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Belted Beauty Lycia zonaria
(Harrison, 1912)
Wingspan 27-30 mm.
A highly localised species, occurring on sand hills in a few scattered localities in Cheshire, North Wales and Scotland. Also known from parts of Ireland.
The females are wingless, but the males fly in March and April, when they are attracted to light.
The larvae feed on a range of low-growing plants including creeping willow (Salix repens) and burnet rose (Rosa pimpinellifolia).


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6.5″ Water Resistant Performance Series Coaxial Speaker
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Being on the water is no excuse for second rate sound. That's why Clarion offers high-performance marine speakers that offer the water-resistance and durability you need, plus audiophile-pleasing features such as variable-angle tweeters. With the tweeter angle freely adjustable, you can more precisely create the soundscape you want in a wider variety of on-board installations. Unlike the insular, restricted space of a car, the boat has an open-air environment with special requirements... Clarion has you covered with advanced materials and design.
CEA-2031 Speaker Rating
Maximum RMS Power: 35 watts
Impedance: 4 ohms
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subset: commoncrawl


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Just rejoined WW online to drop 20ish lbs. I'm not considered overweight, still within the healthy weight range for my height, but I prefer myself at a slightly lower weight and would really like to focus on building muscle and strength. I have been back to the gym since January and I am bringing my 11 year old with me. We are enjoying our time together there and I love seeing him excited about fitness :)
Friday, June 06, 2014
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text: Convinced of the fact that only an integrated approach to hygiene can guarantee biosecurity in fish farming, CID LINES dedicated itself to work out a complete biosecure program for aquaculture. After thorough R&D and testing in the Norwegian Salmon industry, CID LINES now offers a full range hygiene program for fish farming, fish transport and fish processing industries. Discover our different applications.


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Help Desk Best Practices - ITIL & Help Desk Institute
Help Desk Best Practices Increase Customer Satisfaction & Decrease Costs
This White Paper is a summary of Help Desk Best Practices from the following three authority sources: the Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL), the Required Practices for Organizations (BS15000) and the Help Desk Institute (HDI) Best Practices Standards for Certification.
To improve, an organization must assess its current practices against those used in other organizations, or "best practices." Simply put, a best practice is the most effective way to get something done. These practices, processes, and procedures have emerged as proven models for the majority of organizations.
Help desk organizations must assess their competencies, find areas for potential improvement, and grow. A list of best practices that can be implemented and used in help desk software serves as the starting point for such an evaluation and improvement process. Use this list to reconsider what you are doing and why, and what you should be doing and when.
Some Help Desk Best Practices covered in the White Paper:
- Perform Customer Satisfaction Surveys on a Regular Basis
- Implement a Web-Based Knowledge Base Tool
- Implement Service Request Automation Processes in your Help Desk Software
- Use the Help Desk Software System to Increase Communications With Agents and Customers
- Implement a Customer Self-Help Portal Accessible 24 hours/day
- Use Real-Time Help Desk Reports, Dashboards, Metrics and Analytics
- Use Real-time Reporting Features that Decrease Time Required to Prepare Reports
- Implement an Asset Management System that is integrated with the Help Desk Software system
- Implement an ITIL Change Management Software System and ITIL processes. Integrate the Change Management System with the Help Desk Software System.
Additional Whitepapers
Avoid 8 Major Mistakes When Buying Any Software or Cloud Service
- Webinar Key Point #1: Do Senior Leaders Have Pain Points? - IT Help Desk & Customer Service Software
- Webinar Key Point #2: Money & Budgets - Are Funds Approved for IT Help Desk & Customer Service Software?
More Prepare for Buying Whitepapers
- Customer Service Best Practises - What Features and Functions You Should Look For in Customer Service Software


text:
Letchworth web developer
My name is Adam Jimenez, I'm a freelance web developer and founder of ShiftCreate Ltd.
I've been developing websites professionally for over 19 years and have acquired solid skills in:
Based in Letchworth, I work with talented web designers from all over the country.
My forté is turning design prototypes into reality in a designer friendly manner.
I've worked on many different types of website including Pressfinders and Mayhem Paintball.
I'm the author behind the popular ShiftEdit IDE.
I can provide hassle free hosting, email and domains.
And can help solve most CSS or Javascript problems that can otherwise drive designers around the twist.
ShiftCreate was founded in 2006 and has built a reputation for being reasonable and reliable.


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Julia Marton-Lefèvre, the longest serving Director General of IUCN, has expressed her intention to step down next year, after nearly eight years at the helm of the organization. The process of recruiting her successor has now officially been launched and the IUCN Council's Search Committee will develop a Terms of Reference for this position shortly.
"I believe that it is healthy for an organization such as IUCN to seek a change of leadership on a regular basis," says Julia Marton-Lefèvre. "I will continue to be an active and involved Director General until I hand over to my successor, between 30 June and 31 December 2014, thereby assuring a smooth transition."
Ms Marton-Lefèvre has been steering the world's largest environment membership organization since January 2007 and has successfully led the conservation movement during and between two World Conservation Congresses, in Barcelona and Jeju.
Under her leadership, IUCN grew to more than 1,200 government and non-government Members, 11,000 Commission members, 1,000 staff in 45 offices and hundreds of partners around the world.
Among her accomplishments as IUCN Director General has been the establishment of the concept of nature-based solutions which IUCN pioneered in the context of the UN climate negotiations. These solutions have become an integral part of the organization's overall response to the biggest environment and development challenges of the 21st century.
"Julia has successfully managed to keep together such a large organization and led us through uneasy economic times," says Zhang Xinsheng, President of IUCN. "IUCN has been fortunate to have the leadership provided by Julia Marton-Lefèvre over the last seven years, and we are grateful for her continued energy and commitment to IUCN's mission."
The Search Committee in charge of finding the best candidate for IUCN's top job consists of the IUCN President Mr. Zhang Xinsheng (China); the four IUCN Vice Presidents: Mr. Malik Amin Aslam Khan (Pakistan), Mr. Miguel Pellerano (Argentina), Mr. John G. Robinson (US) and Ms. Marina von Weissenberg (Finland); the Chair of the Species Survival Commission, Dr. Simon Stuart (UK) and Ms. Nilufer Oral (Turkey), IUCN Regional Councillor for West Europe.
Born in Budapest, Hungary, Julia Marton-Lefèvre studied history, ecology and environmental planning in the US and in France. Her prior positions include Executive Director of the International Council for Science (ICSU) in Paris, Executive Director of LEAD (Leadership for Environment and Development) International in New York and London and Rector of the UN-affiliated University for Peace in San José, Costa Rica. She has brought her considerable international network to IUCN including several high profile public figures, scientists and communicators who now serve as Patrons of Nature or Goodwill Ambassadors.
News about the recruitment process and the advertisement for the position of IUCN's Director General will be posted on the IUCN website as soon as it is available.


