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NEW YORK -- A newly released study finds that kids who are in shape do better on academic tests.
During the 2007-2008 school year, students in New York City public schools who scored in the top 5 percent on their NYC Fitnessgram assessments outscored the bottom 5 percent of students on standardized academic tests by an average of 36 percentile points, the study finds.
The study was released by New York City's Health Department and Department of Education as part an analysis of data from the Fitnessgram tests. Each year, the city's school students undergo a comprehensive fitness assessment using the Fitnessgram testing as part of their physical education program.
The analysis also finds that childhood obesity remains a problem in New York City. Researchers said 21 percent of kindergarten through eighth-grade students are obese, and an additional 18 percent of the city's students are considered overweight.
"The long-term health of our students is very important," Joel I. Klein, schools chancellor, said in a statement. "The report's findings send a clear message to schools, parents and health care providers to do everything possible to ensure that children receive the opportunities for physical activity and the proper nutrition that will help them stay fit and healthy."


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Welcome to Happiness Guide
Chinese Happiness Stencil Free Article
For a permanent link to this article, or to bookmark it for further reading, click here.
An Attempt To Define Happiness - What is Happiness!from: Motivated Lifestyle - Archive Material
Happiness is thought to be the very core of human struggle. We claim of doing things to get to the path that leads to happiness. We go beyond our lives and see why and how other people get their happiness. The sad truth though is that too many times, we have failed to recognize that happiness is always within sight. In fact, it has always been within us. But we are often too blinded to see this truth, let alone accept it. Thus, we endlessly count on external motivations that would drive us to finding happiness.
Happiness is anything and everything that would account to the feeling of elation and contentment. It is in its basic nature, a pleasant feeling. But if we are to actually describe what happiness is, we might find ourselves on our wit's end to actually create a concrete meaning out of something that man finds too complicated.
It all lies in our perception of its meaning and feeling and out of the purity of our souls. Many claim that happiness is one of the most difficult things to achieve yet what we truly are seeing here is the lack of a clean soul that would pour out happiness to the world.
Why can't we find happiness? It is because we are too preoccupied with the materiality of our happiness. It is not a stone or a whisper that you can touch or hear. But it is always there. It will definitely come as a wind when no one expects it and too many times we have overlooked it.
It wasn't intended to satisfy human vanities. It is practically everything, yes but everything excludes all things that would inflict damage to another fellow or to affect him in any negative way possible. Happiness ends where discord lays its path. Happiness ceases to exist when the last light of hope vanishes because men wish to side more on evil than in good.
There are no complex principles underlying it nor there are complex methods to accomplish before we ever achieve the state of happiness. We are just about as happy as we want ourselves to be or as we set our minds to be. How many instances in our life did our mental settings affect the clarity of our emotions? It all lies in how we see things. If we see romance in every flower that buds or joy in every good human act we hear, it is no doubt that our hearts are uncorrupted with evil.
We have mentioned about the purity of the souls. How to identify it? There are no intricate ways. Its just this- a soul that finds no happiness in any wrongdoing. A soul that doesn't tune into the devil's voice. And a soul that doesn't entertain a single rotten thought.
We have to be keen in identifying what rotten thoughts, wrongdoings and devil's voice though. Often, we find it convenient to follow what our innate beast tells us. It sure leads to the short cuts of achievements things. However, the products of listening into this beast side are passing. They only benefit you for a while and destroy you eventually. Like a chocolate coating that hides a molten poison at its core.
It takes enlightenment to know what is evil and not. But remember that you are constantly guided. However, at one point or another, we find it dissatisfying to listen to the good that lives within us. Because for some mysterious scheme, it normally drives us to longer roads, where too few roads meet because so many have abandoned this road and have taken the easier route to perdition.
Happiness doesn't ask so much yet it will provide you with endless resources of joy and contentment. The only part you have to take is not to be like the many who would rather have eaten the chocolate-covered poison for the road out front is easier but to make a difference and follow the long path that leads to happiness.

subset: commoncrawl


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Required public release puts fiscal 2012 governmentwide figure at $75.4 billion.
This story was been updated twice with comment.
As required by law, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence has made public the intelligence community's budget, reporting on Tuesday a figure of $53.9 billion, a slight drop from the 2011 budget of $54.6 billion.
The Defense Department the same day released its portion of the intelligence budget, putting the military intelligence line item for 2012 at $21.5 billion, down from the 2011 figure of $27 billion.
Together, the roughly 4 percent drop continues a recent reduction in the intelligence budget since the rapid buildup following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Both agencies keep further details of the budgets classified.
October 2011marked the first-ever public release of the top-line governmentwide intelligence budget.
Paul R. Pillar, a 28-year CIA veteran who is now a security studies fellow at Georgetown University, told Government Executive, "It is no surprise that the intelligence budget, which has tended to move in tandem with overall national security spending, should be decreased somewhat for the coming year. Nor is this an unhealthy development. There is no single optimal or required level of spending for intelligence. Rather, this is a matter of how much of this type of support to national security the nation wishes to buy, knowing there are always opportunity costs."
There is no reason, he added, that intelligence programs, "shouldn't share in the necessary pain and have to make do with less."
Ray McGovern, another CIA veteran who helped found the advocacy group Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity, said, "With that budget more than doubling since 9/11, it's high time it started `undoubling.' When you have more money than you know what to do with, that spells trouble.....especially unaccountable money."


