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Application Deadline: October 17th, 2017
The Camargo Foundation, located in Cassis, France, and founded by artist and philanthropist Jerome Hill, is a residential center offering programming in the humanities and the arts. It offers appropriate time and space to think, create and share in a quality environment. The Camargo Foundation supports the work of artists, scholars and thinkers from all countries, nationalities, and career levels. This is achieved via different programs conceived by the Foundation as the core program or in partnership with other organizations.
The Camargo Core Program is the historical and flagship program of the Foundation.
Each year an international call is launched through which 18 fellows (9 artists and 9
scholars/thinkers) are selected.
The Camargo Core Program offers time and space in a contemplative environment to
think, create, and connect. By encouraging groundbreaking research and experimentation,
it supports the visionary work of artists, scholars and thinkers in the Arts and Humanities.
By encouraging multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary approaches, it intends to foster
connections between research and creation.
Eligibility Requirements
The Camargo Foundation welcomes applications from all countries and nationalities. Three main categories are available, and several subcategories for artists' applications.
- Scholars should be connected to the Arts and Humanities working on French and Francophone cultures, including but not limited to cross-cultural studies that engage the cultures and influences of the Mediterranean region.
- To be eligible for a fellowship in the "Scholars" category, applicants are expected either to hold a PhD and a record of post-doctoral scholarship, or to be PhD candidates completing the final stages of research for, or writing of, their dissertation.
- Thinkers include accomplished professionals and practitioners in cultural and creative fields (such as curators, journalists, critics, urban planners, independent scholars, etc.) who are professionally engaged in critical thought.
- Camargo are interested in work attuned to the theoretical "arena", the arts, and society. Like the scholars, they should be working on French and Francophone cultures, including but not limited to cross-cultural studies that engage the cultures and influences of the Mediterranean region.
- Artists, in all disciplines, should be the primary creators of a new work/project and should have achieved a track record of publications/ performances/exhibitions, credits, awards and/or grants. We are interested in artists who have a fully developed, mature artistic voice
- Applicants may include those who have been commissioned for multiple projects. When applying, artists will have to choose among the following subcategories: Visual Artists / Choreographers and Performance Artists / Writers and Playwrights / Film, Video and Digital Artists / Composers and Sound Artists / Multidisciplinary Artists.
Purpose of the residency:
- Research, experiment & create: applicants may apply either with a specific project or a specific area of inquiry on which they would like to work during the residency. An area of inquiry should be specific and represent exploration and investigation in the Fellow's field. The Camargo Core Program welcomes both open-ended exploration, or more focused works and long-term research projects.
- Exchange & network: during the residency, discussions are held regularly to foster cross-disciplinary exchange between Fellows. In addition, the Camargo Foundation's Staff provides formal and informal links with local professionals to develop possible creative collaborations between the Fellow and the region.
Residency periods:
- Fall (8 weeks from September 11, 2018)
- Spring (6 / 8 / 11 weeks from February 26, 2019)
Number of fellowships:
- 18 Fellowships/year, 9 artists and 9 scholars/thinkers
- A stipend of 250 USD per week is available, as is funding for basic transportation to and from Cassis for the Fellow for the residency. In the case of air travel, basic coach class booked far in advance is covered.
Accompanying family members:
- Spouses/adult partners and dependent minor children may accompany fellows for short stays or for the duration of the residency. Accompanying children must be at least six years old upon arrival and enrolled in and attending school or organized activities outside the Camargo Foundation campus, during the week.
Applications should be submitted via Submittable and can be accessed at: https://camargofoundation.submittable.com/submit
The application form must be submitted in English, the supporting materials (CV, work samples, etc.) can be submitted either in English or French. Applications must include the following:
• A proposal narrative: describe your intended focus of the residency, whether on (a) particular work(s) or a more open-ended area of inquiry, examining the relevance of your project for today.
• A rationale for wanting to work specifically at Camargo and/or in the Aix-Marseille-Provence
area, including existing or potential connections with people, places, organizations, and environments.
• A rationale about why a residency is appropriate at this specific stage of the proposal and/or career.
• A current C.V.
• For artists: work samples. If providing a work in progress, please also provide finished work. Work samples can be: up to 16 images for visual artists; up to 20 pages for writers; up to 20 minutes of clips for filmmakers, etc. Vimeo is preferred but not required for videos.
Applicants must provide information about each work sample, including cue point, passwords, the applicant's role in the work represented,
• Two references.
Submitters whose applications manage to get to the final stages of review might be asked to provide recommendation letters from their referees at a later stage.
An informational webinar will be offered for interested applicants on September 14, 2017 at 11:00am EST (New york City)/5:00pm CET (France). Please check the Foundation's website in early September for the link to the webinar.
For any technical questions about the application <[email protected]>
For More Information:
Visit the Official Webpage of the Camargo Foundation Core Fellowship Program 2018/2019


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"Christmas Issue"
Lucy to Host Christmas
Lucy will be having Christmas at her house this year. It's a potluck affair. Only those with food will be allowed in. Says Lucy, "It'll be very informal. No dinner table. If you have someplace else to go, feel free."
Well, she sounds excited, doesn't she? Take our word for it, it's going to be her usual gala event. The party starts around two o'clock, with dinner being served around three. Of course, live entertainment will be provided.
Also, if enough people bring a tennis racquet, we might be able to get a doubles game in.
Michael Back on Air
For those following the KCSS campus radio crisis, you'll be glad to know that the labor dispute between management and the employees (is there any other kind of labor dispute?) has been resolved. Mike, being a key negotiator/spokesman for the deejays, managed to get his name in several local papers during this desperate situation. We thought that was pretty neat. Anyway, Mike and his fellow deejays are back on the air. All ransom demands have been met. All hostages have been released.
Speaking of Mike, if you get a chance, be sure and see the videotape Doug took of Mike on the air. It's called "Mike On The Air." It's fascinating.
"It's best if viewed in fast-forward," says Mike.
Jeannie Doing Fine
If you're wondering whatever happened to Jeannie, we'd like to report that she's doing fine. She's been extremely busy with the 4-H Club, and that's why you probably haven't heard from her.
Husband John and the kids are reportedly doing fine, as well. John recently participated in his annual "Toy Run" to the State Capitol (in Sacramento). We asked him how it went and he said, "Fine."
News Flash
Bill's new address and phone number are:
____ Bagley Ave. #__
Los Angeles, CA 90034
(213) xx-xx
Please make a note of it. (In erasable ink.)
Thought for the day
Dating is a lot like baseball (and butterfly chasing). Even the great ones strike out seven out of ten times.

subset: commoncrawl


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The first thing that hits you when you walk into the Westbrook location of Haven's Candies is the intense smell. And it isn't just one smell, either — it's an olfactory swirl of sugar, butter, salt and the richness of roasted nuts met with deep, earthy notes of melted chocolate.
The second thing you notice is the bustle. This is the small company's factory store, after all, where everything gets mixed, molded, dipped and painted by hand. That's how it's been done since the company launched in 1915 (it's the oldest chocolatier in Maine) by Herbert Haven.
The son of confectioners in Boston, Haven moved to Portland to be with his wife, and they started creating candies in their kitchen, selling them out of the parlor of their house on Forest Avenue. Fast-forward to 2001, when the company was bought by Andy Charles, who brought annual sales to $2 million by 2014 and opened two retail-only locations in Scarborough and Portland, while also expanding Haven's wholesale and corporate gifts arenas.
Today the company is owned by Ellsworth native Erin Collins, who purchased it from Charles in 2014. It employs 28 people at its Westbrook factory. Everything is still made by hand using traditional methods, much of it reflecting the treasures of Maine, from pints of chocolate-covered blueberries (cleverly packaged like fresh produce from the grocery store) and gummy lobsters to hand-painted chocolate tableaus of lighthouse scenes, swimming loons and lobster traps.
And while Haven's makes all kinds of candy, caramel popcorn and peanut brittle among the standouts, it's really about the chocolate. Truffles come in flavors like Irish cream, cappuccino, caramel pecan, mint, and dark and white chocolates. There are the bear paws – Haven's version of turtles – with almonds, cashews, and pecans, each topped with hand-funneled chewy caramel and a layer of milk or dark chocolate. And there's a spate of fudges that range from peanut butter and penuche to maple pecan.
Paying a visit to the Westbrook location means you can, of course, buy and eat any of the above. But if you call ahead and book a tour, you can also witness the creation of all of it. Factory tours are $2.50 per person, with a $25 minimum total; visitors under 8 are given a window tour for safety reasons. Tours are available Monday through Thursday between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., though they generally don't run during December, as it's all hands on deck for the chocolatiers to fill every holiday order possible.
Alexandra Hall is a longtime New England lifestyle writer who recently moved to Maine.
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An evening of holiday music planned in Rangeley
Obituary: Victoria Simmons Meisner
Death Notices
Death Notice: Victoria Simmons Meisner
Obituary: Gordon Wayne Twitchell
Obituary: Johnnie I. Brown


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What You Need to Know About "The ABCs of School Choice" 2016 Edition
Since the launch of the nation's first modern school choice program in 1990, nationwide participation in school choice has grown leaps and bounds—by 115,301 percent! Today, there are 59 school choice programs in 28 states and Washington, D.C., each with its own design, history, and statistics. To help make differentiating and learning from individual programs simpler in 2016, the Friedman Foundation has released The ABCs of School Choice.
This year's handbook includes all of the information you've come to expect for every school choice program in America, including:
- Program participation
- Eligibility estimates
- Funding details
- Governing statutes
- Lists of regulations
- Legal histories
- Friedman Feedback and more.
New features of The ABCs of School Choice start with a bright new cover, but they don't stop there. The 2016 edition also includes:
National Snapshot of School Choice Over Time
On this spread, we provide graphs showing the change in the number of school choice programs and school choice program market share in the U.S. over time.
Color Coding
This edition uses the same color coding you'll find here on our website to differentiate program types. It's a great at-a-glance feature to help make navigating America's school choice programs easier.
Short Links to Virtual Program Pages
Every school choice program profile in The ABCs of School Choice includes a short link to the corresponding program page on our website, making it quicker and easier to find the most up-to-date information, should program details change throughout the year.
How to Get Your Copy
This publication is available in PDF format on our website. Just click The ABCs of School Choice to access it. On this page, you'll also find past editions.
Need a print copy of The ABCs of School Choice? Email your full name, mailing address, and the number of copies you would like to receive to firstname.lastname@example.com. We will mail your ABCs as soon as they are available.