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|View Poll Results: Psycho-Pass - Episode 13 Rating
|Perfect 10
|9 out of 10 : Excellent
|8 out of 10 : Very Good
|7 out of 10 : Good
|6 out of 10 : Average
|5 out of 10 : Below Average
|4 out of 10 : Poor
|3 out of 10 : Bad
|2 out of 10 : Very Bad
|1 out of 10 : Painful
|Voters: 60. You may not vote on this poll
|Thread Tools
|2013-01-18, 10:23
|Link #61
Prefectural Magical Girl
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Paris, France
|2013-01-18, 10:44
|Link #63
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
@Misaofan probably not, no foreshadowing of that kind anywhere at the moment.can't say the same about shogo & the director though.
Now we know what this Psycho-pass world needs... SEN _ NO!
just what this world needs to shake up the system nyahaha , they'll be having a guerrilla concert on Episode 15......
|2013-01-18, 12:14
|Link #64
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
I think they are relaying on Sibyl system too much.
If someone were to control it, they could control everything.
No system is perfect, which means this one was flaws and blind spots.
Akane was feeling down because of that Makashima thing.
All in all a very interesting episode.
|2013-01-18, 12:19
|Link #65
Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Here's my whole deal. Akane, Kougami, Gino and Masaoka all strike me as reasonably intelligent people. Each in his own way has suffered some serious deprivation to the point of dehumanization at the hands of the Sybil system. And yet all of them continue to stick up for the system and the status quo. To wit:
1. When the director reminds Gino that Sybil was responsible for the prosperity and stability of the great many, Gino, who lost his dad to latent criminality, agrees with her without questioning the cost in freedom and human dignity and agrees that public faith in the system must be protected from certain inconvenient facts. This strongly indicates that what the director said to him about Sybil's benefits to society was true.
2. Masaoka says he came to accept and believe in the system long after it had relegated him to being an enforcer and stripped him of his rights as a detective, husband and father.
3. As they enter the confinement center for latent criminals, Kougami tells Akane, without any trace of irony or bitterness, that once the system is done with him that place was where he was going to end up.
4. Akane personally witnessed a catastrophic failure by the system resulting in the murder of her best friend, and yet her quick recovery after the mind scoop indicates that she still sincerely trusted and accepted Sybil and was determined to continue operating within the system.
So the question that comes to my mind is how such apparently intelligent individuals could endure shocking abuse from the system and accept it without any kind of resentment or discontent. The only plausible explanation I can find is a social compact - they believe it's worth enduring these privations in return for having an orderly and prosperous society under Sybil. These people don't strike me as suckers, so the benefits of Sybil that they perceive must be considerable enough, at least in their minds, to offset what it takes from them.
Last edited by Mandarake; 2013-01-18 at 13:14. Reason: Names
|2013-01-18, 13:43
|Link #66
Sensei, aishite imasu
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Hong Kong Shatterdome
I do have to somewhat have to agree with Mandarake's assessment. For what's by this point rather obviously a totalitarian oligarchy, we've been rather setup to hold our sympathies with the agents who are working to maintain order in that society. I somehow don't think this setup is going to be revolved in anything as remotely simple as "Sybill is baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad!". Especially when the primary antagonist isn't exactly opposed to the Sybil system because he feels it's a human rights violation. Frankly, it seems incredibly implausible, based on how wanton Makishima is about killing civilians and his own associates, that any part of whatever he's planning is being done out of some kind of sense of altruism for the greater good of humanity.
It really does seem like the series is intentionally casting Makishima in as monstrous of a light as possible, while presenting our detective squad as being quite sympathetic. This seems especially prominent after we got introduced to Rina last episode, who kinda demonstrates that opposition to the Sybill system isn't reliant on being a homicidal maniac.
Last edited by Roger Rambo; 2013-01-18 at 13:56.
|2013-01-18, 14:50
|Link #67
Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Do they all respond with "Egad! you are correct sir!"
Or some variation of "how could i have been so blind?"
What about "why didn't anybody say anything about this before?"
|2013-01-18, 14:54
|Link #68
Prefectural Magical Girl
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Paris, France
|2013-01-18, 15:41
|Link #69
Sensei, aishite imasu
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Hong Kong Shatterdome
One thing I forgot to mention about Ginoza. Interesting contrast between the doubt he'd previously put upon her professionalism (verbally to her, and apparently in reports to his higher ups), and how after this incident he's rather firmly trying to back herself up on this issue. One could suppose that previously was a matter of trying to enforce a kind of tough discipline on a more newbie member who he projected his own insecurities into (rising Psycho-Pass). Once it's a more conventional police matter about her competence staring down a suspect, he comes off as much more supportive...perhaps it's also because he realized that Akane is more resilient than him after her Psycho-Pass wasn't raised as much by the last incident, despite witnessing it first hand?
Last edited by Roger Rambo; 2013-01-18 at 15:55.
|2013-01-18, 17:02
|Link #70
formerly ogon bat
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Mexico
Age: 49
I am beginning to think the psycho-pass is a measurement of general brain healthiness. It can deteriorate for short periods (akin to how a diabetic that eats a cake with a six pack of beer will get his sugar level sky high) but if treated in a medical institution it will get better,but once the brains gets damaged for long periods of time, it will never return to normal.
So maybe Makishima (and Akane) are the results of genetic experiments "Hey, we need citizens whose hue never gets cloudy, that will wipe from the face of earth all criminal offenders". The moral of the story would be that albeit most crimes are committed by people whose brains are not 100% healthy (due to malnutrition, unemployment or abuse), there are still crimes that can be committed by perfectly healthy citizens, such is the downside of every human having a free will.
|2013-01-18, 19:05
|Link #71
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2007
Like I said in his character discussion topic, he's essentially championing individualism, only without making any sort of moral distinctions between people. The fact that some wouldn't have the strength to survive in a world where no one suppresses their will is probably but a natural inevitability to him, and it doesn't change the fact that he truly believes everyone should act based on their will, even if the obvious consequence of such would be for some of those wills to extinguish others.
Although, of course, ultimately
|2013-01-18, 20:21
|Link #73
reads too much
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: you know that's a great question.....
Also, to everyone saying that Akane's hue doesn't get cloudly, I thought Shion mentioned in passing (or maybe it was Gino) that Akane's hue had changed color a bit since the basement incident so she's not exactly like Makishima.
|2013-01-18, 20:58
|Link #74
Sensei, aishite imasu
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Hong Kong Shatterdome
Obviously someone like Makishima might think this is a perfectly fine definition of *freedom*, but is it really categorically anything like modern liberal democracy that also espouses the virtues of freedom? Of course Makishima probably wouldn't see any difference between the liberal democracy that Rina is talking about and the Sybil system, so his definition of freedom makes sense. But that's not a useful definition for outside observers trying to compare Makishima, the techno clinical oligarchy of the Sybil system, and actual democratic society with each-other.
You can say in a sense that Makishima is interested in bringing *freedom*, but when we have actual pro democracy activists running around, we need to differentiate these definitions of freedom by remembering that Makishima is a predatory anarchist.
And yes. What you're talking about here is basically VERY different (essentially incompatible) definitions of freedom. The idea that freedom is sacred, but it only goes so far until it violates the freedom of somebody else. It's inherently incompatible with Makishima's desire for the freedom to engage in intellectual/philosophical/recreational homicide.
Maybe liberal democracy (or almost any other way of organizing society) wouldn't be as appalling to Makishima's world view as the Sybill system, but it doesn't exactly seem like it still wouldn't be enough for him to want to tear it down.
|2013-01-18, 21:17
|Link #75
SIBYL salesman
Join Date: Feb 2011
Unless the director is a complete liar, just putting it out there for people saying Sibyl is 100% "f-ed up":
"Today, the world enjoys a stable properity with the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people."
Of course, one could argue what her definition of happiness is...(And yes, this is despite the shorter life span)
Anyway, I thought the mention of a 2nd division was interesting.
Can we expect spin-off episodes, series or games involving them (or at least having them make a small appearance in this show)?
|2013-01-18, 21:45
|Link #76
Senior Member
I'm sure many high-ranking officials in the old USSR had similar sentiments about communism and what it had done for the people of the USSR. That doesn't mean that they were right.
Finally, in a narrative, show trumps tell. If the people of Psycho-Pass are so happy and content, then why aren't we seeing it? What we have seen is a lot of downsides, and a lot of people "falling through the cracks". A lot of people are victimized by the Sibyl system, in one way or another. A lot of these people probably would have lived decent and happier lives in the real world.
And even your normal, everyday people didn't seem that happy to me. Take Akane's two friends, for example. They just seemed to be as happy as most middle class people would be. They certainly didn't strike me as downright thrilled with their lives.
|2013-01-18, 22:07
|Link #77
Join Date: Jan 2009
That kind of conditioning is more total domination than anything (thus Dominator is an apt name for the gun). So intelligent or not, imagine what kind of brain treatments and stuff they have gone through, perhaps therin lies the reason
|2013-01-18, 22:36
|Link #79
SIBYL salesman
Join Date: Feb 2011
This isn't some slice-of-life comedy. There is a police procedural aspect (like Law & Order or CSI), where they are purposely diving into the worst aspect of society because that's what these shows are all about.
Asking why they're not showing any "happy" aspect is like asking why any crime shows don't show any happy things. It just happens that the new breed of crime is related to Sibyl.
I also don't buy the "live happier lives" argument. If you mean they're not in jail, then sure.
But even in real life, dumb people still end up with dumb jobs, and they still get mad because they've got a crap job. Not sure how you expect them to be any happier, if they can't get any smarter.
|2013-01-18, 23:10
|Link #80
Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
[QUOTE=Cosmic Eagle;4518377]It is simply that Sybil has conditioned society to the point they would literally lay down and die if it were the easiest for them. (See Rikako's father and the stuff in that case like the generally declining life spans)
That kind of conditioning is more total domination than anything (thus Dominator is an apt name for the gun). So intelligent or not, imagine what kind of brain treatments and stuff they have gone through, perhaps therin lies the reason[/QUOTE
I was trying to rationalize their behavior, because on first impression their reactions to the things that have happened to them made zero sense to me. I tried to imagine how I and other people I knew well would react if the same crap happened to us, and it was always totally different.
For example, if I were Masaoka, and the system has deprived me of my property, freedom, family relations, and even dignity, there is no way I could ever muster the energy, morale, self-motivation, efficiency, dedication and tenacity that the real Masaoka displays on the job. I wouldn't joke or smile because I'd be perpetually pissed. What was especially galling to me was that Masaoka was protecting and implementing the very system that reduced him to his current, pitiable state. If that were me I would be hating on anything Sybil-related, and if i ever showed up for work it would be for the sole purpose of sabotage and revenge.
Moreover, we know from Rin's example that armed rebellion and insurrection against the establishment is an available option. Why aren't any of the enforcers choosing this option, given that Sybil has treated each of them worse than Rin? Why isn't there more of a backlash against Sybil?
The funny thing is I never once found Masaoka unrealistic, and still easily connect to and identify with him as a character. The same is true with most of the other regulars. So go figure.
|Thread Tools