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Every other year for several decades, my husband's family has held a reunion at the Basin Harbor Club in Vermont. Although the family's lost count of the number of reunions, photographs of those gatherings date back 50 years and span several generations. The reunions are still going strong—even my husband's 92-year-old great-aunt Bette, who married into the family, still participates.
This year's event, like all others, was a mix of exercise, parties and reminiscences. On our last night there, one of Aunt Bette's sons surprised the group with a special slide show. His father, Fritz, who died a few years ago, had taken pictures of every reunion he attended between 1952 and 1991. Those slides became a family history centerpiece that evening.
Every slide sparked a unique memory and at least one story from attendees. When the crowd (there were only 35 this year) was unable to identify someone, Aunt Bette helped us out. A younger cousin videotaped the whole presentation, recording all the comments and pictures for future generations.
Close to 50 slides and more than 50 stories later, the group finally went to dinner marveling over the presentation and the perfect quality of the slides. Despite their age, each slide looked good as new. Fritz had taken the proper measures to preserve those pictures for his descendants. He used good-quality film, kept his slides in the dark and rarely projected them. For advice on caring for your own color pictures, consult Henry Wilhelm and Carol Brower's The Permanence and Care of Color Photographs (Preservation Publishing Co.)
The dinner conversation turned to family artifacts and genealogy. As with most families, heirlooms were scattered among the descendants. Excited by the prospect of reuniting close to 200 years' worth of artifacts, several cousins suggested compiling a family history. They would use pictures, heirlooms and stories to piece together the family's story from the founding of the Miller Homestead in East Guilford, NY, to the present. I hope they embark on this project because I'd like to see what this energetic and dedicated group can pull together.
Here are some tips you can use to approach a similar photographic endeavor:
Spread the word: Send announcements to all known relatives, inviting their participation. Inquire about the keepsakes in their collections, and ask if you can copy or photograph them.
Promote participation: Encourage a small group of interested cousins to work together on the family research. Start by verifying already-compiled data and entering that information into a database. Invest in a genealogy software program that produces and reads GEDCOM files (the universal file format for exchanging family trees), so you can share your findings. See the September 2004 Trace Your Family History, a special issue of Family Tree Magazine, for an overview of software options. You'll want to select a program that can import pictures and video and sound recordings.
Communicate online: Start a family Web site so that distant cousins can post images of their heirlooms. One of my favorite family sites was created by Michael Boyce. His Web site contains images and documents that might be of interest to anyone with ties to the Boyce/Boice/Buys family. Boyce's photo family tree is sure to inspire you to create your own.
Stay on task: Regularly check in with relatives to track their progress. Brainstorm solutions for research brick walls. For expert brick-wall-busting advice, see the October 2004 Family Tree Magazine.
Plan ahead: Decide on a date for your family reunion and send out the invitations. Then surprise your relatives with your project—whether it's a published family history, a multimedia presentation or an interactive Web site.
Given my experiences this summer, I have no doubt that it's possible to tell a family story a picture at a time. So drag out your old family photographs and start planning. I know where my husband's relatives will be in 2006: enjoying more tales of family exploits.


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Nine World Record Attempts That Ended in Death
Everyone's probably picked up a Guinness Book of World Records at one point in their lives to settle a bet or maybe just to lookup some of those wacky records like the longest fly-fishing cast into a fish bowl (it's 7 meters). But what about the world record attempts that fail? What about those that ended in the death of the person trying to break the record. Well, College Crunch has put together a list of 9 world record attempts that ended in death, all of them pretty damn spectacular.
Deep Dive — Audrey Mestre (1974-2002): It may not involve blistering speeds or months-long treks, but freediving is equally as dangerous. At the time of Mestre's death, about 100 freedivers were dying each year out of the 5,000 around the world. Mestre, a French woman who came from a family of scuba divers and snorkelers, had spent most of her life underwater and certainly didn't lack experience. She trusted her abilities, and therefore in 2002, had the confidence to dive 561 feet in the deep waters 81 miles east of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. When she blacked out at 300 feet with an empty air tank, she was rushed back to the surface. After spending nine minutes under water without oxygen, there was nothing that could be done to save her.
Water Speed — John Cobb (1899-1952): A fur broker by day and speed demon by night — or when he wasn't working, at least — Cobb strove to become the fastest man on earth and water. In 1939, he broke the land speed record by hitting just under 367 mph and broke it again in 1947 when he hit 394 mph. in 1952, he set out to achieve the water speed record at Loch Ness using the jet speedboat Crusader. Traveling 240 mph, it skid in the water and disintegrated. Cobb is still regarded as an English patriot for his gutsy attempts.
Motorcycle Jump — Javad Palizbanian (1961-2005): Evel Knievel famously attempted to jump 13 buses in London, and ended up suffering severe injuries and announcing his retirement afterward. In 2005, Palizbanian, an Iranian daredevil, attempted to leap over 22 buses but landed on the 13th bus, dying immediately. Prior to taking off, he announced that he was "going to break the world record and do something for my country to be proud of." Like Mestre, he was hardly a novice. A month earlier, he successfully cleared a 51-yard-wide river on his bike.
Continue reading the full list at College Crunch.


