text:
We were watching an episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and they were in the gym in school playing dodgeball. I can't believe that people actually played dodgeball in schools - that schools encouraged games where the aim was to hit people with objects.
Dodgeball seems only one step above Deathsquare, which was a game from my youth. This was never an official game but one played on the school field during break time. The play area was roughly 5 yards square. The aim was to kick a tennis ball from one person to the next. If you kicked the ball out of the square, or the ball went between your legs, you had to get out of the square as fast as possible. Anyone could kick you until you left the square. As soon as you'd left the square, it was safe to return and the game would continue.
As far as I know, no-one has made a film about Deathsquare. I don't even know whether it's still played in schools any more.
|permanent link
|Keywords: Sports Tv Blog
The Ashes
|Story location: Home / bits-n-bobs /
England have won the Ashes. The last time this happened, in 1987, Coventry won the FA Cup. The world has changed a lot since then.
Other 1987 trivia:
- Highest grossing films included: Three Men and a Baby, Fatal Attraction, Good Morning Vietnam
- Johnny Logan won Eurovision with the song Hold Me Now
- Best selling single was Rick Astley's Never Gonna Give You Up
|permanent link
|Keywords: Sports Bits n bobs Coventry
A list of English Football League clubs
|Story location: Home / bits-n-bobs /
Update: 19th April 2008. Corrected or updated some of the entries. Removed some duplicates.
|Team Name
|Arsenal Football Club
|was: Arsenal Stadium (Highbury). Since 2006, Emirates Stadium, Holloway.
|The Gunners
|Aston Villa Football Club
|Villa Park
|The Villans
|Birmingham City FC
|St Andrews
|The Blues
|Blackburn Rovers FC
|Ewood Park
|Rovers, Blue and Whites
|Bolton Wanderers FC
|Reebok Stadium
|The Trotters
|Charlton Athletic FC
|The Valley
|The Addicks
|Chelsea Football Club
|Stamford Bridge
|The Pensioners, The Blues
|Everton Football Club
|Goodison Park
|The Toffees
|Fulham FC
|Craven Cottage
|The Cottagers, The Whites
|Leeds United FC
|Elland Road
|United, The Peacocks
|Liverpool FC
|The Reds
|Manchester City FC
|Maine Road until 2003. Now City of Manchester Stadium
|The Blues
|Manchester United Football Club
|Old Trafford
|The Red Devils
|Middlesbrough Football Club
|Riverside Stadium
|The Boro
|Newcastle United
|St.James' Park
|The Magpies or The Toon
|Southampton Football Club
|St Mary's Stadium
|The Saints
|Sunderland Football Club
|Stadium Of Light
|The Black Cats, The Mackems
|Tottenham Hotspur FC
|White Hart Lane
|West Bromwich Albion FC
|The Hawthorns
|Albion, The Baggies
|West Ham United
|Boleyn Ground (known as Upton Park)
|The Hammers or Irons
|Bradford City Football Club
|Formerly Valley Parade, name depends on current sponsor.
|The Bantams
|Brighton & Hove Albion FC
|Withdean Stadium
|The Seagulls, The Albion
|Burnley FC
|Turf Moor
|The Clarets
|Coventry City FC
|Highfield Road until 2004. Now Ricoh Arena
|The Sky Blues
|Crystal Palace FC
|Selhurst Park
|The Eagles
|Derby County Football Club
|Pride Park Stadium
|The Rams
|Gillingham FC
|Priestfield Stadium
|The Gills
|Grimsby Town FC
|Blundell Park
|The Mariners
|Ipswich Town FC
|Portman Road
|Blues or Tractor Boys
|Leicester City
|Walkers Stadium
|The Foxes
|Millwall FC
|The New Den
|The Lions
|Norwich City FC
|Carrow Road
|The Canaries
|Nottingham Forest FC
|City Ground
|The Reds
|Portsmouth FC
|Fratton Park
|Preston North End FC
|The Lilywhites
|Reading FC
|Madejski Stadium
|The Royals
|Rotherham United
|The Millers
|Sheffield United Football Club
|Bramall Lane
|The Blades
|Sheffield Wednesday
|The Owls
|Stoke City FC
|Britannia Stadium
|The Potters
|Walsall FC
|Bescot Stadium (Banks's Stadium)
|The Saddlers
|Tranmere Rovers FC
|Prenton Park
|Watford Football Club
|Vicarage Road
|The Hornets
|Wimbledon (until 2003 - see Milton Keynes Dons)
|Selhurst Park
|The Dons
|Milton Keynes Dons (formerly Wimbledon)
|The Dons
|Wolverhampton Wanderers FC
|Molineux Stadium
|Barnsley FC
|The Tykes
|Blackpool FC
|Bloomfield Road
|AFC Bournemouth
|Fitness First Stadium
|The Cherries
|Brentford FC
|Griffin Park
|The Bees
|Bristol City FC
|Ashton Gate
|The Robins
|Cardiff City FC
|Ninian Park
|The Bluebirds
|Cheltenham Town FC
|Whaddon Road
|The Robins
|Chesterfield FC
|Recreation Ground
|The Spireites or Blues
|Colchester United FC
|Layer Road
|The U's
|Crewe Alexandra FC
|Gresty Road
|The Railwaymen
|Huddersfield Town FC
|Galpharm (formerly Alfred McAlpine) Stadium
|The Terriers
|Luton Town FC
|Kenilworth Road
|The Hatters
|Mansfield Town FC
|Field Mill
|The Stags
|Northampton Town FC
|Sixfields Stadium
|The Cobblers
|Notts County FC
|Meadow Lane
|The Magpies
|Oldham Athletic FC
|Boundary Park
|The Latics
|Peterborough United FC
|London Road
|The Posh
|Plymouth Argyle FC
|Home Park
|The Pilgrims
|Port Vale FC
|Vale Park
|The Valiants
|Queens Park Rangers FC
|Loftus Road Stadium
|The Hoops
|Stockport County FC
|Edgeley Park
|The Hatters
|Swindon Town FC
|County Ground
|The Robins
|Tranmere Rovers FC
|Prenton Park
|Swansea City FC
|Vetch Field until 2005, then Liberty Stadium
|The Swans, The Jacks
|Wigan Athletic FC
|JJB Stadium
|Wycombe Wanderers FC
|Adams Park
|The Chairboys, The Blues
|Boston United FC
|York Street
|The Pilgrims
|Bristol Rovers FC
|Memorial Stadium
|The Pirates, The Gas
|Bury FC
|Gigg Lane
|The Shakers
|Cambridge United FC
|Abbey Stadium
|The U's
|Darlington FC
|originally Feethams,now Balfour Webnet Darlington Arena (from 2003)
|The Quakers
|Exeter City FC
|St James' Park
|The Grecians
|Hartlepool United FC
|Victoria Park
|The Pool
|Hull City FC
|Kingston Communications Stadium
|The Tigers
|Kidderminster Harriers FC
|Aggborough Stadium
|Leyton Orient FC
|Matchroom Stadium, Brisbane Road. Formerly known as Leyton Stadium.
|The O's
|Lincoln City FC
|Sincil Bank
|The Imps
|Macclesfield Town FC
|Moss Rose
|The Silkmen
|Oxford United FC
|Kassam Stadium
|The U's, The Yellows.
|Rochdale FC
|The Dale
|Rushden And Diamonds FC
|Nene Park
|Scunthorpe United FC
|Glanford Park
|The Iron
|Shrewsbury Town FC
|originally Gay Meadow, from 2007: New Meadow.
|The Shrews
|Southend United FC
|Roots Hall
|The Shrimpers, The Seasiders
|Torquay United FC
|The Gulls
|Wrexham FC
|Racecourse Ground
|The Robins or Red Dragons
|York City FC
|Bootham Crescent (currently known as KitKat Crescent)
|The Minstermen
|permanent link
|Keywords: Sports Bits n bobs


text:
How to Write an Integrated Unit Plan Staff Schedule / Memorandum, Teacher professional development Resource, Teaching Resources, Teacher Staff Planning Meetings Schedule, Planning a Teaching Unit, Secondary School Unit Subject Planning,
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1mDC-MhEtk&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL
How to Write an Integrated Unit Plan Staff Schedule
Example Only
Dear Educators,
We have decided that the essential question is "Do Disasters shape our world?"
I would appreciate your contribution in outlining your key question and thinking about:
As mentioned, please provide an outline of the above and I will compile the information into an Action Plan Report.
This report can be utilised as an information guide for teachers and students in obtaining information concerning our aim, targeted goals (specifying weekly objectives) and overall purpose of the unit.
This information will assist students in understanding each faculty's intention and the expected course requirements, therefore establishing work standards and / or expectations in advance. Students will have a week to week plan on what is expected and the integrated aspect concerning the whole Yr 8 unit objective.
Mr Smith
Yr 8 Curriculum Coordinator
Mr Smith
Yr 8 Curriculum Coordinator
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Website by Accsysweb | Managed with Pegboard

subset: commoncrawl


text:
I wish everyone a peaceful and lucky 2015.
Today I show you my first layout for 2015....Yay...
My son Jasper.
I created my background on stamping paper from Ranger.
Gel Medium with Perfect Pearls.
Doilies from BoBunny and stamp work.
Thank you for visiting my blog.
Go into your studio create....enjoy the time and have fun.....
Hugs Heike


text:
Proverbs 16:18 - Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
During a sequence of 15 weekly sessions neophytes receive an intensive course in prayer. They are introduced to biblical prayer, prayer with the psalms, mystical prayer and contemplative prayer; prayer in public and prayer in private. Through thanksgiving, petitioning, and pleading, there is teaching on how to worship God in spirit and truth, in and through an active life in the traditions of the Catholic faith. At the end, participants take part in a retreat using silence as a practice of deep prayer.
Workshops are given generally twice a year in Fall and Spring in either English or Spanish. For more information call the rectory: (201) 854-7006.
Copyright © CHURCH OF ST. JOSEPH. www.saintjosephpalisades.com. All Rights Reserved


text:
A recent study conducted by a group of researchers has revealed a link between student's exposure to green space and performance in standardized testing for both English and Math. The study covered a six year time period from 2006-2012 and showed that the more exposure students had to green space, the better they performed on tests.
The study also revealed during the peak of the spring growing season this affect was at its greatest.