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- Habitats explorer
- Woodland
- Wood-Pasture and Parkland
Wood-pasture and parkland can be the grand, sweeping estates of historic country houses, the more humble settings of local urban grasslands or even a mix of cultivated gardens surrounded by lush meadow, open heathland and woodland. As well as being of historic and cultural importance, parks can also provide habitats for all kinds of wildlife such as foxes, deer, butterflies, mosses and lichens.
Wood-pasture and parkland includes areas derived from medieval forests, wooded commons, parklands created from the 19th century onwards, unmanaged wood-pastures, and relic parkland that has been converted to farming or forestry, but where veteran trees still survive. It is the product of hundreds of years of humans managing the land, and typically consists of widely spaced, large trees (often pollards, where the removal of lower branches helps grazing animals), interspersed with grazed grassland, heathland and/or woodland wildflowers.
Where is it found?
It's not really known how much wood-pasture and parkland exists in the UK or how much has been lost. Yet it is estimated that there are 10,000 to 20,000 hectares, much of which is in the south such as Richmond Park in London. Covering over 1,000 hectares, it's the largest of the Royal Parks and hosts 650 deer and more than 1,000 different beetles. As a National Nature Reserve, it's been recognised for its wildlife value.
Why is it important?
Created by people for people, parks are often places for picnics, ball games, reading a book or going for a jog. So a well-managed local park can provide both a wildlife haven and a much-needed part of a community – whether in town or country.
As pollarded trees can reach great age, wood-pasture and parkland is an extremely important habitat for mosses, lichens, fungi and invertebrates including our largest beetle, the stag beetle, which needs rotten timber in tree stumps in which to breed.
The mixture of ancient trees and other habitats mean that wood-pasture and parkland host a wide range of fungi. Beefsteak fungus is a large bracket fungus found on oak that, when cut, exudes a blood-red juice. It plays a vital role in parkland as it destroys the dead heartwood of decaying trees, making them more stable.
Wood-pasture and parkland is also prime habitat for bats, with species such as the noctule roosting in the cavities of aging trees. Such trees are very important for woodland birds such as great spotted and green woodpeckers, robin, wren and great tit.
Is it threatened?
Wood-pasture and parkland faces some significant issues such as isolation through surrounding development and pollution from traffic and fertilisers. Neglect and poor management affect the structure of parks, and the lack of younger trees being planted leads to a decrease in the amount of available dead wood. On other hand, over-managed areas, where veteran and dead trees are removed for safety and tidiness are also under stress.
The loss of veteran trees through disease, weather damage and competition with younger trees is a big problem. And the loss of overall habitat through changing land use is a continual threat.
How are The Wildlife Trusts helping?
Our native tree species provide important links in the food chain for many animals, as well as areas for shelter and nesting. The Wildlife Trusts recognise the importance of healthy habitats to support all kinds of species throughout the food chain, so offer advice to those managing our parklands on many subjects from putting up nest boxes for birds to growing glorious wildflower meadows alongside manicured lawns.
What can I do to help?
- Take part in conservation measures on your land – ask your local Wildlife Trust for advice on the management of woodland, wood pasture and parkland.
- Plant native trees and shrubs in your own garden and create a little space for nature – visit our Wild About Gardens website to find out more.
- Support the work of The Wildlife Trusts protecting and restoring woodlands and their wildlife across the UK – become a member of your local Wildlife Trust.
- Volunteer with your local Wildlife Trust and help your local woodland wildlife; depending on where you live you could be involved in everything from scrub-cutting to raising awareness about these special areas.


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Odds Improve for the GOP -- And for Tea Party
Next year's Congress will be a very different breed of animal.
There's no longer denying two overwhelming trends that -- barring a last-minute voter backlash -- are likely to produce a markedly changed Congress next year, one that is much more Republican and much more conservative. The GOP is poised for major gains, with even odds that the party will take the House and come close to parity in the Senate. Perhaps even more significant, the new crop of Republicans in Congress will be far more conservative than their GOP fellows in the House today.
Democrats are pinning their hopes for a comeback on economic gains -- a recovery that would make people a little less pessimistic about the future. That isn't happening. Depressing housing numbers, slower growth and a lack of progress in job creation are undermining confidence and consumer spending, which is further retarding growth.
As a result, even among Democrats are becoming more pessimistic about their chances of holding on to the House, despite the big financial advantage they hold. Politico summed up that pessimism today, and respected political pundits are increasingly seeing a GOP takeover. Charlie Cook, the preeminent analyst of individual House races, goes so far as to say the odds now favor that outcome, and others will likely follow suit.
Although the Senate is still unlikely to change hands because Republicans would need to win almost every competitive race, the odds are rising. Nate Silver, whose painstaking analyses of polls and data are widely respected, sees a GOP gain of six to seven seats, and rates the chances of gaining 10 -- the number needed to seize control -- at about 20%, up from essentially zero not long ago.
What's more, Republicans who are elected in November will be far more conservative than those in office today. Tea Party-backed candidates are doing far better than anyone expected, knocking off more moderate, establishment-backed candidates in several primaries. The latest example is the likely defeat of Sen. Lisa Murkowski in Alaska to Joe Miller, who had the support of Sarah Palin and Tea Party activists. If Miller wins the nomination, he'll join several other GOP Tea Party candidates for the Senate: Ken Buck in Colorado, Rand Paul in Kentucky, Sharron Angle in Nevada and Marco Rubio in Florida. Many House members, both incumbents and candidates, are also in the Tea Party camp. Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) has formed a Tea Party caucus with more than a dozen members, including Reps. Mike Pence (R-IN), Steve King (R-IA), Pete Hoekstra (R-MI) and John Carter (R-TX).
Even incumbent GOP candidates not connected to the Tea Party have been moving noticeably to the right to fend off challengers. That's what helped Sen. John McCain win his primary in Arizona. Some Republicans may move back toward the center for the general election, as Rubio is already doing, but many won't want to risk undermining GOP enthusiasm.
The rightward move is working well for the Republican Party in the elections. It is exciting the base and boosting turnout. In this week's Florida primaries, for example, GOP turnout was one third higher than Democratic turnout. It's less clear that tilting right is best strategy for the GOP in the long run. The vast majority of Americans sit more in the middle, whether center-right or center-left, and unless Republicans can appeal to them (including the growing proportion of minorities), their chances of winning Congress and the presidency in 2012 are likely to diminish.
As for what the shift will mean when the new Congress convenes: If a more conservative Republican Party holds firm, the result will be complete deadlock, with no chance of compromise with Obama and Democrats. That will be fine with the part of the population that wants to tear up Congress in order to remake it, but it won't help solve the problems that are boosting antiestablishment candidates in the first place -- including reining in the deficit and fixing the economy. And it may stymie revisions in the new health care law. Both sides think some reworking is necessary, but if the GOP insists on an all-or-nothing repeal, the result will be the status quo.
The problem is that people today -- with plenty of reason -- are voting against the status quo in Washington and more specifically, against the economy. That may or may not be a worthwhile first step, but the second step has to be to propose solutions -- solutions only that not only will work but also that can be passed by a divided government. Nobody is thinking enough about that now. Eventually, they'll have to.


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Enterprise Black Desk Chair
In Stock and Ready to Ship
Measurements26" W x 25" D x 37" H*
*Extends to 41"
67 cm W x 64 cm D x 94 cm H*
*Extends to 105 cm
Weight42 lbs
19.1 kg
Available Colors
Deep Black
- Deep Black
- Metal
- Padded armrest
- Modern classic style
- Upholstered in man-made leatherette
- 350 lb. weight capacity
- Chrome steel base
- Locking mechanism
- This item features casters
- Adjustable height
- Leatherette
- Steel
Made for today's sophisticated lifestyles, the Enterprise chairs feature a versatile design that helps you tailor them to your workplace. You can adjust their height and roll them into the perfect position for your needs. With armrests and cushions for comfort, these chairs will ease stress away. These sleek, steel-framed pieces are available in a variety of colors to match your modern office decor.
Important Notes
This product is also available in other colors. Please see below for more options.
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West Palm Beach, FL 33409(561) 478-7807
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text:
Move over, Brad Pitt. There's a new celebrity cologne spokesman in town!
On Saturday's episode of Rove LA (midnight/11c on TV Guide Network), Nicole Richie joined Scrubs alum Zach Braff and SpongeBob SquarePants' Tom Kenny to promote her latest perfume. So Braff only felt it right to unveil his own take on Pitt's much-lampooned Chanel ads. "Why would you want to smell like the most handsome man in the world when you can smell like an average Joe from New Jersey?" the Garden State native asks.
We're already sold! Are you? Watch the full ad below:
Rove LA airs Saturdays at midnight/11c on TV Guide Network.


text:
Measure of Pharmacokinetic Parameters and Adherence With MEMS in Naive HIV Infected Patients Treated With Reyataz Once Daily Combined With Norvir and Truvada (ANRS134COPHAR3)
|The safety and scientific validity of this study is the responsibility of the study sponsor and investigators. Listing a study does not mean it has been evaluated by the U.S. Federal Government. Read our disclaimer for details.
|ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00528060
Recruitment Status : Completed
First Posted : September 11, 2007
Last Update Posted : December 22, 2011
- Study Details
- Tabular View
- No Results Posted
- Disclaimer
- How to Read a Study Record
|Condition or disease
|HIV Infections
|Drug: Atazanavir Drug: Ritonavir Drug: Tenofovir/emtricitabine
|Phase 2
|Study Type :
|Interventional (Clinical Trial)
|Actual Enrollment :
|35 participants
|Intervention Model:
|Single Group Assignment
|None (Open Label)
|Primary Purpose:
|Official Title:
|Pilot Study to Measure Exposure to Atazanavir, as a Component of Pharmacokinetic Parameters and Adherence Measured With MEMS in Naive HIV-infected Patients Treated Once Daily With Atazanavir Combined to Ritonavir and to Tenofovir/Emtricitabine. ANRS 134 Cophar 3
|Study Start Date :
|January 2008
|Actual Primary Completion Date :
|November 2008
|Actual Study Completion Date :
|November 2008
- Drug: Atazanavir
- Drug: Ritonavir
1 pill/day
- Drug: Tenofovir/emtricitabine
1 pill/day
- pharmacokinetic parameters of atazanavir (ATV) when combined with ritonavir (RTV) and tenofovir/emtricitabine [ Time Frame: week 4 ]
- pharmacokinetics of emtricitabine and tenofovir; intraindividual variability in ARVs concentrations; adherence measured with MEMS records and validated ANRS observance autoquestionnaire; relationships between virological response or side event occurrence [ Time Frame: Week 24 ]
Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study. To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contacts provided below. For general information, Learn About Clinical Studies.
|Ages Eligible for Study:
|18 Years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
|Sexes Eligible for Study:
|Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
Inclusion Criteria:
- Naïve of treatment HIV -1 infected patients
- CD4 above 100/mm3
Exclusion Criteria:
- pregnancy
- renal failure
- hepatitic disease
- ongoing opportunistic disease
- Hb under 8g/dl; platelets under 50 000/mm3; neutrophils under 750/mm3; Prothrombin index under 80%, Ca or Ph > 2.5 N
- drugs interacting with investigational drugs
To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT00528060
|Hopital du Kremlin Bicêtre Service de médecine interne
|Kremlin Bicëtre, France, 94275
|Hopital Bichat CIC
|Paris cedex 18, France, 75877
|Principal Investigator:
|Cécile Goujard, MD
|AP-HP Kremlin-Bicetre
|Study Director:
|France Mentre, PHD
|AP-HP Bichat, Inserm U738
|Responsible Party:
|French National Agency for Research on AIDS and Viral Hepatitis
|ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
|Other Study ID Numbers:
|First Posted:
|September 11, 2007 Key Record Dates
|Last Update Posted:
|December 22, 2011
|Last Verified:
|December 2011
HIV infections
Treatment Naive
HIV Infections
Lentivirus Infections
Retroviridae Infections
RNA Virus Infections
Virus Diseases
Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Viral
Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes
Immune System Diseases
Atazanavir Sulfate
HIV Protease Inhibitors
Protease Inhibitors
Enzyme Inhibitors
Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action
Anti-HIV Agents
Anti-Retroviral Agents
Antiviral Agents
Anti-Infective Agents
Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A Inhibitors
Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme Inhibitors
Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors
Nucleic Acid Synthesis Inhibitors