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Whether you're heading off on the world's longest bike race, into snowstorms up in the mountains or into unknown territory on a tour of discovery – the world is waiting and adventure is calling. What counts is the experience. Welcome to the world of FOCUS bikes.
What does it take to make someone happy? Not much – as our after-work video shows. A simple mountain bike, always ready for action and perfectly tailored to fun, is all you need. Our BOLD hardtail with plus tyres: out of the workshop and into the forest, that's how to blaze a spectacular trail.
Our road bike enthusiast Anja Kallenbach spends every free minute on her Cayo and really gets around. Time and again she finds herself in wonderful places. And now she has discovered a new paradise for road bike cyclists: camping holidays in Scotland. She reveals to us her best tips.
Red Bull Trans-Siberian Extreme
From Moscow to Vladivostok. It passes through five climate zones, seven time zones, the Ural Mountains and along four of the longest rivers in the world. And spans 9,287 kilometres and 79,000 metres of altitude over 14 stages. These are the incredible numbers that the Red Bull Trans-Siberian Extreme has in store for its participants. Martin Temmen and Matthias Fischer have worked together as a two-man team to finish – and win – the longest stage race in the world. But even these immense figures don't really illustrate what things are truly like during the race. Like the number games and search for meaning. Martin described what the 13th stage was like for us.
Impressive Switzerland
Anja Kallenbach is defying erratic weather conditions this summer and has taken to the road with her CAYO once more. In Switzerland, she rode along the country's most legendary passes, all in one tour. She's made a stunning range of impressions – and captured them all for us in pictures.
Jeremy Powers Full Steam Ahead
Our FOCUS PARALANE is a super-fast road bike, but is also capable of so much more. It's got adventure in its DNA. So just how far will this type of adventure road bike take you? We put it to the test and sent US Cyclo-cross champion Jeremy Powers to Iceland to push the PARALANE to its limits. Here is his travel log.
Fist bumping tortour
Tortour. A name that Fabian Scholz and Max Hilger simply could not misinterpret.Tortour. Nonetheless, the cyclocross stage race turned out to surpass their worst expectations. It was a story full of muck, pain and friendship.
The mountains are calling
Anja Kallenbach is back in the Alps. She tells us, how it feels and what the Pro riders can expect on the 23rd of July at the Tour de France.
In the heart of the Dolomites
What do Enduro professionals do in their spare time? But with a difference – as the video shot by our Focus Trail Team shows.
In Majorca
Anja Kallenbach has just returned from the training camp in Majorca – with ample kilometres of training under her belt.
Off to the ski world cup
How does an electric mountain bike change your mobility in the mountains? Dirk Belling, an old hand in the world of cycling, asked himself this question and ventured to try it out for himself.


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Live Leak
November 25, 2012
This video was leaked by a member of the free Syrian army who didn't like what his group was doing. The video shows a group of the free Syrian army blowing up a mosque to blame it on the official Syrian army. The same destroyed mosque was shown on aljazeera tv under the title of " Mig 29 jets bombing a mosque in Aleppo"
The Reopen America Back to School Special is now live! Earn double Patriot Points on our hottest items!


