own meals and take advantage of student concession rates on attractions and entertainment.
Additional trips and activities are offered by staff each term. The trips are planned with your budget in mind, however, additional costs may apply for the optional trips and activities. Examples include, Highland tours, weekend trips to London, and excursions to local attractions. Many options are available, but you will need to take your own budget into consideration.
Q: Should I buy a rail pass before my departure to Scotland?
A: You should do some research. Unless you have definite travel plans, former students recommend that you not purchase a rail pass before you go. You can consult local travel agencies in and around Dalkeith for potential travel deals.
Q: Will I be assigned a "host family" while in Scotland?
A: Because all students enrolled for the semester are required to live at and attend classes in Dalkeith House, a very significant and rewarding component of the WIS program is the host family program. Past students have found that an opportunity to get to know a local family enhances their understanding of the Scottish host culture. While each host family is unique and does different things with their students, participants do not live with the family but are often invited for meals, occasional outings to local points of interest or other family activities that allows interaction with individuals outside the program. Lifelong friendships between students and host families often develop. The host family program is only offered during the fall and spring semesters. If a student has indicated on their "Admitted Student Information Form" that they want to participate in the host family program, every attempt will be made to assign one to them. (Note: If you have questions regarding the host family program, please contact your Study Abroad Coordinator before making a final decision. If you check "no" and then later decide you would like a host family, you may not be given one.)
Q: Are health clubs available in Scotland?
A: There are health clubs in Edinburgh and surrounding communities; there are none in Dalkeith. However, there is an exercise room in the basement of the palace with free weights. Weather permitting the trails are a great place to run or walk on.
Q: How close is the nearest golf course? Is there much time for golfing?
A: The nearest course is one-half mile away from Dalkeith House. With respect to time for golfing, this is a very personal item and depends upon your course load, your study habits, and the weather.
Golf clubs can be checked out for use from Dalkeith House.
Q: What kind of debit/credit cards can I use abroad?
A: The best advice is to bring a debit card (preferably VISA) from an account that will be kept supplied with money. Several banks in Dalkeith do not charge an extra fee for extracting money from ATM's with a debit card and they give the best exchange rate. Past students agree that the debit card is the easiest, fastest and best money saving form of receiving money in Britain. If your debit card doesn't work, you'll want another option. MasterCard and VISA are widely accepted; American Express is not. Credit purchases sometimes offer the best available rates of exchange.
Before your departure, it is important that you notify your credit card company that you will be out of the country, and provide them with specific dates. If you fail to notify your credit card company, they may put a hold on your account.
Q: What amount of funds should I bring in travelers checks?
A: It can provide peace of mind to bring some funds in travelers checks (about $200) in case of an emergency or if your debit/credit cards are lost or stolen. Students often get charged a cashing fee and, with a low exchange rate, the amount received is substantially less than expected.
Q: Where can I exchange cash?
A: All airports have an Exchange Bureau which is a convenient place to make a small exchange. However, you should be aware that Exchange Bureau's often offer poor exchange rate and charge service fees. Past students have recommended debit/credit cards for most purchases as these reflect the most favorable exchange rates.
Q: What is the exchange rate?
A: The exchange rate changes almost daily.
Q: How many gifts can I bring back?
A: The duty-free personal exemption is $800.
Q: Can dependents accompany me in the Wisconsin in Scotland program?
A: In light of the Wisconsin in Scotland program requirement that all participants reside in Dalkeith House, the program is unable to accommodate the needs of students with dependents. Any student who wishes to participate in an education abroad experience with dependents should review the following document for questions to consider when selecting an appropriate experience.
Q: Can I participate in the Wisconsin in Scotland program if my GPA does not meet the minimum 2.25 requirement?
A: the Wisconsin in Scotland program is first and foremost an academic program. As such, students are required to display a level of academic preparedness indicative of an ability to be successful as a student abroad. The WIS program is aware that, for a variety of reasons, student's GPA may fail to meet the 2.25 requirement while not necessarily indicating an inability to be successful as a student. If a student does not meet this minimum and still wishes to participate they will need to display a commitment to, and potential for, academic success by providing the WIS program with the following additional application materials:
Q: Can I participate in the Wisconsin in Scotland program more than once?
A: With advance notice, it is possible for students to participate in back-to-back terms of the Wisconsin in Scotland program. Students participating in this type of experience will be required to obtain a Tier IV UK student visa.