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Storytelling has been on my mind for a while. I am writing a book about leadership. I also have been doing some work for Trinity College on innovation and entrepreneurship. Part of that is storyboarding, storytelling and pitching. Also writing a book about leadership, which in my view is all about storytelling.
Putting Stories to Work: Mastering Business Storytelling
So have been reading up. Titles such as "Resonate" (my old time favourite) by Nancy Duart and "Putting Stories to Work: Mastering Business Storytelling" by Shawn Callahan, to name a few.
Storytelling is everywhere
Storytelling seems relevant everywhere I look. Entrepreneurship, marketing, social media, change management, innovation, strategy, management, stakeholder engagement, learning, self-awareness, health, sports, leadership, etc., etc.. With all our distraction machines at our fingertips, I think stories will become more and more important. I think it will become the only medium that will remain effective. The only question is how we will apply technology to storytelling.
There is something sacred about stories. They have an almost supernatural power that should be wielded wisely. Religious scholars, psychologists, and mythologists have studied stories for decades to determine the secret to their powers. Stories created civilisations. Our ability to speak gave us the group-mindedness that helped us build larger communities and institutions.
Storytelling is older than the spoken word
It has only been in the last 6000 years or so that we have translated the sounds we make into a complete writing system. About 65 percent of the time we're talking informally, we're telling stories. It's hardwired into how we communicate. Unfortunately, writing now dominates corporate life. Yet at our core, our innate communication skills are miming and oral storytelling. We often forget that most of the communication in an organisation also happen orally.
We dream in stories
The greatest stories of all time were packaged and transferred so well that hundreds of illiterate generations could repeat them. The parables, fairytales and the fables. Stories are the most powerful delivery tool for information, more powerful and enduring than any other art form. We don't dream in memos, reports, facts or arguments or opinions. We dream in stories.
Mirror neurones
Let's start with the neurological part of storytelling because that is the key to unlock the understanding of how important storytelling is. It is called the mirror-neurone. A mirror neurone is a neurone that fires both when an animal acts and when the animal observes the same action performed by another. Thus, the neurone "mirrors" the behaviour of the other, as though the observer were itself acting.
When we listen to a story, the chemicals in our body change and our mind becomes transfixed. When you hear a story, you feel what the storyteller feels. When you hear a story, your brain lights up in the same way as the speaker's brain when they are telling the story. Hearing a good oral story is like seeing something actually happening.
Seeing and feeling
The important words are seeing and feeling. It is a fact of memory that we better remember something if we see it happening, even more so if we feel it happening. When we hear stories that evoke our compassion or admiration, more blood flows to our brain stem—the part of the brain that controls our heart beats, blood pressure and breathing We feel other people's emotional states, and it affects us deeply.
Let's take a marketing perspective. This is from "The end of absence", which is a passionate plea for less distraction and the danger of (the lack of) attention economy. Because perpetual connectivity in the short run boost energy levels and augment memory, but over time they impair cognition, lead to depression, and alter the neural circuitry in the hippocampus, amygdala, and prefrontal cortex—the brain regions that control mood and thought. Chronic and prolonged techno-brain burnout can even reshape the underlying brain structure.
- We "like" 4.5 billion items on Facebook every day
- We send 144 billion e-mails every day
- We upload one hundred hours of video to YouTube for every minute of real time.
- Every second, we uploaded 637 photos to Instagram
- The average teenager now manages upward of four thousand text messages every month
Only stories will help with the cut through of the information overload. Experiences continually wash over us every day, but only the ones that evoke an emotion get noticed.
Stories help us remember
We have an incredible memory for images. A researcher showed his subjects 10,000 images, fairly boring snaps of dogs, cars and people. Of the 10,000 images, the subjects correctly recalled 66 percent. Another research shows that when asked to recall the words, those who had constructed stories were able to remember 6–7 times as many words as those who had not used stories
We remember things that create emotion
Think of another emotional moment and see how well you can recall it. A story describes what happened. A good story helps you see what happened. A great story helps you feel what happened. A great story conveys emotion, engages us, and helps us picture what's happening. If two products have the same features, the one that appeals to an emotional need will be chosen. Read "The science of selling". Emotion always wins.
Storytelling is a competency
Business storytelling has arrived. Because the world continues to grow in complexity: change is speeding up. For organisations to be agile, to adapt, they have to forge sincere relationships and develop the ability to understand and work with emotion. In this environment, story work is a core competency.
Storytelling is an essential leadership skill
"The only thing of real importance that leaders do is to create and manage culture". That is from Edgar Schein. He developed the Organisational culture model. The principal vehicle of leadership is the story. The leader affects individual behaviour, thoughts and feelings through the stories that he and she is telling.
You cannot fake it
Culture is a set of stories. The leader's job is to set the scene and paint the picture. Memorable, meaningful and with heartstrings. Aiming for clarity and recall in their oral communication at work. With authenticity.
Remember the equation: Trust = (credibility + reliability + intimacy) / self-interest
If you want to build trust as a leader, you have to act in a way that triggers stories of credibility, reliability and intimacy, but not self-interest. "Leadership by example" in short. Or "servant leadership". Because the mirror neurones have a big BS detector. You cannot fake it. Imagine the leader as the emotional metronome (put a lot of metronomes in a room at different speeds and eventually they will sync). What the leader feels, the organisation feels.
Strategy is storytelling
The ability to shape your future depends on how well you communicate where you want to be when you get there. A global study conducted in 2012 involving 300,000 employees found that just over half did not understand the basics of their organisations' strategies. A good story would help. To be told repeatedly. It turns out that the more we hear about something, the more we accept it, or even like it. This is called the exposure effect.
Cells that fire together, wire together
Not only creating memories and change behaviour but also to create a collective of purpose. Cells that fire together, wire together (Donald Hebb). Creating flow. Read "Stealing fire". On how to create flow within organisations. Skyrocketing productivity. Flow creates a 200 percent boost in creativity, a 490 percent boost in learning, a 500 percent boost in productivity.
Now imagine applying technology to corporate storytelling. Using neuroscience, psychology, gaming technology, augmentation, virtual reality, memory implants, brain-net, nanotechnology, etc. If that is of interest, you should read "The future of the mind". That is a story you will remember.


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|Butterflies of Cuba
Day 8 - 28 Sept - Luna y Mares
We managed to see 34 butterfly species today around the hotel and the most notable was a pair of Antillean Crescent Antillea pelops in cop. - the first time we have seen this. They wouldn't allow a close approach so any shots I got were taken at some distance. Other than that we saw Black and Yellow-crowned Night Herons along with the first Tricolored Heron of the holiday at the lagoon. And 6 Gray Kingbirds were new arrivals from the north.
Leave a Reply.
Welcome to our Blog
Here we will post interesting news about what we and others have seen in Cuba.
April 2023


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Steve Anderson
Pedro Hernandez '99 performed his first stand-up routine at a campus talent show his freshman year. Now he appears under the name Black Pedro at Los Angeles comedy clubs and on a podcast called "Black & White With You and Me" that covers politics and race from a humorous perspective. He loves "the instant gratification of making people laugh," he says.


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Difference between revisions of "White Papers"
The Wiki of Unify contains information on clients and devices, communications systems and unified communications. - Unify GmbH & Co. KG is a Trademark Licensee of Siemens AG.
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=== Security ===
=== Security ===
* {{File-DL|VoIPSEC - Studie zur Sicherheit von VoIP|pdf|de}}
* {{File-DL|VoIPSEC - Studie zur Sicherheit von VoIP|pdf|de}}
Revision as of 08:59, 31 October 2013
White Papers describe several topics in general. These information are only/also available in German.
- SMB Communications Study (hidden communications cost, SIS International Research, January 2009)
- Whitepaper for SIP in SME (Colt, October 2010)
- White Paper CC (How to use the OpenStage built in call completion support.)
- White Paper MAA (Multiple Address Appearance on OpenStage SIP.)
- white paper uaCSTA Public version 2010803 (Using uaCSTA to control the phone from the server and vice versa.)