text:
IP Showcase
Peggy Aycinena
Peggy Aycinena is a freelance journalist and Editor of EDA Confidential at www.aycinena.com. She can be reached at peggy at aycinena dot com.
Vietnam, the Franchise: Asia's newest Tier 1 Outsourcing Destination
July 30th, 2015 by Peggy Aycinena
If you had told me in 1975 that 40 years later Silicon Valley would be hosting an informational meeting to advertise an upcoming tech conference in Vietnam, I would have said you were crazy.
Like millions of others in April 1975, I watched apocryphal images on the nightly news of thousands of refuges being airlifted off rooftops in Saigon and military helicopters being pushed off the decks of aircraft carriers to make room for the human detritus of the final throes of decades of war, the last 10 of which included overwhelming American involvement and a death toll far in excess of a million lives.
Even today, that war, its architects and aftermath, are proving themselves to be contentious, divisive topics in American homes and in our national arenas of political mud-slinging.
Yet this blog is not about all of that; it's about the aforementioned tech conference. But to start without a brief mention of 1975 is to write about a small brochure lying on the tabletop while a massive elephant stands muddy and mute in the middle of the room. At least for people of my generation.
In Vietnam today, however, folks of my generation are no longer the norm. The population now stands at 93 million-plus, the median age is 30, the country is young and optimistic, and looking to its future as an admired destination for tourists and international business interests alike.
All of which will be more than obvious if you are in Ho Chi Minh City this fall, from October 14th through 17th, attending VNITO 2015, the Vietnam Information Technology Outsourcing Conference 2015.
There you will learn why companies as diverse as "Intel, Samsung, LG, Foxconn, Alcatel-Lucent, Avaya, Bosch, NTT, Cisco, Hitachi, Sharp, NEC, Google, Boeing, and Deutsche Bank have moved their high-tech operations and outsourcing to Vietnam."
At VNITO 2015, you'll hear that thought leaders as diverse as Gartner, IDG, KPMG, A.T. Kearney, Tholons, Tower Watson, and the World Economic Forum are seeing in Vietnam an emerging Tier 1 location for tech-outsourcing, awash in more newly-minted engineering grads than most of the rest of the world, and full of regional and national governmental entities enthusiastically promoting Vietnam, the Franchise, as a competitive alternative to the other great tech-outsourcing franchises of the last 20 years, namely China and India.
Not everybody had to wait until mid-October to learn all of this, however, because yesterday VNITO 2015 hosted an informational meeting in Palo Alto, so Silicon Valley could hear the pitch and spread the word.
To help with the messaging on Wednesday morning, several distinguished business leaders offered testimonials: Hung Nguyen, CEO at LogiGear, Jan Fraser, Test Director at Anki, and Le Nguyen, Chairman of TMA Solutions.
These folks have all had experience outsourcing projects to Vietnam, or owning/managing the companies that handle the outsourced projects. Their comments were quite compelling and made me realize:
* The government of Vietnam is busy constructing vast industrial parks in several of the country's largest urban centers.
* It's true, Vietnam is a communist country – although several speakers referred to it as socialist – but like China, it is finding a way to pursue commercial enterprise through a heady mix of strict governmental controls and forward-looking investments.
* Although there are serious 'lost in translation' issues for projects outsourced to India, these problems do not crop up in Vietnam. People in Vietnam have intense pride and sense-of-ownership of their projects and ergo, become more than just contractors. They become like virtual employees who care about their projects and offer substantive advice of great use to the client-company team.
* Although there are widely known problems protecting intellectual property in China, this is absolutely not an issue in Vietnam – a country where everyone understands that protecting corporate secrets is crucial to the viability of the Franchise: "There is no market for stolen IP in Vietnam."
* In the old days, getting ahead was all about who you knew. Today, however, bright young engineers coming out of universities in Vietnam are achieving great things based on their own merit and accomplishments, not on who they know.
* Vietnam, the Franchise, is extremely cost effective, particularly in light of the growing costs of outsourcing to China and India.
* Most fascinating: As everywhere in the world today, people in Vietnam spend a lot of time in the work place. There are a lot of marriages between work colleagues as a result, a phenomenon downright prohibited in other countries, but encouraged in Vietnam. Some companies even give out special cash awards to employees who marry within the organization.
* Most important: Companies that have had off-shore operations in India and China have suffered the affects of time-zone issues, communication problems, and mis-matches between goals and rewarding behaviors. None of these things are problems in Vietnam.
Okay, so there it is: You need to attend VNITO 2015 in October where you'll gain further insight into Vietnam's business and investment environment. Over 200 companies will be exhibiting, along with 20+ universities, and 150+ multi-nationals, all involved in the outsource-to-Vietnam movement.
Tom Quan, himself a survivor of those dramatic days in April 1975, was on hand Wednesday morning at the Crowne Plaza in Palo Alto. He noted that it's not just IT that's being outsourced to Vietnam. Companies in EDA and IP are also participating in the trend, including organizations like Dolphin Integration, eSilicon, and Uniquify.
I've known and respected Tom for a long time. [You can read his story here.] If Tom says Vietnam is a place that EDA and IP vendors should be looking to for quality work, pride, and ownership of outcome, that's gotta be the case. It's just gotta to be.
Countries producing the most engineers today include China, India, Russia, U.S., Iran, Japan, Korea, Indonesia, Ukraine, Mexico, France, Vietnam.
Tags: Anki, Dophin Integration, eSilicon, Hung Nguyen, Jan Fraser, Le Nguyen, LogicGear, TMA Solutions, Tom Quan, Uniquify, Vietnam, VNITO 2015


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|Alan Flisch <alan.fli...@becogent.com>
|Max Memory Reading
|Fri, 13 Oct 2006 07:14:35 GMT
Hi, I was having some problems with perm gen space on one of our tomcat instances and decided to increase the perm gen size and review the JAVA_OPTS settings in general when I noticed something curious. No settings are currently made so its just running with default values, but the manager status page shows the following... >Free memory: 158.53 MB Total memory: 373.75 MB Max memory: 913.37 MB That max memory figure in particular looks like a pretty strange default! I thought the default was 64m. The installation details are as follows... Apache Tomcat/5.5.16 1.5.0_06-b05 Sun Microsystems Inc. SunOS 5.9 sparc The system has 16G of RAM. Has anybody any thoughts? Regards, Alan **************************************************************************************************************************************************** This e-mail and any accompanying documents contain confidential information intended for a specific individual which is private and protected by law. If you are not the intended recipient, any disclosure, copying, distribution or other use of this information is strictly prohibited. You are also requested to advise us immediately if you receive information which is not addressed to you. beCogent is Authorised and Regulated by the Financial Services Authority. *****************************************************************************************************************************************************
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Teaches basic academic, social, and other formative skills to pupils in public or private elementary schools.
This career is part of the Education and Training cluster Teaching and Training pathway.
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This article is dedicated to every Muslim man and woman who has struggled in the way of Allah to understand, learn and teach the Sacred knowledge of Islam.
"The ink of a scholar is more holy than the blood of a martyr" (Imam Hasan Al Basri)
In recent times there has been widespread alienation of the Muslim masses from the Islamic scholars, paralleled with increasing importance given to secular education at the expense of formal Islamic education. While secular education has its merits, the ignorance of the masses towards Islamic education has led to a general decrease in the basic religious knowledge of a layman. As a result the 'frame of reference' of these laymen has shifted so that fundamental parameters of Islam are questioned and criticized by this very block of people, in the name of modernism.
This action of expressing a self-created, incorrect version of Islam is not new. The Mu'tazilah misguided the Muslim nation for a hundred years with similar antics. Yet they were defeated by the Islamic Scholars and the movement vanished into thin air. However, times are different now. The shift in previously mentioned frame of reference of the layman, along with rise of Atheism, acceptance of Secularism and the constant requirement for religion to be proven by science (evidentialism) has combined to inculcate a need among the layman to 'reform' Islam.
The truth is Islam has always been dynamic because of the practicality of *Ijtihad*. The scholars have worked hard to ensure modern problems are tackled with the aid of our well-preserved classical texts rather than rewriting the classical texts themselves. So if the 'reform' is going to be undertaken, if and when needed, then it is going to be an Islamic scholar who does it for the betterment of the Muslim nation and the world; not a layman who, in similar fashion to the Reform movement of the Jews in 18th and 19th century, will give out a version of Islam that is unproven, invalid and incorrect, yet acceptable to the non-muslims of the world. Ironically it is this very 'acceptance' that drove out the Muslims from Spain.
Then we must ask ourselves who exactly are these scholars of Islam, what with several 'scholars' claiming to be authentic. To understand this, one must understand how Islamic knowledge has reached us. Imagine a German, who does not know English, comes to you. He wishes to communicate with you. What would you do? Either you would learn German, or he learns English. Let us assume you taught him English. He now knows English the way you understand it, simply because you taught it to him. So now he understands English with you as a reference. Whenever he reads an English work, he will keep your reference in mind and try to understand the text he is reading that way. Now we have to ask ourselves, who were the first ones to learn the Qur'an? The Companions of the Prophet. Who taught it to them? The Prophet (PBUH). Hence their point of reference was the Prophet. How do you think the next generation took the Quran? Logically, by reference of the Companions.
This is the basis of the *sanad*, or chain that links us to the original Islamic texts. Every Islamic Scholar who has this *sanad* is authentic and it means his teacher also had a similar *sanad*, and his teacher's teacher and so on leading back directly to the Prophet (PBUH). Those who do not have this *sanad* cannot call themselves an Islamic scholar. This also underlines the concept of a teacher, for the Companions had the Prophet (PBUH) as a teacher while the Companions were the teachers of the Successor and so on. Self study was never the norm as this leads invariably to incorrect interpretations of Islamic texts which have to be seen in light of how the first three generations of Muslims interpreted them. Sheikh Hamza Yusuf on this topic.
The problem arises when non-scholars try to assert their scholarship. One simply has to ask them what is the proof and validation of their claims? The only possible way for Islamic knowledge to reach us is through narrations, as was just described, then who gave them *their* version of Islam? They gained knowledge through these chain of narrators and now they reject these narrators and teachers? What they have basically done is contradict their own source of knowledge and indeed their own 'teachings'.
From Sheikh Yusuf Ludhianvi's Differences in the Ummat and Sirat e Mustaqeem (p.56-p.77) and "Criticism and the right of criticism"
The need to identify authentic scholars and institutions is also found in secular education. This need for standardization has been successfully met by Islamic scholars. Whether it is the Shia or Sunni sect they follow these very principles of scholarship. A standard Sunni institute would require nearly two decades of education (in Arabic) to be fully discharged as a Scholar. This way is not blind following, this is common sense. The way forward is not to antagonize the Scholars but to become a student and learn Islam from them: it is our basic human right.