If a student wishes to participate in the program a second time, but not back-to-back semesters, priority will be given to applicants who have not had a previous experience with the program. If space is available after all first-time applicants have been accepted, returning applicants will be allowed to participate barring any previous record of disciplinary action while participating in the WIS program. If a student has a previously disciplinary record with the program, their participation will be granted solely at the discretion of the WIS administrative team. Returning participants are highly encouraged to participate in an internship or independent study program to deepen their experience and engagement with the local culture.


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The Government Can Be Transparent About International Negotiations... If It's Unhappy With Them
from the tpp-vs.-wcit deptWe've been covering two big stories lately: the ongoing negotiations over the TPP agreement (Trans Pacific Partnership) as well the upcoming fight to change key internet governance issues via the UN's ITU (International Telecommunications Union) as part of WCIT (the World Conference on International Telecommunications). Of course, there's an interesting contrast about these two discussions. Both have been hit with accusations of government bureaucrats keeping things way, way too secret. The ITU has been notoriously secret, despite claims of opening up (which generally involve releasing redacted versions of documents which have already been widely leaked in un-redacted form much earlier). Then we have the USTR, claiming unprecedented transparency, even as the USTR seems to think that "transparency" means getting people to testify about a document they're not supposed to have seen.
Of course, part of the USTR's claims about "transparency" are that it has a variety of ITACs (Industry Trade Advisory Committees) who have more or less full access to the negotiating positions of the US -- which the public and Congress do not. That those ITACs are limited to just a few industries -- often the legacy industries seeking greater protectionism, and not the up and coming innovators who are more important for economic growth. Basically, these ITACs are locked up providing a clearly protectionist attitude towards copyright.
The TPP process has its own ITACs as well -- though, in that context, it means an "International Telecommunications Advisory Committee." More or less the same thing.
Except there's one major difference. Whereas the ITACs having to do with TPP have been quite secretive, the flipside is happening with the ITACs related to the WCIT fight. And it's the US driving the transparency. There are lots of reasons to be concerned by the ITU WCIT process, but the US government is making it easy for the public to participate:
Join me and make a difference. 303,000,000 Americans have just been offered access to the notoriously secret ITU WCIT documents. Just join ITAC, the State Department International Telecommunications Advisory Committee, and enjoy access. "It takes a simple email with a request to be placed on the ITAC listserv, based on some material interest in a given topic," Paul Najarian of State writes. Simply send an email to join email@example.com and you automatically have access to ITAC.So, basically, anyone can join the ITAC concerning WCIT. That's quite different than with TPP, certainly. Oh, and then there's this bit of transparency, straight from the State Department. The following is an email from Terry Kramer, the US Ambassador and head of the US delegation dealing with WCIT:
First, we welcome all interested stakeholders to participate in our WCIT preparatory process and help the U.S. Government form positions in advance of the conference. We solicit this input and feedback through the United States International Telecommunications Advisory Committee (ITAC). I believe that the ITAC process is critically important in helping the U.S. Government convene the type of open, public, and necessary consultations from all stakeholders that helps strengthen our positions in advance of the WCIT. The ITAC has advised the Department of State on U.S. participation in international telecommunications treaty organizations such as the International Telecommunication Union for decades and has, accordingly, been critical in the preparation of prior U.S. positions for meetings of international treaty organizations, developing and coordinating proposed contributions to international meetings and submitting them to the Department of State for consideration. For the WCIT, the ITAC will continue to serve this critical role. Therefore, we welcome any person and any and all organizations, whether corporate or non-profit, to participate in the ITAC if they would like to assist with the WCIT preparatory process.Okay, just to translate, if that's a bit dry: when it comes to WCIT, where the US finds itself on the defensive, suddenly it's a lover of openness and transparency. The State Department readily invites anyone to join an ITAC and promises to quickly reveal all relevant documents it receives. Furthermore, it knows that sharing the documents will lead to "more informed views."
Second, all WCIT preparatory documents – including revisions of the TD-62 compilations of Member States proposals, the final report of the Council Working Group, and Member State proposals – have been and will continue to be made available to interested ITAC member. It is imperative that we ensure full consideration of a WCIT proposal's impact on economic growth, the Internet's openness, and the world at large and this is best done through the adoption of open and transparent processes that allow for wide consultation. Thus, we will continue to share these WCIT documents with stakeholder so that they can provide more informed views and help us develop positions that reflect the input of the diverse range of interests in the United States.
Starting this week, I will proactively communicate our positions on participation and document availability to underscore the US Government's commitment to transparency.