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Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Nice To Meet You
22 comments:
- Benito said...
I haven't had the opportunity to meet your boy yet, but I have a feeling that one of these days our paths will cross, and either he'll need to crash on my couch one night or I'll need to crash on his.
I'm sure the road was hard, and there's probably still a few bumps along the way, but anyone would be lucky to have you as a mom, Sam.
Cheers, and belated happy Mother's Day,
- July 6, 2011 at 1:52 AM
- Samantha Dugan said...
Totally made it through this post without tears...until I read this. If my son owns, even one ounce of what I do, well then we are two very lucky people.
Thank you, for everything Ben.
- July 6, 2011 at 2:11 AM
You deserve more credit than you can imagine mom. From all the countless stories of teenage mothers giving up their children, and giving the fact that I myself was 18 only 4 years ago, standing up the way you did is more ballsy than anything I have ever done. And for that you deserve it all...
- July 6, 2011 at 3:12 AM
- Thomas said...
A friend of mine used to send his mother a thank you card on his birthday--now that's a guy with the right priorities.
Happy birthday, Jeremy.
Mine is just three days away--we are simpatico on the horoscope, and one day will meet; perhaps when your mom comes to visit the Finger Lakes she can have you beside her.
- July 6, 2011 at 7:28 AM
- Samantha Dugan said...
There simply cannot be a mother more proud, more in love and more grateful than I. Thank you baby, thank you for everything.
His birthday is in 7 days but it was 22 years ago today that my water broke and I didn't understand what was happening. My youth and fear could have cost me and him in ways I shudder to think of now but....there he is. 22 years old on the 13th and the greatest person I know. Happy early birthday to you sweetheart.
- July 6, 2011 at 8:39 AM
- Lisa said...
Beautiful, Sam.
After everything I've heard about Jeremy, I hope I get to know him someday (preferably over a bottle of something wonderful). Your relationship gives me hope for if I ever have a child someday... turns out children CAN be close to their parents! Thank you for that example.
- July 6, 2011 at 8:51 AM
- Samantha Dugan said...
Awe, thank you sweet girl. My son and my relationship with him is the single thing I am most proud of in my life. I too hope that someday you are able to feel this....
- July 6, 2011 at 9:14 AM
- John M. Kelly said...
Jeremy - you are a great kid to cherish and respect all your mom has done.
Sam - it is a credit to all your spunk and sacrifice that Jeremy turned out so well. Call-o is a lucky guy to love and be loved by you both.
TP - you and I are in the same position: in one week, when I wake up on this side of the grass I will also be a year older. I can only thank my mom in my prayers, but thank her I will.
- July 6, 2011 at 10:11 AM
- Samantha Dugan said...
Thanks love. Yup you and My Jeremy share a birthday I'll be sure to whisper my thanks to your mother as well, without her I would never have met such a sweet man.
- July 6, 2011 at 10:35 AM
- Joe said...
Newborns- despite their fragile facade- are pretty dang tough. I think that toughness is ingrained to give new parents hope. Hope that they CAN do it.
Now, doing it at 18? That takes some serious damn grit... and I think that's something that has always resonated in your writing (to me, at least).
- July 6, 2011 at 11:36 AM
- Thomas said...
I think us July birthday boys ought to have a plan for next year's celebration.
Sam, I goofed; but that doesn't change the horoscope.
- July 6, 2011 at 11:53 AM
- Do Bianchi said...
So he's a Cancer like me?! :)
My goodness, Sam, reading this... my goodness... it just made so many emotions and thoughts and fears and joys swell up in my throat...
Knowing you and knowing you as a mother (mainly through the blog) has been an inspiration for me... about love, strength, and love... I'm so glad that today is Jeremy's birthday... (it's also my father in law's! and it's mine next week... and it's also someone else's today...)
I've never had the chance to meet Jeremy but I look forward to it one day... and in the months that lay ahead for me and Tracie P, this post will be swirling around our brains... and our hearts... for all the reasons you know... :)
Happy birthday Jeremy!
- July 6, 2011 at 12:31 PM
- Marcia Macomber said...
Wow wow wow! As always, your writing leaves me rather speechless! (Which is why we all have to write out our comments. LOL)
22 yrs. ago and, not surprisingly, it's still as vivid as it is was today to you!
Happy early b-day to Jeremy. And happy memories to you, Samantha!
- July 6, 2011 at 2:50 PM
- Ron Washam said...
My Gorgeous Samantha,
Hey, I was a bedwetter and got nothing out of it but a rash.
My own opinion is that the only two things that matter in Life are Love and Courage. They are inseparable. You cannot have one without the other. And your post, actually, your life, is filled with both in astonishing abundance