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After three editions, the highly acclaimed Africa International Film Festival, AFRIFF, has become a reference point for notable film festivals of African origin, and the most recognised from Nigeria.
O.C. Ukeje, Nollywood fast-rising star, said recently in Lagos, when asked about AFRIFF, "I was at the festival last year and it was loads of fun. The industry sessions were very informative and gave clear insights to a number of issues that we face as film practitioners. I am looking forward to attending this year's festival so I can learn some more."
For veteran actress, Kate Henshaw, the quality of films that were screened at the festival last year, are feats to look forward to. "I believe there is no doubt that AFRIFF is showing traits comparable to some festivals that have been in existence for several decades. I was so impressed by the strategic array of film entries screened at last year's edition. They provide a genuine platform for African film makers to learn from one another," she said.
AFRIFF, which was represented this year at notable film festivals in the world, such as, Cannes International Film Festival, France; Durban International Film Festival, South Africa; African Film Festival, New York and Toronto International Film Festival in Canada, has enjoyed an enviable collection of film entries, resource persons, artistic collaborations and top celebrities from various parts of Africa, and the Diaspora, thereby earning itself the status of a truly pan-African film forum and internationally recognised event.
"I am delighted with our Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR, initiative this year; the skill acquisition training workshops are taking a different dimension. We will be providing scholarships for exceptional students," said Chioma Ude, AFRIFF's Founder/ CEO.
"We are working towards making the festival a bigger spectacle by magnifying each component part," she added.
Also commending the initiative was Rita Dominic, one of AFRIFF's Goodwill Ambassadors who said, "I applaud AFRIFF's unwavering commitment to the positive transformation going on in Nollywood and the African cinema at large. The upcoming 2014 edition in Tinapa Business and Leisure Resort, Calabar, Cross River State is going to be a blast, so save the dates, November 9 to 16, 2014."
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"The Hand of Zeus" - The final 5,449 megapixel VAST photo
I'm frequently asked how I create extremely high resolution VAST photos of fleeting moments such as a lightning strike. I can't use the standard VAST technique because it requires stitching together multiple exposures taken over a lengthy period of time - and only one of those exposures would have the lightning strike in it. Instead, I utilize many image-processing techniques to merge elements from a single-exposure photograph of a lighning strike with elements from a new high resolution VAST photo created to mimic the original photo. Let's walk through "The Hand of Zeus", a 5,449-megapixel VAST photo of a lightning bolt striking New York City and Jersey City, as an example.
It was a sweltering day at the height of summer and a thunderstorm was quickly approaching from the west, spreading an oil-slick of darkness in front of it. Brimming with excitement, I perched myself high up on a building in downtown Manhattan, set up my gear, and began exposing images, hoping to capture a lightning strike branching out in front of the rain curtain.
It's impossible to predict exactly where a bolt will appear, so I framed the scene with a wide-angle 24mm lens to capture a broad perspective. I affixed an 8-stop neutral density filter to the lens and stopped down to f/22 so that I could use 10-second exposures, ensuring a high likelihood that my camera would be exposing if a strike happened. Finally I set up an intervalometer to automatically trigger the camera to continuously expose images one after another.
At 5pm, one of the most powerful lightning strikes I've ever witnessed suddenly pierced the sky directly in front of me, branching all the way across the Hudson river. And my Canon 5Ds camera was ready, exposing the moment with its 50-megapixel sensor.
The original single-exposure shot: 40 megapixels after cropping
A quick aside: the public is never privy to a photographer's countless empty harvests. I've spent over a decade chasing thunderstorms, exposing tens of thousands of images along the way... and coming closer than I'd like to being struck on more occasions than I'd like to admit - all in the hopes of eventually having the fortune to be granted a moment like this.
Very shortly after this exposure was taken, the approaching torrent of rain arrived and I had to head inside. This is when I began planning for the upconversion of the photo.
I first needed to create a standard VAST photo of the scene from the same vantage point. For weeks, I watched the sky every day, carefully studying how the late-afternoon lighting conditions played with the skyline - and comparing that to the original single-exposure image. My goal was to find a day where the illumination patterns on the buildings mimicked those on the original day.
I studied how the shadows and light interplayed with the skyline in the original shot
Many weeks later, I finally found a moment with the right sky conditions. At the same time in the afternoon, another storm was arriving from the west. As was needed, the cloud cover was thicker on the southern side of the storm front and an opening in the clouds to the northeast was providing the much-needed spotlight on the buildings that gave the original exposure such a dramatic aesthetic.
In the original shot, an opening in the clouds to the northeast created this dramatic spotlight on the skyline. I was waiting for another day where the sky behaved similarly.
Frantically, I rushed to the exact same location as the original exposure, hoping to get there before the lighting conditions changed or the rain came. When I arrived, instead of setting up my gear with the goal of capturing a lightning photo, I set it up with the goal of creating a 5,000-megapixel VAST photo. Among other things, this meant affixing a large 400mm telephoto lens to my camera instead of the 24mm wide-angle lens I used for the original shot. Over the following 15 minutes, I exposed 111 frames, each one capturing a small section of the scene. When stitched together, these frames would encompass the full field of view as the original single-exposure photo, but amount to an image that had orders of magnitude higher resolution.
When I got back to my computer, I did a quick test-stitch of the images to see how they looked. Although the lighting conditions were similar to the original afternoon, they were still different enough to be problematic. The new images had less contrast and weren't as dark or moody. Furthermore, a small opening in the clouds on the northwestern horizon was causing some of the buildings to have warmer purple tones than in the original shot, which had a more desaturated grey/green aesthetic. I was going to have to carefully color correct the new images.
A test-stitch of the new high resolution photo had a similar aesthetic but still needed a lot of color correction to match the original photo's look-and-feel
The goal was now to process the 111 raw exposures to have a visual aesthetic as similar as possible to that of the original shot. I measured the saturation, luminance values, and color tones of the original image and used those to inform demosaicing algorithms that converted the raw camera sensor data into 16-bit color values. There was not a one-size-fits-all algorithm that worked across the entire scene, so I did this multiple times, focusing on different areas of the scene each time.
Color correcting the raw files of the new image to match the original
After this, I stitched the color-corrected 16-bit image files together. This new photo was 136 times higher resolution than the original shot and had a quality equivalent to 2,628 full-HD TVs. The photo looked similar to the original shot, but the clouds and river were missing. This was because I hadn't shot frames of those areas, knowing that they wouldn't matter; I would be replacing those parts of the new image with parts of the original image.
I stitched together 111 frames to make the new scene
At this point, I needed to take the sky, river, and lightning bolt from the original shot, scale them up to 13,600% of their original size, and then blend them into the new photo. I started with the sky. Thanks to the falling rain, soft lighting conditions, fast-moving storm, and 10-second exposure time, the clouds in the original original shot lacked any sharp lines of contrast or color. This meant that they were effectively just layered gradients of luma values - something that could be abstracted and scaled without reduction in detail (because there is no detail to begin with). There were two challenges to address during this process:
On a more modestly sized enlargement, either of these challenges would be easily addressable. However, on an enlargement of this magnitude, the typical solutions for addressing each of these challenges worked at odds with one another. Banding is typically addressed by adding noise. But, splotching is typically addressed by reducing noise. Any attempt to ameliorate one of the issues would have the unintended consequence of worsening the other.
I attacked this problem by first running an extremely strong noise-reduction filter on the unscaled sky. This prepared the image to be enlarged without any noise. However, instead of scaling the image 136x at this point, I scaled it 3x. After the scale, the image remained beautifully noise-free, but the banding problem was beginning to become subtly noticeable. To fix this, I applied a filter that arbitrarily moves pixels a random amount away from their current position. I set the maximum random distance to be about the average distance between 3 gradient bands. This obscured the banding. It also added a noise level back into the image that was at about the same level as that of the original exposure. I then scaled the image 3x again and applied the filters once more. I repeated this process, gradually scaling the sky up in stepwise increments, tweaking the filters as the image grew along the way.
I needed to find a way to enlarge the sky 13,500% without causing banding or splotching
Thanks to the powerful, liquid-cooled computer I custom built and overclocked to 5 GHz, this calculation-heavy CPU process wasn't too time-intensive. Furthermore, pushing dozens of gigabytes of 16-bit color values through the machine was a breeze for the 3,500 MB/sec hybrid PCle SSD + RAID 5 disk array I built for data storage.
Data processing was handled by an 8-core liquid-cooled computer overclocked to 5 GHz
At this point, the most arduous step began. I needed to replace the sky in the new photo with the now-scaled sky from the original photo. There are techniques you can use to automate this to a certain extent, but they are mistake-prone and the transition boundaries where the different images meet usually end up looking less-than-realistic - especially on extremely high resolution photos where the details are so sharp. So, as an obsessive perfectionist, I powered up my graphics tablet and began the process of meticulously hand-masking the original sky on top of the new photo's sky - carefully masking around every last brick on every last building. To speed up the process, I custom-designed brushes to mimic the typical shapes found on the tops of the buildings.
Masking around the buildings in the new photo
After three non-stop days of doing nothing but eating, sleeping, and masking, the scaled sky from the original shot was perfectly blended into the new photo.
I then repeated this entire scaling, de-noising, de-banding, masking, and merging process for the river, carefully blending around the intricate rigging of every sailboat in the harbor.
I masked in the original oily-dark river around every single sailboat from the new set of photos
Finally, nearly a week after I had begun this step, the entire mask was finished... and my hand was rather sore.
I spent a week working non-stop to hand-mask the new image so I could merge in the enlarged sky and river from the original image
It was now time to add the lightning bolt. A lighting bolt is, in effect, just a meandering white line with varying degrees of thickness and brightness. So, I scaled up the original bolt and superimposed it as a stencil on top of the new photo. I then used that stencil to trace the exact pattern of the strike. I executed this trace with a specially-designed brush that allowed me to use my stylus + pressure-sensitive graphics tablet to precisely mimic the brightness + thickness qualities of the original bolt as they changed across the different stepped leaders.
Once completed, the new bolt looked great when the image was zoomed out. However, when the image was zoomed in, the bolt looked too "perfect." There was a simple reason for this: as light travels through a camera lens, which is an imperfect refractor, a principle known as "chromatic aberration" causes regions of stark contrast (such as a bright lighting bolt backdropped by a dark sky) to be fringed in a subtle purple/red glow. My hand-drawn lightning bolt didn't have this imperfection. So, I manually added in a very subtle purple/red halo around the bolt to mimic how the bolt would have looked had it been light that had passed through a lens.
Creating the higher resolution version of the lightning strike from the stencil of the original
Next came the challenge of creating the area of the new image where the lightning bold merged with objects in the scene and was no longer just a simple white line. The primary area where this happened was the tree the bolt struck at the north end of Battery Park City. There was one small problem, however - the bolt had caused that entire tree to explode into thousands of pieces, so it was completely nonexistent in the new photo. Thankfully, there were three other nearly-identical metasequoia trees still standing right next to where the original tree was. So, I used elements from those trees to meticulously fashion a new tree that matched the tree that was there (and exploding) in the original shot. Then, I painted the new lighting bolt into the tree, manually matching the color and aesthetics of the fiery glow from in the original shot.
The tree that exploded from the strike was not in the new photo so I had to create it
At this point, the photo still didn't quite have the look of the original shot because the shading on the buildings didn't have exactly the same characteristics. So I began the meticulous process of adjusting the luminance of every shadow, no matter how small, on every building. I quickly realized how important this was because the mood of this particular scene is largely defined by the qualities of the shading in the shadows. This took another few days of non-stop work.
Adjusting the shading to mimic the original
Last but not least, there were some small details that were dissimilar and needed to be attended to. For example, the streetlamps were illuminated in the original shot but not in the new one. Additionally, there were some people on the pathways in new photo that needed to be removed because they weren't there in the original. I used standard photo editing techniques to fix these situations, always carefully using the original exposure as a reference point for how to fix them.
Every tiny detail needed to match the original, including "turning on" the streetlights which weren't on in the new scene
Finally, after 200+ total hours of work and a set of layered image data amounting to over 100 gigabytes, I stepped back and compared the new version with the original:
The new VAST photo vs the original shot
They looked nearly identical... except for one important difference: the new version had a resolution that was 13,523% higher than the original.
a 13,523% increase in clarity
Intricate details become clearly visible in the higher resolution version
With 89,889 pixels of horizontal resolution and 60,617 pixels of vertical resolution, the new photo can be printed 50 feet wide and still remain exceedingly sharp to the naked eye. By comparison, traditional fine art photographs show a noticeable reduction in quality when printed larger than 19 inches wide.
The final photo can be printed up to 50 feet wide and remain sharp to the naked eye
VAST is a group of photographers, computer scientists, artists, engineers, and obsessive perfectionists. We innovate new techniques, equipment, and processes for creating the highest resolution fine art photographs ever made - like this one. If you're interested in what we do, consider supporting our mission by purchasing one of our limited edition prints.
Explore the full 5,449-megapixel VAST photo
The final 5,449-megapixel VAST photo