text:
"Do not, I beg you, be troubled by forces already dissolved. You have mistaken the hour of the night. It is already morning." (Hilaire Belloc)
Monday, December 19, 2016
Another Sarajevo? Russian diplomat assassinated
5 comments:
A low ranking ambassador, nothing to get excited about! We must ask ourselves 'cui bono'? Well, probably the Islamicists who don't want to see a rapprochement between Putin and the leadership in Turkey.
I wouldn't be surprised to learn that Putin himself sanctioned the hit. Haute Politique and all that.
- December 19, 2016 at 6:07 PM
- Aged parent said...
Why do you believe Putin would have had him killed?
- December 19, 2016 at 6:18 PM
President Putin has exhibited enormous restraint against the forces of Hell on earth which have been the US, Germany and the UK. The UK and the US have kicked their demons to the curb. Germany's succubus Merkel is already accusing Putin of election interference in an election that has not yet taken place.
Anonymous, your comment about Putin was just plain stupid.
I don't forget that Soreass Soros is still the big behind the scenes player for Satan. Just like other assassinations of the past that were meant to start a war. Or because a certain Ecuadorian president united his country with a consecratioj to the Sacred Heart. There was always a Jew (or Freemason but I repeat myself) in the woodpile. A nice juicy world war is about all turtle-faced George has left to throw at Presidents Trump, Putin and Assad. Not to mention those other meanies who gave his evil agenda the fig...UK's Brexit winners and the victorious freedom voters of Italy.
Paraphrased from a favorite prayer...
May the August Queen of Heaven, Sovereign Mistress of the Angels who has been given the power and the mission to crush the head of Satan, send her holy legions so that under her command and by her power they may drive the devils away, everywhere fight them, subduing their boldness and thrust them into the Abyss.
- December 20, 2016 at 5:32 AM
AP, To paraphrase Churchill's description of Russia; 'a mystery wrapped in an enigma', the same applies to Putin as he likes to surround himself with an aura of masterly mystique. I don't 'believe' Putin ordered the hit, it is a possibility, a guess based on what is happening inside Russia.
Ever since the days of Peter the Great Russian foreign policy toward the south and east has been one of hostility to Ottoman Turkey and friendship toward Persia / Iran. That is understandable given the control Turkey had over the Crimea and the Crimean Tatars. That policy abruptly changed with the formation of the Soviet state, indeed Stalin and Kemal Ataturk had a pretty cosy relationship.
If Putin's alleged mouthpiece, Alexander Dugin, is an accurate reflection of Kremlin thinking, it would appear Putin and his associates would like to form a close relationship with a semi-secularized Moslim world. Clearly that is not possible with Turkey today and its overt revivalist Ottomanism. So it would appear to be in Putin's interest, and also paradoxically within the interest of Islamists, to destabilize the current leadership in Ankara.
Many patriots and Christians in Europe and North America look to Putin as a friend of nationalism and tradition, I suspect this is a big mistake. European Russia for the past few years has experienced a massive tide of Muslim immigration. Does Putin approve? Most definitely, according to the Eurasianist 'philosopher' Alexander Dugin.
So here we are, stuck between a rock and a hard place, just like during the phony Cold War. We have nothing to be remotely optimistic about, but we must struggle on regardless.
- December 20, 2016 at 7:05 AM
Lies. Lies. Damn lies.
- December 20, 2016 at 7:23 AM


text:
Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center
Houston, Texas 77058
While there he served as Program Manager for the F4H "Phantom" Fighter. A graduate of the Aviation Safety School of the University of Southern California, he also served as Safety Engineer with the Fighter Squadron 101 at the Naval Air Station, Oceana, Virginia.
He has logged more than 5,000 hours flying time, including more than 3,500 hours in jet aircraft. Captain Lovell was selected as an Astronaut by NASA in September 1962. He has since served as backup pilot for the Gemini 4 flight and backup Commander for the Gemini 9 flight, as well as backup Commander to Neil Armstrong for the Apollo 11 lunar landing mission.
On December 4, 1965, he and Frank Borman were launched into space on the history making Gemini 7 mission. The flight lasted 330 hours and 35 minutes and included the first rendezvous of two manned maneuverable spacecraft.
The Gemini 12 mission, commanded by Lovell with Pilot Edwin Aldrin, began on November 11, 1966. This four-day, 59 revolution flight brought the Gemini program to a successful close.
Lovell served as Command Module Pilot and Navigator on the epic six-day journey of Apollo 8, man's maiden voyage to the moon, December 21-Z7, 1968. Apollo 8 was the first manned spacecraft to be lifted into near-earth orbit by a 7-1/2 million pound thrust Saturn V launch vehicle; and Lovell and fellow crewmen, Frank Borman and William A. Anders, became the first humans to leave the Earth's gravitational influence.
He completed his fourth mission as Spacecraft Commander of the Apollo 13 flight, April 11-17, 1970, and became the first man to journey twice to the moon. Apollo 13 was programmed for ten days; however, the original flight plan was modified en route to the moon due to a failure of the Apollo 13 Service Module cryogenic oxygen system. Lovell and fellow crewmen, John L. Swigert and Fred W. Haise, working closely with Houston ground controllers, converted their lunar module Aquarius into an effective lifeboat. Their emergency activation and operation of lunar module systems conserved both electrical power and water in sufficient supply to assure their safety and survival while in space and for the return to earth.
Captain Lovell held the record for time in space with a total of 715 hours and 5 minutes until surpassed by the Skylab flights.
On March 1, 1973, Captain Lovell retired from the Navy and from the Space Program to join Bay-Houston Towing Company in Houston, Texas. Bay-Houston Towing Company is a diversified company involved in harbor and coastwise towing, mining, and marketing of peat products for the lawn and garden industry, and ranching. He was promoted to the position of President and Chief Executive Officer on March 1, 1975.


text:
- 1lb skinless, boneless chicken breasts, diced
- 1 medium yellow onion, thinly sliced
- 1 16oz bag stir fry vegetables (or use your choice of fresh)
- 1 15oz can light coconut milk
- 5 garlic cloves, minced
- Juice from 1 lime
- 3 tbsp green curry paste
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- Salt and pepper chicken, and place inside crock pot.
- Cover with onion slices.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the coconut milk, lime juice, garlic, sugar, curry paste, and pour over the chicken and onions.
- Cook on high for 4-5 hours.
- During the last 30-45 min of cooking, add in the vegetables. Then , in a small bowl, mix cornstarch with 1 tbsp water and add into crock pot with the vegetables. Cook until vegetables are heated through and curry sauce thickens.
Preparation time: 10 minute(s)
Cooking time: 4 hour(s)
Diet tags: Low calorie, Reduced fat, Reduced carbohydrate, High protein
Number of servings (yield): 4
Culinary tradition: Thai
Entire recipe makes 4 servings
Serving size is about 1 ½ cups
PER SERVING: 272 calories; 8.5g fat; 17g carbohydrates; 28g protein; 3g fiber
You Might Also Like:
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Our flexible and configurable routing and scheduling software products can be applied to a wide range of industry sectors and distribution operation types whether you manage your own in-house fleet, use agency drivers or outsource to a 3PL.
Our product range features route optimisers, advanced transport management modules, business modelling tools and distribution KPI reporting functionality. Our products are used by hundreds of fleet operators across the globe every day.
If you have a fleet of 10 or more vehicles, we have software that can help you plan your transport operation more efficiently.


text:
Award-winning writer and editor on people, places and lifestyles in Colorado and the Rocky Mountains
For the past couple of decades I've covered Colorado. As a writer and senior features editor for The Denver Post, I interviewed everyone from Michelle Obama to Muslim beauty blogger Nura Afia.
I am now a contributing editor to Mountain Living Magazine and am always on the hunt for a great story. Contact me about writing, editing and moderating events.
Recent Work
Fashion Focus Award, Fashion Group International, 2016
Best Special Section, Society of Professional Journalists -- Top of the Rockies, 2015
Service with Style Award, Volunteers of America, 2013
Features Series Award, Colorado Press Association, 2013
Pulitzer Prize in Breaking News, The Denver Post, 2012
Latest from Twitter
RT @discover_PR: We're only one week away from the @PuertoRicoOpen— are you ready? Check out this blog article via @coloavidgolfer a… https://t.co/oJYcDAvFqo


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Microsoft and Other Certifications
MIG & Co. is a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner and has been recognized by Microsoft as one of their leading ERP / BI VARs. The expert consultants at MIG & Co. have a combined 50+ years of outstanding experience. In addition, MIG & Co. is a NASBA approved CPE provider (click here to view our certificate).


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The Mariners snapped a two-game losing streak Friday with a 4-1 win over New York. Joe Saunders will pitch for Seattle Saturday against lefty Andy Pettitte.
GAME: Yankees (35-26, 2nd, AL East, -2.0 GB) at Mariners (27-35, 3rd, AL West, -10.5 GB). GAME #: 63. SERIES: 3rd of 4 games. MEETING: 6th (Mariners lead 3-2). WHEN: Saturday, 1:10 p.m., Safeco Field. STREAKS: Mariners W 1; Yankees L 1. TV: Root Sports. RADIO: ESPN 710, Mariners Radio Network
Yankees left hander Andy Pettitte doesn't quite have Hall of Fame numbers — 249 wins, 3.86 ERA, 1.35 WHIP in 18 major league seasons, but he has an impressive .632 winning percentage and three All-Star appearances to his credit. Pettitte also won the 2001 ALCS Most Valuable Player award when he, more than anyone, denied the 116-win Mariners their one big chance of reaching the World Series.
Oddly, for all of his accomplishments, the 41-year-old is a career loser against Seattle with an 11-13 record and 4.37 ERA in 25 career starts. To reach career win No. 250 and approach the .500 mark against Seattle, Pettitte needs to beat Joe Saunders Saturday, a tough assignment. Saunders is 4-1, 2.25 ERA in six Safeco Field starts this season and 10-1, 2.18 for his career.
Pettitte, who lost to the Mariners May 16 at Yankee Stadium, faces a Seattle team that had a bit of a confidence boost Friday by beating New York 4-1, snapping a two-game losing streak. All of Seattle's offense came in one stretch of the fourth inning when six straight batters reached base, capped by clutch hits from Brendan Ryan and Jason Bay.
The Mariners entered the game hitting .221 with runners in scoring position, but capitalized on the few chances they had against Hiroki Kuroda. Jeremy Bonderman did the rest, throwing six sharp innings and winning for the first time in three years.
Speaking of chances, the Yankees have scored in just two of the 18 innings to open this four-game series. New York scored all six of its runs Thursday in the third inning, then was blanked after the first Friday. Saunders could use some of that Saturday. A closer look:
MARINERS: LHP Joe Saunders (4-5, 5.20 ERA, 1.47 WHIP)
The 31-year-old Saunders, a Fairfax, VA., native in his ninth major league season and first with Seattle, makes his 13th start and first against the Yankees. Saunders has a win and a loss in his past two starts, but has allowed just two earned runs with 10 strikeouts in those outings. Saunders has pitched into the seventh inning in six of his 12 starts and brings a 10-1, 2.18 career record at Safeco Field into the game.
YANKEES: LHP Andy Pettitte (4-3, 4.17 ERA, 1.37 WHIP)
The 41-year-old Pettitte, in his 18th major league season and 15th with the Yankees, will make his 10th start and second against the Mariners. Pettitte, who lost to the Mariners 3-2 May 16 in New York, didn't pitch again until June 3 after facing Seattle due to a stint on the disabled list (strained muscle in throwing shoulder). Pettitte has worked into the seventh inning four times. He had a 10-strikeout game against Tampa Bay April 24.
|Probable Pitchers
|vs. NYY
|LHP Joe Saunders (4-5) vs. LHP Andy Pettitte (4-3)
|vs. NYY
|RHP Felix Hernandez (7-4) vs. RHP David Phelps (3-3)
|vs. Hou
|RHP Hisashi Iwakuma (6-1) vs. LHP Dallas Keuchel (2-2)
|vs. Hou
|RHP Aaron Harang (2-6) vs. RHP Bud Norris (5-4)
|vs. Hou
|RHP Jeremy Bonderman (1-1) vs. RHP Jordan Lyles (3-1)