text:
The trailer for Mark Wahlberg's new action thriller is here, and, well, it ain't "The Fighter."
"Contraband," a remake of the Icelandic thriller "Reykjavík-Rotterdam," stars Wahlberg as an ex-smuggler gone straight who gets pulled back into the game when his brother-in-law mucks up a drop and finds himself in the mob's cross-hairs.
It all looks fairly generic, but the cast is great--Kate Beckinsale (with blonde hair she looks exactly like Monica Potter, no?), Ben Foster, Giovanni Ribisi, Lukas Haas, Caleb Landry Jones, Diego Luna and J.K. Simmons--and it's directed by Baltasar Kormákur, who starred in the original film.
U.S. & World
News from around the country and around the globe
"Contraband" opens Jan. 13, 2012.


text:
The Peter Mondavi Family officially embarked on the next phase of the restoration project of the Redwood Cellar at Charles Krug Winery last Tuesday when Peter Mondavi Sr., sons Marc and Peter Jr. and their families, joined Napa Valley architect Howard Backen and Tom Andrews of Andrews and Thornley General Contractors to break ground for Charles Krug's new hospitality center.
Peter Mondavi Sr. jauntily pointed his golden shovel into the dirt for the ceremonial groundbreaking photo, and then encouraged the assembled construction team to get to work. "I don't want to wait forever!" quipped the lively 97-year-old vintner. Backen and his firm Backen, Gillam & Kroeger Architects designed Charles Krug's new tasting room and visitor center to be located inside the heritage building at the winery in St. Helena.
Guests and family donned hard hats and shrugged off rumors of ghost sightings as they accompanied Peter Mondavi Jr. on a tour of the cavernous multi-story stone structure. Adorned with 68 windows outlined in pink rhyolite and topped with many gables and an impressive belvedere, the 1872 Cellar remains as vintner Charles Krug's testament to Napa Valley wine. The new hospitality center will occupy 11,000 square feet on the ground floor and the mezzanine of the Napa Valley's oldest commercial winery, with Backen adding inspired modern touches while preserving the Redwood Cellar's patina and rustic allure. The work is expected to take 14 months, with opening day slated for October 2013.
Howard Backen's blueprints for the project reveal an intricate lacework of exposed historic rafters and, beyond the mezzanine, views of the Peter Mondavi Family's reserve Bordeaux barrel aging room through floor-to-ceiling glass walls. A towering 9000-gallon redwood aging tank and period bird-cage style elevator will be focal points, and recycled redwood from vintage wine tanks originally installed in the 1940's, and other historical elements, will be preserved and incorporated into the design. In addition to several wine lounges, there will be a state of the art open professional kitchen, a casual eatery offering regionally sourced picnic fare inspired by the family's Italian heritage, and a picnic area with views of surrounding vineyards and Mount St. Helena.
At the groundbreaking, visitors mingled and posed for pictures with three generations of the Peter Mondavi Family and star-architect Backen, whose portfolio of work includes Harlan Estate and Screaming Eagle wineries, as well as projects for Robert Redford, DreamWorks CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg, and the late Steve Jobs of Apple.
The hospitality center project is budgeted at $6 million. The Peter Mondavi Family recently completed a $9.6 million earthquake retrofit and exterior restoration of the Redwood Cellar and Charles Krug's other heritage structure, the 1881 Carriage House. The Redwood Cellar and Carriage House represent the birthplace of the Napa Valley wine industry; both are California Historic Landmarks and on the National Register of Historic Places.
Charles Krug Winery's storied history traces the transformation of the Napa Valley from "Wild West" to Wine Country destination. With a legacy of nearly 70 years at Charles Krug, the Peter Mondavi Family's continuing restoration project is part of a complete recasting of this esteemed Napa Valley winery. Having extensively replanted its vineyards with a focus on noble red Bordeaux varietals, the family is now practicing sustainable viticulture on its 850 prime Napa Valley acres. Those efforts to steward the land and preserve the winery's historical legacy are earning new respect for a family long identified with California wine.
The winery's hospitality staff will continue to welcome visitors at the existing tasting room during construction. To learn more about Charles Krug Winery and the vision of Cesare and Rosa Mondavi, visit www.charleskrug.com.


text:
Multi-parameter type class
From HaskellWiki
Revision as of 17:18, 21 December 2012 by Benmachine (talk | contribs)
Basically, type classes which can take multiple arguments, such as:
class Monad m => VarMonad m v where
new :: a -> m (v a)
get :: v a -> m a
put :: v a -> a -> m ()
instance VarMonad IO IORef where ...
instance VarMonad (ST s) (STRef s) where ...
The correct LANGUAGE pragma for them is
{-# LANGUAGE MultiParamTypeClasses #-}
If you think of a single-parameter type class as a set of types, then a multi-parameter type class is a relation between types.
Naive use of MPTCs may result in ambiguity, so functional dependencies were developed as a method of resolving that ambiguity, declaring that some subset of the parameters is sufficient to determine the values of the others.
Some uses of MPTCs with functional dependencies can be replaced with type families.


text:
your up in the draft
would u trade sid for daniel sedin and iggy?
I replied to your PM. be nice to have you in!
im in total shock. Still cant believe I lost.
looks like i wont be going after all...
looks like i may be going to the finals!
was my account deleted at the forums(NKL)? I cant sign in...
I think you're right, and both of them involved Zetts. Weird.
you too! I think i made the only 2 trades in the league this year.
Nice doing business with you, again. We need to get some more people to trade in this league.