I also believe that friends and loved ones enter your life in order to teach you certain traits, gifts that they possess. You, My Love, have taught me the meaning of Courage, and, by extension, the meaning of Love. I will never be equipped to live up to your example, but your example is the one I turn to often in my own life when I need Courage, or I need to remember how to love, and love selflessly.
Perhaps Jeremy came into your eighteen-year-old life to teach you Hope. You had little at the time, it seems to this outsider, and slowly, through his infant example, he imbued your heart with that priceless gift. We know that he simply mirrored your own Courage.
Happy Birthday to both you and Jeremy. I wasn't born in July, I'm not a Cancer (a matter of opinion), but I was also born on a 13th. To a remarkable Mother like you.
I love you!
- July 6, 2011 at 3:50 PM
- Samantha Dugan said...
That was the thing that killed me, how could someone so tiny, (he weighed 3 pounds) be so strong? Still amazes me actually. You are always so kind about my writing and I cannot tell often enough how much that means to me.
I wanna be counted in on those birthday plans!
Jeremy...The Other Jeremy,
He is a Cancer so you share a name and a sign. His birthday is the 13th and if this comment section is any indicator, Cancers are some of the coolest people, ever. You know I always think of you when I write these posts, about the times we have talked about parents and the unbelievably sweet things you have said to me about the job I've done as one. I know that you and Tracie are going to be very strong and loving parents, I just know it.
Didn't think it was that vivid until I just started writing last night. Just sat down to tell a story and out it came. Thank you for the birthday wishes, I shall pass them on.
Ron My Love,
Gawd you humble me. How can you have said all that you already have, been this amazing force and light in my life and still humble me? Remarkable.
You often give me credit for being courageous and I'm still not sure I deserve that really but the fact that I have made you feel as loved and safe as you truly are with me, then I am a very happy woman. I do think Jeremy came in my life just when I needed him most, just like a certain gifted and very funny man did. I know your mother was an astounding woman, she had to be, how else would there be a you? I love you too!
- July 6, 2011 at 9:01 PM
- WineNWaves said...
I sell wine to you?
Fucking incredible Sam...WOW - "I was guilty of everything she warned me of"... I've never been pregnant but I've certainly put myself up for sincere disappointment from my ma'.
Luckily, she was strong enough to show me that love, not anger, is how we manage to get through the seeming impossible.
Hahah I'm sitting here prepping the tasting sheet for tomorrow, jaw dropped, aimlessly staring at this article wondering how I got put into this position of working with such an amazing writer.
Blown away, again...
Nick B.
- July 6, 2011 at 10:57 PM
- WineNWaves said...
I was solely raised by a single, 4'11, incredibly strong jewish mother. I'm sure, just as I draw the entirety of my strength from the infinite sacrifices she made to raise me right, from the nights I could here her crying herself to sleep and the way she would wake me the next morning with the most beautiful smile and let me know that everything was alright and no matter what she loved me, her refusal to bend or break at the hardships life threw her on daily basis with the ferocious conviction that I would not turn out like my father, your son draws much of his strength from you.
Needless to say, were both lucky to have such strong and beautiful mothers.
K, last comment :)
- July 6, 2011 at 11:18 PM
- Samantha Dugan said...
From the first time I sat with you I knew, just knew there was something of a kinship between you and I....after theses comments I think I am beginning to understand why. I was lit up by your young fire, that nervy energy of someone in the business for the same reason as I, and as I told you last time we met, you so remind me of my beloved Eric Mohseni, right down to the wanting to someday make wine. It's rare that fire kiddo, hold on to it and resist the urge to make wine about units and numbers. It's about passion. least for people like you and I and as hard as it gets at times, that passion will serve you well.
Your mother sounds like a woman I would love to meet, would likely admire and am honored to be put in the same class with. Thank you for sharing that with me, for understanding what she did out of absolute love for you. You make her proud Nick, don't even have to meet her to know that...
So what you bringing me to taste tomorrow? (wink)
- July 6, 2011 at 11:37 PM
- Samantha Dugan said...
Erm, forgive the typos. Blame the teary eyes and 4th glass of Pastis.
- July 6, 2011 at 11:57 PM
- Thomas said...
Four Pastis'?
You are incredible!
- July 7, 2011 at 7:10 AM
- chris said...
A mother's unconditional love is a catalyst for her child's character.
Happy Birthday to all July birthday boys.
- July 7, 2011 at 9:37 AM
- Samantha Dugan said...
Girl has to be good at something right?!
Beautifully said. Thanks for that.
- July 7, 2011 at 3:14 PM