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Abe pointed out that it's important to have incident response policies in place prior to an incident. I had always thought in terms of a plan, tools, and team, but not policies. Let me list a few items to explain.
Using language Abe secured for his university as a template, I plan to try to gain approval for something like this as a blanket incident detection and response policy at my company:
The Director of Incident Response and authorized designees have the authority to take actions necessary to contain, detect, and respond to computer incidents involving company assets.
These actions will be consistent with company policies and applicable laws.
Please note the original language said "prevent" instead of "contain," but my company has a separate security services arm. "Contain," as in "limit the damage," is more appropriate for my team's scope.
Abe also recommends explicit policies for the following:
- Monitoring
- Data collection and retention (I would add destruction too)
- Node blocking and disconnection
- Account suspension
- Password changes
- Reinstallation
- Data sharing
Abe's point is that pre-coordination is essential to giving the CIRT the ability to rapidly execute its response and containment mission during an incident. Signing these policies also sets expectations for the businesses as CIRT customers.


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Josiah Allen son of Robert Allen of Lunenburg, Co. VA., was born about 1732. He is listed as a tithable in 1750 and this would account for his age to be about 18 years of age.
Family records indicates he was married twice. The first wife died after the family moved to South Carolina. He then married (2) to Elizabeth DeLoach.
Josiah settled in what was or became Ninety-Six-District. He was Lieutenant in the Revolutionary War. Josiah was one of three men who was captured by the Tories and carried into the swamps and put to death.
The estate papers of Josiah Allen can be found in Probate Court Records in Abbeville, SC., and names James Allen as the oldest son. James was the next of kin and was appointed administrator of his fathers estate. This tells us that James is from the first marriage.
After the death of Josiah the widow married Aaron Etheridge. Aaron died in 1821 and left his will in Edgefield Co. SC. He names Elizabeth as his wife and widow of Josiah Allen. He also names three of the Allen children by her first marriage, namely; Nancy Mathis, Milbury Clark Allen, and Drury Allen. Elizabeth died prior to 1843
Children of Josiah Allen are:
1. James Allen born about 1753 in Lunenburg Co. VA. died in Montgomery Co. AL.
2. Josiah Allen Jr. Lunenburg Co. VA. married Jennet Etheridge.
3. Robert Allen born 1760 SC. died Montgomery Co. AL
4. Young Allen born about 1763 SC., lived and died in SC
5. Martha or Polly Allen
6. Milbury "Milly" Allen
7. Nancy Allen married Lewis Mathews and Bailey Crouch
8. Drury Allen born 1772 SC. Moved to Clarke Co. AL
James Allen was born about 1753 in Lunenburg Co. VA., and died in Montgomery Co. AL.
James was the oldest son born to Josiah Allen and his first wife. He was also named administrator in the estate of his father in South Carolina. James was a Revolutionary Soldier as were his father and served in Captain Wm Butler's Company of Volunteers.
James was married twice. He first married about 1796 and his wife died in childbirth (name unknown) He married (2) his first cousin, Rebecca Hudson
James and Rebecca removed to Alabama about 1819 with her father Isaac Hudson and other family members. James died seven years after he came to AL., and left his will dated 20 February, 1826 in Montgomery Co.
James had two brothers who came to Alabama, Drury who went to Clarke Co. AL., and Robert who was in Montgomery Co. about 1823
James names his children in his will and leaves the sons land. It appears all of the son were under age when James died, except Lemuel who was the oldest and one of the executors of the will.
1. Lemeul Allen my oldest son two quarter sections of land
2. James Jefferson Allen my son two quarter sections of land
3. Alsey (Hudson) Allen, my son two quarter sections of land
4. Madison Allen was not of age when his father died
5. Josiah Allen was not of age when his father died
6. Minerva Allen married David M. Browning
7. Matilda Allen married John Bryan
8. Elizabeth Dunlap Allen
9. Ann Murry Allen, was not of age when her father died
Robert Allen son of Josiah Allen and his first wife was born 1760 South Carolina and died 3 August, 1829 in Montgomery Co. AL. He was one of three sons who came to AL. Robert came to Montgomery Co. about 1824 and left his will in that County where it was probated.
Robert was a Revolutionary Soldier and saw action as a horseman under Joseph Pickens.
He married in South Carolina to Nancy Hamm in 1786. She is named in his will along with his children.
Will of Robert Allen, Montgomery Co. AL
In the Name of God Amen; I, Robert Allen of the State and County aforesaid, calling to mind the uncertainty of life and the certainty of death and judgment and being desirious (sic) to settle my worldly affairs do make and ordain this my last will and Testament in manner & form following:
First, my will and desire is that all my just debts be paid and my funeral Expenses defrayed by my Executor herein after mentioned.
Secondly, I will and bequeath that my beloved wife, Nancy Allen, live on my plantation until my youngest child Amanda Allen becomes of the age of eighteen years. After leaving reasonable portion of said plantation for my wife Nancy Allen to tend then the remaining part to be rented and the money arising from said rent to be applied to the support and education of my children viz.
Carolina Allen, Robert Allen and Amanda Allen then when my youngest child Amanda Allen becomes of the age of eighteen years then my land to be sold and equally divided among my children viz: Elizabeth Dean, Lucy Thornton, Wade Allen, the heirs of Mary Haygood, James Allen, Susannah McGehee & Sarah Shaver. I do further will unto my said wife Nancy Allen one certain bay mare four years old to have, her and her increase during her life, then after the death of my said wife Nancy Allen, to be equally divided among my children, viz. Carolina Allen, Robert Allen, and Amanda Allen.
Third, I do will and bequeath that my Negroes and all my stock be sold and the money arising from said sale to be equally divided among my children, viz, Elizabeth Dean, Lucy Thornton, Susanah McGehee, Wade Allen, the heirs of Mary Haygood, James Allen, Sarah Shaver, Carolina Allen, Robert Allen, and Amanda Allen by making the following the reductions from Elizabeth Dean, one hundred and sixteen dollars, from Lucy Thornton, the sum of fifty six dollars, from Susanah McGehee, one hundred and sixteen Dollars, from Wade Allen, thirty dollars, from the heirs of Mary Haygood the sum of fifty six dollars, from James Allen the sum of thirty dollars, from Sarah Shaver the sum of ten dollars, these sums being reduced from each one have so that each one may have an equal share.
Fourthly, I do further will and bequeath that after my wife Nancy Allen receiving her share of said estate that she be allowed one year�s support.
Fifthly, I do will and bequeath unto my son George Allen the sum of five dollars.
Sixth and lastly, I nominate and appoint my trusty friend Norman Urquhart Executor of this my last will and testament hereby revoking and annulling all others by me made. Dated 3 August 1829.
Witnesss; Abraham Johnston,John X Allen, Washington Johnston
1. Elizabeth Allen born SC., married a George Dean
2. Lucy Allen born SC., married a Thornton
3. Wade Hampton Allen born 16 April, 1794 SC., died in Montgomery Co. AL.
4. Susanna Allen born SC., married John McGehee
5. James Allen born SC.
6. Mary Allen born SC., married Robert Haygood
7. Sarah Allen born SC., married Benjamin Shaver
8. Caroline Allen born 1816 SC., married Norman Urquhart
9. Robert Allen Jr. born SC., married Narissus Allen, daughter of William Allen and Mary Hicks and sister to Elizabeth who married second Drury Allen Jr. of Clarke Co.
Robert Jr. and Narissus lived in Clarke Co. AL., where her parents lived with sister Elizabeth and her second husband, Drury Allen Jr.
Their children are:
1. Julia Allen born about 1843 Clarke Co. AL
2. Emily Allen born about 1844 Clarke Co. AL. married Sidney D Porter
3. James C Allen born 1846 Clarke Co. married Martha Ann Odom
4. Martha Allen born 1846 twin to James married John Allen Odom
5. William G Allen born Clarke Co. AL.
To Go Back To Home Page