text: Fighting a fire isn't just about the during, it's very much about the before and after, preparation, having the right gear and being mentally prepared. If you've decided to stay home and defend your property against a bushfire there are a range of things to be considered, from if the house is defendable through to what gear is needed and if you are mentally prepared for what you may face. South Australia's Country Fire Service has a good section on its website about the mental preparation for fighting a fire, there is a great list of what feelings to expect and how to manage them. "Bushfires are extremely dangerous and difficult for us to fight. Our instant response is to flee. We may only feel this when the fire is close. Then the flee response is often fatal as it can take us directly into the fire. We feel first and think second. "Practicing your Bushfire Survival Plan gives you a chance to see what works and can help you overcome the instinctual response to flee at the wrong time." The CFS notes you should only develop a plan after talking with those who have experienced a bushfire before. Before deciding to stay it is paramount you understand: It is very important that you do not abandon your plan at the critical moment. If you are set on staying and the conditions allow for that, then you need to: The Victorian Country Fire Authority states defending your home requires two able-bodied, fit and determined adults. You'll need this fire fighting gear: This protective clothing: If you get caught in a building during a bushfire: If you are caught in your car: A car is one of the deadliest places to be in a bushfire. The only sure way to survive is to be nowhere near the fire. If you can't escape the path of the fire: Things to remember: Do not shelter in a dam, swimming pool, or a water tank except as an absolute last resort. Dams, swimming pools and water tanks leave your face, head and lungs exposed to radiant heat and smoke.


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At small dental practices, the idea of offering health benefits to employees is exciting, yet the task of evaluating and budgeting for health benefits can feel daunting.
What strategy is right for your dental practice? What can you afford? Are you making the right decision?
Last week, we wrote an article featured on DentistryIQ outlining six questions dental practices, or any small business, should ask before offering health benefits.
Here are highlights from the recent Zane Benefits blog feature article.
Article Highlights - Assessing Health Benefits
As dental practices research health benefit options, a smart first step is to evaluate the practice's needs, budget, and goals by asking these six questions:
Who will be covered by the health benefits?
What is your health benefits budget?
What do employees value most?
Who will manage the health benefits program?
What are your health benefits goals?
What type of health benefits should you offer?
"With new health benefit options available to small dental practices, health benefits are within reach. What is the best approach? It will depend on your health benefit needs and goals. Asking these six questions is a wise place to start."
The article can be accessed via DentistryIQ's website and is a helpful resource for Dentists and dental practice managers.
About DentistryIQ
DentistryIQ provides dental professionals worldwide with a comprehensive collection of information on what is happening in the dental industry. The DentistryIQ feature titled, "Wise-up Wednesday from Zane Benefits: Before you offer health benefits, ask these 6 questions" discusses tips for evaluating health benefits.


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The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) offers a variety of trainings, certifications, and guidance materials for Indiana businesses and individual professionals.
- Asbestos Licensing:
- Those working to remove regulated asbestos must be licensed to work in Indiana. There are various required levels of experience, training, and fees associated with each type of license. The IDEM Office of Air Quality (OAQ), works with approved training providers to offer about 149 different courses (licensing types).
- Drinking Water Operator Certification:
- The IDEM Office of Water Quality (OWQ), Drinking Water Branch, offers drinking water operator certification examinations by computer based testing at 24 Ivy Tech locations throughout the state. Applications may be submitted to IDEM. There is a $30 (nonrefundable) fee per grade of certification examination being requested. For individuals who qualify, Ivy Tech has a testing site fee of $40 per grade of certification examination administered. Additionally, there will be an annual pencil and paper exam session offered for those that prefer this method.
- Environmental Management E101 Training:
- E101 is free training offered by the IDEM Compliance and Technical Assistance Program (CTAP) staff for those persons managing environmental responsibilities at Indiana businesses. The goal of this training is to assist environmental managers in understanding current state and federal environmental regulations and determining how they are applied to Indiana businesses. This training is divided into five (5) modules: Air, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), Water, Pollution Prevention (P2) for Businesses, and Storage Tanks, Spills, and Emergency Planning and Response. Each module includes a written manual, a PowerPoint presentation, and lesson exercises.
- Underground Storage Tanks (UST):
- All of Indiana's UST facilities must designate individuals as Class A, B, or C operators for various responsibilities of system operations. They must be certified in different aspects of system maintenance and operations. The IDEM Office of Land Quality (OLQ) provides the required training and certification program for free through the Regulatory Services Portal. Please review the UST Operator Training Quick Start Guide [PDF] for more information.
- Wastewater Operator Certification and Continuing Education:
- Indiana requires that all Wastewater Operators be certified and licensed, and that they keep their certification status current. The IDEM Office of Water Quality (OWQ) hosts the Wastewater Operator exam for new operators through the certification program. Various private parties and organizations offer courses designed to prepare candidates to sit for the wastewater operator exams. IDEM does not recommend or endorse any specific provider, but does encourage adequate preparation be done prior to sitting for one of the exams. The exam for new operators can be taken as a paper exam once a year, or electronically anytime. Existing Wastewater Operators can renew their certification license online (available from May 1 through July 1).