In other words, all of the things that the USTR refuses to do with TPP -- and which it claims are effectively impossible in an international agreement. Of course, the reality seems to suggest that when the US is in control (as with TPP), then it seeks to hoard and limit info, preferring secrecy to openness and transparency. Yet, when it's not, as with the ITU process, suddenly government officials are magically in love with openness and transparency. In those cases, it's willing to let anyone join an ITAC and is willing to share whatever documents it can provide.
All of this really highlights the dishonesty of the USTR in all of this. While, yes, the negotiation process between these two issues are somewhat different, there's no reason that the USTR can't take after the State Department in terms of transparency concerning an international negotiation. It just chooses not to do so, because then experts and the public might stand up and point out why the TPP is dangerous.
Filed Under: copyright, international agreements, internet governance, itu, tpp, transparency


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2008 Porsche 911 Review
Pros & Cons
- Multiple models to choose from, pinpoint steering, effortless acceleration, powerful brakes, refined all-wheel-drive option, flat-6's unique sound, comfortable cockpit, Targa's added versatility, high customization level.
- Outlandish option prices, missing a few common electronic features like Bluetooth and an auxiliary audio jack.
Get More For Your Trade-In
Edmunds' Expert Review
Still the quintessential sports car after four decades, the 2008 Porsche 911 has a unique blend of style, performance and sound that you can enjoy everyday.
Vehicle overview
If you were to analyze the world's finest modern-day sports cars, you would find that they all have a front or midengine design that balances weight distribution and centralizes mass between the wheels. Yet the 2008 Porsche 911, with its engine hanging out behind the rear axle, thrusts a middle finger into the air toward conventional automotive engineering wisdom. That it simultaneously achieves truly legendary performance is all the more surprising.
Someone once wrote that the Porsche 911 is a "terrible design, brilliantly executed." And that pretty much explains why no other automaker is currently offering a rear-engine car. But more than four decades of research and development have morphed the 911 from a mostly entertaining but bedeviling-at-the-limit beast to a very capable and forgiving sports car. It simultaneously provides supercar performance and handling, along with daily driver comfort and livability. And with the ever-expanding 911 family, picking the perfect Porsche for your needs has never been easier. Provided, of course, you have the means.
For 2008, a Turbo Cabriolet joins the coupe, while the ultimate 911 -- the even more potent, lighter, rear-drive GT2 -- comes back into the fold. Other changes this year include optional carbon-fiber racing-style seats, a more effective sunshade for Targa versions and increased oil change intervals for most models (12,000 miles or one year).
As always, performance is paramount. According to Porsche, even the base 911 can run to 60 mph in less than 5 seconds and stretch its legs out to a top speed of 177 mph. Should that be inadequate and you've got pockets so deep that nearly 200K for a car doesn't make you blink, consider the 911 GT2. This ultimate 911 will rocket you to 60 mph and hit 205 mph flat out, making it the fastest 911 ever made. Between these bookends are other enticing selections -- the tweaked "S"; the foul-weather-friendly, all-wheel-drive "4"; the track-ready GT3 and the blindingly fast, yet docile and comfortable Turbo.
One of the reasons the 911 has become almost larger than life is its combination of ferocious performance and daily-driver livability. The car's basic design, with its large glass area, slim roof pillars and no-nonsense interior, has hardly changed since its debut in 1964. This provides a comfortable and stress-free environment for the driver, unlike some other sports cars where one sinks down low and has to contend with a view to the rear quarters that's tantamount to a Brink's truck. With its glass roof, the Targa model accentuates this feeling even more. Underway, the 911 is just as welcoming, with smooth power delivery, easily modulated strong brakes, and ultra-responsive but never nervous steering.
With such a wide range of offerings, the 2008 Porsche 911's various guises compete with many different sports cars, but it manages to stand up to them all. Savvy consumers will know that a strong argument can be made for choosing a Chevrolet Corvette Z06 over a 911, as it provides a tad more performance for considerably less money. The same goes for the Nissan GT-R, which also benefits from being all-new and this year's media darling. But the Corvette doesn't have the 911's build quality, nor its high level of driver interaction, while the GT-R lacks the 911's prestige and customization aspect. Perhaps the toughest, most direct rivals for the 911 are the Aston Martin V8 Vantage and the Audi R8. Both are fantastic sports cars with moves to match their looks. But the Aston and R8 have a long time to go before they can match the history and legendary status of the Porsche 911.