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Franklin Money Clip Wallet, Caramel (Limited Edition)
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Officer-involved shooting in town of Delafield ruled justified
An officer-involved shooting in the town of Delafield earlier this month has been ruled justified.
On Jan. 8, the Waukesha County Sheriff's Department was called to a home on a report that a man inside was suicidal and had a gun.
According to an investigation done by the Walworth County Sheriff's Department, when deputies arrived, they realized Justin Ebbe had family members in a room with him.
Deputy Michael Doud approached the room he saw Ebbe armed with a shotgun pointed at another man.
When Doud ordered Ebbe to drop the shotgun, he refused.
"Deputy Doud was privileged to use deadly force in justified defense of himself and others," Waukesha County District Attorney Brad Schimel said.
Ebbe has been released from the hospital. So far, no charges have been filed.


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Obsessed with watching Japanese trains go by? Now you can indulge your hobby regardless of bad weather or friends who just don't get your hobby — whether you're in Japan or not.
The website Tetsudonow ("railroads now") has elevated trainspotting to a new level by allowing viewers to watch virtual trains zip around the major cities of Japan on a Google map mash-up. Twitter users in Japan were bubbling with excitement yesterday, with some tweeting that the illustrated trains move in real-time. If only. The site's explanation says that the trains actually move in accordance with their weekday timetables, so the map doesn't reflect delays, stoppages or weekend schedules.
The navigation tools do, however, let you see the routes of most major railways in Japan at any time of day. To hobbyists' delight, the trains are all labeled with their actual line colors and approximate shapes, so you can tell a green Yamanote train from a snub-nosed shinkansen at a glance. Click on any moving train to see where it's coming from and where it's headed.
Now you can trainspot with a bag of popcorn in one hand and a Coke in the other from the comfort of your swivel chair with no one jostling or judging you. Us? We wouldn't judge you.


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OAKLAND — A 48-year-old man was fatally shot Saturday night outside an East Oakland apartment complex where he had been visiting a friend, police said.
The man's name was not released pending notification of relatives.
Police said he lived in another part of Oakland.
The shooting happened about 10:50 p.m. in the 4800 block of Daisy Street, just north of Interstate 580 and a few blocks from the Mills College campus.
Police said the man had gone to an apartment complex there to visit a friend.
While there the man got into an argument with another man outside the apartment. Officer Leo Sanchez said the two got into a physical confrontation that ended with the 48-year-old man's being shot. He died later Saturday night at a hospital.
The shooter fled before police arrived. Sanchez said that police are not sure what the argument was over and that no arrests have been made.
Police and Crime Stoppers of Oakland are offering up to $10,000 in reward money for information leading to the shooter's arrest. Anyone with information may call police at 510-238-3821 or a tip line at 510-773-2805.
The fatal shooting was the second homicide Saturday.
About 1:20 a.m. Saturday, a 23-year-old San Leandro man was fatally shot inside Club Anton, 428 Third St., in Jack London Square while attending a party. No arrests have been made in that killing.


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Alesha Dixon has admitted feeling nervous on her first day back at work after becoming a mum.
The Britain's Got Talent judge has stayed out of the limelight since announcing the birth of Azura Sienna in October.
Speaking at the launch of her new perfume, she told MailOnline: "I have been fully in the mummy zone! She has become my world!
"She's only 14 weeks – she smiles all the time. I haven't shown her off yet, I try and keep [her] out the limelight as much as I can. I just want to keep everything balanced."
The 35-year-old, who was launching her first fragrance Rose Quartz, admitted: "I did feel a little nervous today when I left the house, but I'm all right now."
Alesha said she would be choosy about taking on new projects so she could spend time with Azura, her child with her dancer boyfriend Azuka Ononye.
But the star, who donned a House Of Holland dress for the launch, said she was looking forward to the next series of Britain's Got Talent.
"I love it [motherhood] but it feels great to be back at work. Today is my first day back! The next thing I have is BGT in 10 days.
"It's full on, but I'm looking forward to it. When we all get together it is like going back to school. Everyone turns into little kids again. I can't wait to see what it brings this time."