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With the swearing in of Narendra Modi as prime minister on May 26, India will have a government led by a man whose political education was acquired not in a democratic, secular and often rambunctious national parliament but in an intolerant, disciplined Hindu nationalist organization unashamedly influenced by 1930s European fascism, complete with theories of a master race.
The potential danger to Indian democracy and minority rights has never been this acute since the country's independence in 1947. Indira Gandhi's suspension of civil rights in the 1970s silenced critics but did not threaten fundamental institutions in the long run, and voters were able to reverse what she had done in one decisive trip to the ballot box.
In today's India, promoters of the most radical fringe of Hindu nationalism within Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) want to constrict Indian diversity and enforce an imagined civilizational purity they call Hindutva. Their campaign has already demonstrated its power to oppress and kill Muslims, destroy their mosques, force the "reconversion" of Christians and Buddhists, wade into censorship, limit critical or analytical scholarship and police the arts. Hindu zealots drove the country's most celebrated painter, M. F. Hussein, into self-imposed exile in London, where he died in 2011.
At the center of secular Indian concern is the largest of the Hindu nationalist groups, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), founded in 1925. In 1947, independent India's first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, sent a letter to political officials in Indian states, asking them to beware of the movement. "We have a great deal of evidence to show that the R.S.S. is an organization which is in the nature of a private army and which is definitely proceeding on the strictest Nazi lines," he wrote. Rajiv Gandhi, his grandson and prime minister from 1984 to 1989, reiterated the fear of Hindu nationalism in an interview with me just before his assassination in Tamil Nadu in 1991. He was at the end of a grueling campaign to return the Congress party to power, and he said his hope was that he could block the political rise of Hindu fundamentalists.
William Dalrymple, the eminent British writer on South and West Asia, who lives in India, brought the story up to date in an article in the London publication The New Statesman as India voted this year. "Like the Phalange in Lebanon," he wrote, "the RSS was founded in direct imitation of European fascist movements, and like its 1930s fascist models, it still makes much of daily parading in khaki drill and the giving of militaristic salutes: the RSS salute differs from that of the Nazis only in the angle of the arm, which is held horizontally over the chest. The RSS sees this as an attempt to create a corps of dedicated paramilitary zealots, who, so the theory goes, will form the basis of a revival of a golden age of national strength and racial purity."
"swipe left below to view more authors"Swipe →
A People's Obituary of Henry Kissinger
A People's Obituary of Henry Kissinger
The Right to Speak for Ourselves
The Right to Speak for Ourselves
If Narendra Modi Is Running a Global Death Squad, He'll Be Protected by the Kissinger Doctrine
If Narendra Modi Is Running a Global Death Squad, He'll Be Protected by the Kissinger Doctrine
The "Harvard Law Review" Refused to Run This Piece About Genocide in Gaza
The "Harvard Law Review" Refused to Run This Piece About Genocide in Gaza
The RSS is the organization that took Modi in as a young man and nurtured him. Critics will be watching to see if he can, in national office, rise above the narrow RSS vision of what India should be. Much of his troubling history is glossed over inside India and abroad in the rush toward economic growth in a climate designed to please corporations and international investors and boost the economy for all, an attractive prospect for India's restless young people.
It is universally acknowledged that as chief minister of Gujarat state—akin to an American governor—Modi's record was stellar. Though a solitary, ascetic, quirky character personally, he completed large public projects at a rate most of India has never managed. Infrastructure was improved, corruption in the bureaucracy attacked, red tape ripped away and the state's door opened to business and corporate interests. American delegations, including members of Congress, turned up in Gujarat to hear his pitch, even though Modi was denied entry to the United States because of allegations that he condoned or did not stop, a pogrom against Muslims in 2002, in which between 1,000 and 2,000 died and many thousands lost their homes and businesses.
Addressing Modi's refusal to apologize to Muslims or ease their pain then and since, Siddharth Varadarajan, former editor of The Hindu newspaper and now a senior fellow at the Center for Public Affairs and Critical Theory at Shiv Nadar University in Uttar Pradesh, wrote in a column for NDTV, an Indian media organization:
Mr. Modi's critics can be forgiven for feeling a knot in their stomach today, but this is not the first time the Indian electorate has ignored the unpleasant baggage a candidate brings and been seduced by the dream of technology, development and corruption-free government. In December 1984, Rajiv Gandhi won 404 seats barely a month after his Congress party presided over the mass murder of Sikhs in Delhi, Kanpur, Bokaro and other north Indian cities.
Like Modi, Rajiv Gandhi appealed to young voters and the corporate sector. Despite the power he enjoyed, he still was unable to make big changes, in large part because of political pushback.
As India's prime minister, Modi is a newcomer to national politics, and Delhi is not Gujarat. His "presidential," often autocratic style will encounter checks in the Indian parliament and in bureaucratic institutions that served Congress party leaders for decades. Even the intelligence agencies, domestic and foreign, have long been tools of Congress prime ministers. Modi may have won a majority of seats—282 in a lower house of 543, with the Congress party reduced to a humiliating forty-four seats—but political analysts in India calculate that he garnered only 31 percent of the popular vote. While there will not be an official political opposition at least at the start, because no other party rose to the required level of 55 seats, India's politicians are quick to form coalitions to mount challenges or delay legislation in raucous debates.
There are still other Gandhis in the wings on both sides of the political divide, should the new order in Delhi stumble. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, the sister of Rahul (who led the Congress party to ignominious defeat at the polls) is a stronger public speaker whose presence reminds many people of her grandmother, Indira Gandhi. Priyanka may be willing, or persuaded, to relinquish her private life for politics. Varun Gandhi, first cousin of Rahul and Priyanka, won a parliamentary seat for the BJP and, given voters' fascination with the Gandhi dynasty, he could rise in the party as a challenger to some of its older leaders.
Corruption and criminality among politicians remain serious problems on a scale Modi may find hard to tackle. After election results were declared, The Hindustan Times published the findings of two nongovernmental organizations tracking malfeasance. The two groups, National Election Watch and the Association for Democratic Reforms, looked at affidavits on 541 winners of parliamentary seats from all parties and found that 34 percent have declared criminal cases against them, up four percentage points from the last national election in 2009. Ironically, the rates of alleged criminality were higher among BJP members of parliament than among elected Congress politicians—22 percent for the BJP and 7 percent for Congress. BJP members also led Congress 4 to 1 on allegations of murder.
The faltering Indian economy, which Modi promised to reenergize, has some big hurdles, including low (for India) growth figures and entrenched political resistance to foreign involvement in the country's development and commerce. International trade lags, and the US-India nuclear energy agreement negotiated by the Bush administration against the advice of numerous nuclear experts has yet to be benefit American companies because of unprecedented demands made on foreign partners. The World Bank ranks India 134 out of 189 countries in ease of doing business.
The environment, population policy—India has more than 1.2 billion people and will soon overtake China—and abysmal health and education systems as measured by world standards barely got a mention by candidates in the 2014 campaign. And in a country that ranks among the five worst in the world to be a woman, female political candidates are scarce and getting proportionately scarcer. Only 8 percent of candidates in this year's election were women, Swapna Majumdar, a Delhi-based journalist wrote in Womens eNews, based on a study by the Center for Social Research in Delhi. "Physical violence, verbal abuse and the threat of violence were much higher for women in politics in India than Pakistan or Nepal."


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For the eleventh time, Folch participated in the Handarbeit & Hobby, International Trade Fair for knitting, embroidery, needlework and handicrafts. Handarbeit & Hobby is well known as the largest and most international trade fair for this industry in Europe.
With over 80 years of experience, Folch believes that it is crucial for a brand to keep up to date and refreshed according to the new expectations of its market. Because of that, Handarbeit & Hobby has become a very important trade fair for Folch and the company has attended it in the last ten editions.
For 2009, Folch will showcase the Hobby Creative brand to over 8,000 expected visitors. The company will also have the opportunity of interacting with more than 190 suppliers from 24 countries. Hobby Creative is a consumer brand of pins and accessories for crafts, patchwork, bracelets, modelism and applique-sequin.
Handarbeit & Hobby 2009 was held from March 20 – 22, 2009 in Germany.
For more information about the Handarbeit & Hobby 2009 visit: http://www.handarbeit-hobby.de


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John Wesley: Founder of the Methodist Church
John Wesley faithfully preached the gospel around England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales for 53 years, and led a spiritual renewal across these islands. He planted over 500 churches, and in so doing founded the Methodist Church.
Buy a copy of the Remarkable Lives book on John Wesley here. Not only a biography, it's also a reference tool that includes all his most famous quotes, writings and anecdotes. And at the end of each chapter there are learning summaries, sharing life lessons from him in spiritual leadership.
You can also book a free seminar on his life and legacy from the author for your church or organisation.
Captures the raw essence of his character whilst revealing practical leadership skills for today.
The depth of reflection and insight is extremely significant. If read and absorbed, this book could play a major part in developing leaders and providing the church with strong direction.
For an example of the book's content, read these blog posts on John Wesley:
Free John Wesley Seminar
The seminar is free, but travel expenses from SW London are requested.
Remarkable Lives
Other biographies and seminars in the Remarkable Lives series are available on Hudson Taylor, Amy Carmichael and William Wilberforce.
Amy Carmichael
Missionary to India. Rescued thousands of children from temple prostitution and slavery.


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Skype has announced the release of Skype 6.4 for Mac which brings easier to use instant messaging.
Today we have released a new version of Skype for Mac. In this release, we have focused on ease of use of our instant messaging experience.
Infinite chat scrolling
We have introduced a new way of loading history. Each time you scroll upward, more and more messages will be loaded from history. Scrolling is motion sensitive, the faster you scroll the more messages load. To jump back in history. Ctrl + click anywhere (or right click) in the chat and select "Jump back " and select the period you want to jump back to. We have also separated dates from the timestamps and created date sections instead to make it more visible in the chat. Skype will index all chat history when you first login and consume less resources after indexing completion.
Improved find within the chat
We have redesigned the find functionality to be part of the chat view, instead of opening in a separate window. You can easily navigate between results and see the total number of matches in the chat. Current match is highlighted in yellow. You can also search strings by using "Starts with" or "Contains" option. Recent searches are stored so that you can reuse them in the future.
Custom Chat Styles removal
We have removed custom chat styles to ensure consistency across our clients. If you prefer a more compact layout for your chat, you can go to preferences > messaging > "use compact chat style"
Improved send and receive contacts
We have redesigned the way contacts are sent and received by users. When multiple contacts are sent, the recipient will see an expandable list in the conversation and can either add them all at once or add them one by one. If the received contact is already in the contacts list, or is blocked, the recipient will see the relevant status.
Improved file transfer
We have improved file transfer allowing users to reaccept the file when receiving. File transfer will remain active till the sender cancels it.
Support for Simplified Chinese
We have added language support for Simplified Chinese.
You can download Skype 6.4 for Mac from Skype.com


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Take control of a stickman and compete against the crowd in Parkour Race. The goal of Parkour Race is to be the first to reach the finish line. You can run or jump from rooftop to rooftop! Run along the glowing speed bumpers to gain momentum, and perform jumps and flips to showcase your style. There are daily challenges, bonuses and even glamorous accessories to create your character like no other. Take your running game to the next level with Parkour Race!
Instruction to play:
On the computer is carried out with the help of arrows
On the touch screens with the help of taps.


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These pillowcases are specially designed to compliment the Paediatric Anti-Suffocation Pillow. If you are looking for the the Epilepsy pillowcase click here
The pillowcases help reduce incidence of suffocation, they are designed to be porous and so let air pass through.
- Reduces the risk of SUDEP (Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy), meaning that you can sleep soundly knowing that you or your loved one will be safe
Please note: For hygiene reasons, we cannot accept returns of this epilepsy pillowcase unless faulty


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Rose Rebelle Respawn Eau De Toilette Spray By A Lab on Fire for Women 2 oz
Shipping calculated at checkout.
Rose Rebelle Respawn Perfume by A Lab on Fire, You've always written your own rules for life. Adversity's been met with resolve; your heart is set, your mind belongs solely to you, your strength knows no bounds, and you master your future. Relaunched by popular demand in 2013, rose rebelle respawn, produced by a lab on fire and created by famed nose sophia grojsman, is an oriental floral scent created for irrepressible individuals who demand that life bends to their needs.
Keep in mind that inventory is updated daily and might become out of stock!