2008 Porsche 911 models
The 2008 Porsche 911 comes in five basic trim levels: Carrera, Carrera S, GT3, Turbo and GT2. The Carrera and Carrera S can be had in three body styles. The coupe and convertible ("Cabriolet") body styles are offered in either rear-wheel or all-wheel-drive ("4") versions. Equipped like a regular Carrera coupe, the 911 Targa 4 comes with a large power-sliding glass roof, a flip-up rear glass hatch and only all-wheel drive. The S version of the Targa 4 adds the same upgrades as the Carrera S.
The base 911 Carrera comes with 18-inch wheels, full power accessories, a trip computer, leather seating, a nine-speaker audio system with a CD/MP3 player, vestigial rear seats and automatic climate control. The S adds a more powerful engine, 19-inch wheels, active suspension management technology, bigger brakes, bi-HID xenon headlights, a sport steering wheel and unique exterior and interior trim. Most of these items are optional on the Carrera.
The track-oriented, coupe-only GT3 comes with a 415-hp engine, lightweight 19-inch wheels, a fixed rear spoiler, unique front and rear fascias, specialized suspension tuning, a reduced curb weight and sport front seats. There is also the GT3 RS, which is even more hard-core with upgrades that include a wider rear body and track, an adjustable suspension and a carbon-fiber rear wing.
The Turbo (available in coupe and Cabriolet form) comes with a 480-hp engine, 19-inch wheels, fully powered front seats with driver memory settings and a Bose surround-sound audio system. The GT2 (coupe only) substitutes rear-wheel drive for the Turbo's all-wheel-drive system -- one of the reasons the GT2 is more than 300 pounds lighter. The GT2 also features a 530-hp engine and heavily revised bodywork. As with the GT3, the GT2 is a racetrack-oriented 911.
An active suspension management system is optional on the Carrera and Targa 4, and standard on all the other trims. Dubbed PASM (Porsche Active Suspension Management), this feature provides a smooth ride over the bumps, yet tightens up considerably when the car is being driven hard through the curves.
Porsche offers a dizzying array of expensive options, including custom color schemes, different seats, upgraded stereos, custom leather trims and a choice of wood, aluminum and carbon-fiber accents. Other highlights include race-bred ceramic disc brakes, a navigation system and a Sport Chrono package. In addition to supplying lap times and records, the Sport Chrono option also remaps the electronic throttle for quicker response and, on automatics, the transmission for quicker downshifts and holding lower gears during aggressive driving to keep the power on tap for powerful corner exits.
2008 Highlights
Performance & mpg
The standard 911 Carrera is equipped with a 3.6-liter, horizontally opposed six-cylinder engine that produces 325 hp and 273 pound-feet of torque. The Carrera S has a 3.8-liter version of the flat-6 rated for 355 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. The 911 Carrera and Carrera S can be had in either rear-wheel- or all-wheel-drive ("4") versions. The Targa 4 can also be had in standard or S trim and as indicated by the "4," comes only in AWD form. An optional Carrera Power Kit for S models bumps power up to 381 hp.
The GT3 and GT3 RS are rear-wheel-drive only and come with a 3.6-liter flat-6 with 415 hp and 300 lb-ft of torque. The Turbo features all-wheel drive as well as a twin-turbocharged 3.6 that makes 480 hp and 460 lb-ft. The GT2 is rear-drive and packs a 530-hp version of the turbocharged 3.6. All 911s come standard with a six-speed manual transmission, while all trims except the GT3s and GT2 also offer a five-speed Tiptronic automatic as an option.
Every 911 can perform the 0-60-mph sprint in fewer than 5 seconds, with the Turbo and GT2 doing it in well under 4. Top speed approaches 200 mph for the GT3 and Turbo and exceeds that in the GT2.
Six airbags (including side curtain), antilock disc brakes, traction control and stability control are included on all 2008 Porsche 911 models except the GT3, which does without the stability control.
Driven at normal speeds, the 2008 Porsche 911 delivers a firm but mostly pleasant ride that's suitable for daily commutes. Thankfully, though, the omnipresent growl of the flat-6 reminds one that this is a serious performance car. Lay into the power and the 911 comes alive. Acceleration is effortless and the turbocharged models are especially thrilling without being unruly in normal driving.
The 911's variable-rate steering feels slightly numb at certain speeds, but turns in crisply and with precision, and is largely unaffected by broken pavement. The brakes are powerful and respond promptly in a linear fashion. When slicing through a twisty road, the 911 remains composed and hunkered down. The stability control provides enough leeway to allow experienced drivers to push the car hard, while also offering enough of a safety net to keep them pointed the right way.