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- pert. to being Judean (Jewish), with focus on adherence to Mosaic tradition, Judean;
- one who is Judean (Jewish), with focus on adherence to Mosaic tradition, a Judean
The question of how to translate Ἰουδαῖος is a tricky one. Does it primarily delimit a set of religious and/or idealogical persuasions, and so mean Jew/Jewish? Or is it rather a geographical and/or ethnic marker, and so mean Judean? BDAG's extended definitions of Ἰουδαῖος recognize the difficulty inasmuch as give "Jewish" in parentheses, but in its glosses BDAG clearly prefers Judean to Jew (which it doesn't offer). This is, in my impression, in line with the current standard position among scholars of Second Temple Judaism, Christian origins, and the New Testament.
Even so, the preference for a geographical/ethnic referent cannot quite shake the religious/idealogical connotations. After the second definition, given above, BDAG offers the following:
Since Jerusalem sets the standard for fidelity to Israel's tradition, and since Jerusalem is located in Judea, Ἰ. frequently suggests conformity to Israel's ancestral belief and practice. in turn, the geographical name provided outsiders with a term that applied to all, including followers of Jesus, who practiced customs variously associated with Judea (note the Roman perception Ac 18:15 ['Judeans' at Corinth]; 23:28).
In his book Border Lines: The Partition of Judaeo-Christianity (Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 2004), Daniel Boyarin argues that "Judaism," as a religion, didn't exist before it was invented by early Christian heresiologists (beginning with Justin Martyr) as a foil against which "Christianity" could be defined. In other words, "Christianity" ≠ "Judaism," but before there was a "Christianity" there was no "Judaism." In yet other words, whereas today we think of "Jew" [Ἰουδαῖος] as a belonging to the same class as words like "Christian," "Muslim," "Buddhist," "Hindu," etc. (all of these are examples of religious adherents), before the rise of Christianity "Jew" [Ἰουδαῖος] belonged to a different class, other examples of which include "Roman," "Greek," "Persian," "Egyptian," "Asian," "Syrian," etc.
There's a lot of insight here, but we still need to exercise an inordinate amount of caution. Whereas geographical/ethnic markers today don't necessarily connote religious identity (what do "Europeans" or "Asians" or "Africans" think about God/god/the transcendent?), they clearly did in the ancient world. Being "Roman" or "Egyptian" meant something about your religious beliefs in addition to your national/ethnic identity; if you were "Roman" ethnically but not religiously, that was something to comment on (cp. the complaint against Paul and Silas in Acts 16.20–21). For example, note the description of Dositheus in 3 Maccabees 1.3:
But Ptolemy was taken out of harm's way by Dositheus, called the son of Drimylus, a Judean by race [τὸ γένος Ἰουδαῖος] who later changed his customs [μεταβαλὼν τὰ νόμιμα] and became estranged from his ancestral beliefs [τῶν πατρίων δογμάτων ἀπηλλοτριωμένος].
Surely it's significant, given the questions we've been asking about Ἰουδαῖος for over two decades, that Dositheus's status as a Ἰουδαῖος required qualification (it was "by race" only) because he wasn't a Ἰουδαῖος as the term was normally understood. He may have been a Judean, but he was no longer a Jew.


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Arch Coal (aci) Stock Research
Last Updated by Anonymous | Update This Page Now
Generic Strategy
Narrow Scope
Segmentation Strategy
Broad Scope
Low Cost
Company Description: Arch Coal produces coal in the US. As of 2007, it operated 18 active mines. In addition to its own coal, the company resells that from others active mines. Arch sells most all of coal to power plants, steel mills, and industrial facilities. Its coal sales also fuel approximately 6% of all electricity generated in the United States. Update
Market Research
Energy Industry Analysis: The energy industry includes companies whose sales derive from the production and sale of energy related products and services such as the extraction, manufacturing, refining, and distribution of energy. Energy Trading Strategy: Energy investments tend to be very sensitive to commodity prices. Speculation and market manipulation by governments affect the energy market, therefore, cautiously invest in companies with significant potential. Upward sloping stock charts and financial news may indicate a selling opportunity while the opposite means that stocks are becoming undervalued.
Industry Sub Sector: .
Market Challenges: Opportunities: Solutions:
Strategy Analysis
Arch Coal's business strategy is to keep things simple. Clearly-defined strategies lower business risks by staying within their areas of expertise. Arch Coal's strategy is to accomplish clear, attainable, and challenging goals. This focus increases company value and long-term investor returns.
Strategy: Arch Coal has a narrow focus that serves a particular customer niche with either a unique product or with a low cost advantage over competitors. (read more). Competitive Advantages:
Financial Analysis
Current Revenue Sources: Future Revenue Sources:


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Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Short Book Reviews
Thraxas by Martin Scott - I really enjoyed Alex Bledsoe's The Sword-Edged Blonde and I've been searching for other novels in that Hard-boiled fantasy sub-genre. This World Fantasy award winner from 2000 certainly fits the bill and is a real entertaining gem. Look past the ugly covers on the various editions of this book; it sure is sweet inside. While I didn't find it as funny as the blubs suggested, it's a good adventure with great characters. This one is out of print and used copy are a bit pricey at the usual online outlets. The Baen edition is a twofer and includes the second novel, Thraxas and the Warrior Monks. Highly Recommended.
2 comments:
- Carl V. said...
If it is in the same vein as Sword-Edged Blonde I'm sure I would enjoy it. That was such a fun book.
- April 4, 2008 at 10:53 AM
- David said...
Hey Carl! I'm glad there's a bunch of them. SciFi/Fantasy mysteries are nice treats. There's just not enough of them :)
- April 6, 2008 at 3:18 PM
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Mod Stamping
8 comments:
I'm not married but I also have no life on Friday nights lol! I love this! Very 60's, very mod!!!!ReplyDelete
This is adorable!! It's Saturday morning/afternoon in Singapore now so I'm happily reading this!ReplyDelete
I love greens like this :DReplyDelete
That mani is almost retro :D I like it. Have a great weekend. :)ReplyDelete
I totally agree! Married life = sitting at home, watching tv and painting my nails. LOL, oh well, I guess its time to quit spending money at the bar...cuz that means more money to spend on nail art!! Woohoo! Love the mani-looks amazing!ReplyDelete
This one looks great, the green polish is wonderful!ReplyDelete
Love it, black and white would look amazing also!!ReplyDelete
Hey readers! If I haven't checked out your blog, please let me know in an email so I make sure I get it! :) email@example.com


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Contact a Universal Banker to receive your North Shore Trust and Savings' chip-secured MasterMoney Debit Card today. Our helpful bankers can also demonstrate how all of the ATM features work so you can confidently utilize all of all of the machines' convenient features.


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As a few of you have requested, I will write another tutorial on creating a custom tower type. In this tutorial I will show you how to create a tower the makes the enemies move slower when they are hit with a bullet, and hopefully by the end of this tutorial you will see how easy it is to extend the tower class to make all sorts of different towers!
For simplicities sake, I am only going to show you the changes needed to create the new tower class and not include any details about adding a new button or changing the player AddTower method (If you need help on this see Tutorial 12). However I will provide some placeholder textures that you can use for the slow tower :
So let's begin, the first thing we are going to do is add a few new fields and properties to the Enemy class :
private float speedModifier;
private float modifierDuration;
private float modiferCurrentTime;
/// <summary>
/// Alters the speed of the enemy.
/// </summary>
public float SpeedModifier
get { return speedModifier; }
set { speedModifier = value; }
/// <summary>
/// Defines how long the speed modification will last.
/// </summary>
public float ModifierDuration
get { return modifierDuration; }
modifierDuration = value;
modiferCurrentTime = 0;
Vector2 direction = waypoints.Peek() - position;
// Store the original speed.
float temporarySpeed = speed;
// If the modifier has finished,
if (modiferCurrentTime > modifierDuration)
// reset the modifier.
speedModifier = 0;
modiferCurrentTime = 0;
if (speedModifier != 0 && modiferCurrentTime <= modifierDuration)
// Modify the speed of the enemy.
temporarySpeed *= speedModifier;
// Update the modifier timer.
modiferCurrentTime += (float)gameTime.ElapsedGameTime.TotalSeconds;
velocity = Vector2.Multiply(direction, temporarySpeed);
position += velocity;
// Defines how fast an enemy will move when hit.
private float speedModifier;
// Defines how long this effect will last.
private float modifierDuration;
We also need to initialize these fields in the SlowTower constructor :
this.speedModifier = 0.6f;
this.modifierDuration = 2.0f;
Next go down to the SlowTower's Update method and find where we check if a bullet has hit the target :
if (target != null && Vector2.Distance(bullet.Center, target.Center) < 12)
And just under what is inside the if statement, add this :
// Apply our speed modifier if it is better than
// the one currently affecting the target :
if (target.SpeedModifier <= speedModifier)
target.SpeedModifier = speedModifier;
target.ModifierDuration = modifierDuration;
We will only allow an enemy to have one speed modifier acting on it – the modifier will only be applied to the enemy if it is better than the current one.
And voilà, we have a new type of tower, it really is that simple! There is a lot more that you could change / add to this tower :
- This tower costs exactly the same as the arrow tower and does the same damage.
- Maybe you think the enemy should move even slower when hit by this tower or maybe it should move slow for longer?
- What if when an enemy is hit by this tower it is tinted a different colour to show that it has been slowed?
- Maybe this tower should only target enemies that are moving at normal speed for maximum efficiency?
- Or perhaps it could target more than one enemy at a time, or have a kind of "Splash" effect!
Maybe you could see how many of the above you could add to the tower to test your skills? If you have some trouble creating a button for this class, I will upload working source that shows you how to do this.


text: Construction internship video transcript Back to 'Recruiting our students to work for you' This is the video transcript for Mohammad Bilal's interview about his construction internship on the student profiles page. Construction internship My name is Bilal, I'm currently in second year doing Civil Engineering. I'm sponsored by a major construction civil engineering company, and for my first summer placement I was on a hi-vis project in Bristol for a couple of months working as part of a team delivering to a large public sector client. Describe your work My role was as an Assistant Project Manager so I was part of a small-works delivery team that was basically going out and doing repair and maintenance works on the motorway network. My role was ensuring that information was passed on from the design team all the way to the construction team. What skills did you bring to the organization? The skills and knowledge that I brought to the organization… I would say it was planning and management, so it was basically keeping track of projects as they progress from the design stage all the way to construction and one of the key things I had to do was making sure that everything was on track according to the large program we were working to. And if there were any problems along the network, just doing a critical path analysis of the project and making sure that any problem points were picked up and raised with the right people. What skills did you gain? I picked up a number of skills that I continuously used as I was working there. One of the key things that I learnt was planning and the theory that goes into planning: how to develop a scheme that goes all the way from inception to completion. How did your achievement impact on the organization? I would say I had two key achievements. The first was it was really good for the company to have someone with an outside way of thinking, because I wasn't necessarily used to the industry-standard way of thinking about these things I was sometimes asking fairly basic questions and it was good for them to go back to the more initial stages and think about what they were doing from another angle. Another thing I did was I streamlined the process of paperwork management. Because we had a large public sector client we were getting everything signed off at every stage that funds could be released for projects to go to completion. I developed a tracking method of improving that system.