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Network Downtime
by Andrew Lerner | July 11, 2014 | 13 Comments
The most important aspect of nearly every network is availability. Performance, scalability, management, agility, etc. all require the network to actually be online. In conversations with Gartner clients, availability often comes up which is echoed in surveys we've done:
I would argue that availability is higher than 20%, but clients don't score it that way because a) it is assumed as foundational to all vendors and hence is not perceived as a major differentiator and/or b) all the hype around SDN has people focused on agility and orchestration. Availability is relatively boring compared to other "cool" stuff like SDN and disaggregation, unless you're talking about the Netflix chaos monkey (more on that below).
When talking to clients, availability often comes up after an outage. In some cases, network outages drive significant investment from IT, particularly in the DDI market ("..we could never cost justify DDI until we fat-fingered our public website A-record…"). The undisputed #1 cause of network outages is human error, with estimates as high as 32% according to Dimension Data's 2014 Network Barometer report, not to mention a study from Avaya indicating 82% of folks experienced network downtime due to human error. In my 16+ years running large corporate networks, there was no feeling worse than the post-mortem meeting after a big outage. I'll never forget one particular meeting in which my CIO said "…well that was just plain stupid…". Fortunately, this only happened to me a very small number of times. And, we have research that can help you avoid networking outages, including:
Take A Four-Step NCCM Approach to Stem Disasters (Vivek Bhalla)
Summary: While businesses invest in their networks to gain a competitive edge, they often fail to ensure adequate steps are taken to reduce outages. Gartner's four-step NCCM approach enables network staff to minimize infrastructure failure.
And, for those interested in designing WANs for availability:
Bandwidth Doesn't Matter; Availability Drives Enterprise Network Costs (Neil Rickard | Danellie Young)
Summary: In the developed world, the marginal cost of bandwidth is so low that rightsizing capacity has little impact on WAN cost. However, the cost of improving availability remains high and downtime is less acceptable, making rightsizing network availability the key goal for enterprise network designers.
And a little more about antifragile (and the Netflix Chaos Monkey)
How Antifragile Practices Can Make Your I&O Stronger (Ian Head)
Summary: Antifragile systems turn stress and adversity into advantage. Certain practices of Web-scale IT enterprises may be emulated by other IT organizations to enhance their antifragility, especially as part of their continual improvement, DevOps and digital business initiatives.
Regards, Andrew
PS – If you have a really good and/or funny outage story, feel free to include it the comments, a prize will be sent to the best one…
Additional Resources
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Category: ddi networking wan
Tags: antifragile availability avaya dimension-data downtime legacyrunstheword nccm netflix outage
Thoughts on Network Downtime
I will say that management agility (ease of configuration), capacity, and performance all do have ties to availability. The number one cause of most issues, including network issues, is probably human error. If you decrease the complexity then you will have fewer human error problems, thus higher availability. In the same way, as DDoS attacks become more common, having more performance and capacity allows you to have better resiliency against such attacks, thus again, increasing availability.
I guess what I'm saying is that availability can be a concern as a part of those other areas. If you want better agility so you can reduce human error, or increased performance/capacity so you can handle larger attacks, then you're really doing it for availability, even if that isn't what you're saying.
[…] ← Network Downtime […]
Update: My colleagues Donna Scott and Dennis Smith just published additional research regarding downtime, including that 80% is caused by people and process…
[…] Could've Caused The Downtime It isn't really a great idea to pontificate here. United says it was a router problem. That […]
[…] most important aspect of nearly every network is availability," Lerner wrote. "Performance, scalability, […]
[…] Network Outages: Sure we have beaches, retirees, and lots of vacationers, but we still take our network outages very seriously (side note; wasn't my son, I swear). […]
[…] Network Downtime – Andrew Lerner – The most important aspect of nearly every network is availability. Performance, scalability, management, agility, etc. all require the network to actually be online. […]
[…] assume that most outages are out of their control, or malicious in nature, according to an article written by Gartner, "the undisputed #1 cause of network outages is human error, with estimates as high as 32% […]
[…] Kudos for getting beyond just "uptime" and focusing on one of the key root causes of network downtime, which is manual configuration error (often lead by undertrained staff). Also, I agree that […]
[…] In fact, studies show that majority of errors in a datacenter are human errors (see for example Network Downtime by Andrew Learner from Gartner). So do we really need professional services tweaking our […]
[…] previously written about this a few times including here, however to date there is no readily available chaos monkey for networking (at least that […]
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We're very late on this one as we've only got today to book in but we've got Club access for Japfest 2019 (Donington Park) on 13/07/2019
I'm hoping that if we can have 5 members or more book then I can organise a club stand for the S15 Owners Club
If you would like to book, please do so today and reply to the post to let us know you've done it!
Although it says on the website that club bookings are until 10th June, I have an email confirmation from the Japfest team that they've extended it until 13/06 for us.
For bookings, please follow the link below:
Phoenix : Error
Club Tickets | Japfest
Club: S15OC
Password: 2019.06
Make sure to add a Club Vehicle Pass if you would like to be on the stand
Looking forward to seeing you there!


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Beat the Streak Report: Wednesday, September 7
Welcome to a new era in 2011 streaking.
With an 0-for-4 by Ryan Braun last night, season leader Steven Summer saw his eye-popping 48-game run come to a sudden end.
Although he fell nine correct picks short of breaking Joe D's Major League record and claiming the $5.6 million BTS grand prize, Steve has established himself as favorite to take home $10,000 as 2011's top streaker. He also wins lifetime bragging rights for building the second-longest streak in 11 years of BTS play.
Barring any one-game playoffs, there are still 15 active streakers who could tie Steve's 48 gamer. Only current leader bysuag, however, still has enough time to reach 57.
Wednesday's picks:
(Make a BTS pick)
Oh, hello there…
Adrian Gonzalez: .500 (5-for-10) since '06 vs. Blue Jays starter Brandon Morrow
Dustin Pedroia: .500 (6-for-12) since '06 vs. Blue Jays starter Brandon Morrow
Yunel Escobar: .545 (6-for-11) since '06 vs. Red Sox starter Tim Wakefield
Evan Longoria: .455 (5-for-11) since '06 vs. Rangers starter Derek Holland
Miguel Cabrera: .462 (6-for-13) since '06 vs. Indians starter Justin Masterson
Feeling kinda spicy?
Alex Gonzalez: .417 (8-for-17) since '06 vs. Phillies starter Roy Oswalt
Omar Infante: .529 (9-for-17) since '06 vs. Mets starter R.A. Dickey
Raul Ibanez: .500 (5-for-10) since '06 vs. Braves starter Brandon Beachy
Carlos Ruiz: .833 (5-for-6) since '06 vs. Braves starter Brandon Beachy
You'll thank me later
Kevin Youkilis: .100 (1-for-10) since '06 vs. Blue Jays starter Brandon Morrow
Joey Votto: .174 (4-for-23) since '06 vs. Cubs starter Ryan Dempster
Adam Lind: .188 (3-for-16) since '06 vs. Red Sox starter Tim Wakefield
Jose Bautista: .167 (2-for-12) since '06 vs. Red Sox starter Tim Wakefield
Top MLB Streakers
Corey Hart: 18 games
Miguel Montero: 14 games
Adrian Beltre: 12 games
Jacoby Ellsbury: 11 games
Home Run Beat the Streak pick:
David Ortiz: (28 home runs this season) vs. Blue Jays starter Brandon Morrow
5 Comments
Since Farnsworth has eliminated me in Fast Relief, the only game I have to play now is HRBTS. I'm ready for Bracket Challenge to start. 😉
lol, why would you use Farnsworth?
I cannot think of a worse closer in baseball to use.
I remember becoming very angry when Trevor Hoffman retired, because I reasoned that anyone could do a better job closing than Farnsworth.
LOL. It was a "stealth" pick. I should know better than to pick a former Cub.
Hey now! Maybe closers, former Cubs, Gregg & Farnsworth, are not top-notch, no need to bash my Cubbies. Leave that job to us Cubs fans will ya
I'm a Cubs fan, too, LaVolpe. No offense meant (well, maybe a little). 🙂