The driver-centric Porsche 911 interior features a single-pod gauge cluster and supportive bucket seats that feature firm side bolsters that hold you in place during aggressive cornering, yet don't make you feel constrained. More aggressively bolstered sport seats are also available. A wide variety of trim accents and color choices allow one to tailor the cockpit's style to their liking. Large footwells and a tilt/telescoping steering column virtually guarantee that most drivers will be comfortable behind the wheel. In back, all but the GT3 and GT2 have a pair of deep-set bucket seats. In a pinch, they'll work for small children, but no more than that. Those seats fold flat, providing some stowage space (accessed by a glass hatch in the Targa), but the 911's principal cargo area is located underneath the hood up front.
Consumer reviews
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Weekend Recap: Celebration!
This past weekend my sister, Ximena turned 26! So my weekend was full of client work during the daytime and then a little bit of celebration during the evening!
Hit of the night was…. fingerstaches! (Thanks Danay!)
You can imagine the pictures that ensued once everyone had their fingerstache on. Of course I didn't take pics. Bad blogger I know, but this is what you could imagine it looking like:
Good times were had by all. I've been swamped with work so it was nice to head out and relax for a little bit.
Of course the best part of a birthday is the gifts! I must share what I got the birthday girl. First I made sure to wrap my gifts in a green manor and used some left over fabric and ribbon to make them pretty:
Now what was inside the packages:
She loved them and I would highly recommend etsy seller Pradman. The jewels are stunning and the prices are really budget friendly.
Jon made the birthday girl her own special gift:
Close up of piece:
She loved it!


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My hill climbing skills are fairly average. They're all short, steep climbs here i live but it was only this summer that i really started to take road bike cycling remotely seriously and i can see a massive improvement between now and then.
Bah, why doesn't Floyd Landis actually just admit he was an idiot and stop wasting everyone's time?
It was kind of no surprise that what happened I mean Perrick Fedrigo (stage 14 winner) knew something was not right he heard of his performance on his breakway to Morzine.
Even if he is not stripped of his title he will have no creditibilty or reputation.
Definitely, especially as he was so so much over the limit and given which stage it was, just seems like it can't be put down to an abnormal result.Originally Posted by Craig
Ullrich looks likely to sign for a second-rung team for next season. Got to feel for him in a way, unluckily for him his career came along at the same time as Armstrong and so he's always going to have a 'could have' feel about his career.
Not really...had more natural talent then Armstrong and an as strong if not stronger team. Lazy, bad attitude and terrible tactics cost him a lot.Originally Posted by Matteh
Personally he should have done the Giro every year for his preparation. In that I mean aim for a TT stage midway through, get over some of the tougher mountain stages in the second week and then pull out (no need to over do it) at around the third week and then go and prepare finally at the Tour of Switzerland.
That said he did have some unfortunate luck along the way.
Exactly the 'Could have' feel. He really should have beaten Armstrong at least once, but for the reasons you said it didn't happen.Originally Posted by thewizard1o1
Well Tyler Hamilton has come back with the new Russian-Italian team Tinkoff Credit Systems backed by Russian buisnessman Oleg Tinkoff (who made his fortune from Tinkoff Beer and his chain of resturants).
Other names include Jan Ullrich and Paco (Francisco) Mancebo who is trying to get out of his contract from Ag2r (more like the DS Vincent Lavenu doesn't want him there) have been linked with Tinkoff.
Last edited by Craig; 25-11-2006 at 02:02 AM.
Tinkoff have been linked with signing most of those big names accused of drugs shortly before the Tour.
Well one guy who definatly won't be there - team-mate of Ajelandro Valverde and Oscar Pereiro of Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears - sprinter Isaac Gálvez crashing and being killed in the Gent Six Day track event. He finished 2nd on stage four and 6th on stages one and nine in this years Tour.
Thoughts go to his family, friends, and team-mates.
Very sad news
At this stage I'm 85-90% going to this year's race. I will combine with a trip to England as well and see more of the countryside the London and Manchester.
Tom Simpson. Rip.