text:
Counterterrorism officials have issued security bulletins to police around the nation about terrorists' desire to attack stadiums, entertainment complexes and hotels — the latest in a flurry of such warnings as investigators chase a possible bomb plot in Denver and New York.
But Police Commissioner Ray Kelly later said there were no specific threats following the arrest of three men in connection with a terrorism probe. As a precaution, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority has boosted security on the city's subway system and commuter trains at "key locations."
Najibullah Zazi, a 24-year-old Afghanistan-born immigrant who is a shuttle van driver at the Denver airport, and his 53-year-old father, Mohammed Wali Zazi, were arrested Saturday in Denver. Queens imam Ahmad Afzali was picked up in a home in Flushing.
U.S. & World
The day's top national and international news.
There were additional claims made by Najibullah Zazi while being questioned by the FBI last week, News 4 New York has learned.
But investigators think he was lying during part of that interview.
Officials said Zazi at one point claimed he was acting alone and had thought about targeting a large box-store retailer located outside of New York. But investigators say they strongly believe those statements were lies.
Zazi's lawyer did not immediately return calls for comment. Zazi allegedly admitted he traveled to an al qaida training camp which officials say is credible. As News 4 New York first reported, they say they also found a handwritten bomb making manual on Zazi's computer.
In two bulletins sent to police departments Monday, officials said they know of no specific plots against such sites, but urged law enforcement and private companies to be vigilant. These two bulletins followed on the heels of a similar warning about the vulnerabilities of mass transit systems.
The bulletin on stadiums notes that an al-Qaida training manual specifically lists "blasting and destroying the places of amusement, immorality, and sin... and attacking vital economic centers" as desired targets of the global terror network.
A joint statement from DHS and FBI said while the agencies "have no information regarding the timing, location or target of any planned attack, we believe it is prudent to raise the security awareness of our local law enforcement partners regarding the targets and tactics of previous terrorist activity."
Officials noted the law enforcement bulletins are not intended for the public. Bulletins — particularly about hotels as possible targets — are common, and often don't make news. However, a half-dozen alerts issued in the last week have received increased attention amid the ongoing investigations in New York and Denver. The first of these, about hydrogen peroxide-based explosives, specifically referred to the investigation in New York.
Separately, law enforcement officials said a Colorado man may have been planning with others to detonate backpack bombs on New York City trains in a terrorism plot similar to past attacks on London's and Madrid's mass-transit systems.
Police Commissioner Kelly said that New York City law enforcement was not on a "heightened" state of alert, and that there were no direct threats to any venues.
"We in this city do more than any other city to protect the residents," Kelly said at a press conference Tuesday. "There is no specific information that would indicate a threat to any of those areas... We have not increased the number of resources."
Earlier in the day the Port Authority was partially evacuated because of a suspicious package that turned out to be a computer speaker, Kelly said.
The commissioner said much of the information that has been published regarding the terror probe has been "inaccurate."
The investigation and the earlier warning about mass transit system have already prompted officials around the nation to step up patrols.
Afzali, 37, who was working as an NYPD informant, had allegedly began tipping off suspects that they were in the government's sights, federal sources have said. He appeared in Brooklyn federal court this afternoon and will be held without bail until another hearing set for Thursday.
Ron Kuby, Afzali's attorney, said his client gave authorities a DNA sample and let them search his home after the FBI said it was "frantic for any information about Zazi."
"Now they find themselves without a case, and they're lashing out at people they shouldn't be lashing out at," Kuby said.
Zazi piqued interest last week when he drove cross-country from Denver to Queens, prompting a raid on several residences in Flushing. A search of Zazi's car turned up notes on bomb-making that appear to match Zazi's handwriting and his fingerprints on materials like batteries and a scale that could be used to make explosives.
Two law enforcement officials speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss details of the investigation told The Associated Press late Monday that more than a half-dozen individuals were being scrutinized in the alleged plot.
In a statement, the FBI says "several individuals in the United States, Pakistan and elsewhere" are being investigated.
Investigators say Zazi played a direct role in the terror plot that unraveled after an overnight 1,600-mile trip from Denver to New York City around the anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks. He made his first court appearance Monday and remains behind bars.
Zazi and two other defendants have not been charged with any terrorism counts, only the relatively minor offense of lying to the government. But the case could grow to include more serious charges as the investigation proceeds.
Backpacks and cell phones were seized last week from apartments in Queens, where Zazi visited.
Zazi has publicly denied being involved in a terror plot, and defense lawyer Arthur Folsom dismissed as "rumor" any notion that his client played a crucial role.
Publicly, law enforcement officials have repeatedly said they are unaware of a specific time or target for any attacks. Privately, officials speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the case said investigators have worried most about the possible use of backpack bombs on New York City trains, similar to attacks carried out in London in 2005 and Madrid in 2004.
Backpack bombs ripped apart four commuter trains and killed 191 people in Madrid on March 11, 2004. On July 7 the next year, bombing attacks in London killed 52 subway and bus commuters.
In a bulletin issued Friday, the FBI and Homeland Security Department warned that improvised explosive devices are the most common tactic to blow up railroads and other mass transit systems overseas. And they noted incidents in which bombs were made with peroxide.
In that bulletin, obtained by The AP, officials recommended that transit systems conduct random sweeps at terminals and stations and that law enforcement make random patrols and board some trains and buses.
Investigators feared Zazi may have been involved in a potential plot involving hydrogen peroxide-based explosives, according to two law enforcement officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the investigation.
The FBI said they found notes on bomb-making instructions that appear to match Zazi's handwriting, and discovered his fingerprints on materials — batteries and a scale — that could be used to make explosives. He also made a trip to Pakistan last year in which he received al-Qaida explosives and weapons training, the government said.
Zazi, a legal resident of the U.S. who immigrated in 1999, told the FBI that he must have unintentionally downloaded the notes on bomb-making as part of a religious book and that he deleted the book "after realizing that its contents discussed jihad."
A strange sequence of events began to unfold nearly two weeks ago when Zazi — already under surveillance by federal agents — rented a car in Colorado and made the 1,600-mile trek across the heartland to New York. He told reporters that he went to New York to resolve an issue with a coffee cart he owned.
He went to his friend's place in Queens. Once there, his car was towed and authorities confiscated his computer. He was told by an NYPD informant that detectives were asking about him, and decided to cut the trip short and fly back to Colorado, authorities said.
Their surveillance blown and their main suspect flying back to Colorado, officials sped up the investigation and launched raids on several Queens apartments in a search for explosives, but found none.


text: Google Ads basicsReady, set, go! We'll cover the basics to help you understand how Google Ads works and get started advertising. Learn how to set up your Google Ads account, navigate key features and launch your first campaign.Explore Google AdsAbout Google AdsAbout the Google Ads Help CentreManage your spend in Google AdsWhere your ads can appearOther Google products for your businessSet up a Google Ads accountCreate a website for your adsAbout campaign settingsSubmit billing informationKnow your billing optionsFind your first adsFix a display issue with your browserAbout available languages in the Google Ads interfaceGet familiar with your accountThe Tools tabYour Google Ads Billing & payments pagesAbout RecommendationsThe Display Network tabWhy is my recommendation no longer available?


text:
Public Land Policy Alert: Utah
By Dusty Horwitt and Sean Gray, EWG analysts
An analysis of government data shows that the Bush administration, through the sale of oil and gas leases, is quietly working to prevent wilderness designation for thousands of acres of irreplaceable land in Utah that had been considered potential wilderness less than one year ago.
An analysis and map of lease sales by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) available at www.ewg.org show that a sale last November combined with sales this Wednesday and again in June could open more than 46,000 acres of the wilderness quality land to oil and gas exploration, some at prices of $3.50 an acre. The three sales would be completed just over a year after a controversial settlement between Interior Secretary Gale Norton and then-Utah Governor Mike Leavitt stripped the land of potential wilderness protection.
|November 2003 Sale
|February 2004 Sale
|June 2004 Sale
|Total of all Three Sales
|Acres of wilderness quality land on which oil/gas leases offered or scheduled for sale
|Number of parcels of this land on which oil/gas leases offered or scheduled for sale
|Parcels on which bids were placed
|28 plus
|Parcels that contain habitat for the federally-threatened Bald Eagle
|Parcels that contain sensitive bird habitat including habitat for Bald Eagles
|Parcels with sensitive floodplain areas
|Parcels with sensitive floodplain areas on which oil and gas exploration could contaminate the Colorado River system
Once the land is developed, it will become difficult for Congress to designate it as Wilderness, the strongest protection for public lands under federal law.
According to EWG's analysis, one 1,022-acre tract was leased in November to Baseline Minerals of Denver for just $83,449 — less than $82 an acre. One hundred percent of the tract is on land identified as wilderness quality. The BLM notes that the lessee must avoid interference with critical deer and elk winter habitat and may be required to modify operations to protect bald eagles, a federally-listed threatened species, as well as golden eagles, peregrine falcons and antelope. Overall in the November sale, oil and gas interests snapped up 95 percent of the wilderness lands at an average price of $27 per acre.
In the February sale, a 960-acre tract was leased to Retamco Operating Inc. of Billings, Montana for $28,424 — less than $30 an acre. Close to 95 percent of the tract is on land identified as wilderness quality. The BLM notes that the lessee must avoid operating within the 100-year floodplains of the White River and may be required to modify operations to protect golden eagles, Mexican spotted owls, deer, elk and other wildlife. Overall in the February sale, oil and gas interests snapped up 100 percent of the wilderness lands at an average price of less than $20 per acre.
Using BLM data, a computerized mapping program, and maps prepared by Earthjustice, Environmental Working Group analysts identified the precise location of the leasing activity, its area, as well as wildlife habitat and species that could be affected by oil and gas development.
The analysis found that 20 of the plots either sold or scheduled to be sold contain sensitive bird habitat including 6 plots that contain habitat for the federally-threatened Bald Eagle. Twenty-seven plots contain sensitive floodplain areas including five plots sold in November on which oil and gas exploration could contaminate the Colorado River system.
In 1999, a team of what the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) called its "most experienced wilderness professionals" issued a report identifying BLM land in Utah as having wilderness characteristics. Between 1999-2003, BLM deferred approving most proposed development that would have damaged these characteristics pending further actions that could have designated the land as officially protected Wilderness Study Areas.
The 1999 inventory and report was ordered in 1996 by then-Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt as an effort to help resolve a controversy over the proper amount of wilderness in Utah. Conservationists have charged that a previous agency inventory of BLM land had overlooked wilderness areas — a charge that was substantiated by the results of the 1999 inventory.
In 1996, the state of Utah alleged in a lawsuit that the federal government was exceeding its authority by conducting the inventory. But in 1998, the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Utah essentially had no legal standing to challenge BLM's analysis.
The case was remanded to federal district court in Utah where it lay dormant for approximately five years. Then, in 2003, it sprang to life in the form of a settlement between Interior Secretary Norton and then-Utah Governor and current EPA Administrator Leavitt. In the deal, the Bush administration acquiesced to the state's demands and stripped the potential wilderness protection from the inventoried lands, including red-rock canyon land and rock formations in southeast Utah. As part of the settlement, the administration also stated that the BLM lacked the authority to protect additional land in other states as wilderness unless Congress formally designated the land as wilderness.
According to the 1964 Wilderness Act, land must be "untrammeled by man" to receive a designation as wilderness. Once it is designated as wilderness, "no commercial enterprise and no permanent road" is allowed inside the area.
Utah's wilderness quality lands inventoried in the 1999 report are distinct from 3.3 million acres of wilderness study areas (WSAs). BLM identified the vast majority of the WSAs in an inventory completed in 1980. These areas continue to be protected as potential wilderness.
No More Wilderness? Campaign for America's Wilderness. Accessed online February 16, 2004 at http://www.leaveitwild.org/nowilderness/index.html.
Stephen Bloch, staff attorney, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance. Personal Communication. February 17, 2004.
The Wilderness Act. 16 U.S.C.S. §§ 1131, 1133 (2003).
Utah Wilderness. Bureau of Land Management. Accessed online February 16, 2004 at http://www.ut.blm.gov/utahwilderness/imp/imp.htm.
Urgent Cases. Utah Wilderness Inventory. Earthjustice. Accessed online February 17, 2004 at http://www.earthjustice.org/urgent/display.html?ID=120.