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Dhaka - SPA
Minister of Foreign Affairs Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir participated in the meetings of the 45th session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member states held here today, under the title" "Islamic Values for Sustainable Peace, Solidarity and Development", in the presence of the Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikha Hasina Wajid.
Al-Jubeir delivered the address of the Arab Group, on behalf of the League of Arab States and the presidency of the 29th Arab Summit the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and congratulated the brotherly Republic of Bangladesh, on its presidency of the session, expressing thanks also to the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire, the Secretary-General of the OIC and the Secretariat for their efforts during the previous session.
In his speech, he stressed that the Palestinian right to establish an independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital and the importance of a comprehensive and lasting peace as a strategic option embodied in the Arab Peace Initiative, adopted by the Arab Summit held, in Beirut, in 2002 and the Extraordinary Islamic Summit held, in Makkah, in 2005, pointing out that the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud has labelled the 29th Arab Summit held in Dhahran as Al-Quds Summit (Jerusalem summit), to underscore the that Palestine and its people are, at the hearts of Arabs and Muslim, as a whole.
We underscore the importance of supporting the Muslim minorities in the world, especially the Rohingya minority in Myanmar, and I take this opportunity to pay tribute to the great support and sacrifices that brotherly Bangladesh offers to host Rohingya refugees, on its territory, he stressed.
The crises remain as limited as we are united and agreed to solve them, he stated, saying that we hope to confront extremism and terrorism, recalling the successes achieved by the OIC member states, in the face of the unprecedented proliferation of extremist and terrorist groups, he highlighted and expressing hope that the session will conclude to appropriate recommendations to get rid of such a serious scourge, and drawing attention that during the recent Arab summit, the Arab countries strongly condemned Iran's ongoing interference in the internal affairs of the Arab countries, the fueling of sectional and sectarian conflicts, and its support for terrorism, such as Al-Houthi and Hezbollah.
Al-Quds Summit in Dhahran has also reiterated demanding Iran's to withdraw its militias and elements from Arab countries and to stop supporting and supplying the Houthi militias with Iranian-made ballistic missiles and weapons, which are directed, at Saudi cities, including the Muslims' holiest shrine, in Makkah, he reminded the session.
Regarding the Syrian crisis, the Foreign Minister stressed the need to find a political solution to end the crisis, in order to achieve the aspirations of the brotherly Syrian people and end their sufferings and in order to preserve the unity of Syria, protect its sovereignty and independence and end the presence of all external forces and sectarian terrorist groups, based on the Security Council resolution no. 2254 and Geneva 1 Conference Declaration.
The Foreign Minister concluded by stressing the commitment of the Arab countries to work within the framework of the OIC to achieve the aspirations of the Muslim peoples to live, in dignity and security, as well.
Last Modified Date: 06/05/2018 - 5:26 AM Saudi Arabia Time


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The San Jose City Council on Tuesday asked city staff to provide in November a detailed ordinance that will improve the process of reporting illegal fireworks.
The move comes after complaints from residents the current enforcement and citation process is not fair.
One of the things that will be addressed is the online reporting system and making sure that people do not submit vague reports, but are specific, give addresses and clear photos.
"We are going to look at changes to our online reporting to try to get better evidence and will work with the city attorney to make sure we get good evidence to continue to do good online reporting," San Jose Fire Chief Curtis Jacobson said.
Jacobson said while the new fines and enfrocement effort need some improvements, it was a step up in the right direction. During the week of the Fourth of July, the city received more than 4,000 pounds of ilegal fireworks were seized.
Jacobson said it is possible the new plan will also require violators to pay for response costs if their illegal fireworks cause a fire.
Council members will review a detailed plan on Nov. 28.


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It is quite exciting to go back to a beautiful country as Tanzania. Being picked up by Msangi, a Serengeti specialist , photographer and driver, we had a blast in the beautiful huge park of Serengeti. Chased by elephants at the entrance promised a great stay….The road to our movable camp was quite long, but…Continue Reading
Articles Written By: adrihendriksen
Nursing home
In November 2016 I visited a nursing home in the Netherlands. Although the facility did not look that inviting, the atmosphere once inside, was really great. The caretakers and volunteers did their best to create a feeling of coziness to the occupants of the nursing home. I was impressed with the efforts they made to…Continue Reading
Sun Moon Lake Taiwan April 2016
Living in Taipei part time does mean traveling, obviously. One of the biggest tourist attractions is Sun Moon Lake, a three hour car drive from Taipei. Renting a car is the first obstacle to overcome, but we're Dutch, so he, who cares? Carplus is a nice little place, hidden next to a MRT station and…Continue Reading
My neighbors in Taipei
When in Taipei, I usually take my bag and am on my way to Chinese class or the gym. However, this day I decided to take a stroll through my street and meet some people. Right next to my apartment there is a little park. It is fun to just go out and meet people…Continue Reading
Taiwan model photoshoot
It was a great experience to be able to have a photoshoot done with some very nice people from a meetup group photography. The founders of this group actually form their own international platform, see their website http://www.opeanut.com. The modeling is new to me, it gave me a unique experience in Taiwan, where these models are…Continue Reading
Trip to Bali 2016
Chinese New Year…. staying in Taipei was not really an option. I am not a big fan of fire works as Chinese like them. Although rainy season in Bali, we -my husband and I- decided to give it a try. A former stay at Nusa Dua promised a great island. And we were right! Bali…Continue Reading
Photo trip to Tanzania
Together with NeemaTours I organize a photo trip to Tanzania. Safari, culture and landscape are our main goals for the trip. NeemaTours is specialized in organizing trips in Tanzania, the owner Cynthia studied in Tanzania, speaks the Swahili language, knows the people and the most beautiful places to see and photograph. Please check out the…Continue Reading
Good news
As of January, I will have more time to take pictures and travel! I will be living in Taiwan part time , so I decided to temporarily stop teaching to be able to have more time for photography! I will be adding new pictures and hear from you if you are interested in photos and/…Continue Reading


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Moreno Valley, Ca; Paris, France - April 13th 2005 - Mandriva (pronounced "Man-dree-vah"!), the company formerly known as Mandrakesoft, today released Limited Edition 2005, a special new version of its operating system that blends the most up to date popular open source applications, including Firefox 1.0.2, with specific customisations resulting in advanced multimedia, internet and development capabilities. These features include out-of-the-box Web content RSS reading and software sound mixing (so multiple applications can play sound at once). Limited Edition 2005 is the only Linux system to allow the trouble-free coexistence of 32-bit and 64-bit applications. It also offers enhanced hardware support for removable devices, including the ability to boot from USB keys.
Sold exclusively online by Mandriva, this new release is available right now as a download to Mandriva Club members who benefit from privileged as well as discounted access to the company's products. Other customers can purchase the Limited Edition's DVD set on Mandriva Store.
"People have always turned to Mandriva Linux for the latest and hottest in Linux. Limited Edition 2005 is a strong embodiment of that desire, while maintaining excellent stability. Some open source enthusiasts don't want to wait 10 months to take advantage of Linux's breathtaking pace of innovation. Those enthusiasts will find great value in LE 2005," commented François Bancilhon, Mandriva CEO.
Summary of important applications:
- Linux kernel 184.108.40.206
- KDE 3.3.2 (with some backports from version 3.4, including kpdf)
- Firefox 1.0.2
- The GIMP 2.2
- Cdrecord 2.01.01a21 (with DVD+R dual-layer support)
- OpenOffice.org 1.1.4
- MySQL 4.1.11
* Power user's dream *
Linux power users will welcome the advanced Web experience, enhanced hardware compatibility and expanded development options brought by Limited Edition 2005, along with significant performance gains. Firefox 1.0.2 offers the most advanced Web browsing experience, with multi-tabbed navigation, pop-up blocking, increased speed, and unmatched security. Limited Edition also offers the RSS reader Akregator. RSS is a format used to simplify the aggregation and syndication of Web content. RSS feeds contain news and updates from websites and blogs, providing personalized access to information.
Limited Edition 2005 is built to optimize and increase performance. It has been developed with x86-64 technology in mind, which allows for the use of more powerful applications. Support for dual-core technology adds to potential performance, allowing the use of advanced new processors. Developers and power users running demanding multimedia configurations will appreciate the additional power those features provide. Some special optimizations enhance the overall speed delivered by the system. For instance, KDE 3.3 is 10% faster, thanks to special tuning by Mandriva.
Addressing both the x86 and x86-64 architectures, Limited Edition 2005 is the only Linux system to allow the seamless installation and running of 32-bit applications on 64-bit platforms. This will allow users to benefit from all the power and performance of 64-bit technology while continuing to use vital 32-bit applications. Developers will welcome the ability to develop 32-bit and 64-bit versions of the same application on the same machine, without the need to use chroot. Finally, Limited Edition allows you to copy the contents of the DVD to the hard disk during installation, removing the need to use the DVD for subsequent software installation, and so saving even more time.
Limited Edition 2005 provides better support for removable devices such as digital cameras, CD-ROM drives and USB keys through immediate detection of devices as they are plugged in, and by allowing you to boot the installation from a USB key.
Also available is DKMS which allows kernel modules to be dynamically built for each kernel on your system in a simplified and organized fashion.
A special feature that will certainly appeal to gamers and enthusiasts is that the new release from Mandriva has support for the Xbox console, empowering users to bridge the divide between gaming and other computer activities. Additional hardware enhancements include full support for Adaptec Host RAID controllers (RAID, SCSI, SATA) and extended recognition for the most recent flat screen monitors, including widescreen resolutions.
More information is available at:
* Availability *
Mandriva Club members and Mandriva's contributors have immediate access to LE 2005 through Bittorrent or HTTP download. Limited Edition 2005 is immediately available for preorder to other customers as a DVD set at the price of 65 USD (59 euros):
Mandriva Club subscriptions: http://www.mandrivalinux.com/en/club
A free download version will be made publicly available at a later date.
About Mandriva
Mandriva, formerly known as Mandrakesoft, is the publisher of the popular Mandriva Linux operating system, one of the most full-featured and easy to use Linux systems. The company offers its enterprise, government educational customers a complete range of GNU/Linux and Open Source software and related services. Mandriva products are available in more than 120 countries through dedicated channels and also from Mandrivastore.com, the company's online store. Number 1 in several countries, Mandriva has won many awards for quality and technical innovation. "Born on the Internet" in late 1998, has offices in the United States, France and Brazil. Mandriva is traded on Paris Euronext Marché Libre (ISIN Code: FR0004159382/MLMAN; Reuters code: MAKE.PA) and the US OTC market (stock symbol MDKFF).
https://mandriva.com Press enquiries:
Gaël Duval
press at mandriva dot com
+33-1 40 41 00 41


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Eat More Beets For Better Eye Health?
Beets are enjoyed in many parts of the world, like the Mediterranean for example, and have made their way onto the list of one of the healthiest foods to eat. Greek salad, anyone?
Beets are a root vegetable that boasts rich nutrients such as iron,B vitamins, manganese, potassium, and copper. This super food may also have a few super benefits for your eye health. The rich dark red color of beets contains powerful antioxidants such as flavonoids and beta-carotene. Beets are also known to help stabilize blood pressure, which can help prevent major eye problems, such as glaucoma.
This root is also exceptionally high in vitamins A & C, which is said to help protect the eyes against developing or progressing AMD (Age-Related Macular Degeneration). Consuming beets may increase and improve our ability to take in more oxygen, which increases stamina and energy.