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The casting choices for Anastasia Steele and Christian Grey's roles in the Fifty Shades of Grey movie aren't exactly who anyone expected, but now that Dakota Johnson and Charlie Hunnam have secured the parts, there's really not much anyone can do about it.
We can either suck it up, give 'em a fair shot, and hope they turn out to make the movie a huge box office hit, or we can boycott the film altogether in protest of the fact that Ian Somerhalder was not cast as Christian. (Seriously. What the hell?)
And if you are one of those fans who hasn't yet come to terms with your disappointment -- don't lose faith, because there's still hope.
There's a decent chance that the Fifty Shades cast could turn out to be amazeballs, if the roles of Kate Kavanagh and Elliot Grey are given to the right actors.
Let's start with Elliot. Duh, he needs to be someone who will serve one key purpose in the flick -- being our source of eye candy since we're obviously not going to get it from Christian. (Sorry Charlie, but you're not exactly drool-worthy.)
And since Elliot is Christian's older brother, they can't cast some young dude in the role since Charlie is the ripe old age of 33. Chris Hemsworth's name has been thrown around, but he's only 30. (Rats.) But Matt Damon would be a great choice, don't-cha-think? He's sexy, mature, and 42 -- which makes him perfect for the gig.
I guess that brings us to Kate -- who has to be played by either Blake Lively or Katie Cassidy. Hands down. They're both blond, gorgeous, young, and irresistible -- and they definitely make up for the wow factor that Dakota lacks.
Come on Fifty Shades peeps, don't screw it up this time!
Who are your ideal choices for Kate and Elliot?


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Make life easier by ordering takeout from Eat'n Park, and then save big with this coupon for 20% off your takeout purchase. Just print your coupon, then bring it with you when you pick up your takeout order Friday through Sunday, October 29-31, 2010.
Click here to print your coupon now!
Coupon valid Friday-Sunday, October 29-31, 2010.


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In memory of our fallen,
On April 25, 1915 at 4.28am soldiers from the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps landed at Gallipoli in Turkey.
Thousands of lives were lost that day and in the months that followed but from that tragic conflict the true character of our nation was revealed and the ANZAC Spirit was born.
At the going down of the sun
and in the morning.
We will remember them....
and in the morning.
We will remember them....


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Type: Absolu Eau de Parfum
Line: Edition Rare
Histoires de Parfums introduces three new fragrances in October 2012 as a part of the collection Editions Rare: Veni, Vidi, Vici.
Vidi represents the wind and the smell of ozone.
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Social Media: Control Is An Illusion
In our post about social media trends we predicted that marketers will understand: the audience has the control. It takes time and I admit that feeling of ownership often gives me a sense the I have control. Ain't so…
Today I thought that I will organize an event for one of the communities I lead. I thought that I will do it this way and that. Then I realized that I do not have any control over it. I can suggest or I can plead, but that's it. If I try to force my views they will leave and gather somewhere else without me.
I have met with people who have a brilliant idea that let's make a Ferrari (or any other big brand) page in Facebook and sell it to them. The thing is that there are hundreds of Ferrari pages on Facebook. One of them has more than 700,000 fans and another with 200,000 fans. I don't think these are the "official" Ferrari pages. And that's not all there are several Ferrari pages that have tens of thousands of fans.
The Coca-Cola fan page with more than 4 million fans was created by fans. Coca-Cola understood that this is something you need to embrace. There are still dozens of other Coca-Cola pages on Facebook, many of them have tens of thousands of fans. Right now the company supported page has the most fans. The fan pages created by fans pop up everywhere for brands large and small.
If the brand would start to wrestle for control with the fans then the fans may turn around and become uninterested. I looked for "I hate X brand" pages and there really aren't many brand haters out there. This choice between being fan or inactive should be good news for marketers who are afraid that the brand will be doomed if they screw up.
So, in a sense managing social media is like kung fu, you channel the energy of others and look for openings, that would give you the best results. You can't attack head on with cease and desist letters or intimidation.
Control is an illusion and if you think you are in control, you are missing something.
Image credit Ferrari fan page with 357,765 fans
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Q. How many flights are there from Portblair to Paris ?
A. There are 15 flights from Portblair to Paris.
Q. How much time does it take to fly from Portblair to Paris ?
A. It takes 25H 25M to fly from Portblair to Paris.
Q. When is the last flight from Portblair to Paris ?
A. The last flight from Portblair to Paris is at 13:20 and is operated by AirIndia.
Q. When is the earliest flight from Portblair to Paris ?
A. The earliest flight from Portblair to Paris is at 08:00 and is operated by AirIndia.
Port Blair is the capital of Andaman and Nicobar Islands and one of the most visited tourist destinations in India. This Union Territory is located in the Bay of Bengal. Port Blair is a beautiful town which boasts of a vast array of natural resources. The town is home to exotic beaches, towering cliffs, historical monuments and museums. Port Blair is an ideal holiday destination for travellers looking to get away from the hustle and bustle. The town's prime attractions are the historical Cellular Jail and the several beautiful islands which were once home to British colonists. The city also has several museums which showcases the past of Port Blair. Shopaholics can head to the famed Aberdeen Bazaar to explore a range of souvenirs and l different types of wood carvings, jewelleries, trinkets, etc. The major tourist attractions in Port Blair are Anthropological Museum, Cellular Jail, Gandhi Park and Ross Island. Port Blair is primarily a beach town, and there are plenty of popular and secluded beaches and islands near the town. The picturesque natural beauty combined with the historical monuments render Port Blair the perfect holiday destination. Port Blair's beaches and islands attracts millions of visitors every year. Travellers can reach the city of Port Blair either by air or water. There are several cruise services to Port Blair from Chennai and Cochin. The fastest and easiest way to reach Port Blair is by air. The major airlines that operate flights to Port Blair are Jet Airways, SpiceJet, Indigo, GoAir and Air India. There are weekly flights from Chennai, Bangalore, Cochin, Delhi and Mumbai to Port Blair. Port Blair Airport, also known as Veer Savarkar International Airport, is a customs airport which is located 2 km from the city of Port Blair. The airport is named after the freedom fighter Vinayak Damodar Savarkar. It is a single terminal airport which handles both domestic as well as international airlines. Find the best deals on Port Blair flight tickets on Via.com and book your flights at the lowest airfare along with benefits like instant confirmation, lowest convenience fee, airfare calendar and easy cancellation/refund.
Paris - the magical land of love and romance, beauty and grandness - is located on the banks of river Seine. It is the capital and largest city in France. Paris was founded in the 3rd century BC by Celtic people who named it as Parisii. Today, it is the most glamorous city in Europe and is known as the "City of Light" and the "Capital of Fashion". Paris is famed all over the world for its stunning attractions like Eiffel Tower, Musee du Louvre, Musee d'Orsay, Basilique du Sacre-Coeur and Cathedrale de Notre Dame de Paris.
The other major attraction in the city is the Grande Pyramide which is a 21 m high glass pyramid which serves as a main entrance to Louvre. The design of the pyramid was done by the Chinese-born American architect IM Pei. Another major attraction is Église du Dôme which was built during the rule of Louis XIV. Paris is also home to some of the world's best museums like Musee Picasso (a beautiful museum which showcases an extensive art collections) and Musee de la Defense (home to many skillful drawings, architectural plans and other models from 17th century). Other popular Parisian museums are Musee d'Art et d'Histoire, Memorial de la Shoah, Musee Jean Moulin and Grande Galerie de I'Evolution.
Traveling to Paris from India or other countries has never been so easy. All major international and domestic airlines like British Airways, Czech Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, Kenya Airways, Jet Airways, Qatar Airways, Air France and Air India operate frequent flights to Paris. Travellers can avail direct flights or stop over flights to Paris according to their convenience.
Paris flights are available from Delhi, Mumbai, Bangkok, Jeddah, Zurich, Chicago, Doha, Munich, Tokyo, Abu Dhabi etc.
Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, also known as Roissy Airport is the largest airport in France. The airport is named after Charles de Gaulle, who was the president of France from 1959 to 1969 and leader of Free French Forces and the founder of French Fifth Republic. The airport is located at a distance of 25 km northeast of Oaris. It serves as the major hub of Air France. It is the world's eighth busiest airport and has three terminals which handles both domestic as well as international airlines.
Find the best deals on Paris flight tickets on Via.com and book your flights at the lowest airfare along with benefits like instant confirmation, lowest convenience fee, airfare calendar and easy cancellation/refund.


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- Bowring Park to feed the ducks, play in the playground and visit the Caribou
- Pippy Park for a stroll, and a quick visit into the Fluvarium
- Signal Hill to feel the wind and look out over the city. See if we can spot anything in the water.
- McDonald's for a smoothie and let the kids go wild in the play area while I have a coffee
- Chapters -I grab a magazine and a coffee head to blue carpet area to let kids play, when they are bored, I read them stories
- Dollar Store - I give them $2.50, they can get whatever they want but it has to be $2.50 or less taxes in!
- And if you can't get out.... indoor fun - use paper bags and balls of bunched up tinfoil to create a Bag Toss (just open bags, place them at different distances down the hall, toss the ball in... see how far you can go); use masking tape to make a road on the floor for dinkies; make a string obstacle course in your hall, pretend they are laser beams and try to get through the strings without touching any of them (believe me, that one can take a loooooong time ;-)
Have Fun!


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So you have a fantastic business idea that's totally going to rock the world as we know it, and you need three partners. Women who are intelligent, hard-working, know how to get the ball rolling. Who do you choose?
My picks:
1. Corinna Chapman from Kerry Greenwood's series. She already has her own business – a successful bakery that manages to do well despite the popularity of what I assume is the Victorian equivalent to chains like Baker's Delight. Plus, we'd never go hungry in our late-night brainstorming sessions.
2. Scarlett O'Hara. Yes, I know she cheated people at every opportunity that presented itself, but you know what? I reckon a big chunk of that came from the fact she hardly ever had anyone in her corner; they were all too busy judging her while expecting her to put food on their table. I think if she were in a team of women who were all pulling their way and appreciated her because of her brains and work ethic, she'd be more inclined to adopt an 'all in this together' attiude.
3. Caroline from Two Broke Girls. Her business plan makes sense and she's really enthusiastic about opening a cake shop with Max. Mind you, between their cupcakes and Corinna's pastries, we'll go into a diabetic coma any second now…
Your picks?