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"Transforming Primary Carefor Underserved Populations"with Keynote Speaker Kevin Grumbach, MD
(Professor and Chair of the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco)Tuesday September 11, 2012
Robbins Auditorium - Albert Einstein College of Medicine
1300 Morris Park Ave, Bronx NY 10461
Thanks to everyone who made the 2012 NYC RING Convocation our most successful Convocation to date! This year's event hosted over 200 attendees representing over 22 partner organizations throughout New York City, and featured 65 presentations demonstrating the wonderful, meaningful work being done in the Bronx and throughout New York City.
Congratulations to this year's 1st, 2nd and 3rd Place winners for BEST PRESENTATION:
Efforts to Expand Procedural Training in Urban Family Medicine: What is Doable and What is Not
Lucia McLendon, MD, MPH; Daniel Napolitano, MD; Ginger Gillespie, MD; Natasha Miller; Linda Prine, MD
The Institute for Family Health
Bronx Subway Stations and Unhealthy Food Advertising: Targeted Marketing to Vulnerable GroupsOmar Sanon; Sean Lucan, MD, MPH, MS; Mamadou Bah; Andrew Maroko, PhD; Andrew Carmona
New York University and Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Seeking Health Care on Their Own: The Experience of Teen Patients in an Urban Community Health CenterKim Freeman, MPH; Katherine Lobach, MD; Mirnel Azcon; Elizabeth Alderman, MDMontefiore Medical Group
It was truly wonderful to see a lot of familiar and new faces, and see everyone so engaged in both Dr. Grumbach's keynote address and in the poster presentations. We look forward to planning next year's event. To be included in the NYC RING Convocation mailing list, please email Claudia Lechuga.
2012 NYC RING Convocation Abstract Booklet
Faculty Session Powerpoint
Faculty Session Audio file
Keynote Address Powerpoint
Keynote Address Audio File
The NYC RING Convocation is an annual gathering of NYC RING participating clinicians, researchers, and investigators from throughout partner sites. The event showcases the wide variety of practice-based research and quality improvement activities being conducted, and provides an opportunity to discuss opportunities for collaboration.
For more information, or to participate in upcoming Convocations, please contact email@example.com
2016 NYC RING Convocation
2015 NYC RING Convocation
2014 NYC RING Convocation
2012 NYC RING Convocation
2011 NYC RING Convocation Abstract Book
2008 NYC RING Convocation Abstract Book
2007 NYC RING Convocation Abstract Book
2006 NYC RING Convocation Abstract Book
2005 NYC RING Convocation Poster Presentations


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Meet the Explorers
William Purdom (1880-1921)
Ethnographer of Tibetan border traditions
William Purdom was born in Heversham, England. He worked in nurseries for Low & Sons in Enfield and later for James Veitch at Coombe Wood, Surrey. In 1902, Purdom became a sub-foreman of the Arboretum Nurseries at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and in 1905 enrolled at Kew as a two-year student.
William Purdom explored China for the Arboretum during the same period as Ernest Wilson. In 1909, Charles Sargent was intent on having as many men as possible collecting China's flora. With E.H. Wilson about to return from western China, and an agreement in place that the ornamental plants collected by Frank Meyer for the USDA would be shared with the Arboretum, Sargent was keen to dispatch a collector to the largely unexplored northeastern provinces. Purdom embarked in February of that year. Sargent's goal for the young Purdom was to "bring into our gardens Chinese plants from regions with climates even more severe than those of New England." The Veitch Nursery co-sponsored the 1909-1912 Purdom expedition as they had the first of Wilson's for the Arboretum.
Much to Charles Sargent's annoyance, Purdom ultimately made fewer collections than Wilson. However, this wasn't for lack of trying; he'd initially been sent to collect in an area with less than optimal conditions. Indeed, he often encountered brigands, political unrest, and had a narrow escape from Gansu Province.
Photography was an extremely successful result of Purdom's expedition. He proved a gifted portraitist, capturing for posterity a rich ethnographic record of the people from Tibetan border region. Like Wilson, he employed a camera which used glass plates. He was interested in the anthropological and ethnographical aspects of the regions he visited, and took many shots of the people he encountered, documenting their dress and hairstyles. Especially noteworthy is his series of images capturing the "devil dancing" at the now-destroyed monastery in Chone. The Arboretum holds 173 prints of his photographs in our image collection, and all are available to view in Harvard's image catalog VIA.
Purdom is noted for his later exploration in China with Reginald Farrer (1880-1920), with whom he collected and introduced many new alpine plants. At the conclusion of their expedition in 1916, Purdom remained in China to become a division chief within the Chinese Forest Service. Following a minor operation, he died at the French hospital in Beijing on November 7, 1921.