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Mental health issues can plague anyone at any time. It isn't biased by ethnicity, religion or gender. January 31st is Bell Let's Talk Day here in Canada with the goal of helping to reduce the stigma attached to mental health issues and encouraging people to very plainly, just talk about it. Because this is a topic that is important to me, I wanted to share my own story today, in hopes that it might help or inspire someone else.
I've always been an anxious person and perhaps even more so after my Dad passed away from Cancer almost 10 years ago. I found myself being affected by dizzy spells, panic attacks and general worry that something bad was going to happen to me or someone close to me all the time. I was working two jobs for a while to pay my bills, but also because it distracted me from having to be alone too long with my thoughts. It felt like that was an effective coping mechanism until it gave way to other symptoms like exhaustion, extreme muscle tension, and the aforementioned panic attacks. The thing about grief is that it refuses to be ignored. You can try to avoid it or run from it, but at the end of the day, it's still there waiting for you to deal with it. Stuffing your feeling down inside rarely works without consequences. It will always find a way to manifest itself in another way.
What I came to realize with a lot of self-reflection and help through the aid of some great advice from professional psychologists, was that first and foremost, I was not alone. Second, that the emotional pain I was feeling was normal and that there was help to get through it. Everyone's timeline with grief is different as well as how they deal with it. I realized at one point, that I still wasn't really dealing with it. This is where art entered the picture for me. While I have always been an artist throughout my life, I would say that my art has never really been emotional or personal. Most artists, including myself, tend to be very emotional and feeling based people but never had channeled any of that into what I was creating.
During a conversation with one of my previous Psychologists, she asked me what kind of art I was making. I went on to explain and she asked if I was every creating anything expressive or emotional in my work. The answer, of course, was no. I've created artwork that is personal to me, yes, but it always felt like I was showing too much of myself when I had. The thought of making art that was too personal or emotional made me really uncomfortable. When I played in a band in my teen and early adult years, I had no problem expressing myself that way through music. I think I started to experiment with expressing myself through art that way as well in that time but I never pushed myself to keep going. At some point, I decided that I was uncomfortable or even embarrassed by what I was feeling. I also let the discomfort others in my life at the time had towards not wanting to deal with my emotions turn into my discomfort as well.
This same psychologist had the suggestion that I draw the moment that my Dad had passed away. In that assignment, I was to draw him and myself showing what I was feeling at that moment. It was really put off by the idea, but feeling committed to doing the work to help myself I did it. It was hard, uncomfortable and I cried throughout it, which made me realize in the process I needed to do it. Oddly enough, despite my skepticism, something happened when I did. Something changed. We discussed the drawings when I brought them into my next session, and I felt like part me had released something I had been holding on to. It's not that my grief suddenly disappeared, but it was like drawing it finally made me really look at it and confront it. It was the first step of many to really dealing with the loss I had experienced years before.
I decided a couple of things after that experience. While I wasn't ready to suddenly change the type of art I was creating publicly, I knew that there was room for me to do it privately. I'm a huge advocate of having a sketchbook that no one ever has to see. This can basically act as a visual diary or journal for you to be expressive in whatever way you want, without judgment. It doesn't matter if your drawings are good, if the technical aspects are correct, or ultimately if anyone is made uncomfortable with what you are creating. It's for you and no one else. Having this creative outlet has done a lot for me. Finding a renewed passion for art has also helped me focus my thoughts on something productive and positive when my anxiety starts to peak. It changes the conversation in my head from the destructive and negative. Art, in a lot of ways, has saved me. It's something that no one can take away from me, and it feels safe even when it's uncomfortable.
Going forward, as I focus on what feels authentic to me as a person and artist, I want to continue experimenting with work I'm creating to find that balance between creativity and catharsis. For me, using art in a therapeutic way has become a tool that I can use to help deal with emotions that are difficult to process. Finding what works for you is different for everyone, but if your reading this now and any of this has resonated with you, I encourage you to try using a visual journal to help. In addition to that, I also want to advocate for speaking to a professional about whatever you are going through. There's no shame in it. When your body is sick or in need of help, you go to a doctor. Your brain is an organ and part of your body, so therefore it deserves equal help and attention. You don't have to go through it alone. Choose to be an advocate for your happiness and well being. Who knows, you may even create some amazing art in the process.
If you would like to learn more or participate in Bell Let's Talk Day visit their website to discover the ways that you can help HERE.


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DashXML – more than 1 dashboard.xml file
2 December, 2015
First thing we did was to store the xml definition in the database for each user, instead of the dashboard.xml file.
Then, we took the DefinitionCache class and renamed it YFDefinitionCache, made it an instance per user instead of a singleton, and changed all private variables to protected.
Then we created our own DefinitionCache, which extended YFDefinitionCache, and overrode the initialiseDashboard method so it would pull the xml from our database instead of the dashboard.xml file.
After creating YFDefinitionCache and our own DefinitionCache, we deleted your definition of DefinitionCache from the yellowfin
jars, re-jarred them up, and put in our definition in our own com.hof package so the all Yellowfin jars could still see it.
One other important thing we did, was to change the contents of the getPathToServer method in YFDefinitionCache. Previously, it was loading the path to server from the xml file. Due to our many environments, we would have to change that file for each environment after rolling out. So we took out the contents of the function and put in a function that would calculate the path to the server.
It made it possible for us to have a dashboard for each user on each client org, something that would be really useful in the future if you decide to go that direction.
Hope you are well,
Thank you for letting us know that you have found a workaround and providing details of how you were able to complete this, I will pass this to our Development team to see what they think regarding putting this option in a future release.
If you do have any further questions please feel free to contact us.


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The latest update from the Irish Consulate in Boston
This is a link to the February newsletter from the Office of the Consulate General of Ireland in Boston, Laoise Moore. Consul General Moore has been an honored guest of the Amherst Irish Association several times.
Posted: to Amherst Irish Association News on Tue, Feb 15, 2022
Updated: Tue, Feb 15, 2022