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Other Documents
In addition to test scores, transcripts, recommendation letters and other application essentials, you may need to — or want to — submit additional supporting materials. What follows are a few possibilities.
Research Materials
Dissertation Abstract
The dissertation abstract may be required or submitted voluntarily. It provides you the opportunity to show the difference your research makes, how it fits into a broader context and the impact it has had on your field.
- Be succinct. An abstract can be from 1-2 pages, depending upon conventions in your field.
- Demonstrate passion. Bring in your original enthusiasm for your research.
- Articulate the impact. Discuss the results or conclusions made.
- Be engaging. Involve the reader, and engage them in your research area.
- Choose reviewers wisely. Let your academic adviser or departmental faculty review your abstract prior to submission.
Statement of Research Plans
This may also be required or voluntary. Always frame future research in terms of future impact, showing awareness of the implications. If you plan to publish your dissertation into a book, mention that, but a search committee will be interested in how you plan to extend it further.
- Again, be short and sweet. This statement is usually 1-2 pages.
- Look forward. Address plans for continuing your research.
- Be specific. Articulate how you intend to complete it, including funding ideas.
Writing Sample
Writing samples are often requested. Your challenge is to find the dissertation chapter, publication or sample that best represents your writing ability.
- Make sure it stands alone. Sometimes your dissertation intro, a chapter or conclusion will work.
- Opt for solo work. An article published with others may not be a good representation if it was collaborative.
- Choose carefully. Consult with your department to get feedback on your choice.


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text: Full_Name: Quanah Gibson-Mount Version: 2.1.21 OS: Solaris 8 URL: ftp://ftp.openldap.org/incoming/ Submission from: (NULL) (18.104.22.168) I've noticed that over the course of a day, slurpd's resident memory size increases. It generally starts at 5MB, and by the end of the day (when it is stopped & then restarted) it is up to 10MB or more. This would indicate to me that it has a (albeit slow) memory leak somewhere in the code. This happened tonight, after approximately 12,700 changes (MOD+ADD) had been performed during the course of the day. --Quanah


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Electronic Focusing Eyewear
Imagine to be able to wear lenses that have the ability to adjust automatically the result that the eye receives. Lenses that have the ability to change our vision problems for ever in a different way, much more positive and aggressive than any previous lenses, being able to adjust every time our eye needs change.
Their system consists of composite lenses with a thin transparent LCD-like liquid crystal layer and microchips, micro-machine accelerometers plus miniature rechargeable batteries which are built-into the eyeglass frame. You place them on a separate charging unit overnight to top-off the batteries
[PixelOptics' emPower!™][Via]


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In a world of shimmering polycarbonate chairs and seamlessly engineered surfaces, Brooklyn based Stanley Ruiz's work is a breath of fresh air. Inspired by "walking, improv music, and Thoreau", his New Organic Collection strikes a stunning balance between craft and industry. Composed of powder-coated steel and carefully selected twigs, the collection beautifully blends prefigured forms with raw materials.
Amidst the many splendors of this year's ICFF Stanley Ruiz' collection stood out for its beautiful fusion of disparate elements. Each of Stanley's works starts with a powder-coated steel base and then develops as an organic improvisation: "each piece of twig was handpicked, cut and assembled, like a nomad with rudimentary tools fashioned his wares . . . these products are the result of careful deliberation and spontaneous material manipulation."
We love how this innovative assortment of pieces mixes functional modern forms with an elegant organic element. Ruiz' collection is likely to remain one of our favorite finds from the designboom mart at ICFF this year.


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Genres : Praise/Wrshp / Adult Contemporary
Sounds Like : Brooklyn Tab meets Whitney Houston meets Steeley Dan meets George Clinton meets Keith Urban meets Israel Houghton meets Lincoln Brewster.
Influences : James Brown, Bruno Mars, Chris Tomlin, Lincoln Brewster, Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir, Israel Houghton, Kirk Franklin, Joel Weldon
Visit Artist Website
You may also like : Submitted Music, Joyce van Boven, Cliff Horn, Kimberly and Alberto Rivera, RAW PRAISE - HORN CALL TO WORSHIP, Kyle Cantrell, Angie Lendon, Rick Metcalf, mark stuckey, Laurie Hanson Roberts
Becky Wright says:
Wow! Makes me want to dance & worship with you!! Great stuff-- TURN IT UP LOUD!! Many blessings as you keep pointing people upward. Becky Wright (IH)
daryl owen says:
Have you heard of the Prodigal Project? They are a ministry for urban youth located just above rockin' java next to ameoba records on Haight St.
Check out their website if your interested.
Cleveland McSwain says:
What a blessing. Praise God for your music.
Rick Phillips says:
Truly annointed music! Let it rain!
Kim Krenik says:
Woohoo, good project! I just HAD to buy it! Looking fwd to seeing you guys live sometime!
Steve Viss says:
Hallelujah! The 'Worship Him' CD is awesome, but seeing Steve and Ron live was a touch of heaven! You fellas ROCK!
DAWN says:
"Wonderful sound!! Very upbeat and strong..Makes me feel goood listening..Great talent there.."Great Is Thy Faithfulness"is my favorite...You make a true believer out of me..Take care.."
email@example.com says:
Hey great music... love the CD artwork... i was checking out the bands who are in the CCM... good stuff! keep it up and God Bless
Frank Scales says:
Ordering this to add to the playlist of Worship One - our 24/7 Praise & Worship Radio station - on the internet! www.TheWorshipNetwork.com
Greg Stark says:
i can't quit listening
Samille Johnson says:
Tottaly off the chain my brothas.Keep up the good work,man i wished i lived in the bay area!!!!!
Mark says:
Excellent work. Exceptional sound. Get it.
Vic Sober says:
Great project guys. Keep it up!
Keith says:
This project is AWESOME! Buy the CD, you'll be glad you did.
Jon Coble says:
I was fortunate to hear the progress of this project. On each cut the songs continue to better themselves. They polished each song and carefully crafted this outstanding CD. They provide excellent variety on this CD along with great audio production.
Steve W. Smith says:
I'd love to hear you live. Your music uplifted me and had my hands in the air with the feeling of being in the midst of a crowd praising God.
Great Music.
Cassie Wheeler says:
Awesome! Loved this album! Very uplifting!
Tom Barr says:
Great CD guys! Great sounds, awesome CD cover!
WOW..... made my heart soar !!
Obstacle Illusion says:
Awesome grooves. Nice crisp lead guitar. Hammond B3 is sweet! Great vocals! Drums and bass...WOW Incredible! Great Job.


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Fibromyalgia is a condition that includes musculoskeletal pain including fatigue, sleep, memory, mood disorders. There are mostly elder people affected by this disease. There are better prognosis for patients because of multifaceted treatment. It's the responsibility of doctor to better diagnosis of the fibromyalgia treatment but fibromyalgia is regularly misunderstood. There are complications to diagnose fibromyalgia. The history of the diagnosis of fibromyalgia reveals depression, inflammatory arthritis, chronic myofascial pain, chronic fatigue syndrome. The tests includes Complete blood count (CBC).
People can not assess fibromyalgia because it is psychological stress, physical stress, injury or illness. Regenerative treatment focusing on the treatment of fibromyalgia. Multistage therapeutic injections of CD34+ enriched mesenchymal stem cells are helpful for the patients. Stem cells take advantage of the fact that could help repair the damaged tissue. Overall fibromyalgia is a lifestyle disorder by treating up an unhealthy diet and modification changes. Associated people need to help the patient about good health and a good lifestyle. People need to have rehabilitation and psychological activities which can relieve the pain and psycho motor management. They need to have a conversation with the diseased people to encourage to get relieves the pain. Therapy includes getting the disease are physical, occupational therapy and counseling. Alternative medicine includes the massage, yoga and taichi. The quality of life depends on the better treatment of the disease status. Certain parameters describe the disease. Stem cell therapy describes the better disease treatment and has fewer side effects and harm. The cells differentiated into many cells. There is no harm to the treatment. The procedure is quick and simple. There are the procedure for the implementation of therapy i.e. Harvesting, separation, activation and implantation. After that, the patient will be discharged. In some days to months, the results are showing proven the efficacy. The stem cell therapy is making complications to uncomplicating. The cost to the whole process is manageable and showing results to prove the efficacy. Hence the stem cell therapy is the benchmark to the regenerative medicine.
The patient was suffered from Fibromyalgia Disease Treatment in India a drastic condition. Had chronic muscle pain, tightness fatigue and decreased energy, Insomnia, Stiffness upon waking or after staying in one position for too long, difficulty remembering tasks.
I was too depressed about my life, muscle pain after exercise, feeling of swelling in the hands and feet. Then I got news about Advancells. Advancells is one of best stem cell therapy center in India. I was fit for physical examination so they allow me enrolls in Advancells therapy.
Furthermore, lipoaspirates obtain from my lower abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue. The stromal vascular fraction separate from the lipoaspirates by centrifugation after treatment with collagenase. Stem cells transplanted by subcutaneous injection.
Now I am capable of making decisions, feeling good, relieving pain and recovered from depression. Advancells keep my hope allived. I have treated stem cell therapy procedure which was safe, effective and desirable. I am very happy after the treatment.
Thank you Advancells for curing and advances my life.


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An orthopedic surgeon's down-to-earth, fast-paced, and frequently funny memoir of his residency.
Collins admits he felt like "the dullest scalpel in the drawer" at the start of his time at the Mayo Clinic, he admits. In short, punchy chapters he chronicles his four-year journey from terrified junior resident to skilled chief resident. Although Collins notes that surgeons are not generally known for their introspective qualities (and his memoir reflects that), he nonetheless freely describes the emotions he felt making his first incision into a living body, witnessing his first patient death, and conducting his first solo operation. As he grew in competence, he grew in confidence. Surgeons fix things, and for a time Collins rejoiced in the ability to do that increasingly well. He thrived on the gratitude and admiration of patients whose bones he had set or whose joints he had replaced. But he came to realize that it wasn't in his power to fix everything, a point made in the stories of a young woman whose cancer could not be halted despite extremely disfiguring surgery and of a boy whose horribly mangled leg Collins failed to save. In other pieces, the surgeon touches on the ethics of the residency system, in which the patient's right to the best care conflicts with the resident's need to learn. While much of the action takes place at the Mayo Clinic, Collins also shares his personal life. With his wife producing a baby each year, he had to take a second job as an emergency-room doctor to feed his growing family. One old car after another died, each replaced by an equally aging wreck. The subzero Minnesota winters vied with perennial lack of sleep as worst physical indignity. Throughout, Collins depicts with a born storyteller's skill the camaraderie among young residents as they journey to medical professionalism. We see them together in and out of the hospital, joshing, competing, and supporting each other.
Highly animated—and rich in encounters both sad and hilarious.