text:
Sure, everyone knows about the deep-sea fishing opportunities off Cairns – it's one of the world's most famed deep-sea fishing locations and has even attracted some of Hollywood's biggest names to try their luck for a marlin. And everyone knows about the Great Barrier Reef. But what's not so talked about are the world-class fishing options close to Cairns in the Net Free Zone.
And you don't even need a boat. This region includes many areas easily accessible by land. The headlands around Cairns provide many areas where fish naturally congregate, while the area's stunning white-sand beaches are full of stunning fishing spots where you can catch everything from whiting to barramundi.
If you do have a boat, Cairns offers a huge tidal estuary that stretches for 85-kilometres and is a boatie's dream, with everything from golden snapper to grunter lurking below. Or there's the Barron River, which is one of Queensland's most significant catchment areas and is full of huge barramundi.
The best time to fish is the warmest time, so be sure to cover up from the sun, watch out for saltwater crocodiles and jelly-fish and pack plenty of water along with Queensland's famed fishing refresher, XXXX Gold.
The three main headland locations within the Net Free Zone are at the northern end of Yorkeys Knob Beach, and the start and end of Trinity Beach.
Land-based access is easy with all three headlands having access to ample parking and toilet facilities and they're only a short walking distance from popular Yorkeys Knob and Trinity tourist beaches, and Yorkeys Knob Marina.
Access for boaties is best from either the Half Moon Creek Boat Ramp or Yorkeys Knob Boat Ramp and the distance between all headlands is less than a five-kilometre run. They're exposed to the wind and swell so wind strength below 15 knots is recommended for smaller boats. These areas always fish best over the larger tides, especially on the lead up to the full and new moon. All three headlands are fed by nearby creeks and on these bigger tides bait is often flushed out of creek mouths. This bait tends to take up residence around the headlands, which in turn attracts fish such as barramundi and mangrove jacks.
This fishing trail is a terrific option as it allows you to fish multiple locations using the same techniques and rigs over a single tide.
|Route Details
|Mode of Travel
|Boat, Walk
|Route Type
|One Way
Cairns is blessed with some of Australia's best beaches and they offer plenty of incredible fishing spots, especially for land-based anglers. They are all easily accessible. Like the headland route, it's best to fish over the rising tide and bigger tides and calmer weather with little swell is best.
Machans Beach has many fishable attributes especially with its close proximity to the Barron River mouth. Fishing around the mouth with live and fresh baits can produce some monster barramundi and salmon. The creek mouth is not the only spot to wet a line and anywhere along the open beach may produce fish.
The next stop is Holloways Beach which is fed by Thomatis Creek and is also a hot spot for salmon and barramundi. When fishing both these beaches, standard estuary gear will do the job. In terms of technique, these beaches are very much highways for both bait and fish and when they come through, it can get red-hot very quickly.
Lures, bait fishing and retrievers will work well in the open beach environment with depth of water being the biggest factor to consider. Trinity Beach is not fed by any creek systems but still has many fishable attributes.
|Route Details
|Mode of Travel
|Boat, Car, Walk
|Route Type
|One Way
Fish a huge tidal-estuary that stretches 85-kilometres with many creeks, drains, wrecks and snags home to barramundi, golden snapper, grunter, salmon and mud crabs. The Cairns Inlet is accessed by two boat-ramps, Smiths Creek Ramp, next to the sugar terminal, and the ramp at Tingira Street-Smith Creek a few kilometres down the road which is preferred for larger boats.
When the weather makes conditions closer to the mouth undesirable, fish the mid-to-upper reaches of the Inlet. Launch your boat around the top of the tide and head up the Inlet and move around the island where you have the option of fishing Chinamen, Four Mile, Garrison or Skeleton Creek.
If lure fishing, the tide will slowly push you down the creek giving you ample opportunity to flick snags for barramundi and mangrove jacks. Once the tide is low, fish the deeper holes at the creek mouth and junctions.
In good weather, head for Hospital Flats as they hold lots of bait after heavy rain, especially prawns which attract fish. They're best fished on the last two-hours of the incoming tide and the bigger the tide, the better. This area can be good at night for salmon, grunter and barramundi on.
|Route Details
|Mode of Travel
|Route Type
|One Way
Just north of Cairns lies the almighty Barron River and its side branch, Thomatis Creek. This estuary is best accessed at Stratford, next to the Captain Cook Highway Bridge. This ramp has ample parking, is well-lit and has a pontoon for ease of access.
When starting your Barron River Fishing Trail, launch your boat and head towards the mouth of the creek. Along the way you will see many mangrove-lined riverbanks, which hold good numbers of mangrove jack. However, it is the deeper holes mostly found on the bends of the rivers – especially the last bend of the river before nearing the mouth and the mouths of smaller feeder creeks – which are worth fishing.
Fishing this deeper water on the slack of the tide, preferably the bottom of the tide, with live prawns and mullet, or vibe-style lures, will see some excellent fishing. Threadfin salmon and large barramundi are found in the Barron River, especially when fishing at night. The mouth of the Barron River is also excellent and this is best fished on the outgoing tide. The best bait to use here are herring, mullet and prawn and these can all be caught using a cast net.
|Route Details
|Mode of Travel
Note: Information on listed products and services are provided by the operator and were correct at the time of publishing. Rates are indicative based on the minimum and maximum available prices of products and services. Please visit the operator's website for further information. All prices quoted are in Australian dollars (AUD).


text:
Advanced Search
Digital Media | News
The Adobe Voice interface
Adobe today released a free new app for iPad designed to give "voice" to educators and students who want to create engaging presentations, combining voice, video, motion graphics, still images and music.
Adobe Voice, available now for iOS, is a storytelling app that lets users create video presentations without the need to shoot or edit footage. The software is built on technologies found in Adobe's high-end professional creative tools but is designed to let users create and share their presentations with minimal fuss. It includes:
Adobe reported it's planning to release additional mobile apps in the coming months.
Adobe Voice is available now as a free download through the iTunes Store. It requires an iPad 2 or newer and iOS 7.
About the Author
David Nagel is editorial director of 1105 Media's Education Technology Group and editor-in-chief of THE Journal and STEAM Universe. A 25-year publishing veteran, Nagel has led or contributed to dozens of technology, art and business publications.
He can be reached at [email protected]. You can also connect with him on LinkedIn at or follow him on Twitter at @THEJournalDave (K-12) or @CampusTechDave (higher education).
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text:
Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc., which has been fighting affiliates over who owes what to whom since 2008, said its defunct brokerage will allow it to claim about $16.3 billion as a result of a settlement.
The agreement with the Lehman Brothers Inc. brokerage and a London-based unit provides the parent company with $2.3 billion in customer claims on the brokerage, and $14 billion in unsecured claims, the former investment bank said in a statement today.
"The settlement, consistent with the views of the global creditor base, will enable LBHI to accelerate distributions to creditors with allowed claims," said Daniel Ehrmann, Lehman's head of international operations, in the statement.
Lehman, which is still liquidating and trying to cut claims after exiting bankruptcy court protection last year, plans a third payment to creditors on April 4. It said in October its largest claim on an affiliate was $15.2 billion owed by its defunct brokerage.
Lehman has so far paid creditors about 9 cents on the dollar, or half of what it expects to pay by about 2016. It said in December that it raised $3.9 billion for creditors in the quarter ended Sept. 30 and another $1.6 billion in October and November, while its $6.5 billion sale of apartment owner Archstone was due to close by March 26.
Lehman had cash of $8.3 billion as of June 30, plus restricted cash of $13.6 billion, including money set aside for disputed claims and debts, the company said today in a regulatory filing. It was owed $45.2 billion by affiliates, including the $15.2 billion claimed from the Lehman Brothers Inc. brokerage and $14.3 billion owed by a Swiss affiliate, Lehman Brothers Finance.
Lehman failed because of too much debt and risky real estate investments, according to a bankruptcy examiner's report on the biggest bankruptcy in U.S. history.
The case is In re Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc., 08-13555, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of New York (Manhattan).


text:
CHICAGO — The question whether left-hander Tsuyoshi Wada was ready to join the Orioles following his rehab start for Triple-A Norfolk Thursday was answered quickly.
Wada, a former standout in the Japanese Pacific League who signed a two-year, $8.14 million deal this offseason, lasted just 2 2/3 innings Thursday in his start against the Gwinnett (Ga.) Braves, allowing six runs -- all earned -- on six hits with four walks and one strikeout.
Wada struggled through a 35-pitch first inning, allowing three runs on four hits in the opening frame. He left with the bases loaded in the third in an inning that began with a two-run homer by Gwinnett first baseman Ernesto Mejia.
Steve Johson walked in an inherited runner in relief of Wada.
Wada is making his first Triple-A rehab start. He opening the season on the disabled list and stayed at extended spring training to work on elevating his pitch count.
On Thursday, Wada threw 77 pitches and just 39 strikes