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The Central Connecticut volleyball team earned a four set victory over Sacred Heart on Sunday behind the strong offensive play of sophomore Heather Trueman and freshman Cassidy Stankowski. The victory evens the Blue Devils' (11-7, 2-2 NEC) record in conference play. Sacred Heart drops to 9-7 and 3-1 in NEC action with the loss.
The Blue Devils dropped the opening set, but rebounded to win the second (25-14), third (25-23) and fourth (26-24) sets and take the match. CCSU actually trailed 19-14 in the fourth set, but a strong 12-5 closing run secured the victory.
In the fourth set, the Blue Devils gained the momentum on a kill by freshman Brooke Schwab and then back-to-back blocks by Schwab and sophomore Makenna Lommori, which made the score 19-17.
Sacred Heart answered and the teams traded points until the game was tied at 24-24. CCSU scored its 25th point on a Sacred Heart attack error and junior Rachel Dunlap and Stankowski combined on a block for match-point.
Stankowski's 13 kills led the Blue Devils and her .273 hitting percentage was tops among CCSU players with 15 or more attacks. Trueman posted 11 kills and a .258 hitting percentage.
Senior Veronika Ban (9), Lommori (6), Schwab (5) and Dunlap (5) also contributed to the offensive attack.
Lommori posted 40 assists in the match to lead CCSU.
On defense the Blue Devils recorded 13.0 blocks as a team. Schwab led the team with seven blocks. Dunlap (5), Ban (4), Lommori (4), Stankowski (3) and Trueman (1) also contributed at the net.
The Blue Devils recorded 49 digs as a team with Stankowski's 11 leading the squad. Senior Amalia Ashley (9), freshman Rachel Fish (8), Lommori (6), junior Brittany Schumacher (5), Ban (5) and Trueman (4) all had multiple digs in the match.
The Blue Devils will play at home next Saturday and Sunday with Robert Morris and Saint Francis U visiting Detrick Gym. Both matches will begin at 1 p.m. and are available live on NECFrontRow.com.


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Good morning bloggers!
We're celebrating our first launch of 2014 this weekend so it's time for another of our DT blog hops to show you all the new stamps
There are 10 adorable new images in the set featuring the hugely popular James the Bear and some more of our newest cute characters; Jack, Patch and Puss
The stamps will be available to buy on the website from midday (UK time) on Monday 13th January and you'll also be able to get them in the shop this Saturday. We're open 10 'til 4 if you are able to come along and see us
You know what to do by now, just 'hop' from one blog to another following the links and leave a comment on each card, hopefully we can give you lots of ideas and inspiration for using these cute new images
As always we have some hidden prizes along the way, we don't know where they are so make sure that you visit and comment on every blog
I will let you know on Monday morning which were the 'lucky' blogs and the winners will be drawn at random from all the comments that were left on those blogs
We have 2 full sets of the new stamps to give away, 2 lucky winners will each get all 10 new designs
Ideas To Inspire – start here
I have something a bit different to kick off the hop, this gorgeous gift bag was made by our clever Kim…
The stamp is James Daisy and she's also used Beach Bliss papers and one of the Everyday Grungy Messages
What a lovely idea!
Next stop is my blog …and if you get lost you can come back here and pick up the links again
Finally, don't forget to check back on Monday morning when you can find out who the lucky winners are of the 2 prizes
Have fun …and good luck!


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