Search the VIA image database for Purdom's photography.
William Purdom (1880-1921) papers, 1909-1912 [pdf].
Index of Botanical Specimens collected by Purdom [Harvard University Herbaria].
Heriz-Smith, Shirley. "Brightener of British winters: William Purdom in China and Tibet." Country Life June 5, 1986. pp.1624-5 [HOLLIS].
Pearson, Lisa. "Picturing People: The Photographs of William Purdom." Library Leaves, September 24, 2014.


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Many of the Catholic parishes in the Highlands of Scotland were also 'crofts' – which allowed the priest to support himself and the parish by living off the land. A croft is a small free-hold of land which allows sustainable living. As communities have got wealthier, the need for the parish to sustain a croft has diminished. However I now in many places the vestiges continue. I have had the joy the last few years to go to the Outer Hebridean island of South Uist for a few weeks supply in the summer at this parish click here. The priest still has his own flock of sheep, real not metaphorical, and last summer I was presented with my own lamb, butchered and prepared by the parish shepherd! Here in Arisaig the priest keeps over 40 chickens, and ably assisted by the wonderful Winnie (left) we have a regular supply of 'holy eggs' which parishoners pick up and are enjoyed at breakfast. I have really enjoyed feeding the chickens with Winnie and learning about poultry-care.
Even better of course is enjoying the fruits of their labour. The parish house is equipped with a magnificent double egg-cup – first time I have seen one! Not only does it allow you to be greedy – but also to compare tastes. Today I tried the light blue shelled egg along side a Polish chickens classic brown colour egg. The Pole edged it slightly – with one of the richest yolks I have every enjoyed. It is true that free-range tastes much nicer.
There is a serious point – the growing movement of eating locally sourced and in-season products. Not only does it support the local economy, the food is healthier and tastier! Scotland seems to be leading the way with this and the influential Fife Diet. Asking local people to sign-up to eating food from the region of Fife, for a year, and to monitor their progress and share their experience. The project has developed from a voluntary network into a funded body and in its development has changed from a small amount of people dedicated to eating 'from Fife' for a year, to a much larger network of people trying to re-localise more generally and to explore what sustainable food might be. It has won awards for ethical consumption. Seeing the parishioners donate money and pick up their eggs on Sunday was very inspiring – particularly as the younger contribute a bit more so the older folk can get their eggs very cheaply. This could be a great idea for other parishes to take up!


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The following form allows you to view linux man pages.
CPU_XOR_S, CPU_EQUAL_S - macros for manipulating CPU sets
#define _GNU_SOURCE /* See feature_test_macros(7) */
#include <sched.h>
void CPU_ZERO(cpu_set_t *set);
void CPU_SET(int cpu, cpu_set_t *set);
void CPU_CLR(int cpu, cpu_set_t *set);
int CPU_ISSET(int cpu, cpu_set_t *set);
int CPU_COUNT(cpu_set_t *set);
void CPU_AND(cpu_set_t *destset,
cpu_set_t *srcset1, cpu_set_t *srcset2);
void CPU_OR(cpu_set_t *destset,
cpu_set_t *srcset1, cpu_set_t *srcset2);
void CPU_XOR(cpu_set_t *destset,
cpu_set_t *srcset1, cpu_set_t *srcset2);
int CPU_EQUAL(cpu_set_t *set1, cpu_set_t *set2);
cpu_set_t *CPU_ALLOC(int num_cpus);
void CPU_FREE(cpu_set_t *set);
size_t CPU_ALLOC_SIZE(int num_cpus);
void CPU_ZERO_S(size_t setsize, cpu_set_t *set);
void CPU_SET_S(int cpu, size_t setsize, cpu_set_t *set);
void CPU_CLR_S(int cpu, size_t setsize, cpu_set_t *set);
int CPU_ISSET_S(int cpu, size_t setsize, cpu_set_t *set);
int CPU_COUNT_S(size_t setsize, cpu_set_t *set);
void CPU_AND_S(size_t setsize, cpu_set_t *destset,
cpu_set_t *srcset1, cpu_set_t *srcset2);
void CPU_OR_S(size_t setsize, cpu_set_t *destset,
cpu_set_t *srcset1, cpu_set_t *srcset2);
void CPU_XOR_S(size_t setsize, cpu_set_t *destset,
cpu_set_t *srcset1, cpu_set_t *srcset2);
int CPU_EQUAL_S(size_t setsize, cpu_set_t *set1, cpu_set_t *set2);
The cpu_set_t data structure represents a set of CPUs. CPU sets are
used by sched_setaffinity(2) and similar interfaces.