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played around with some tire options
Dyed HPI TE37 with rally tires (26mm)
Parma foams (28mm)
Standard touring car rubber slicks (24mm)
Interesting enough they all fit quite well
Really likin those red volks
Everything overpowered...
The dye i used was orange. In the picture the look too red. Here is a closeup but still too red in the picture.
Definitely red looking.
Everything overpowered...
Work wheels 3 offset on front, 6 offset on rear
waiting for Traxxas to make something new!
Received a fresh set of R2 knobbily tires for off-roading (not quite Tamiya Rally Blocks, but close) as well as some Enkei-style rims for my X Patterns to get mounted on. Again, nice stuff for super cheap via R2.
Beginning to get quite a collection of tires and wheels:
R2 two-part drifts, good for concrete
R2 D drifts, softer and good for asphalt
Rally, bald now and I really like them on LiPo
4 Tec, beautiful and sticky - speed tires
R2 "Performance" tires, for off-road
on the car are HPI X Pattern for general road grip and rain runs
Last edited by prototyp; 08-12-2011 at 01:09 AM.
The prototype project.
R2 "Performance" tires have some teeth in the dirt:
The prototype project.
Hmmm, those R2's look like a tire that the Hobby Town I work for has sold under the Patriot R/C name brand (HTU's "exclusive" line of R/C related products) as well as a GoodYear Wrangler looking sedan tire too
Ok I read the whole thread and I have seen it asked many times but I havent seen a answer. Looking at some pictures it looks like the 4tec tires and the stock mustang tires are about the same width. I see alot of people seem to be running the 4tec instead. Do the actully grip better. Drifting for a week was fun but now i want to actully turn the car lol
4tec are sticky, grip-oriented rubber. They need some heat in them, they lose that tackyness as they wear in, and aren't as progressive as softer treaded tires like X Patterns, but they do grip and are super stable at speed. I run both of these (X pat and 4tec) for high-speed grip driving.
I haven't run the stock mustang/fiesta slicks but checked them out at the LHS as I'm always looking for drift options... From what I can tell, they are a stiff, kinda-vinyl material that seems to be totally geared toward languid drifting. They look and feel like they're probably on the softer end of drift tire... probably very fun on NiMh, and I'd imagine sort of like a set of well-worn stock Rally tires on LiPo with enough power to spool them up.
4 Tec will definitely work if you want to turn the car. With more grip, your cornering speeds will go up dramatically and suspension tuning will become a very important factor to how the car handles (get things set just a little wrong and you'll be cartwheeling down the block).
If you're looking for a recommendation for one set of tires to play on, I'd say go for a set of HPI X Pattern belted on your choice of 3-4mm offset rims. Cheaper and work well in more conditions (in the wet, cold, even on dirt).
Last edited by prototyp; 08-20-2011 at 02:30 AM.
The prototype project.
Picked up a few more sets of rolling stock from R2. Drift tires, road tires, and some wheels...
T-drift copies.
These T-drift style tires are probably my favorite of the several drifts that I've tried on pavement (rock-hard two-part PVC, treaded-and-heavy hard plastic, and these). They're just pliable enough to handle asphalt and give some directional control, lighter-weight seems to be more responsive. They seem to be much more precise.
R2's TE37-style wheels looked a little bland at first, but dressed up nicely for drifting action.
Austar 6003.
The Austars are not the inexpensive replacement for HPI X Patterns I was hoping they might be, but they are a decent set of general-purpose road tires. Handling is on par with my now very-well-worn (nearly-slick) D compound X Patterns... will slide progressively and let me do nice LiPo-powered throttle-on oversteer. Pretty entertaining. They're a little wider than standard so body fitment is a potential concern, and I have a feeling they'll wear down pretty quickly. Likely going to order more HPI X's soon.
Enkei RPF1 wheels.
Very chrome. Test-fit on the Rally and my heavily-abused prototype test rig.
Last edited by prototyp; 12-30-2011 at 02:36 AM.
The prototype project.
I have been using stock 1/16 slash tires lately. Where I drive most of the time is on pavement that isn't all that smooth and has gravel on it here and there. The softer slash tires seem to take the beating nicely since they have a thicker and squishier tire wall. Although today I notice on wet pavement the wheels get to spinning when I hit the throttle hard and the tires balloon and rub the body really bad. I need to get myself some soft gripping street tires soon that wont balloon. Thanks for all the pic's and opinions here. This thread is awesome and full of good stuff!
do these tamiya tires fit on the stock wheels/rims ?
the tamiya rally tires
Jury's in on Austar #6003: relatively inexpensive, but not really worth it.
Here are the Austars after just a few weeks of occasional street running:
HPI X Pattern #4790 (D compound, non belted) after nearly a year in rotation as my go-to tire for grip driving. Run very mixed use, including abrasive dirt and for the last six months all of my fast aero work:
These worn HPI still have better grip even now than the Austars did fresh out of the package.
Quality is a big component of value, and my money's on HPI: next up is a set of top-shelf Pro-compound Belted #4495:
Last edited by prototyp; 01-23-2012 at 07:32 PM.
The prototype project.
Thank you for sharing your results. What is the difference in belted tires, less ballooning?
Less ballooning (didn't see much on the standard HPI) but also supposedly stiffer contact patch and more stable sidewall. We'll see about all that. Different compounds should have different grip (Pro = more) and wear characteristcs (also more).
The prototype project.
What do you recommend for speed on my Boss 302? Grip was a bit loosy goosy with stock..
What do you recommend for high speed 50mph on the boss?
Last edited by mobilitytoday; 01-23-2012 at 10:25 PM.
Any 26mm-ish width tire on 3mm-offset 1/10 "touring" wheelset with a 12mm hex hub will work.
I'm leaning HPI X Pattern D comp as best all-around road tire. Stepping up to Belted Pro is probably a good idea at 50mph.
My wheels are a mix of HPI (the bronze TE37), Traxxas (4tec, Rally), and R2-sourced wheels. HPI are high quality material which has some flex to it. R2 are quite nice, tho some styles seem to be a little too fragile spun up with the heavier drift tires. R2's paired with lightweight drifts (like HPI T's) and road tires has gone well.
The Enkei race wheels are R2. They're standing strong after a few rather spectacular high-speed tumbles. I'll be gluing my X Pros to a fresh set of these R2 Enkei rims.
Last edited by prototyp; 01-23-2012 at 10:53 PM. Reason: Added tire size info
The prototype project.
Where are the rims on R2hobbies? I'd love to buy them too.. Sick setup!
Thumbtacks pushed through from the inside maybe? Hot glue them down so they won't get pushed back out.
Or these.
Got the X Pattern Pros!!! Wow!!! This is a HUGE difference !!!! Love em!!!
Finally glued up a set of HPI X Pattern Pro Belted #4495.
These are some very nice pieces. Super-crisp handling, and clearly have a little more going on in how they're made than your average R/C tire.
The prototype project.
Just mounted a set of "6081" and ran them around on the street for a bit.
Verdict: Not bad
Pros: they are very lightweight, (super-thin) and kinda stretchy. Seem to handle on asphalt surprisingly well (comparable to HPI X's, ish)
Cons: they have no structure whatsoever and the foams they come with are hopeless. Balloon like crazy, too. The tread is very shallow over a very thin carcass so I have some doubts as to how long they'll last.
Make sure to build them with tape on the inside (anti-ballooning) and some beefier foams.
The prototype project.
i am running those as my main racing tire they seem to hold up well, i have used tamiya firm foam in them with good results. i do not do high speed runs as i am geared at 23/55 . i have ordered these from china tools on ebay they come with a molded foam but when mounted on traxxas stock rims they have a bit of a air gap between the foam and tire , on our small track i have noticed any harm in this .
As I am blind or just smth else, I can't find anywhere these HPI Latitude Cross S1 tyres to buy. Has any1 them on Tamiya mybee? thnx 4 answer
I saw in some prev. post. If someone needs spikes, here how they should look like.. and they work perfectly.
My boy's Rally with Traxxas wheels and aftermarket tires...also with the stock wheels & BFG's.
I'll try anything once, maybe twice!
Have you compared the 7373 Gymkhana Traxxas slick to the 4370 4Tec Traxxas slicks?? I understand the 4370 is a medium compound, don't know about the 7373.
Nice. Thank you.