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Solo the XC90 is excellent, but once you hook a 2000kg Coachman Laser Xcel on the back things are not so good. Consumption on the Volvo drops to 21 mpg and stability if the unit when using 100kg nose weight is very questionable( much worse than my Range Rover Sport 4.4 which returned 28mpg towing with far superior stability). Having compared my results with other Volvo owners think both the kerbweight and power of the Volvo are too low. Think the added weight and power offered by a T8 would probably correct most of these issues. If towing with the B5 suggest you restrict yourself to a much lighter van.
First time towing with an auto and it performed rearly well pulling in all gears with no problem and returnig an impresive 32 miles per gallon
I recently bought a 2019 XC90 D5 to tow my Elddis 840 (1800 MTPLM). It tows much better than my S-MAX as it has a lot more power (240 v 140bhp), 4WD, automatic gearbox, heavier. Electric tow bar is cool and the reversing camera makes it so easy to hook up. The automatic bulb checker is useful as well although I've not tried it yet as it doesn't come up with the option untilt I've started to drive!
Towing was a breeze and very comfortable with elevated seating. I am very pleased with it.
I've just changed from Audi Q7 to Volvo XC90 B5 Diesel.
I really like the towing light test that the volvo does when you hook up. Just walk to the back of the caravan and it tests all the bulbs for you. Clever. The fold away towbar is excellent also. Rear view camera which shows a line from the towball to where you will go when reversing makes hooking up a cinch.
Towing is extremely stable. Rock solid. I was slightly worried about going from a 3.0 TDI to a 2.0 Diesel but it pulls the Elddis easily up to speed and is more economical both solo and towing. 24mpg towing vs 21 mpg with the Audi. 49 mpg solo vs 42 mpg on a long run. Comfort is excellent but it also has great body control. I think this suits a big SUV more that Audi's more sporty take on things.
Really like the Volvo.
I considered an XC90 T8 PHEV but the 50L fuel tank put me off. 12 miles electric range solo then its a 2.0 petrol with a lot of weight to move around did not seem to make sense.
This is my first Volvo, changed from a Freelander 2. The Volvo has bags of room with excellent comfort. Tech is right up there but the lack of USB ports (only 2 with Apple car play) is a bit of a bummer. The sat nav could be better.
Driving solo I can just about get 50mpg on the motorway, towing brings this down to 28mpg. The car & van outfit is very very stable, you only get a slight sensation of the suck push when a lorry passes a little too close. Even though the car is a 2 ltr I was surprised at how well it pulled the van up a very steep hill from a standing start, what made it even more impressive was that the hill had 2 sets of sleeping policemen so I just couldn't floor it.
Passing slower traffic while towing is effortless.
xc90 d5 manual loved towing with this car mid 20s when towing lunar quasar 546 and mid 30s without. There was very little movement when hgv,s or coaches are about. I liked towing with this car unlike last car which felt twitchy with the van on the back but no worries now unless the slave cylinder fails as it did on the way home. Anyway could happen to any car, still loved towing with this would recommend this to anyone and being a manual a lower road tax.
The Volvo XC90 pulls the van with no problems at all and is very stable, in fact you don`t know you are towing and getting about 25 to 27 mpg is i think not bad at all.
Had this combination for a year now and towed around 1600 miles on motorways and bumpy side roads. Very stable when being overtaken by lorries and buses. Do need to take care with the noseweight and get it between 85 and 90kg for the smoothest tow. Any lighter and although the van is a twin axle it will see-saw up and down a bit giving a slightly disconcerting up and down motion at the back of the car. I'm not a heavy footed driver so performance with the van on the back is similar to driving solo. Overall a pleasure to drive.
Been using the XC90 for around a year now to tow my Coachman. We've been across to the Continent, down to Cornwall twice and visited the south coast. Not had any drama's and the Volvo has performed flawlessly. Even with a heavy twin axle caravan like the Coachman, it is a pleasure to drive and sits comfortably on the motorway at 65mph. Would recommend to anyone.
I bought the Volvo XC 90 after buying a Coachman 560/4 caravan. My previous vehicle was powerful enough but kerb weight was the problem. The Volvo always feels very stable whilst towing and there is none of the dogs tail wagging the dog! The automatic gearbox makes it all very easy. Sometimes I select manual when descending a hill to get a bit engine breaking and save the friction brakes. I find my outfit very easy to handle and the XC 90 is great for long journeys towing or not.
Brill 2005xc90 pulls van no problem returns mid20s and very stable when towing can not fault it and very comfortable would recommend as a tow car
Bought the Volvo in February this year to replace 19 year old L/R Discovery, certainly not regretted it. 20 years ago would not have considered towing with an automatic, but this Volvo is brilliant. I have towed the Bessacar 3,459 miles in UK and Germany with an overall average diesel consumption of 24.7mpg towing and around 28 to 30mpg solo. As others have commented the suck/blow from overtaking lorries etc. is not noticeable, unlike with the Disco
2007 xc90 d5 se lux geartronic.
brilliant towcar, caravan never twitches.great on a roads and motorways too.
regularly returns high 30's solo mpg and mid 20;s towing.
can't fault it really.
Towing the Arizona with a 2007 D5 Geartronic 185.
Have no problems with this outfit. Very comfortable, very little buffeting effects from overtaking vehicles or more frequently when doing the overtaking of HGV's and such.
Downsides are the monumental fuel consumption. In 3 years, the best ever achieved solo is 33mpg. Towing mpg not actually as bad as I predicted, at around 25. Don't forget to factor in the whopping car tax.
Overall - great when towing, but expect to pay for the privelage.
2010 xc90 D5 manual, towing a bailey pageant ardennes with max load upgrade to 1700kg TA. Only towed with volvo once for about 200 miles each way, very easy due to excellent stability and able to reach 60mph from standing start with little effort. No swaying and very little rocking like you normally get with TA, previous car ford s-max was decent but lacked the pure grunt that the volvo has. Would recommend to anybody as it makes the towing a much less stressful job -probably even relaxing! ! !
XC90 T5 Active geartronic. No problem towing, very stable and plenty of torque. Good grip on grass too. No deviation at 60 mph when being passed by busses & trucks - yes, being passed at 60 mph! MPG towing about 26-28 compared to 34 solo.
Great towcar, but watch which towbar you fit as many provide a very low towball height and the hassles that brings. Noseweight is also low on this car - typically 90kg and many vans are higher...
2010 XC90 2.4D Manual. The Volvo tows the Pastiche very well, on Motorways get to a safe speed and set the cruise and let the car do the work. found very stable even in cross winds!
2010 XC90 Active 2.4D Geartronic (185 bhp). Very stable, loads of torque - feels safe 10/10
Great car pulls my twin axle compass with out any problems. Does not slow down on hills and auto box is a dream. Very stable outfit does not get effected by passing lorries or coach like my Discovery 2 used to. Will def be keeping this car for some time.
Great car as other reviews say you dont know the vans on the back. More than enough power on standard 163bhp. Hand brake(foot brake) can be awkward to use but other than that no problems. Im sure this car could easy cope with a larger van as this combo is very stable in all conditions.;-)
I have towed with lots of different tow cars over the years and this one is just perfect ! ! ! It pulls far better than the 4.7 ltr Jeep it replaced. Utterly predicable when towing, with no suck and blow when overtaking or being overtaken the latter happens very rarely. Towing MPG is approx 20, Solo just over 30.
Just swapped from a 2006 Zafira 1.9cdti to a 2005 XC90 D5 185 Auto. I thought the Zafira was good, but this XC90 is just in another league.
It sits at my normal cruising speed (62-63mph to keep me out of all the other traffic) all day long. I average around 22.5mpg with this mostly motorway driving.
Genuine detachable towbar, under 30k miles - best towcar ever driven, genuinely effortless - sometimes use the Geartronic to lock it in top, mid 20's to the gallon. Out performs our previous Amazon 4.7 V8 - tows with less drama in cruise. 50kg Thule roofbox on Volvo roof bars doesn't seem to effect the mpg either. Caravan at the Volvo 90kg towbar load suits stability up to and just over the legal limit.
Towing Bailey Pagent Bretagne 2008.
We have a transmission problem with the XC90 only when towing or fully loaded with family and bikes...... We had the gearbox oil changed by Volvo Garage as told and still the same.... Apparently the Asin Warner gearbox can have a rare problem with a solenoid valve sticking. Could it be to do with overheating?.... Complained to Volvo who have been very lacklust up to now in helping us with the problem. They say they could replace the solenoid housing for �1500 no guarentee to fix problem or new gearbox �2995. 130K miles on an auto box.
Disapointed with performance, car is really nice tho' when not towing......
An excellent outfit with no downsides. Mileage on the D5 auto is only slightly down (to 28 mpg) when towing and it's easy to forget that you have a van on the back. Last car was a 2006 E class merc 2.2 CDI manual estate and the XC90 is a world better as a towcar. In particular, you can't feel the effect of being overtaken by HGV's etc.
At this moment a have a transmission problem. the alarm only appears when the car tows the caravan. I have to go to Volvo dealer (car is 220kkm by highways)
the gearbox is an AW55-51. I heard problems with XC90 T6 but my car has another kind of transmission.
I bougth the caravan 4 months ago and I have seen the alarm just from the begenning.
Had a 14 year old van to start with and noticed a lot of clunking but this was down to the shock absorber on the front of the van not anything else, just changed our van to an Abbey Cardinal(Aven 316) and didn't even know I had it on the car.
The match between the excellent towing capability of the XC90 and the stability of the Avondale Eagle make it a dream combination cruise at 60 MPH all day and return approx 24 MPG
We have the latest XC90 / D5 Auto, and have done 7500 miles with the van on the back this year. Fantastic towing car, you can adjust the ride to suit We use the Sport mode as it hardens up the back and stops the bounce from the double axel. Only draw back the fuel consumption is dreadfull with or without the van attached best I have ever had is 32 [car alone] and 20 towing
This is my 4th volvo(2xs80,+a v70)i have towed with my v70 and current xc90 and all i can say is that it is as usual superb.Remapped to 195 bhp the caravan is hardly noticable.Everything is v stable even in bad weather,i would find it hard to change except to another volvo.
I have found that towing with the XC90 is very comfortable and very smooth there is no wind suction from buses and lorries passing you and find it very easily does any manouver required of it, the fuel consumption is very resonable considering the size of the outfit we are towing even on not so long journeys, all in all a treat to own and drive.
Towing a 530/4 Coachman Pastiche is so easy and economical 26 mph. You hardly now the 'van is there. Perfect balance, not a hint of 'weave'. Gear ratios are excellent but benefits from using the manual element of the Geartronic system
this is a nice set up we achieve between 20mpg on hard road and upto 27 on the motorway. the gear box seems to be able to adapt to the job very well whilst the suspension the the rear seems some what bouncy at times but is smoth on normal roads a normal tow bar non detachable has been fitted and does not interfear with the revesing sensors.
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Winter Wanderlust
Fri, January 11, 2019
The Beard House
Member Price: $140 Public Price: $180 Phone: 212.627.2308
Cancellation and Food Allergy Policy
Veteran of JBF Award winner Daniel Humm's NoMad New York City and JBF Award winner Eric Ziebold's CityZen in Washington, D.C., West African–American chef Rōze Traore has just as much zeal for empowering fellow young culinary professionals as he does for elevated cooking. Join us as Traore adds the Beard House to his list of international pop-ups, and relish this modern chef's story, artistry, and ambition.
Click here to see photos from this event
Tickets to events held at the James Beard House cover the cost of food and a unique dining experience. Dinners are prepared by culinary masters from all regions of the United States and around the world. All alcoholic beverages are provided on a complimentary basis and are not included in the ticket price.
Related Info
James Beard Foundation events permit guests age 21 and older.


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Branded Air Hockey Tables
Showing all 6 results
Buy branded air Hockey tables from Lectron Billiards
Buy Branded air Hockey tables from Lectron Billiards online today and save. We have a wide range of table games to choose from. Branches in Centurion, Fourways, Durban with our head office in Cape Town. Lectron Billiards is one of the top manufacturers of quality products in South Africa. We are selling a wide variety of branded table games nationwide.
Customization is our specialty. All Lectron Billiards snooker and pool tables can be fully customized with your choice of lacquer, stain, veneer or laminate, as well as cloth, to create your dream piece. The basic colours for our standard cloth is for instance black, blue, green, grey, red and yellow. Our team is on standby to answer questions that you might have and assist with prices. If you are looking for products to enhance your entertainment area or furnish your home, we have what you are looking for!
Lectron Billiards specializes in custom designed products to suit your unique home requirements. We cater from entry level to the highest standard of products with exquisite design and quality. For more information and designs browse our website www.lectronbilliards.co.za and drop us an email [email protected] alternatively email your design and we will respond with our quotation within 48 hours.
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