The cpu_set_t data type is implemented as a bitset. However, the data
structure treated as considered opaque: all manipulation of CPU sets
should be done via the macros described in this page.
since the above macros may evaluate the argument more than once.
The first available CPU on the system corresponds to a cpu value of 0,
the next CPU corresponds to a cpu value of 1, and so on. The constant
CPU_SETSIZE (currently 1024) specifies a value one greater than the
maximum CPU number that can be stored in cpu_set_t.
The following macros perform logical operations on CPU sets:
CPU_AND() Store the intersection of the sets srcset1 and srcset2
in destset (which may be one of the source sets).
CPU_OR() Store the union of the sets srcset1 and srcset2 in
destset (which may be one of the source sets).
CPU_XOR() Store the XOR of the sets srcset1 and srcset2 in dest-
set (which may be one of the source sets). The XOR
means the set of CPUs that are in either srcset1 or
srcset2, but not both.
CPU_EQUAL() Test whether two CPU set contain exactly the same
Dynamically sized CPU sets
Because some applications may require the ability to dynamically size
CPU sets (e.g., to allocate sets larger than that defined by the stan-
dard cpu_set_t data type), glibc nowadays provides a set of macros to
support this.
The following macros are used to allocate and deallocate CPU sets:
CPU_ALLOC() Allocate a CPU set large enough to hold CPUs in the
range 0 to num_cpus-1.
CPU_ALLOC_SIZE() Return the size in bytes of the CPU set that would be
needed to hold CPUs in the range 0 to num_cpus-1.
This macro provides the value that can be used for the
setsize argument in the CPU_*_S() macros described
CPU_FREE() Free a CPU set previously allocated by CPU_ALLOC().
The macros whose names end with "_S" are the analogs of the similarly
named macros without the suffix. These macros perform the same tasks
as their analogs, but operate on the dynamically allocated CPU set(s)
whose size is setsize bytes.
CPU_ISSET() and CPU_ISSET_S() return nonzero if cpu is in set; other-
wise, it returns 0.
CPU_COUNT() and CPU_COUNT_S() return the number of CPUs in set.
in glibc 2.3.3.
CPU_COUNT() first appeared in glibc 2.6.
CPU_ISSET_S(), CPU_AND_S(), CPU_OR_S(), CPU_XOR_S(), and CPU_EQUAL_S()
first appeared in glibc 2.7.
These interfaces are Linux-specific.
To duplicate a CPU set, use memcpy(3).
Since CPU sets are bitsets allocated in units of long words, the actual
number of CPUs in a dynamically allocated CPU set will be rounded up to
the next multiple of sizeof(unsigned long). An application should con-
sider the contents of these extra bits to be undefined.
Notwithstanding the similarity in the names, note that the constant
CPU_SETSIZE indicates the number of CPUs in the cpu_set_t data type
(thus, it is effectively a count of bits in the bitset), while the set-
size argument of the CPU_*_S() macros is a size in bytes.
The data types for arguments and return values shown in the SYNOPSIS
are hints what about is expected in each case. However, since these
interfaces are implemented as macros, the compiler won't necessarily
catch all type errors if you violate the suggestions.
On 32-bit platforms with glibc 2.8 and earlier, CPU_ALLOC() allocates
twice as much space as is required, and CPU_ALLOC_SIZE() returns a
value twice as large as it should. This bug should not affect the
semantics of a program, but does result in wasted memory and less effi-
cient operation of the macros that operate on dynamically allocated CPU
sets. These bugs are fixed in glibc 2.9.
The following program demonstrates the use of some of the macros used
for dynamically allocated CPU sets.
#define _GNU_SOURCE
#include <sched.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <unistd.h>
#include <stdio.h>
#include <assert.h>
main(int argc, char *argv[])
size = CPU_ALLOC_SIZE(num_cpus);
CPU_ZERO_S(size, cpusetp);
for (cpu = 0; cpu < num_cpus; cpu += 2)
CPU_SET_S(cpu, size, cpusetp);
printf("CPU_COUNT() of set: %d\n", CPU_COUNT_S(size, cpusetp));
sched_setaffinity(2), pthread_attr_setaffinity_np(3), pthread_setaffin-
ity_np(3), cpuset(7)
Copyright © 1999 - 2016 by LinuxGuruz


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