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On November 9, 2010, Ted Kummert announced to the world the immediate availability of SQL Server Parallel Data Warehouse (PDW). Since that time, myself and our larger firm BI Voyage (BIV) have been working on multiple Parallel Data Warehouse customer deployments including Hadoop clusters. Our firm's work with the appliance begins with the world's fourth largest equities exchange by notional value, Direct Edge. Working together with Direct Edge, we determined that Parallel Data Warehouse was the best platform for the firm's large volumes of data required for analysis. Direct Edge became the first non-Microsoft buyer of Parallel Data Warehouse. Present day, several leading enterprises have purchased Parallel Data Warehouse appliances including our own firm's purchase of a half-rack PDW for training and development. In the remainder of this post I will discuss our firm's experiences with Parallel Data Warehouse and append a link to the Direct Edge PDW Case Study.
Related: Getting Started with Parallel Data Warehouse
Designing Customer Solutions
When you are the lead architect for a Parallel Data Warehouse project the most important thing you can do is read the technical materials (including SQL Server Parallel Data Warehouse Books Online which ships with the unit) and gain as much experience as you can prior to the engagement. I see both sides of the training discussion, which is that PDW is drastically different from SQL Server SMP and thus requires substantial training for existing SQL Server professionals. One the one hand - MPP technology is quite different in that you have a new paradigm to design for performance by distributing (and replicating) your tables. There is also the notion of Distributed-SQL (D-SQL) and distributed query plans. D-SQL queries and plans involve two levels of operations: compute node-level SMP plans and appliance-level data movement plans. Certainly understanding how the distributed plan interfaces with the traditional SMP compute node plan is important and likewise understanding the key data movement operations such as shuffle and partition moves is good to know as well. However, beyond those key deltas, if you are experienced with SQL Server SMP today for data warehousing you should be just fine. Without question, one of Microsoft's core design goals for the appliance is to enable a seamless transition of technical expertise from SQL Server SMP to MPP (as easy as they can make it).
Related: Connecting and Configuring SQL Server Parallel Data Warehouse (PDW) Clients
Once you are confident designing solutions for the appliance you should begin a detailed design phase (even if you are using SCRUM project management methodologies). The good news here is it takes a few weeks from the time of order for you or your customer to receive delivery of the appliance from the hardware vendor so you have some time to design and plan. You need to design (at least to a high-level), what the distributed schema is going to look like. Which tables are going to be distributed and which tables will be replicated? Do you want to have data management capabilities via table partitioning? How will you partition the tables? Should you employ non-clustered indexes (NCIs are used much less in PDW environments)?
The data loading infrastructure and frameworks require design - how will your solution accommodate historical one-time as well as ongoing incremental data loading? Are you going to leverage ETL or ELT processes? And do not forget about the security architecture of the solution. Who will connect to the appliance? Under what security context and permissions should these people (or services) have when connecting? Do you want a self-service report author to have the ability to drop the data warehouse?
There is also the notion of creating MPP Views which face the BI tools and components such as OLAP cubes and in-memory tabular models. It is common practice to create views to mask some of the data warehouse internal complexities away from the BI components and self-service report authors. And for those self-service to PDW scenarios trust me when I say you want to restrict how many rows folks can download into those self-service tools - in PDW environments we are generally working with hundreds of millions and even billions of records (On the BIV half rack unit we have a table with over 70 Billion records).
Before I leave the design realm there is that of OLAP Cubes and Tabular Model specific design. If you are going to be deploying these artifacts with PDW you want to ensure you read up on early best-practices and lessons learned as there are many inherit tuning options and best practices that have been discovered. Some of these items apply to design of OLAP cubes for example such as the selection of optimal storage modes.
Developing Customer Solutions
Probably the most import thing to mention under development is 'pre-bake' your sample datasets. We want to work small datasets so our development tasks are that much faster and easier to accomplish. Consider using a representative dataset such as X percentage of production data volumes.
It is a good time to mention appliance updates (AUs) as well. With each new AU Microsoft releases we gain new features. The new features span a variety of appliance aspects, however the development domain obtains many new updates with each AU including collations, data types, and new D-SQL constructs. So it is a good idea to double check that your PDW development unit is on the latest-and-greatest service pack available.
The primary development tools you will be using in developing PDW solutions is Nexus Query Chameleon (PDW V1 Query Tool), the PDW Admin Console (monitor and diagnose query performance), and the SQL Server SMP BI developer tools (BIDS or SSDT). You can also leverage SQL Server SMP's T-SQL with PDW by creating a linked server to the Parallel Data Warehouse appliance. The primary development objects available to you in PDW V1 are tables, views, and stored procedures.
Next up in PDE development is Create Table As Select (CTAS), get to know this syntax, you're going to be using it...a lot. CTAS is essentially the SQL Server SMP equivalent of SELECT INTO. It is a fully parallelized SELECT that results in the creation of a new user table. You can write CTAS UPDATEs (matching on conditions), CTAS DELETEs (filtering out records via a SELECT), just about any set-based operation you can think of can be accomplished using CTAS. CTAS is often also used to redistribute an existing distributed table by a new distribution column.
Deploying Customer Solutions
When you are ready to deploy a Parallel Data Warehouse database and potentially accompanying Microsoft business intelligence artifacts you will want to consider a few things. First and foremost, are the development and production appliances physically the same? Some of our customers have purchased the optional Parallel Data Warehouse development unit which is a smaller appliance configuration designed for development and test. In other customer scenarios we build and productionize on the same physical appliance when a test unit is not available. All of the changes related to physical appliance settings apply here including ensuring the production appliance is on the network, latest appliance updates applied, and updating your BI artifact's connection strings to point to the correct appliance control node clustered IP address for connectivity using either the Data Direct or Tabular Data Stream protocols.
Second is source-control. You can use most any source control system such as Visual Studio Team System or Subversion to check in your PDW's .sql files. These files may contain Distributed-SQL DDL, DML, or both. Also, do not forget about your BI artifacts such as Reporting Services reports and OLAP Cubes or Tabular Models.
Third is that of historical data loading. As part of your ELT design and development phases you should have a data loading solution in place that facilitates the massive historical load that first must take place. Generally speaking you will want to leverage dwloader to obtain the fast parallel bulk load performance (1 TB/hour). dwloader requires incoming (schema-matching) data files including support for gzip (compressed) files. You will want to ensure all of these files are ready for load and ideally they will be located in a directory on the appliance's landing zone.
Fourth are optional subscribing SQL Server SMP spokes. You can optionally choose to design a hub-and-spoke architecture (for example to reuse an existing SQL Server Fact Track investment) whereby traditional SQL Server relational instances receive fresh copies of datasets by using the appliance's feature called Remote Table Copy (RTC). RTC provides a high-speed export of appliance data, but you need to ensure the spokes are attached to the appliance's internal Infiniband network. The logic behind choosing such a design is you may want to offload some of the query workload to downstream spokes. One example is an accounting department that might constantly query a certain dataset throughout the business day and you wish to offload those queries to a separate server thus freeing up the Parallel Data Warehouse for more ad-hoc (and possibly of greater importance) requests.
Fifth is that of MPP backup plans. Once you have the customer's solution deployed and are actively loading data you will want to design and put into place a regular backup plan just like you would with regular SQL Server SMP. PDW supports full and differential backups. A typical configuration we use is weekly full and daily differentials. PDW backups are automatically compressed and backup the entire appliance database (across all nodes). You can (and we also recommend) backing up the PDW's Master database every so often as well which contains appliance metadata such as user logins. The biggest thing to be aware of when planning for PDW backups is that in order to restore a backup, you must restore it to an appliance with the same or more number of compute nodes. For example, if you elect to purchase two Parallel Data Warehouse units for disaster recovery purposes, you will need to ensure that both appliances have a matching number of compute nodes for cross-backup/restore operations.
The sixth item under MPP deployment is that of monitoring the appliance. Out-of-the-box you have access to the PDW Admin Console as well as the underlying system and dynamic management views that are accessible via a SQL prompt. You can optionally (and we recommend to our customers) downloading the SQL Server Parallel Data Warehouse Management Pack and installing it into Systems Center Operation Manager (SCOM) 2007 R2 instance. You can also (and we often do) develop additional custom monitoring reports using Reporting Services querying the system and dynamic views in the appliance and then deploying those items to a SharePoint farm for regular consumption.
The seventh and final item is ensuring proper appliance security. The appliance supports SQL Server authentication and entails logins and roles (Server and Database). Ideally you designed the security infrastructure as part of the design phase of work and you just need to instantiate it at this point. Be sure to setup service accounts for appliance access as well such as Reporting Services for example.
Migrating a SQL Server SMP Database
There are a few methods available to you for migration (forklift) of a traditional SQL Server SMP database to SQL Server Parallel Data Warehouse. There is the old reliable method of manually creating PDW DDL and then using a variety of tools including SSIS and PDW's dwloader to historically load data into the new MPP schema. This manual migration process involves converting incompatible data types, using PDW's specific DDL syntax, choosing distributed versus replication for table storage, and the selection of distribution, index, and partition columns and values. Our firm has created a utility to automatically migrate databases from SQL Server SMP to SQL Server Parallel Data Warehouse, you can find more information on the tool as well as a short video clip of its usage at http://www.bivoyage.com/pdw_migration.html (we use the utility to assist our customer's projects and do not sell the tool directly).
The Future of Parallel Data Warehouse: Microsoft's Big Data Appliance
With the announcements made by Microsoft at PASS Summit 2012 the future of Parallel Data Warehouse is clear. Dr. David DeWitt of the Microsoft Gray Systems Lab provided invaluable details behind Project Polybase, his detailed presentation can be found here. Microsoft intends to unify the two diverse worlds of Hadoop and Massively Parallel Processing database management systems. Project Polybase will facilitate the parallel query execution of data persisted in Parallel Data Warehouse as well as Hadoop distributed file systems (HDFS). In Dr. David DeWitt's presentation he discusses three phases of increasing PDW and HDFS parallel query integration.
Project Polybase will make its debut (Phase 1) in Parallel Data Warehouse's initial V2 release. In addition, Microsoft (in partnership with Hortonworks) is actively building HDInsight. HDInsight is an Apache compatible Hadoop distribution that Microsoft is making available on Windows Server and Windows Azure platforms. Project Polybase is slated to work with all Apache compatible Hadoop distributions. While Project Polybase is getting much warranted attention don't forget that Parallel Data Warehouse V2 will also include native support for columnstore indexes which can dramatically increase data warehouse query performance.
Parallel Data Warehouse's hardware vendors (HP and DELL) are also continuing to include faster hardware. Some of the key hardware components for Parallel Data Warehouse appliances include infiniband fabric, CPU cores (per compute node), and memory (per compute node). With increased available hardware, columnstore index support, and parallel query execution across HDFS and MPP persisted datasets Parallel Data Warehouse V2 is slated to become Microsoft's Big Data Appliance.
Download the Case Study
You can download the Direct Edge Parallel Data Warehouse Case Study at http://www.bivoyage.com/pdw_contact.html.