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Net Neutrality's Unintended Consequence
Most of the discussion surrounding net neutrality to date seems to revolve around fixed broadband consumers complaining that ISPs are unjustly mucking with their traffic, discriminating between different traffic types, and providing prioritization without their consent — and the providers shouldn't be. Rob took a bit of a consumer-centric view to practically addressing net neutrality in his blog post here, I'm going to take more of a ISP-centric view.
ISP actions have centered around attempts to ensure fairness across subscribers (e.g., where contention may exit because of asymmetries in available bandwidth, or shared medium such as cable environments), and optimize network resources, in particular bandwidth utilization at various points in the network. Generically speaking, these network resources exist in one of three primary locations:
- Access network capacity: This relates to the bandwidth available between the subscriber's cable modem and the MSO's Cable Modem Termination System (CMTS) with cable-based Internet services, or the subscriber DSL modem and Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer (DSLAM) in DSL networks. One of the primary distinctions between these two types of access networks architectures is that, because cable employs the existing shared HFC cable plant, cable access is "shared" across multiple subscribers. Downstream traffic (network -> subscriber) is multiplexed onto a TV channel that is shared between a group of cable modem subscribers. DSL, on the other hand, is "dedicated" in the sense that each digital subscriber loop is allocated a discrete channel from a set of available channels. The offshot with the cable access model is that during periods of heavy utilization subscribers within a given group may experience performance degradation because of high-bandwidth users in the same group. With both cable and DSL, traditionally, available bandwidth was much narrower upstream (subscriber -> network) than downstream, hence asymmetric DSL (ADSL) services, which are similar in cable offerings. The primary reason for this was so that, unlike a synchronous service, higher frequencies could be allocated downstream, providing subscribers nearly 2x download speeds. This, of course, makes assumptions about what applications subscribers are using (assumes larger download capacities v. upstream P2P traffic, video uploads, etc..).
- Internal network capacity: Internal capacity includes traffic from DSLAM or CMTS to on-net access servers, local caches or content distribution infrastructure, often including email and other ISP-offered services, and traffic being carried to points at which the ISP inteconnects with other ISPs and content providers. Also, in both cable and DSL architectures, subscribers can't communicate directly, so it's necessary for traffic to be switched locally by the DSLAM or CMTS, or routed between devices further upstream within the broadband ISPs network. Often P2P and other local user-user traffic would be included here.
- Transit "Internet" capacity: Because ISPs that offer broadband services typically focus in access markets, they're often considered eyeball heavy. That is, they've got lots of users, but little content. What this means is that most of their users access content that doesn't reside on their network. In order to provider connectivity and access to this content, they either engage in bi-lateral interconnection agreements with content companies and other types of ISPs, or acquire transit services from ISPs that provide this connectivity. Lower-priced transit services from ISPs may range from ~$100-$300/mbps or more monthly recurring, just for IP access, in addition to transport infrastructure costs, which includes the local loop and often long-haul backbone circuits upon which IP traffic is carried. And they've got all the associated capital investment, of course. Scaling this capacity for millions of users is a significant cost. Recall that unlike a utility, your Internet transactions could be with devices just down the street, or across the globe. Infrastructure has to be provisioned to accommodate these any-any connectivity models.
Broadband access has obviously not been what most folks might refer to as a high-margin market, with profits in the 5-10% range (after removing less-fortunate outliers). Given that most of these ISPs are publicly-traded companies and have shareholder expectations to meet, something has to give. Two things broadband ISPs have traditionally been most concerned with are subscriber growth, and minimizing subscriber churn. Growing average revenue per user (ARPU), and ideally, associated profit margins, has been a key driver for services convergence in the form of triple play (voice, video, and data). However, with the higher revenue services comes higher consumer expectations, in particular for services availability, performance and security. Furthermore, minimizing call center volume is key to optimizing profitability, as with traditional data services only yielding 5-10% profits with low ARPU services, a single customer help desk call can often snuff out profitability for 3 years or more!
ISPs simply can't continue growing subscriber numbers and access speeds without continuing to invest heavily in Internet transit and interconnection bandwidth, internal network capacity, and access infrastructure. Looking for ways to offset the operational costs associated with these various investments is critical. Some ways of doing this include initiatives such as P4P, or investing in infrastructure that time-shifts lower-priority traffic into network utilization "troughs", providing more real-time protocols such as VoIP with the network performance characteristics they demand. Peak-to-trough access network utilization rates today are often 4x or more, and because networks have to be engineered to perform without capacity problems during peak utilization periods – capacity planning for ISPs becomes a painfully expensive ordeal. This is why traffic management for ISPs is a critical function – liken it to the PSTN's Mother's Day problem.
I don't believe exploiting protocol behaviors by doing arguably unethical things like injecting spoofed spurious TCP RSTs is the right answer, as that's just going to piss subscribers off, increase call center volumes and subscriber churn, further compromise transparency, potentially break applications and result in non-deterministic network behavior. Unless there are incentive structures in place to encourage users to change behaviors (e.g., that of how their P2P protocols utilize network bandwidth) then nothing is going to change.
Which finally, leads me to my point (yes, there is one). Consumer advocates say ISPs shouldn't discriminate, shouldn't attempt to time-shift traffic, and basically, shouldn't gate subscriber traffic in any way. So, under the auspices of the net neutrality proponents, if you're an ISP, pretty much all you can do is one thing: change your billing models to change subscriber behaviors, and generate more revenue to fund further build-out of your infrastructure. That is, bill customers differently. Be it either strict metered services (usage-based), or more sophisticated usage-based services that introduce peak v. off-peak, on-net versus off-net, distance-sensitive, domestic versus international! It certainly costs more for a US broadband subscriber to obtain content or engage in a VoIP conversation with someone in London, or Singapore, or Cairo, as opposed to someone across the street. Who bears these costs, costs which have traditionally been "transparent" to subscribers? Think about it, this all you can eat model can't continue, and users don't change behavior without being incentivized to do so.
Why do the mobile folks have such high ARPU, and better profitably per subscriber? Because of a slew of billing models they have that make users accountable for network resources they consume. Ever use data roaming services on your mobile handset in another country and discover at the end of the month how incredibly expensive it can be? There's a good reason for this.
Interestingly, technology hasn't been at a place where these types of IP-based metered billing models were a viable option. Today, they are, and ISPs are being given little alternative. And trust me, your Internet access bill is NOT going to get cheaper as a result. We're starting to see basic metered models emerge already.
Net neutrality advocates, be careful what you wish for…


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An early-season rematch
The Portland Trail Blazers avoided becoming the Western Conference's worst team in Wednesday's win against the Sacramento Kings, and a victory against the Houston Rockets would help establish momentum heading into an easier part of the schedule.
Matchup: Portland (3-5) vs. Houston Rockets (4-4)
Venue: Rose Garden Arena
Time: 7:00 PM PT
Date: Friday, Nov. 16, 2012
These two teams have already faced off once this season in an overtime game that went Portland's way.
Game Notes/How They Match Up
The Trail Blazers and the Rockets are each coming off a victory heading into this matchup, but both are also in the midst of a dry spell. Each team has lost four of its last six contests, and while it's still early in the year, that is a concerning trend for these two fanbases.
On offense, these two teams have been extremely even up to this point. They are 15th (PDX) and 17th (HOU) in points per game, and they are 22nd (PDX) and 25th (HOU) in field-goal percentage. The Rockets run a faster pace, but Portland likes to push the tempo as well.
On defense, Houston may not be great, but they certainly have the edge against the Blazers. Portland is 27th in the NBA in points allowed, while Houston is 17th. The Blazers allow their opponents to shoot 49.4 percent from the field, while the Rockets hold their opponents to 43.6 percent.
What to Watch: Portland
If the Blazers want to win this one, they have to do one of two things: run a faster pace, or play better defense.
The Blazers are a team that can get out and run, but we've yet to see them truly succeed in that style of offense. With Houston running a similar pace, Portland must score at a higher rate than their opponents if they want to make up for their defense, which is allowing more than 100 points per game.
If Portland is not able to control the tempo, and they cannot score quickly enough to outscore Houston, they must step it up on the defensive end. Houston may not be the best offensive team in the league, but the Blazers have made a few offenses look really good early in the year. Getting stops is going to be key if they can't get out in transition, and it will be the only way they find success if their offense isn't clicking.
What to Watch: Houston
The Rockets are 4-4 on the season, and how many points James Harden scores has had a direct impact on the team's success up to this point.
Harden has averaged 33 points in wins and 19.75 points in losses. He's been held to 24 points or fewer in all of the team's losses this season, as it's become clear that the Rockets' success lies almost directly on the shoulders of their 2-guard.
As the team's leading scorer by a long shot, Harden is the guy to keep an eye on if you're Portland. Chandler Parsons is second with a 12.4 points-per-game average and Jeremy Lin is third at 10.9, but Harden is the man when it comes to putting the ball in the basket.
This is a young team who needed a leader when they traded for the former Oklahoma City Thunder. He has given them that leadership, but when he's been contained by defenses early in the year, the team has trouble compensating.
Key Matchup
As fun as it's going to be to watch Wesley Matthews play against Harden for the second time this season, the battle down low between J.J. Hickson and Omer Asik could have a big impact on the final result.
Both players are averaging right around 11 points per game on the season, but their impacts are going to be felt most in the rebounding game. They are both hustle players who can earn their teams extra possessions with good timing and ruthless aggression.
Asik is good on defense, but he's only averaging 1.25 blocks per game. Hickson has the athletic advantage, and if he wants to assert himself offensively, he should be given the opportunity.
Defensively, Hickson just needs to continue to stay gritty. You know Asik isn't going to put up a ton of points in this one, so if the Blazers' undersized center can stand his ground and stay out of foul trouble, he has the potential to be one of the biggest difference makers whether he scores or not.
Injury Report
Portland: DAT-TO-DAY—LaMarcus Aldridge
Houston: OUT—Royce White, DAY-TO-DAY—Carlos Delfino
The Trail Blazers may have beaten the Rockets earlier in the season, but that in no way guarantees a victory this time around. Portland is still learning how to win games, and they haven't found success against a team that is .500 or better since the third game of the year.
Blazers 92 – Rockets 99


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Tag Archives: sloppy seconds
December 2, 2008 Sean Avery is a Moron
You know, I don't really care about Sean Avery of the Dallas Stars but the comments he made today about Dion Phaneuf's current girlfriend is so out of whack it deserved discussion. Why does someone crave attention to the extent that you look like a moron to the rest of the world. He should join Oasis.
Tags: Avery, moron, sloppy seconds
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